Chapter 3612 — If You Agree, It's Yours
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
And besides, to the ordinary eye, a transfer from Number Ten to Number Seven was itself a stroke of rare good fortune. Under such circumstances, if Wei Zhao still would not nod his head, then he would simply have to have a hole in his brain!
Yet to Meng Jueming's and Meng Zhou's great disappointment, Wei Zhao showed no visible reaction at all to so much spirit jade—not even his gaze lingered a second longer; there was not the least sign of attachment.
Could the fellow have seen through some trick about the spirit jade?
Meng Jueming's heart skipped. He hastened to tempt him from the side: "Junior Brother Wei Zhao, think it over carefully. Even if you dig up ten fine pieces a day in Number Ten, over a whole month you would earn at most three pieces of spirit jade in wages. These sixteen pieces are worth nearly half a year of your mining income! How precious half a year saved is to newcomers like you—I need not belabor the point, surely?"
"Cousin Ninth," Meng Zhou chimed in from the side, "since the fellow will not even take spirit jade delivered to his door, why not just give it all to me? Then have me transferred to Number Ten as well—I will do nothing but shadow him day and night. I would like to see just how this creature manages to dig up fine jade!" This whole speech had been coached into him by Meng Jueming beforehand; left to himself, he would never have had the brains for it.
Wei Zhao's heart jolted. Setting everything else aside, Meng Zhou's words had struck him right where he was vulnerable. If the fellow really did as he said and came to Number Ten to shadow him day and night, things would get troublesome indeed!
If Meng Zhou inspected every piece of spirit jade dug up, one by one, how would Wei Zhao pull off his tricks then?
"Sixteen pieces of spirit jade is no small outlay. First Senior Brother, you surely have more in mind than simply getting me to change mining zones—I do not flatter myself that such good fortune comes so cheap." Wei Zhao's mind raced, but for now he could only feign interest, then put on a hesitant look.
Pies never fall from the sky for free; for a calm, rational man, this was the most natural response. Had Wei Zhao snatched at the offer eagerly just then, that would have been the truly abnormal thing!
"Heh heh, Junior Brother Wei Zhao is worthy of being called the pick of the newcomers—cautious and prudent indeed." Meng Jueming chuckled. "You have guessed rightly enough. These sixteen pieces of spirit jade are for more than getting you to agree to change mining zones; there is one other matter. But rest easy, it is a trifling thing, nothing that will put you in a difficult position."
"What matter?" Wei Zhao asked.
"I recall that a few days ago, when we handed out the spirit jade, the piece that came to you was the smallest—about the size of an egg, if I am not mistaken. I wonder, Junior Brother Wei Zhao, have you used it these past few days?" Meng Jueming fixed Wei Zhao with a burning stare.
"Not yet. Why?" Wei Zhao's heart stirred despite himself. Why was the fellow setting his sights on that little piece of spirit jade of his? Could there be something special about it?
"Good, that is good." Meng Jueming breathed a visible sigh of relief. "Junior Brother Wei Zhao, all you need do is give me that small piece of spirit jade and agree to move to Number Seven, and these sixteen pieces will all be yours! What do you say—have I looked after you well enough this time?"