Chapter 4

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Zhao Zhiqiang stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly held the secret letter his mother had given him.

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Zhao Zhiqiang's blood flowed back more vigorously, his excitement improving his mental state. The copper bead in his heart, due to the strange mental control, had significantly increased its power. It instantly drew blood and refined it, converting a thread of spiritual energy that circulated throughout his body. Apart from his paler complexion, he felt his physical strength had finally returned, even stronger than when he was in the military!

Today, the spiritual energy was finally produced!

Zhao Zhiqiang had been troubled by the lack of spiritual energy these past few days, but he couldn't move. Every day, he was limited by his blood volume and the need for strong mental control to produce the spiritual energy. This was what kept him alive.

Zhao Tiejun, seeing Zhao Zhiqiang suddenly become excited, sneered and snorted, thinking, "Now you, this poor guy, still dare to compete with me? If you lower your head and behave, you might have a way out..."

Zhao Zhiqiang coughed, "Fourth Brother, since you still remember that incident from back then, fine, I don't mind having you as a companion. But let's modify the bet. If you win, you can cut a mark on my face. If you lose, you don't have to pay me ten times the money. Just let me slap you three times in front of everyone. How about it?" Zhao Zhiqiang spoke calmly and handed the lunch box to his brother.

Although he was wearing an old military coat, Zhao Tiejun couldn't help but feel that this guy's aura was as strong as it used to be, which made him pause.

"Hmph, do you still remember the rules of Chang'an Village?" Zhao Tiejun was confident he would win. Who would come to this place at one in the morning to buy this junk? This kid must be scared and crazy from poverty, coming here to get beaten. He had to fulfill his wish. Hearing his words, he was still pretending to be poor and noble... but he couldn't win anyway!

"Admit defeat and take the loss!"

"Fine, it's settled!"

"**!" Zhao Zhiqiang looked at Zhao Tiejun, who was sucking on a thick cigar, feeling immense disdain. This guy, even worse than those two women, was still so foolish after three years...

The car wash shop owner, Ergazi from Guomugou Village, and a few others waiting for their cars to be washed all knew the two super-rich women and Zhao Tiejun. They were also familiar with Zhao Zhiqiang, and none of them were easy to deal with.

Seeing this odd group making a bet, they were all eager to be witnesses, and some even started betting on who would win.

"Come, come, I'll be the notary..."

"I'll be one too!"

"Sure, Mr. Chen's betting integrity is always top-notch, and Daqiang is a straightforward person. We'll watch!"

"Fourth Brother is the most refined, he's never lost!"

"This bet is strange, Daqiang, what's your wood? Alright, I've watched you grow up, I bet on you, fifty!"

"Fifty it is, I bet on the lady!"

With nothing to do during the winter, everyone was happy to join in the fun.

Zhao Zhigang's face was covered with black lines.

He was worried about tutoring that clumsy girl. It didn't matter if she didn't learn, but the main issue was that he always had to pay. Although she was quite pretty, he had no other thoughts right now, as he was focused on his mother's illness and the lack of money for his studies. He didn't know why that girl wanted to date him, but he had to win this!

Moreover, the bet... The conflict between Zhao Tiejun and his brother was well-known at No. 2 High School. Since that bumpkin came in, he knew today wouldn't end well.

Brother, you mustn't lose. Without Zhao Tiejun's involvement, I would even sacrifice my appearance, but you can't be disfigured! Zhao Zhigang was extremely worried about this bet.

Looking at the time, it was almost 12 o'clock. He wasn't worried about his mother eating late; he was worried about his brother not losing.

Ten minutes passed.

The road was busy with traffic, but no one stopped to look.

Half an hour later, it was the BMW's turn to be washed. The woman surnamed Chen went to the nearby supermarket to buy sunflower seeds and sat in the waiting room, already convinced that the limited-edition handbag from Su Pozi was hers.

"Hey, nephew, just admit defeat. You're not losing anything, and Xiaogang is helping a classmate, right? It's best if he moves in with Xiaoxiang after the New Year..."

Zhao Zhiqiang's skin crawled at these words.

"Uh—Aunt Su, my customer is here!"

Zhao Zhiqiang had been watching outside. Suddenly, he saw a black SUV that had already passed, now slowly reversing back to the village entrance.

Hearing his words, Su Fengrong, Zhao Tiejun, and his gang, as well as Ergazi and others who were there to watch, immediately perked up.

"Ha, maybe they're here to wash their car, buy something, or eat!"

Chen Liqin sneered, "That thing can't be bought by anyone else in Bincheng. Su Pozi, prepare your LV bag for me, ha ha!"

Zhao Zhiqiang looked at the worn-out military watch on his wrist; it was exactly 12 o'clock.

Zhao Zhigang had already gone out to greet the customer. If it weren't for the cold, he wouldn't want to stay with that woman named Aunt Su at all.

The right rear door of the black SUV opened.

A slender, beautiful leg in black tights and white snow boots emerged gracefully. She stepped out lightly, wearing a white cashmere coat with a white fox fur collar that looked particularly striking. Her young and beautiful eyes sparkled, and her lips curved slightly. She shivered from the temperature difference between inside and outside the car.

She had her long hair tied back and walked a few steps to the old bicycle.

"Damn, she's really beautiful!" Zhao Tiejun whistled, but he was looking at the car—it seemed to be a Maybach!

His subordinates immediately cheered, but they were looking at the young beauty.

"Beautiful lady!"

The beauty, who seemed used to being stared at, smiled. "Boss, can I take this piece of wood to show my grandfather?"

Zhao Zhiqiang walked to his brother's side and patted him on the shoulder, smiling. "Xiaogang, take the wood off."

He was slightly surprised by how beautiful this girl was; she was one of the best he had ever seen.

The two middle-aged women, Su and Chen, who were a few steps behind, glanced at her. Good grief—she was not only young and beautiful, but her looks, figure, and气质 were all top-notch. Even her car was better than theirs. It seemed to be some kind of luxury SUV...

The two middle-aged women, feeling inferior, didn't dare to get too close.

Zhao Zhigang took the wood off and respectfully handed it to the elderly man in the back seat of the black SUV.

The elderly man, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, examined it for several minutes, then smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

The beauty was puzzled why no one had been looking at the item earlier, but when the buyer suddenly appeared with over ten people, she couldn't help but glance at them, wondering why there were so many people selling the item.

Her gaze settled on Zhao Zhiqiang's face, who was wearing a military coat. She felt he was the real seller.

"How much for this piece of wood?"

Zhao Zhiqiang was staring at the elderly man in the car!

How much?

He didn't know.

But it seemed the elderly man did.

Focusing his mind, he drew the last thread of spiritual energy from the copper bead in his heart and directed it to his eyes, focusing on the old man in the car.

Money talks!

Immediately, a faint golden light appeared in his vision or in his mind:

Net worth: ten million, ten-thousand-year-old wood, value: fifty thousand.

Zhao Zhiqiang was nervous but then felt a surge of joy at the result, his eyes brightening!