Chapter 4: Uncle Lu

“I…” Lin Manxuan seemed about to retort, but the words caught in her throat, unsure of how to begin.

In truth, she knew absolutely nothing about this thumb ring.

Just as Lin Manxuan found herself in a dilemma, a tender, childish voice rang out: “Uncle Lu, it’s this big pervert! He bullied me!”

Little Loli jumped out, pointing at Yang Ning with an air of exaggerated maturity, her small face brimming with the sly grin of a successful schemer.

A man dressed in a blue Tang suit stepped forward. He appeared to be in his fifties, his expression stern, carrying the aura of someone long accustomed to authority.

“Uncle Lu, thank goodness you’re here. Please take a look at this thumb ring; I can’t make up my mind.” Seeing the man, Lin Manxuan visibly relaxed.

“Manxuan, why didn’t you let me know you were coming to Nanhu? If it weren’t for Tongtong, I’d still be in the dark.” His tone held no trace of reproach, only a fondness evident to everyone listening.

“I was just passing through Nanhu and happened to be near Guhan Street, so I thought I’d pay you a visit. But then I stumbled upon this item and got delayed for a bit.” Lin Manxuan smiled.

“So, I’ve misunderstood you, young lady?” Uncle Lu’s feigned sternness softened into a chuckle. “Alright then, let me take a look at it for you. After that, I’ll treat you and Tongtong to a nice meal. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you two girls. Your aunt was just mentioning you the other day.”

“That sounds great. I was planning to visit Aunt anyway.” Lin Manxuan smiled as she handed the thumb ring to Uncle Lu.

“Manxuan, there’s hardly anything genuine in this place. I’ve been here for over twenty years, and I’ve never…”

The middle-aged man took the thumb ring, intending to give Lin Manxuan a word of caution. But as he spoke, he fell silent, his initially casual demeanor turning increasingly serious.

Lin Manxuan’s expertise in antiques was practically nonexistent; her strength lay in reading people’s minds. Noticing Uncle Lu’s grave expression and contrasting it with Yang Ning’s laid-back posture, she began to form a decision in her mind.

Still, she figured that even if this item was valuable, it would be worth no more than a hundred thousand or so.

Five minutes passed before Uncle Lu looked up, hesitating as he spoke, “Manxuan, this thumb ring is indeed an antique. I can’t pinpoint its exact era yet, but it’s likely over a hundred years old.”

Lin Manxuan’s delicate brows arched slightly. She wasn’t surprised by the assessment, but she was taken aback by Yang Ning’s sharp eye.

Could it be that this guy, younger than herself, had a strong foundation in antiques?

Lin Manxuan didn’t believe Yang Ning had just stumbled upon it by dumb luck. Why else would everyone else overlook it, only for this guy to snag it?

If it had to be chalked up to luck, then Lin Manxuan had to admit that luck was also a form of strength.

“Uncle Lu, can you give an estimate?” Lin Manxuan lowered her voice.

“About a hundred and fifty thousand. Any higher, and it’s hard to say.” In Uncle Lu’s opinion, while this amber thumb ring was indeed an antique, it wasn’t exactly a rare treasure.

Lin Manxuan nodded in understanding, then turned to Yang Ning with a cold expression. “A hundred and eighty thousand!”

By now, quite a few onlookers had gathered nearby. At first, they were drawn by Lin Manxuan’s presence. Guhan Street wasn’t short on pretty faces, but someone of Lin Manxuan’s caliber was rarer than striking gold in a flea market.

Gradually, however, attention shifted to the amber thumb ring. Hearing Uncle Lu confirm it was a genuine antique and then witnessing Lin Manxuan raise the price to a hundred and eighty thousand in one go, the crowd gasped in unison, followed by an uncontrollable buzz of excitement.

“Did you hear that? This beauty just offered a hundred and eighty thousand for that thumb ring!”

“Holy shit! I looked at that thumb ring a few days ago and thought it was just a knockoff from Haidong. Turns out it’s the real deal!”

“Buddy, we’re in the same boat. I almost bought it back then. That country bumpkin asked for five hundred, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend it…”

“You two are absolute idiots, and you’ve got the nerve to admit it? A hundred and eighty thousand! That’s a hundred and eighty thousand! You’ve got worse eyes than that little kid. Just pack up and go home already. Farming’s more your speed!”

