Imperial Treasure
Chapter 83 - 71: The Cheap Jade Cicada, The Expensive Stone

Chapter 83: Chapter 71: The Cheap Jade Cicada, The Expensive Stone

When she neither smiled nor raged nor spoke, that was truly the most terrifying moment. Her gaze lightly swept the stall owner, the elder, and the couple, icy cold like an unsheathed Ice Sword.

All three shivered at once, secretly thinking how frightening this young girl was—such presence!

Everyone else felt a thrill of fear!

This girl was no simple character!

The man clenched his teeth, "Talk about bad luck... Let’s go!"

The three immediately tried to sneak away like rats, but were stopped by Sui Yi calling out, "Wait!"

What now, Lady? We admit defeat, isn’t that enough!?

Fearing Sui Yi who had official backing, the three of them hesitantly stopped, thinking she was going to trouble them further..

Instead, they saw her pull out twenty yuan from her wallet and hand it to the woman, "For your vase... Is that acceptable?"

The woman was stunned.

Damn, there’s money involved?

It was only twenty yuan, but...

Is this girl an idiot, or is her demeanor just that noble?

One couldn’t help admitting that Sui Yi’s gesture was truly... the mark of a gentleman.

The onlookers repeatedly discussed...

The woman, trembling, took the money... Just about to say something, she saw Sui Yi turn her head and speak to the equally shocked stall owner, "I’ve compensated for your losses, yet you tried to deceive me. Shouldn’t you also make some compensation?"

"I...."

"This object will serve as a settlement gift... From now on, we owe each other nothing, is that acceptable?"

Under her cool, water-like gaze, the stall owner felt an intense pressure, shuddered inside, and nodded, "Okay."

What Sui Yi casually picked up was a jade cicada worn around the neck, something commonly found anywhere and selling for about thirty or forty yuan.

"That’s good... Let’s go," Sui Yi turned her head and called out to Su Ziyi, who then snapped back to reality, clutching his already cold coffee, and followed Sui Yi.

The crowd watched their retreating figures, faintly hearing such a conversation...

"You’re just letting them go like that? Don’t you think it’s too much of a loss?"

"A loss? Didn’t I just make a profit of ten yuan?"

"... But this thing is literally everywhere... it probably costs just a few yuan in terms of cost..."

"As long as you like it."

After a while, someone said: "That young guy must be from the Su Family..."

"That’s him! His grandfather is... That girl is really something too."

"Hey, Ah Mao and the others picked the wrong person... Who is that girl? Is she local as well?"

Ah Mao, that was the alias of the stall owner.

----------

Really just as long as you like it?

Sui Yi toyed with the jade cicada in her hand, the deep green magnetic energy on it becoming incredibly clear to her senses. As the magnetic energy entered her body, she felt her constitution strengthen a bit.

"It looks quite ordinary, and it’s not even clean, so don’t rub it with your hand... Let’s wipe it with a paper at my house."

In the world of antiques, ’wipe’ is indeed a term, but Su Ziyi meant it in the literal sense, seeing the object as nothing more than a small accessory, fake to him.

Of course, his comment was just out of reluctance to see the stains, unknown of what, tarnish Sui Yi’s long, fair fingers....

As they walked and browsed, Sui Yi didn’t find anything genuinely antique. In fact, discovering the jade cicada already made her feel luckier than usual, for fortune and disaster are closely intertwined.

Following their whims as they shopped and roamed, it was rare for Sui Yi who had been recently reading biographies and ancient texts. She found common topics with Su Ziyi, and as they chatted, the latter even bought a bag of chestnuts on the way, acting quite casual despite not knowing Sui Yi for long, occasionally handing her some chestnuts...

In fact, his quick move to shield Sui Yi earlier had deeply impressed her with his character.

Such reliable people were rare nowadays, considering that most would be scared off by a two million yuan debt, fearing they’d also be held liable...

But he, straightforwardly using the term "we," was either naive or genuinely earnest.

Sui Yi didn’t have many friends, not because she was difficult, but because her previous circle was different. Working in Elder Tang’s circle, where she met nothing but the lowest scoundrels, trustworthy relationships were hard to form. Even at school, considering her unique background, Sui Yi preferred not to get too close to anyone.

Now...

Sui Yi subconsciously touched her palm, sighed, and perhaps the road she was about to walk would be far beyond any she had anticipated before.

"Sui Yi, look, that’s my grandfather’s shop... Huh, why are there so many people..." Su Ziyi pointed towards a large shop ahead, and Sui Yi looked up, her eyes flashing.

--Book Fragrance Square?

His grandfather couldn’t be...

"Let’s go have a look."

The two walked over.

At this moment, the front of Book Fragrance Square was indeed densely packed with people. Originally a spacious square, many people had formed a circle, including numerous successful figures in suits and sophisticated elderly individuals.

