Chapter Thirty-Six: Gratitude for Brother Chen's Guidance

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on me, making Hu San lean in and whisper, “No, Tiger, not even when I was an elementary school flag bearer did I have this many people watching me!”

I gave him a faint smile. “Try dropping nine million on the field and see if you get this much attention.”

Hu San grinned. “That’s true!”

“Did we just miss out on a real treasure?” one of the stall owners said with regret, a hint of remorse appearing on his face.

“Not necessarily,” the old man replied coolly. “Sometimes, the true value of a treasure isn’t in its appearance, but in its intrinsic worth. We businesspeople should have a long-term vision, not just focus on immediate profit.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, clearly resonating with his perspective.

At that moment, the man in the black suit reappeared, his expression grave as if under some pressure. He approached me and spoke in a low voice, “My boss asked me to thank you. That jade Buddha means a great deal to him. You’ve done a wonderful thing.”

I nodded with a slight smile. “No need for thanks. As long as the item finds its proper place, that’s the best outcome.”

The man in the black suit nodded back and left, leaving behind a crowd still deep in discussion.

The bustle of the market gradually returned to normal, though it was clear the excitement hadn’t faded from people’s hearts.

The stall owner spoke again, “Seems we’ll need to pay more attention to seemingly ordinary items in the future—who knows when we might spot a real treasure.”

“That little jade Buddha really looked quite ordinary. You see those kinds of family heirlooms sold at many border markets. Who could’ve guessed there was something special here?”

“That’s right, looks like we all need to be more sharp-eyed from now on,” another stall owner chimed in, a determined look on his face.

I didn’t pay much attention to their chatter and headed straight for the VIP lounge.

No sooner had I entered the VIP area than we were subjected to a full search. Guards patted down both me and Hu San inside and out. Hu San was visibly uncomfortable, squirming and muttering, “Tiger, isn’t this a bit much? We’re not here to cause trouble.”

I patted his shoulder lightly, signaling him to stay calm.

The security in the VIP area had always been strict; it was the only way to ensure everyone’s safety and smooth transactions.

Once the search was done, we were led into a lavishly decorated room where a few well-dressed individuals were already seated, their eyes all turning toward us.

Compared to the outer market, this place was so much quieter.

There were fewer than two full tables of people in total.

“Tiger, welcome. If you need anything here, just let me know.” A middle-aged man in a white suit stood up with a smile, extending his hand to me.

He was the manager of the VIP area, according to his business card, named Li Zhen—a shrewd, capable man.

I shook his hand and nodded in greeting, saying little.

Li Zhen laughed heartily, motioning us to sit. With a wave of his hand, a waiter brought fragrant tea.

“Tiger, I heard you caused quite a stir in the market today. A single piece of jade, setting the bar sky high.” He handed me a cup as he spoke.

I took a light sip and replied evenly, “It was just luck—happened to come across a valuable jade Buddha.”

Li Zhen nodded, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. “Tiger, you truly have a keen eye. But tonight’s auction has some real gems flowing into the VIP lounge. You won’t want to miss out.”

I smiled. “The most valuable piece has already been sold and taken away. What’s left in the VIP lounge is just the usual stock.”

As soon as I said this, Li Zhen’s face darkened, his brows knitting together in displeasure.

He suppressed his annoyance and forced a smile. “Tiger, you must be joking. Our VIP lounge gathers countless treasures—hardly ordinary stock.”

I smiled indifferently, his gaze betraying curiosity and scrutiny. Clearly, he was waiting to see what I’d do next.

“Mr. Li, I didn’t mean to belittle the lounge, just speaking frankly.” I set my cup down and met his gaze. “Still, I’m here today to see if there’s anything else worth collecting. In the world of jade gambling, there’s always an element of risk, wouldn’t you agree?”

Li Zhen’s displeasure eased a little and he nodded, “Tiger, since you say so, let’s wait and see. According to the rankings, you’re both the top spender and the top contributor!”

With the market’s commission on turnover, Old Leopard Chen had made about two million off me alone.

“So, the second seat of honor here is yours!”

It turned out, in the neighboring hall, there was a large table made of shipwreck wood with five armchairs—the seats reserved for today’s five VIP guests.

I had shot straight to the top of the rankings, so the first seat was arranged for me. But the true seat of honor belonged to the event’s organizer, Old Leopard Chen.

No sooner had Li Zhen finished speaking than the door swung open again and a burly man strode in. He wore a black tunic suit, his face severe, eyes sharp as a hawk’s.

The moment he entered, the atmosphere in the room tightened.

Li Zhen hurried to pay his respects to Old Leopard Chen.

Hu San and I had seen Old Leopard Chen before, but now he was dressed differently, his whole demeanor transformed.

He walked to the shipwreck wood table, scanning the room before his gaze settled on me.

He smiled faintly, his expression inscrutable.

“You’re Wang Hu. I heard you made quite a splash in the market today.”

His voice was deep and powerful, carrying undeniable authority.

I returned his smile, stood up, and nodded. “Mr. Chen, your reputation precedes you. It was just a lucky day—I happened upon a valuable jade Buddha, that’s all.”

Old Leopard Chen nodded, signaling me to sit.

Then he spoke slowly, “You’re being modest. I noticed your skills back in the market. Not many can control the pace of sales like you. Clearly, you know every piece you sell inside and out.”

“To you, raw jade is like a woman disrobing—you can see exactly what’s inside. Am I right?”

He settled himself into the chief seat, his gaze fixed on me.

I, careful not to say too much, replied with a polite smile, “There are plenty of big players in this field. I’m just a newcomer.”

Old Leopard Chen seemed to sense my reluctance for a deeper conversation and gave a cold laugh. “True enough. In my market, there have been young jade dealers who failed to read the situation—ended up in the Mekong. In this business, young people must tread carefully.”

All I could do was thank Brother Chen for his advice.