Chapter 249: Trapping Crystal Cores Again
“Hey, Lu Weiyi!” Zhuang Mingwu jumped around like a monkey, approaching.
“Shut up!” Lu Weiyi’s first words upon seeing him.
“You f***ing…” Zhuang Mingwu had never been treated with such disdain before or after the apocalypse; his face immediately darkened.
Ning Yuan sighed, looked up at him, usually easygoing but now sharp-tongued, “Young master, that’s your brother inside! He’s disabled, and it’s such a major surgery. Your Zhuang family only sent you alone? Can you have a bit more sense?”
Zhuang Mingwu avoided his gaze, muttering, “Didn’t you find a doctor already?”
Ning Yuan was speechless. Even knowing they had cooperation tomorrow, he didn’t want to look at him.
In contrast, Lu Weiyi’s mental-type ability had been monitoring the surgery inside smoothly. He drank a bottle of coffee to keep alert.
He took a green crystal core from his bag and looked at Zhuang Mingwu. “I have a plant-type crystal core. Ask the Zhuang family if they want it. 2500kg of jade stone, top quality worth over a million. If not, I’ll sell it to someone else.”
The now quiet Zhuang Mingwu suddenly got excited again. He raised his hands as if telling Lu Weiyi to stay calm. “I’ll notify them right away, don’t rush.”
Lu Weiyi doubted if this guy was even in his mid-twenties—he was seriously over the top.
Ignoring Lu Weiyi’s disdainful look, Zhuang Mingwu turned and muttered to someone, then left with his news.
Lu Weiyi whispered a few words to Ning Yuan, who brightened up and gave a thumbs up, then casually walked off to the restroom.
Half an hour later, Zhuang Mingxu’s eldest uncle, Zhuang Chengye, appeared in the hospital corridor.
The “most” favored grandson couldn’t compete with a single plant-type crystal core.
Lu Weiyi gave a sarcastic smile.
“I heard from Mingwu you have a plant-type crystal core? Want to give it to the family?” Zhuang Chengye had never paid attention to Lu Weiyi before. Even the rare times he did, it was only because of Lu Xiao. His arrogance came from his bones; a “canary” like Lu Weiyi wasn’t worthy of a glance.
With this gentle tone, Lu Weiyi was a bit unaccustomed. “I’m selling it.”
After emphasizing that, he glanced at Ning Yuan, who nodded slightly.
Zhuang Chengye smiled, looking at Lu Weiyi like a spoiled junior, with a just-right tone of helplessness, “Alright, how do you want to sell it?”
Lu Weiyi stared blankly at him, watching his feigned ignorance.
Silent standoff. No one spoke until a voice came from the end of the corridor, “I heard my nephew was injured and is having surgery. How come no one told your second uncle? You should at least come see.”
Zhuang Chengzheng strode over, carrying a strong presence. “Is this Weiyi? You’re all grown now. When your uncle used to take care of you, you were still a kid.”
Lu Weiyi nodded.
The old man sat directly opposite Lu Weiyi. “Is Mingxu inside? Big brother, you didn’t say anything? Did you find a good doctor? Our own kid can’t have just anyone operating on him.” He said to those with him, “Go ask which doctor is doing the surgery, have them send an old expert.”
After the face-saving act was done, Lu Weiyi took out the crystal core from his bag. “Zhuang Mingwu should’ve told you: 2500kg of top-quality jade stone, this plant-type crystal core belongs to you.”
Zhuang Chengye’s expression had darkened briefly when Zhuang Chengzheng appeared, but had recovered by now. He studied Lu Weiyi like it was the first time.
“What? Plant-type crystal core?” Zhuang Chengzheng interrupted before Zhuang Chengye could speak. “This isn’t something common. Is Weiyi planning to sell it?”
“Yeah,” Lu Weiyi replied.
Before Lu Weiyi could say more, Zhuang Chengzheng continued the act, “Jade stone has no space these days. No matter how many kg or quality, it’s almost like stones now. Better to trade crystal cores. The whole capital uses crystal cores now.”
“Isn’t this just buying a bunch now when it’s cheap? Maybe jade stone prices will rise later? Buy low, sell high,” Ning Yuan cut in at the right moment, taking credit. “We just came back and don’t know the jade market well. Considering Mingxu’s face, we’ll set a price fair for the effort. Not trying to profit much.”
“But, not sure if the family even needs this? If not, we’ll check with others,” Ning Yuan gave a sly fox-like smile, clearly scheming.
“We need it. Who wouldn’t?” Zhuang Chengzheng immediately said, “If big brother doesn’t want it, how about giving it to me?”
“Who said I don’t want it?” Zhuang Chengye glanced coldly at Zhuang Chengzheng, then turned to Lu Weiyi as if bestowing a favor, “Two thousand five hundred kilos…”
“I offer 2750kg,” Zhuang Chengzheng cut him off quickly, “It’s business, the highest bid wins, right, little brother?”
Ning Yuan smiled but didn’t reply. “We’re all family. Does it matter who gets it? Two pens can’t write two Zhuang characters. Maybe you two can talk it out, so the workers get some benefits too.”
“Are you sure you want to sell it to him?” Zhuang Chengye aimed at Lu Weiyi.
“Isn’t he a Zhuang?” Lu Weiyi retorted.
“Right, right, all Zhuang family. It’s the same whoever gets it,” Zhuang Chengzheng laughed heartily.
