When I went to see Boss Xie in the morning, I specifically washed my hair and used the hotel's hairdryer to make it look flowing and handsome. I applied hand cream to my face, making myself feel radiant.
Boss Xie's friends included a man with a gold chain, another playing with walnuts, and a fat man with a floating jade Guanyin around his neck, possessing a smile that concealed a knife. Boss Xie introduced me to Manager Zhang, Manager Xiao, and then the fat man, whom Boss Xie called Big Head Wang.
From my subjective perspective, these people were all cooperating with Boss Xie to put on a show. Yet, I felt they weren't of the same caliber, and they all seemed to revere Big Head Wang.
"Brother, did you bring that stone?"
"No!"
Boss Xie's expression instantly soured, and he chided me, "Didn't I tell you to have these experts appraise it? Why are you being so secretive?"
"That thing is precious. If I carry more than a thousand in my pocket, I get anxious. I brought a photo; please let these brothers take a look."
Hearing me say this, Boss Xie's mouth contorted in anger, "What can you tell from a photo?"
"Then don't look."
Boss Xie was so angry he was about to lash out. The expressions of the other managers beside him were also extremely displeased. Only Big Head Wang remained unfazed. "This brother is right. Don't flaunt your wealth. If you flaunt such a treasure around, you might be swindled by someone."
Indeed, this Big Head Wang was the one in charge. With his words, everyone seemed to calm down.
"Let me see the photo."
I respectfully handed the photo to Big Head Wang. He stared at it for a while. "It truly is a good thing, rarely seen. Brother, what's your expected price?"
"Yesterday, I thought about it all night and came up with two plans. First, whoever helps me catch the swindler who made my friend jump off the building, I'll sell this stone to them for two million. Second, I heard there are several auction houses in Beijing that offer free initial participation. I'll take this item to participate in an auction. I believe discerning collectors won't offer a low price."
Boss Xie seemed a bit flustered. "Is Beijing so treacherous? How dare you go there?"
"There, even if I were to eat a ten-thousand-yuan roast duck, they would be openly fleecing me. Unlike in Ruili, where they appear honest but can drive someone to jump off a building."
Boss Xie sighed. "One rotten fish spoils the whole pot. That Wang has ruined the reputation of us stone collectors. However, he defrauded money and must have fled. Where would we find him? Brother, why don't we discuss this further?"
As soon as he said this, the other managers beside him chimed in, all agreeing to pay a high price if it was genuine.
If I had indeed produced a piece of Imperial Green glass-jade raw material, something rarely seen, I would have long been deceived by their sweet talk. But I viewed these matters from another angle; in my eyes, they were like clowns performing.
Seeing that I was unmoved, Big Head Wang interjected, "I, Big Head Wang, know some people in the underworld. Shall I help you inquire?"
"Thank you. If you can help me catch that swindler named Wang, I will honor my word and sell you that raw material for two million. I have nothing else to do today, so I'll take my leave. Goodbye."
As I left, I also took back the photo. I smiled politely at Big Head Wang and keenly felt, once again, his textbook-like smile that concealed a knife.
...
After leaving, cold sweat streamed down my back. Now I understood Old Ghost's expression when he saw my plan. This society is not a single entity. Boss Xie was the 'schemer' of the trap, but he was just a small figure, dependent on someone or some group for his living.
Imperial Green glass-jade is an ultimate treasure, one in ten thousand. The person behind Boss Xie had surfaced, and Big Head Wang was not in my plan at all. At this moment, I should have been in a state of utter panic.
I used my IC card phone to call Old Ghost and arranged to meet at a dumpling restaurant near the hotel.
Pork and chives, lamb and cilantro, beef and celery.
Three kinds of fillings, six large plates, steaming hot, were placed before me. Through the rising steam, I watched Old Ghost mixing vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil. After finishing his condiment, Old Ghost impatiently took a dumpling, burning his mouth with gasps.
"Brother, did you hear me? They've added one person. What should we do?"
"Added one person? Get two more plates of dumplings."
My expression was pained. "Can you stop joking? I feel like that person is from the underworld; I can't afford to provoke him. I only wanted to deal with Boss Xie, how did I get entangled with someone like this?"
Old Ghost put down his chopsticks, opened a cold cola, and drank it. Full of breath, he was choking, and after catching his breath, he said, "What does one more person have to do with your plan? Does one more person make Boss Xie dislike that stone? Does a gangster make Boss Xie unwilling to get that stone?"
"I don't understand!"
"Don't forget who you're dealing with. That Boss Xie is a schemer."
Old Ghost's reminder was like a revelation. Of course, Boss Xie was a schemer. He wasn't someone who would easily fall for a trick. His schemes were based on temptation. Facing such a powerful temptation, it was only natural for Boss Xie to be suspicious. If Boss Xie had fallen for it so easily, it would have been illogical.
Everything Boss Xie was doing now, including his suspicions and even using a scheme to test me, indicated one thing: he still desperately wanted that Imperial Green glass-jade raw material. Before meeting Old Ghost, I was actually in grave danger. I had mistaken Big Head Wang for Boss Xie's backer, underestimating Boss Xie.
This was a scheme within a scheme. I had fallen for it. Boss Xie had simply found someone to get me to promise to sell the exquisite raw stone to Big Head Wang for two million once the swindler named Wang was found. Soon, they would find Wang, because they were all in cahoots. At that point, if I sold the raw stone to Big Head Wang, the ultimate beneficiary would be Boss Xie.
If I refused to sell and tried to use Big Head Wang against Boss Xie, then my plan would be exposed by Boss Xie.
Impressive, this Boss Xie was truly cunning and old-fashioned. If not for Old Ghost reminding me, I would still be a hundred years away from outsmarting such a wily and experienced person.
"Brother, thank you. I understand."
"What are you planning to do?"
"Be honest and show my greed. But if I do that, I won't be able to execute my plan. It's so frustrating."
Old Ghost lowered his head, eating dumplings, and mumbled indistinctly, "A schemer isn't someone who acts according to a plan. You use the stone to gain Boss Xie's trust, control him, and make him pay a heavy price for it. That's your scheme. What you do within this scheme isn't important, nor is whether it deviates from the original plan. As long as Boss Xie is racking his brains to get your stone, it means he's still within your grasp."
...
I admired Old Ghost more and more. Although I called him 'Brother,' I always felt he was my esteemed mentor. Every time I encountered difficulties, he could turn lead into gold with a single word.