146: Chapter 145 The Rich Man Giving Away Money

After finishing his tour of the stall area, Cao Xiao had spent 430 million. He didn't feel any heartache at all, because aside from the hetian jade raw materials and a small amount of various gemstones, he had essentially picked up the others—such as emeralds, chicken blood stones, and stone-wrapped hetian jade 'blind' materials, which are highly speculative—at bargain prices. Their actual value would not be less than two billion. He had made a full fourfold profit; he was too happy to be upset.

Next were the top-tier raw materials of this exhibition. These premium materials were concentrated in a separate display area, but they were not for direct sale. Instead, they were auctioned through silent bidding. There was a bidding box in front of each material's display stand. Bidders only needed to pay a deposit of one million to receive a bidding card from the organizers. After filling out their information and bid price on the card, they would drop it into the corresponding box. The results of the winning bids would be known tomorrow afternoon.

There were fewer than a hundred of these top-tier materials in total. Among them, there weren't many that had already been cut into clear materials, but every single one was a masterpiece. In particular, a piece of Mutton-fat White Jade weighing 3.2 kilograms and a 5.8-kilogram piece of glass species 'Spring with Color' (lavender and green) clear material made even Cao Xiao's heart skip a beat. Semi-clear materials and blind materials accounted for more than half, but the types were limited to Hetian seed jade, chicken blood stone, emerald raw stone, and Tianhuang stone. There were several pieces among them that Cao Xiao was determined to get.

One was an uncut Tianhuang stone. Tianhuang stone has always held the title of 'King of All Stones.' The highest-grade tianhuang jelly stone can reach a price of 200,000 per gram, hundreds of times more expensive than gold. This particular Tianhuang raw stone was tightly wrapped in a thick layer of black stone skin, making it impossible to observe the internal conditions. The reason it was put up for auction was its massive weight—a staggering 18 kilograms. This weight is terrifying; generally, Tianhuang raw stones are not large, and ones weighing several kilograms are already rare. Clear records state the heaviest Tianhuang raw stone was 46 kilograms, but that was an isolated case. There are no more than five stones weighing over 10 kilograms, so 18 kilograms could definitely rank in the top three. This was also one of the grand finale items carefully prepared by the organizers. Generally speaking, it's rare to find high-quality Tianhuang in large-volume raw stones, but this particular stone happened to contain a piece of top-tier tianhuang jelly weighing a full 9 kilograms. The starting bid was only over 60 million. Based on its external appearance, that price seemed a bit inflated, but as long as someone won the bid and cut it open, the original owner would definitely regret it so much they'd want to smash their head against a wall on the spot.

Another was a 1.3-ton 'Old Elephant Skin' emerald raw material. Although its external appearance was decent, absolutely no one would guess from the outside that it contained a 50-plus kilogram piece of glass species red emerald.

Then there were two pieces of Hetian seed jade, both of which were massive. One contained 11.5 kilograms of Grade 1 white jade, while the other contained 6 kilograms of Mutton-fat White Jade. Furthermore, the starting prices for both were not high.

There were a few decent pieces of chicken blood stone, but Cao Xiao already had so many he was worried about them; he wouldn't spend money unnecessarily. There was no rush for the bidding; it would be soon enough to check other people's bids before the deadline. Although this could be considered cheating, if one can cheat without being caught, it isn't cheating. Besides, he was still paying a higher price to win them. He didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt about this. There aren't that many rules in the business world; while integrity is the foundation, profit is supreme. When forced to choose, people often sacrifice the foundation for the profit.

“Brother, let's go, let's go! We've already made our choices and have been waiting for you for ages.”

Seeing Cao Xiao finish his business, Liu Chang impatiently pulled him toward the jewelry section. It was only then that Cao Xiao suddenly remembered his encounter with Fang Yong Chang on the plane a couple of days ago. His eyes darted around, and sure enough, he spotted Fang Yongchang in one of the exhibition halls. He felt a bit hesitant and didn't want to cross paths with him because Fang Yongchang's eccentric son, Alan, was also there. He was afraid that if another argument broke out, he wouldn't be able to resist punching the guy. But Liu Chang happened to be pulling him right in that direction, so he could only silently recite the Heart-Cleansing Incantation.

“Oh! Excuse me! Please pardon me for a moment!”

Before Cao Xiao could even get close, Fang Yongchang spotted him. He apologized to the people he was talking to and walked over from a distance with a smile. “Cao Xiao, I've finally managed to wait for you! Hahaha!”

“Oh! Mr. Fang, you're here too!” Cao Xiao said with feigned surprise, acting as if he had just noticed Fang Yongchang.

