55: Chapter 55 A Close Call

Zhao Jian took the jade casket to the car and hid it under the seat.

He intended to fill the soil back in.

Just as he started the excavator, a group of people came running toward him.

Gesturing as they ran, they shouted, "Stop!"

Five people surrounded him.

Zhao Jian turned off the engine and got out of the car.

The leader was a Middle-aged Man in his fifties who lit a cigarette.

He walked up to Zhao Jian and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you digging here?"

Zhao Jian, of course, wouldn't tell the truth.

His mind raced, and he instantly came up with a reason: "I'm from Xinke Real Estate. Our company is building a fountain here for a theme park."

Hearing that he was a worker from Xinke Real Estate, the group visibly relaxed.

But they still cautioned him, "We are the cadres from the nearby village, and this land belongs to us. It's fine if you're building a fountain, but you absolutely cannot perform a ground burial. Ground burials aren't allowed now; if you bury a coffin here, all the trees in the vicinity will suffer."

So that was what they were worried about.

Zhao Jian thought to himself, 'I'm still young; I don't need to prepare for my funeral this early.'

He quickly nodded in agreement.

Having received his assurance, the group slowly left.

It was a close call, but he managed to fill the soil back in.

By the time he returned to Antique Street, it was just the afternoon.

This time, the Shop Owner didn't act like before, where he could determine the authenticity in a moment and then readily transfer the money.

He inspected it very carefully.

The time spent was more than ten times longer than before.

Zhao Jian didn't understand treasure appraisal, so he could only sit on the side and wait.

During the wait, he drank a few cups of tea and found that the first sip left a lingering fragrance in his mouth.

Then, he felt a sweetness flowing continuously in his mouth for a long time.

If he didn't know it was brewed tea, he would have thought the Shop Owner had poured iced black tea into the bowl.

After a long while, the appraisal finally ended.

The Shop Owner had a satisfied smile on his face and said excitedly to Zhao Jian, "It's real, it's really real! I'll transfer the money to you right now!"

The arrival time for seven million was much slower than for a few tens of thousands.

After waiting for a full half-hour and the Shop Owner receiving two confirmation calls from the bank, the money finally arrived in Zhao Jian's card.

After getting the money, he stood up to say goodbye.

The Shop Owner, immersed in the joy of acquiring a precious treasure, only nodded, his gaze entirely fixed on that volume of the Yongle Dadian.

Leaving Antique Street, Zhao Jian, now a millionaire again, had a strong desire to spend.

His first thought was to buy some cosmetics for Zhang Tao.

Speak of Zhang Tao, and she appears.

Although she wasn't there in person, she called.

After connecting, Zhao Jian hadn't even mentioned sending her a gift yet.

He heard Zhang Tao's doting voice say, "Little brother, do you have time? You left the clothes you bought last time at my place; I'll bring them to you."

Although she could barely walk, it was truly inconvenient for her.

According to common sense, when she made this suggestion, Zhao Jian should have taken the initiative to come and pick them up.

But Zhao Jian didn't follow common sense.

He nodded and said, "Great, great! I'll wait for you in the city center. Sister, your leg isn't better yet, so take it slow on the road."

Zhang Tao: "Huh?"

If he knew her leg wasn't better, why didn't he tell her to rest more at home!

That stinky little brother has a sweet mouth but a cold heart!

Zhang Tao sighed deeply; she just liked the sweet-talkers.

She grabbed her crutches and went out.

Zhao Jian didn't just stand there waiting idly.

He was in a cosmetics store, checking various lipsticks and eyebrow pencils according to the data provided by the AI.

This was called scouting out the location in advance.

So that Zhang Tao wouldn't have to take unnecessary detours when she arrived.

But he thought wrong.

Zhang Tao quickly arrived at the agreed location by taxi.

The two met.

Just as Zhao Jian confidently suggested two shops he had selected that had good reviews for their lipsticks.

