Chapter 69
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"Halt!" The guard on the left shouted as they approached the side door. Both of them were wearing the standard armor of guards from ancient China. On the chests of their armor were stamped indentation of a lotus flower, signifying they were from Lotus Pavilion. Shen Tianyu and Rong Jian stopped a little away from them.
"Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter from here." The guard continued.
Shen Tianyu wordlessly reached into her red magic pouch that was hanging from her wrists and took out a black jade token the size of a bookmark. On the front of the black jade token was an indent of a 15 petaled cherry lotus, the indentation was filled in with reddish pink paint, making it look like a drawing instead. On the back was an indentation of a circle with two swords jutting out of it in an X shape.(1) Inside the circle was a depiction of an eagle's head. In the top left corner of the back of the token was a small lavender flower which was also nothing more than an indentation. She dangled the token in front of her to show the guards at the door with her other hand on her hips.
The two guards in charge of the door straightened up. "So it was Miss! Please forgive us for our rudeness!" The guard on the right that had been quiet all along shouted in a low voice. He still remembered to keep his voice down and her identity hidden despite his panic.
Shen Tianyu merely nodded in response. The two guards respectfully stepped aside and let her and Rong Jian pass. As they entered, they were greeted with a servant girl and led to the fifth floor.
The room they were given was akin to a spacious suite at a chain hotel. Along the walls were soft cushioned couches with a table in the middle. Across from the door of the room was a window blocked by strings of a pearl curtain. Around the room were various expensive looking and exquisite decorations.
Right after the couple sat down, a knock was heard at the door. When Shen Tianyu answered, the door was opened and in came a middle aged looking man and a glamorously dressed woman. They both bowed to Shen Tianyu, disregarding Rong Jian for now.
"To think Miss would come to visit this humble branch establishment, we managers are honored." The woman started.
"Yes, yes. It is an honor for Miss to visit us. If there is any discomfort at all, please notify us or the servants and we will do our best to accommodate you." The man followed.
"No need for such courtesy, I'm just here today to see if there will be anything that catches my attention. I am but a customer. As long as you two do your job well, there won't be any problems." Shen Tianyu responded. "I am sure Manager and Vice-Manager has much to do. If there is ever any problem, you can always ask Lavender Palace or me for help."
After a little more of some small talk and introducing Rong Jian, the Manager and Vice-Manager left.
"You're really an important figure here, to have the Manager and Vice-Manager welcome you." Long Jian commented once they left. "Did they never suspect that token was stolen or something? You're so young."
"Because no one can steal from me so easily, especially something as valuable as this. It's expensive to make, you know?" Shen Tianyu picked up a teacup from a tea set that had arrived and blew on it. 'Besides, the guards and two managers are from Yaodu, of course they've seen me before even if they aren't familiar with me.'
"By the way, can you guess who is the Head Manager and who is the Vice-Manager?" Shen Tianyu changed the topic as they waited for the rest of the customers to settle in and for the auction to officially start.
"I'm guessing it was the man that's the Head." Rong Jian took a jab at it.
"Nope. The woman is the Head." Shen Tianyu shot him down. He looked at her in astonishment.
"Women aren't stupid, we just don't have enough opportunities to show off on top of being oppressed and pressured to be obedient puppets and servants, of course women's intelligence are looked down on. However, the Head has great business sense. An auction house is different from a brothel and depends more on business sense and the oratory skills of the auctioneer. She has the ability to make this auction house prosper so naturally, she is in charge. It's the same as a country's merit system, except it disregards gender bias."
The dome shaped auditorium slowly quieted down and both of them stopped their conversation also. The Lotus Pavilion auction house was based on a half-circle design. The stage was a half moon shape in the back of the building. In front of it were plenty of seats for the common customers. This was called the ground floor or first floor. The second floor and above was based on a member system. There were five tiers in the member system of Lotus Pavilion. Tiers 1 and 2 were seated on the second floor, with Tier 2 members getting side seatings that were closer to the stage. Tier 3 members get a whole floor of rooms to themselves going into Tier 5. The rooms get bigger and more extravagant as the a member goes up a tier. For example, Tier 3 rooms were about the size of a master bedroom, while Tier 5 rooms are hotel suite sizes. There are also more benefits and perks, including discounts at partner stores and the commission fee when selling and limited supply of special spiritual food and drinks served. This is akin to a loyalty program from the 21st century used by stores to retain regular customers.
