Chapter 99

Because of the Ye Family's overwhelming victory, this Stone Gambling Convention came to an abrupt halt, canceling the subsequent finals.

Although many people raised objections, this was the result jointly decided by the organizers of the Stone Gambling venue and the Jewelry Association.

No one understands better than they do that, in fact, the preliminary round this time was actually the most difficult.

They provided tens of thousands of raw stones, each undergoing high-precision technological testing, and among them they placed fewer than a hundred genuinely valuable raw stones.

After that, they gave one-third of the stone material a forged treatment, deploying various traps and smoke bombs.

The numbers and placement positions of the raw stones were also randomly generated, with both sides supervising each other's execution; in the end, no one knew which code the genuinely valuable raw stones had, or where they were placed—it could be said to be completely like opening a blind box.

Therefore, the Ye Family picking five raw stones that all went up in value, with such an astonishing 100% probability, made everyone in the Jewelry Association and the organizers know that the Ye Family must have invited some mysterious expert.

Even if the competition continued, it would already be meaningless; the Ye Family is absolutely this year's dark horse, unstoppable.

At this moment, inside the Ye Family's private box, Ye Chenjing sat alone on a spacious sofa.

Opposite him sat four individuals with impressive auras, high-ranking figures.

Ye Chenjing gazed at the four people before him, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

Two of them are tycoons in the Li Shi Stone Gambling world, controlling vast raw stone resources; they even have considerable overseas mining vein market resources in their hands, making them hot commodities in the jade and jewelry circle.

The other two are prominent figures in the Jewelry Association, equally distinguished and of great importance.

At this moment, one of the tycoons spoke.

"General Manager Ye, you surely understand our purpose as the four of us; could you recommend that master to us? Rest assured, we understand the rules—if you're willing to make the introduction, we can add another 20% of market development rights."

The people from the Jewelry Association were not to be outdone, quickly expressing their stance.

"Our association can promise to provide your Ye Family with free assistance in entering the jewelry sector later; at this year's International Jewelry Exhibition, the most important display spot can be given to the Ye Group."

Both sides showed full sincerity, solely to meet the Stone Gambling master behind the Ye Family.

Ye Chenjing did not immediately answer them, but instead gave Sun Yao a glance.

Sun Yao understood and hurriedly left.

Lin Meng also wasn't worried that Ye Chenjing would renege on the debt, so she followed her aunt and uncle to the staff cafeteria for a meal.

The little admirer Xu Yixiao followed eagerly, and whenever Lin Meng cleared her throat, he would immediately hand her water, essentially becoming her little follower.

Xu Hong still hasn't come to his senses; he remains immersed in the shock of having personally cut an imperial green, until Lin Cuihua's question brought him back to reality.

"What did your team leader just ask you to say?"

Xu Hong came to his senses and quickly replied:

"Our team leader asked me about the Ye Group's hired Stone Gambling master; I of course said I didn't know. Xiao Meng, this is deep water—your uncle hopes you protect yourself and don't easily reveal yourself to these people; the gray area of the Li Shi Stone Gambling world is even more dangerous and dark than we imagine."

Lin Meng ate the drumstick her cousin had passed her, and upon hearing that, she nodded.

"Thank you, uncle, for your concern; I understand this matter—I must not be too ostentatious, otherwise I'd be bringing trouble upon myself."

Xu Hong nodded; it's truly rare for a niece to have great talent yet remain neither arrogant nor impatient.

If it were his own troublesome son with this ability, he'd probably already be shouting it to the world with a loudspeaker.

He couldn't help but kick Xu Yixiao, using the opportunity to educate him.

"See? Learn well from your older female cousin; they say the greatest recluses hide in the city, and sometimes one must stay low-key."

Xu Yixiao didn't care what his father said; he only heard that he should learn from his older female cousin, and he immediately nodded eagerly.

"I understand, I understand—I will definitely follow my older female cousin and study well!"

Xu Hong was astonished; this troublesome son being so obedient—normally he would never agree so readily.

It seems Lin Meng has become the boy's role model.

Lin Cuihua beside them felt both moved and relieved.

After her third older brother and his wife passed away, she never went back to visit, always feeling guilty; now seeing Lin Meng so promising and so steady, she feels happy for her third older brother and his wife.

"Xiao Meng, your aunt has always felt sorry for you and your parents; over these years I should have come to see you, and you still think of me as your aunt—I'm really glad."

As she spoke, the aunt began to wipe her tears.

Lin Meng opened her mouth but said nothing; she always felt the aunt had something she wanted to say but couldn't.

Xu Hong beside her also gently patted her back to comfort her.

Seeing his parents like that, Xu Yixiao also lowered his head and remained silent.

"Xiao Meng, seeing you doing well now puts your aunt at ease; this time when you go back, please help your aunt offer incense to your grandfather and tell him that his little daughter is living well in Li Shi, with a considerate husband and a sensible son, so he can rest in peace."

"I won't be going back to the hometown with you; a round trip would take at least three days, and my work really can't be left."

Lin Meng furrowed her brow slightly, wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing, only giving a slight nod.

"Okay, I understand; I'll tell grandfather."

I reckon the old man will come to me in a dream these two days; then I'll tell grandfather about the aunt's situation.

After the meal, the couple returned to work, while Xu Yixiao followed Lin Meng out of the cafeteria.

Lin Meng tentatively asked Xu Yixiao.

"Younger male cousin, I feel your mother seems to be hiding something from me; are you really doing well in Li Shi?"

Judging by Xu Yixiao's situation, the aunt's family's living conditions probably aren't bad.

But when she actually interacts with the aunt and uncle, she feels the situation is not so.

Xu Yixiao wanted to speak but hesitated; yet under Lin Meng's coercion and inducement, he still confessed.

"Older female cousin, my parents had to pay two million in compensation after ruining a customer's stone at the Stone Gambling venue; my mother fell ill from the shock, and coincidentally that year your parents both met with accidents—it was my father who received the news."

"My father concealed it to prevent my mother's condition from worsening; as a result, he also didn't make it to your parents' funeral."

Saying this, Xu Yixiao looked guiltily at Lin Meng.

"Sorry, older female cousin, don't blame my father—he was only worried about my mother..."

Lin Meng naturally wouldn't hold a grudge; now she finally understood the full story.

At the memorial service for her parents, hardly any relatives from her father's side showed up—not to mention her uncles; they were all cold-hearted and ruthless people.

She also didn't see her aunt back then, merely assuming that her aunt's relationship with her father wasn't close either.

Now it seems that the aunt's family back then is also going through dire straits.

"Have those two million been paid off?"

Xu Yixiao shook his head. "But it should be soon; I'm about to graduate and start work. With my major, I should find a marketing job and make money quickly!"

Lin Meng: "..."

Young people, ideals are plump, reality is slim; they're still thinking too beautifully.

It seems the aunt's family is not doing well; it's fortunate she's here, perhaps she can help pay off the aunt's family's debts in passing.

She's very familiar with the debt repayment process, but she can't just give them money outright; otherwise they wouldn't feel reassured, and it might even hurt their self-esteem.

Just then, Sun Yao came over.

"Miss Lin, I've finally found you. Our General Manager is receiving the behind-the-scenes boss of the Stone Gambling venue and people from the Jewelry Association, asking if you'd like to come over and sit in."

Another sitting in? It seems this matter is related to me.