Chapter Ninety-Four: The Jade Thumb Ring of Emperor Qianlong

Zhao Taishan had to admit that Qin Feng’s words had truly tempted him.

The treasure in his possession was indeed priceless, but he had no idea how to sell it. He knew full well that its origins were dubious; if it ever came to light, he would be in serious trouble. That was why he had always kept it hidden, never daring to make a move.

“Who exactly are you? What do you want?” Zhao Taishan asked in a low voice.

“My name is Qin Feng. I’m an antique dealer,” Qin Feng replied, flicking the ash from his cigarette with an air of indifference. “I’m quite interested in the treasure you have. I’m willing to pay a high price to acquire it.”

“A high price? How high?” A glint of greed flashed in Zhao Taishan’s eyes.

Qin Feng held up a single finger and waggled it lightly. “How about this figure?”

Zhao Taishan drew in a sharp breath. He didn’t know the exact amount Qin Feng meant, but from Qin Feng’s demeanor, it was certainly an astronomical sum! That kind of money would be enough for him to abandon everything, disappear to a far-off place, and live in luxury for the rest of his life.

“Can… can you really come up with that much money?” Zhao Taishan’s voice trembled slightly.

“Of course,” Qin Feng replied with a confident smile. “As long as you hand over the item, I guarantee the money will be in your account within three days.”

Zhao Taishan’s heart pounded; greed crept through his mind like a twisting vine. He licked his parched lips and, breathing heavily, pressed further, “How can I trust you? Are you really able to produce that kind of money?”

“Mr. Zhao, are you questioning my financial resources, or doubting your own judgment?” Qin Feng rose, walked over to stand above Zhao Taishan, and spoke each word with deliberate clarity.

“You must realize that in your hands, this treasure is nothing but a hot potato—who knows when it might bring disaster down on your head? But in my hands, it can become a mountain of gold and silver.”

There was a seductive power in Qin Feng’s words; Zhao Taishan, who had wavered before, now found his resolve gradually crumbling.

“Fine!” Zhao Taishan gritted his teeth, as though making a momentous decision. “I accept! But you must show me the money first!”

Qin Feng chuckled softly, smoke curling from his lips. “Mr. Zhao, are you joking with me?” He flicked away the ash, his tone tinged with amusement. “A transaction of this scale—shouldn’t I inspect the goods first, to verify their authenticity? If it turns out to be worthless junk, I’d be taking quite a loss.”

Zhao Taishan’s face stiffened. He hadn’t expected Qin Feng to make such a demand.

The treasure’s origins were shady, and he’d always feared that the longer he held onto it, the greater the risk. He wanted nothing more than to be rid of it quickly, yet now Qin Feng insisted on seeing the item first—this was clearly making things difficult for him.

Suppressing a curse, Zhao Taishan forced a smile onto his face. “You jest, Mr. Qin. You know my reputation. If I say it’s a treasure, it can’t possibly be fake!”

“Oh?” Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. “If you’re so confident, then you should all the more let me see it. I’d love for you to open my eyes to your remarkable find.”

Zhao Taishan was left speechless, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. He dearly wished to strike Qin Feng, but reason told him otherwise.

After a deep breath to stifle his anger, he managed, “Mr. Qin, it’s not that I won’t let you see it. The treasure is simply too precious—I’ve hidden it in a very secret place. To retrieve it, I’ll need some time…”

“Oh?” Qin Feng feigned surprise. “How long will that take?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Zhao Taishan said after a pause, biting his lip. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll personally bring the item to my shop. Then I’ll let you examine it, Mr. Qin. Will that do?”

Qin Feng regarded him with an inscrutable smile. He knew Zhao Taishan was stalling for time, but he wasn’t concerned. “Since you’ve said so, Mr. Zhao, I can hardly refuse.”

He stood, straightening his collar. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll be there right on time.”

With that, he turned and left the warehouse, leaving Zhao Taishan standing alone, his face dark and brooding.

…

The following morning, Qin Feng arrived at Zhao Taishan’s antique shop as promised.

Zhao Taishan had been waiting for quite a while. Seeing Qin Feng enter, he plastered a false smile across his face. “Mr. Qin, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Qin Feng replied lightly. “So, what treasure are you planning to show me today?”

Zhao Taishan flashed a secretive smile. “Please, come with me.”

He led Qin Feng to a small room at the back of the shop. There was only a table and two chairs inside—spartan and bare.

Approaching the table, Zhao Taishan carefully drew a brocade box from his jacket and set it gently down.

“Take a look, Mr. Qin!” he said, opening the box with unconcealed pride.

Inside lay a jade pendant, its entire body a luminous green, crystal-clear, emanating a faint glow in the sunlight—clearly worth a fortune.

“This is…” Qin Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Well? Mr. Qin, I paid a hefty sum for this treasure!” Zhao Taishan declared smugly. “This is the jade thumb ring most favored by Emperor Qianlong!”

Qin Feng picked up the ring, studying it closely. His fingertips brushed the carved patterns, and a faint, enigmatic smile played at his lips.

“Are you certain, Mr. Zhao?” Qin Feng set the jade back down, looking at Zhao Taishan with a half-smile.

“Absolutely!” Zhao Taishan thumped his chest in assurance. “There’s no mistake about it!”

Qin Feng stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Good.”

“Mr. Qin, you—” Zhao Taishan began, only to be interrupted by a sharp crack. The jade had split cleanly in two!

“Ah? This… this…” Zhao Taishan’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the ruined jade on the floor, unable to react.

This was an artifact from the Qianlong era—exceptionally valuable, something he had been reluctant to part with. Now Qin Feng had shattered it?

Qin Feng threw back his head and laughed. “Mr. Zhao, if you meant to take advantage of an out-of-towner, you could have just said so. There’s no need to try and fool me with a cheap fake!”

Even though this gave Zhao Taishan leverage, there were only the two of them present. Even if the other tried to blackmail him, it would depend on whether Qin Feng played along.

Shocked at first, Zhao Taishan then exploded in rage. “Qin Feng, what nonsense are you spouting!”

“Oh, nonsense?” Qin Feng snorted coldly. “If this is how you want to do business, then perhaps we have nothing more to discuss.”

At those words, Zhao Taishan burst out laughing.

“Haha! Truly, heroes are made young. My apologies—I merely wanted to test your discernment, Mr. Qin. I didn’t expect you to see through it so quickly. Please, sit down. The real item will be brought out in a moment.”