Chapter Fifty-Six: A Plan Without Flaw

“What are you doing!” The prison guard struck the iron gate with his baton. “He Wentian! I order you to let go immediately! Or don’t blame me for getting rough!”

Ye Dong paid the guard no mind and continued, “Once it’s done, your payment will be generous.”

Liang Lingzhi asked Ye Dong in a low voice, “With all your money and so many people at your disposal, why do you need our help?”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” The prison guard knocked three more times. “Let go, now!”

Ye Dong said coldly, “This vase is a gift for someone. I need to keep a low profile, understand?”

After Liang Lingzhi and Xu Si nodded, half-understanding, Ye Dong finally released them. “Do a good job of this for me! Now get lost!”

Liu Fei steadied the two as they were shoved away. “Let’s go, don’t ask any more! The more you know, the more dangerous it is! That’s what they say in the movies!”

The prison guard gritted his teeth, pointing at Ye Dong. “You’re really something, aren’t you! Just wait!”

He hit Liu Fei on the back with his baton. “Still muttering? Get out of here, now!”

……

As soon as Liang Lingzhi left the prison, he took a deep breath. “Damn it! I’m finally out!”

Seeing Liu Fei and Xu Si still in disbelief at their release, Liang Lingzhi mocked, “What’s wrong with you two turtles? Why aren’t you smiling now that you’re out!?”

Xu Si forced a smile. “Lingzhi, to be honest, the vase He Wentian asked us to bid for is the one my big brother put up for auction. The starting price is already twelve million. Even if He Wentian will pay in the end, where are we supposed to get the deposit now?”

Liu Fei slapped him on the shoulder. “Didn’t know you had a big brother in the big business, Xu Si!”

Xu Si replied in embarrassment, “My brother’s name is Li Zimu, he’s quite capable. He said this resale could make us a lot of money. But I screwed up—I ended up in jail just when I got my big chance.”

Liang Lingzhi snorted. “What’s so impressive about a middleman? I don’t have hundreds of millions, but I can handle a million or so! Leave the deposit to me!”

After making a quick phone call, a luxury car soon pulled up. “Young master, you’ve had a rough time,” the driver said.

Xu Si and Liu Fei were astonished at the sight of the expensive car. “So Lingzhi is rich too!”

“What are you two gawking at? Get in!” Liang Lingzhi shouted as he took the keys from the driver. “You head back first, and remember—don’t tell my parents. They’re a pain.”

“Yes, young master.” The driver nodded and helped Xu Si and Liu Fei into the car.

Inside, the two couldn’t help but look around and touch everything. “Lingzhi, you’re in the big leagues too!”

Liang Lingzhi started the engine, grinning. “We did time together—that makes us brothers now!”

Liu Fei found an old newspaper in the back seat. The headline read: “Lawless Rich Kid Arrested Twice in Ten Days—No Remorse After Soliciting Prostitutes, Assaults Officer on Release Day.”

Beneath the headline was a large, grinning photo of Liang Lingzhi, alongside a label: “Scoundrel Arrested, Public Rejoices!”

Seeing how absorbed they were, Liang Lingzhi asked, “What are you idiots staring at? Out with it!”

Liu Fei’s face changed; he tossed the newspaper out the window. “Nothing, nothing! Just those bogus kidney cure ads!”

Liang Lingzhi laughed. “You two are so weak, you really need a tonic! I’ll take you for a proper night out and a bath—you deserve it!”

Liu Fei and Xu Si exchanged a delighted look. “Lingzhi, you know how to have fun!”

The three shared a wicked grin and soon drove to an upscale club.

No sooner had they settled in than a tall man entered with his entourage. Xu Si’s eyes lit up. “Big brother? Is that you, Zimu?”

The tall man turned, face breaking into a broad smile. “Xu Si? How did you get out so soon?”

Xu Si hurried over and gripped Li Zimu’s hand tightly. “Big brother, it really is you! The woman dropped her charges, so I got out early!”

Li Zimu’s eyes darted with calculation; he patted Xu Si’s shoulder. “Looks like you got lucky! You weren’t bullied inside, were you?”

Xu Si shook his head quickly. “I was well looked after by two friends in there. Let me introduce you—this is Lingzhi, and this is Liu Fei.”

Li Zimu squinted at Liang Lingzhi, then his eyes widened in recognition. “Aren’t you the guy everyone’s talking about? Beat up a cop—impressive!”

He offered his hand to Liang Lingzhi. “I’m Li Zimu, a pleasure. Thank you both for looking after Xu Si. Tonight’s expenses are all on me!” He turned to his men and barked, “What are you waiting for? Greet Lingzhi!”

