I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Both Sides Feel They’ve Struck Gold

After giving Zhan Chengyin the list, Ye Mumu did some calculations. This batch of equipment had cost her over 700 million yuan. The previous purchase of weapons, explosives, food, coal, and cement had consumed 400 million. From selling antiques, she had earned 600 million for the wine goblets, 200 million for the coins and bamboo slips, and 500 million for the phoenix-glazed porcelain set. Out of the total 1.3 billion, only 100 million remained.

She had thought she could save up a substantial fortune! However, between feeding the entire city and helping Zhan Chengyin win the war, the money wasn’t nearly enough.

Zhan Chengyin, being socially astute, had sent many gold, silver, and jade antiques in advance. Sitting amidst the antiques, she sorted through them with dustproof bags, seeking items that were both understated and valuable. She couldn’t bear to part with two paintings and an ancient zither. The jewelry, lacking royal emblems, might not fetch a good price. Even the gold ingots, bars, and other treasures wouldn’t meet her expectations.

With this in mind, she unloaded several large boxes from her car. Among the first batch of antiques from Zhan Chengyin, she found a wine jug that matched the tripod wine vessel. The jug featured gold filigree dragons with ruby-inlaid eyes, its craftsmanship even more exquisite and intricate than the vessel’s.

Ye Mumu sent Old Mu a video of the jug via WeChat. Within seconds, he video-called her. Worried he might spot the antiques scattered about, she closed the restaurant door and took the jug to the living room, turning on all the lights. She aimed her phone camera at the jug.

Old Mu’s eyes fixed on it as he exclaimed, “Beautiful, absolutely stunning! This jug matches the two wine vessels, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, Old Mu!”

“Such perfect condition, and even the rubies in the dragon’s eyes are of exceptional quality. It’s magnificent.”

“Miss Ye, I must have this jug. Name your price!”

Not knowing its exact value but certain it shouldn’t be cheaper than the two vessels, Ye Mumu replied, “You’re the expert, Old Mu. Make an offer – if it’s fair, I’ll sell; if not, we can wait.”

Understanding her meaning, Old Mu immediately offered, “How about 600 million?”

“I’ve emptied my savings buying your antiques. All my antique shop’s profits over the years have gone into this.”

“If you can get more Great Qi dynasty porcelain – even common bowls and vases used by ordinary people – bring them to me. Common porcelain sells quickly and turns a good profit.”

“Everything you’ve sold me is top-tier. I can barely bring myself to resell them. It’s all outflow and no inflow – you’re nearly depleting my capital.”

Ye Mumu agreed she should source some circulating porcelain. “The jug is yours,” she said. “Come to Xianyuan Villa tomorrow morning for the transaction. Call me when you arrive at the gate.”

Surprised at the mention of Xianyuan Villa, Old Mu asked, “That trending vacation spot that’s popular online?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, I’ll meet you at eight tomorrow morning.”

Ye Mumu added, “Bring more money. Six hundred million might not be enough!”

Realizing she had more valuable antiques to sell, Old Mu smiled and said, “Alright, that’s settled then.”

*

Ye Mumu kept one gold ingot for Old Mu to assess. She carefully wrapped the day’s antiques, gold items, and jewelry in dustproof bags, placing them one by one into leather cases. She packed two more large, heavy boxes.

Now she had ten large boxes of antiques, plus two more containing important documents like house deeds and contracts, along with family jewelry. The villa’s third basement level housed a bank-grade vault, currently storing canned water and compressed biscuits. Her father had originally built the villa as a doomsday fortress, with extremely high security standards.

Taking the elevator to the second basement, she accessed the third level through a secret passage. She moved all twelve boxes into the vault and secured them. Afterward, she discovered five unused porcelain sets in the villa’s kitchen cabinets.

Each set contained sixty pieces including bowls, plates, dishes, pots, chopsticks, and more. One set was gilded, another blue with orchid patterns, one was colored bone china, and two were Jingdezhen gift sets. They came in velvet-lined carrying cases, perfect for gifting.

Ye Mumu wrote a note: 「Zhan Chengyin, I’m sending you several porcelain sets. In exchange, give me the common porcelain bowls, plates, and vases used by the people!」

She transmitted all five bone china sets.

*

In the council hall, everyone was in high spirits, eating and drinking while discussing plans to deliver another crushing blow to the barbarians. After all, the explosives had arrived! If not now, when?

Suddenly, a note fluttered down, followed by five large brocade boxes before anyone could read it. Excited by the new arrival, Mo Fan put down his chopsticks and opened a box, revealing a perfectly arranged set of gilded bone china. The porcelain was delicately thin, gleaming brilliantly under the light. The gold patterns flowed with graceful elegance across each piece.

Compared to Great Qi’s dull gray porcelain, the craftsmanship was stunningly perfect. All the generals were captivated. Mo Fan picked up a plate and tapped it lightly, producing a crisp, clear sound. Even the young heir, accustomed to fine things, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Such exquisite porcelain!”

Zhan Chengyin unfolded the note and said, “The divine one has sent several sets of porcelain and wishes to exchange them for the common bowls, plates, and vases used by the people.”

What could the divine one want with so much common porcelain?

In the next moment, Mo Fan snatched two boxes and handed them to Jiang Yu. “Count how many pieces are in these boxes, then bring an equal number of bowls and plates from the manor.”

The other generals glared at him. This fellow had grabbed two boxes and planned to give the god worthless porcelain in return! How shameless!

Zhan Chengyin instructed Tian Qin, “Bring all the porcelain from the manor.”

Bringing all the porcelain would leave the household without dishes. Taking the initiative, Tian Qin claimed one box of Jingdezhen porcelain for himself. Then Chen Kui and Chen Wu grabbed the remaining two boxes… With only five boxes total, those who hesitated missed out.

The few broken plates and bowls at home weren’t worth much, even those brought from the capital through quality merchants. They were nothing special to begin with. Compared to what the god had sent, the quality difference was enormous.

As a result, both sides felt they had struck an excellent deal.

Soon, the young master’s manor brought over 130 plates, dishes, and bowls. The general’s manor contributed more than 200 pieces. Chen Kui and Chen Wu’s manors each provided 100 pieces. Other officers brought unused porcelain from their homes.

Zhan Chengyin sent all the porcelain to Ye Mumu!

Looking at her living room filled with over 800 pieces of porcelain in various shapes – plain, grayish, floral, glazed – all in perfect condition, Ye Mumu sorted them by type. She selected twenty pieces to place on the living room coffee table for Old Mu to appraise, storing the rest in the vault.

She thought that even if these twenty pieces weren’t particularly valuable, they should still fetch a decent price.

To thank Zhan Chengyin, she ordered 300,000 food-grade 316 stainless steel double-layer bowls online. Due to the large quantity, the seller offered them at five yuan each, totaling 1.5 million yuan. She also purchased over thirty sets of porcelain gift boxes from a local ceramics shop, which the owner would deliver tomorrow.