Chapter 111

"You must accept it."

Dean Zhang said, "Otherwise, we'd feel embarrassed. Are you worried it's too little? If so, I'll make it up to you privately."

He made a humorous remark.

Seeing that things had already gone this far, Gu Jinshui realized that refusing any further would seem like being fussy, so he said, "Alright, I'll accept it. But before we leave, you have to let us treat you to a meal. We've troubled you quite a bit this time, so you must do us the honor of accepting."

Dean Zhang and the others readily agreed.

In the next room, Professor Xu was truly impressed by Gu Jinshui's words.

This Xiao Gu is probably not even thirty yet, how come he's so good at getting things done?

Think about those people, then think about Sun Zhiping —the difference is like heaven and earth.

People from Shandong can all hold their liquor. When Professor Bai and his group boarded the train, their legs were weak, especially Professor Bai's. Dean Zhang saw that he couldn't outdrink Gu Jinshui, he pulled Professor Bai aside to play rock-paper-scissors.

Professor Bai loses nine out of ten times he gambles, and even now, drunk, he still sees several shadows of things in front of him.

"It's fortunate we can get a soft sleeper berth when we get back."

Professor Xu lay down on the bed, he couldn't help but say, "I really couldn't stand sitting on the way back. Xiao Gu, we're so lucky to have you here."

"Yeah, Xiao Gu, how come you can hold your liquor so well?" Professor Bai was helped by Gu Jinshui to lean against the pillows, feeling a throbbing headache, as if someone had hit him hard with a hammer.

Gu Jinshui laughed, "You lot can't compare to me. I've been making a living since I was a teenager. How could I not know how to drink? I can easily drink another three jin (1.5 kg) without any problem. Alright, I think you should all rest. I'll go get some hot water and make you a cup of tea; that will make you feel much better."

Professor Xu and Professor Bai both repeatedly expressed their approval.

Gu Jinshui filled an enamel mug with hot water and was about to leave when he ran into Yamamoto and his group.

"Gu Xian," the translator greeted Gu Jinshui.

Gu Jinshui nodded to them, "You should go back too."

Yamamoto spoke a few words to the translator, who then looked at Gu Jinshui and said, "Yes, Gu Xian, Mr. Yamamoto would like to ask if you are interested in an exchange program at the Tokyo University?"

"Tokyo University? No interest."

Gu Jinshui refused without hesitation, took his water glass, and left.

The translator seemed somewhat surprised by his cold attitude and was about to say something, but was stopped by Yamamoto.

"Here, have some tea."

After brewing tea, Gu Jinshui called out to Professor Bai and his companion.

Professor Xu struggled to his feet, took a sip of hot tea, and sighed contentedly, "Xiao Gu, you're so thoughtful. Why did you even bring a teapot and teacups?"

Gu Jinshui smiled and said, "This is a souvenir I was planning to give to my master; it just so happens that it will come in handy."

"Oh, I knew it. I thought you brought a tea set with you when you went out." Professor Xu had drunk some tea and now had an appetite. He took out a box of cookies from his suitcase and shared them with everyone.

This group of people had been drinking all night and had no appetite this morning. Professor Bai asked while eating a biscuit, "Did you run into someone you knew outside?"

Gu Jinshui said "Oh," and replied, "No, it's Yamamoto and his group. What a coincidence, they're going to Beijing too."

"Professor Yamamoto," Professor Xu thought for a moment, then said, "I remember now, he seemed to have mentioned going to the antique market in Beijing. Could it be that he wanted you to be his host?"

Gu Jinshui shook his head and casually repeated what Yamamoto had just said.

After he finished speaking, Professor Xu and Professor Bai exchanged a glance.

Professor Bai asked, "Xiao Gu, why won't you agree?"

"I hate Japan, and I hate Japan even more."

Gu Jinshui stated directly, "My shop never does business with Japan."

The two professors had grown accustomed to Gu Jinshui's maturity and composure these days, and upon hearing these words, they found them both amusing and characteristic of Gu Jinshui's temperament.

Professor Bai said, "I understand your feelings, but we have a saying: 'Learn from the barbarians to subdue them.' Yamamoto's university has always been famous for its archaeological achievements, so we might as well learn from them. Besides..."

