I thought my cheat code had arrived, and with it, some romantic luck, but it was all a misunderstanding.
Why doesn’t the plot follow the web novels?
“If that seal stone of yours is real, you could find a wife that beautiful too.”
“Joke’s on you, as if I need this stone to find a pretty girl!”
“Heh!”
Gu Pingzhong sat back at the table, “What’s your name, young man?”
“Lu, Lu Zheng!”
“Gu Pingzhong.” He handed Lu Zheng a business card, then poured him a cup of tea, “What was the name of the place that quoted three million?”
“Qiyun Studio.”
“Lacking expertise, behind the times. And the one offering fifty thousand?”
“Haibao Pavilion.”
“Tch, trying to lowball you.”
“You seem certain my seal stone’s worth the price?”
“I’ve been in the seal stone game for twenty years, seen hundreds of bloodstone seals, handled thousands of fakes. I’ve got that much confidence.”
“Then why call someone else to verify?”
“Better safe than sorry. What if I got fooled?”
“It’s really an heirloom!”
“What if your granddad got scammed?”
Lu Zheng, “…”
This conversation was going nowhere, but thankfully, Gu Pingzhong’s friend arrived.
The man, middle-aged, wore a Tang suit, strutting like a crab, a string of bodhi beads on his wrist, playing with two walnuts in his hand, practically screaming “collector.”
“Old Gu, what’s this thing you can’t handle and needed me to come over for?”
“A bloodstone seal, the finest I’ve ever seen.”
“What?” The man blinked, not quite getting it.
Gu Pingzhong didn’t waste words. He and Lu Zheng moved to the counter, where Lu Zheng took out the wooden box and opened it.
“Hiss!” The man grimaced, “No wonder you’re unsure. I’d think it’s fake at first glance.”
He turned to Lu Zheng, “Can I handle it?”
Lu Zheng nodded, “Of course!”
The man might’ve seemed unreliable, but when he got serious, his demeanor changed, his eyes sharp and focused.
A moment later…
“It’s real? This looks too fake!”
Lu Zheng was speechless. What kind of talk was that? His seal stone was genuine Yaozhou Phoenix Mountain phoenix bloodstone, a top-tier seal even in the Great Jing Dynasty, alright?
But he couldn’t say that.
Phoenix bloodstone passing as bloodstone, where could he even argue his case?
“Vivid but not gaudy, flowing yet cohesive, definitely real. No artificial process could achieve this.”
“But…”
“But what?”
“But eight million’s too steep. No bloodstone seal on the market’s that expensive. Ten million’s for ornaments.”
Gu Pingzhong smiled, “If I’d quoted lower, this stone wouldn’t have come back to me.”
Lu Zheng had circled back, but without Gu’s backing, a few more shops might’ve found another expert.
“No wonder you’re so popular,” the man muttered, setting the stone down, “It’s a fine stone.”
Gu Pingzhong nodded, trusting the man’s judgment as a second confirmation, then turned to Lu Zheng, “I’ll take the seal. We’ll sign a contract, I’ll transfer the payment and issue a receipt.”
“A contract?”
“You sign one for a car worth a hundred thousand. An eight-million seal stone needs one too. Who’s liable if there’s a dispute?”
Fair point, professional!
“By the way, eight million’s pre-tax. You handle the income tax.”
“Fine!”
Eight million was free money, paying tax was just contributing to the country.
I pay tax, I’m proud!
So, they signed, issued the receipt, and transferred the money in one go.
“Ding!”
Lu Zheng checked his phone. Eight million received.
“Mr. Lu, does your granddad have more seal stones in his collection?” the man asked eagerly.
No surprise, the stone’s quality was exceptional. A collector like that shouldn’t have just one.
“Probably, but I’d need to check carefully,” Lu Zheng said, leaving the door open.
“If you find any good stones, contact me too!” The man handed over his card.
Gu Pingzhong laughed, scolding, “You’re blatantly stealing my business!”
“You’re the pro. This bloodstone seal’s enough to boost your rep in the circle again. I’m just sipping the soup, alright?”
The man couldn’t imagine Lu Zheng having another stone surpassing this one.
Lu Zheng glanced at the card: Liu Zhenming, Chairman of Zhenming Investment Co., Ltd.
…
After a bit more chat, Lu Zheng said his goodbyes and left.
Stepping out of Treasure Tower, he looked up at the still-dazzling sun.
But Lu Zheng wasn’t the same Lu Zheng anymore.
He was Lu Zheng, worth eight million!
What’s the first thing to do with money? Move house, of course!
His old rental was a cramped, noisy room in a commercial-residential building. Now, with money, it was time to upgrade his living conditions.
Buying a house and transferring ownership wasn’t a quick process, and Lu Zheng wanted a good one, a big flat at least, but eight million might not cut it.
Before graduating, his dream was to get a loan for a three-bedroom in Haicheng.
Times had changed!
So, Lu Zheng found an elegant, quiet community, rented a fully furnished three-bedroom flat, signed the contract that afternoon, and moved in that evening.
“Bliss!”
Freshly showered, in pajamas, Lu Zheng sprawled on a 1.8-meter bed, feeling a comfort he’d never known.
With his worries gone, it was time to study the luck light in the jade seal in his mind, a key feature of his cheat code.
“First, it’s clear the two worlds are different. Probably the Heavenly Law’s fundamental rules mean I can only gain luck light there.”
“So, if luck light can enhance my body, can it boost modern skills too?”
With a thought, Lu Zheng consumed a wisp of luck light from the jade seal.
Suddenly, his computer knowledge became crystal clear. Forgotten university lessons were now fully understood, vividly recalled.
Building on that, more computer knowledge flooded his mind, cramming it full.
“I…” Lu Zheng was speechless, “Such a waste…”
Who needed computer knowledge now? No chance to fix a female classmate’s computer anymore!
What, become a hacker for quick cash?
That’d bring money fast, but a 404 error would follow just as quick.
Better play it safe and stick to being a jade merchant for now.
Then Lu Zheng remembered that wine cup.
That world had cultivation!
That world had Buddhist and Taoist systems!
The Taoist classic *Tao Te Ching* and the Buddhist *Diamond Sutra* were available online in this world!
Why sleep? Time to get hyped!
…
But half an hour later, Lu Zheng flopped back onto the bed…
