Chapter 35: Murong Shan's Doubts!

Aside from Lot 14, Jiang Cheng had no interest in any of the other lots.

After about twenty minutes, Murong Shan and Liu Ruiming entered the auction hall one after the other and sat down beside Murong Xue.

They both gave Jiang Cheng a slight smile and nodded politely upon seeing him.

By this time, Lot 10 had already been sold to a buyer for 8.8 million.

Jiang Cheng cast a glance at the buyer, feeling a deep sense of sympathy.

Murong Shan naturally did not think Jiang Cheng was there to bid; he assumed Jiang Cheng had come along because of his daughter's strange illness.

“Xue, how many lots have you won so far? How much have you spent in total?” Murong Shan asked directly.

Murong Xue thought for a moment and whispered, “Dad, I’ve won four lots in total, spending 9.05 million. But I didn’t bid on these myself; Jiang Cheng did!”

Murong Shan frowned and looked at Jiang Cheng with curiosity.

“Brother Jiang, you’re the one bidding on these lots?” he asked.

Jiang Cheng nodded.

Murong Shan grew even more intrigued. “Xue, didn’t you just ask me to lend you 300 million? You said you had your eye on a certain lot. Are you playing me?”

Pouting, Murong Xue replied, “Dad, why would I play you? These lots were indeed bought by Jiang Cheng, but the money came from me!”

“What?” Both Murong Shan and Liu Ruiming were stunned.

Murong Shan’s expression turned grave, and his gaze toward Jiang Cheng grew complicated.

He suddenly recalled something his wife, Ye Rong, had said.

Previously, he had believed Jiang Cheng had nothing to do with their daughter’s strange illness.

If Jiang Cheng had ulterior motives, he would have shown interest when money was offered; but Jiang Cheng had refused even ten million flat out.

Yet now, Jiang Cheng had managed to get his daughter to bid on raw jade stones on his behalf — wasn’t this a classic case of gaining something for nothing?

So all this time, Jiang Cheng had been waiting for the right moment!

No wonder he had dismissed the ten million offer outright; his ambitions were far greater.

The thought made Murong Shan’s expression colder as he said, “Brother Jiang, what do you mean by this? You harmed my daughter just for these few jade stones?”

Jiang Cheng was baffled by Murong Shan’s words. “Heh, Mr. Murong, I harmed your daughter? What are you talking about?”

Murong Xue tilted her head, looking puzzled.

Murong Shan’s voice grew stern. “Just be straightforward! How much do you want to cure my daughter? You can fool my daughter, but you can’t fool me, Murong Shan!”

Jiang Cheng was even more perplexed. He replied coldly, “Mr. Murong, how many times have I told you? I’m not a doctor, I can’t cure your daughter’s illness. And I have never asked you for a single cent. Please don’t slander me without cause.”

Murong Shan snorted coldly. “Brother Jiang, you didn’t ask me for money, but you secretly had Xue pay for the raw jade stones on your behalf. You think I wouldn’t see through this trick of gaining something for nothing? How do you explain that?”

Murong Xue couldn’t help but chuckle and spoke up for Jiang Cheng. “Dad, you’ve misunderstood Jiang Cheng. If he really could cure me, wouldn’t he have asked for something by now? Why wait this long?”

Murong Shan shot Murong Xue a sharp look and snapped, “You don’t know anything!”

Murong Xue laughed softly, then leaned close to whisper something to her father.

Jiang Cheng, unaware of their hushed exchange, only noticed that Murong Shan’s previously gloomy expression gradually gave way to shock.

He kept scrutinizing Jiang Cheng with a strange look that made Jiang Cheng feel uneasy.

Murong Xue whispered, “Dad, you must have heard from Old Liu about Jiang Cheng’s previous jade betting, right? He picked five lots, and all five increased in value! Don’t you think that’s suspicious? Can one person really be that lucky?”

Seeing her father hesitate, she went on, “I suspect Jiang Cheng’s ‘Qi Perception Technique’ is real!”

