"How do you know?" Tao Dongcheng was surprised but soon realized, disdainfully saying, "Even if I let you know about this exotic item, you're just guessing blindly. Quickly, state the name and origin of this object."
Lin Wanrong chuckled and said, "Even if you have this item, the quantity is likely limited, and you probably don't know where you got it from those foreigners. I would like to ask Mr. Xu, for the sake of fairness, to have Mr. Tao write down the name and origin of this item on paper, submit it to Mr. Xu for safekeeping, and then I'll guess. This is to prevent any manipulation of the item's name if I happen to guess it correctly."
Xu Wei nodded and said, "Indeed, it should be done this way. Mr. Tao, please write it down. I must declare in advance that peculiar objects like this may not necessarily be unknown to everyone. Mr. Tao, do not casually make up a false name to deceive me."
Xu Wei, being astute, spoke sternly. Though Tao Dongcheng harbored intentions of cheating, he didn't have the courage. Xu Wei, known as the most learned man, might recognize this item. Fearful of the consequences, Tao Dongcheng followed Xu Wei's instructions and earnestly wrote a line of small characters on the paper.
Xu Wei nodded slightly and said to Lin Wanrong, "Now you may tell us what this object is."
Lin Wanrong nodded and said, "This object, in the language of Westerners, is called 'diomand,' meaning 'unconquerable' in ancient Greek and 'the hardest' in Arabic. Translated into our Great Chinese language, it is known as a diamond. In the eyes of Westerners, diamonds are full of mystery, legend, and romance. Some say it's fragments fallen from the stars, while others believe it's the crystallization of tears shed by celestial beings on Earth. However, diamonds are not descended from the heavens; on the contrary, they emerge from the earth. They are natural diamonds that have been polished to perfection, with exceptional hardness. Please take a look."
Saying this, Lin Wanrong walked to Tao Dongcheng and took out the small diamond from the box. Tao Dongcheng exclaimed, "What are you going to do?"
Lin Wanrong smirked and said, "Don't worry, just conducting an experiment."
He took out a small bottle of perfume from his pocket and said, "Everyone, please look. This is a glass bottle." He gently scratched the diamond on the glass bottle, leaving a deep mark on the glass, while the diamond remained unscathed.
Everyone marveled at this. The sharp and hard diamond, combined with its beauty, was truly a rare treasure.
Lin Wanrong smiled as he placed the diamond back into the small box, saying, "As you all have witnessed, the hardness of this diamond is evident. However, Mr. Tao's diamond is only rudimentarily polished, with poor color, hardness, and craftsmanship. It is essentially a Western-manufactured inferior product."
"Nonsense!" Tao Dongcheng retorted angrily. "This diamond was carefully selected by me. It is by no means inferior."
Lin Wanrong chuckled and thought, "I was worried that 'diomand' might be translated into something else in Great China. Now it seems it's still called a diamond."
Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Although Mr. Tao possesses a small piece of inferior diamond, it seems he lacks the ability to discern its quality. Diamond selection emphasizes color, density, luster, and refractive properties. Judging from these aspects, Mr. Tao's diamond is indeed a subpar choice. Calling it an inferior product is not an exaggeration. True diamonds are hard, pure, and brilliant, enduring for thousands of years. Diamonds are forever, symbolizing eternal love. Westerners associate the unyielding nature of diamonds with enduring and unbreakable relationships between lovers. The brilliant multicolored light symbolizes the richness and splendor of love, while the purity and transparency represent selfless love. The symbolism is profound."
Seated amongst the merchants, curiosity was piqued by this new object. Although they didn't understand the Greek, Arabic, and Western languages, Lin Wanrong's detailed explanation resonated with them. He might not be lying. Even Tao Wanying was captivated by his words. According to Lin San, diamonds seemed to be the favorite of women all over the world.
Miss Xiao Yuruo stared at Lin San in a daze, thinking, "This scoundrel really recognizes this item, and he can eloquently explain it. I wonder how many other talents he's hiding."
Xu Wei, the most learned man, had encountered Westerners in his youth but had never heard of this diamond. After Lin Wanrong's explanation, he couldn't help but nod. The world is vast, and there are so many unknown things. Lin San indeed has a broad knowledge.