Professor Bai's expression turned serious. "Japan once looted many cultural relics and ancient books from our country. You have a good eye. If you can find our country's cultural relics in Japan and bring them back, that would be a good thing."

"Yes, who doesn't hate them? But we still do business with them."

Professor Xu said, "Jin Shui, our eyesight isn't as good as yours, so we really need your help with this."

Gu Jinshui hadn't really thought that far ahead.

He frowned and said, "Let me think about it."

Chapter 103 The 103rd Day of Being Eavesdropped On

Gu Jinshui was gone for more than ten days this time, and when he returned, Beijing already had the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.

Knowing that her older brother was coming home today, Gu Yinxing specially bought a big cake, saying it was to welcome Gu Jinshui home.

Gu Jinshui glanced at the exquisitely decorated cake covered in strawberries and asked, "Did you buy this for me or for you?"

"Brother, why are you asking so many questions? We're all family, what I give you is the same as what I give you."

Gu Yinxing chuckled shamelessly.

Gu Jinshui shook his head helplessly. He put down his luggage and took out the souvenirs he had bought for his family. Without exception, the women's gifts were gold jewelry, while Yan Ren's was a Buck Hunting Knife. Gu Jinshui had seen it being sold on the Black Market by chance and thought that Yan Ren might like it, so he bought it.

"Is this knife from abroad?"

Yan Ren took the hunting knife and couldn't resist drawing it from its sheath. A cold glint flashed on the blade, indicating that it had been sharpened.

Gu Jinshui: "Yes, those from the Americans are quite sharp, so you'd better be careful."

"Brother, you're so biased! You bought him such nice things, but you bought us this gold," Gu Yinxing complained. "You're so careless!"

"If that's the case, then give me back my gift."

Gu Jinshui reached out his hand without any hesitation.

Liang Ying and He Chunlian were both amused.

Liang Ying said, "Alright, stop joking around. I've made dinner. Jin Shui, go take a shower, and we can eat when you come out."

There are quite a few people in my family right now.

Liang Ying bought a few dishes outside, quickly made a hand-torn cabbage dish, and cooked rice, so dinner was ready.

Gu Jinshui was really hungry. Holding his bowl, he managed to finish three large bowls. After dinner, he was so full that he wandered around the yard.

"Dad, I need to talk to you about something."

Gu Yousi came out dressed like a panda.

It snowed this morning, and the snow in the yard hasn't melted yet; it crunches underfoot.

Gu Jinshui turned his head and saw that she looked like a ball, and chuckled, "Girl, why do you look like a ball?"

Gu Yousi: "..."

Sometimes it's no wonder she always ignores her dad; she's just too sharp-tongued.

Who looks like a ball?

"I'm talking to you about serious business, stop being so nonchalant," Gu Yousi said seriously, her face stern.

Gu Jinshui chuckled at her childish act of pretending to be an adult, and pinched his daughter's fair and rosy cheeks, which resembled peaches. "Tell me, what is it? If it's not a big deal, Dad will agree to anything."

"That's right, while you were away, Uncle Song came to inquire about you."

Gu Yousi slapped Gu Jinshui's hand away and took a step back. "For some reason, he seemed to think you would go to the jade gambling market and wanted to find out which one you went to. He even tried to trick me into telling him."

We should keep the good stuff within our own family.

She can't let Song Jianshe get the Imperial Green that her dad is offering!

Jade gambling?

Imperial Green

Gu Jinshui was stunned for a moment. He frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "I have indeed thought about going to the jade gambling market. There's a place in the suburbs that specializes in this. I was thinking that next year is the 90th anniversary, so I wanted to get some jade for you all."

Gu Yousi understood now.

She said "Oh," and then asked, "When are you planning to go? Why don't you take us with you?"

"That won't do. That kind of place is a mixed bag; all sorts of people can go there. Children shouldn't go."

Gu Jinshui refused outright.

Gu Yousi stared at him with deadpan eyes. "Dad, Lan Lin and I aren't ordinary kids."

"I know you are all good students."

Gu Jinshui pretended not to understand, patted Gu Yousi on the shoulder, and said, "Good girl, you have an exam tomorrow, go back and study. If you get first place, Dad will reward you with a hundred yuan!"

Gu Yousi took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger.