“Lingzhi!” his entourage chorused, filling Liang Lingzhi with pride.

Liang Lingzhi nodded and smiled. “A pleasure to meet you!”

He checked his watch and turned to Xu Si. “You catch up with your brother. Just call me tomorrow.” He pulled two thick wads of cash from his bag and shoved them into Xu Si’s hands. “I didn’t bring much today—use this for now.”

Xu Si thanked him profusely. “I will, Lingzhi! Thank you!”

Watching this, Li Zimu smiled on the surface but thought to himself, “This Liang Lingzhi is generous—just as the rumors say, a true prodigal.”

Once Liang Lingzhi and Liu Fei were out of earshot, Li Zimu’s expression grew serious. “Si, not to lecture you, but we cannot risk our livelihoods. You must stay alert, you understand?”

Xu Si nodded. “You’re right, big brother. I’ll be careful.”

Once inside a private room, Xu Si recounted in detail how he met Liang Lingzhi in jail.

Listening, Li Zimu stroked his chin. “So, by your account, Liang Lingzhi really is as arrogant as the papers claim. A total disgrace among the rich. These people with money are so brazen!”

Xu Si lowered his voice. “Big brother, there’s more—big news. We’re about to strike it rich!”

Li Zimu’s eyes gleamed. “What do you mean?”

Xu Si pulled him aside. “You know, Lingzhi’s loaded. But the key is, in jail there’s this He Wentian—he’s someone even Lingzhi treats with great respect!”

Li Zimu narrowed his eyes. “Is that the ‘Mad Young Master’ He Wentian?”

Xu Si was surprised. “You know him too, big brother?”

Li Zimu sneered. “Who in the antiques world doesn’t? He’s a notorious spendthrift. Rumor is his father, He Ding, is mad for antiques. I bet He Wentian wants that vase to please his old man. But he never appears in public—few have seen his face.”

Xu Si realized that He Wentian’s request for discretion referred to bidding quietly at the auction.

He nodded. “Big brother, did you know He Wentian asked Lingzhi to buy a vase for him at any cost—the very one we put up for auction!”

Li Zimu grew cautious. “How did you get that info? How did someone like him end up talking to you?”

Xu Si grinned and simply took off his shirt, pointing to a scar on his chest. “Look at this scar, big brother!”

Li Zimu was startled to see a wound, not yet fully healed, running from Xu Si’s left chest to his right side.

“Who did this to you?”

Xu Si seemed a bit proud. “He Wentian was ambushed in prison. I jumped in and took the knife for him—saved his life!”

Li Zimu thought, “So now Xu Si knows both this rich kid and that madman He Wentian.”

He asked, “And then?”

Xu Si boasted, “He Wentian said he doesn’t have many friends—he counts me as one! When he asked Lingzhi to bid for the vase, I was there and heard everything!”

Seeing the crafty smile on Li Zimu’s face, Xu Si pressed, “Big brother, how will you reward me?”

Li Zimu grinned wickedly. “Don’t worry—this info is worth a fortune. You’ll get your cut!”

Xu Si was overjoyed. “With big brother’s reward on one side, and another windfall when He Wentian’s out—I’m really going to make a fortune this time! That scar was worth it!”

Li Zimu pulled out his phone and messaged the auction house: “Li Zimu’s consigned tea-dust-glazed olive vase, lot 0043—starting price increased to fifteen million.”

He hesitated, then messaged Lord Wei, second-in-command of the tomb-raiding gang: “Lord Wei, starting price up to fifteen million.”

Lord Wei quickly replied, but with caution: “Sudden increase of three million—is it safe?”

Li Zimu responded, “Relax, the goods have a madman chasing them. A three-million increase is safe.”

Lord Wei replied, “Proceed with caution. I’ll leave this to you.”

Li Zimu replied, “Yes, rest assured!”

He put away his phone and sneered. “If you didn’t know sorcery, would I even tell you about the price hike? Dream on!”

He whispered to Xu Si, “If we get close to that madman He Wentian, money will never be a problem again!”

Meanwhile, Officer Li listened in on their conversation through the bug hidden on Xu Si. Hearing their plot to profit off He Wentian, he chuckled. “Good thing you’re greedy—I was worried you wouldn’t be.”

He turned and gave a thumbs-up to the officer who had driven Liang Lingzhi—the same one who had placed the bug on Xu Si.

Hui Yan handed over a file. “Master, here’s a Yuan dynasty jade piece for you to look at.”

Chen Yao examined it closely, then handed the file to the man beside him. “Old Chen, have you seen this before?”

Old Chen took the photo, his face lighting up with surprise. “The Heavenly Jade Pendant!?”