Chapter 32: It Was All A Last Resort – Won’t, Unwilling, Or Perhaps…
Tri-color jadeite, as the name implies, is jadeite that possesses three colors.
Typical tri-color jadeite is composed of any three colors from red, green, purple, yellow, and white. Different colors correspond to Fu (Fortune), Lu (Prosperity), Shou (Longevity), Xi (Happiness), and Cai (Wealth) in traditional auspicious culture.
Among them, the most common and classic is the combination of red, green, and purple, known as Fu Lu Shou tri-color jadeite.
However, the conditions for natural tri-color jadeite to appear are harsh. Getting an absolute combination of red, green, and purple, with abundant distinct colors and good water and species—the probability is harder than winning the lottery.
So in reality, as long as a jadeite has three colors, and the three colors are vivid, lustrous, do not affect each other, and transition harmoniously, it can actually be called Fu Lu Shou.
Once, Le Can had the privilege of witnessing the bidding for a Fu Lu Shou tri-color jadeite bangle at an auction.
That bangle had fine and clear water; according to the description in the auction catalog, it had reached the High Ice Species level. And its colors were not the most typical red-green-purple of Fu Lu Shou, but green, white, and orange-yellow.
The green was bright and translucent, the white was beautiful and clear, and the orange-yellow was playful and lively.
Clearly three completely different colors, the transitions were natural and smooth without any disjointedness, blending perfectly on a small bangle.
That year, Le Can sat quietly in the audience, watching various bidders raise prices one after another. Just like that, a small bangle was auctioned off for a sky-high transaction price in the blink of an eye.
The tri-color jadeite opened from Xi Yun’s material was the most authentic Fu Lu Shou, meaning the three-color jadeite of red, green, and purple hues.
The Sun Green in the primary color extended like a flowing green ribbon from the top left of the cut surface to the bottom right.
In the two areas separated by the green, a small part was a colorless, clear base, while the majority were the dreamy Royal Purple of the primary colors, and the Orange-Red of the secondary red color series, resembling brilliant rosy clouds.
At the edges of the three rich and even colors, it was as if watercolors had bloomed on paper; on the pure, icy base, it was hazy and beautiful like light gauze or soft mist…
Among the three colors, picking out any single one would be a top-tier existence. Now, these three colors appeared before everyone’s eyes like a rainbow; almost everyone stared blankly, absent-mindedly, their eyes fixated deeply on that half-person-tall raw material.
The entire venue fell silent because of it.
After learning the cause and effect from the more reliable Tan Man, Le Can, who originally thought his and Xi Yun’s behavior was too conspicuous, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he found out a bit late and his quick-witted “advertisement” had already been sent out, the effect was obviously good.
Yuan Cheng and Xie Jun didn’t even have time to collect business cards and add contacts. Later, it was only with the help of Du Ran, Yin Wuyu, and Old Lu’s security team that they managed to block the swarming crowd.
As for Le Can?
He had long since come down from Xi Yun’s lap.
The youth lowered his brow and eyes, standing properly and quietly beside the “lover” he had proclaimed, showing not a hint of the frivolous arrogance from moments ago.
Looking at the dejected kid with red ears, Tan Man, the elder, held back her laughter the entire time she spoke.
Throughout the narration, Xi Yun accompanied them quietly.
The eldest young master of the Xi family, forced into a “debut,” showed no abnormality on his face. Only the clothes that were crisp and straight in the morning now had some wrinkles from being pressed.
After such a farce, he considered himself to have received the “unprecedentedly grand publicity” Le Can had spoken of.
It was grand, and it was publicized, but Xi Yun almost laughed out of anger.
Usually, there were rowdy people around Xi Yun. Whether it was Yuan Cheng with his cheerful personality and lack of schemes, or Xie Jun who was flamboyant and free-spirited with many small gestures, neither dared to be too presumptuous in front of him.
Le Can was different from them.
This person, whom investigations claimed was cowardly and incompetent, displayed a completely different persona in front of Xi Yun.