However, Gu Jinshui's tone, which was teasing a child, was so infuriating that she glared at Gu Jinshui and turned to leave.

Gu Jinshui chuckled, but his eyes seemed to be deep in thought.

Jade gambling?!

Final exams are both the most painful and the happiest day for children.

The painful part is that if you don't do well on the exam, you won't have a good New Year. Forget about getting lucky money; you'll just have to eat braised pork with rattan. The happy part is that it's the last day; once the exam is over, you'll have a holiday and can play to your heart's content.

"Finally, the exams are over! Dad said he'll take me to Beihai Park tomorrow!"

"Oh, at least we can watch TV tonight! I wonder how Jiang Ziya is doing..."

The children laughed and chattered all the way.

Gu Yousi and Lan Lin appeared remarkably calm, and even when Song Jianshe suddenly appeared, their expressions remained unchanged.

"Uncle Song..." ⑥This⑥work⑥was⑥organized⑥and⑥uploaded⑥by⑥a⑥Si⑥Tu⑥online⑥reading⑥website⑥friends⑥

Gu Yousi stopped in her tracks, gripping her backpack strap. "Are you trying to scare me to death?"

Song Jianshe gave an awkward laugh. "Little girl, your uncle has something important to discuss with you. Have you inquired about that matter?"

"That matter, which one?"

Seeing his impatient look, Gu Yousi had a sudden idea and deliberately asked.

Song Jianshe was taken aback, then became anxious and quickly said, "You didn't ask around, did you? I told you to find out which jade market your father went to."

"Oh, I remember now."

Gu Yousi nodded. "No wonder I kept feeling like I'd forgotten something."

Song Jianshe's heart tightened. He thought to himself, "This is bad. Could it be that this little girl has forgotten about this because she can't be relied on?"

"You... you didn't ask?!"

"Oh, I asked." Gu Yousi nodded and said.

For a moment, Song Jianshe's face showed a speechless expression. His heart was pounding like a rollercoaster, first rising, then falling, and then rising again.

This is the first time in his life he's been so easily fooled and played around with!

Song Jianshe gritted his teeth, "Little girl, where exactly did your dad say he was going?!"

Gu Yousi took a few steps back, pouting, "Uncle, you're so scary, I'm frightened."

"Uncle Song, why are you scaring us children!" Lan Lin protected Gu Yousi without saying a word, frowning and looking at Song Jianshe with displeasure.

Although he was young, he had been influenced by the Old Master from a young age, and once he put on a serious face, his aura was immediately different from others.

"I!"

Song Jianshe was nearly furious.

Is this what you call scare tactics?

Seeing that the two children were not intimidated at all, Song Jianshe gritted his teeth and had no choice but to swallow his anger. "It was Uncle's fault. Uncle apologizes."

"Alright then, I forgive you."

Gu Yousi waved her hand magnanimously.

The veins on Song Jianshe's forehead bulged as he pulled fifty yuan from his pocket. "Here's the money. Now you can talk to the locals, right?"

"Sure."

Gu Yousi took the money without any hesitation.

She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "My dad seems to have said he's going to the Xicheng."

"Is the place in the Xicheng the courtyard that Boss Wang and his gang run?"

Song Jianshe quickly pressed for an answer.

He hasn't been idle these days; he's gone out to inquire about where to gamble on jade in Beijing, and he's actually learned quite a bit about it now.

Gu Yousi nodded immediately. "That's right, this is it. My dad said he's going tomorrow, and he won't let us go with him. That's so unfair!"

Song Jianshe had no interest in paying attention to her. He stroked his chin and muttered, "Xicheng, Xicheng, you haven't gone far. I heard that Boss Wang's place has received a lot of new stones. Could it be from there?"

He continued talking to himself, then turned and left, perfectly demonstrating what it means to pull away the ladder after someone has climbed to the roof.

"Niuniu, why did you tell him about your uncle?"

After Song Jianshe had walked away, Lan Lin disapprovedly asked Gu Yousi in a low voice.

Gu Yousi stuffed the money into her pocket. "I lied to him. My dad wasn't going there at all."

"Huh?" Lan Lin was completely stunned.

Gu Yousi turned to look at him, her grape-like eyes filled with surprise. "You're not as stupid as him, are you?"

Lan Lin's ears immediately turned red.

He