Chapter 7

"Old Year, good." Guided by a man in black, Li Feng secretly marveled as he walked into a courtyard shaded by green trees, feeling a refreshing autumn breeze.

If he hadn't forgotten, the people living in this area of Huaxi were mostly either wealthy or influential, and those with independent large courtyards had even higher status. These ancient houses, warm in winter and cool in summer, were not just for the rich; they were hard to come by. Just who was Old Year?

Li Feng couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Little brother, you've come." Old Year was walking his bird in the courtyard. Upon sensing Li Feng's arrival, he was startled and hung the birdcage, turning around with a somewhat nervous expression, his mouth opening and closing.

"Old Year, Little Zhang didn't let you down. He has already cured the Golden Headed General." The man in black, perhaps noticing Old Year's concern for the Golden Headed General, quickly leaned in and whispered.

"Really!?" Old Year's eyes widened in disbelief. He had been playing with crickets for many years and knew very well how badly his Golden Head had been injured. He had given it to Li Feng in a moment of desperation, but he hadn't really held much hope.

Who would have thought that this young man, after just two days, had actually cured the Golden Head?

"Quick, let me see!"

Old Year briskly walked over and took the cricket pot from Li Feng. Indeed, a golden-headed cricket with a long, steady breath chirped inside. This intelligent and spirited creature was none other than his beloved Golden Head.

"Ha ha, that's right, it's cured, definitely cured. Just hearing this strong chirp, I know the Golden Head is fine." Old Year was initially stunned, then his face lit up with joy. When his gaze fell on Li Feng again, it was completely different, filled with admiration and warmth.

"Little brother, I, Year Guozhong, always keep my word. I owe you a favor. Keep this business card. If you need anything, feel free to find me." Although the old man was nearly seventy, his words were incredibly authoritative.

As Li Feng secretly marveled, a sense of surprise welled up in his heart. He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise from this unexpected visit. He took the business card, which was very ordinary, with only Old Year's name and a direct phone number. The more ordinary it was, the more Li Feng felt that this old man was unfathomable.

"Come, little brother, come sit down and try my Pu'er tea." Old Year, in a great mood, invited him. He looked at the Golden Headed General, who seemed more spirited than before, and felt even happier.

Li Feng took a small sip, immediately feeling a warm current in his stomach, followed by a rich and fragrant aroma rising in his mouth. He had drunk Pu'er tea many times, but this was the first time he had tasted such a flavorful one. One sip was enough to tell it was not an ordinary tea.

Indeed, the life of a person in power was good. After about half an hour of tea, Li Feng remembered another purpose for his visit. Old Year, being a person of importance, quickly noticed that Li Feng seemed to have something on his mind.

"Little brother, what do you want to say?"

"It's like this, Old Year. This time, I've brought a cricket from my hometown..." Li Feng smiled awkwardly, pausing before continuing, "I'm a bit short on money lately. I wonder if you could give me an appraisal and tell me how much this cricket is worth."

"Oh?"

"Look at my memory." Old Year patted his head, smiling, "I almost forgot that your family has been raising crickets for generations. Since you've brought a cricket, that's great. I'm not good at raising crickets, but if you need an appraisal, you've come to the right person."

"Right, this one." Li Feng reached into his pocket and, after some hesitation, pulled out the cricket he had raised once. To be precise, it was a cricket he had raised only once, and while it didn't match the Golden Headed General in size, it was still quite impressive.

After all, an ant growing several times its size after one feeding was due to its small size, but a cricket growing to this size after one feeding was quite remarkable.

"I call it Greenhead Aidi." Li Feng smiled modestly.

"Greenhead Aidi, good, it's truly an excellent Greenhead." Old Year was quickly drawn to Aidi.

It had to be said that with his years of experience, he immediately recognized that the cricket Li Feng had taken out was a top-tier fighting cricket.

However, he had seen many scenes, and while top-tier fighting crickets were rare, they weren't unheard of. What impressed him more was that Li Feng had hidden such an excellent fighting cricket in his pocket.

Truly a family of cricket raisers, not afraid of losing their treasures.

"Let me take a look, you sit down first." The old man fetched a microscope and a balance, weighed Aidi, and then examined it from all angles. He even selected a fighting cricket from his courtyard to fight with Aidi.

Li Feng watched from the side, marveling at the old man's expertise. It was truly amazing how many ways there were to play with a cricket.

After a while, Old Year finally came to his senses, his expression somewhat serious, "Little brother, are you really going to sell Aidi?"

"Um." Li Feng was slightly nervous at Old Year's serious demeanor but still insisted.

Aidi might be one in a hundred in Old Year's eyes, but in Li Feng's hands, he could produce as many as he needed. Moreover, Aidi, having been raised only once, had only a certain level of intimacy and not yet loyalty, so he didn't feel any attachment.

"Little brother, let me put it this way. I almost misjudged your Aidi. It's not just an excellent fighting cricket." Old Year put down his tools, sighing a bit.

"Oh, what do you mean, Old Year?" Li Feng asked, knowing that Aidi, which he had raised himself, was not an ordinary fighting cricket.

"How to put it? You should understand fighting crickets. Generally, fighting crickets are those we select from cricket vendors with potential to become fighting crickets, and after two to three weeks of feeding and training, they truly become fighting crickets."

Old Year took a sip of tea and continued, "But fighting crickets are also divided into three categories: third-rate, first-rate, and先天异凛的 fighting cricket kings, also known as fighting cricket prime ministers."

"Your Greenhead Aidi, although not a fighting cricket king by weight, has a hidden potential."

"Hidden potential?" Li Feng asked curiously.

"Yes, hidden potential. This hidden potential is the king of battles among equals." Old Year emphasized, "If I didn't misjudge, your Aidi's value far exceeds what you would get from selling it. Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Feng shook his head, "Old Year, my family has been raising crickets for generations, but I don't know much about cricket knowledge, and our family rules don't allow me to get involved in cricket gambling."

To avoid revealing his secret, Li Feng had to continue the lie.

"Ah, no wonder you're not very clear about this." Old Year nodded, his eyes showing a hint of understanding, "Let me put it this way. The rules of fighting crickets are similar to human boxing matches. Boxers are divided into weight classes every ten kilograms, and fighting crickets are similarly divided, but by 1 milligram."

"The reason I say your Aidi is the king of battles among equals is because of these equal weight classes. Simply put, among crickets of the same weight, few can match your Aidi. The benefits it can bring you are even greater than my Golden Head. Now, are you still determined to sell it?"

Old Year looked at Li Feng with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"I see." Li Feng took a deep breath. The king of battles among equals, it seemed Aidi could indeed bring him considerable wealth.

Imagine winning every battle, how much money could that bring in?

However, Li Feng clearly needed money now, and with the blood essence, he didn't want to spend too much energy on fighting crickets. After a moment's thought, he remained unmoved, "Old Year, just give me an appraisal. I still decide to sell it."

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