C4 Phoenix Jewelry

Two million!

Cao Jiang's hands shook with excitement. Never in his life had he encountered such an invaluable treasure. It was as if he had hit the jackpot in a lottery.

His grandfather's cough snapped him back to reality. He pocketed the pearl and hurried inside to prepare his grandfather's medicine. The news of the pearl would have to wait; his elderly grandfather might not be able to handle such thrilling news. He planned to sell the pearl later and use the money judiciously.

Once his grandfather had taken his medicine and settled down to rest, Cao Jiang set out for the city, the pearl securely in his pocket.

Phoenix Jewelry was the largest jewelry store in the city, known for acquiring all the sea's treasures over the years. Upon arriving, a welcoming receptionist greeted Cao Jiang warmly, "Sir, please come inside."

Despite Cao Jiang's disheveled appearance, the receptionist treated him with respect, guiding him to a seat and offering hot water.

Manager Zhang, a well-dressed middle-aged man, approached with a friendly smile. "Hello, sir. I'm Manager Zhang. How may I assist you today?"

Cao Jiang wasted no time, presenting the pearl and stating, "I'm here to sell this pearl."

Manager Zhang recognized the pearl's extraordinary value instantly and, with a hint of astonishment, said, "Excuse me, sir, but this pearl is quite precious. I'll need to call President Qin to take a look. Rest assured, Phoenix Jewelry offers fair prices, and we'll include a gift for you. Please, wait just a moment." He hurried off to fetch the president.

Cao Jiang, familiar with Phoenix Jewelry's excellent reputation, was content to wait.

Before long, a man and a woman descended the stairs. Cao Jiang's heart sank as he recognized the woman: Zhong Wan'er, his high school sweetheart. After he had forfeited his chance to attend university, she had quickly moved on to Huang Zhongtian, a wealthy heir, who was likely the man accompanying her.

Zhong Wan'er had her eyes on Cao Jiang and deliberately scrutinized him before frowning and remarking, "Oh, it's you. What brings you here instead of staying home and fishing? Just so you know, there's nothing between us anymore. Don't even think about bothering me, got it?"

Standing next to her, Huang Zhongtian wore a look of contempt and inquired, "This is the high school boyfriend you mentioned? Doesn't seem like much, just another clingy type."

Cao Jiang had no intention of engaging with them, but their words irked him. He retorted with a cold laugh, "Don't flatter yourselves. I'm here to sell something, and it's none of your business."

Zhong Wan'er, who subconsciously pegged Cao Jiang as a broke fisherman, misheard him and scoffed, "Buying something? That's laughable. Your outfit doesn't look like it's worth a hundred bucks. Who do you think you're fooling here? Drop the act; you can't make much from fishing anyway. My boyfriend just partnered with Phoenix Jewelry and plans to open a franchise. Why not work for him? You might even get to clean the toilets, which surely beats fishing, right?"

Cao Jiang chuckled, "What's wrong with fishing? I earn my keep with hard work, which is far cleaner than how some people make money by spreading their legs on a bed."

"Excuse me? Who are you referring to?" Zhong Wan'er's sneer twisted into an ugly grimace, her eyes bulging with rage.

"I'll call out anyone who chimes in," Cao Jiang replied nonchalantly, shrugging and sipping his tea.

Enraged, Zhong Wan'er shook violently and yelled, "Security, come here and throw this man out!"

The security guard immediately responded to her call. Zhong Wan'er berated him, "What kind of security are you, letting in riff-raff like this? Get him out now!"

Cao Jiang raised an eyebrow and faced Zhong Wan'er, "This isn't your store. What gives you the right to throw me out?"

Zhong Wan'er scoffed, "We're a franchisee of Phoenix Jewelry. On what grounds do you say that?"

The security guard, unaware of the specifics of the situation but recognizing Huang Zhongtian's status, was hesitant to cause offense. He pressed Cao Jiang, "Please leave quickly, or I'll have to take action."

"Go ahead and try," Cao Jiang retorted with the indifference of someone with nothing to lose. The guard, ready to act, drew his baton, but was interrupted by a commanding voice from the stairwell, "Stop!"

He turned to see Manager Zhang approaching, with a striking woman in tow. She was the epitome of elegance in her business attire, her cold demeanor accentuated by her long hair and the graceful exposure of her legs – a true ice queen.

Zhong Wan'er rushed to greet them, complaining, "President Qin, can you believe this? Anyone can waltz in here, and this security guard is utterly useless."

The woman, Qin Danfeng, ignored Zhong Wan'er and approached Cao Jiang, extending her hand, "Hello, I'm Qin Danfeng."

Cao Jiang rose to meet her handshake. Her hand was delicate and soft, like clasping a handful of water, yet he maintained a courteous grip before releasing her fingers.

Qin Danfeng's smile widened, "Please forgive our earlier oversight."

"No problem at all," Cao Jiang replied, pulling out his pearl. "Could you tell me the value of this pearl?"

Before Qin Danfeng could respond, Huang Zhongtian interjected with astonishment, "This is a Tang Guanxun Pearl! I've never seen one this large before – it's worth at least two million. President Qin, this is an opportunity you shouldn't pass up."

Zhong Wan'er's brow furrowed in skepticism, "How could he possibly have something so valuable? It's probably a counterfeit."

Qin Danfeng's expression cooled as she regarded Zhong Wan'er, "Miss Zhong, this gentleman is a distinguished guest of mine. Please watch your words. Phoenix Jewelry has a long-standing tradition of offering a warm welcome to all who enter. If you're prone to snap judgments, perhaps our brand isn't the right fit for you. We can revisit the franchise discussion another time."

Huang Zhongtian pleaded urgently, "President Qin, please reconsider."

Without sparing him a glance, Qin Danfeng addressed Cao Jiang, "Sir, please follow me. We'll discuss this in detail upstairs." She then turned and walked away.

Cao Jiang offered a faint smile, glanced at Zhong Wan'er, and followed Qin Danfeng at a leisurely pace.

Fuming, Zhong Wan'er's face flushed with anger as she muttered, "He's nothing but a nouveau riche. What's he so proud of?"

"Shut your mouth!" Huang Zhongtian spun around and delivered a slap to her face. "You brainless jinx, get out!" He stormed out, leaving her behind. Despite her tears, Zhong Wan'er didn't dare to retaliate. She hurried after him, pleading, "Zhongtian, I was wrong. Please wait for me!"

Upstairs in the VIP room, Cao Jiang had successfully concluded his negotiations with Qin Danfeng, purchasing the pearl for 2.3 million and receiving a complimentary piece of jewelry valued at 100,000 yuan.

Manager Zhang clicked on the computer and announced, "The transfer is complete, Mr. Cao. You may verify the transaction now."

Just then, a notification echoed in Cao Jiang's mind: "Your treasure hunting venture is valued at 2.3 million yuan. Congratulations, you've earned two hundred and thirty Luck Value points."

Cao Jiang smiled, stood up, and replied, "There's no need to check. I trust Phoenix Jewelry."

Qin Danfeng rose as well, extending her hand with a smile. "Working with you, Mr. Cao, has been delightful. I look forward to our future collaborations."

"Without a doubt."

Afterward, Cao Jiang selected a 100,000 yuan gold phoenix hairpin downstairs. It was incredibly delicate and beautiful, undoubtedly a perfect fit for Xia Hee.

Leaving Phoenix Jewelry in the late afternoon, Cao Jiang headed home. Upon reaching the village, he noticed a crowd gathered at the distant harbor. Two children approached him excitedly, exclaiming, "Cao Jiang, Cao Jiang, your grandfather is about to go diving for sea conches!"