Chapter 95: Exquisite Craftsmanship

Zhao Taishan’s plump cheeks were split by a wide grin, as if the earlier incident had never happened. With a grand gesture, he called out toward the door, “Bring in the goods!”

Two burly men entered, panting, carrying a heavy safe. Zhao Taishan, brimming with pride, pulled out a brass key and waved it in front of Qin Feng, then leisurely unlocked the safe.

“Boss Qin, all the fine items are right here. Would you care to have a look?” he said, taking out something wrapped in bright yellow silk from the safe and carefully placing it on the table. Layer by layer, he unfolded the wrapping to reveal a translucent jade thumb ring.

The ring was a flawless green, warm to the touch, clearly made from top-quality jade. Carved upon it was a five-clawed golden dragon, vivid and lifelike—its head raised, eyes fierce, claws extended as if ready to soar among the clouds.

“Remarkable! Truly remarkable!” Qin Feng couldn’t help but praise it. The exquisite craftsmanship was rare; even if it wasn’t an imperial artifact, it must have come from the hands of a master.

Seeing Qin Feng’s reaction, Zhao Taishan’s pride grew. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice, “Boss Qin, you may not know, but this thumb ring was worn by Emperor Qianlong himself!”

“Oh?” Qin Feng feigned surprise, raising his brows. “Boss Zhao, you mustn’t make false claims. If this is a fake, you’ll be left holding the bag.”

“Boss Qin, rest assured! I, Zhao Taishan, have been in this business for years. I’ve never deceived anyone, young or old. The provenance of this thumb ring is absolutely reliable!” Zhao Taishan promised fervently. “If you have doubts, examine it yourself.”

Qin Feng didn’t stand on ceremony; he picked up the ring and scrutinized it closely. His fingers traced the intricate patterns, a cool sensation lingering on his skin. At the same time, detailed information about the thumb ring surfaced in his mind.

Qin Feng was secretly delighted—Zhao Taishan had not lied. This thumb ring was indeed Emperor Qianlong’s personal possession, perfectly preserved and priceless!

“Well, Boss Qin, isn’t this the genuine article?” Zhao Taishan, seeing Qin Feng silent for a long time, feared he was unconvinced and grew uneasy.

Qin Feng set down the ring, a teasing smile curling his lips. “Boss Zhao, it is indeed a fine piece. However…”

He deliberately lengthened the last word, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Taishan’s face like a butcher eyeing a piece of meat, making Zhao Taishan shudder.

“However what? Boss Qin, speak plainly. If there’s anything I can do, I won’t refuse!” Zhao Taishan said nervously. He dreaded dealing with someone like Qin Feng, who played mind games and was impossible to read.

“Boss Zhao, as fine as this item is, it’s still an inanimate object. No matter how much I like it, I can’t take it for nothing,” Qin Feng drawled, his eyes lingering on Zhao Taishan’s plump face.

“Of course, of course. Boss Qin, name your price. If it’s reasonable, I won’t bargain!” Zhao Taishan hurriedly replied, knowing Qin Feng was about to start negotiating.

Qin Feng held up one finger and waved it before Zhao Taishan.

“Same as before?” Zhao Taishan asked tentatively. Truth be told, he wasn’t confident; his associates dared not touch such items. Though Qin Feng had stated a price earlier, until the money was in hand, everything was still up for discussion.

Qin Feng shook his head.

“What do you mean? Are you playing games with me?” Zhao Taishan’s eyes bulged like brass bells, his thick lips trembling, as if Qin Feng had turned into a villain before his eyes.

Qin Feng chuckled, the sound piercing the silent room. “Boss Zhao, have you forgotten your business sense? These days, asking for the sky and bargaining on the spot is perfectly normal.”

“You—you…” Zhao Taishan was so infuriated by Qin Feng’s words that he was nearly speechless, pointing at him in frustration. In all his years in the antiques trade, he had never encountered someone as difficult as Qin Feng.

“What about me?” Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. “Boss Zhao, don’t forget—it was you who sought me out. What, are you backing out now?”

Zhao Taishan took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his anger. He knew he couldn’t afford to offend Qin Feng. Buyers with both discernment and wealth like Qin Feng were extremely rare.

“Boss Qin, you jest. I, Zhao Taishan, am not the type to go back on my word!” He forced an awkward smile, “It’s just, your price—isn’t it a bit…”

“A flat price, this much,” Qin Feng said, affecting a careless tone, holding up five fingers before Zhao Taishan.

“Fifty… fifty million?!” Zhao Taishan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He had thought Qin Feng might drive a hard bargain but not this hard, considering this was Emperor Qianlong’s personal possession!

“What, is that too little?” Qin Feng looked at him with a half-smile. “Boss Zhao, word is you went to great lengths to acquire this thumb ring. Now you’re pleading poverty—isn’t it a bit late for that?”

“Boss Qin, you don’t know!” Zhao Taishan began to weep, “To get this thumb ring, I lost everything—even my wife left me! If you only give fifty million, I’ll be ruined!”

Qin Feng picked at his ear, impatient. “Boss Zhao, spare me the sob story! I’ve no interest in your troubles. Just tell me—are you selling the ring or not?”

Seeing that Qin Feng was impervious, Zhao Taishan inwardly lamented. He knew Qin Feng was deliberately driving the price down, but he was trapped and had no alternatives.

“Boss Qin, if you truly want it, fifty million will do…” Zhao Taishan gritted his teeth, as if making a monumental decision. “But you must promise me one thing!”

Qin Feng, intrigued, asked, “What condition?”

“If I come across any more treasures in the future, you must give me priority!” Zhao Taishan looked at Qin Feng with pleading eyes, as if grasping a lifeline.

Qin Feng laughed heartily, clapping Zhao Taishan’s shoulder. “Rest assured, Boss Zhao. As long as you have good items, you’ll never be shortchanged by me!”

Relieved by Qin Feng’s promise, Zhao Taishan took out a fine rosewood box from the safe, carefully placed the thumb ring inside, and respectfully handed it to Qin Feng.

“Boss Qin, please take a look!”

Qin Feng accepted the box, opened it for a glance, and a subtle smile touched his lips.