He was free and easy, following his heart, with clear distinctions between love and hate. And because he had no past history of interacting with Xi Yun, he didn’t have reservations like Yuan Cheng and Xie Jun.
He wouldn’t, was unwilling, or perhaps disdainful.
Angry?
But Le Can did what he promised.
However unusual the process was, Le Can indeed kept his word. This was what made Xi Yun feel he didn’t know how to handle him.
Having lived for so many years, the only person who could give Xi Yun such a headache was probably just this one person before him…
On the other side, Le Can didn’t feel his behavior was wrong.
After all, it was Xi Yun who used pocket money to manipulate him first, causing him to lose his sense of propriety. And because of the crowd’s blatant gawking and joking, in his urgency, he cupped Xi Yun’s face and broadcasted their relationship.
【It was all a last resort.】
Even though it was just a few words, Xi Yun, hearing the inner voice, quickly connected the context. Hearing this, low laughter rolled from the man’s throat.
It seems someone has already forgotten the string of “Husbands” that pressed step by step just before this…
Le Can was startled by Xi Yun’s sudden laugh. He moved outward quietly, trying to ignore the chilling cold coming from nowhere behind his back.
Before he moved far, a familiar elder with a serious face walked up to Le Can.
He wore a black Tang suit and wasn’t tall. Because of his thin and dry build, the loosely cut clothes looked even emptier. At first glance, he looked like those old-fashioned, feudal patriarchs standing in the center of an ancestral hall with critical eyes.
To be honest, when he looked straight over, it was a bit scary.
Le Can, whose mind was unsettled, looked up and met Mr. Lu Fuming’s eyes. For the first second, his heart skipped a beat—from fright.
However, Old Lu was an authority doubly certified by Aunt Tan and Xi Yun. Facing such a highly respected person, Le Can quickly calmed his pounding heart and put on the demeanor used for facing true elders.
It was different from treating Le Wenxin’s family of plastic relatives.
“Hello, Mr. Lu.”
Le Can greeted him first.
Hearing the greeting, the small knot between Lu Fuming’s brows loosened slightly, and he gave a faint “En.”
Le Can nodded along, looking expectant as he waited for what followed. But after waiting for a long time, he didn’t get a second sentence.
When strangers come knocking, it’s usually for a reason. Le Can kept his eyelids half-lowered, looking quiet and obedient on the surface, while quickly running through the two intersecting events in his mind, roughly guessing the purpose of the visit.
Whatever the details, the main point revolved around one word—Jadeite.
The “congratulations” Le Can returned with deep meaning after receiving Xi Yun’s congratulations had come true amidst the sound of firecrackers ringing out again.
Before and after the stone gambling, Le Can had heard complaints—either sincere or half-joking—more than once. From strangers and from acquaintances around him.
They all said the sellers here had strict rules and high standards.
For example, unless it was High Ice Species or Glass Species, the celebratory fireworks and firecrackers here wouldn’t be set off.
And such a proud person, hearing that someone unlocked the “highest reward” twice in a row, and it was the same person—wouldn’t he be curious?
Asking around carefully, the raw stones that produced these high-quality jadeites were not priced in the highest tier. It was equivalent to the seller making a mistake twice; could he really sit still?
Le Can raised his eyes and looked closely at Lu Fuming’s expression; he didn’t need anyone else to give him the answer.
Because the answer was already self-evident.
Lu Fuming probably didn’t expect Le Can to look up at him. Having taken advantage of the kid looking down to not hide the inquiring emotions in his eyes, Lu Fuming widened his eyes slightly, stunned in place.
Thus, the two stared at each other, big eyes against small eyes, speechless.
Tan Man stood aside, taking in the actions and expressions of both the old and the young. Seeing this, she laughed until she trembled, overjoyed.
“Stop staring foolishly at each other, if you keep looking, the sky will turn dark! I have to go back early tonight.”
Although there were plenty of people who shone lights on stones at night, Tan Man wouldn’t keep them company. She was getting older now, and staying up late was bad for her skin condition.
Without her, the intermediary who knew both sides, the difficult conversation between this “grandfather and grandson” pair would likely be even harder to push forward.