He saw Zhang Tao's eyes curve into crescents as she said, "Shopping is about the experience; picking things out in advance ruins the surprise. Come on, Sister will take you shopping."

"I don't want to!"

Zhao Jian felt like life was meaningless.

He wanted her to pick out gifts she liked on the spot so they wouldn't be unsatisfactory.

Not to have her take him shopping!

Two hours, two whole hours!

It was only because Zhang Tao got tired that she had to abandon her subsequent plans.

And Zhao Jian was already carrying over a dozen shopping bags.

Although most were bought for him, Zhao Jian would rather not have had them.

The two took a taxi to Zhang Tao's residence.

It was still the familiar room.

"Here, these are yours." She put the clothes Zhao Jian had forgotten to take last time together with the various perfumes and leather shoes from this trip.

More than twenty bags.

The sight made Zhao Jian's head spin.

He suddenly didn't want to leave. Perhaps if he stayed another night, he could continue to 'forget' to take them tomorrow?

"What, are you chasing me away?" He stepped forward and pinched Zhang Tao's cheek.

He couldn't help but kiss her.

Just as he intended to go further, the woman in his arms gasped and stopped him, saying, "Don't, I'm on my period."

"Oh." Zhao Jian let go and began to pick up his bags.

Being let go, Zhang Tao felt a sense of emptiness and unease in her heart.

She stammered a few times but didn't speak.

In her heart, she was slandering him: "You, Zhao Jian, you big pervert! As soon as you hear I'm on my period, you leave immediately! You heartless dog of a man!"

Zhao Jian, having packed up his things, waved laboriously: "I'm heading back now, Sister Tao. You, you should drink more hot water."

"Mm, I know." Zhang Tao had been a bit resentful just a moment ago.

But hearing Zhao Jian's concern, she suddenly felt relieved.

Although he was a bit lecherous, at least he still told her to drink more hot water.

He knew how to care for people.

Back home, Zhao Jian put the clothes into the wardrobe.

Then he tidied up the room.

Only then did he remember that he still hadn't bought the damn three-piece bedding set!

But it was almost midnight now.

There was no need to go.

"Tomorrow after tomorrow, how many tomorrows are there? Time to sleep."

Saying it was time to sleep, in reality, he couldn't fall asleep.

With the accumulation of wealth, he no longer had to worry all day about what to do if he couldn't find a job or what to do if he ran out of money.

When one is riding high, one doesn't feel tired.

Lying on the bed, he wanted to scroll through videos of dancing girls.

Before he could open the app, Su Wanyin called.

"Did she install spyware on my phone?"

It was too much of a coincidence, so much so that Zhao Jian thought he was being watched.

He answered the phone.

"Hello, ex. Why are you calling me? Are you lonely?"

On the other end of the line, Su Wanyin let out a coquettish hum and said in a low voice, "You guessed it!"

It felt very secretive.

Judging by her volume, Zhao Jian guessed there were others around her.

So he asked, "Go ahead, what is it?"

Having already rejected her a few times, Zhao Jian guessed that Su Wanyin wouldn't be so foolish as to ask him out to play again.

"There's an investment project, and I can't make up my mind. I want to hear your opinion."

Su Wanyin sounded quite serious.

But Zhao Jian listened very casually.

Investment? He knew Su Wanyin had a gambling father, a sick mother, a younger brother in school, and she herself was in debt.

She might not even have paid off her debts, yet she still wanted to invest?

In the few months they'd been apart, she'd become this stupid!

Zhao Jian didn't make a sound.

He didn't know if she was joking or serious; if it was the former, he could naturally talk big.

Anyway, he wouldn't have to actually invest money.

But if it was the latter, he would have to consider it carefully.

Su Wanyin had no grudge against him; at most, it was a minor disagreement caused by conflicting philosophies, so there was no need to screw her over.

"It's my friend. Her company does animation, and they are raising funds recently. She asked me if I wanted to invest some; once they go public, it's guaranteed profit!"

Guaranteed profit upon going public, well, if...