"Going back on one's word is not what a man does. Since I've promised something, why would I go back?"
Li Yang smiled faintly and walked up to Guo Liang, looking him in the eye. "How do you want to compete with me?"
"We'll compete on who picks the better rough stone. Whoever wins, each person gets only one chance. The rough stones will be chosen from Bing Qin's shop. It's fair and just for both of us," Guo Liang stated with conviction.
"Alright, I agree. But I'm worried you'll lose too badly. How about you pick first? After you're done, I'll choose," Li Yang said dismissively.
"Kid, you're too arrogant. Do you know I've been exposed to rough stones since childhood? I've eaten more salt than you've walked roads. You actually want to let me go first? Truly overestimating yourself." Guo Liang sneered.
"We'll see who's overestimating themselves. Since Young Master Guo has eaten so much salt, it's a shame if he chokes to death one day. It's better to go pick your stone while you still have the chance," Li Yang replied.
"Hmph!"
Seeing his arrogance, Guo Liang stopped holding back and decisively walked towards the rough stone area to pick one himself.
Li Yang watched him calmly, feeling no pressure at all.
On the contrary, Qin Bing Qin was filled with worry. She came to Li Yang's side and said, "Li Yang, you're too confident. This guy has many tricks. How can you let him pick the stone first? You won't have any chance of winning like this."
"You'll know soon. Don't worry," Li Yang said with a smile.
Seeing Li Yang's stubbornness, Qin Bing Qin sighed, already preparing for the worst.
Not long after, Guo Liang picked out a stone from a pile of rough stones. With a provocative smile, he walked over to Li Yang and said, "I've picked mine. Kid, it's your turn."
"Very good. Young Master Guo indeed has some skill. Seeing how good the quality of the stone you picked is, it's bound to have green inside. It seems I'm under immense pressure. Winning against Young Master Guo isn't easy."
Li Yang saw through his stone at a glance, a confident smile on his face. After speaking, he headed straight for the rough stone area.
Guo Liang watched him walk into the stone area, but he seemed lost, his gaze scanning around without picking up a stone to appraise. He couldn't help but feel that Li Yang didn't understand stone gambling at all. This kid must have been found by Qin Bing Qin as a shield; he's at most a driver.
This stone gambling match today would be won without suspense!
"Kid, if you don't know how to pick stones, why don't you let me teach you? Don't just stand there foolishly," Guo Liang said contemptuously as Li Yang hadn't moved yet.
"No need. You should worry about how you're going to win against me later."
Li Yang glanced back at him. When he looked at the rough stone area again, a confident smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he walked towards a stone from the Houjiang mine area.
Soon, he moved a rather large stone from the Houjiang mine area. Smiling, he said, "This is the one. Let's cut the stones and see who wins and who loses."
"Haha, kid, are you sure you want to compete with me using this stone?"
Guo Liang couldn't help but burst into laughter, pointing at the stone Li Yang had chosen. "Rough stones from the Houjiang mine are always known for their good water and color. Yet, you picked a piece of near-waste from the Houjiang mine."
"Your stone, I think we don't even need to cut it. It can be thrown away directly. There's no jade inside, just a dark, dull rock."
"Do you dare to bet? If you're sure there's no green in my rough stone, why don't we add more stakes? If you lose, you'll lose another villa in the capital as a wedding house for me and Bing Qin, how about it?" Li Yang asked with a faint smile.
"What? You want me to prepare a wedding house for you?"
Hearing Li Yang joke about Qin Bing Qin, Guo Liang's face immediately turned angry.
Li Yang shrugged. "I'm talking about the stakes. Why are you so angry? If you win, I'll prepare a wedding house for the two of you. I guarantee you won't lose."
"Good, that's what you said. I'll bet with you!"
A cold glint flashed in Guo Liang's eyes, and he clenched his fists as he agreed.
"Then it's settled. You picked first when selecting the stones. Now it's my turn to cut, you have no objections, right?" Li Yang continued to ask.
"Of course. It's just right that you prepare a wedding house for me and Bing Qin first. When Bing Qin and I have children, they can call you godfather," Guo Liang said with a light laugh.
"Then you won't have the chance. You won't even have the chance to have such daydreams at night."
Li Yang accepted with disdain and immediately carried the rough stone to the stone cutter. Smiling, he instructed, "Old Zhang, help me cut this stone open here. Be careful, don't cut it crookedly. The jade inside is very precious."
"Rest assured, Mr. Li. I'm confident in the stone you picked. I guarantee I won't cut it crookedly," Old Zhang, the stone cutter, replied confidently. He quickly started the cutting machine and began cutting Li Yang's stone in front of everyone.
Screech!
The sound of the machine cutting the stone was piercing, but no one present covered their ears. They were more eager to see what would be cut from this stone.
Even Guo Liang stared intently at the stone, because he only knew from experience that there couldn't be jade in the rough stone Li Yang picked, but he couldn't be sure if there was or not.
Li Yang, however, remained very calm, patiently waiting for the stone to be split in two.
"The stone is cut open, there's nothing inside!"
Old Zhang had cut the stone from the outside to the inside. Seeing that the stone had been divided into two halves, but nothing was revealed inside, he felt a little surprised, thinking Li Yang had chosen the wrong line.
At this moment, not only he was stunned, but everyone else was also in a daze.
Especially Qin Bing Qin, who looked at the stone with disbelief, then at Li Yang, and shook her head in disappointment. "How could this happen? Nothing was cut from this stone, so we're bound to lose."
"Hahaha, kid, you're really something. You thought you could win against me like this? Your stone has been cut open, and there's nothing inside. What else do you have to say?"
Seeing this, Guo Liang became agitated and ran over to mock Li Yang.
Li Yang smiled slightly and said calmly, "Oh dear, then my luck might be a bit bad. Let's count the second round's bet as my loss for now. But we still have another round of betting. Why don't you cut your stone and let everyone see if there's any jade?"
"Hmph, fine. Today, I'll make you lose convincingly!"
Guo Liang snorted coldly, picked up his stone, and walked to Old Zhang. Smiling, he said, "Old man, help me cut the stone along this crack."
"Alright, just watch!"
Old Zhang wiped the dust off his hands and immediately started the cutting machine again, cutting the rough stone in public.
As the piercing sound echoed, everyone's gaze turned towards the stone once more.