Combs were out of the question; he was currently using a superior ox horn comb, and wouldn't even accept a plastic one for free.
A magnifying glass, toothpick, and dental floss were also unnecessary.
Hmm. The remaining four items were worth considering.
However, nail clippers, screwdrivers, and pliers weren't of much use either, as there was no immediate need for them.
Hmm, the small mirror was good; he didn't yet know if this body was handsome.
Fang Er got up, returned to the bedroom, and converted the remaining twenty-five taels of gold from buying the house into points.
Looking at the large "250."
Fang Er directly exchanged it for a mirror.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the first exchange. A storage space has been rewarded. Please open the storage space to claim your exchanged item.
As the system's voice sounded, a new option appeared on the system window: Storage Space.
Upon opening it, an eight-by-five panel was revealed, much like a game inventory, divided into cells. There were forty cells in total, containing only one mirror.
With a thought from Fang Er, the mirror appeared in his hand.
It was a square mirror, about 20 centimeters long and wide, with a red plastic frame. Yes, the cheapest kind.
Looking at the face reflected in the mirror – sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a handsome visage – Fang Er was very satisfied.
He was more handsome than in his previous life.
Holy heck!
He tested it; the mirror vanished from his hand and reappeared in the storage space.
Hmm, this system is truly thoughtful.
It was more convenient than Xinghe Bo's warehouse, which could only be exited from, not entered into.
Fang Er exchanged for nine more mirrors in one go.
He went to the backyard, used wood to make mirror frames, and removed the plastic frames, replacing them.
Ten wooden-framed mirrors were soon ready.
He planned to sell them, confident they would fetch a good price.
At this time, most people, even in ordinary households, never saw their own faces in a lifetime; at best, they'd use a basin of water. Only wealthy families could afford bronze mirrors.
A bronze mirror required quite a bit of copper, and copper was money.
Even Fang Er's family only had one bronze mirror, but the reflection it offered couldn't compare to this glass mirror.
He wrapped one mirror in cloth and placed the rest back in the bedroom.
He called for Zhuzi, handed him the cloth-wrapped item, and they left together.
Following one after the other, they exited the residential area and crossed the road to the East Market.
After wandering for a while, he found a pawnshop.
The pawnshop was furnished like a bank counter, with two small windows behind which sat clerks.
"Young master, do you wish to pawn or redeem?"
Seeing Fang Er and Zhuzi enter the shop, a clerk opened a small window and asked Fang Er.
"I bought this from the foreigners a while ago. See how much silver it's worth."
Fang Er took the cloth bag from Zhuzi, opened it, and handed the mirror to the clerk.
The clerk took it, and upon seeing his own reflection in the mirror, was so startled he almost dropped it. He quickly hugged it to his chest, stabilizing the mirror.
Taking it out again and examining it carefully, he looked at Fang Er in disbelief.
"Young master, this is a rare treasure. What is it called? Do you wish to do a dead pawn or a live pawn?"
A dead pawn means the pawnshop sets the price and buys it outright, with no possibility of redemption.
A live pawn will have a lower valuation, and the pawnshop will issue a contract; it can be redeemed later if one has the money.
"This item is called a mirror. I wish to do a dead pawn. See how much silver it can fetch."
Fang Er pointed at the mirror and said to the clerk.
"Please wait, young master. This item is too valuable; I will go and fetch the manager."
The clerk said, returned the mirror to Fang Er, and walked towards the back.
Soon, an elder with a goatee, followed by the clerk, hurried to the counter.
The elder cupped his hands towards Fang Er and said, "My surname is Cheng. I am the manager of Yonghe Pawnshop. May I trouble you, young master, to let this old man have a look at the mirror?"
"Feel free, just don't drop and break it."
Fang Er indifferently handed the mirror to Manager Cheng.
Manager Cheng, after handling the mirror, looked at his aged face reflected within, every detail clear, even his pores were visible. He was immediately astonished.
"Young master, this item is quite peculiar. How much silver do you wish to pawn it for?"
The manager did not dare to offer a price and looked at Fang Er.
Fang Er didn't know what price to name, so he tentatively held up one finger, remaining silent.
"Does the young master mean one hundred taels of silver?"
The manager looked at Fang Er's extended finger and ventured a guess.
Fang Er remained silent and simply shook his head.
"Then, one thousand taels of silver?"
Heh, this trick is effective. Let him guess, I'll just keep shaking my head.
Fang Er shook his head again.
"It couldn't possibly be ten thousand taels of silver, young master. While this item is precious, ten thousand taels is too exorbitant. Please forgive us, but our establishment cannot accept that."
Fang Er remained silent and extended his right hand towards the manager, signaling for the mirror to be returned.
The manager looked at the mirror again, then at Fang Er, his brows furrowing. Finally, he stomped his foot in frustration.
"Fine, ten thousand taels it is! Clerk, go and get the money for this young master."
Fang Er's heart bloomed with joy.
Ten taels of silver had turned into ten thousand.
This deal was fantastic!
The clerk quickly presented a stack of paper. Fang Er took it and saw it was "flying money," the most primitive form of silver notes, all in denominations of one hundred taels.
Fang Er didn't trust this. Who knew if it was a bad check.
"I don't want flying money, only cash. Gold is also acceptable."
Fang Er said calmly to the manager.
"Young master, our establishment truly cannot produce so much gold. And if it were all in cash, you wouldn't be able to carry it back, would you?"
The manager looked distressed upon hearing Fang Er's words and said to him.
"That's true. Ten thousand taels, at sixteen taels to a catty, is six hundred catties. Fang Er and Zhuzi alone couldn't possibly carry it all back."
"Gold primarily. As much as you have. The rest in cash. Don't worry about me not being able to carry it."
Fang Er rubbed his nose and said to the manager, then instructed Zhuzi.
"Zhuzi, go back and call for people."
"Yes, young master."
Zhuzi turned and left the pawnshop to fetch more help.
The manager had no choice but to arrange for clerks to retrieve the gold and silver.
Soon, four hundred taels of gold and six thousand taels of silver were prepared.
The manager handed a contract to Fang Er.
He took it and examined it carefully.
It was nothing more than a wooden-framed glass mirror, seven inches square, dead-pawned for ten thousand taels of silver, payment and goods exchanged, no recourse, etc.
Fang Er unhesitatingly signed his name, pressed his red seal, and returned it to the manager.
At this moment, Zhuzi returned with Huzi and Dali.
Watching the chests of gold and silver being loaded onto the cart, Fang Er was overjoyed.
Heh heh, now he could safely live a life of leisure.
With money, one could be so willful!
He'd buy a few maids later and be the foolish young master of a landlord's family.