With that, Shopkeeper Feng pulled away the curtain, and the Phonograph appeared again before Li Banfeng.
It was a quaint mahogany cabinet with three brass horns—one large and two small.
Just the design alone was enough to keep Li Banfeng’s eyes fixed on it.
"Boss Li, do you still want this Phonograph?" Shopkeeper Feng observed Li Banfeng’s expression, contemplating his next sales pitch.
"Well, I *am* interested, but I’m about to go on a long trip, and taking this thing with me wouldn’t be very convenient." Li Banfeng struggled to shift his gaze away from the Phonograph.
Shopkeeper Feng was surprised. "There’s no need to take it with you when you leave. Just leave it at home."
Li Banfeng gripped his covered bowl, taking another sip of tea. "Leaving it at home, unattended—wouldn’t that be a waste of such a good thing?"
Upon hearing this, the clerk made repeated eye signals to Shopkeeper Feng.
Shopkeeper Feng sighed softly. "Boss Li is a straightforward man. Since you’re interested in this Phonograph, I was planning to give you a discount and sell it to you for 180,000."
Li Banfeng took a deep breath. "Wait, wait a little longer."
Shopkeeper Feng picked up a disc, placed it on the Phonograph, added two cups of water, and lit the wick underneath it.
HISSS! HISSS! HISSS!
From the mouth of the smaller horn on the right, steam puffed rhythmically and uniformly. The record began to spin, and the soft noise of static slowly arose.
"The butterfly flies away, and my heart is absent too; in the desolate long night, who will come to wipe the tears from my cheeks..."
It was that song again.
"Wild Grass and Idle Flowers Bloom in Spring."
Li Banfeng could hardly contain himself anymore.
Shopkeeper Feng sighed softly. "Yesterday, a customer took a fancy to this Phonograph. I told them that it had been reserved by another client and didn’t sell it.
"Boss Li, if you wait any longer, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold on to this item.
"I was truly hoping you’d return, so you could properly enjoy another song. But by the time you come again, I’m afraid you won’t be able to hear it."
With that thought, Li Banfeng suddenly stood up, took his cash box, and left the sundry shop.
The poignant music lingered in the shop. The clerk stomped his foot, looking at Shopkeeper Feng. "Shopkeeper, I think he really wants to buy it. Maybe our price is too high."
Shopkeeper Feng sighed repeatedly. "I have no choice. If I sell it too cheap, this thing won’t leave the shop!"
The clerk, his face etched with bitterness, said, "What are we going to do? When will we ever sell this thing!"
Shopkeeper Feng felt helpless. Sighs of despair filled the sundry shop.
When the song finished, the Phonograph needle reached the end. Shopkeeper Feng put out the fire, released the steam, and was about to cover the Phonograph when he suddenly saw Li Banfeng walking back in.
"One hundred sixty thousand, deal or no deal?"
The clerk looked at Shopkeeper Feng, full of hope.
After pondering for a moment, Shopkeeper Feng calmly said, "It’s sold!"
Beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and Shopkeeper Feng casually wiped them away, careful not to show any weakness in front of Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng counted out 160,000 on the spot and slapped it on the table.
Without counting it, Shopkeeper Feng took the money and instructed the clerk, "Shengzi, get the carriage ready to deliver the goods to Boss Li!"
Just as Shengzi was about to prepare the carriage, he heard Li Banfeng say, "Hold on a second!"
Shengzi was startled and looked at Shopkeeper Feng.
Shopkeeper Feng remained composed. "Boss Li, the deal is already done. It wouldn’t be appropriate to lower the price further."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "It’s not about the price. I want to buy something else."
He wanted to buy a bed.
"Buy a bed..." Shopkeeper Feng was about to say there were none available, but right next to the shelf in the back room was a four-poster wooden bed.
The term ’four-poster’ referred to a bed with four vertical columns, one at each corner, supporting a canopy frame, with railings around the middle. The bed was one and a half meters wide and 1.2 meters high; the whole structure resembled a small house, making one feel particularly secure sleeping in it.