“Aren’t you afraid Mingxu might have issues with you?” Zhuang Mingwu couldn’t help but ask.
Lu Weiyi looked at him, puzzled. “I’ve known Zhuang Mingxu since I was six; that’s eighteen years now. What made you think he’d force me to do anything?”
His gaze at Zhuang Mingwu was like looking at a fool. “But you, you’ve refreshed my understanding. I thought you were just a dumb guy, didn’t expect you to be pathetic enough to sell favors? Would Old Master Zhuang know you’re making a fool of yourself out there?”
Zhuang Mingwu’s chest heaved angrily. Lu Weiyi casually looked at Zhuang Chengye, “If you can’t afford it, I’ll give it to Second Master Zhuang .”
“Who said we can’t? 3000kg,” Zhuang Mingwu shouted as if fighting for pride.
“Then 3250 kilos it is,” someone next to Zhuang Chengzheng said with a light smile, clearly confident.
After all, these were major powers on the base; some reserves were expected. Lu Weiyi even suspected they might have space jade stones in hand.
“Three thousand five hundred,” Zhuang Mingwu raised his price without being refuted.
“3,750.”
“Four—”
“Enough,” Zhuang Chengye interrupted before Zhuang Mingwu could continue raising the bid. “Nephews don’t compete with their second uncles.”
Making it sound so refined to say you’re broke—Zhuang Chengye really was something else.
“Dad, I…” Zhuang Mingwu was about to make a breakthrough. He had been suppressing his ability lately, and with this plant-type crystal core, he could finally take a gamble and change the situation where the main branch was suppressed.
“Enough,” Zhuang Chengye glanced at him indifferently.
“It’s the same whoever gets it,” Zhuang Chengzheng took advantage of the situation and acted humble, “So, Weiyi, what do you think?”
Lu Weiyi glanced at the time. “The surgery on Zhuang Mingxu should be done in about four hours. If the jade stones arrive within four hours, the crystal core is yours.”
He implied the need to consider Zhuang Mingxu’s condition and also prepared to sell a crystal core to the main branch afterward. Meanwhile, Zhuang Chengzheng worried the arrival of Zhuang Mingxu might change the deal, so he would have the jade stones ready within four hours.
Whether Zhuang Chengye would interfere was not Lu Weiyi’s concern.
Upon hearing this, the two men in the hall both appeared thoughtful.
Zhuang Chengzheng wasted no time, immediately stood up, and said he would prepare, asking where the transaction would take place.
“Right… here, then.” Everyone was tired at the villa; it wasn’t worth making more trouble. They would just wait here until after Zhuang Mingxu’s surgery. “Putting” it in his space would be the same.
As Zhuang Chengzheng left, Zhuang Chengye followed closely behind.
At the empty surgery room entrance, only a few people remained.
Zhuang Mingwu sat alone at the far end, seemingly trying to use his eyes to force Lu Weiyi to change his mind.
*
The surgery lasted eight hours.
Before it ended, Zhuang Chengzheng delivered the jade stones, filling half the corridor.
At 5 a.m., the surgery was over.
Dean had his ability replenished six times and was carried out by Antonio with a pale face.
“The nerve vessels have been temporarily repaired. The bones will gradually heal, and later repairs are possible. When recovered, come for a check to confirm full recovery,” Dr. Zhang showed no reaction to the pile of jade stones outside and gave some reminders. Then he asked, “Will you stay hospitalized for observation or go home? If going home, I’ll arrange an ambulance, which costs extra.”
“Going home directly,” Lu Weiyi said and signed the papers.
Using Zhuang Mingxu as a cover, they stored all the jade stones in the space.
Ning Yuan and Zhuang Mingwu pushed the surgical bed, Antonio carried Dean, and Liu Rui followed closely. The group hurriedly left the hospital early morning.
By 6 a.m., Liu Ma was already preparing breakfast.
Lin Tian and Liu Yang, who had been keeping watch on the sofa, hadn’t rested, their eyes bloodshot, as they helped carry Zhuang Mingxu off the bed to a pre-prepared room.
“How was the surgery?” Xu Sa and others came downstairs, asking.
“Very smooth,” Lu Weiyi looked at the scrutinizing Zhuang Mingwu, “We’re going to rest now.”
“I need to talk to my brother,” Zhuang Mingwu glared at Lu Weiyi and squeezed into Zhuang Mingxu’s room.
“What does he want?” Xu Sa asked, seeing the door close.
“Probably to complain,” Lu Weiyi snorted and greeted Liu Ma, who came over.
Liu Ma caught his calm gaze, suddenly feeling like he was seen through and quickly avoided eye contact, returning to the kitchen.
“And him?” Lu Weiyi nodded upstairs.
“He’s in the same room as Brother Li,” which meant escape was nearly impossible.
*
In the bedroom, Zhuang Mingwu was indeed talking to Zhuang Mingxu about the plant-type crystal core.
“Look at what he’s done! Making our two families bid against each other, highest bidder wins? He’s completely shamed our family.”
“He doesn’t care about your feelings at all. It’s too much. Our main branch can’t overpower the third branch because we don’t have high-level ability users. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need to be checked by the third branch.”
“Have you seen how Third Grandfather shows off in front of our grandfather? When has our grandfather ever endured such humiliation? Now that we’re older, we’ve let the old man face this situation?”
“And he even says openly to everyone, ‘You can’t control me’?”
“Brother, you really don’t care?”
