Chapter 357: The Xuan De Emperor

"Brother, this? No rush. There's plenty of time for the cricket‑fighting competition. Hey, Mr. He, have you heard anything lately?"

The Xuan De Emperor's cricket jar is being hyped heavily in the market.

"That little thing has shown up," Qiu Xi said.

"I've certainly heard of this treasure; the late Emperor Xuan De was the most playful emperor, famous in history for cricket‑fighting and bird‑raising.

Since the emperor loved it, the items he used had to be made the best.

So the Xuan De Emperor's cricket jar is the finest cricket jar, but it's something you can only encounter, not obtain.

Most of what's seen in the market are forgeries.

Even the genuine ones in museums are assembled from fragments of Jingdezhen pieces.

"So we players can never actually see a genuine one," He Zuming said.

"Mr. He, you make a good point, but right now I heard that Li Tian has a Xuan De cricket jar in his possession.

He once bragged about it to Second Master Wen, who had someone inspect it and confirmed it was definitely genuine.

It drove our Second Master Wen crazy; the cricket jar became an obsession for him—whenever he sees me he keeps muttering about that cricket jar.

"Mr. He, you know, when a play‑lover meets something they love but can't get, it gnaws at them," Qiu Xi said.

I said, "Second Master Wen isn't short of money; he could just buy it directly from Li Tian."

"Brother, well said. The problem is that Li Tian also isn't short of money. Moreover, the Li family is a well‑known aristocratic household in the capital.

You've both seen Li Tian's strength, haven't you?"

"If it were an ordinary family, a price would be enough and Second Master Wen would have already secured the cricket jar." Qiu Xi took a sip of wine.

"Indeed, Mr. Qiu, the Li family's influence is too strong. After Mr. Zhao beat Qiao San last time, they even sent people to tail us and tried to run us down with a car.

Mr. Zhao and I almost got into an accident.

Sigh, fortunately Mr. Zhao also pulled some strings and was willing to pay to smooth things over; otherwise they wouldn't have been resolved at all," He Zuming sighed.

"I didn't know they used a car to hit you; had I known, I would have definitely told Second Master Wen.

Damn it, how dare they bully my brother. Just you wait, they'll get what's coming to them," Qiu Xi shouted.

Hearing Qiu Xi say that, I only smirked inwardly.

The Li family's strength should be a notch below Wen Han's, as the incident that day showed; if the two families' powers differed greatly—

He wouldn't even dare summon the uniformed person to the Duel Hall to cause trouble.

That's Wen Han's territory; who would dare act recklessly there?

It seems Li Tian did it on purpose.

I'm only speculating.

There is discord between Li Tian and Wen Han.

That's for sure.

I said, "Brother Qiu, that's all in the past, no need to bring it up. Anything that can be settled with money isn't a problem.

Now, how much could that Xuan De cricket jar be worth?"

"At least 10 million, but the problem is there's price but no supply; as soon as it appears on the market, people go crazy buying it. Everyone knows that thing is a treasure.

If it's in anyone's hands, its price would just double.

"Now most of what's seen in the market are forgeries," Qiu Xi said, spreading his fingers.

"That's real money. Come on, Brother Qiu, have a drink. Don't the young masters of Sijiucheng all like to play this?" I asked.

Qiu Xi shook his head,

"Little brother, didn't you know? Those famous Four Young Lords of Sijiucheng,

their tastes differ: Li Tian likes insects, Zhou Jie enjoys gambling, the Zheng family likes football, the Wang family likes luxury cars—each has their own preference.

It's not convenient for me to elaborate here.

However, those so‑called Four Young Lords of Sijiucheng, compared to our Second Master Wen, are like small wizards facing a great wizard.

They have no class at all.

Our Second Master Wen, besides enjoying cricket‑fighting,

also likes antiques and calligraphy paintings.

That's a much more refined pursuit; compared to those brats, it has far more taste.

They look like nouveau riche; with a few coins in hand they love to flaunt by burning money.

Our Second Master Wen could pull out a painting at random and scare them to death.

Hmph, those multi‑million luxury cars can't compare to even a small collection of Second Master Wen.

Qiu Xi bragged to us about his Second Master Wen.

In my mind I thought, "Your Second Master Wen is so capable,

yet doesn't even have a Xuan De cricket jar, and still calls himself a player."

Of course, I couldn't say that out loud.

After I heard Qiu Xi finish speaking,

I then complimented, "Second Master Wen plays with elegance. That's the kind of true player."

"Ah, when can we meet Second Master Wen and learn a bit from him? Brother Qiu, let me toast you again."

"Haha, there will be plenty of chances. Let me tell you, little brother, Second Master Wen has also taken notice of you; you can take on Qiao San, which shows you have enough guts. Not afraid of trouble.

These days, everyone is afraid of trouble and doesn't dare to stir up trouble,

everyone fears trouble and dares not provoke it. Brother, are you up for it? Go up and give Qiao San a big slap; that fellow's swing almost knocked Qiao San's head askew.

Qiao San probably never experienced such a loss at his age.

I tell you, brother, if you beat Qiao San, do it well.

I admire it, this thing really fucking deserves a beating.

You know how many wicked things this little bastard has done?

Before he hung out with Li Tian, damn, he was just a pimp, specializing in harming respectable women, and even ran the honey trap scam in hotels.

You say, should someone like that be beaten? Actually, I've wanted to beat him for a while. But I didn't expect that brother would strike first. Come on, brother, let's have a drink.

I clinked glasses with Qiu Xi.

You've wanted to beat him for a while, do you have the guts? I thought to myself.

"I was also blinded by anger at the time; otherwise I wouldn't have hit Qiao San. My cricket was choked to death by him."

Sigh, we only have two bucks and no social background; how dare we provoke them?

Otherwise, how would I have spent 5 million to get someone to settle this?

Brother Qiu, honestly, I regret it to death.

"What's there to regret, a real man should act when needed; some people must be beaten to make them understand reason."

Back in the day, I also didn't hold back on beating people, brother. If you don't believe me, go ask around the Houhai area about Qiu Yidao,

"Nobody dared to duel with me." Qiu Xi then boasted even more arrogantly.

Hmph, in Director Shangguan's home, I've read those books about the old affairs of Sijiucheng,

The description of those old-timers is spot-on—they love to brag, talking about their past exploits.

Actually, they're just street thugs, about the same level as Bai Lang from Zaocheng back then.

He Zuming then deliberately said, "Mr. Zhao, this Mr. Qiu back then was truly a force to be reckoned with."

I used to set up a stall in Houhai.

A little thug came looking for trouble.

As soon as I mentioned Mr. Qiu's stature, that little thug immediately scared the piss out of him.

"Haha, Mr. He, that's all in the past, don't mention it, don't mention it. Sigh, now that I'm older, I'm no longer of an age for fighting and killing."

Brother, Mr. He, it's getting late, we've finished drinking, today chatting with you two has been really enjoyable.

As for me, being able to meet you brothers this time is great.

If anything comes up, just contact me, brother, note down my phone number." After saying that, Qiu Xi pulled out his phone and told me his number.

I pretended to be excited,

"Brother Qiu, knowing you is my fortune, Mr. Zhao. My phone is on 24/7. If you need me, just say the word—money, I've got it; people, I've got them."

"Good, brother, you're solid. Our bond is as good as iron." Qiu Xi extended his hand.

"As solid as iron, as firm as porcelain." I also laughed happily and shook hands with Qiu Xi.