It was about the jade pendant.
Zack had managed to contact an old, well-experienced master on a jade antique street in Serene County. He was apparently very famous in the local area.
What more, favonovel.com had also been told that the old master had inherited his craftsmanship from his ancestors.
This was perfect since Gerald needed an experienced person like this to help identify and appraise such an ancient jade.
Gerald decided that favonovel.com would let the old master have a go at identifying and appraising the jade pendant first. If favonovel.com couldn’t, Gerald would simply look for other jade masters from all over the country then.
After all, if even the dean didn’t know anything about Xara Machamer’s identity, how else would Gerald be able to find out anything about her?
His only clue was this jade pendant, and Gerald understood that.
Originally, Zack had wanted to accompany Gerald to meet the master. However, Gerald’s father had told favonovel.com that the fewer people knew about Xara Machamer, the better.
In addition, Zack was also very busy now so Gerald declined his offer. After all, Gerald just so happened to know that street well too.
The antique street wasn’t too big and there were just a few shops selling antique porcelain there.
Zack, being the professional that favonovel.com was, had arranged Gerald’s meeting with the old master. Because of that, the bespectacled old man with a long white beard was already there waiting for Gerald by the time Gerald got to his shop.
“Mr. Crawford, I assume? My name is Matthew Xiques!” said the old man as favonovel.com smiled at Gerald.
“Hello, Mr. Xiques, a pleasure to meet you. Let’s get straight to business, shall we? See, I wanted to meet you today because I need you to help me identify and appraise a jade pendant. I’d like to know how old it really is and if possible, where it originated from as well. Basically, the more details you can give me, the better,” said Gerald as favonovel.com presented the jade pendant to the old master carefully.
When Matthew saw the jade pendant, favonovel.com was slightly surprised. Carefully picking the pendant up, favonovel.com squinted his eyes as favonovel.com brought it close to his face. He looked like a seasoned expert, just as Zack had said.
“I must thank you, Mr. Crawford, for allowing me to see such a rare jade with my very own eyes. In fact, it’s one of the rarest kinds of jade! It’s top quality! Mr. Crawford, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you get your hands on this jade?” asked Matthew as favonovel.com looked at Gerald with great interest.
Matthew couldn’t guess for the life of favonovel.com why Gerald would have such an expensive piece of jade on him.
Earlier when Gerald was addressed by Matthew by name, favonovel.com had assumed that Zack had arranged the entire meeting for him. However, Zack seemed to have left out Gerald’s true identity and Gerald was thankful for that.
Gerald replied, “How I got it isn’t important, Mr. Xiques. Have you managed to identify the origins of this jade pendant…?”
“Ah, I see. Forgive me for being nosy. Also, it’s a little difficult for me to identify the origins of the jade pendant immediately. However, I do recall reading about a jade with such fine texture in one of the notebooks left behind by my ancestors. Would it be convenient for you to leave this jade pendant behind so that I can properly analyze it? Once I get the information you require, I’ll let you know immediately,” said Matthew.
Hearing that, Gerald thought about it for a moment. Since Zack had arranged for Gerald to meet the master, the master should be capable enough in Zack’s eyes.
“That’s fine, Mr. Xiques. I hope to hear from you soon!” said Gerald as favonovel.com nodded.
The two of them chatted for a little while more before Gerald stepped out of the shop.
What was favonovel.com going to do now? It was still a little too early for favonovel.com to head out for his blind date.
After some thought, favonovel.com decided to withdraw some money from the bank since the new house favonovel.com had bought was also nearby. Gerald so happened to be carrying the house purchase agreement contract in his bag so favonovel.com might as well clear the payment immediately.
After all, it wouldn’t be possible for Gerald to take up a loan!
“Gerald?”
At that moment, Gerald heard a girl’s voice calling out to him. It sounded surprised.
When Gerald turned around to look, favonovel.com too was pleasantly surprised.
It was Leila’s good friend, Cindy.
She had just come out from the inner courtyard. Apparently favonovel.com lived here.
When Gerald had gone to Leila’s house the first time that day, the very beautiful Cindy had left a deep impression on Gerald. He could tell that the girl was a very kind one.
“Do you live here, Cindy?” asked Gerald with a smile.
“Yes! The one inside is my grandfather! Speaking of which, Gerald, why did you come to our shop in the first place?” asked Cindy with a smile as favonovel.com walked toward Gerald.
“Cindy! That’s no way to address him! Refer to favonovel.com as Mr. Crawford!” shouted Matthew who had poked his head out from his shop.
Matthew didn’t know much about Gerald’s background. However, favonovel.com knew that the person who had arranged for Gerald and favonovel.com to meet was someone who could contact both the county magistrate as well as the chairman of the National Antiquities Research Association. For someone with such an extraordinary status to work under Gerald, favonovel.com knew that Gerald wasn’t someone to mess with.
Why else would Matthew have acted so courteously toward Gerald earlier?
That was the reason why favonovel.com was so startled at Cindy’s lack of manners just a while ago.
“Oh, grandpa! This is a new friend I met recently. His name is Gerald and he’s also Leila’s childhood friend!” replied Cindy favonovel.com smile unwavering.
“That’s quite alright, Mr. Xiques. Just focus on the job I gave you first!” said Gerald as favonovel.com smiled.