Because the benefits are considered quite good, the requirements to join the loyalty program is also quite high. Tier 1, the entry tier, requires a customer to spend five million yuan in one year. This includes buying and selling, excluding the commission fee. As one upgrades in Tier, the amount also increases, finally stopping at seventy five million at Tier 5. Tier 3 is where the discount on the commission price is included in the member package. Royalties of every country starts at Tier 3, as giving special privileges like this strokes their ego and allows for friendly relationships so the auction house won't meet governmental difficulties. Ordinary Yaodu members also start there. Of course, they still need to spend the required amount to move up a Tier. Elders of Yaodu and the Managers of Shen Tianyu's businesses start at Tier 4. Only Shen Tianyu and her adoptive father, who's also her Master, start and stay at Tier 5. Aside from the Yaodu members, which includes the managers, all members have to spend the set amount required to get into that Tier every year or they either lose or drop down a Tier. The only outside exception is the direct Imperial family of a country.
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"Halt!" The guard on the left shouted as they approached the side door. Both of them were wearing the standard armor of guards from ancient China. On the chests of their armor were stamped indentation of a lotus flower, signifying they were from Lotus Pavilion. Shen Tianyu and Rong Jian stopped a little away from them.
"Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter from here." The guard continued.
Shen Tianyu wordlessly reached into her red magic pouch that was hanging from her wrists and took out a black jade token the size of a bookmark. On the front of the black jade token was an indent of a 15 petaled cherry lotus, the indentation was filled in with reddish pink paint, making it look like a drawing instead. On the back was an indentation of a circle with two swords jutting out of it in an X shape.(1) Inside the circle was a depiction of an eagle's head. In the top left corner of the back of the token was a small lavender flower which was also nothing more than an indentation. She dangled the token in front of her to show the guards at the door with her other hand on her hips.
The two guards in charge of the door straightened up. "So it was Miss! Please forgive us for our rudeness!" The guard on the right that had been quiet all along shouted in a low voice. He still remembered to keep his voice down and her identity hidden despite his panic.
Shen Tianyu merely nodded in response. The two guards respectfully stepped aside and let her and Rong Jian pass. As they entered, they were greeted with a servant girl and led to the fifth floor.
The room they were given was akin to a spacious suite at a chain hotel. Along the walls were soft cushioned couches with a table in the middle. Across from the door of the room was a window blocked by strings of a pearl curtain. Around the room were various expensive looking and exquisite decorations.
Right after the couple sat down, a knock was heard at the door. When Shen Tianyu answered, the door was opened and in came a middle aged looking man and a glamorously dressed woman. They both bowed to Shen Tianyu, disregarding Rong Jian for now.
"To think Miss would come to visit this humble branch establishment, we managers are honored." The woman started.
"Yes, yes. It is an honor for Miss to visit us. If there is any discomfort at all, please notify us or the servants and we will do our best to accommodate you." The man followed.
"No need for such courtesy, I'm just here today to see if there will be anything that catches my attention. I am but a customer. As long as you two do your job well, there won't be any problems." Shen Tianyu responded. "I am sure Manager and Vice-Manager has much to do. If there is ever any problem, you can always ask Lavender Palace or me for help."
After a little more of some small talk and introducing Rong Jian, the Manager and Vice-Manager left.
"You're really an important figure here, to have the Manager and Vice-Manager welcome you." Long Jian commented once they left. "Did they never suspect that token was stolen or something? You're so young."
"Because no one can steal from me so easily, especially something as valuable as this. It's expensive to make, you know?" Shen Tianyu picked up a teacup from a tea set that had arrived and blew on it. 'Besides, the guards and two managers are from Yaodu, of course they've seen me before even if they aren't familiar with me.'
