Imperial Treasure
Chapter 280 - 204: Snuff Bottle, Fight!

Chapter 280: Chapter 204: Snuff Bottle, Fight!

Qin Sang was a very good Chinese language teacher who naturally possessed many of the attributes associated with most Chinese language teachers, especially female ones.

—Gentle.

And she was sensitive to human nature, which you could interpret as being empathetic, so her words never carried any hint of aggression, like willow branches caressing the face, or gentle, rippling spring water.

However, Sui Yi felt her greatest trait was her ability to easily dispel tensions between two people, making her approachable, as if there was no teacher-student barrier in their relationship at all, especially not in her current manner of speaking.

Just as Tong Xiangling and others said, Teacher Qin Sang was very good, someone who could also be a friend.

With this thought, Sui Yi’s gaze lightly drifted across Qin Sang’s soft and beautiful face.

"Just a hobby," Sui Yi remarked.

"That’s a very nice hobby. Here, this one is for you," Qin Sang said with a smile, handing over a book without any mention of focusing on cultural studies.

"First come, first served. Gentlemen do not take what others love... unless necessary."

When Qin Sang saw that Sui Yi had already picked up another book, she said, "It hasn’t become necessary yet."

Qin Sang, who was always composed in conversation, fell silent for the first time.

It seemed that a very special student had arrived.

Sui Yi paid no attention to Qin Sang’s reaction, instead looking at other books. Suddenly, her gaze turned and slanted over to the neighboring stall. The stall next door displayed a strange assortment of items, and the student there had a casual demeanor, shouting to his classmates, "These are all old antiques I got from my grandpa and others when I was little, not junk at all. Look at these, they’re all real antiquities. I’m only selling them because they seem useless to me, hoping to save some money for game equipment~~"

"Give me a break, I heard from the class president and others that this cultural event was initiated by higher-ups at the education bureau, to promote culture or something. Oh, and the proceeds from the sales are going to charity. They’ve invited lots of businessmen and distinguished alumni to come back for it. You’re saving up to buy game equipment? Ha, your homeroom teacher would have a fit~~ I bet all you vendors will have to donate a little something at least."

"Ah~~ no way! I have to donate money?!"

"No kidding!"

"I just don’t get it. Wasn’t this event supposed to be for our entertainment~~ How did it turn into a commercial activity?"

Although Sui Yi hadn’t been paying attention, the two weren’t speaking very loudly, and with her keen hearing, she managed to clearly catch the exchange between the students and also noticed the young man’s mournful and frustrated face.

However, her attention wasn’t on them; she was more interested in the various intriguing items on the table.

The group continued to joke and chat, but while some students were browsing, few were buying, given the odd nature of the items.

Sui Yi picked up a stone. It was a rain flower pebble, nothing too extraordinary, just with an interesting pattern. She set down the pebble and picked up a wood carving...

Sui Yi’s arrival led the group’s chatter to slowly subside as everyone quietly watched her.

Perhaps they were looking at how her slender, fair fingers flipped through the odd items one by one.

In her pretty hands, the normally unattractive objects seemed to gain a mysteriously ancient charm.

Bathed in sunlight, it was as if a halo surrounded her.

After about ten seconds of silence, the young man’s sudden excitement broke the quiet, "Hey, I bought this before, it was carved just over twenty years ago~~ Do you like it? If you like, I’ll give it to you!"

The students behind him were already rolling their eyes. Dude, what about the game equipment you mentioned?!

Yet one of the students was staring intently at Sui Yi.

"Which class are you in? What’s your name? I haven’t seen you before. Oh, and my name is Jiang Lang, from Class 7..." The student prattled on until he suddenly saw Sui Yi raise her eyes, "This is?"

In her hand was a wooden snuff bottle.

"Er, I can’t give away this one..."

"I’m asking about its origin."

"Oh right, this was collected by my grandpa..."

"..."

Sui Yi glanced at the speaker, played with the snuff bottle for a moment, and was just about to say something.

"How much? I’m buying it!" a sudden voice interjected, silencing everyone around the stand.

Jiang Lang eyed the two people who approached with an air of hostility, one of them pointing at the object in the beautiful girl’s hands, declaring, "I’m buying this item!"

The hostility was obvious to everyone.

But the newcomer’s uniform looked like it might be... from No.1 High School.

Did No.1 High School have a grudge with the beauties of Yunfeng?

The onlookers instantly perked up with interest, and Jiang Lang, evidently possessing some patriotic spirit, looked protective of a female student from his school, his brow furrowing, "Sorry, but this..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a pale youth, "You just have to say how much!"

Jiang Lang was annoyed, but then heard murmurs in the crowd, "That’s Li Run from No.1 High School, from Li’s Corporation..."

"The rich second generation right! I heard his family is rich. He drives a Ferrari every day..."

"Seems like it~~ just now I even saw them eating with some of the rich young masters from our school!"

Not all high school students are immersed in the torture of college entrance exams, unable to extricate themselves; nor do they all believe that getting into a good university is the key to life’s turnaround.

