Chapter 14: No Money? So It Was a Plant All Along!

In fact, Jiang Cheng’s bid of three million was a calculated move.

Firstly, he didn’t want Shen Sining to be swindled by Murong Xue and the others, so he intended to act as a “stooge” and raise the price a bit. Therefore, he couldn’t bid too high—he had to leave room for Murong Xue to increase her offer.

Secondly, if Murong Xue got anxious, after his three million bid, he could simply back out. Others would then think he was just a price inflator, and naturally wouldn’t bid, leaving the lot for him to claim.

He was certain this piece was worth at least 4.3 million!

He didn’t believe Liu Ruiming was the only one in the jade industry who could recognize its true value.

If he secured it at three million, he could easily make over a million in profit—that would be splendid!

What? No money?

Where would three million come from?

Jiang Cheng smiled. Didn’t he still have a raw stone?

Murong Xue and Liu Ruiming, of course, had no idea what Jiang Cheng was really thinking.

At that moment, Murong Xue, who had been silent till then, finally spoke.

“Sining, is this your friend?”

She had witnessed the closeness between Shen Sining and Jiang Cheng moments ago.

But she had never met Jiang Cheng before and couldn’t quite figure him out!

Old Liu said this kind of material had long since ceased production; even if it still existed, it was rarely seen in the world.

Few people could recognize it now!

A man barely in his twenties could recognize it?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

“My name is Jiang Cheng!”

Jiang Cheng was not intimidated in the slightest.

“Jiang Cheng?”

Murong Xue’s eyes darted about, seemingly pondering that there was no Jiang family of note in Qingzhou.

Could he be from another city?

But judging by Jiang Cheng’s street-market style attire, she was utterly baffled.

She couldn’t quite read this Jiang Cheng!

“This friend of yours—we originally offered 700,000, and you’ve more than quadrupled that. Since you’re Sining’s friend, isn’t this a bit unfair?” Murong Xue said coldly.

“Unfair? Haha! Precisely because I’m Sining’s friend, I’m bidding higher! As a friend, I can’t shamelessly lowball her!”

Jiang Cheng sneered, completely disregarding Murong Xue’s dignity.

“You...”

Murong Xue’s beautiful eyes widened in fury!

How could she not sense that Jiang Cheng’s words had a double meaning?

He was clearly accusing her of being shameless and deliberately undercutting a friend.

“You... what do you know!” Murong Xue glared angrily at Jiang Cheng.

“Of course I can’t understand your behavior! I’m not as cold-hearted as you! If you think my bid is unreasonable, you can just pass!” Jiang Cheng retorted without hesitation.

“You...”

Murong Xue stared at Jiang Cheng’s calm demeanor, her anger trembling through her body.

She was the cherished jewel of the Murong family. Since childhood, who had dared to defy and mock her like Jiang Cheng did?

Her gaze toward Jiang Cheng was icy cold.

If they were somewhere else, meeting Shen Sining alone, she definitely wouldn’t have offered such a low price.

But here, Murong Xue wasn’t alone; the jewel and jade dealers present were all shrewd as foxes.

With so many people, price hikes were inevitable!

This time she had brought Old Liu Ruiming along—who in Qingzhou’s antique circle didn’t know him?

If he said a high price was justified, wouldn’t all these seasoned veterans bid fiercely like hungry tigers?

How could Murong Xue possibly get it then?

This tiger-skin material was a type of Qi Luo jade, a variety of ink jade!

The gray-black spots inside weren’t cracks but deep green ink stains!

Though not visually appealing, it was genuinely fine material.

Qi Luo jade had long ceased production; surviving finished pieces were mostly relics from the past, making them extremely rare.

Old Liu was certain hardly anyone present could recognize it!

Recently, the Qing Dynasty Pingxi King Wu Sangui’s treasured tiger-skin “Jade Chalice” was revealed, and many suspected it was Qi Luo jade!

