A Divine Farmer

C25 – Won’t Give Anyone Face

Ah…

The hall was bustling with a crowd, and almost every gaze was fixed on the piece of jade. Some were intrigued by Zhang Xiaoloong’s audacity in challenging Xu Shaoning, while others were eager to witness how this seemingly naive youngster would embarrass himself.

Gasps of astonishment rippled through the audience when they witnessed the jade burn and effortlessly crumble under Zhang Xiaoloong’s touch.

It was common knowledge that jade possessed exceptional hardness. Subjecting it to flames wouldn’t determine its authenticity, let alone render it as malleable as clay.

Yet, it had indeed transformed into something resembling plasticine. Zhang Xiaoloong was shaping the once pristine ruyi into the form of a plump goose using nothing but his imagination.

There was no room for doubt about the outcome—it had to be a counterfeit. Anyone insisting this was genuine jade at this point likely had a mind more befuddled than a dented door, and probably more than once.

“In fact, even without masquerading as jade, these creations can be quite beautiful,” Zhang Xiaoloong mused half a minute later, holding an abstract green goose in his hand.

From an artistic perspective, appreciating their beauty was challenging, but presently, no one was focusing on the sculptures. Their attention was divided between Xu Shaoning and Wang Changyu.

“Impossible! How could this be?” Wang Changyu thought his eyes must be deceiving him. “No, even if it were made of plastic, it wouldn’t turn this soft after being exposed to fire. You must have swapped the contents.”

Though a tad audacious, everyone found Wang Changyu’s argument plausible. Even if it were made of plastic, it shouldn’t have softened so dramatically when exposed to a lighter’s flame.

Zhang Xiaoloong grinned when asked, “Change the bag?” “Before this moment, I had never even laid a finger on this particular piece of jade. Moreover, how could I have foreseen that Young Master Xu would present such an exquisite jade? Where could I possibly find an identical match to this?”

The assembled onlookers nodded in contemplation. They witnessed Zhang Xiaoloong swiftly extract the jade from its enclosure. Without hesitation, he ignited it right before their eyes. Then, in full view of the gathering, he produced the exquisitely crafted jade ruyi. He then transformed it into the present plump goose with a simple pinch.

Even an accomplished magician wouldn’t have been able to instantaneously replicate the same item, let alone employ fire for substitution.

“Regardless,” Wang Changyu’s face reddened, and he appeared disinclined to believe it.

“No problem at all. If Young Master Yu harbors doubts, I can incinerate it once more. This time, I’ll let you handle it personally,” Zhang Xiaoloong offered graciously. “If you still harbor skepticism, you may consider it a jest. Young Master Yu, please don’t take it too seriously.”

Wang Changyu seethed with anger, wishing he could chew Zhang Xiaoloong to bits if not for the numerous onlookers. He muttered under his breath, “If you’re willing to wager and concede, I can still afford twenty thousand yuan.”

He extended two fingers and gestured behind him. Promptly, someone brought over two stacks of cash and presented them to Zhang Xiaoloong.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Zhang Xiaoloong smiled at the individual and accepted the money without hesitation. He then turned to Chen Yaru and said, “Take this, please.”

“Why are you giving it to me?” Chen Yaru blushed slightly, feeling like a man entrusting money to a woman for management.

Zhang Xiaoloong leaned in closer and softly confided, “I’ve returned the money to you as promised.”

Chen Yaru brimmed with anger, rendering her momentarily speechless. “Do you honestly think I’d sink my teeth into you?”

Unbeknownst to onlookers, their hushed exchange led them to believe it was a private moment of flirtation, further souring some observers’ expressions.

Xu Shaoning, skilled in masking his emotions, quickly regained his composure. “I apologize, Yaru. It appears I’ve been deceived. I’ll arrange another gift for you at a later time.”

“No worries, Young Master Xu. It was an innocent mistake,” Chen Yaru reassured him, the gift having turned into a jest. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness. As Xiaoloong suggested, I’ll call it even. Frankly, I now favor this ‘silly goose’ more than the jade ruyi from before!”

She cast a pointed glare at Zhang Xiaoloong, implying he was the biggest “silly goose” of them all.

Xu Shaoning brushed aside his displeasure as he proposed, “Mr. Zhang, I’ve heard about a stone gambling establishment on the outskirts of Qingyang City. I’d like to invite you for a few rounds. Would you be interested?” He concealed his annoyance, maintaining his customary smile, despite witnessing the woman he admired acting coquettishly with another man.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Xu, but I genuinely don’t have the time,” Zhang Xiaoloong responded honestly. His visit to the city was centered on procuring glass, not engaging in stone gambling. “Furthermore, I have limited knowledge about jade and gambling on stones.”

Xu Shaoning couldn’t help but lavish praise on Zhang Xiaoloong, saying, “Haha, Mr. Zhang, your modesty is truly remarkable. Your discerning eye was quick to spot the fake jade. With your level of expertise, it’s safe to say that there’s likely no one else in all of Qingyang City who could match your knowledge. No one would dare to question your familiarity with jade.”

“Young Master Xu certainly has a sense of humor. Sometimes, even an unexpected stroke of luck can lead to the right answer,” Wang Changyu interjected promptly.

“Young Master Yu is correct. It was purely coincidental because my expertise lies more in plastic crafts. That’s why I could identify it as a fake, unrelated to jade,” Zhang Xiaoloong replied with a smile, choosing to speak for himself.

“You’re too humble. With the intelligence of a national college entrance examination champion, you excel in whatever you do. It was the same with gambling on stones. Mr. Zhang possesses remarkable intellect and incredible luck. Perhaps you could consider going… perhaps you could buy a gift that Yaru would appreciate even more,” Xu Shaoning persisted, unwilling to give up. “Even if you don’t understand, you could still accompany Yaru for a leisurely stroll.”

“Young Master Xu, there’s no need to push it. They’ve already mentioned they don’t have the time. Perhaps they’re in a hurry to return home and tend to their farms,” Wang Changyu continued to jest and taunt.

The two of them seemed to be on the same page, with one attempting to belittle Zhang Xiaoloong and the other appearing as though he wanted to harm him. Many were well aware of this animosity, a clear manifestation of their disdain for Zhang Xiaoloong.

“Xiaoloong, what if…” Chen Yaru had her own thoughts. If Zhang Xiaoloong left like this, she didn’t know when she would see him again.

Although her stay might only be extended by a single day, one more day was still valuable. She yearned for more interaction with him. This person seemed like a magnet from the very beginning, attracting her to him irresistibly.

“But I genuinely don’t have the time. My crops are still waiting to be planted,” Zhang Xiaoloong quickly extinguished Chen Yaru’s hopes.

“It appears that not only is she not accommodating Young Master Xu, but she’s also not interested in pleasing Miss Chen!” Wang Changyu continued to provoke from the sidelines.

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