Chapter Nine: Victory
The wealthy businessman surnamed Guo set the precedent, and the fervor suppressed in the hearts of the others swiftly boiled over. They watched Guo with clenched teeth, silently cursing him.
“That old fox! Whenever there are benefits to be had, he's always the first to jump in, always feasting while leaving the rest of us with mere scraps!”
Afraid that Li Pengcheng might actually choose Guo, the other businessmen surged forward, surrounding Li Pengcheng and showering him with flattery as if their words cost nothing.
"Young Master Li! Someone with your discerning eye and extraordinary talent will surely choose our Jade Emporium, wouldn't you agree?"
"I knew you'd win, Young Master Li! You're a true prodigy in our jade industry—how could you possibly lose to such a nobody!"
"Young Master Li, if you're willing to let us have this emerald, we're prepared to offer a hundred million!"
"Get lost! You want such a large emerald for just a hundred million?" The businessman surnamed Yu pushed the other aside irritably, then, with a respectful smile, said, "Young Master Li, we're willing to offer one hundred and fifty million, and throw in our store’s prized treasure as well!"
The Yu family’s treasure was a thousand-armed Guanyin statue. Though it was only made of glutinous ice jade, its sheer size made it impressive.
A crowd gathered around Li Pengcheng, their excitement nearly at the point of physical conflict.
Li Pengcheng was immensely pleased, basking in their sycophantic attention, then strode step by step toward Qin Feng.
“Qin Feng, you worthless trash, what are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to kneel before me like a dog and call me ancestor?”
Qin Feng remained silent, his expression indifferent as he looked at Li Pengcheng.
“What, cat got your tongue? Weren’t you sharp-tongued just moments ago?” Li Pengcheng laughed, growing more arrogant. “Don’t worry! If you acknowledge me as your ancestor, you won’t lose out—I can throw you a scrap to eat!”
Trying to curry favor, the others joined in, ridiculing and humiliating Qin Feng without restraint.
“Hey, Qin Feng! Didn’t you hear what Young Master Li said? Hurry up and kneel, bark like a dog!”
“A bet’s a bet! We gave you face, and you threw it away! Qin Feng, now you understand regret, don’t you?” Guo stood with one hand on his hip, laughing boisterously.
“By the way, the two million wager each of us put down—when do you plan to pay us back?”
“Hurry up, kneel and bark like a dog! We’re all waiting to see it!” Another person, eager to please Li Pengcheng, kept urging Qin Feng to kneel.
A crowd jeered at Qin Feng, oblivious to the sudden change in Elder Yan’s expression after hearing his assistant’s words.
“Is what you just said true?” Elder Yan’s face was full of disbelief.
The assistant nodded and glanced at Qin Feng.
Elder Yan said no more; instead, he followed the assistant’s gaze to Qin Feng, his expression becoming complicated.
Such an unexpected turn—who could have foreseen it?
Seeing Qin Feng under siege from nearly everyone, Elder Yan watched as Qin Feng glanced at him, then stepped forward.
“Elder Yan, if you keep watching the show, I'll take my stone and leave.”
“Ah, don’t!” Truthfully, Elder Yan had rarely seen such a perfect Imperial Green jade in his lifetime.
He cleared his throat; once he had everyone’s attention, he pointed at the Imperial Green, smiling as he said, “Ladies and gentlemen! I believe there’s been a misunderstanding! This Imperial Green was not selected by Li Pengcheng, but by…”
Elder Yan’s finger pointed at Qin Feng.
At that gesture, confusion blanketed the crowd; faces were full of bewilderment.
“Elder Yan, what are you doing? Why are you pointing at that nobody?”
“Yes, Elder—” The speaker was interrupted mid-sentence, suddenly realizing what Elder Yan meant, eyes widening like copper bells as they stared at Qin Feng.
“Him, him, this Imperial Green, green…”
A wave of noise surged through the room, boiling over like hot water.
The Imperial Green wasn’t chosen by Li Pengcheng at all—it was Qin Feng’s selection!
“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” Li Pengcheng, unable to bear the shock, flushed bright red and roared.
“That’s right, impossible!” Guo echoed, shouting.
Many others were equally incredulous—some stood frozen in shock, others shook their heads in denial.
But when the initial emotions faded, a crushing, inexpressible regret seized their hearts.
What had they just done?
They had mocked, scorned, and ridiculed the man who had chosen a once-in-a-decade Imperial Green.
Even as seasoned experts in jade, they might never select such a stone in their lifetime, yet they had called Qin Feng a useless nobody?
Utterly laughable! They were the ones who had become a joke.
At that moment, they wished they could transform into ostriches, dig a hole, and bury their heads in shame.
“No, I refuse to believe it! I will never accept that Qin Feng picked this Imperial Green!”
When the room finally quieted again, Li Pengcheng suddenly lunged at Qin Feng, gripping his shoulders tightly.
“Speak! Tell me—did you use some underhanded trick, you despicable bastard?”
The force of his grip made Qin Feng wince in pain, his brows furrowing.
Elder Yan, seeing Li Pengcheng lose all composure, rose in anger.
“What are you all standing around for? Hurry, pull him away!”
The others snapped out of it and rushed to drag Li Pengcheng back.
“Young Master Li, please calm down!”
“Stone gambling is always win or lose—there’s no need for such a scene, Young Master Pengcheng!”
After much effort, Li Pengcheng was finally restrained.
Now, no one dared insult Qin Feng again. Instead, it was Qin Feng’s turn to settle accounts.
He looked at Elder Yan and smiled lightly. “So, Elder Yan, I won this round of stone gambling, correct?”
It was an undeniable fact. Elder Yan nodded.
Qin Feng then looked around the room, and the others uneasily avoided his gaze.
With a subtle smile, Qin Feng said with casual indifference, “Well, now it’s time for me to settle the bets. I trust there are no objections?”
In that moment, Qin Feng had utterly shamed them with his absolute skill—who would dare object now?