"By the way, can you guess who is the Head Manager and who is the Vice-Manager?" Shen Tianyu changed the topic as they waited for the rest of the customers to settle in and for the auction to officially start.
"I'm guessing it was the man that's the Head." Rong Jian took a jab at it.
"Nope. The woman is the Head." Shen Tianyu shot him down. He looked at her in astonishment.
"Women aren't stupid, we just don't have enough opportunities to show off on top of being oppressed and pressured to be obedient puppets and servants, of course women's intelligence are looked down on. However, the Head has great business sense. An auction house is different from a brothel and depends more on business sense and the oratory skills of the auctioneer. She has the ability to make this auction house prosper so naturally, she is in charge. It's the same as a country's merit system, except it disregards gender bias."
The dome shaped auditorium slowly quieted down and both of them stopped their conversation also. The Lotus Pavilion auction house was based on a half-circle design. The stage was a half moon shape in the back of the building. In front of it were plenty of seats for the common customers. This was called the ground floor or first floor. The second floor and above was based on a member system. There were five tiers in the member system of Lotus Pavilion. Tiers 1 and 2 were seated on the second floor, with Tier 2 members getting side seatings that were closer to the stage. Tier 3 members get a whole floor of rooms to themselves going into Tier 5. The rooms get bigger and more extravagant as the a member goes up a tier. For example, Tier 3 rooms were about the size of a master bedroom, while Tier 5 rooms are hotel suite sizes. There are also more benefits and perks, including discounts at partner stores and the commission fee when selling and limited supply of special spiritual food and drinks served. This is akin to a loyalty program from the 21st century used by stores to retain regular customers.
Because the benefits are considered quite good, the requirements to join the loyalty program is also quite high. Tier 1, the entry tier, requires a customer to spend five million yuan in one year. This includes buying and selling, excluding the commission fee. As one upgrades in Tier, the amount also increases, finally stopping at seventy five million at Tier 5. Tier 3 is where the discount on the commission price is included in the member package. Royalties of every country starts at Tier 3, as giving special privileges like this strokes their ego and allows for friendly relationships so the auction house won't meet governmental difficulties. Ordinary Yaodu members also start there. Of course, they still need to spend the required amount to move up a Tier. Elders of Yaodu and the Managers of Shen Tianyu's businesses start at Tier 4. Only Shen Tianyu and her adoptive father, who's also her Master, start and stay at Tier 5. Aside from the Yaodu members, which includes the managers, all members have to spend the set amount required to get into that Tier every year or they either lose or drop down a Tier. The only outside exception is the direct Imperial family of a country.
"Halt!" The guard on the left shouted as they approached the side door. Both of them were wearing the standard armor of guards from ancient China. On the chests of their armor were stamped indentation of a lotus flower, signifying they were from Lotus Pavilion. Shen Tianyu and Rong Jian stopped a little away from them."Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter from here." The guard continued.Shen Tianyu wordlessly reached into her red magic pouch that was hanging from her wrists and took out a black jade token the size of a bookmark. On the front of the black jade token was an indent of a 15 petaled cherry lotus, the indentation was filled in with reddish pink paint, making it look like a drawing instead. On the back was an indentation of a circle with two swords jutting out of it in an X shape.1 Inside the circle was a depiction of an eagle's head. In the top left corner of the back of the token was a small lavender flower which was also nothing more than an indentation. She dangled the token in front of her to show the guards at the door with her other hand on her hips.The two guards in charge of the door straightened up. "So it was Miss! Please forgive us for our rudeness!" The guard on the right that had been quiet all along shouted in a low voice. He still remembered to keep his voice down and her identity hidden despite his panic.Shen Tianyu merely nodded in response. The two guards respectfully stepped aside and let her and Rong Jian pass. As they entered, they were greeted with a servant girl and led to the fifth floor.The room they were given was akin to a spacious suite at a chain hotel. Along the walls were soft cushioned couches with a