Wandering Gods of Day and Night

Chapter 1367 - 512: Bribing the Eternal Life Sect Leader_2

"Is there a steam-powered one?" Zhou Xuan asked with a smile."Yes, there is."

Boss Qiao led Zhou Xuan to the deepest part of the store, stopped in front of a cabinet machine, and shoveled a spoonful of coal into a small bronze mouth, then lit it.

The coal burned dimly, boiling the water sealed inside the phonograph, and steam exerted its force, driving the complex mechanical gears.

Then, several tiny specks of coal ash, along with the lingering melody, gently floated up.

After listening, Zhou Xuan immediately felt that the sound quality of this steam machine exceeded that of the electric phonograph.

"Why didn’t you introduce this phonograph to me back then?" Zhou Xuan couldn’t help blurting out.

"Oh, did the boss buy a phonograph from us before?" the boss asked.

"Yes, I bought once before." Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "I want to order four of these phonographs."

"Boss, the price of this phonograph is not cheap... one costs twenty-six thousand."

The phonograph at the Jingyi Shop was priced at eleven thousand.

And this steam machine was twenty-six thousand for just one, but Zhou Xuan didn’t blink, extending four fingers: "I want four."

Zhou Xuan had it all planned—one for his sister, one for his master, one for the Ancient Hall Alchemist,

and the remaining one, of course, for upgrading the old phonograph of Lao Yun and Old Li, the two enthusiasts.

"I left in a hurry and didn’t bring money, just some gold. Convert it according to today’s gold price."

Zhou Xuan touched a few heavy gold bars and handed them to the boss.

The boss’s eyes lit up, this was a rare big customer who bought a twenty-six-thousand-unit phonograph without blinking.

"Boss, you’re quite generous."

Boss Qiao immediately returned to the counter and called the gold shop, asking them to come and appraise and purchase the gold.

Zhou Xuan continued to browse the store, asking as he walked, "By the way, boss, do you have cinema projectors here?"

"I don’t have them here, but I can order one for you. They’re expensive, and you also need to buy films... it’s quite costly."

"Don’t worry about the money, just help me order one, and I need the films too."

Zhou Xuan said.

"No problem, no problem."

Boss Qiao immediately took out a booklet and asked, "I’m not sure about the price of the projector and films yet. Shall I call your residence to inform you when I place the order?"

Since Zhou Xuan could afford to buy four such expensive phonographs at once, Boss Qiao assumed the Zhou family must have a telephone.

Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "2459."

In Mingjiang Prefecture, the total number of telephones was not many, within four thousand. Therefore, Zhou Xuan’s store number was only four digits.

When Boss Qiao saw this phone number, he immediately had a jolt. He flipped through his client book and found a customer’s name—Hu Afu, East Market Street, Zhou Family’s Jingyi Shop, Phone Number: 2459.

He suddenly slapped the counter, picked up the phone receiver, and dialed the number for the gold shop: "Hello, Gui’s Gold Shop? I am Qiao Asheng from Good Times Phonograph, you don’t need to come, right, no need to appraise the gold."

This operation left Zhou Xuan a bit stunned, asking, "Boss Qiao, what’s this?"

"Boss, I figured it out. You work for Mr. Taiqing."

Boss Qiao said with a smile, "I am very familiar with the phone number of Mr. Taiqing’s shop. These days, I wanted to visit Mr. Taiqing’s shop to see him, but there are too many people thanking him, I couldn’t get a spot,

so I thought of calling him to express my gratitude, but no one answered the phone at his shop, leaving me quite restless."

"Is that so?" Zhou Xuan, seeing Boss Qiao recognized the number, dropped part of his disguise, saying, "I work for Mr. Taiqing."

Boss Qiao excitedly shook Zhou Xuan’s hand, saying, "Please send a message to Mr. Taiqing from me, wishing him endless blessings and prosperity, and that all his endeavors go smoothly,

as for the phonograph and projector, I can’t take any money."

"That won’t do, Mr. Taiqing never accepts things from others for free."

"I’m not others, I’m Mr. Taiqing’s benefactor... oops... Mr. Taiqing is my benefactor."

Boss Qiao became incoherent with excitement and continued, "My wife and son, they were all killed by the Xianhuo, and my phonograph shop was also burned to ashes by the Xianhuo,

my family and career were gone, I even thought I would die in the aftermath, but Mr. Taiqing saved me, saved my entire family, saved my phonograph shop, and everything got better."

As he spoke, he wiped away tears with his sleeve, saying, "Please, make sure Mr. Taiqing accepts the four phonographs and the projector."

"This..."

"Please make sure to tell Mr. Taiqing that the people of Mingjiang Prefecture are very grateful to him."

Boss Qiao also returned the gold bars Zhou Xuan had already paid.

But Zhou Xuan didn’t accept them, he blocked Boss Qiao’s hand, smiling, "Old Qiao, I am Zhou Xuan."

"Ah..."

"I know the sincere gratitude of the people of Mingjiang Prefecture. I dressed in disguise today for my travels."

Zhou Xuan said, "Do you remember when I said during my talks? Every person who survived the Xianhuo is commendable! I saved you all, but ultimately, it was you who saved yourselves."

"Mr. Taiqing..." Boss Qiao was at a loss for words.

Zhou Xuan gently put the gold bars on the table, saying, "Old Qiao, since you believe we have a connection, then whatever amount is paid is destiny,

these gold bars are enough to pay for the phonographs, if there’s any left, it’s fate granting you a little fortune,

if it’s not enough to pay for the phonographs, then it’s fate that has decided you must take a small loss with me..."