Chapter 50

"Mr. Qi, have you had breakfast yet?" Xiaoding said with a smile, "The pastries here are quite good, you can try them."

Qi Xiang waved his hand and sat down on the chair, casually saying, "I've already had breakfast, you don't need to be so polite..."

"Then have some tea, the Dongting tea here is also very good," Xiaoding quickly said. The Dongting tea he mentioned was not from Dongting Lake, but from the Dongting Mountain in Taihu Lake.

Taihu Lake is very large, and there are naturally islands in the lake. Among them, the most famous is Dongting Mountain in Taihu Lake.

Dongting Mountain is actually divided into Dongting East Mountain and West Mountain. East Mountain is a peninsula connected to the shore, while West Mountain is an independent island in the lake. However, the two mountains are connected by a bridge and are close to each other.

Therefore, in geography, the two mountains are collectively referred to as Dongting Mountain.

Since the mountain is in the lake, it is nourished by abundant water sources, so the vegetation is very lush. Especially the tea in the mountain, it is said to absorb the essence of the mountains and waters of Taihu Lake, making its taste particularly fresh and natural.

Under the careful cultivation of the tea farmers, Dongting tea naturally became a famous local tea.

At Xiaoding's enthusiastic invitation, Qi Xiang also gave him face, raised the cup, and took a sip of the steaming hot tea. He immediately felt a long-lasting fragrance spread in his mouth.

"The taste is good," Qi Xiang casually praised, then directly took out a box and slowly pushed it to Xiaoding.

"Mr. Qi, what is this?" Xiaoding was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

"Take a look first," Qi Xiang indicated, smiling.

"Uh?" Xiaoding's heart stirred, and he immediately opened the box carefully. He looked down, his eyes widening instantly, then quickly closed the lid with a click.

"Whoa..."

Xiaoding looked at Qi Xiang, swallowing hard, and said hoarsely, "Mr. Qi, what do you mean by this?"

"Nothing much," Qi Xiang smiled, "I'm a bit short on cash recently and need some money. You have a wide network of contacts, help me find a buyer for this treasure."

Hearing this, Xiaoding cautiously opened the box again, then squinted to examine it. He looked around, and after confirming that no one was nearby, he dared to take out the item in the box and hold it in his hand to feel it.

After a long study, Xiaoding lowered his voice and whispered, "This is... a black pearl?"

"Yep," Qi Xiang nodded affirmatively.

"Such a large one..." Xiaoding rubbed it, seemingly surprised and delighted, "It's about three centimeters in diameter, right?"

"I haven't measured it, but it should be about that," Qi Xiang smiled, "And it's a natural pearl, quite rare."

"Natural pearl!" Xiaoding's pupils suddenly contracted, then he quickly placed the pearl on the back of his hand. The slightly cool sensation made him even more delighted.

He was an expert and naturally knew that cultured pearls are relatively warm, while natural pearls are cooler and more refreshing to the touch.

Of course, the most important thing is the luster of natural pearls, which has a richer color and a soft, gentle luster. From the edge of the pearl to the core, there is a beautiful gradient process.

Unlike cultured pearls, which have a more rigid luster and lack the vitality and spirit.

Xiaoding looked, touched, and smelled for about ten minutes, then let out a deep breath, his face beaming with joy, "Mr. Qi, are you sure you want to sell such a treasure?"

"Since I've brought it, I can't back out, can I?" Qi Xiang smiled, "I really need the money urgently, so I have to part with it. I'll trouble Brother Ding to help me find a buyer and get it sold as soon as possible."

"Sure, sure," Xiaoding patted his chest, making a solemn promise, "I'll take care of it."

This business that came to him had significant benefits, and he had no reason to turn it down.

Moreover, once he agreed, Xiaoding lost all interest in having morning tea. He was even a bit restless and quickly volunteered, "Mr. Qi, you eat first, I'll spread the word and wait for others to contact us..."

While speaking, Xiaoding sought Qi Xiang's approval and took several photos of the black pearl with his phone, then sent these photos to his social media.

Before long, a series of clear and crisp notifications rang out, making Xiaoding's social media lively. Avatars kept flashing, and many people sent him messages to inquire about the photos.

"Tsk..."

Qi Xiang noticed this situation and couldn't help but sigh. Times have changed, and people who collect antiques are also keeping up with the times. In the past, to see an item, one had to visit in person or call.

Now, with the help of technology, the goal can be achieved without the need for such efforts.

At this moment, Xiaoding's fingers flew as he typed messages in his social media, uniformly responding to his friends' questions and providing detailed descriptions of the black pearl's characteristics.

In the midst of his busy work, a phone call came in.

Xiaoding was taken aback, answered it, and upon hearing the other party speak, he was immediately delighted, "Young Master Hai..."

