C26 I Have Been Screwed!

"Mr. Zhang may not be familiar with the industry, so it's understandable that he's hesitant to get involved. But it's such a shame not to leverage your incredible talent," Xu Shaoning expressed with a tinge of disappointment. "In the world of gemstone gambling, there are countless stories of people who become millionaires overnight. If Mr. Zhang were to apply himself, I'm certain he could be one of them."

Zhang Xiaolong remained unmoved, shaking his head, "Opportunities come with risks. Where there's a chance for great success, there's also a chance for great failure. I prefer to stick to more reliable pursuits. After all, I'm a farmer, and I believe in doing the work that's meant for a farmer."

"Like farming?" Wang Changyu asked, his voice dripping with condescension.

"Exactly," Zhang Xiaolong replied, seemingly oblivious to the scorn.

Wang Changyu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's the problem with you farmers; your vision is too limited. You could farm your entire life and never earn what one piece of top-grade jadeite is worth."

"Speaking as if you're so worldly," Chen Yaru interjected, unable to tolerate Wang Changyu's mockery of Zhang Xiaolong any longer. "Tell us, Young Master Yu, how much have you earned from these precious stones over the years?"

"Uh..." Wang Changyu found himself at a loss for words.

To date, he had been nothing more than a hedonistic socialite, relying on his father to foot the bill for his lavish lifestyle. As for gambling on stones, he'd dabbled but had never struck it rich.

While it's true that one could strike it rich overnight, the reverse—a sudden plunge into poverty—was equally possible. Thankfully, Wang Changyu hadn't been reckless enough to stake his entire fortune on such gambles, mainly because his father, Wang Han, still controlled the family's wealth.

Understanding the risks all too well, he had been quick to egg Zhang Xiaolong on when Xu Shaoning brought up gemstone gambling.

Chen Yaru's pointed question had left him without a leg to stand on.

"Young Master Yu can afford to gamble, win or lose, because he knows he can handle either outcome," Zhang Xiaolong said without a hint of malice. "But I'm just a humble farmer with little to my name. I can't afford to lose, nor can I gamble on winning. I'd rather stick to my own path, steadily building my wealth in a way that's solid and genuine."

"There's an old saying, 'What comes in by the tide goes out by the tide,'" Lee Donghua nodded appreciatively. "It's better for young people to be grounded and diligent in their work rather than relying on shortcuts to make a profit. Otherwise, even if you gain a lot quickly, you'll likely lose even more just as fast."

"Mr. Lee, you're absolutely right," Xu Shaoning agreed courteously. "Truthfully, I just wanted to spend more time with Zhang Xiaolong. Visiting the Stone Gambling Market was merely for fun—I won't become obsessed with it. Since Xiaolong is unavailable, perhaps we can arrange another time."

This episode piqued many people's interest in Zhang Xiaolong. Yet, with Lee Donghua present, it was clear he preferred not to be disturbed. Besides, we were at the Wang family's place, and Wang Changyu clearly had a strained relationship with Lee Xiaolong, so no one approached.

Xu Shaoning realized that with Lee Donghua and Chen Yaru around, it wouldn't be feasible for him to confront Zhang Xiaolong. He soon found an excuse to take his leave from the Wang family.

Chen Yaru's mood brightened even more once he was gone, despite having shed her previous fear of him.

"Xiaolong, could you possibly stay a few more days?" Chen Yaru searched for a pretext. "You could share more about your family, and I could assist with designing your greenhouse."

"Wait, you're designing the greenhouse?" Zhang Xiaolong was taken aback.

"Not exactly, but as the manager, I need to understand the details..." Chen Yaru struggled to continue her ruse, so she reverted to her previous tactic. "In any case, if you stay a bit longer, I can offer you an even better discount."

"But didn't you say you'd give me the best price just for accompanying you here?" Zhang Xiaolong raised an eyebrow. "How can there be an additional discount?"

Chen Yaru, frustrated, wished she could see inside his head to understand how such a simpleton became the College Entrance Examination Top Scorer. She retorted, "What if I sell it to you at a loss?"

"That's not acceptable. It's not right to let you lose money on a deal. If you earn a little less and give me some discounts, I'm already very grateful," Zhang Xiaolong hastily demurred.

"You..." Chen Yaru grew even more incensed. "Why do you make it sound like we're a bunch of ruthless merchants who devour people without a second thought?"

"Let's not be too hard on Xiaolong," Chen Zhaomin interjected, noticing Zhang Xiaolong's newfound sincerity—a stark contrast to the man who had been teasing Xu Shaoning earlier. Concerned that his daughter might be overwhelmed, he suggested, "We have some time now, so Xiaolong, why don't you share what's happening at your place? That way, Ru can help you prepare for tomorrow."

"I hope I'm not intruding," Lee Donghua said with a courteous smile. "I'm actually quite interested in hearing about what Xiaolong has planned."

"Not at all," replied Zhang Xiaolong, somewhat sheepishly. "The situation at my place is pretty straightforward. I have just one acre of land that I want to turn into a greenhouse using glass, primarily for growing vegetables. But I'm not exactly sure how much glass will be needed."

"That's an easy fix. Just leave the details to Yaru," Chen Zhaomin assured him, nodding. "Any other particular requirements?"

It was rare for him, the CEO, to personally inquire about such a modest deal.

"Not really," Zhang Xiaolong said, scratching his head and growing more embarrassed. "The only issue is that I only have five thousand yuan, and I'm not sure if that will suffice."

"Five... That's certainly enough," Chen Yaru blurted out, then quickly corrected herself, "I mean, it should be just about right, don't you think, Dad?"

"Uh..." Chen Zhaomin coughed, turning to whisper to his daughter, "You've really put your old man in a tight spot."

"I'll make it up to you with my salary. After all, you're going to help him," Chen Yaru whispered back even more quietly.

"No need for that. However, you must make sure to win this young man over for your dad," Chen Zhaomin said with a sly grin.

Lee Donghua held this young man in high regard, someone Chen Zhaomin had never heard of before. And judging by appearances, he seemed quite a match for his daughter. The only downside was his reserved nature; he didn't seem to show much interest in his beautiful daughter.

But being reserved was preferable to being a heartbreaker like Wang Changyu.

Chen Yaru's eyes sparkled as she joyfully flashed a victory sign with two fingers. "Dad, you're the best."

As they turned, Chen Zhaomin confidently remarked, "It should be nearly enough. The only shortfall might be the transportation cost..."

Chen Yaru gently tugged at her dad's sleeve from behind, prompting him to quickly amend his statement. "But that's just a trifle. Since you and Ru are going to be friends, let's forget about those minor expenses."

Zhang Xiaolong appeared somewhat sheepish. "Maybe Miss Chen could make an itemized list of what's owed? I can keep a tab and settle it later."

"That might work," Chen Zhaomin, the crafty veteran, had anticipated such a suggestion and readily agreed with a chuckle, "But remember, this isn't the kind of debt you can settle with money."