Chapter 171: Winds and Clouds Gathering
Chapter 171: Winds and Clouds Gathering
When Hundred-Fruit Wine first appeared, it was practically unknown.
But its solid restorative and health benefits quickly won it fame within small circles.
What truly propelled Hundred-Fruit Wine’s reputation to its peak was undoubtedly that Jiashang Autumn Auction.
Ten bottles of Hundred-Fruit Wine fetched nearly a billion in price.
Adding the commission definitely put it over a billion!
Although news about Hundred-Fruit Wine was basically impossible to search for online, Fang Jingwen and the others present mostly came from prominent families. They had the most direct connections and access to the upper echelons society circles.
It was perfectly normal for them to know about Hundred-Fruit Wine.
Originally, that Jiashang Autumn Auction was held in Magic City.
If the spiky-haired youth had gifted a sports car or jewelry worth millions, everyone would have merely exclaimed about it.
Not worthy of fuss.
But wine worth millions per bottle? That was completely different!
Fang Jingwen said hesitantly, “Xiao Wu, this gift is too precious. I can’t accept it.”
She wasn’t trying to slight him.
She just knew her boundaries.
The spiky-haired youth smiled. “Wenwen, this bottle was a gift from a friend. I’m just borrowing the flowers to present to Buddha. I heard your mother hasn’t been very well. Drinking a bit of Hundred-Fruit Wine might help. Please don’t decline.”
The story about a friend gifting it was a complete lie. He had paid a very high price to obtain this bottle of Hundred-Fruit Wine.
The reason he invested so heavily to please Fang Jingwen wasn’t because he wanted to pursue her.
The root cause was that Fang Jingwen’s uncle was precisely responsible for vetting an important project belonging to his father.
That was business worth hundreds of millions in profit!
It was no secret within their circle that Fang Jingwen’s uncle treated her like his own daughter and doted on her immensely.
Additionally, Fang Jingwen was also Zhong Yunxiu’s best friend. Building a good relationship with Fang Jingwen undoubtedly helped his pursuit of the latter.
As for the sudden appearance of the uncle…
The spiky-haired youth shot Gao Jing a cold, scornful glance, completely dismissing him.
He felt that playing his ace in the hole now was hitting multiple birds with one stone!
His reason should have been quite strong.
It left Fang Jingwen very troubled.
Reason told her she could not accept such a valuable gift.
But thinking of her always frail mother, Fang Jingwen couldn’t bring herself to firmly refuse.
She had heard her father lament that he’d learned the news too late and missed the chance.
Otherwise, he would have spent millions to at least bring back one bottle.
It was said Hundred-Fruit Wine truly had miraculous effects!
Fang Jingwen couldn’t help glancing at Zhong Yunxiu – she was well aware of Xiao Wu’s intentions.
Zhong Yunxiu wasn’t being overly intimate with Gao Jing anymore. She was sitting properly, holding a teacup and sipping tea.
As if she hadn’t noticed Fang Jingwen’s look at all.
As for Hundred-Fruit Wine.
It had nothing to do with her either.
Indeed, it didn’t.
Then Fang Jingwen noticed Gao Jing’s expression beside Zhong Yunxiu was quite strange!
Gao Jing’s gaze was fixed on the Hundred-Fruit Wine bottle on the table. His expression was half-amused, his eyes holding mockery.
Like he was seeing something incredibly funny.
He was only holding back his laughter out of politeness!
It wasn’t just Fang Jingwen; the others present also felt the silent derision radiating from Gao Jing.
It couldn’t have been more obvious!
The spiky-haired youth’s anger, momentarily suppressed earlier, flared up again fiercely.
He smiled without mirth and asked, “This…, Mr. Gao, are you holding a different opinion about my Hundred-Fruit Wine?”
The spiky-haired youth almost called him “Uncle Gao,” thankfully catching himself and changing it in time.
Otherwise, he’d have lowered himself a generation for no reason and become a joke.
“You said your Hundred-Fruit Wine was an auction piece from Jiashang.”
Gao Jing actually had some thoughts: “Whether the wine inside is real or not, I don’t know. The bottle is definitely fake.”
Gao Jing had never anticipated.
Running into Zhong Yunxiu by chance, getting dragged to her best friend’s birthday party, and then bumping into this situation.
If it were any other gift, genuine or fake, the spiky-haired youth gave to Fang Jingwen…
Gao Jing would never interfere.
But the other brought out Hundred-Fruit Wine, and what’s more, fake Hundred-Fruit Wine? He couldn’t stand it!
On Gao Jing’s cross-world trade list, Hundred-Fruit Wine, like jadeite, ranked as a high-end luxury good.
The things high-end luxury goods cared about most were precisely reputation and credibility!
The consequences of counterfeits could be imagined.
“Impossible!”
As soon as Gao Jing’s words landed, the spiky-haired youth slammed the table and shot to his feet, eyes blazing again.
