Chapter 1937 - 1935: Failing to Recognize a Gem in Plain Sight
Chapter 1937: Chapter 1935: Failing to Recognize a Gem in Plain Sight
In short, the level of freedom is extremely high, it’s half-black and half-white, and every now and then there’s a crackdown, but it gets lively in another place just the same.
It’s quite similar to the black market.
Gu Qiaoqiao possesses unparalleled treasure identification skills, and Qin Yize is tall and intimidating; even though people know these two are big fat sheep, no one dares to have ill intentions. Besides, the person in charge here wouldn’t let such things happen. Once outside the free trade market, whether you live or die or whether your things are robbed is not his concern, but inside the market, it’s safe. So this so-called free market looks bustling with people.
The location is also very secretive; one must pass through a forest to reach it.
It feels like a small town.
Goods from all over the world can be seen here, and naturally, Gu Qiaoqiao acquired a large collection of treasures—not particularly eye-catching but many with collectible value. Some were even smuggled from Huaxia Country, and items from this category with research value were purchased out of their own pockets by Gu Qiaoqiao and Qin Yize. Moreover, this time, because of the portable space, it saved them a lot of trouble, allowing them to take them back directly.
Last time, the artifacts they brought back with Uncle required a great deal of effort to finally clear customs, only to be taken away directly.
However, it did involve some troubles, but this time it was much simpler. The two carried large handbags; the purchased items were put inside, and when they turned to another street corner, they would place some of the valuable items in the space.
Of course, it was done very discreetly; even if someone followed them, they wouldn’t discover anything out of the ordinary. And even if they did realize something strange, they wouldn’t figure out that the beautiful oriental girl had a portable space—something nonexistent in this world; not even sci-fi movies have portrayed such scenes yet.
So, the two were fully loaded when they returned.
Qin Yize, dressed neatly, looked like a backpacker at this moment, with bags in both hands and a backpack on his back, appearing quite comical. However, Gu Qiaoqiao only carried a smaller leather bag, and with this, they had only explored half of the market. After exchanging a glance, they headed to where they parked their car, locked their purchases inside, and continued shopping.
The two of them headed to the east market since they had just come from the west. About ten minutes after they left, a few people who had been hiding in the shadows quietly approached the car where they had just stored their items.
They hadn’t expected such audacious behavior from the pair, who appeared naïve; they looked like amateurs. This wasn’t how people typically bought goods—it wasn’t a supermarket. Even though some items here cost a fortune, others could be bought for just a few dollars, yet this heap of goods must be worth quite a bit.
It was clearly prepared for them.
They didn’t intend to harm anyone or take everything; just stealing a few items would be enough for them to live.
After all, there are guards here; petty theft cannot be entirely eradicated at any time or place, but as long as they don’t overdo it, the nearby guards will turn a blind eye.
The few people followed a pre-planned route, heading towards Qin Yize’s car.
The cars were all parked in a unified area, an open-air large car shed.
Unfortunately, after searching around, they found nothing.
Between them, they exchanged confused glances.
This wasn’t right; the car was just here a moment ago, how did it suddenly disappear?
It was a black small car; they remembered the brand and license plate number clearly.
They had scouted out the area beforehand, but after searching everywhere nearby, they couldn’t find the car—it was truly bizarre.
They only eyed this particular car; they didn’t know who owned the other cars and dared not touch them. If they caused trouble, they wouldn’t be able to save their necks. After wandering around here again without finding anything, they reluctantly left.
Of course, they didn’t know Gu Qiaoqiao’s car had been concealed with an invisibility talisman—naturally, they couldn’t see it.
The items here weren’t large but small, easy to store and take away.
Some vendors didn’t accept currency, insisting on trade and barter only.
Thus, the gold nugget in Gu Qiaoqiao’s space was exchanged for quite a few items.
Among them were two very valuable pieces of wood, which were extinct gloomy wood, also known as ebony. Throughout history, ebony has been regarded as an evil-warding item.
Crafting amulets from gloomy wood could be said to be priceless.
There’s an old saying: a household with half a piece of ebony is worth more than a boxful of treasures...
It refers exactly to the wood in front of them.
The material forming the gloomy wood is golden phoebe wood, even more precious.
After a bout of bargaining, a fist-sized gold nugget was taken out—20 pieces—and then Gu Qiaoqiao took the two pieces of wood.
No one else could see this; certainly, the vendor couldn’t either; otherwise, he wouldn’t swap wood, permeated with white spiritual energy, for gold.
However, there was no concern over who got a better deal because even if Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t use gold to exchange, others would swap other things with him. He displayed the items here to sell them.
Even if Gu Qiaoqiao told him that the wood had spiritual energy, he wouldn’t understand what spiritual energy was; saying it would be futile.
Gu Qiaoqiao calmly placed the two pieces of wood in the large handbag Qin Yize carried.
This wood has great utility; it can be carved into bracelets or ornaments; not only does it emit spiritual energy, but it can also automatically absorb it.
Tonight, she will carve some wooden beads to place with the peace Buddha pendant; it can form a natural formation that not only wards off impurities but would enhance the peace Buddha pendant’s efficacy tenfold.
She doesn’t have time to carve too many bracelets, just one bead for her sister and grand-aunt will do.
Gu Qiaoqiao’s face remained calm, but inside she was delighted, following Qin Yize briskly to the stall ahead, where the stall owner had eyes shining brilliantly. The quality of gold was excellent, vibrant yellow. With current gold prices at a peak, these two big fools—one gold nugget weighed about two pounds, and twenty weigh over forty pounds, approximately twenty thousand grams. With this quantity of gold, he could buy a small farm.
Thus, the fool, whom Gu Qiaoqiao deemed unworthy to know gold inlaid jade, was so happy he nearly danced.
To know that these two pieces of wood had been here for over two months, viewed but never bought—now he finally made a successful deal. Moreover, he wondered where these two handsome, attractive Orientals had gotten such fine gold nuggets.
Of course, he wouldn’t foolishly inquire nor tell others, just as he would never reveal how he got these two pieces of wood.
Qin Yize observed the stall owner and Gu Qiaoqiao, mutually deeming each other fools, amusingly shaking his head before accompanying his wife to continue perusing.