Divine Eye Appraisal: Starting with a Lucky Pickup of a Beautiful CEO's Family Heirloom

When Bao Dequan was escorted out of the courtroom by bailiffs, his face was ashen. He was wearing an orange detention center vest, and his handcuffs gleamed in the sunlight. He looked like a wilted cabbage that had been drained of its moisture.

fifteen years.

This was the last time he would ever see the sun outside. Bao Hu followed behind him, head down, the handcuffs on his wrists reflecting a cold light. He was younger than Bao Dequan, and there was still some defiance on his face, but the bailiff's hand on his shoulder prevented him from looking up.

In the audience, Sun Bo'an sat in the last row. A yellowed notebook rested on his lap, untouched from beginning to end. He only closed his eyes briefly the moment the gavel fell.

Then open your eyes, close the notebook, and stuff it into the inside pocket of your coat.

Wen Zhaoye stood at the foot of the stone steps in front of the courthouse, without entering the courtroom.

He doesn't need to hear the verdict; he only needs to know the outcome.

He leaned against a stone pillar, the sunlight casting a long shadow, clutching an asset transfer agreement he had just signed that day—the Yu Mantang shop, its inventory, and all its operating licenses were to be transferred to Jianzhen Pavilion at a price lower than the market value.

The transferor's name was Bao Dequan's, written in illegible handwriting, like the last words written by someone driven to the brink of despair.

There was also a stamp next to it.

Sun Bo'an walked out of the courthouse and stood next to Wen Zhaoye without saying a word.

The two stood side by side for a long time.

The police cars outside the courthouse drove away, the crowd dispersed, and even the old lady selling pancakes outside packed up her stall. Sun Bo'an patted Wen Zhaoye on the shoulder, then took a piece of paper out of his pocket.

It was a supplementary clause to the transfer agreement that he wrote by hand.

The original employee list of Yu Mantang was attached at the end, with a note in the remarks column:

"Former employees of Yu Mantang have voluntarily transferred to Jianzhen Pavilion." Wen Zhaoye took the paper and glanced at it.

The list contained about seven or eight people, each with their name, ID number, start date, and job title. The last name was "Ma Guoliang," with "stone cutter" listed as his job title and "already on duty" in the remarks section.

Wen Zhaoye's finger paused on the three characters "Ma Guoliang" for a moment.

Then he folded the paper and put it into the inner bag.

"Have you asked all these people?" he asked.

"I've asked them all," Sun Bo'an said. "I've listed those who wanted to stay. I didn't force those who didn't."

"How many are unwilling?"

"Two," Sun Bo'an said. "One is a distant relative of Bao Dequan, and the other is someone who's afraid you'll settle scores later."

Wen Zhaoye nodded: "Then forget it."

He turned around and looked in the direction of the jade market.

The new Jianzhen Pavilion is three times larger than the original one.

The original Yu Mantang shop was right next to Jianzhen Pavilion. After the two shops were combined, the worktables, display cases, and reception area were all redesigned. Ma Guoliang had already taken the measurements and was preparing to move the stone-cutting table to the second floor near the window, saying that the lighting there was better. Wen Zhaoye took two steps towards the jade market and then stopped. He remembered Bao Dequan's expression when he was escorted out of the courtroom—that dejection, that despair, that silence that he would never be able to turn his life around again.

He felt neither pleasure nor sympathy. Bao Dequan had framed him, forced him to mortgage his grandmother's old house, and almost put him in jail—these things were enough to warrant fifteen years in prison for Bao Dequan.

But he knew that Bao Dequan was just the last link in this chain.

Qian Bohong was still in the provincial capital, the Lin family was still in the provincial capital, and that chain of interests was still operating. Bao Dequan was in jail, but the chain hadn't been broken. Sun Bo'an followed him for a few steps, then stopped.

"What are you thinking about?" Sun Bo'an asked.

"I'm thinking about the person Bao Dequan implicated," Wen Zhaoye said. "Qian Bohong."

Sun Bo'an paused for a moment, then said, "Qian Bohong has already been dismissed from his post. The Warring States Jade Disc case will also be retried." "That's not enough," Wen Zhaoye said. "Dismissal and retrial are just the beginning."

Sun Bo'an looked at him without saying a word. Wen Zhaoye turned around and continued walking forward. He stopped when he reached the entrance of the jade market.

The seal of Yu Mantang on the door was half gone, and it fluttered in the wind, making a rustling sound.

He reached out, tore off the seal, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the nearby trash can. Then he pushed open the door and went inside.

Yu Mantang was now empty. Bao Dequan's belongings had all been moved out, leaving only some cabinets and shelves covered in dust. Wen Zhaoye stood in the center of the hall, looking around.

Three months ago, he was pinned to the ground here by two security guards.

Three months ago, he was forced to give false testimony by Wen Nian here.

Three months ago, he first saw the golden characters appearing in the Divine Eye here. Now, this place is his.

He took out his phone and called Ma Guoliang.

"Master Ma, I've got the keys to Yu Mantang. Renovation will start tomorrow."

On the other end of the phone, Ma Guoliang's voice was a little excited: "Okay, Boss Wen! I'll come over first thing tomorrow morning!"

"No rush," Wen Zhaoye said. "First, decide on the location of the stone-cutting platform on the second floor, whether the lighting is sufficient, and whether we need to add more lights."

"I've already found a spot!" Ma Guoliang said. "It's by the window; the morning sunlight shines right in, so no extra light is needed!"

Wen Zhaoye smiled and said, "Okay, then let's go by the window."

He hung up the phone, put it back in his pocket, and glanced at the empty hall again.

Then he turned around, locked the door, and walked out.

Sun Bo'an was still standing at the door, holding a bunch of keys in his hand—the original keys to Yu Mantang's main gate. "This is for you," he said, handing it to Wen Zhaoye. Wen Zhaoye took it, twirled the keychain on his finger, and then put it in his pocket.

"Let's go," he said. "Let's go take a look at the store."

The two walked side by side down the street of the jade market. The sun was warm, the wind was gentle, and people came and went. Someone recognized Wen Zhaoye and pointed at him from afar, whispering among themselves.

Wen Zhaoye didn't pay attention. He lowered his head, looking at his shadow, thinking about what he needed to do tomorrow. Renovation, hiring, getting permits, stocking up—a whole host of things awaited him.

But he wasn't flustered at all.

He touched the transfer agreement in his inner pocket, then the keys in his trouser pocket. Then he smiled. "Uncle," he said, "starting tomorrow, the new Jianzhen Pavilion will be three times the size of the old one."

Sun Bo'an looked at him and smiled.

"Yes," he said, "it's three times bigger than before."

The two continued walking and disappeared around the corner of the jade market. In the sunlight, the signboard of Yu Mantang still hung at the entrance, but half of it had been removed, and it was crooked, like a tooth that had been missing halfway.

Tomorrow, it will be replaced with a new sign.

It says three words:

Jianzhen Pavilion.