Chapter 119: This Plot Is Worth Less Than Five Hundred Thousand
Gao Youde's men exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unprepared for Gao Qiqiang’s direct confrontation.
A slender young man suddenly swallowed hard, then stepped forward and said, “Mr. Gao, we absolutely never touched that piece of raw jade. You have to believe us!”
“We’re all brothers here, each vouching for the other. Besides, your people have been right beside us this entire way—we truly wouldn’t dare mess with your stuff!”
Gao Qiqiang’s gaze was sharp as a hawk’s, seeming to pierce through everyone’s thoughts.
He spoke coldly, “You’d better tell the truth, or face the consequences.”
Hearing Gao Qiqiang’s words, Gao Youde’s men paled and lowered their heads, as if trying to avoid those piercing eyes. The atmosphere grew thick with tension.
At that moment, a tall young man stepped forward confidently. “Mr. Gao, if you have doubts, feel free to check our belongings. We definitely haven’t touched that raw jade.”
Gao Qiqiang narrowed his eyes slightly and swept a cold glance around the group before nodding. “Fine. Since you say so, I’ll inspect personally.”
He approached each man, carefully rummaging through their pockets and bags.
Their hearts pounded faster with each inspection, fearful of being wrongly accused.
Gao Qiqiang’s fingers moved deftly and swiftly, like a falcon’s claws, meticulously searching.
When he reached the last young man, he suddenly paused and pulled out a small black box from his backpack. Gao Qiqiang’s expression darkened immediately. Opening the box, he revealed a finely crafted jadeite.
“What’s this?” Gao Qiqiang’s voice was low and threatening.
The young man’s face turned pale, stammering, “Mr. Gao, this... this is impossible. I never put this in my bag!”
Gao Qiqiang sneered coldly. “Do you think I’d believe that? You’d better give me a reasonable explanation.”
The men exchanged anxious looks, the tension mounting.
The young man caught with the jadeite broke out in cold sweat, his expression tightening with nervousness.
Gao Qiqiang took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as blades.
He raised the jadeite box before everyone and said coldly, “Who told you to steal this jadeite?”
Seeing the situation turn bleak, the young man dropped to his knees with a thud. “Brother Gao, it really wasn’t me! I never took it. Someone must have slipped it into my bag!”
“I swear, Brother Gao, I didn’t take this!”
Gao Qiqiang studied the kneeling young man intently, eyes full of scrutiny. “If you say someone framed you, then tell me—who would have that motive?”
The young man lifted his gaze, fear and hesitation flickering in his eyes. He bit his lip and said, “Brother Gao, I don’t know who, but I really haven’t touched this jadeite.”
Gao Qiqiang’s gaze swept across everyone present, his voice low and firm. “If you don’t know, then it’s you! You were caught red-handed!”
Without heeding the young man’s pleas, Gao Qiqiang waved his hand. “Guards, take him away and interrogate him properly!”
The men were stunned by Gao Qiqiang’s decision, speechless in shock.
They silently watched as the young man was dragged away, each wearing an expression of dread.
Gao Qiqiang then lifted the jadeite and waved towards me. “Brother Wang Hu, now that we’ve found the stone, let’s examine it and see if it’s really worth fifty million.”
Saying this, Gao Qiqiang coldly handed the jadeite to Li Tiancheng beside me.
I looked at Gao Qiqiang calmly and asked, “Mr. Gao, on what basis do you claim this jadeite is the core piece from the raw stone just now?”
Gao Qiqiang’s eyes flickered with displeasure at my doubt but quickly regained composure. He smiled faintly, a trace of mockery in his tone. “Brother Wang, are you questioning my eyesight? The texture and pattern of this jadeite clearly match the core of that raw stone.”
“Besides, my men have confessed—they took it secretly... Now it’s back where it belongs, isn’t that right?”
He then turned to Li Tiancheng. “Master Tiancheng, come, help us appraise it.”
Li Tiancheng took the jadeite, his face shifting slightly before he looked at me.
I said nothing.
Li Tiancheng seemed to search my eyes for some hint.
He examined the jadeite carefully, stroking its surface lightly, his brow furrowing deeper.
After a moment of thought, he looked up at Gao Qiqiang with a complex expression.
“Mr. Gao, this jadeite is indeed of excellent quality, but...” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Its texture and pattern, if we were to estimate its price...”
Li Tiancheng’s expression grew troubled.
Gao Qiqiang’s face darkened instantly, impatience flashing in his eyes. “What do you mean? Does Master Li have something he’s afraid to say? Could this be a top-tier treasure jade?”
Li Tiancheng shook his head firmly. “Mr. Gao, I’m just being honest. Though this jadeite is high quality, its value is no more than five hundred thousand.”
Gao Qiqiang’s face turned ashen. Anger flickered in his eyes but was quickly suppressed. He took a deep breath, forcing calm into his voice. “Master Li, are you sure you’re not mistaken? The texture and pattern of this jadeite—it’s worth only that much?”
Li Tiancheng nodded steadily. “Mr. Gao, I stand by my appraisal. The jadeite is nice, but the market value is about five hundred thousand at most.”
Gao Qiqiang’s expression grew even darker. His gaze turned icy as he looked at me. “Brother Wang, looks like we need another plan. You heard it yourself—this stone of yours isn’t worth fifty million... Ha, barely even a fraction.”
“Is this how you plan to settle my brother’s debt?”
“Fifty million, and you offer a stone worth less than five hundred thousand? I don’t know whether to say you’re careless or that you don’t respect my men!”
Gao Qiqiang’s voice grew increasingly ominous, his face calm but beneath that calmness was a ruthless menace ready to devour.
The crowd around us erupted in noise.
Many shouted at me directly, “Wang Hu, you really don’t know how to handle things properly…”
“Yeah, debts must be repaid—no excuses, especially now that the person’s gone!”
“Ah, these young people nowadays really lack the values we old generation held dear!”