The most displeased person was Tao Dongcheng. He
snorted, saying, "Lin San, don't be too proud. Even if you guess the name, if you can't state its origin, it doesn't count as your victory." His words, however, implied that the name had already been guessed correctly. Miss Xiao Yuruo was relieved to hear this.
Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Mr. Tao, don't worry. I haven't mentioned the origin yet."
The crowd perked up, eager to hear Lin San reveal the origin.
"The origin of this diamond, as mentioned in the 'Book of Songs,' it says, 'A stone from another mountain may be used to polish jade.' This 'stone from another mountain' is likely referring to this diamond. This indicates that our ancestors discovered diamonds long ago, and even within our Great China, diamonds exist." Lin Wanrong smiled and continued, "However, Mr. Tao's diamond is brought from the West. Diamonds were first discovered in India, later found in large quantities in the Amazon River basin in South America, and then extensive diamond mines were discovered in South Africa. The Westerners, being powerful, resorted to plunder and took away these diamonds. After processing, they were transported to various parts of the world. The one in Mr. Tao's hands is from the West, but its origin is not beyond the mentioned three places."
Lin Wanrong smiled at Tao Dongcheng and said, "Mr. Tao, may I borrow your diamond for a moment?"
Tao Dongcheng was itching with anger but couldn't refute, so he just snorted.
Lin Wanrong held the diamond above his head and said with a smile, "Everyone, please look. The edges of this diamond are cut neatly at right angles. Miss Liu, you are an expert in jewelry processing; tell me, how is this achieved?"
Liu Yue'e carefully examined the diamond and said seriously, "My Liu family has been inheriting the art of polishing jade for generations, but we cannot achieve such neatness. From what I see, this is definitely not achieved by human cutting."
Lin Wanrong extended his thumb and said, "Experts indeed! A single phrase strikes at the crucial point. This diamond is indeed machine-cut, explaining its immaculate precision."
A hushed murmur spread among the crowd. Liu Yue'e, an expert in grinding jade jewelry, couldn't achieve such results. The intricacy of the machine involved left them in awe.
Xu Wei exclaimed, "Lin young sir, is this truly the craftsmanship of Westerners? I encountered a Westerner years ago, but I never heard of them possessing such skills."
Lin Wanrong sighed, "Lord Xu, everything is subject to change; do not judge people with an old perspective. From the cut of this diamond, it seems that the mechanical processing of Westerners has surpassed our Great China. However, we have numerous skilled craftsmen in Great China. With more effort, we will soon catch up. We must not underestimate ourselves."
Xu Wei nodded. Lin Wanrong continued, "Why did I claim that the piece in Mr. Tao's hands is a substandard product? Besides the key factors I mentioned earlier, such as color, brightness, and hardness, another crucial aspect is the cut. A genuine diamond, being extremely precious, undergoes meticulous carving and careful polishing. It would never exhibit such straightforward edges. Only inferior products cut from larger stones would have such unrefined edges."
Lin Wanrong observed meticulously. His words were reasonable and persuasive. The audience nodded in agreement. Xu Wei felt gratified and asked Tao Dongcheng, "Mr. Tao, are you satisfied with Lin San's answer?"
Tao Dongcheng's face turned pale. His understanding of the diamond was limited, and Lin San's words left him speechless. He gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Xu, I obtained this diamond last month during my visit to Hai'an. I captured two foreigners drifting from an unknown place."
"Are those foreigners fair-haired with blue eyes and pale skin?" Xu Wei asked.
"Exactly so. During my visit to Hangzhou, I brought them with me, intending to hand them over to you. They are currently downstairs. There are several countries in the West, but I do not know the nationality of these foreigners. If Lin San can inquire about it, I'll admit defeat willingly." Tao Dongcheng said.
Xu Wei waved his hand eagerly, saying, "Bring those Westerners up."
Shortly after, two soldiers escorted two disheveled Westerners with a distressed and shabby appearance. These two were tall, with blond hair, blue eyes, waxen complexions, and tattered clothes, indicating signs of long-term hardship.
Although the crowd had heard of Westerners, most were seeing them for the first time, resulting in many exclamations.
The Western language differed significantly from the Great Chinese language, and with no translator present, Xu Wei looked at Lin Wanrong and asked, "Lin young sir, what should we do?"