“Haha, this is our Haolai exhibition hall, so of course I'm here. Hello, Yueyou! And these are...? Are you all here to buy jewelry?” Fang Yongchang looked closely before recognizing He Yueyou. He was on good terms with Liu Guitang, but he had no interaction with He Yueyou's parents, so he only guessed her identity because she was holding Cao Xiao's arm. As for Liu Chang and the others, he didn't recognize a single one.

“Yueyou, this is Mr. Fang from Hong Kong's Haolai Jewelry.” Seeing He Yueyou's confusion, Cao Xiao introduced him.

“Hello, Mr. Fang!” He Yueyou nodded and greeted him with a smile.

“They are all my sisters. I brought them here today to buy some jewelry,” Cao Xiao said to Fang Yongchang.

“Since you've come to my place, there's no need for you to spend money. Yueyou, young ladies, and this cute little friend—in this exhibition hall, if you see anything you like, just tell the staff to take it out. Consider it a meeting gift from me, your elder brother. Please, don't be polite!” Fang Yongchang stood to the side and made an inviting gesture, speaking grandly to everyone.

Fang Yongchang's move actually stunned Cao Xiao. Excluding himself, there were eleven people in their group. Giving one piece to each person meant eleven pieces. The jewelry that Haolai Jewelry Company brought to this national jade exhibition for display and trade was all high-end. Competition in the jewelry industry was fierce, and now the exhibition halls of famous jewelry companies from across the country and even Asia were lined up one after another. Haolai Jewelry had recently been pursuing even greater fame, so every piece of jewelry displayed in the hall was not a common item; their values were naturally very high. At a glance, not a single item was priced below 100,000 huaxia currency, and most were in the hundreds of thousands or millions. There were even three items priced above 10 million huaxia currency. If Liu Chang and the others were reckless and picked the most expensive ones, Fang Yongchang would be giving away at least 40 or 50 million worth of jewelry. The value was secondary; the key was that after giving these away, Haolai wouldn't have anything left to exhibit. For a moment, Cao Xiao couldn't figure out what Fang Yongchang was playing at.

Liu Chang and the others were looking at the dazzling jewelry in the hall with glowing eyes, eager to try, but since Cao Xiao hadn't spoken, they didn't feel right speaking up.

“Mr. Fang, let's forget about the meeting gifts. Otherwise, since there are so many of us and we'd just pick the best ones, you won't be able to keep this place running. Haha!” Cao Xiao declined with a joke.

“This little bit of jewelry is just a token of my appreciation. Just take them. Our Haolai is not short of fine jewelry; I'll just have someone send more over in a bit. If there's nothing suitable, I'll have more brought for you to choose from,” Fang Yongchang said domineeringly.

“Mr. Fang, you're making me feel overwhelmed! Fine! Since you're so insistent, I'll accept your kindness with a bit of shame. If you have anything on your mind, just say it, and I'll see if I can help!” Since the man had gone this far, Cao Xiao couldn't refuse anymore. Their cost was far less than the price, at most a few tens of millions; it was fine to accept. This amount of money really wasn't much to him now, and he could easily find an opportunity to repay this favor. Besides, Fang Yongchang likely had a request for him, so helping him out later would be fine. However, he didn't promise too much; this kind of favor, where the giver gives before asking, wasn't worth a massive effort on his part.

“Then I'll thank you in advance! You all choose first, and we'll talk about other matters in a bit.” Seeing Cao Xiao agree, Fang Yongchang's face beamed, and his smile grew even more radiant.

“Girls, go ahead. Mr. Fang is the boss of a big jewelry company. Just take whatever you like, and pick the best. Treat it as 'eating the tycoon.'” Since it was settled, Cao Xiao didn't think about it anymore; it would be a waste not to take it.

“Long live Cousin! Long live Mr. Fang! Long live the tycoon!”

The first to speak was naturally Liu Chang. She was Cao Xiao's most beloved younger cousin and never knew the meaning of being polite with him. So, taking the lead, she pulled Dai Hanqiu beside her and dashed toward the exhibition hall.

“That wild girl!” Cao Xiao looked at Liu Chang's flailing posture and could only smile bitterly.

Looking back, he saw that the other girls were still standing in place, their eyes fixed on the exhibition hall with envy. However, Mi Fan, Li Lanshan, and An Ni had very calm expressions, showing no signs of envy. In an instant, Cao Xiao understood why. Zhou Xinmeng, Wang Can, and Hu Kexin, including Dai Hanqiu, were just Liu Chang's classmates; they didn't have a close relationship with Cao Xiao. To them, any piece of jewelry in the hall was a fortune, something they couldn't dream of. They were self-aware, so they could only watch with longing. Mi Fan was a stubborn and idealistic girl; in her eyes, many things were far more important than money. Even though Cao Xiao treated her like a biological sister, she never asked for anything. As for Li Lanshan and An Ni, they were still little girls who probably hadn't even encountered much jewelry, so they had no concept of it; envy didn't even enter the picture. He Yueshuang went without saying; she was the pampered daughter of the Hongdu Group, what jewelry hadn't she seen? These things held no attraction for her. Looking at her bored expression, her mind had probably flown off to some 2D anime world.