This birthday gift was something he’d thought very hard about, also receiving strong support from home. Then, through connections, expending immense effort plus an eight-digit sum in cash…
That’s how he managed to get hold of one bottle of Hundred-Fruit Wine!
And now Gao Jing claimed it was fake? What difference did that have from flinging excrement in his face?
At this moment, the spiky-haired youth had made up his mind.
If Gao Jing couldn’t give a proper explanation…
He wouldn’t hesitate to crash Fang Jingwen’s birthday party just to crush Gao Jing!
Where else could his face go otherwise?
Facing the furious spiky-haired youth, Gao Jing smiled slightly.
He said to the hotel server cowering near the corner, “Excuse me, could you please bring me a box of matches?”
The server started, then hurried off to find the matches.
Everyone exchanged looks; the atmosphere in the private room turned heavy and awkward.
Zhong Yunxiu couldn’t help whispering secretly in Gao Jing’s ear, “Uncle, are you sure?”
If he was mistaken, it would lead to big trouble between them!
Ignoring her, Gao Jing said to the nearly-exploding spiky-haired youth, “The Hundred-Fruit Wine bottle is specially made. Rubbing a match along it lights it. Yours, while a very good imitation, I don’t believe possesses this property.”
In this world, no one was more qualified than Gao Jing to authenticate Hundred-Fruit Wine.
All ten bottles auctioned by Jiashang were crafted by his own hands as the “Grandmaster.”
Fakes could be spotted with just one glance!
Even the unique property of Shan Yue Village pottery—that it could strike a match alight—was discovered by Gao Jing entirely by accident.
“There’s more…”
Gao Jing continued, “The authentic Hundred-Fruit Wine bottles use the finest dense-grained Small-Leaf Sandalwood. Yours may be Small-Leaf Sandalwood too, but the quality is clearly lower. Besides, the chamois leather wrapping the cork gives off a pleasant scent when burned—you could test that.”
Back when he first “bottled” the Mountain Ape Wine, Gao Jing couldn’t find suitable cork in Shan Yue Village, so he’d used Small-Leaf Sandalwood as a replacement.
Ironically, this gave Hundred-Fruit Wine its exclusive high-class feel.
Later, even Gao Jing found it difficult to change this design.
Instead, he chose specially treated chamois leather, cutting it to wrap the wooden stopper and strengthen the seal.
This leather had a unique trait—it didn’t smell bad when burned; it actually released a fragrance!
All these details naturally became anti-counterfeit markers for Hundred-Fruit Wine.
If the entire bottle was a fake imitation, did the authenticity of its contents even need further questioning?
Gao Jing spoke with calm confidence, every word certain and direct.
The buzz-cut man’s face turned first pale, then flushed, purple, and finally dark, like a molten rainbow.
Losing millions? That was nothing.
The real blow was the total humiliation he now faced.
The handsome man beside him asked in a low voice, “How do you know all this?”
Gao Jing glanced dismissively. “If you doubt me, ask those who bought the real bottles. It’s a simple test.”
Just then, a waiter arrived with the matches.
Gao Jing set the matchbox onto the lazy susan and spun it toward the buzz-cut man.
Sweat dotted the buzz-cut man’s forehead.
He didn’t dare touch it.
The handsome man stood abruptly. “I need to make a call.”
This matter couldn’t be ignored; the truth had to be found.
After he left, the private room settled into an uneasy silence.
Truthfully, everyone knew the buzz-cut man was tricked—and deeply so.
But no one voiced it aloud.
Not even Fang Jingwen.
The birthday girl breathed quiet relief; accepting this gift would have thrown her into shame alongside him.
Meanwhile, Gao Jing sipped his tea serenely.
Yet inside, his thoughts were anything but calm—this whole affair clearly smelled fishy!
Minutes stretched thin, finally breaking when, half an hour later, the handsome man returned, gripping his phone.
His face looked storm-heavy, almost dripping darkness, and he shook his head at the buzz-cut man’s desperate expression.
Case closed!
Still refusing defeat, the buzz-cut man snatched a match and tried to strike the bottle.
One scrape, two scrapes, three scrapes…
Result? Not a single spark ignited!
His face burned crimson. His lips silently formed words.
Undoubtedly shaping ugly obscenities!
Setting his teacup down, Gao Jing stood. “Miss Fang Jingwen, my apologies for the ruined evening. Something’s come up—I must leave early. Happy Birthday again.”
Fang Jingwen mustered a forced smile. “It’s fine. Thank you.”
With a nod to Zhong Yunxiu and the others, Gao Jing finally exited the room.
Zhong Yunxiu itched to follow him out.
But abandoning her friend’s party would’ve been plain rude.
As he stepped out of Shangri-La Grand Hotel, Gao Jing tilted his face skyward toward the vast, indigo canopy above.
Sharp winds of change were already blowing.