Li Banfeng took a liking to this bed. "Shopkeeper Feng, name a price."
Shopkeeper Feng didn’t look at the bed; his eyes were fixated on the Phonograph.
Shopkeeper Feng gritted his teeth and said, "Boss Li, I admire your forthrightness, and you’ve given me plenty of business. This bed—I’ll give it to you for free!"
Li Banfeng repeatedly waved his hands. "This... how can this be acceptable?"
"Boss Li, if you don’t accept it, you’re looking down on me!"
"That’s not what I mean. Such a fine bed, how could I possibly take it for free? Name a price, and I’ll also check out the bedding."
"The bedding is no problem! Shengzi, bring two sets of those satin-faced beddings for Boss Li."
"No, that’s not it, Shopkeeper Feng," Li Banfeng was confused. "I came here to buy things, not to ask for charity. I was planning to purchase two sets of clothes as well..."
"Shengzi, get the tape measure! Measure Boss Li!"
Shengzi stepped forward and, without further ado, measured Li Banfeng from top to bottom, then returned with a pure white suit.
"Boss Li, consider us friends. The clothes are on me as well."
"No, I usually don’t wear white; it’s hard to keep clean..."
"Bring that black suit over!"
"Black gets dirty easily too..."
"Bring over that beige checkered shirt!"
"Forget it, I won’t buy clothes," Li Banfeng was completely bewildered by Shopkeeper Feng. "I’ll just buy two candles instead."
"Shengzi, bring a bundle of candles, and take that candelabra from Ingrid for Boss Li."
"No, you... I... I won’t buy anything! I’ll just buy two records."
Shopkeeper Feng went to the shelves, grabbed a dozen records, and placed them all on the counter. "I’ll also give you two barrels of fuel, a barrel of oil, a kettle, two cups, a bucket, and a bundle of wicks.
"I even have a set of tools here—pliers, wrenches, all complete. If the Phonograph has a small issue, you can fix it yourself."
"No, I... uh..."
Shopkeeper Feng then grabbed a feather duster and shoved it into Li Banfeng’s hand. "The Phonograph is afraid of dust, so clean it often. Boss Li, I’m just that kind of sincere fellow. If you don’t accept, I’ll really get angry!"
Li Banfeng fell silent, unable to speak anymore.
Shengzi hired a horse-drawn carriage. First, they loaded the bed, then the Phonograph, the bedding, clothes, fuel, candles, bucket... all the items were loaded onto the carriage.
Li Banfeng, holding the feather duster, stood at the door in a daze.
Shengzi helped Li Banfeng onto the carriage, and the shopkeeper called out, "Boss Li, take care! I’ll still be counting on your patronage!"
With that, Shengzi urged the Coachman on, and the carriage departed.
Watching the carriage disappear around the street corner, Shopkeeper Feng and Shengzi stood in the shop for a long time.
"Shopkeeper!" Shengzi’s voice was somewhat shaky.
"Shengzi!" Shopkeeper Feng was a bit choked up.
"Shopkeeper!" Shengzi’s eyes turned red.
"Shengzi!" Shopkeeper Feng wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Shopkeeper, is the item really sold?" Shengzi still harbored some doubt.
"Shengzi, go check the back room. I feel like we sold it too cheaply. Look closely—has that thing come back?" Shopkeeper Feng was cautious.
Shengzi trotted into the back room and ran back out in no time.
"It didn’t come back! This time it’s really gone!"
"Shengzi!" Shopkeeper Feng cried aloud.
"Shopkeeper!" Shengzi’s tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Shengzi!"
"Shopkeeper!"
The two of them sat on the ground, wailing.
Shengzi dabbed his tears. "Finally, we can do business in peace."
Shopkeeper Feng stood up and straightened his clothes. "What the hell business are we doing? Let’s close the shop for today! Go to Fenglai Tower, book a table with good wine, call a couple of girls to join us. Let’s us brothers enjoy ourselves for a few days before anything else!"