table in the middle. Across from the door of the room was a window blocked by strings of a pearl curtain. Around the room were various expensive looking and exquisite decorations.Right after the couple sat down, a knock was heard at the door. When Shen Tianyu answered, the door was opened and in came a middle aged looking man and a glamorously dressed woman. They both bowed to Shen Tianyu, disregarding Rong Jian for now."To think Miss would come to visit this humble branch establishment, we managers are honored." The woman started."Yes, yes. It is an honor for Miss to visit us. If there is any discomfort at all, please notify us or the servants and we will do our best to accommodate you." The man followed."No need for such courtesy, I'm just here today to see if there will be anything that catches my attention. I am but a customer. As long as you two do your job well, there won't be any problems." Shen Tianyu responded. "I am sure Manager and Vice-Manager has much to do. If there is ever any problem, you can always ask Lavender Palace or me for help."After a little more of some small talk and introducing Rong Jian, the Manager and Vice-Manager left."You're really an important figure here, to have the Manager and Vice-Manager welcome you." Long Jian commented once they left. "Did they never suspect that token was stolen or something? You're so young.""Because no one can steal from me so easily, especially something as valuable as this. It's expensive to make, you know?" Shen Tianyu picked up a teacup from a tea set that had arrived and blew on it. 'Besides, the guards and two managers are from Yaodu, of course they've seen me before even if they aren't familiar with me.'"By the way, can you guess who is the Head Manager and who is the Vice-Manager?" Shen Tianyu changed the topic as they waited for the rest of the customers to settle in and for the auction to officially start."I'm guessing it was the man that's the Head." Rong Jian took a jab at it."Nope. The woman is the Head." Shen Tianyu shot him down. He looked at her in astonishment."Women aren't stupid, we just don't have enough opportunities to show off on top of being oppressed and pressured to be obedient puppets and servants, of course women's intelligence are looked down on. However, the Head has great business sense. An auction house is different from a brothel and depends more on business sense and the oratory skills of the auctioneer. She has the ability to make this auction house prosper so naturally, she is in charge. It's the same as a country's merit system, except it disregards gender bias."The dome shaped auditorium slowly quieted down and both of them stopped their conversation also. The Lotus Pavilion auction house was based on a half-circle design. The stage was a half moon shape in the back of the building. In front of it were plenty of seats for the common customers. This was called the ground floor or first floor. The second floor and above was based on a member system. There were five tiers in the member system of Lotus Pavilion. Tiers 1 and 2 were seated on the second floor, with Tier 2 members getting side seatings that were closer to the stage. Tier 3 members get a whole floor of rooms to themselves going into Tier 5. The rooms get bigger and more extravagant as the a member goes up a tier. For example, Tier 3 rooms were about the size of a master bedroom, while Tier 5 rooms are hotel suite sizes. There are also more benefits and perks, including discounts at partner stores and the commission fee when selling and limited supply of special spiritual food and drinks served. This is akin to a loyalty program from the 21st century used by stores to retain regular customers.Because the benefits are considered quite good, the requirements to join the loyalty program is also quite high. Tier 1, the entry tier, requires a customer to spend five million yuan in one year. This includes buying and selling, excluding the commission fee. As one upgrades in Tier, the amount also increases, finally stopping at seventy five million at Tier 5. Tier 3 is where the discount on the commission price is included in the member package. Royalties of every country starts at Tier 3, as giving special privileges like this strokes their ego and allows for friendly relationships so the auction house won't meet governmental difficulties. Ordinary Yaodu members also start there. Of course, they still need to spend the required amount to move up a Tier. Elders of Yaodu and the Managers of Shen Tianyu's businesses start at Tier 4. Only Shen Tianyu and her adoptive father, who's also her Master, start and stay at Tier 5. Aside from the Yaodu members, which includes the managers, all members have to spend the set amount required to get into that Tier every year or they either lose or drop down a Tier. The only outside exception is the direct Imperial family of a country.
