"My appraisal has issues? Haha, how ridiculous!" Xu Zhongding was furious, pointing at Li Yang's nose and spattering him with saliva. "If it weren't for Miss Tang's sake, I would have kicked you out long ago. You dare say I'm not good enough, how dare you speak like that."
"Boss Xu, if you're not confident, then forget it. You keep this item, and we'll just go to another shop." Li Yang didn't want to waste time arguing with him. After all, they had no prior enmity. Even if Xu Zhongding misjudged, Li Yang didn't need to make him lose face publicly. It's always good to leave room for future interactions.
He wasn't a madman or a rabid dog, biting everyone he saw.
Besides, Li Yang was only here to help Tang Xinyu find a genuine item quickly, then earn some money, have a good meal, and sleep well. Tomorrow, he would seek revenge on Su Qianqian and her daughter!
With that, he turned to leave.
But Xu Zhongding, seeing Li Yang's indifferent attitude, became agitated and ready to bite. "You, boy, stop right there!"
"You publicly question my professional ability and then just want to leave so easily? Is there such a good thing under the heavens?"
"Then what do you want?" Li Yang halted his steps.
Xu Zhongding said coldly, "You mentioned oxidizing and reducing agents just now, right? Fine, bring the oxidizing and reducing agent. I'll spray it on right here in front of everyone. If it wipes off, I'll make you slap yourself a hundred times!"
"And vice versa!"
"Old Xu, don't..." Tang Xinyu's expression changed, wanting to speak up for Li Yang.
Li Yang frowned, displeased. You're given an inch and you want a mile. "Fine, it's a deal."
"Li Yang, you?" Tang Xinyu was surprised.
"Miss Tang, this brat is being arrogant himself. He has no one to blame but himself. You don't need to say anything more." Xu Zhongding sneered, "Perhaps he's right, and I should be the one slapping myself."
"Haha, how is that possible, boss?" The shop apprentice laughed heartily, holding a bottle of oxidizing and reducing agent. "Boss, shall I spray it?"
"Spray plenty, so no one says you didn't spray enough or that it didn't work, and you have to spray again." Xu Zhongding glanced at Li Yang with disdain, speaking sarcastically.
"Alright, boss."
With two soft sprays, the apprentice sprayed the jade pendant twice, then picked up a cloth to wipe the jade.
Everyone looked over, some glancing at Li Yang with disdain. "Oh, some people just don't know their place and dare to provoke anyone."
"Heh, he's just seeking attention."
"But I heard that people who seek attention often lose face publicly." A few customers laughed. "Boss Xu, you must have heard this saying, right?"
"Of course, I..." Xu Zhongding was about to join in their chorus and mock Li Yang to his heart's content, but as he opened his mouth, his peripheral vision caught sight of the oil on the jade surface beginning to melt.
"What is this!"
The apprentice's face also changed abruptly. His hands were stiff, not daring to move at all, afraid of wiping away more oil.
Li Yang's lips curved into a smile. "Why aren't you wiping anymore? You're stiff as a statue, aren't you?"
"I, I..." The apprentice opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. Thinking of his earlier mockery, his face flushed with shame.
Li Yang smiled. "Boss Xu, am I seeking attention?"
"No, no." Xu Zhongding's face turned bitter. How could this be? "I'm sorry, young man. It was my carelessness and oversight. I accidentally misjudged."
"But I see so many things every day, and it's inevitable to make a mistake or two, so..."
"So you're saying that even if you made a mistake, it's understandable, right?" Li Yang found it somewhat laughable.
"I,"
"That's enough, Boss Xu. Whether your eyesight is good or not has nothing to do with me. I just need you to do one thing now."
Xu Zhongding quickly said, "Just tell me, young man. I'll do anything, even go through fire and water."
"No need to be so exaggerated. I just need you to fulfill your promise and slap yourself a hundred times." Li Yang said.
What!
Xu Zhongding's face changed. "This, young man, I was just speaking in anger earlier. You can't take it seriously."
"You just said you'd go through fire and water, and now slapping yourself is just 'speaking in anger'?" Li Yang stared at him coldly. "Being so dishonest, it's clear you have no business integrity either."
"Can anything you say be trusted?"
"That's right, Boss Xu. This is too much!" The customers who had been on his side were now all angry.
"How funny! You were so imposing earlier, stopping the young man from leaving, insisting he slap himself. Now that you've lost, you're reneging?"
"I must have been blind earlier to have spoken up for someone like you."
"Young man, it was my fault for mocking you earlier. I apologize."
"Boss Xu, you're dishonest. I won't buy anything from you anymore."
"Don't, don't! I was wrong. I'll do it now, alright!" Xu Zhongding's face changed drastically. Many of these customers were regulars. If they stopped patronizing him, he would be in trouble.
He immediately raised his hand and slapped his own face, the sound echoing. He didn't dare to hold back.
"Fifteen, sixteen... seventy-eight, seventy-nine... ninety-nine, one hundred."
"Everyone, I've fulfilled my promise. Is that enough now?"
"Hmph," Li Yang glanced at him and said, "Miss Tang, let's go."
"Mm." Tang Xinyu nodded and walked out of the shop side by side with him.
Xu Zhongding wanted to stop them, but as soon as he moved, he saw Tang Xinyu turn and glare at him coldly. His face changed, and he could only smile sheepishly and say, "Miss Tang, young man, I'm truly sorry for what happened today. Please take care. I will definitely host a banquet to apologize to you both later."
"Hmph, as if we care?" Tang Xinyu said unhappily to Li Yang, "I'm sorry, but I've known Old Xu, pfft, I've known this Xu fellow for several years. I never expected him to be this kind of person."
"It's easier to discern ghosts and spirits than to fathom the human heart. Let alone outsiders you've only known for a few years, even someone sleeping in the same bed, you can't guarantee you truly understand them." A trace of hatred flashed in Li Yang's eyes. Su Qianqian, wait for my revenge!
Tang Xinyu was stunned. "Have you been hurt by someone?"
"Miss Tang, let's go look over there." Li Yang didn't answer her and walked directly towards a certain direction.
He's ignoring me?
Tang Xinyu was a little annoyed and subconsciously wanted to hit him, but looking at his somewhat lonely back, she felt very curious. "Playing cool with me, huh? Just you wait, I'll eventually make you tell me yourself."
"Hey, don't walk so fast, wait for me."
Seeing that he had already opened a distance of dozens of meters, Tang Xinyu anxiously chased after him, afraid he would get upset and leave.
But as soon as she caught up, Li Yang suddenly stopped.
"Ah!" Tang Xinyu bumped into his back, surprised.
Li Yang felt it was incredibly soft and springy, almost letting out a comfortable sigh. "Miss Tang, are you alright?"
"You still have the nerve to ask? It's all your fault for stopping so suddenly." Tang Xinyu rubbed her forehead, which had turned red. This guy looked rather thin, but why was his body so solid and hard.
Li Yang smiled. "I've spotted a treasure. Miss Tang, don't say anything later, just watch my performance."