Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Bearing the Thorned Branches to Apologize

But now, it seems I was overthinking.

However, Zhuang Yan didn’t say anything, but a small old man with gray hair next to him wasn’t happy.

Upon hearing Brother Lin’s arrogant words, he sneered disdainfully:

“Such big talk, aren’t you afraid the wind will slap your tongue? Ah, young people nowadays, full but not overflowing, half-full and wavering. They probably don’t even know what a Jadeite rough is.”

The fact that Lin Yi could look at a rough stone for just a few seconds, and even gave a judgment about what’s inside, instantly irritated the gambling stone consultant at Xuanrui Studio next to him.

Especially since these sixteen rough stones were painstakingly selected by himself, making him even angrier.

Because of this, even though the boss was around and Lin Yi was a friend of the boss, the old man couldn’t help but speak up.

Uh…

Facing the furious old man, Lin Yi was speechless. He was just stating the truth; was there really a need to attack him over it?

But this wasn’t the end of it. The old man grabbed a gray-brown stone, about the size of a bun, and angrily questioned Lin Yi:

“You say there’s nothing inside this stone? Let me ask you, do you know which mining field this stone is from?”

Looking at the old man like a fighting rooster, Lin Yi helplessly shook his head, thinking to himself that maybe this old guy was bitten by a dog before he came out?

Why is he speaking so aggressively?

Seeing this, Zhuang Yan quickly spoke to appease:

“Elder Chen, elder Chen, don’t get angry. Brother Lin is still young, and it’s natural to make mistakes occasionally. Let’s learn from each other, no need to get upset.”

Saying this, Zhuang Yan looked apologetically at Lin Yi, feeling helpless. This old man was the best gambling stone consultant at Xuanrui Studio, and almost every time they went out to purchase rough stones, Elder Chen was the team leader.

Not only that, except for a few times, Elder Chen almost always had some harvest.

Now seeing Elder Chen squaring off with Lin Yi, Zhuang Yan could only try to mediate the situation.

Lin Yi, however, just chuckled bitterly and didn’t intend to engage with the old man.

Today, he had just confirmed his ‘good friend’ relationship with Xiao Zihan, and was in a good mood, not inclined to argue with the old man.

“Hm, you can’t say anything now, can you? President Zhuang, it’s not that I don’t give you face. You know what kind of person I, Lao Chen, am. The materials I selected with such effort were deemed worthless by this kid. If there’s no result today, I won’t let it go with him!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi finally understood. He had evaluated the material that the old man had painstakingly selected, no wonder the old man was responding aggressively.

However, despite having evaluated their material, he was merely being objective. If you lack skill, can you not allow others to critique you? That doesn’t make sense.

Thinking this way, Lin Yi decided not to tolerate him.

“Hehe, even though you’re older than me, don’t be too opinionated. Learning should have no precedence; any learned person can be a teacher. I’ll give you this saying today, teacher.

This piece of material from the Damu field does show a good surface. Not only is it full of pine flowers, but there’s also a Python belt, and seemingly a hint of white mist. However, it’s just its camouflage.

It’s like being human; the pine flowers and Python belt represent past glories, but no matter how glorious the past was, it’s just the past.”

Lin Yi’s statement was clearly a rebuttal to the old man.

The pine flowers on the surface are the weathered product of Jadeite; here, Lin Yi uses it as a metaphor for humanity, implying that, Elder Chen, though you were skilled before, now you’ve been washed up.

Of course, Lin Yi is the only one who knows if that’s what he intended to convey.

Nevertheless, after Lin Yi’s words were said, the old man across grew even angrier, his white goatee furiously twitching.

“Alright, alright, alright, young people may have slick tongues, but that doesn’t matter. Since you’re so confident, let’s have a wager today. If this stone is indeed empty like you say, then I, Lao Liu, will exit the gambling stone circle starting today!

On the other hand, if this opens to reveal Jadeite, you’ll carry the jingtiao and publicly apologize to me!”

Upon hearing this, those surrounding to watch the excitement gasped in surprise, not expecting the famous Lao Liu to wager on rough stones with a young man.

Not mentioning the cause, this was clearly bullying.

Not only in this gambling stone circle, but throughout the stone gambling community of Huaxia, Lao Liu holds some reputation.

Looking at this young man across from him, those present in the stone gambling circle had never seen him before.

“Not necessary, not necessary, Elder Chen, it’s not necessary to make things so unpleasant with a junior.”

However, Elder Chen didn’t acknowledge Zhuang Yan’s words, maybe his stubbornness was up, he persistently fixed his gaze on Lin Yi, awaiting his retreat.

Listening to the old man’s aggressive words from across, Xiao Zihan couldn’t help but hold onto Lin Yi’s arm.

Lin Yi turned his gaze and saw a look full of worry in her eyes.

“I, we’re, leaving. I don’t want you to carry the jingtiao.”

Hearing Xiao Zihan’s worried words, Lin Yi’s lips curled slightly. He reached out and gently squeezed Xiao Zihan’s nose lightly, then casually said:

“Don’t worry, your ‘good boyfriend’ is quite capable.”

After comforting Xiao Zihan, Lin Yi firstly looked at Zhuang Yan, then chuckled and said:

“Haha, Brother Zhuang, your place is poisonous, with troubles always finding me when I visit, haha.”

This remark was also a way of saving face for Zhuang Yan, signaling that it wasn’t him causing trouble.

Looking at Lin Yi, and then at Chen Lao Liu with his resolute expression, Zhuang Yan finally just chuckled bitterly and shook his head, then stepped back slightly, evidently understanding Lin Yi’s intent.

Especially noticing the confident yet playful gaze in Lin Yi’s eyes, it put his mind at ease.

It seemed Lin Yi was confident.

This was good, as Lao Liu, with his steadily rising fame in recent years in the stone gambling circle, was becoming increasingly arrogant.

Sometimes, he even started losing touch with reality, not proceeding according to his wishes.

If defeated by Lin Yi today, it might deflate his arrogance.

“Hehe, since you want to compete, I have no reason to shrink back. But the stakes must be changed. Your exiting the stone gambling circle has no significance to me, and I can’t keep an eye on you every day.”

As Lin Yi said this, Chen Lao Liu was so enraged that he pointed at Lin Yi: “You,”

But before he could speak, Lin Yi waved his hand to interrupt:

[To be continued…]