Chapter 18: Buying Jade (Second Update, Vote Requested!)

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  When Zhang Wenzhong finished cleaning up and walked out of the clinic, Lin Ziman had already left the school hospital. Zhang Wenzhong locked the clinic door behind him, pushed it again to make sure it was locked tightly before leaving.

  After leaving the gate of Yongcheng University, Zhang Wenzhong did not head in the direction of home, but instead waited at the bus stop on the left side of the school gate for the No. 173 bus to Xidajie in Yongcheng.

  Yongcheng West Street is a famous antique street in Yongcheng City. Every day, the street is bustling with people surging forward. Countless people hope to find treasures here and make a fortune overnight. However, most of these people who dream of getting rich end up losing heavily. Occasionally, some people with good eyesight and luck can find treasures at low prices. But such people and events are extremely rare. It is precisely these rare individuals and events that stimulate those who dream of getting rich, making them linger here forgetfully.

  It's just like buying lottery tickets. Everyone knows that the chances of winning a big prize are slim, but they all look forward to it and hope that one day they will be the lucky ones.

  When Zhang Wenzhong stepped into Yongcheng West Main Street, it was already half past six. Six thirty in summer is still early, not dark at all, but the temperature has become cool and pleasant at this time, which is why the current Yongcheng West Main Street has a higher traffic volume than any other time period.

  Zhang Wenzhong strolled along Yongcheng West Street.

  On both sides of this ancient, quaint street are beautifully decorated antique shops. The antiques sold in these shops are often very expensive. For the most part, these antique shops are usually deserted. After all, there aren't many people who can afford to spend a lot of money on antiques.

  Outside the antique shops, on both sides of the imitation ancient streets, there are many stalls. On these stalls, all kinds of antiques are displayed. As for whether these things are true or false, they can only be identified by themselves. And most people who come to Xicheng Dajie to find treasures linger around these stalls, hoping to find one or two cheap genuine products.

  Zhang Wenzhong strolled along Yongcheng West Street, his eyes constantly scanning the stalls on both sides.

  With Zhang Wen's discerning eye, he could tell at a glance which ones were genuine and which ones were fake. What disappointed him was that along the way, all the street stalls on both sides of the road were selling nothing but fakes, not a single one was authentic. What made Zhang Wen feel even more absurd was that in several street stalls, the so-called antique jade articles were actually made of plastic.

  "It seems that it's impossible to find cheap jade on the street stalls." Zhang Wen Zhong shook his head in dismay, casting his gaze towards the antique shops by the street. He thought to himself: "Since I'm already here, might as well check out these antique shops and see if they have any genuine yet affordable jade for sale. Even if it's low-quality jade, it doesn't matter; with my current skills, I can only make some basic protective charms and ritual objects anyway. If I were to use good quality jade, it would be a waste."

  With the thought that he had come all this way, he might as well go in and take a look, Zhang Wenzhong stepped into the nearest antique shop. Unfortunately, the jade items sold in this antique shop were all large pieces, and the prices were not cheap.

  Zhang Wenzhong turned and walked towards several other antique shops, but unfortunately the situation in these antique shops was similar to that of the previous one.

  "If this antique shop still doesn't have suitable jade, I might as well go to a jade accessory store and take a look." Zhang Wenzhong shook his head with a smile. It wasn't until now that he remembered some stores selling accessories also sold jade items. As for whether these jade items were real or fake, it was simple - he only needed to take one glance to tell them apart. Of course, if he could buy ancient jade from previous dynasties, the power of the amulets and magical instruments made from it would also be enhanced."

  Zhang Wenzhong stepped into this antique shop.

  At this moment, in this antique shop, there is a customer, wearing black-framed glasses. The boss, with an air of expertise, is holding a scroll of ancient painting and enthusiastically introducing it to the customer. Seeing Zhang Wen Zhong walk in, he doesn't abandon the customer in front of him, but instead nods towards Zhang Wen Zhong, then yells at the young man standing aside playing with his phone: "You little brat, stop playing with your phone! Can't you see that a boss has arrived? Hurry up and attend to the boss! If you're slow, I'll dock your pay!"

  The young man muttered a sentence under his breath, then put the phone back in his pocket and walked up to Zhang Wen-zhong's face, with an attitude that was still quite polite, asking: "Boss, what do you like to play with? Calligraphy and painting? Porcelain? Or jade?"

  Zhang Wenzhong said calmly: "Take a look at your jade."

  "Good, follow me." The young man working in the antique shop was usually discerning, and although Zhang Wen's attire was ordinary, the extraordinary aura he exuded made the young man involuntarily glance at him sideways.

  Working in an antique shop, the young man had seen his fair share of successful people. However, at this moment, he felt that the demeanor exuded by those so-called successful people he had met before was fundamentally different from that of the ordinary, even shabbily dressed man standing before him.

  One's outward appearance may be deceiving, but one's demeanor that comes from within is impossible to fake.

  What a big shot!

  The young man immediately made a judgment about Zhang Wen's identity in his heart.

  Although he was curious why a big shot like Zhang Wen would dress so shabbily, the young man thought to himself that these rich and powerful people nowadays all have some strange hobbies. He had once seen the boss of a company dressed as if he had just come back from working in the fields. Compared to that person, this big shot in front of him was merely dressing in a way that showed his poverty, which wasn't that strange after all.

  A young man led Zhang Wen-zhong to the jade area, where all kinds of jades were placed on the counter. However, Zhang Wen-zhong just took a glance at these jades and couldn't help but shake his head secretly in his heart.

  Because all the jade items in this antique shop are fake, not a single one is genuine. Let alone being antiques, the materials of these jade items aren't even jade!