Actually, she wasn’t worried about Le Can; someone who could make a person with Xi Yun’s temperament “come alive” wouldn’t be unable to handle Lu Fuming.
But Uncle Lu cared too much about face and was awkward. It was so when he was young, and now that he was older, it had intensified; without her, it probably wouldn’t work.
Sure enough, hearing that Tan Man wanted to quit, Lu Fuming got anxious.
He glared hurriedly at his unreliable niece, and when he turned back to Le Can, he was much more direct. He had to be direct, they needed to finish before dark.
“Stone 2817 and 3068, you chose both of them?”
3068 was the raw stone that produced the Glass Species Fu Lu Shou tri-color jadeite.
Le Can shook his head honestly, not putting gold on his face in front of the big shot. “3068 was a stone Xi Yun chose and bought, it was just opened in my name.”
What was his relationship with Xi Yun to do this? Le Can believed Lu Fuming, who hadn’t missed the scene where he called him “lover,” didn’t need further explanation.
Smile.jpg
“As for 2817,” Le Can hid the real reason, “I bought it purely because the price was right and I wanted to gamble.”
He smiled half-truthfully, “If its price had been set a bit higher, reaching two million, I might have chosen another stone.”
Lu Fuming frowned, his face showing suspicion and mild absurdity. “Over a million—an amount an ordinary family might not save in half a lifetime—you took it out just for a thrill?”
Le Can hissed softly in his heart.
To be honest, if one didn’t know the true performance of 2817, just listening to this sentence he just said, Le Can felt his reason was damned absurd!
But Le Can couldn’t say the real reason. Thus, sticking to the freshly fabricated persona, he could only grit his teeth and continue weaving the story with a smile.
“How can Old Lu say that?”
“Gambling stones, gambling stones—’gamble’ comes first. Is it wrong for me to spend money within my ability to gamble on the biggest one, seeking the most extreme stimulation?”
A pair of peach blossom eyes, sharp after being lowered, met the old, cloudy eyes with a faint smile that didn’t reach the bottom, asking with a clear conscience.
People who love stone gambling, aren’t they all in it for the stimulating feeling of the huge drop between heaven and hell?
“What’s more, I won the bet.”
Lost, and the one million plus would become a blade pointed at Le Can by the world. Won, and the one million plus would only become an insignificant pearl on his dazzling crown.
“Hahahaha, good, good, good!”
receiving consecutive rhetorical questions in public, Lu Fuming didn’t get angry; instead, he clapped his hands and laughed heartily on the spot.
“Truly, heroes come from the youth. Sigh, I’m old, I’m old…”
Amidst the lament, the elder in the Tang suit waved his hand. Immediately, someone stepped forward, holding out a gold-stamped business card with both hands.
The youth who hadn’t given an inch just now was now hesitating with a crumpled face.
Lu Fuming amusingly patted Le Can’s shoulder. “I didn’t see you scared just now, what’s there to be scared of facing a business card now?”
Saying that, Lu Fuming glanced at the man sitting in the wheelchair in front of Le Can.
“Didn’t you say your lover is holding an auction? Then prepare the catalog well and send me a few copies early.”
Beside them, Tan Man was pleasantly surprised and incredulous: “Uncle Lu, are you?!”
Lu Fuming glanced grumpily at his niece, “After all, it’s something that came out of my place. I’ll send it to a few old buddies then and tell everyone to come and see.”
Then, the old man gave a warning look to the few giggling youngsters, his face full of distrust.
“Remember to print the things beautifully, don’t lose face for me!”
Being scolded, Yuan Cheng and Xie Jun weren’t annoyed. Knowing the weight of Lu Fuming and the “old buddies” he mentioned, the two nodded frantically like they had found treasure.
“Definitely, definitely, Old Lu, don’t worry!”
Hahaha, now their Wei Yuan Jing isn’t just coming back from the dead, it’s going to fly!
Once again validating someone’s words about grand publicity, Xi Yun: “…”
Le Can, who inexplicably secured several big clients: “…”
Author’s Note: Quack quack quack quack [Evil smile][Milk tea]
Recommended Reads