Murong Shan’s face changed dramatically, stunned. “You mean Jiang Cheng can see through the raw jade stones using this Qi Perception Technique?”

Murong Xue smiled triumphantly. “That’s why I’m working with Jiang Cheng. His terms don’t harm me at all. He provides me with high-quality raw stones, and I don’t bear the risk of buying worthless ones. Honestly, I’m the one gaining the most!”

Murong Shan gasped but remained hesitant. “Daughter, do you realize you’re gambling? Even if he can see which stones have potential, can he tell their value? Can he guarantee you won’t lose money?”

Murong Xue shrugged lightly. “Dad, I’m gambling on Jiang Cheng’s ability. If I lose, Jiang Cheng owes me money for the stones. If I win, I get the best source for top-grade jade raw stones. I don’t think it’s a loss.”

Murong Shan was taken aback and couldn’t help but look at his cherished daughter anew.

After a long moment, he smiled with relief.

He patted Murong Xue heavily on the shoulder and said, “Good! That’s my daughter, Murong Shan’s daughter — brave and capable! Xue, you’ve really grown up and can handle things yourself now. Fine, Dad trusts you this time.”

Then Murong Shan turned to the silent Jiang Cheng and smiled.

“Brother Jiang, earlier I let my suspicions get the better of me. I sincerely apologize. Xue has told me about your cooperation. Rest assured, this time I trust her. I’ll lend you the money to buy the raw stones.”

Jiang Cheng smiled and shook his head. “Mr. Murong, you flatter me.”

For Jiang Cheng, he was already satisfied having acquired the previous two stones. He only took what he could afford.

Of course, he wanted to snap up Lot 14, the Imperial Green Jade weighing 73 kilograms, but he lacked the funds.

Murong Xue, however, had the capital.

The reason Jiang Cheng asked Murong Xue to prepare the funds was twofold: first, to prove his ability to her, paving the way for better cooperation; second, who wouldn’t be tempted by a 520 million value Imperial Green Jade? Plus, he owned 30% of Murong Xue’s shares. They were in it together.

Helping Murong Xue earn money was helping himself.

Even 30% of 520 million amounted to 156 million — a sum that made anyone’s heart race.

Not to mention, once crafted into jade jewelry and marketed, its value would far exceed 520 million.

At that time, Jiang Cheng would receive even more.

That was why he was so eager for Murong Xue to secure Lot 14.

Meanwhile, Lot 11 was up for auction, starting at 10 million, with minimum increments of one million.

By this stage, most buyers were cautious.

From Lot 10 onward, starting bids were all in the tens of millions — no longer the small-time bidding of a few hundred thousand or million.

Buying a dud would cost tens of millions.

So most people watched silently, waiting for Lot 16, the so-called “king of the lots.”

Naturally, Jiang Cheng would not bid either.

But unlike the others, Jiang Cheng wasn’t waiting for the king lot; he was waiting for Lot 14.

Only he knew the so-called king lot was worthless, worth just 1.2 million — pure garbage compared to the tens of millions starting bids.

Lot 14 was the true king of the auction.

After more than an hour and several rounds of bidding, Lot 11 was sold for 19 million.

Lots 12 and 13, with starting bids set too high, went unsold.

Jiang Cheng just smiled.

Soon, the staff carried Lot 14 out from backstage and placed it on the auction platform.

As the stone appeared, a flash of sharp light gleamed in Jiang Cheng’s eyes.

This was the lot he was determined to win!

“The next jade raw stone is Lot 14, sourced from Mogang Market, weighing 73 kilograms, starting bid 12 million, with minimum increments of one million. Let the bidding begin.”

The female auctioneer began giving a detailed introduction to Lot 14.

The entire auction hall erupted in a buzz of excitement.

Jiang Cheng remained calm, waiting for other buyers to make the first bid.

If no one called out a price, he would place the final bid and claim this top-grade Imperial Green Jade worth 520 million.

Just as Jiang Cheng was quietly rejoicing at his impending windfall, someone suddenly placed a bid.

Jiang Cheng was stunned.