"But I guess these rough stones are so expensive, you probably can't afford them, right?"

As he spoke, Ding Zhengyang pointed to a pile of stones beside the shopkeeper. "I think that pile is more suitable for a country bumpkin like you. After all, stones for ten or twenty yuan aren't expensive, and the priciest ones are only a few hundred!"

Hearing this, Liu Ergou let out a cold laugh. He'd thought Ding Zhengyang would resort to some clever trick, but he didn't expect him to stoop so low. The guy was just trying to watch him make a fool of himself by being unable to afford the rough stones. Too bad he wasn't that poor. He could easily afford a rough stone worth over one hundred thousand yuan. Besides, he couldn't be bothered to stoop to this guy's level; that was just child's play.

Thinking this, Liu Ergou spoke up. "So, what exactly are you trying to say? That these rough stones are expensive and I can't afford them? If I can't afford them, I just won't buy them. It's not like I depend on these things to survive. You think I'm like you, thinking about this garbage all day, only to buy ten stones and somehow lose the value of eleven?"

Liu Ergou's jab about buying ten stones and losing the value of eleven made Ding Zhengyang tremble with rage. He wanted nothing more than to rush over and fight Liu Ergou to the death, but sadly, he was no match for him. After the lesson from earlier, he didn't dare. All Ding Zhengyang could do now was sulk and shoot hateful glares at Liu Ergou.

Liu Ergou completely ignored Ding Zhengyang's antics and was about to look around Ting Tian Pavilion. Before he could take a single step, however, Zhang Man, who had been right beside him, suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Oh, Er Gou, why are you being such a killjoy!" Zhang Man said with a laugh. "If you want to play, then play! They're just a few rough stones. If you don't have the money, do you think I don't?"

The moment Zhang Man said this, Ding Zhengyang's eyes lit up. This is my chance! Not giving Liu Ergou an opportunity to respond, he jumped in. "I have to say, you're not scared to play, are you?"

"Someone's even offering to pay for you, and you still don't dare to play? You're such a coward! Don't you dare call yourself a man ever again! You're a disgrace to all men! If I were you, I'd get out of here right now instead of standing around embarrassing myself!"

After speaking, Ding Zhengyang looked at Liu Ergou with a triumphant smirk.

Liu Ergou, in turn, frowned deeply as he processed Zhang Man's words and Ding Zhengyang's taunts. That Zhang Man… she's really trying her best to back me into a corner. Now I have no choice but to agree to something I could have just refused. Otherwise, I'll completely lose face. His frown deepened at the thought.

Before Liu Ergou could figure out what to say, Ding Zhengyang saw his hesitation and spoke again. "Don't say I'm bullying you. How about this? We each pick one rough stone!"

"I'll even pay for your stone, no matter the cost! But when it's time to cut them open, we'll compare and see whose jade is more valuable. If my jade is worth more than yours, you will kowtow, apologize to me, and leave Zhang Man forever. You are never to see her again! How about it? My demands aren't too excessive, are they?"

After hearing Ding Zhengyang out, the frowning Liu Ergou finally spoke. "I can agree to that, but you haven't been entirely clear. What happens if the jade I cut is more valuable than yours?"

Ding Zhengyang was stunned for a moment, then clutched his stomach and roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Are you kidding me? How could I possibly lose to you? Me, lose to you? That's an impossibility, so don't even dream of winning!"

Ding Zhengyang's words drew a cold snort from Liu Ergou, who then uttered a single word. "Idiot."

That one word instantly enraged Ding Zhengyang. "Fuck! You country bumpkin, what did you just say? Say that again, I dare you! Believe it or not, today I'll... I'll..."

Before Ding Zhengyang could finish, Liu Ergou cut him off. "Why wouldn't I dare to say it again? You're an idiot! What kind of competition is this, anyway? There are no stakes for you! If I lose, I have to kowtow to you, but if I win, nothing happens? So I said you're an idiot. You got a problem with that?"

Having said his piece, Liu Ergou immediately turned and shouted to the crowd. "Everyone, please be the judge! This guy wants to have a competition with me. He says that if I lose, I have to kowtow and apologize. But if I win, nothing happens! I asked him why, and he said it's because there's no way he can lose! I ask all of you, have you ever met someone so shameless?"

As Liu Ergou spoke, the onlookers who had gathered to watch the commotion immediately began to whisper among themselves.

"Tsk, what a piece of work. I've never seen someone try to get something for nothing so brazenly!"

"Exactly! That kid has no shame at all. What's the point of a competition like that? He might as well just go home and take a nap!"

"Seriously, I've never met anyone like him. This is just too embarrassing. I'm getting second-hand embarrassment just watching!"

Hearing the crowd's murmurs, Ding Zhengyang couldn't stand it anymore. I have a reputation to maintain! How can I let these people talk about me like this? Thinking this, he snapped, "You damned country bumpkin!"

"You really think you can beat me? Let me tell you, there's no chance! But... I'm not afraid of losing. So fine! If you win, I'll agree to any condition you name!"

Hearing Ding Zhengyang change his tune, Liu Ergou finally nodded in satisfaction. "Good! In that case, I'll accept your challenge. Everyone here is our witness!"

The moment Liu Ergou spoke, the crowd responded as one with a deafening, unified shout.

"GOOD!"

With so many witnesses, Ding Zhengyang could only snort coldly. He led Liu Ergou toward the rough stone display cases to begin picking his stone.

The moment they entered the exhibition area, Ding Zhengyang immediately zeroed in on a target. He strode over to a rough stone about the size of a fist, picked it up, and began examining it meticulously. He put on a very serious expression, as if he were an expert on the subject.

Liu Ergou glanced at Ding Zhengyang before turning to pick out a rough stone himself. Just as he spotted one he liked and was about to pick it up...

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