"Yes, it is a natural pearl..." Xiaoding said a few words, then quickly covered the phone and turned back, "Mr. Qi, where is the origin of this pearl?"

Qi Xiang's heart stirred, and he spoke frankly, "Taihu!"

"What?" Xiaoding was stunned.

"This is a Taihu pearl," Qi Xiang said solemnly, "Just tell the truth."

"Uh..." Xiaoding reacted, quickly released the phone, and whispered, "Young Master Hai, the owner says... this pearl is from Taihu..."

As he said this, Xiaoding's voice was somewhat weak.

Mainly because in his impression, there should be no such large black pearls in Taihu.

If he couldn't confirm that it was a natural pearl and not a cultured one, he wouldn't have the nerve to say this.

As soon as he spoke, Xiaoding was mentally prepared for Young Master Hai's questioning. However, to his surprise, Young Master Hai happily invited him, "Bring the item, let's take a look..."

Xiaoding was dazed, subconsciously asking, "Where should we bring it?"

"The big ship you saw last time... come to the dock, we'll pick you up."

After saying this, Young Master Hai hung up the phone.

"Big ship?"

Xiaoding shivered, instantly becoming alert, then overjoyed, turning back to call, "Mr. Qi, the opportunity has come, Young Master Hai has invited us on the ship..."

"Which ship?" Qi Xiang asked knowingly.

"The ship where Mr. Tian made the lake feast," Xiaoding said excitedly, "He said he'll wait for us at the dock... hurry, let's go."

Xiaoding was so eager that he didn't even eat breakfast, and directly took Qi Xiang back to the Taihu dock.

In the early morning, a cool breeze blew through the willows by the lake, and there was a thin mist on the water. A few pleasure boats drifted idly, with no guests, making the scene seem very desolate and quiet.

Suddenly, a huge ship broke the silence. Even before it reached the shore, its massive presence forced several small boats to move out of the way to avoid being crushed.

Qi Xiang looked into the distance and saw more clearly.

The ship resembled the ancient warships described in historical records, divided into five levels, seemingly made of pure wood, with distinct layers and intricate carvings, like a delicate and elegant pavilion moving on the water.

Ancient ships, due to insufficient power, generally moved slowly.

However, the ship on the lake was equipped with modern advanced technology, and with the help of motors and propellers, the massive ship easily broke through the water, leaving a deep trail behind.

Soon, the ship slowed down and gently docked at the pier.

At the same time, a wide gangway lowered, and Young Master Hai's smiling face appeared on the deck, "Xiaoding, come on up."

"Young Master Hai..."

Without a word, Xiaoding ran up as if he had seen his mother.

Qi Xiang followed calmly, also boarding the ship.

"Hmm?"

Seeing Qi Xiang, Young Master Hai was also taken aback, then smiled, "Brother, we have a connection. Speaking of which, this should be our third meeting, right?"

"Seems so," Qi Xiang thought for a moment and confirmed, "You have a good memory..."

"I have a photographic memory!" Young Master Hai was a bit proud, then suddenly thought of something and asked in surprise, "Wait, that Taihu... cough, Taihu black pearl, isn't it yours?"

"Yes, it's mine," Qi Xiang smiled, "What, Young Master Hai, are you interested?"

"It's not me who's interested, but my friend," Young Master Hai said honestly, then waved, "Come on, let's go inside and talk..."

As the three entered the cabin, the ship also started, slowly leaving the dock and breaking through the water.

The cabin's decoration could be described as luxurious and magnificent, with soft carpets on the corridors and intricate carvings on the walls. Every detail was meticulously crafted, not just a modern imitation of ancient styles, but a genuine and authentic ancient revival.

After walking through the long corridor, the scene suddenly opened up, revealing a living room.

At this moment, a young man with a vibrant aura was sitting in the living room. He was in his twenties or thirties, with a rugged face, chiseled features, and a high level of attractiveness.

As expected, this young man was Mr. Tian Shi, whom Xiaoding had mentioned as an excellent chef.

At this moment, he seemed to be reading a book. Upon hearing the commotion, he casually closed the book, stood up, and smiled, "Guests have arrived, I'm sorry for not greeting you properly, please forgive me."

Although Mr. Tian's words were polite and his attitude was kind, for some reason, Qi Xiang could sense a faint air of pride about him.

This pride was not directed at anyone in particular, nor was it arrogance, but rather an indescribable aura.

After pondering for a moment, Qi Xiang suddenly felt that Mr. Tian Shi was very similar to Chen Bixue. Both of them had a kind of innate, heartfelt, and detached aura, as if they were unwilling to be part of the mundane world...

This thought flashed through his mind, and Qi Xiang's eyes cleared. He then sat down at the tea table at Mr. Tian's invitation and began to get to the point.

...

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