Jiang Yuxin's eyes were filled with disappointment and anger.
She said coldly, "Li Chonglou, my mother was right. I was indeed blind to have misjudged you."
"I don't care if you're incompetent or unambitious."
"But you lack even a shred of masculine ambition."
"I should have known from the start. You married me for money, and you'll divorce me for money now!"
"But you're mistaken. You won't get a single penny this time!"
Three years of marriage.
Although there had been no physical intimacy, even a dog would have developed feelings after being kept for so long, let alone a person.
Li Chonglou's words about waiting for his mother to recover before divorcing made his intentions all too clear.
He would do anything for money.
How base!
"Think whatever you want. I need to get back to the hospital to take care of my mother," Li Chonglou said, turning to leave without offering any explanation.
He knew Jiang Yuxin's personality well – proud and stubborn, otherwise, she wouldn't have married him.
Explaining would be a waste of breath.
Since that was the case, it was better to be resolute.
The Jiang family held no sway over him. One day, he would make those who treated him like a good-for-nothing unable to reach him.
He would make Jiang Yuxin realize how correct her choice had been.
As for Jiang Tao, what harm could it do to let him bounce around for a while longer?
Qin City First People's Hospital.
Cardiology Ward.
Li Chonglou pushed the door open impatiently, looking at his mother, Zheng Xiumei, who was leaning against the headboard, her face pale and her expression haggard.
Tears welled up in his tiger-like eyes, and his voice was choked and hoarse, "Mom..."
He rushed to the bedside and knelt down.
This single utterance, filled with decades of day-and-night longing and regret, made one's bones tremble.
In his past and present lives, his greatest regret was his mother.
His father had disappeared early on, leaving no trace. His mother had toiled tirelessly, raising him from infancy.
He, however, was timid and incompetent, forced to rely on marrying into the Jiang family to earn money for medical expenses.
Worse still, when his mother fell gravely ill, he was framed and imprisoned, never even getting to see her one last time.
It became a lifelong regret.
"Son, weren't you at the Jiang family banquet? Why are you back so soon?"
Zheng Xiumei had never seen her son like this before, and her eyes immediately reddened.
She placed her hands on Li Chonglou's shoulders and asked, "Did you suffer some grievance?"
"It's my fault for being useless, making you endure so much hardship."
Being a live-in son-in-law was not easy, and it was even more difficult in a prominent family like the Jiangs.
Li Chonglou had quietly married into the Jiang family three years ago, and it was too late when she found out.
Now, with her old illness acting up, she was bound to implicate her son.
"It's alright, Mom. I'm happy..."
Li Chonglou quickly suppressed the emotions churning within him, forcing a smile to comfort her. "Don't worry, the Jiang family didn't bully me."
"Jiang Yuxin has already agreed to help with the surgery fees."
"You must rest well and prepare for the surgery."
"When you're better, I'll take you to travel all over the country and eat delicious food."
His mother had been frugal her entire life. It was said she had nearly starved to death in her youth, so food was more important to her than anything else.
Yet, she always held back, saving the best for him.
In his past life, he had been ignorant and clueless, failing to reciprocate her care. In this life, he absolutely couldn't wait for regret to strike before realizing his mistake.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiumei deliberately put on a stern face and chided, "Traveling everywhere is such a waste of money. I'm not going anywhere."
"You, on the other hand, should put more effort into Yuxin. She's a good girl. Her temper might be a bit cold, but her heart is warm."
"A person's heart is not made of stone. With time, it will surely warm up."
Li Chonglou nodded and replied earnestly, "I understand, Mom. Don't worry about the money. Your son won't disappoint you."
Relying on the Jiang family to pay was out of the question.
But to avoid worrying his mother, he could only tell a small lie for now.
As for earning money, Li Chonglou was full of confidence. In his previous life, he was a master appraiser, and even a single appraisal could fetch millions.
The challenge was that his mother needed a heart stent surgery soon. Within a week, the three stents and subsequent expenses would require at least three hundred thousand.
Currently, his reputation was unknown, and he had no status.
No one would take him seriously.
He had to find another way, think of other solutions.
Go to the antique market to find hidden gems?
No.
In this era of advanced information and rampant fakes, small treasures could be found at street stalls.
But discovering a truly exceptional piece was like a plot from a novel, rare and unpredictable.
It would be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and ultimately futile.
Moreover, he didn't have the capital for such ventures right now.
"Mr. Lu Chenggong, a well-known entrepreneur in our city, will be holding a charity auction next week..."
Just then, a news report came from the hospital television.
Li Chonglou's eyes suddenly lit up.
Qin City's richest man, Lu Chenggong!
In his previous life, while imprisoned, he had seen a news report.
Lu Chenggong was swindled out of his fortune by a scheme involving a batch of fake unearthed artifacts. He was publicly exposed at a charity auction and subsequently committed suicide by jumping off a building.
He also recalled that when reporters interviewed his daughter, Lu Yunxu, she mentioned that her father and she first met the group of scammers that very afternoon at five o'clock.
If he could find their whereabouts and change the course of events,
Wouldn't this money problem be solved?
Li Chonglou checked the time; it was only eleven-thirty in the morning, still plenty of time.
He chatted with his mother for a long time before leaving the hospital two hours early.
He hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Fenglinxue Grand Hotel.
Approaching the front desk, he inquired, "Hello, which private room has Mr. Lu Chenggong reserved? I'm here for a meal."
"The Imperial Hall on the fifth floor."
"Thank you."
Li Chonglou went up to the fifth floor and, declining the attendant's guidance, sat in the lounge area to wait quietly.
The attendant, noticing his ordinary attire but upright posture and calm demeanor, did not dare to disturb him.
Finally, as five o'clock approached,
A middle-aged man with a greasy face and a protruding belly emerged from the elevator.
Behind him followed a tall, elegantly dressed beautiful woman.
Her delicate eyebrows were lightly drawn, and her bright eyes sparkled with brilliance.
Every gesture and smile made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
In terms of appearance alone, she was comparable to his wife, Jiang Yuxin, though each possessed a unique charm.
These two were Lu Chenggong and his daughter.
Then, seven or eight more people gradually emerged, including an elder in a Tang suit and a sharp-featured young man.
Li Chonglou recognized the middle-aged man with a triangular, backward-facing eye, carrying a satchel, as a member of the scam syndicate.
As the group entered the private room, the triangular-eyed man immediately took out a small white glazed bowl from his bag.
It appeared crystal clear, as if made from Hetian jade.
"Mr. Lu, I've never displayed this treasure publicly before."
The triangular-eyed man raised his eyebrows, a proud expression on his face, and said, "For your sake, I'll make an exception today."
With that, he carefully handed the bowl to Lu Chenggong.
Lu Chenggong glanced at the elder in the Tang suit. The elder understood his gaze and intercepted the bowl midway.
After examining it closely for nearly a minute, he nodded slightly before passing the bowl to someone else.
As the bowl circulated, several people's eyes lit up.
"A rare find, truly a rare find. This Yongle kiln's scallion-white glaze is indeed as its reputation suggests, lustrous like jade, and captivating under the light."
"White as solidified fat, like pristine snow. What's most remarkable is how well-preserved its condition is..."
"This... is this something from the pit?"
The triangular-eyed man's face showed smugness, and a fleeting glint of sinister intent flashed in his eyes as he said, "Authentic, guaranteed."
"You all must know of Liang Zhuangwang Zhu Zhanji!"
"This is just one piece. If Mr. Lu is interested, we can continue our discussion."
Upon hearing this, both Lu Chenggong and his daughter couldn't conceal the shock and longing in their eyes.