Xu Wei now regarded Lin Wanrong with a sense of mystery. Lin San seemed to possess considerable knowledge. If he could explain the history and origin of the diamond so clearly, dealing with these Westerners might be within his capabilities.
Miss Xiao Yuruo, seeing Westerners for the first time, couldn't help but grab Lin San's sleeve, saying, "Lin San, I didn't expect Westerners to be so ugly."
Lin Wanrong chuckled and replied, "Indeed, they don't compare to the beauty of Miss."
"Annoying." Miss Xiao Yuruo gave him a disdainful look, showcasing her charming demeanor.
Lin Wanrong approached the Westerners and engaged in a lively conversation. The Westerners responded with enthusiasm. Despite the language barrier, it was evident that Lin Wanrong could understand their language. The onlookers couldn't comprehend their dialogue. Xu Wei, however, was delighted. Lin San unexpectedly understood the Western language—a remarkable talent!
As the conversation progressed, the crowd was astonished when the Westerners pulled out a diamond half the size of a little finger and respectfully handed it to Lin Wanrong.
This diamond was exceptionally clear, transparent like crystal. When illuminated by sunlight, it shimmered with dazzling brilliance, making it impossible to stare directly at. Compared to Tao Dongcheng's inferior product, the difference was like comparing fireflies to the moon, a world of difference.
The onlookers were stunned. The women in the hall, their hearts accelerating, couldn't help but be drawn to such a large diamond.
Lin Wanrong accepted the diamond, turned around, and chuckled, "It's clarified. This man is called Tavoni, hailing from France. He travels between India and Europe, specializing in the diamond business. Due to rough seas, their ship lost its way, unknowingly drifting into our Great China. [Note: Tavoni, a Frenchman, known as the 'Father of Diamonds.']"
Xu Wei was both surprised and pleased. He looked at Tao Dongcheng and asked, "Mr. Tao, any further comments?"
This round, seemingly secure, was disrupted by Lin San. Tao Dongcheng, now furious, with a pale face, bit his teeth and said, "In this round, I have lost."
"Lin San—" Miss Xiao Yuruo exclaimed in joy, grabbing Lin San's sleeve again, displaying both tears and smiles.
Lin Wanrong smiled, "I said earlier, I am the second most talented person in the world."
Miss Xiao Yuruo covered her mouth, both joyous and sorrowful, lightly crying, "You deceitful boaster."
Having lost the first round, the second round would involve combat. With no room for mistakes, Tao Dong
cheng summoned someone to whisper in his ear. A hint of ruthless determination flashed in his eyes. The person beside him had an aura of absolute martial arts mastery.
Damn, this kid probably thinks I want to compete with them in martial arts, planning to make a move against me. Lin Wanrong saw through their intentions but decided to play along.
Miss Xiao Yuruo said, "Lin San, for this round of martial combat, it's our turn to set the challenge. Have you thought about what we should propose? What question do you have in mind for the martial arts competition?"
Lin Wanrong was dumbfounded, "Miss, shouldn't you be the one deciding on the question?"
Miss Xiao Yuruo blushed slightly. With a man in front supporting her, she seemed to have become lax. Blushing, she said, "You're better at this literary stuff. You think of a way for the martial competition."
This girl, treating me like a wise monk, thinking I can come up with an idea so easily? Lin Wanrong smiled wryly, glancing at her, "Miss, do you believe me?"
Asking these idiotic questions, the annoyed Miss Xiao Yuruo gave him a disdainful look, saying, "I don't like hearing such words from you."
The girl is throwing a tantrum now. Lin Wanrong chuckled and said, "Then let's consider that I asked the wrong question. Later, when you listen to me, and I say what to do, you just do it without fear, understand?"
Miss Xiao Yuruo nodded, "I'm not afraid. Go on, tell me."
Lin Wanrong stood up, clasped his fist at Xu Wei, and smiled, "Lord Xu, for this martial competition, let Miss Xiao of the Xiao family participate on behalf of our side."
With these words, the entire audience was astonished. This was a martial competition, yet the delicate Miss Xiao was suggested to participate in the fight. Lin San's imposing presence from earlier seemed to have vanished.