At least for the moment, the disparity in their lives was stark.

A Li Run, a Li’s Corporation, and a Ferrari were sufficient to make the youngster, who had to sell his collection of cherished items from childhood to save up for game equipment, feel a profound sense of powerlessness.

He fell silent.

Tong Xiangling and the others had already taken notice and glanced over; Qin Sang stood to the side, seeing everything clearly. She should have spoken up to defuse the situation, but it was not appropriate just then.

The facts were not clear.

Sui Yi glanced at Han Yuanchong and Li Run, noticed their smug expressions and the triumph in their eyes, and arched an eyebrow.

Turning to Jiang Lang, he asked, "One hundred, is it?"

Jiang Lang was startled, then nodded subconsciously... This price was what he had decided on from the start, but obviously, it was not something most students could afford, which is why his items seldom sold.

"Ha! Only one hundred! How stingy~~! I’ll bid two hundred!" Li Run scoffed coldly.

"Three hundred," Sui Yi replied, noncommittal.

"Five hundred!"

"Six hundred."

"Eight hundred!"

"Nine hundred," Sui Yi remained calm, which surprised many of the students nearby... Only a few showed little reaction, as there were just too many rich kids around.

In Tong Xiangling’s circle, her family was the wealthiest, even though her grades were the worst. Spending nine hundred just to show defiance, although extravagant, did not mean it was something she couldn’t do.

Li Run stared expressionlessly at Sui Yi; after so much time, he was finally facing this woman again. He thought he had been mistaken before, but there she was, really at Yunfeng...

Yunfeng... He couldn’t even pass the entrance exams.

But no matter.

Some gaps cannot be bridged by any report card.

"One thousand!" Li Run said indifferently, with a smirk, "I remember you’re quite rich, aren’t you? Your ’godfather’ is extremely wealthy too. Why so stingy when it’s your turn...?"

Godfather~~

Many students looked uncomfortable, casting glances towards Sui Yi, their gazes shifting rapidly.

Tong Xiangling and Wei Ge were somewhat annoyed and about to speak up when they were pulled back by Jiang Chi and Du Ke.

However, the person in question seemed unfazed, simply continuing in an utterly calm tone, "Two thousand."

Hiss~! A thousand increase all at once! Wasn’t it being raised by just one hundred before?

Li Run frowned, thinking that one thousand was this woman’s limit. It wasn’t that he thought she couldn’t afford the money, but he felt she should know that trying to outbid him with money was very unwise.

"Two thousand two hundred."

"Three thousand," Sui Yi seemed very persistent.

Li Run’s eyes flashed sharply! Could it be that this Snuff Bottle...

Li Run was no fool; his uncles and father were all businesspeople, who had instilled certain thoughts in him, and what he remembered most vividly was his grandfather’s assessment of Sui Yi.

—A weak foundation, but not lacking in vision, brash in her youth!

In summary, she was not to be feared, but they acknowledged she had some discernment.

If that was the case, then this Snuff Bottle probably had some secret value.

Having heard and seen how Sui Yi had made a fortune from picking up overlooked treasures, and earned millions in one fell swoop, how could he not be sensitive to this!

He gritted his teeth, "Four thousand!"

Li Run’s sudden hike in price shocked everyone. Even the rich kids were taken aback. Four thousand... Although it was a drop in the bucket for their families, they were still students after all, with a monthly allowance of at most three to four thousand. Even if they were rich, they didn’t necessarily want to waste money like this...

They would be ridiculed for it.

Or could it be that Li Run truly detested this girl to the core?

Of course, the girl seemed just as determined, otherwise she wouldn’t have countered with such a carefree and unquestionable tone, "Nine thousand."

Nine thousand!!

This figure was frightening; even the teachers were startled, let alone the students. Yet her tone was indifferent, which to others might sound pleasing and exceptionally calm. But to the people involved, such as Li Run and Han Yuanchong, it felt like a profound contempt!

Just like the humiliating defeat they felt that day at The Gate for Gambling Stones.

Li Run seemed to catch a fleeting glance from Sui Yi, as insouciant and cold as ever, but ultimately it was dismissive!

Damn it!

"Ten thousand!! If you dare, go ahead and bid ten thousand one!"

Li Run’s hatred for Sui Yi seemed to have peaked, his nerves taut, eyes fierce, clearly acting out of spite. However, for Han Yuanchong, it was immensely satisfying!

Putting Sui Yi down brought him sheer joy!

After all, it wasn’t his money being spent.

So...

Jiang Lang and the students around him were all dumbstruck.

Ten thousand, it had reached ten thousand...

Were they dreaming?

Sui Yi didn’t look at Li Run, but instead took out her wallet, pulled out a bill with a portrait of an old man on it, one, one hundred?

Everyone was astonished; one hundred seemed unlikely to win, with the bid already at ten thousand...

The next second, they saw Sui Yi put the Snuff Bottle back in its original place.

Uh, does this mean...?

Li Run and the others stood there, baffled. (To be continued. If you like this story, please visit qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)