The cup walls were as thin as cicada wings, glistening with verdant green; a pair of tiger-skin jade cups valued at over 100 million.

Because production had stopped long ago, Qi Luo jade was now nearly impossible to find, with only a few scattered in private hands.

Its rarity in some ways even surpassed the Imperial Green jade.

That was why Murong Xue deliberately had Old Liu quote a low price, betting no one present had the eye to recognize its true value.

They aimed to snag a bargain at a low price.

Shen Sining’s piece was undoubtedly a priceless heirloom.

Murong Xue wanted to acquire it and turn it into a perfect masterpiece, hoping that when her jewelry brand opened in a month, this Qi Luo jade piece would make her brand famous.

But after she placed her bid and saw no one else bidding, she secretly rejoiced that no one had recognized the material’s worth—until Jiang Cheng suddenly appeared.

And from the start, he bid three million—more than four times hers.

Though Jiang Cheng claimed ignorance of its value, Murong Xue wasn’t a fool; who would bid three million without knowing its worth?

If she raised her price further, wouldn’t it confirm the true value of the piece?

Wouldn’t that prove the earlier 700,000 was a deliberate lowball?

Then wouldn’t everyone start bidding wildly?

But if she didn’t raise her price, the piece would become Jiang Cheng’s!

Caught in this dilemma, Murong Xue was deeply conflicted.

She had intended to leverage Old Liu’s reputation to snatch a bargain but instead found herself hampered by his so-called authority.

She truly felt like she had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice bowl.

“Xue, look at this...”

Liu Ruiming naturally sensed something and quietly asked Murong Xue.

“What’s wrong, Miss Murong? If you like it, you can bid higher! I’ll be straightforward: I think this piece is worth four million. My bottom line is 3.5 million. If you really want it, you can increase your bid! Buying at three million and selling for 3.5 million is a good deal, in my opinion! Plus with operations, you can make...”

Jiang Cheng pressed Murong Xue further.

He had no idea about Murong Xue’s thoughts; he wasn’t scheming, just trying to raise Shen Sining’s price.

“How... how do you know my surname is Murong?”

Murong Xue felt a chill run through her heart.

“I guessed!” Jiang Cheng smiled casually.

Murong Xue furrowed her brows tightly—this Jiang Cheng was indeed not simple!

His sudden high bid had put her in a very awkward position.

Just as Murong Xue was agonizing, Qin Xiaoshu suddenly stood up.

Pulling Jiang Cheng aside, he said, “Orange, are you crazy? Three million? Where would you get that kind of money? We don’t have any money left! Didn’t we just spend it all on raw stones?”

His voice was low, but Murong Xue heard it clearly.

So they really had no money! This was just a deliberate price inflator!

“I knew it! Such an ordinary piece, though decent, couldn’t possibly be worth three million!”

“Exactly! Even Old Liu said it was only worth 600,000. The 700,000 was just because Old Liu knew this girl!”

“...”

The crowd murmured, but Jiang Cheng remained unfazed.

“Jiang Cheng, right? Since you bid three million, this piece is yours!” Murong Xue said coldly.

So he was just a deliberate price inflator!

She had thought Jiang Cheng truly recognized the piece’s value, but he had no money at all and was randomly bidding. If not a stooge, then what?

Murong Xue was certain that aside from Jiang Cheng, no one else recognized the true value here.

As long as she didn’t raise her bid, sealing the price at 700,000, Jiang Cheng wouldn’t be able to pay.

Others would just think Jiang Cheng was a stooge and wouldn’t bid further.

Her predicament was instantly resolved!

What a pleasant surprise!

If he couldn’t pay, the piece would be hers!

Murong Xue smiled sweetly, waiting to see Jiang Cheng make a fool of himself.

“Miss Murong, are you sure you don’t want it?”

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly, unaware of Murong Xue’s cunning plan.

Since Murong Xue was backing out, he would take it!