I turned my head and looked at the elder in surprise. How was this possible? How did he do it?
The elder shook his head. Sensing my desire to know, he didn't answer. He returned to the table to tidy up his things and then said, "Some things are better left unknown. Seeing the result is enough."
I nodded, my curiosity satisfied, and began to examine my own face.
Indeed, I had to admire the elder's honesty. He hadn't made drastic changes, which meant Xie Jiahui and the others wouldn't find it too jarring. Xie Nana, especially, was highly sensitive.
Just then, Wen Siqiang called, saying Mr. Wu was waiting for me at the teahouse.
I agreed and, to avoid seeming out of place among familiar faces, put on a mask and sunglasses before heading downstairs.
Wu Lao San was sitting in a corner, a pot of tea before him.
As I approached, Wu Lao San started to rise, but I motioned for him to stay put. I sat opposite him and said, "I've had a slight alteration to my face. Don't be alarmed."
With that, I removed my mask and smiled at him.
He stared at me and said, "If you hadn't said anything, I would have been a bit puzzled. Knowing it's you, it's fine, just feels a little strange. If I didn't know you at all, I might not have been able to reconcile the two identities."
"That's good," I replied. "That's exactly the effect I was going for. Speaking of which, my disguise is all because the Crown Prince got involved. This person is my sworn enemy. We've crossed paths many times, and we know each other too well. If I said I was Sheng Hao, he wouldn't believe me for a second. Unlike Principal Sun, whom I've only met a few times, he's easily fooled. The Crown Prince would recognize me 100%. I called you here today because I want to probe the Crown Prince's intentions. What's his goal in getting involved?"
Wu Lao San: "Tell me, what do you need me to do?"
"Tonight," I said, "have Wen Siqiang cooperate with you. Take a few of your brothers to pay him a visit. It would be best if you could get him to reveal what cooperation he has with Brother Hui."
Wu Lao San: "Alright, no problem. Can you tell me about this Crown Prince?"
"I called you here specifically to talk about him," I said. "It's a long story. Our feud started when he harassed our girls at the Grand World. I tried to reason with him, but he resorted to force. I didn't back down and gave him a beating there. After he went back, he had his father retaliate, threatening to make me apologize with an arm. His father is quite a figure in Ruili, doing business with rosewood furniture across the border. He's wealthy, arrogant, and has considerable influence. That's why he dared to threaten to take my arm."
Wu Lao San: "Did you actually go?"
"Of course, I had to go," I replied. "But I never fight unprepared. I first found Bo Gang to investigate him there, had him detained, and while he was being dealt with, I raided his stronghold here."
Wu Lao San: "It couldn't have been that simple, could it?"
"Of course not," I said. "That's why all these things have happened."
I had been conceptualizing this book for a long time. In 2010, I spent several months in Tengchong, and that's when my understanding of jade began.
Jade is incredibly beautiful, exquisitely so. The lobby of the Xiangxue Hotel where we stayed had a jade carving weighing over a ton, which was breathtaking and magnificent.
The jade exhibits in the display hall were even more captivating, drawing visitors in with their sheer beauty.
It was then that I developed a sudden passion for jade. Whenever I had free time, I would visit the jade market, though mostly just to browse and admire.
Occasionally, I would purchase a small item, just to get a feel for it.
Jade can be addictive, especially stone gambling. It's truly a gamble where one cut leads to poverty, another to wealth, and another to rags, a scenario that plays out daily in the stone gambling markets.
As described in the book, most stones don't yield great surprises. Even a hint of color is considered good. Yet, people hold onto dreams of striking it rich, constantly seeking the next opportunity.
I've written about the journey of one person struggling in this industry. I hope readers will simply enjoy it as a story and perhaps gain some insight or help. That would be enough for me.
The book has been released. I started uploading chapters gradually at the end of last month, meeting the requirements for publication. From now on, there will be locked chapters. If you feel the book is still worth reading, I hope you'll spend a few coins to support the author. Writing a book is no easy task. It requires immense mental effort, not to mention the pressure of daily updates.
I once missed the last high-speed train of the day because I was writing, forcing me to forfeit my ticket and reschedule for the next day. People criticized me for becoming a bookworm.
Sitting in the waiting room, I completely missed the boarding announcements, and by the time I realized it, the train was long gone.
There are many other interesting anecdotes from the writing process that I'll share gradually. In short, I implore you for your support. Please leave more reviews. Your encouragement is my only motivation to continue writing.