Chapter 101

Charlie Wade quickly turned to locate the source of a voice. He saw a young man in a white linen suit and black shoes approaching the stall. The man wore several armbands and, despite the warm day, a pair of antique gold-rimmed glasses with round black lenses—reminiscent of those worn by children during China's Qing Dynasty.

Four or five bodyguards trailed behind him, appearing far more menacing than their young master. Their presence caused onlookers to quickly disperse.

"Oh, it's Mr. Quinton!" the stall owner exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Mr. Quinton, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"Don't be absurd. I'm just browsing Vintage Street," the young man replied impatiently, waving his hand.

He examined the stone in Charlie Wade's hand, then instructed, "Zachary, pack this up for me. I'm buying it—a paperweight for my father's desk."

The stall owner, Zachary, looked at Charlie Wade, embarrassed. "Mr. Quinton, this is awkward, but this gentleman already bought the stone. What do you see in this worthless thing anyway?"

This exchange revealed Zachary's familiarity with the young man. Charlie Wade also noted Zachary's smooth-talking skills.

Zachary quickly grabbed a jade horse made of hardened plastic. "Mr. Quinton, this belonged to a late imperial concubine. The crystal-clear jade is exquisite and expensive. Since we're colleagues, I'll sell it to you for the same price as the celadon cups yesterday—nine thousand dollars!"

Jacob Wilson was stunned. He'd bought the same fake celadon cups for three hundred dollars! Quinton had paid nine thousand!

"Stop the nonsense!" Quinton snapped, kicking Zachary. "I want the stone. Twenty thousand dollars."

Zachary, startled by the offer, turned to Charlie Wade. "Brother, can I sell the stone to Mr. Quinton?"

Charlie Wade frowned. "I already bought it, and I'm not selling."

"You haven't even paid!" Quinton interrupted, pulling out his wallet. "Here, more than twenty thousand. Keep the change."

Zachary's eyes lit up. He took the money, then grinned at Charlie Wade. "Brother, better offer…"

Charlie Wade smiled. "Zachary, you know you can't break the rules. I bought it first, and I'm keeping it."

Zachary was stuck. Antique trade rules dictated that the first buyer owned the item. Breaking that rule meant losing his stall.

He bowed his head. "Mr. Quinton, there's nothing we can do. It's just a worthless paperweight. Let me get you something better…"

Before he finished, Quinton kicked him in the waist. "Righteous now?! I've bought countless items from you, and you turn me down because of some poor guy?!"

Quinton glared at Charlie Wade, intending to force him to hand over the stone, assuming Charlie Wade lacked influence due to his attire.

Chapter 102

Quinton, born into a wealthy family, had never known scarcity. Zachary, torn between Quinton and the rules, looked pleadingly at Charlie Wade.

Charlie Wade ignored him, replying coolly, "No."

Zachary slumped to the ground as Quinton kicked him again.

"Look how useless you are!" Quinton yelled, then turned to Charlie Wade. "You got this for three hundred? Thirty thousand if you give it to me."

The crowd gasped, their envy evident. The stone's value had increased a hundredfold! It was clearly from a river or beach, as many similar stones existed.

Jacob Wilson was thrilled. This sale would recoup his losses from the previous day.

Charlie Wade smiled. "As I said, I'm not selling. Not for three hundred thousand."

"You!" Quinton's face contorted with rage.

The crowd murmured, speculating if Charlie Wade was deliberately humiliating Quinton.

"Lowlife! Think you can pick a fight with me? There's nothing on Vintage Street I can't buy!" Quinton sneered. "If I don't get it, nobody does!"

He gestured to his bodyguards, who surrounded Charlie Wade. The crowd and Jacob Wilson were shocked. The bodyguards were bold. Worried things would escalate, Jacob Wilson urged Charlie Wade to comply.

Charlie Wade stared at the bodyguards. "I stand by my words. I won't sell."

"I'll take it from you, then," Quinton declared arrogantly. "You've barked up the wrong tree."

Chapter 103

The crowd held its breath, expecting Charlie Wade's defeat. Charlie Wade remained calm, smiling.

"I assume this isn't your first antique trade. What's most important?"

Quinton coldly replied, "What?"

Charlie Wade chuckled. "The rules! First come, first served. I was first. This stone is mine. To give it to you would be breaking the rules. Who'd work with you if you break the rules? You'd be barred from Vintage Street."

Quinton was stunned, rage flickering across his face. He hadn't anticipated this. He knew the rule, yet he'd tried to break it.

