Long Xiao learned that Tian Bao Pavilion belonged to the Xue family, and worried that the older generation of the Xue family might recognize his father and become suspicious upon seeing him.
He stood up and went into the courtyard. Seeing a cutter had just finished with a rough stone, he picked out the best one and said, "Cut this one open first."
After helping the workers secure the rough stone and starting the machine, Long Xiao returned to his room and called the attendant.
"Check out, I need to leave in a hurry."
"Sir, those rough stones haven't been cut yet," the attendant said, pointing to the rough stones being cut in the courtyard.
Long Xiao smiled and said, "It's fine, I'll leave first. They can stay and wait."
Soon, 150 million yuan was transferred from Long Xiao's bank card to Tian Bao Pavilion's account.
Long Xiao waited in his room for a while, and the worker who had been cutting the rough stone ran in with a look of surprise on his face.
"Sir, you should come out and see. This is the first time I've accurately cut out such fine jade."
Long Xiao and the other three followed the worker into the courtyard. A watermelon-sized piece of imperial green ice jade had been completely cut out, with even the unusable edges of the stone ground away.
"Sir, you've struck it rich this time. This single piece of jade is worth at least two hundred million."
Long Xiao picked up the jade and examined it for a moment, then asked, "What can this be made into?"
The stone cutter told Long Xiao that it would be best to find a master carver to make it into a display piece, which could increase its value tenfold.
Long Xiao knew that the better the jade, the stronger the vital energy contained within it, and the more powerful the magic artifacts carved from such jade would be.
Combining the imperial green ice jade with the antiques he had just bought, only fifteen or sixteen coin-sized pieces would be enough.
Long Xiao picked up a marker pen and began to draw on the jade. After drawing, he placed it on the machine and said, "Cut according to my drawing."
This time, not only did the stone cutter object, but the attendant and Professor Che also voiced their objections collectively, all trying to persuade Long Xiao that cutting such fine jade this way would reduce its value by at least half.
"Stop talking nonsense. Cut as I say, and do it as quickly as possible."
To their dismay, the worker had no choice but to join Long Xiao in securing the jade to the cutting machine and starting it.
This time, Long Xiao did not return to his room. He marked the large cut pieces of jade, and soon, the watermelon-sized jade was cut into dozens of smaller pieces of various sizes, along with a pile of scraps.
Putting all the jade into a bag, Long Xiao said, "Xiao Ming, Tian Shui, you two stay and wait for the other rough stones. I'm leaving first."
Shortly after Long Xiao and Professor Che left the Glazed Tile Market, a Rolls-Royce Wraith stopped in front of Tian Bao Pavilion.
Xue Hong got out of the car and headed straight for the back courtyard. When he saw the various types of jade laid out all over the floor, he was instantly agitated.
These jades were worth at least three to four hundred million yuan, more than his establishment could earn in half a year.
"Who did this? They're practically emptying me out," Xue Hong asked loudly with dissatisfaction.
Xiao Ming walked out with his hands behind his back, swaying slightly, and said, "I bought them. What, do you think my skills aren't good enough?"
Xue Hong's eyes widened. "Not good enough? I'm not selling anymore."
Xiao Ming chuckled and said, "I've already paid. These things are mine."
Seeing their boss arrive, the attendant hurried out and told Xue Hong that someone had also taken away the best piece of imperial green ice jade.
Xue Hong's face instantly turned green. His jade market was the largest raw jade market in the entire capital. However, in the ten years since it opened, this was the only basketball-sized piece of imperial green ice jade they had ever unearthed.
"Someone, detain these two. You must find the two who left."
The workers in the shop stopped cutting stones and rushed into the room, preparing to confront Xiao Ming and Luo Tianya.
The attendant added, "Boss, that person should not be hard to find. The one who brought them here is Professor Che from Peking University."
Professor Che was an expert in porcelain, but his greatest passion was jade. He frequented this raw jade market and was already on familiar terms with the attendants.
"Call him and tell him to return immediately with the person who left, or I'll kill these two brats," Xue Hong said.
Although the capital had hidden dragons and crouching tigers, Xue Hong believed he could do as he pleased in the capital, because he was the second master of the Xue family, one of the five great families of the capital.
Xiao Ming and Luo Tian Shui sat calmly, sipping tea, unfazed by the workers.
Xue Hong entered the room and saw the two still sitting and drinking tea. He asked, "Who are you people, daring to come and trash my establishment?"
Xiao Ming glanced at Xue Hong from the side. "What are you? Daring to speak to me like this?"
Seeing Xiao Ming's nonchalant and arrogant demeanor, Xue Hong was furious. He waved to the four bodyguards behind him and said, "Beat them."
The four bodyguards lunged at Xiao Ming. Xiao Ming, holding his teacup, quickly retreated and asked, "Brother Luo, do you want to fight, or should I?"
Luo Tianshu shook his head. "Just four bodyguards? Too weak, not interested."
Xiao Ming sighed. "I'm not interested either. How about we call Brother Long and have him do it?"
With one hand holding his teacup and the other reaching for his phone, Xiao Ming dialed Long Xiao. The four bodyguards pounced on Xiao Ming from four directions. Xiao Ming walked leisurely, talking as he moved.
"Brother Long, that Xue Hong is here. He wants to steal our jade."
"Are they all cut?" Long Xiao asked.
"Not yet, there are about five or six left. They stopped working."
"Don't beat him yet. I'll call his father. After all, he's the second master of the Xue family, one of the five great families of the capital. I'll notify his father before we beat him."
"Alright, I'll wait for you."
After finishing the call, Xiao Ming put away his phone and looked at the four panting bodyguards. "Hurry up, if you don't fight, I'm going to sit down."
Xue Hong saw that the four bodyguards hadn't even touched Xiao Ming's clothes and knew he had encountered a master. He quickly took out his phone and called for reinforcements from the Xue family.
Long Xiao ended his call with Xiao Ming, took out the name card of Xue Zhongyue, the head of the Xue family, looked at the phone number, and dialed it.
When the call was connected, Long Xiao chuckled a few times and said, "Old Master Xue, I'm Ouyang Tuo. We drank together at Old Master Long's birthday celebration some days ago."
Xue Zhongyue did not expect to receive a call from Ouyang Tuo and said happily, "It's Mr. Ouyang. Is there something I can help you with?"
Xue Zhongyue was eager for Ouyang Tuo to need his help. Everyone wanted to curry favor with such a master of medicine, and having a good relationship with him was like having an extra life.
"Old Master Xue, there's something I need to tell you..."
Long Xiao first briefly introduced the situation of his jade purchase to Xue Zhongyue, then continued, "Your second son doesn't want my friend to take the cut jade away. My friend was a bit heavy-handed, and I'm afraid they might hurt your son."
"This unfilial thing, always causing trouble for me. Don't worry, Mr. Ouyang, I'll inform him immediately and tell him to let your friends go."
Xue Zhongyue assumed that Ouyang Tuo was calling to plead for his friend. Without a second thought, he believed Long Xiao's words and that Long Xiao did not want to harm Xue Hong.
After ending the call, Xue Zhongyue dialed Xue Hong's number and first reprimanded him, saying, "Let them go immediately."
"Dad, the jade they took and are about to take is worth seven to eight hundred million. We can't let them go."
"They are Ouyang Tuo's friends. If you dare to hurt them, I'll break your legs."
"Dad, don't worry, I won't let them get hurt," Xue Hong said.