Chapter 48: Kind Words Can’t Persuade a Damned Fool

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Kind Words Can’t Persuade a Damned Fool

As he watched the eyes of everyone in the room fixate on him, Chen Xuan unclenched his fists, a calm smile gracing his lips:

"Mr. Jiang is indeed a cut above the rest. I concede."

"However, this rough stone I picked isn’t as worthless as you claim. Old Xu, cut it open."

"Our Chen Family built its fortune on stone gambling. I still have some confidence in the judgment passed down through three generations."

Jiang Fan said nothing, but a sense of caution toward Chen Xuan rose within him.

A dog that bites doesn’t bark. He wouldn’t spare a second glance for a mad dog that yaps and howls. The most frightening predators were the venomous snakes that hid in the shadows, patient and waiting.

You never knew when one might dart out and sink its fangs into you.

Even Yin Ruxue, standing to the side, had a flash of surprise in her eyes.

This was a world of difference from the Chen Xuan she knew.

"Whatever makes you happy."

Jiang Fan didn’t pay him any mind.

But everyone else present stared at the rough stone, their curiosity piqued.

They all knew there was jade inside, but seeing Chen Xuan so confident, they were eager to see what it would yield.

After Old Xu secured the stone on the machine, he followed Chen Xuan’s instructions and made the first cut.

All eyes were glued to the incision.

"So green! It’s a good one. Could it be an emerald?"

"An emerald doesn’t look like this. It’s more like Imperial Green."

"Imperial Green? A piece of Imperial Green this large would be fit to be a shop’s crown jewel."

"No wonder Chen Xuan was so confident."

"If he had used this Imperial Green in the second round, that golden seal probably wouldn’t have stood a chance."

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Yin Shan, standing nearby, also watched with curiosity, though his gaze kept shifting between the rough stone and Jiang Fan, his thoughts unreadable.

"Good advice is wasted on the damned."

Jiang Fan shrugged and said lightly.

Sure enough, the moment the cut was complete, the entire piece of Imperial Green jade revealed inside was riddled with cracks.

The next second, it shattered into countless fragments, tumbling out and leaving only a thin outer shell behind.

"My god, a piece of Imperial Green shattered like this?"

"Impossible! That couldn’t happen with a natural formation!"

"The stone wasn’t even fully open yet, and everyone was watching the cutting process. There were absolutely no issues."

"What a bizarre event. I’ve gambled on stones for most of my life, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like it."

"It shattered so completely. Every piece is only the size of a fingernail..."

"The loss is immense. If it hadn’t shattered, this piece of Imperial Green would have been worth at least a billion. If they found a famous master carver, the price could have even doubled."

"Now... you’d be lucky to get 100,000 for it, and only from a sucker."

Standing to the side, Chen Xuan stared at the ruined stone, his expression as dark as still water.

’With the latest scanner, he had seen the jade inside perfectly. There were absolutely no cracks like this.’

"Mr. Jiang, what brilliant methods you have."

Chen Xuan whipped his head around to glare at Jiang Fan.

"What are you talking about? You don’t actually think I did this, do you? Did losing make you stupid? How dare you sling mud at me like this?"

The crowd also looked on in disbelief, their gazes toward Chen Xuan tinged with pity. It seemed he’d really been pushed over the edge.

He was starting to spout nonsense.

But among those present, only Elder Lu understood what had truly happened.

"Xuan’er, a loss is a loss. Our family is not one that cannot afford to lose."

"Mr. Jiang was the more skilled one. We accept our defeat."

"If there is an opportunity in the future, we must seek guidance from the Jiang Family."

"Brother Yin Shan, we will take our leave now."

After speaking, Chen Feng expressionlessly led Chen Xuan away from the Yin Family’s home.

"Come, come, the banquet continues! Everyone, please head to the main hall."

Yin Shan called out to the guests.

Jiang Fan, however, was not used to such occasions. He felt that everyone here was too hypocritical.

He whispered in Yin Ruxue’s ear, "When can I leave? My mission this time should be considered complete, right?"

"You know, what you promised me..."

Jiang Fan made a money-rubbing gesture with his fingers.

Seeing his money-grubbing expression, Yin Ruxue rolled her eyes.

"Don’t worry, you won’t be shorted what I promised you. You just made three hundred million in the blink of an eye, and you’re still concerned about this little bit of money."

Yin Ruxue said, gritting her teeth.

"It’s two million!! How is that a little bit of money!"

Jiang Fan’s eyes widened.

’He knew situations like this didn’t happen every day. Where would he find so many good stones to cut open?’

’Besides, if you could successfully cut a good stone every single time, you would eventually attract the attention of people with ulterior motives, bringing unnecessary trouble upon yourself.’

’Although he wasn’t afraid, he wasn’t a lone wolf anymore.’

’He thought of the children at the Grand Orphanage and the matron who had raised him.’

Jiang Fan’s mood suddenly plummeted.

But to Yin Ruxue, it looked as if he was putting her on the spot, implying that she would go back on her word.

"I’ll have someone transfer it to you right away. If you want to leave, just go say goodbye to my grandfather and go."

Yin Ruxue said coldly.

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow, wondering what had set this woman off again. She had been perfectly fine a moment ago, but now she was looking at him with utter disdain.

’But he didn’t pay it much mind. As long as he got the money.’

’As long as there was money, the lives of the children at the Grand Orphanage would be much better.’

"Hmph. Let’s go. We’ll go tell my grandfather, and then we can leave."

Jiang Fan nodded noncommittally.

The two of them went up to Yin Shan. "Grandpa, Jiang Fan has something he needs to take care of, so we’re going to head out first."

"We’ll come visit you again when we have time."

"Elder Yin, we’ll be leaving now."

"Mm. Be safe."

Yin Shan had never thought highly of Jiang Fan, seeing him as just some nouveau riche who wasn’t worthy of his granddaughter or the Yin Family.

But the methods Jiang Fan had displayed today had caused a slight change in his heart.

Seeing how cold the old man was toward him, Jiang Fan didn’t say anything more and simply turned to leave.

He wasn’t the type to offer a warm face only to be met with a cold backside. He didn’t have any masochistic tendencies that made him want to lick their boots.

Seeing Jiang Fan act like this, Yin Ruxue was exasperated, but she couldn’t show her anger in front of Yin Shan.

"Elder Lu, Miss Lu, we’ll meet again if fate allows."

A smile graced Lu Youyou’s face when she saw that Jiang Fan had made a special point to say goodbye to them before leaving.

"Also, here’s my bank card number. Just transfer it to this card."

Before she could even speak, Jiang Fan’s next words made the smile freeze on her face.

Even Elder Lu’s face twitched.

’He was acting as if their great and powerful Lu Family would actually default on a debt of three hundred million.’

"Young friend, you truly are meticulous. I’ll have someone transfer it to you right now."

As he spoke, Elder Lu took out his phone and sent a message. In less than a minute, Jiang Fan’s phone buzzed with a text notification that the money had been received.

"Farewell."

Jiang Fan left the Yin Family home humming a little tune. He couldn’t care less about things like face.

’After all, we’re just strangers who met by chance. What if you decided not to pay me?’

"That guy... he’s so strange. How can he be so cheap?"

"He wasn’t like this when he was demanding three hundred million and one yuan."

Lu Youyou muttered.

"What’s the matter? Curious?"

Elder Lu glanced sideways at his granddaughter.

"If you’re curious, then go get to know him better."