“Xinmeng, Cancan, Kexin, you go too! This is a rare opportunity. A tycoon like Mr. Fang who gives away money so generously is a once-in-a-millennium event. If you miss it, it’s gone!” To dispel their doubts, Cao Xiao tried to keep his tone light. Turning his head, he winked at He Yueyou and said, “Yueyou, why don't you go with them and help them choose?”

“Come with me. My eye for jewelry is top-notch; I'll help you pick out the most beautiful pieces.”

He Yueyou was intelligent and elegant, so she naturally understood. She let go of Cao Xiao's arm and went to take Zhou Xinmeng and the others toward the hall. The three girls didn't refuse, but they all simultaneously looked at Cao Xiao with gratitude in their eyes.

“Xiao Fan, you take An Ni, Shanshan, and Yueshuang to choose. As for Yangyang, he'll stay with me. A little brat doesn't need to wear jewelry!” Cao Xiao said to Mi Fan.

Mi Fan had no objection. Seeing Cao Xiao's encouraging gaze, An Ni and Li Lanshan also followed Mi Fan hesitantly, while He Yueshuang didn't care either way.

“Cousin is biased! Why do they get some and I can't? Boys look good in jewelry too. I want some too! Cousin, help me choose, I want the most beautiful one!” Now Liu Yang was upset. Jewelry was less attractive to him than a bag of potato chips, but that's how kids are—if someone else has something, they want it too.

“I'll buy you a big Ultraman in a bit. If you keep shaking me, you won't get that either!” Cao Xiao was experienced in fooling kids and easily KO'd Liu Yang with one move.

“Cao Xiao, let's go over there and talk!” Fang Yongchang had been watching Cao Xiao and the others talk with a smile, and only now did he speak up.

“Alright!”

The Haolai Jewelry exhibition hall was quite large, probably the biggest in this area. Fang Yongchang must have paid a high price for it. Several small resting areas were planned within the different sections, each furnished with two chairs and a glass coffee table for customers to rest and talk.

“Where did you wild girl come from? Do you think our Haolai Jewelry Company is a charity? You actually took jewelry and were going to leave without paying, and you even said my dad said so. Is my dad's brain broken?!”

“And you guys! Are you here to rob us? A dozen people—are you trying to empty our exhibition hall? 'My dad said so' again. No matter how stupid my dad is, he wouldn't be this stupid!”

“Look at your pathetic, poor appearance. Do you even deserve such precious jewelry? Call the police immediately! They're crazy, but are you all crazy too, letting them just take things? If they get dirty, will other customers still want them? Mention my dad again and you're fired immediately. Are you in cahoots with them, an inside job? Speak!”

Just as Cao Xiao and Fang Yongchang reached the front of the hall, they saw Fang Yongchang's son, Alan, roaring at the girls. Liu Chang and He Yueyou were still arguing with Alan, while Zhou Xinmeng and the others were already crying from fear. Li Lanshan and An Ni were clinging to He Yueyou in terror.

“Come here, Shanshan, An Ni. Don't be afraid, Brother is here!” Cao Xiao didn't explode in anger. His eyes were as calm as a deep well as he walked up to He Yueyou, took the two girls into his arms, and gently coaxed them.

As the two girls sobbed in his arms, Cao Xiao raised one hand, clenched it into a fist, and gave it a slight shake.

“Cao Xiao, don't get agitated. I'll give you an explanation right now!” Fang Yongchang said to Cao Xiao anxiously. Then, he lunged forward and kicked Alan hard in the back, roaring, “You animal, shut your mouth!”

“Mr. Cao!” Duan Hong and the other three bodyguards appeared behind Cao Xiao in unison.

“Someone go and get the things from the trunk of the car I was sitting in!” Cao Xiao ordered without looking back.

Ignoring his clothes getting wet with tears, he continued to pat the girls' backs to comfort them.

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

Fang Yongchang's powerful kick sent Alan crashing into a tempered glass display stand, breaking his nose. Blood and tears streamed down Alan's face, making him look pathetic. But Fang Yongchang didn't let him off; he swung his arm and gave him three hard slaps across the face.

Such a large commotion naturally attracted people from the surroundings to watch. But Cao Xiao had no reaction to this. Instead, he said to He Yueyou, “Yueyou, take the girls to the side.”