Chapter Thirty-Four: Is This Jade Buddha of Yours Not Authentic?

Wasn't she here to buy materials? As I puzzled over this, suddenly, I saw Hu San staring at the check, his face stunned. He turned to look at me, then handed me the check.

I glanced at Hu San's lackluster expression. "Have you never seen money before? Why are you so excited?"

Hu San suppressed his excitement. "That woman just gave us one million! She gave us double the amount!"

Hearing this, my expression changed abruptly. I quickly took the check and examined it. It was exactly as he said! I hurriedly looked toward the direction the woman had left, but she had vanished without a trace.

Nonetheless, our earnings soared once again, and our ranking on the leaderboard climbed to fifth place.

"It seems our strategy worked," Hu San said, exhilarated.

I nodded. "Yes, but we can't relax yet. The competitors ahead are formidable."

Finally, all the raw jade at our stall was sold out, and our income surpassed two million. On the leaderboard, we rose to third place.

Hu San looked at the rankings, his brows furrowed. "Damn, we're still a bit short."

I watched his anxious face and laughed. "Now is the time for our treasured item to shine!"

Next, I brought out the little jade Buddha I had been saving.

This jade Buddha was the very one I'd instructed Hu San to find at the antique shop on the border market.

I placed the jade Buddha at the front of the stall and marked its price—three million!

The moment the price was posted, the entire market was stunned.

Nearby stall owners gathered around, whispering and speculating.

Actually, after we sold out our raw jade, everyone in the market had already taken notice of us. Even the owner of the stall we were affiliated with was behind us, singing our praises.

The reason was simple: their low-quality raw jade was also sold out thanks to us.

They were overjoyed!

And since it was our first meeting, I had Hu San pay them up front.

One by one, they tugged at our sleeves, begging to swear brotherhood with us.

I told Hu San to stand firm—we couldn’t associate with these counterfeiters!

Hu San asked, "Then who should I befriend among the fakers?"

I pointed to myself, and Hu San nearly burst out laughing.

Once our stall was completely emptied, I placed the little jade Buddha on display.

It looked rather lonely!

Yet in a raw jade market, selling a finished piece always attracts attention.

"This price is outrageous! Who could possibly buy it?" one stall owner exclaimed in shock.

"I actually think this little jade Buddha might be a rare treasure, worth the price! It looks like an antique," another stall owner, more knowledgeable, explained.

Hu San and I stood at the stall, calmly waiting.

Time ticked by, a steady stream of people passed through the market, but no one dared to make an offer lightly.

Just as we were about to lose hope, a middle-aged man in a suit approached.

His gaze was sharp and fixed intently on the jade Buddha, clearly fascinated by it.

"Sir, is this jade Buddha really worth three million?" the man asked.

I ignored him.

A rookie, obviously—who asks questions like that?

If it wasn’t worth the price, would I have written it?

This overseas gentleman was clearly captivated by our little jade Buddha.

He came closer, eyes gleaming, and asked, "Sir, may I take a look at the jade Buddha? I promise not to touch it, just to observe."

I nodded, granting his request.

He pulled a small magnifying glass from his pocket and carefully examined the jade Buddha.

Other stall owners and customers crowded around, eager to see what conclusions this mysterious man might draw.

Time seemed to freeze; everyone held their breath, waiting for his judgment.

After a long, meticulous inspection, the man finally looked up, his eyes alight with excitement. "This little jade Buddha truly is a rare treasure. Three million is not an unreasonable price!"

As soon as he spoke, the crowd erupted in animated discussion.

Some were amazed, others skeptical, but most coveted the jade Buddha.

Hu San and I exchanged glances, feeling a surge of pride.

"Sir," the man continued, "I am willing to pay three million for this jade Buddha, but I need a guarantee—proof of its authenticity."

I looked at his confident demeanor and smiled.

Then I pointed to the sign hung in the market.

These were the rules of the jade gamble—authenticity is up to the buyer; once the item leaves your hands, you accept it as is.

At my gesture, the man hesitated.

"You mean you won’t guarantee the jade Buddha’s authenticity?"

I nodded, smiling. "This is a jade gambling market, not a branded store. Here, there are no guarantees. If you want a guarantee, the price doubles!"

"What, six million?!"

The new price stunned everyone gathered around my stall.

They had never seen such a vendor, raising the price right in front of the customer!

The man was now sweating; he pulled out a silk handkerchief and wiped his brow, glancing around as if seeking advice.

The stall owners and customers whispered among themselves, but none could offer him a clear answer.

"Sir," I continued, "the value of this jade Buddha does not lie in the price I set, but in your ability and confidence to judge it. If you believe it’s worth the price, then it’s worth it. If not, I won’t force you."

The man pondered for a moment, then finally made up his mind.

He pulled a check from his pocket, swiftly filled in the amount, and handed it to me. "Fine, I’ll take the risk. Here’s three million—please accept it."

I took the check, carefully examined it, and then replied, "Now the price is nine million!"

The man’s face turned ashen at my sudden price hike to nine million.

He gripped the check tightly, clearly struggling to suppress his anger and anxiety. The crowd erupted in noisy debate.

"This is outrageous! How can you raise the price like that?" one stall owner protested.

"This is a jade gambling market; prices change all the time," another replied calmly.

The man took a deep breath, fighting to stay composed.

He looked at me, then at the jade Buddha, obviously wrestling with his decision.

At last, he seemed to resolve himself, filled out another check, and handed it to me. "Nine million. I’ll buy it."