[rawgabbit]

The seller is presumably an aristocratic family fallen into hard times. They are selling a presumably rare and famous item. The buyer's agent haggled over the item instead of just stating a flat price they were willing to pay.

If the buyer displays the item, then elite of Feudal Japan will say "Poor so and so, they got taken advantaged of by a merciless nouveau riche. Make sure not to invite that person to our upper class parties. We may be poor compared to them; but we still have our samurai pride."

Edited for spelling.

[muzani]

To note, honor meant a lot more during the samurai era. Someone who is not compassionate either comes across as manipulative or not alert to their surroundings. Manipulative people were bad allies. Inattention is a form of weakness. Dishonor wasn't just not being invited to parties, it could well mean death.