Gradually, more people gathered, shouting something about stones, raw stones, and so on...

Su Ziyi was regarded as the host of Book Fragrance Square. When the staff maintaining order saw him coming, they immediately cried out "Young Proprietor" and cleared a path, inadvertently allowing Sui Yi to enter as well.

Once inside the circle, Sui Yi finally saw the oddity on the ground.

Stones, lots of stones, probably hundreds of them, arranged around a large machine that seemed to function as a cutter and polisher.

Elder Han, upon seeing his grandson arrive, ceased his chat with a friend and immediately smiled, "Ah, it’s Ziyi... come here, oh—"

He noticed Sui Yi following behind Su Ziyi.

Upon seeing, he was surprised and then laughed, calling to the other side, "I say, Elder Tang... come see who’s here"

There, dressed in shabby old clothes, an elderly man was surrounded by various company bosses. Hearing the shout, he turned his head and saw Sui Yi.

"Eh, Sui Yi—ha, how did you come!"

Elder Tang was happy upon seeing Sui Yi. Because he had no children of his own, Elder Tang, who considered Sui Yi his apprentice, naturally showed him extra care.

He waved his hand, beckoning Sui Yi over.

"Everyone, this is my apprentice, Sui Yi..."

Elder Tang and Elder Han were already prominent and well-connected figures in Nanxun Town. Seeing the two of them smiling kindly at this attractive girl, the merchants and company bosses present were naturally astonished.

Su Ziyi too was puzzled. He turned his head towards Sui Yi just as Elder Han patted his shoulder and pulled him toward Elder Tang, "I was thinking earlier that my grandson should also look into classical books. It might make for a good conversation with Sui Yi. There hasn’t been a chance to introduce you two, but now... Ahyi, you should really learn from Sui Yi. If you can pick up a fraction of her skills, the future of your grandfather’s business will be secure. Moreover, you two can support each other well in the future."

Elder Han, a shrewd man, spoke in a seemingly casual and affectionate manner, but those around him immediately grasped the deeper implications.

First, Elder Han’s business was to be handed over to his only grandson.

Second, Elder Tang’s business was also going to be managed by this Sui Yi.

Third, these two elderly men already had an allied relationship, strong enough to extend to their descendants.

With the Classical Chinese Conference imminent, this large opportunity was no doubt controlled by the two of them. Thus...

These two descendants were key figures.

In regard to this situation, Su Ziyi, who had already deemed Sui Yi someone worthy of association, would naturally not refuse. Sui Yi smiled, "Elder Han flatters me... But what is this place right now?"

She subtly steered the conversation towards the stones on the ground.

She saw people in flashy clothes actually squatting on the ground, checking the stones.

Picking and choosing just like buying vegetables at a market.

Some even scrutinized the stones with magnifying glasses...

Wait, do stones need to be studied?

A middle-aged man in a brown jacket and gray trousers came over, his mustache dotted with stone dust.

Sui Yi noticed some familiar faces following him.

Participants from a previous treasure appraisal gamble were almost all present.

Boss Wang, Boss Quan, and others...

And there was Boss Qian, who had lost a million to Sui Yi. Surely the sight of an enemy turned his face sour, and the girl next to him didn’t look happy either.

Qian Fengling was Boss Qian’s granddaughter, something that Sui Yi had known from Yhan Qingwu’s casual reminders but hadn’t expected to encounter them here. It seemed that both of them bore some animosity towards her.

"It’s Sui Yi, how is she here!" Qian Fengling had just noticed the actions of Elder Han and Elder Tang. Regarding someone she previously despised, who suddenly climbed to an extraordinary status, the disparity made her quite uncomfortable, which also made her tone a bit fierce.

Moreover, she involuntarily imagined demeaning reasons for Sui Yi’s appearance here.

"Xiao Ling, you know her?" Boss Qian asked her.

"My classmate... She’s just an orphan... Grandfather, could she be that Elder Tang’s..."

"Hmm, who knows... Your classmate is not bad-looking,"

Qian Fengling had always refused to admit that Sui Yi was good-looking, but now she conceded.

Quan Ling also followed his own father. Considering the slight humiliation he suffered before, the sight of Sui Yi quickly made him forget it.

This Sui Yi seemed even prettier than a few days ago...

In his view, Sui Yi was now a very appealing pursuit: beautiful, young, distinguished, and smart... and now also wealthy and promising.

As his father said, finding such a bride would be honorable.

The only weakness was her family background, but that was not important as her lack of family made her easier to control... of course, if his own charm was irresistible, not marrying her wouldn’t matter; he could just keep her on the side.

In fact, he and his father tended to favor this latter option...

After all, once he had her heart, what else would be left to worry about?

With this thought, Quan Ling immediately smiled and stepped forward to greet Sui Yi. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)