"Mr. Li, you're too cunning! You actually dug through the underground of my museum without my permission. If this tunnel is exploited by someone with ill intentions, won't all my possessions be lost?" Qi Tongwei said with concern.
"If I had ulterior motives, would I tell you I was digging a tunnel? After this matter is resolved, you can have people fill the tunnel. Right now, all I need is your approval to cooperate with my people in moving the treasure map," Li Yang said, patting his shoulder.
He fell into hesitation. Although he wasn't interested in the treasure map, now that it was with him, the item naturally belonged to him.
If he gave it to Li Yang for nothing, it would be equivalent to handing over a treasure.
After a moment of silence, he smiled and asked again, "By the way, Mr. Li, do you know what good things are in that treasure?"
"If there are priceless national treasures, I won't give them up."
"Old Qi, Old Qi, you still don't trust me. Do you think you can find the treasure just by obtaining that one treasure map? You're still too young. That treasure map is only one-eighth of the whole."
"To find the treasure, you need to obtain all eight treasure maps simultaneously. I can promise you that once I get news of the treasure, I will share it with you. Is that fair enough?" Li Yang poured him a cup of tea and asked with a smile.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Qi Tongwei still sounded somewhat disbelieving, asking with a hint of doubt.
"If you don't believe me, then forget it. If you refuse to cooperate, I'll let the divine thief sent by the Sakura Country steal your treasure map. As for whether he'll steal other things, I can't guarantee it," Li Yang said.
Seeing his repeated hesitation, Li Yang suddenly put down his teacup and prepared to leave.
Before he had taken two steps, Qi Tongwei quickly got up and grabbed Li Yang's arm, saying with a smile, "Mr. Li, how could I not believe you? I agree, I agree."
"So, you agree to share the treasure map with me?" Li Yang retorted.
"Yes, but you have to promise me that after I give you the treasure map, you'll spread the word that I no longer have it, so they won't come here to cause trouble again," Qi Tongwei said, his eyes wide.
This was actually his biggest worry. If the museum's items were truly coveted, his lifelong collection might be ruined.
Li Yang nodded decisively and said, "No problem, I promise. Since we've reached an agreement, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
"Good, good, pleasant cooperation."
Qi Tongwei quickly poured them more tea, and they clinked glasses and drank.
Then, the two parted ways.
On his way back, Qi Tongwei was still wondering if he had fallen for Li Yang's trick.
Although young Li Yang had exceptional treasure appraisal skills, his mind was also sharp. If he had been tricked out of his possessions, he would definitely not let it go.
Just as he got into his car, Liu Changshan from the archaeology team called.
He answered with some curiosity, "Hello, Old Liu, what's up?"
"Old Qi, are you still with Mr. Li? I've encountered a bit of a problem here and would like to consult Mr. Li. Could you let him take a call?" Liu Changshan asked from the other end.
"You're looking for Mr. Li? He just left me and is already gone. If you want to find him, I can give you his contact information, or you can send someone to his house to wait for him."
Just as Qi Tongwei was about to give him the contact details, he remembered Li Yang's eccentric temper and that Liu Changshan's relationship with Li Yang was not very close. If it was just a phone call asking for advice, Li Yang might not necessarily help.
So, he told Liu Changshan Li Yang's contact information and home address over the phone, suggesting that Liu Changshan go see Li Yang in person, as it would show more sincerity.
Liu Changshan, being a person who understood etiquette, immediately grasped the meaning of Qi Tongwei's words and readily agreed.
He was actually looking for Li Yang regarding treasure appraisal. After Li Yang left, he had unearthed another treasure from beneath the tomb, but he couldn't quite understand it, so he wanted to consult Li Yang.
He believed Li Yang to be a master, and having earned the title of Grandmaster of Treasure Appraisal, his attainments in this field might surpass his own.
At this time, Li Yang had already left the tea house and gone to the Rich Gambler's Stone Market.
When he arrived and met Shui Xiang, Qin Bingqin had already delivered the raw stones from the Moxisha mine.
Shui Xiang was in the lobby negotiating raw stone prices with a client.
As soon as she saw Li Yang, she walked over smiling and said, "Li Yang, you're back. You've come at the perfect time. This Mr. Zhang is very satisfied with the stones you selected and said he wants to meet you."
"Is that so? Is this Mr. Zhang?"
Li Yang glanced at the person Shui Xiang was talking to. He saw that this Mr. Zhang looked to be around fifty years old, with very short hair and wearing a Tang suit, exuding an air of profundity.
"That's right, it's him. This Mr. Zhang is the owner of a gambling stone market in the provincial capital. He's an old acquaintance of mine. I met Mr. Zhang when I went to the province for sightseeing and learning. He introduced me to many strange jades," Shui Xiang explained Mr. Zhang's background to Li Yang.
Upon learning his identity, Li Yang also smiled and extended his hand for a handshake, saying, "Mr. Zhang, I am also a shareholder of this gambling stone market. I'm very happy to meet you."
"Mr. Li, you're too kind. Mr. Li, this batch of raw stones from the Moxisha mine that you selected can be considered top-tier material. The skin and color of these stones are all one in ten thousand. I never expected to encounter a master like you in Jiangcheng," Mr. Zhang Dawei said, holding Li Yang's hand and smiling. "May I invite Mr. Li to serve as an appraiser at my shop? You don't need to come to the shop personally. When I need Mr. Li, I will personally bring the stones to Mr. Li for appraisal."
"If Mr. Li agrees, I can offer Mr. Li a fixed annual salary of ten million, with commissions calculated separately."
"Mr. Zhang, I have a characteristic: if I want to help someone, I will help them even if I don't earn a penny. But if there's someone I don't want to help, let alone ten million, even a hundred million won't move me," Li Yang said with an unchanging smile. "It's not impossible for Mr. Zhang to ask for my help, but Mr. Zhang needs to give me a reason to help you."
"A reason?"
Zhang Dawei couldn't help but frown.
In the past, if he wanted to help someone, he would just pay them. This kind of request from Li Yang was something he encountered for the first time.
After thinking for a long time, he smiled and said, "Mr. Li, if you are willing to help me, I can agree to all your conditions. As long as I can do it, I will never refuse. Do you think this reason is enough?"
"Of course not, not even close!" Li Yang shook his head directly.