Conversations like these echoed endlessly. Many stared at the amber thumb ring in Uncle Lu’s hand with burning eyes. If Uncle Lu weren’t a big shot who held sway over Guhan Street, someone would’ve surely rushed over to appraise it themselves.

Of course, there were also plenty of regretful and remorseful voices. Many had come across this thumb ring before, but their lack of discernment caused them to miss out on a treasure.

“What? A hundred and eighty thousand, and you’re still not satisfied?” Lin Manxuan’s pretty face showed traces of irritation. “A person should have limits. Don’t push your luck.”

Uncle Lu also stepped forward at the right moment, his voice deep. “Young man, you should know when to be content. My niece genuinely wants to buy this thumb ring, and the price she’s offering is more than fair. I only valued it at a hundred and fifty thousand earlier.”

“So, if I don’t sell it to you, I’m being ungrateful?” Yang Ning countered.

Uncle Lu’s entire face darkened. In Guhan Street, no one had ever dared to disrespect him like this. Just as he was about to warn this insolent kid, Lin Manxuan stepped in.

“Two hundred thousand. I really like this thumb ring, and I hope you understand the value of contentment.”

Lin Manxuan’s words once again sent the onlookers into a frenzy.

“Two hundred thousand! Damn, this is going through the roof!”

“Stop talking. I’m already drowning in regret!”

“Once, a thumb ring worth two hundred thousand was right in front of me, and I didn’t cherish it. Only after losing it did I feel regret. If the heavens gave me another chance, I’d say three words to that thumb ring: I’ll buy you! And if I had to put a time limit on this determination, I’d hope it’s ten thousand years!”

Yang Ning gave Lin Manxuan and Uncle Lu a strange look, pinching his nose as he said, “So, are you here to rob me or to pick up a bargain?”

“What do you mean?” Lin Manxuan frowned.

Yang Ning glanced at Uncle Lu, whose expression was far from friendly, then at Lin Manxuan, whose delicate brows were slightly furrowed. “Are you bullying me because I don’t know the value of this thumb ring, or are you just blind and can’t recognize its true worth?”

Lin Manxuan: “…”

Uncle Lu: “…”

The crowd: “…”

Now, everyone could tell. Yang Ning wasn’t even bothering to beat around the bush. He was outright accusing them of trying to strong-arm him into selling cheap!

Lin Manxuan hadn’t reacted much yet, but Uncle Lu was already laughing in anger. “I, Lu Guoxun, am a well-known figure in Nanhu City. On this street, there are few who don’t recognize me. With my usual conduct, do you think I’d stoop to bullying a greenhorn like you?”

Uncle Lu spoke with confidence, and indeed, that was the truth.

Uncle Lu was a man of honor, known for his generosity. With a net worth of several hundred million, he was well-respected in both the legal and underground circles of Nanhu City. Even having tea and chatting with the city’s standing committee members was a regular affair for him.

The idea of him throwing away his reputation to bully a youngster was something few would believe.

“So, you’re admitting that you’re just blind?” Yang Ning maintained his unflappable, couldn’t-care-less attitude.

“Young man, you’ve successfully angered me.” A cold glint flashed in Uncle Lu’s eyes. “You’d better convince me with actions, or you’ll regret this. It’s been many years since anyone dared to challenge my limits with their so-called personality.”

Lin Manxuan didn’t want the atmosphere to turn hostile. She knew full well that once this kind-hearted Uncle Lu got angry, it wasn’t something Yang Ning could handle. “Then tell us about this thumb ring. If what you say holds water, the price can still be negotiated.”

“I’d like to hear it too. Just how blind am I?” Uncle Lu’s words carried a heavy undertone of threat.

Yang Ning didn’t care in the slightest about the subtext in Uncle Lu’s words. “This thumb ring is made from high-density amber sourced from the deep sea. The inner ring is carved with a carp leaping over the dragon gate, symbolizing rapid success and soaring to great heights. Normally, such carvings are done on the outer ring, and it’s extremely rare to see them on the inner ring. With this level of craftsmanship and the specific motif of the carp leaping over the dragon gate, it could only have come from Prince Rui’s Mansion during the Renzong Era.”

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Proofreader & Editor: Fat Goose 🪶