"I'll contact my family's lawyer later and ask him to represent Feng Lin in the lawsuit. Auntie, you should prepare the relevant materials."
Sun Jingjing took a deep breath, trying to suppress her excitement. She was finally going to be like the heroines in novels!
"Okay."
With Sun Jingjing's assurance, the stepmother was completely relieved and beamed with joy.
"I'll go get the materials right away."
"Okay." After the stepmother left, Sun Jingjing browsed the online information about Xu Qingqing's variety show and disdainfully curled her lips.
Sun Jingjing made a phone call. "Hey, sister. How's your work recently? Are the artists you interview cooperative?"
"What do you want? If you have something to say, say it quickly. I'm busy."
The woman on the other end of the phone sounded impatient.
"I'd like you to do me a favor." Sun Jingjing curled her lips and looked at the picture of Xu Qingqing with a beautiful smile on her phone.
Humph!
Regardless of whether Xu Qingqing was Lu Fenglin's sister - in - law, she hated this woman.
Xu Qingqing and Father Lu chose a Japanese restaurant outside the antique market and waited for Old Li and his granddaughter Li Ying'er to come for dinner.
The private room was decorated in the traditional Japanese style, with sliding doors, tatami on the floor, and jasmine - scented incense burning.
The waiter served barley tea for Xu Qingqing and Father Lu. Xu Qingqing took a sip. It had a delicate fragrance of wheat and tasted quite good.
"Why isn't that Old Li here yet!"
This was already the third time Father Lu had looked at his watch and the third time he had urged.
"Uncle Lu, let's wait a bit longer. Have some tea first." Xu Qingqing kindly poured a cup of barley tea for Father Lu. "Maybe it's too crowded and it's hard for them to get here."
"Thank you."
Father Lu took a sip.
Old Li, sweating profusely, led his granddaughter Li Ying'er and slid open the door of the private room.
"Sorry. I was bargaining with a stall owner and got here late."
As soon as he entered, Old Li couldn't wait to ask Father Lu, "Old Lu! What good treasures did you find?"
Father Lu casually put down the cup in his hand. "A screen and two antique walnuts."
"Ah, just these?"
Hearing that they were rather ordinary items, Old Li laughed, with a hint of show - off on his face.
"My granddaughter found me a vase that's five years old and a top - grade Hetian jade pendant. They're much better than your screen and antique walnuts!"
After hearing Old Li's words, Father Lu didn't say much but just nodded. "That's quite good."
"Grandpa, don't talk nonsense. I'm not sure about that pendant yet."
Li Ying'er reminded Old Li. She sat next to Xu Qingqing, took out her phone, and said, "Sister Qingqing, could you help me take a look at the quality of this pendant? I took pictures of it."
"Sure." Xu Qingqing readily agreed.
"Hey... don't!"
Old Li reached out his hand to stop her, but Li Ying'er had already found the pictures and showed them to Xu Qingqing.
Old Li glared angrily at his granddaughter.
This girl! Showing the selected pendant to Xu Qingqing was just like tipping off the opponent in advance!
Xu Qingqing looked at the pictures on the phone. Li Ying'er had taken pictures from various angles.
The pattern on the pendant in the pictures was black and white, and the two - color patterns blended together like a beautiful landscape painting.
The color was very nice, but just from the pictures, Xu Qingqing couldn't accurately judge the material of the jade. She could only make a judgment based on the texture of the jade.
"So, is it real Hetian jade?"
After looking for a few moments, Xu Qingqing said uncertainly, "It doesn't look like glass or resin..."
"Hahaha!"
Hearing this, Old Li burst out laughing. "Old Lu, your daughter - in - law has affirmed the value of this pendant!"
"Congratulations." Father Lu looked calm and wasn't angry at all.
Father Lu knew the value of the antique walnuts and the painting by Shen Qingxiu that Xu Qingqing had chosen for him. They were surely better than Old Li's items.
"However..."
Xu Qingqing hadn't finished speaking and continued, "It looks like it's made of crushed jade powder."
"Crushed jade powder? Sister Qingqing, how did you figure that out?" There was a strong sense of curiosity in Li Ying'er's eyes.
"Look here..." Xu Qingqing zoomed in on the picture on the phone and carefully taught Li Ying'er. "I haven't touched this pendant, so I can't judge it by weight. I can only tell from the texture of the pendant."
"If it's real jade, its texture looks powerful. Although the texture of the pendant you chose looks beautiful, it lacks that sense of power."
"To put it simply, it doesn't have the so - called 'veins' of jade. The pattern on this pendant should be dyed."
"Sister Qingqing, you're so amazing!"
Xu Qingqing explained in detail. Li Ying'er didn't have the slightest doubt and looked at her with admiration, giving her a thumbs - up.
"When I bought this pendant, I always felt something was off. Thanks to your reminder, Sister Qingqing. It's like a bolt from the blue!"
"Well... crushed jade powder is still jade, right..."
Hearing Xu Qingqing's words, the confident smile on Old Li's face suddenly changed. He quickly asked, "Can it be sold for a high price?"
Li Ying'er explained to her grandfather.
"Grandpa, a pendant made of crushed jade powder is made by grinding some inferior scraps of jade into powder and then gluing them together with chemical agents. It's not worth much."
After hearing his granddaughter's explanation, Old Li got angry. He felt a bit embarrassed.
He had just boasted in front of Xu Qingqing and Father Lu for so long, but it turned out that he had found a fake. He was really furious!
"Come on, don't be angry. After dinner, let's continue hunting for treasures this afternoon. Crushed jade powder is still jade. It's much better than those antique walnuts."
Father Lu intended to console Old Li, but Old Li thought Father Lu was mocking him. He snorted and changed the topic.
"Why isn't Old Liu here yet?"
When Father Lu mentioned Old Liu, a look of worry flashed across his face. He didn't know what to say.
"Let's wait for him."
Old Li continued, "Did you hear that? One of the contestants cheated!"
"It's just a treasure - hunting competition. You either find something or you don't. Why would anyone cheat? I really don't know if these cheaters have any shame!"
"Old Li, stop talking!" Father Lu couldn't stand it anymore and stopped Old Li.
"Why are you so angry? Did I do something to upset you again?"
Old Li was already angry because the pendant he had fancied turned out to be a fake. Father Lu's bad attitude made him even angrier.
Father Lu said impatiently, "You've gone too far."
"Ah?" Old Li was stunned. "The cheater is ignoring the rules of the competition and should be condemned. How can you defend the cheater?"
"I'll tell you the truth. The caught cheater is... is Old Liu's granddaughter, Liu Tianjing." Father Lu said with difficulty.
"The cheater is Liu Tianjing!" Old Li couldn't believe what he had just heard and opened his cloudy eyes wide.
"This... this can't be true! Liu Tianjing has been the champion of the treasure - hunting competition for three consecutive years. How could she cheat!"