Chapter 59: Raw Jade — A Huge Score
“What did you buy this raw stone for?” Qin Mochen asked, amused, watching the little girl clutch a fist-sized, battered-looking rock as if it were some priceless treasure.
“I bought it to polish it myself. I’m going to turn the jade inside into small pendants, then find a way to seal the spiritual energy inside the jade.”
Because the rough stone was small, it only cost five thousand yuan—but what was inside was worth far more than that!
Just thinking about it made Su Keke giggle nonstop.
She’d struck it rich!
After letting her finish her secret gloating, Qin Mochen asked, “You know how to gamble on stones?”
Wu Zongbo was also curious. “Yeah, Miss Su, how did you know for sure this piece would produce green?”
This small rough stone only showed the faintest hint of green on its outer skin—so faint it was almost illusory. There was a strong chance there was nothing inside at all; otherwise it wouldn’t have been so cheap.
In the stone-gambling market, even slightly better rough stones cost over a hundred thousand, and some were valued at hundreds of millions.
Su Keke stroked the precious stone in her hand and said shyly, “I don’t really understand it. It’s just that good jade often contains the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and I felt that energy coming from this stone.”
Hearing that, Wu Zongbo couldn’t help cursing inwardly.
That kind of ability… that was downright heaven-defying!
Qin Mochen’s expression grew serious. In a low voice, he cautioned, “Kid, don’t casually tell people things like this in the future.”
Su Keke froze for a moment, then smiled and nodded. “I know, Uncle. My master emphasized that to me before—I understand. I only said it because I was with you.”
Qin Mochen patted her head. “Not even then. Once we’re home, you can say or do whatever you want, but this is outside, where all sorts of people mix.”
Su Keke gradually wiped the smile from her face and nodded solemnly.
Wu Zongbo understood Fourth Master Qin’s concern. Su Keke’s ability was simply too outrageous. What kind of place was the stone-gambling market?
It was a rich man’s casino, no less ruthless than the stock market or gambling itself—capable of making someone rich overnight, or bankrupt just as quickly.
If people found out Su Keke had such a gift, someone with ulterior motives would definitely set their sights on her and try to use her for something.
Su Keke stuffed the precious stone into her backpack, kept a straight face, and continued shopping, resolutely not letting a trace of delight show—lest anyone notice she’d obtained a treasure.
Wu Zongbo: …
Usually, when he and Fourth Master Qin walked together, they barely spoke unless it was work-related. Fourth Master Qin was a man of few words, and now that the little cutie had quieted down as well, the atmosphere instantly lost its earlier lightness and cheer.
Seeing the mood grow too heavy, Wu Zongbo took the initiative to lighten things up. “Miss Su, you said earlier you’d polish the jade yourself… polish the stone. Can you carve stone too?”
Su Keke waved her hand, extremely modest. “So-so, just so-so. I learned a bit of the basics from my master when I was little.”
“That’s already very impressive…”
—
The owner of the antique shop they had just left stood smiling at the entrance the whole time. Only after watching the trio walk far away did he drop the smile and hurry upstairs.
In one corner of the second floor stood a row of antique-style folding screens.
As soon as the shop owner approached, a man stepped out from behind the screens—more precisely, a young man.
He looked to be in his early twenties, wearing an off-white shirt, khaki casual trousers, and sneakers. He was quite handsome, but he didn’t smile much, and he carried a maturity and restraint that didn’t match his age.
“Young master, didn’t you say the killing aura on that blade hadn’t been completely removed and that it couldn’t be sold casually? Why did you agree to sell it to that man just now?” the shop owner asked, puzzled.
The young man countered, “Why not sell it? That man is steeped in noble fortune—such a small amount of baleful energy can’t do anything to him. Besides, he paid very readily.”
As he spoke, the young man—whom the shop owner addressed as “young master”—walked to the window and looked down at the people coming and going in the alley below. In a low voice, he said, “Compared to that man, I’m more interested in the girl beside him.”
“Uncle Wang, you seem to know her.”
The shop owner replied, “I don’t know her name, but she often comes to our shop to buy yellow talisman paper for drawing charms. She also has a master, though I’ve only seen him twice.”
The young man’s expression tightened slightly. “She seemed to notice the yin energy in the shop and the killing aura on that curved blade just now.”
The shop owner was shocked. “How could that be! Didn’t you say the yin energy clinging to this batch of items had already been cleared? Even if there’s still a trace of killing aura left on that blade, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to tell.”
“That’s exactly why she surprised me. Either her natural talent surpasses mine, or she has some kind of treasure on her that makes her especially sensitive to yin and killing energies.”
The owner immediately said, “It must be the latter. Young master’s talent is rare in this world—there’s no way that girl could surpass you.”
But the young man shook his head. “There are always higher mountains beyond mountains, and better people beyond people. There are plenty whose talent is better than mine.”
“If you see that girl again, Uncle Wang, please let me know.”
“Young master is too polite. That’s only right. But young master, are you planning to—”
“In recent years, the Yin family hasn’t taken in many satisfactory disciples. My grandfather keeps his eye on me.”
Only then did a trace of age-appropriate frustration appear on the young man’s face.
“I understand.”
“Uncle Wang, be more careful next time. Don’t let yourself be schemed against again. As for items dug out of the ground, other than those brought by our own people, don’t accept anything sent by outsiders.”
“This time it was my oversight—I was deceived. It won’t happen again.”
“It’s not Uncle Wang’s fault. You didn’t know that person had been expelled from my grandfather’s sect.”
…
After buying the yellow talisman paper, Su Keke went to other shops to buy some feng shui trinkets.
“Those things were available in that shop just now. Why didn’t you buy them there?” Qin Mochen asked.
Su Keke answered seriously, “Because that shop’s stuff is on the expensive side. For auspicious feng shui ornaments like these, it’s the same wherever you buy them—after all, they’re just lifeless objects without spiritual energy. Of course I’d choose the cheaper ones. But yellow talisman paper is different—it’s used for drawing charms, so you have to buy good-quality ones. My master and I once walked the whole street, and we found theirs to be the best.”
“Uncle, let’s hurry back. These things are really expensive—what if someone starts eyeing us?” Su Keke glanced around cautiously.
Qin Mochen was amused by the way she looked like she was guarding against thieves. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
Wu Zongbo smiled and explained, “Miss Su might not know this, but Fourth Master’s people are everywhere. With just one phone call, people nearby would come running. No one would dare provoke Fourth Master.”
Su Keke let out a “wow,” staring at her uncle with sparkling eyes. “Uncle, so you have so many bodyguards! No wonder you always say I don’t need to stay right by your side.”
Then she huffed. “But Uncle, I’m definitely better than your other bodyguards.”
Qin Mochen responded with a smile, “You are better than them.”
When they passed a small shop selling the Four Treasures of the Study, Qin Mochen said to the little girl, “Wait for me a moment. I’ll buy something and be right out.”
“Okay, Uncle.”
Not long after, when the man came back out, he was holding a brush case specifically for storing calligraphy brushes.
Su Keke’s eyes lit up instantly. “Uncle, this—this couldn’t be for—”
Qin Mochen gave a questioning “Hm?” “I just happened to need a brush case, so I bought one. Is there a problem, kid?”
