After four jade stones were successfully revealed, the crowd couldn't help but praise Ling Feng, and their anticipation for the fifth stone was even higher.
"This guy's luck is unreal!"
"It's more than just luck; he's got skill."
"Yeah, this young man knows what he's doing. He's got serious talent."
"Enough talking, just open the last one already!"
Suddenly, a jarring voice broke through the excitement. "Every stone has been a good one so far. Could this guy be a plant?"
Of course, this was one of the stall owner's men, trying to stir the pot. The goal was to cast doubt on Ling Feng, to make it seem like he was part of the scam.
The logic was simple: if they could make Ling Feng look suspicious, he wouldn't be able to take the stones. Sure, it might kill the mood for others, but they'd rather shut it down today and move to a different spot tomorrow. That's how their business worked—quick scams, always on the move.
As expected, the crowd went quiet. Suspicious glances were thrown Ling Feng's way. The stall owner was thrilled. He was already preparing to step in, pretend to defend Ling Feng, and in the end, make sure Ling Feng wouldn't be able to prove his innocence. That way, he could reclaim the stones without issue.
But, just as the situation seemed to be turning, a few elderly women in the crowd suddenly stepped forward.
"I know him! No way he's part of this scam!" one of the grannies called out.
"Yeah, I know him too. He's Ling Feng. He's always around here, buying groceries."
"Exactly! Last time, he even saved a kid outside the market!"
"Little Ling is a regular here! He's honest. No way he's in on this."
Once the elderly women spoke up, more people recognized Ling Feng. He had been buying groceries at this market for years, often helping out the older folks with carrying their bags or heavy groceries. Slowly, the crowd's suspicion turned into admiration.
Instead of being accused of being a plant, Ling Feng was now being praised. People started talking about how he was a good husband, always buying fresh food for his wife, and how he had saved a child once. Others said he was a filial son, often helping the elderly, and someone even joked that his medical skills were so great he could be the modern-day Hua Tuo.
Meanwhile, the stall owner stood to the side, seething with rage. His carefully planned scheme had just been blown up by a bunch of elderly women. He couldn't believe that his setup had been undone by a group of grannies.
"Let's get on with the last stone. I've still got groceries to buy," Ling Feng said, urging the stone cutter who was still hesitating.
"Yeah, cut the stone already!" the crowd chimed in, eager to see the final result.
The cutter, who had paused due to all the suspicion earlier, now felt like he had no choice but to continue. He carefully began slicing open the last piece.
"Another one! He's hit jade again!"
As soon as the first cut was made, someone screamed, and the crowd erupted into excited chatter, guessing what type of jade it would be this time. Once the entire stone was cut open, a piece of jade that looked as clear as ice emerged.
The crowd turned to the portly middle-aged man, who had been explaining the stones earlier, waiting for his evaluation.
"This is unbelievable. It's crystal clear, with no impurities at all, and it even has a faint glow. This is glass-type jade!"
Even the middle-aged man, usually calm, couldn't hide his excitement.
"What's glass-type jade?"
"Forget the fancy terms, just tell us how much it's worth!" someone in the crowd shouted, eager to know.
The man cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Even the raw stone alone starts at a million. If made into jewelry, easily two million or more!"
Gasps spread through the crowd, and eyes turned toward Ling Feng, now filled with envy.
"Ling Feng, you've hit the jackpot!" someone called out.
"See? Good people get rewarded. Heaven's watching out for him!" one of the grannies added, smiling.
Though envious, the crowd wasn't bitter. Most were happy for Ling Feng, feeling his success was well-deserved.
"Thanks, everyone," Ling Feng said as he carefully packed the jade stones into a plastic bag. He bowed slightly to the crowd and prepared to leave.
"Hold it right there!" a voice suddenly barked.
Ling Feng turned to see the stall owner, flanked by several thugs, blocking his path with a menacing look.
Ling Feng's expression darkened. "What's the meaning of this?" he asked in a low, dangerous tone. He wasn't surprised. Anyone brazen enough to run a scam like this in broad daylight was bound to be trouble.
The stall owner sneered. "It means, hand over the jade and get lost."
Ling Feng shook his head and chuckled coldly. "I won these stones fair and square. You just can't handle losing?"
The crowd began to murmur, pointing fingers at the stall owner's behavior.
But the stall owner wasn't fazed. He kept his eyes on Ling Feng. "Listen, kid. We're with Brother Hua. If you don't hand over the stones, we won't play nice."
As soon as the crowd heard the name "Brother Hua," they fell silent. The stall owner smirked, pleased with their reaction. Everyone knew the reputation of Brother Hua. Talking badly about him could cost you your tongue.
"Brother Hua? Never heard of him. If you want the stones, come and take them yourself," Ling Feng said, his voice cold.
The stall owner's smirk disappeared, replaced by a murderous glare. "Kid, you're asking for it!" He waved his hand, and three or four goons rushed toward Ling Feng.
"Oh no! Poor Ling Feng…"
"Such a pity. He's a good guy, but he shouldn't have crossed Brother Hua…"
The crowd watched in horror, expecting the worst for Ling Feng.
But to their surprise, Ling Feng calmly held his bag of jade in one hand, while the other moved like lightning. Within moments, he was dodging through the thugs, his hand knocking them down one by one. Each time his hand touched one of them, they dropped to the ground, groaning in pain.
The stall owner's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched his men fall. Ling Feng's hand seemed to grow larger in his vision until it was the last thing he saw before everything went dark, and he collapsed backward.
The crowd stared in stunned silence, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
"Wow… that was like a scene from a movie!" someone finally exclaimed.
"This is what a real martial arts master looks like. Forget those fakes like Yan Fang and Ma Baoguo!"
The crowd burst into applause, praising Ling Feng's strength and skill.
Ling Feng ignored the commotion and calmly took out his phone to call the police. Shortly after, the cops arrived, arresting the stall owner and his goons.
As the crowd began to disperse, a familiar voice called out to Ling Feng.
"Mr. Ling, wait a second!"
It was the middle-aged man who had been explaining the jade. Ling Feng turned around, puzzled. "Is there something you need?" he asked.