The women in the alley were furious, but in the antique shop a few hundred feet away, the communication was much more friendly.
Jenkins is very curious about the circumstances of the encounter thirty years ago, but Robert's memory is actually not much. During the Great Plague, he left his hometown and came to Nolan by boat, but in fact he was infected with the plague after boarding the boat—most of the people on that boat were there, so he was half asleep and half awake during the ocean journey.
The deepest memory of Miss Broniance is because she gave divination for everyone for free, which is one of the few interesting things during the trip. At that time, the woman thought that everyone in the boat would die before landing, but the people in the cabin were not angry. Unknown stowaways who brought the plague on board were ready to accept their fate as soon as the first patient showed obvious symptoms.
But the woman's divination made a mistake. In the end, Robert successfully arrived in Nolan City, where he took root and even had a wife and children. Over the years, Robert occasionally dreamed of that journey with death, and he would never forget that experience for the rest of his life.
"So, how many people in that boat survived?"
Jenkins is still interested in this question.
"Um… "
Robert didn't seem to want to talk about it, but he answered anyway:
"When I docked, there were five people left, including the captain. But a week after I went ashore, I was the only one left... Strange to say, since then, except for an accidental fall into the water and a cold, I have never I have never been sick either. Maybe this is the sequelae of the plague... Forget it, let’s not talk about it.”
He shook his head wistfully, and took the suitcase from Jenkins.
The reason why Robert came to the store this time was indeed because of "business matters". The business here refers to the silver mine investment project that Jenkins participated in. Robert stood in front of the counter mysteriously and opened the suitcase, deliberately covering the door and window with his body, for fear that a third person would see it.
"Oh, sage~"
Jenkins sighed with his eyes wide open, and even briefly forgot what happened just now in surprise. If you use an exaggerated term to describe it, his face must be full of red light at this moment.
"This is... a rough ruby? But, aren't we investing in a silver mine?"
Inside the suitcase was a large stone, more precisely, a rough stone containing a ruby. From the surface, the ruby in the stone should occupy most of the volume of the stone. Although the value is far less than that of Jenkins' head-sized sapphire, it is already quite amazing.
"Yes, we are investing in silver mines... that's what it says on paper."
Robert smiled at his son: "But you don't really think so, do you? Silver mine investment can get 200% profit in a short period of time? Ha~ Jenkins, think about it carefully, now You're what people think of as a financial expert."
"I probably understand."
At this level, Jenkins would be an idiot if he didn't understand. He stretched out his hand and rubbed the surface of the rough stone in the box:
"So, for taxes? Or for something else?"
"Both. Silver mines and gemstone mines are very different. It is very complicated to explain. But high profits always require some small means. Look, this was just dug out of the depths of the newly opened mine yesterday, But no one knows except me."
"Oh, that's really amazing."
Jenkins nodded again, but didn't comment on the practice. He has vested interests, and he doesn't have any moral obsessions. Since he can earn more gold pounds, he naturally doesn't have any objections.
"But you came to me, isn't it just to show off this thing to me?"
Jenkins patted the stone, and Chocolate also came over at this time, stretched his head towards the box and sniffed it, and immediately showed a disgusted expression.
"of course not."
Robert shook his head, closed the box again, refused Jenkins' offer to pour tea for him, and straightened his dark blue tie behind him:
"I discussed it with your mother. You are now at the age of marriage. We both think that something must be done for you. Now you put it away, find a suitable craftsman to polish it into jewelry, and then give it to the girl you like. Today It's the first day of [The Moon of Sun and Recovery], and Mary asks you to go home and have dinner with a girl who wears this jewelry before the end of the month... "
"Father, this..."
Jenkins even cut Robert off politely, but Robert didn't give him a chance to continue.
He rarely used a serious tone to Jenkins, which made some unpleasant things about the original owner's childhood automatically appear in Jenkins' head:
"Jenkins, I think it's a bit of a rush, but it's the right thing to do. Think about it, how old are you this year? We are worried about you. No matter what method you use, we will see it before the last day of this month. Until you and the girl show up at the door. It's not hard for you, Bishop Parode talked to us about it last week."
Jenkins planned that his father might leak about Hathaway and Britney, but he didn't expect that something went wrong with the bishop:
"But, father..."
He tried to interject again, but the elder William clearly had the upper hand:
"No but. I know the best jewelers, but I'm not going to introduce you. Jenkins, it's up to you to take this gem and polish it, carve it, gift it, and take the lucky girl home. It's On your growth path, the last test I give you, do it, Jenkins."
"But, father..."
"I believe you can do it, and your mother and I's determination on this matter is the same as our unanimous decision to send you to learn a craft half a year ago. But this time, you don't want to be lucky again."
Robert looked into Jenkins' eyes calmly, and Jenkins subconsciously wanted to dodge, but he kept reminding himself that he was Jenkins Redandput Williamette.
"Okay, I see, Father."
In the end, he could only bite the bullet and agree, and Robert nodded.
He realized that what he said just now was a bit harsh, and for the second son who was most like him, Robert never had the heart to blame him. With a slightly gentler tone, he warned again:
"Actually, you don't need to be under pressure, Jenkins. Mary and I both know about your situation. Bishop Parode introduced it in detail. This is not strictly a dinner invitation, but just to see if you have the courage to take this step. One step. You can tell your female companion what I said, and I believe no one will refuse such an invitation."