Two middle-aged men had just sat down on the rattan chairs behind.
Judging by their silhouettes, they didn't seem to be Han Chinese. Their skin was darker, and their faces were square and rugged.
One ordered a cup of clear tea and took out a dark, ore-like rock, about forty centimeters wide, from his bag.
The rock was adorned with clusters of emerald-green crystals.
The crystals were densely packed but not large; at a glance, the largest crystal might have been no bigger than a child's little finger.
"This damn stone," said one with a full beard, speaking in the local Yuchen dialect, "I've searched so many resources, but I have no idea what it is."
The other, wearing a brimmed hat and glasses, took the stone in his hand, looked at it for a few seconds, and shook his head, "I haven't seen anything like this on the market either."
"But judging by the color, it's quite vibrant, very much like imperial green jadeite. Perhaps it could fetch a good price."
"How is that possible? This area doesn't produce jadeite," the bearded man immediately negated.
"Let me try," the man in glasses took a key from his pocket and scratched the stone a few times.
The black ore left an indentation with a scratch, but the green granules were very hard, leaving no mark.
He then said, "This green stuff has good hardness. What do you plan to do with it?"
"Sell it. You know I'm short on cash. Help me find a buyer," the bearded man said with a distressed look. "If my wife weren't hospitalized, why would I rummage through boxes and drawers to sell something I picked up as a child?"
"I almost threw it away."
Then, the two began to discuss their expected price.
Li Chonglou glanced at them and then turned back, listening quietly.
Lin Ying gave him a look, and after the two men had finished their discussion, she called out, "Excuse me, gentlemen, could you let us take a look at that stone?"
Upon hearing her, both men turned their heads towards her in unison.
Their stern, expressionless faces instantly broke into smiles when they saw Lin Ying's fashionable attire and spirited demeanor.
"Sure, come and take a look," the man in glasses beckoned.
"Let's go see," Lin Ying deliberately called out to Li Chonglou.
Actually, she didn't understand the stone either, but through her experience, she had long understood the current market.
In jade and gemstones, color is paramount; red is best, followed by yellow, then green, then white.
As long as the color saturation is high enough, it has value.
Of course, the actual value also depends on various factors like hardness, clarity, composition, and rarity.
Lin Ying had some knowledge of antiques, but she wasn't proficient in jade and gemstones.
Li Chonglou, however, was different. He had been devoted to antiques for decades. While he wouldn't claim to be an expert in everything, major categories like jade and gemstones, ceramics, and calligraphy and painting were his strengths.
The moment he first saw the stone, his usually steady heart stirred slightly.
He had come on a treasure hunt today, expecting to return empty-handed. He hadn't expected to find a gem in the end.
He naturally followed Lin Ying and sat at their table.
Lin Ying picked up the stone, testing its weight. After a few glances, she pushed it towards Li Chonglou.
Li Chonglou didn't touch it, only glancing at it.
He then asked, "If we wanted to buy this stone, could we get a better price?"
The price they had discussed was two hundred thousand.
The expected price and the actual transaction price were worlds apart.
These two men didn't understand the item at all; they were simply naming arbitrary prices.
"How much can you offer?" the man in glasses sized up Li Chonglou.
Although young people were increasingly exposed to jade and gemstones, it was very difficult for someone around twenty years old to achieve anything significant.
Moreover, they usually specialized in only one area, learning from a master since childhood, honing their skills day and night to achieve some success.
If even he didn't recognize the item, how could Li Chonglou possibly recognize it?
And if he couldn't recognize it, how could he offer a good price?
It didn't meet his expectations.
Therefore, his tone and attitude were very casual.
"As far as I know, high-quality gemstones produced in our country are rare, mostly aggregate jade. The value of jade is mainly influenced by three factors," Li Chonglou said, taking a circuitous route instead of stating a price. "First, color; second, density; and third, market speculation."
"Your stone is quite unique. We'd like to buy it as a decorative piece."
"However, two hundred thousand is too high. I'm sincerely interested, so I'll offer ten thousand yuan."
When the two men were discussing their expected price, they hadn't guarded against others, so Li Chonglou naturally heard everything clearly.
Hearing them, he knew at once that neither of them recognized this stone.
Offering ten thousand was his own assessment.
In antiques and collectibles, it all comes down to discerning vision. The value of the same item can differ greatly in different hands.
Some people who don't understand might say this is cheating.
No!
This is a cognitive advantage, a cognitive edge. What is cognition? It's personal strength, personal value.
With a clear price, not stealing or robbing, how can it be called cheating?
At this price, a hint of joy flashed in the bearded man's eyes, but he held back and remained silent.
The man in glasses, however, pushed his glasses up, feigning contemplation, "Ten thousand is too low. My friend urgently needs money, and this item is unique. I haven't seen anything like it on the market."
"Even if you found any boss, they wouldn't offer less than this!"
Lin Ying smiled upon hearing this, "We are also drawn to its uniqueness. However, there are many unique things. Unless the relationship is very deep, which boss would spend money unnecessarily?"
"Even if they bought it, wouldn't it just be out of respect for your personal connection?"
These words hit the mark.
Regardless of whether the two men understood the stone, just based on this statement, the man in glasses knew he couldn't exploit these two today.
However, no businessman wants to earn less. He exchanged a glance with the bearded man and, steeling himself, said, "Fifty thousand. This is the lowest price."
"Take it or leave it. I can't do anything if you don't."
Upon hearing this, Li Chonglou didn't reply immediately. He pretended to consider it for a moment.
Then, he looked at the bearded man and asked, "I overheard you mentioning your wife is hospitalized and you urgently need money. How much do you need?"
"The surgery costs over a hundred thousand. I've borrowed from all my relatives and friends, and I'm still short by nearly a hundred thousand." The bearded man's face fell into a state of melancholy and gloom when he talked about this matter.
The situation here was different from the mainland.
Women could shoulder half the sky. When they fell ill, not only was there no income, but treatment also required investment.
For families that were not well-off, it was a disaster upon disaster.
"How about this, I'll give you one hundred thousand!" Li Chonglou's words were astonishing. "But don't misunderstand. Fifty thousand is for the stone, and the other fifty thousand is for me to help with your medical expenses privately."
The other party only wanted fifty thousand, yet he offered a hundred thousand.
This matter was simply unbelievable.
In the eyes of ordinary people, he would appear as a complete fool.
Even the man in glasses and the bearded man were stunned, while Lin Ying smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration.
She knew that Li Chonglou's mother had been hospitalized, and they had once been at their wits' end over surgery fees.
He was likely moved by compassion.
This junior fellow disciple of hers was not only capable but also possessed great righteousness in his heart.
"What are you standing there for? Not selling?" Li Chonglou prompted the bearded man.
"Selling, selling, selling!" The bearded man was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. He stood up, grabbed Li Chonglou's hand, and choked out, "Brother, you are a god sent by heaven, a god who saves lives!"
The man in glasses had red ears and a look of shame.
He had intended to swindle Li Chonglou. As the saying goes, a thousand pieces of gold can't buy a happy heart. If you don't take advantage of someone's hardship, how can you do business?
But Li Chonglou's actions made him feel the vast difference between people.