Quinton glared, suppressing the urge to strike Charlie Wade.

"Not everyone is cut out for this. Don't spoil the market!" He rolled up his sleeves, displaying a jade bracelet. "Look! I bought this for one million five hundred thousand dollars! Ever seen such a beautiful piece?"

The crystal-clear jade bracelet shone brilliantly, captivating the onlookers. Even Zachary was awestruck.

Quinton contemptuously showed a gourd-shaped chalcedony pendant. "And this. A gift from the Sui Dynasty emperor to his son. Eighty-eight monks consecrated it for 108 days. Worth at least three million!"

The crowd craned their necks to see it. Zachary's eyes gleamed.

Quinton sneered. "If you're a pauper who can't afford decent clothes, stay out of the antique trade. It's laughable."

His sarcasm drew stares. Charlie Wade wore simple clothes, while Quinton's attire, though casual, was clearly expensive, likely worth six figures.

Charlie Wade smiled smugly. He considered Quinton a joke—a rich young man showing off his wealth.

"You're rich, hmm? Your jade bracelet…it's fake."

Quinton was taken aback. "Nonsense! How can it be fake?"

"Ask the other shop owners." Charlie Wade shrugged. "If you're rich enough to buy antiques, you should know what you're buying. You're a blind man pretending to be an expert."

Chapter 104

"Okay," Charlie Wade agreed casually. "You're amazing—believing fake stone is jade."

Quinton’s face flushed red. He turned to two other shop owners, Mr. Zeke and Mr. Lionel.

"Assess this bracelet. Is it real?"

Zeke and Lionel exchanged uneasy glances. Authenticity checks were often offensive.

"Mr. Quinton, our expertise is limited. We can't tell."

Quinton’s anger flared. "Don't give me excuses! I won't cause trouble. Just tell me."

The two men reluctantly approached and examined the bracelet.

A few minutes later, one stammered, "Mr. Quinton, he was right. Your bracelet…it's…made of synthetic stone."

Quinton's face went green, then red. He felt publicly humiliated. He struggled to control his temper.

Charlie Wade smiled. "Believe me now? You spent one million five hundred thousand on a fake stone bracelet. You really are wealthy."

Quinton gritted his teeth. "Even if the bracelet is fake, the chalcedony gourd necklace is real!"

He'd had it appraised, and the expert confirmed its authenticity.

Charlie Wade snorted. "No one's as crazy as you! Carrying that evil thing around as a prize!"

"What?! You're ignorant!" Quinton exploded.

Charlie Wade continued, "You're lucky you're still alive keeping that evil thing near your body daily!"

Quinton, wary after his previous experience, asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Look at the shape!" Charlie Wade said coldly. "Did you research your jade pieces?"

Chapter 105

Charlie Wade sneered at Quinton's arrogance. "You can't tell a gourd from a jade plug? Haven't you heard of jade plugs used on corpses?"

"Jade plugs and corpses?" Quinton asked, confused.

Charlie Wade sighed. "Have you heard of the Nine Aperture Jade?"

"Nine Aperture Jade?" Quinton asked blankly.

Quinton bought antiques without researching them; he simply bragged about them.

Charlie Wade sneered. "The Nine Aperture Jade—nine jade plugs used to seal the nine orifices of the dead."

"Dead people?!" Quinton's mouth dropped open.

He looked at the pendant in shock, feeling goosebumps.

Charlie Wade mocked, "That chalcedony pendant is a jade plug used to seal the anus of a corpse."

Quinton stared at it, nauseated. He'd worn it for three years, often putting it in his mouth!

"Ohh!" Quinton vomited. The onlookers stared and mocked him. How could anyone be so foolish?

Charlie Wade continued. "It's soaked in the corpse's 'qi.' It's no longer beneficial or lucky."

The crowd recoiled, fearing the jade's aura. Zachary moved away. Even he sensed the truth in Charlie Wade's words.

Quinton stared blankly at Charlie Wade.

Charlie Wade's expression was cold. "Have you had a terrible year? Bloody accidents or car crashes?"

Quinton's mind raced over the past year. He'd had a terrible accident at the start of the year. His driver died; he broke two ribs and was hospitalized for weeks.

Fear gripped him. He ripped off the necklace and threw it on the ground. The crowd scattered.

Charlie Wade sneered. If he hadn't warned him, Quinton would be dead within a year.

"Who are you?" Quinton glared at Charlie Wade. He knew too much. Had he been sent by a rival?

"Someone you can't afford to offend."