Treasure Hunt Around the World

Chapter2: Defending Reputation

Like a stone thrown into a still pond, the news that Zhang Jing had found a five-pound meteorite quickly spread throughout the night market and social media.

The news became increasingly exaggerated as it spread.

Passerby A: A young man who was cheated on found a five-pound piece of meteorite iron.

Passerby B: A young man who was cheated on twice found a 50-pound tektite.

Passerby C: A young man who was cheated on twenty times in a row found a 500-pound Martian meteorite.

...

Passerby N: A young man who was cheated on 200 times in a row found a 5,000-pound lunar meteorite.

The story got more and more outlandish, and nobody believed it anymore.

As expected, Zhang Jing received a call from Xiao Jing. The woman asked in a gentle voice, "You haven't called me for two days. Have you encountered any danger outside?"

“Did you see my WeChat Moments?” Zhang Jing complained. “I’m the lucky guy who was rumored to have been cheated on two hundred times and then found a five-thousand-pound lunar meteorite.”

"What do you mean!"

Xiao Jing's expression changed instantly, and she questioned him harshly on the phone.

"You used to be my girlfriend, and I would spoil you. Now, goodbye!"

After being hung up on, Xiao Jing was unable to calm down for a long time. She naturally did not believe the exaggerated rumors circulating on her WeChat Moments, but at least it meant that someone had found a decent meteorite.

I was just envying who got lucky, but I never expected that person to be Zhang Jing.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Xiao Jing stormed to the backpacker hostel where Zhang Jing had been staying for years, but after making a scene, she couldn't find him, so she simply sat down on the first floor to wait.

Zhang Jing was unaware that his ex-girlfriend was planning to desperately try to win him back. He enjoyed a little bit of everything at the night market: lamb offal, lamb skewers, stuffed pork belly, and paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup).

I lingered until 9:30 pm and then came to the North Gate of Xinjiang University again.

Xu Zehong arrived at almost the same time.

"How about it?"

After receiving the meteorite, Zhang Jing asked questions.

"The streakless meteorite has a very high nickel content and does not have the Widmanstätten pattern, which is quite rare."

Zhang Jingdong understands basic common sense.

The Earth's core is mainly composed of iron and nickel. The higher the nickel content, the closer it is to the core.

Therefore, it is generally believed in the meteorite community that high-nickel-iron meteorites originate from the core of asteroids.

This means that Zhang Jing's iron meteorite is not priced at 800-1500, but at 6000-8000 per gram, and if a good buyer is found, the price can reach 10,000 per gram.

His heart pounded powerfully, his hands and legs trembled, and Zhang Jing asked expectantly, "Is it a lunar meteorite?"

If it's a lunar meteorite, multiply the price by ten.

"It's definitely not. It's most likely the core of an asteroid. You're very lucky. This is the proof I wrote for you."

Upon receiving the handwritten certificate from Xu Zehong, Zhang Jing felt his heart leap out of his chest; this time, he was truly going to become rich overnight.

Do you need me to introduce you to a buyer?

As Zhang Jing was about to leave, Xu Zehong stopped him, saying, "The price will definitely be higher than what you get from those middlemen."

Because there are many people in western Xinjiang who collect jade and meteorites, a market has formed, with many large and small middlemen opening shops to buy back meteorites, jade, and antiques.

"What are the conditions?" Zhang Jing asked in return.

"Give me 10% commission, and don't show your meteorite to others for now."

Zhang Jing was surprised, not expecting such a small amount, because middlemen generally only buy at 60% of the market price, and those who give 70% are considered very kind.

Zhang Jing naturally agreed to such favorable terms.

I said goodbye to the old man; the sun had just set.

Walking on the sidewalk, Zhang Jing was in a very good mood and unconsciously hummed a section of the Peking Opera "Fishing for a Golden Turtle".

"My son, Zhang Yi, listen to your mother's instructions. Let me explain everything to you in detail..."

"Brother Zhang, wait for me."

Twenty-year-old Ding Jiaqi jogged up from behind, "When did you get back? Where's Sister Xiao Jing?"

Looking Ding Jiaqi up and down, Zhang Jing avoided Xiao Jing and chatted casually, "I just got back this afternoon, what are you doing here?"

A year ago, Zhang Jing met Ding Jiaqi on a high-speed train and learned that she was short of Zhejiang University in her hometown because her score was too low. In the end, she left her hometown to study at a university in western Xinjiang.

Because we were from the same hometown and both strangers in a foreign land, we later ate barbecue together two or three times and occasionally contacted each other by phone. We were just ordinary friends.

Ding Jiaqi was slightly out of breath and complained, "There's this guy who's been following me lately, making me take a detour back to my dorm every day."

Zhang Jing chuckled and sized up Ding Jiaqi. She was about 1.7 meters tall, with fairer skin than most girls, delicate features, a full forehead, and a chubby face—these were her advantages.

It's not particularly beautiful, but you could say it's pleasing to the eye over time.

To put it simply, Ding Jiaqi is suitable to be a wife, but people with high standards wouldn't be interested in her.

"Don't laugh," Ding Jiaqi raised her fist and asked curiously, "You seem to be in a good mood, did you make some money?"

Zhang Jing nodded, "I've earned a little bit of money."

During their conversation, the two walked into the night market area, where a complex aroma wafted towards them. Even though Zhang Jing was already full, he felt he could still eat more.

“Brother Zhang,” Ding Jiaqi tugged at Zhang Jing’s sleeve, drooling, and said expectantly, “I want to eat barbecue skewers. Can you treat me? I’ll treat you when I earn some money during my summer job.”

Ding Jiaqi mentioned before that her mother gives her 1,200 yuan a month for living expenses, which seems like a lot, but it's only enough to eat in the cafeteria. She has to be careful not to eat too much meat, and she can only eat grapes.

“Okay,” Zhang Jing readily agreed, “You order, I’ll pay.”

Ding Jiaqi cheered and dashed to the night market food stalls, where she found stuffed pork belly, lamb offal, lamb skewers, paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup), and more.

After feeding Ding Jiaqi with seventy yuan and sending her back to her dormitory, Zhang Jing returned to his usual backpacker hostel in the northwest of the city, where he ran into Xiao Jing.

Upon seeing Zhang Jing, Xiao Jing feigned a pitiful expression and said with concern, "You're back. I've been waiting for you for so long."

Xiao Jing is 23 years old this year, one year younger than Zhang Jing. She is from central Taiwan, 1.68 meters tall, with big eyes, a high nose bridge, and an average appearance.

At first glance, she's prettier than Ding Jiaqi, who is twenty years old.

Because of this, Zhang Jing fawned over her for a full six months, showering her with gifts and affection.

Unexpectedly, the old saying proved true: a simp who licks his boots will end up with nothing.

"Stop pretending," Zhang Jing said bluntly, "There are better options, why are you waiting for me?"

"What's better?" Xiao Jing denied, feigning indifference, "You're the only one in my eyes and heart."

Zhang Jing didn't want to argue or fight; all he wanted to do now was hug the meteorite and sleep soundly. He shooed it away, saying, "I've already kicked you, get lost."

"Get out?" Xiao Jing snapped. "How are you going to compensate me for wasting half a year of my youth?"

Mentioning his six months of youth made Zhang Jing even angrier.

"In just six months, you spent my 100,000 yuan savings on my phone, bags, jewelry, and necklace. Give me back that money, and then I'll consider compensating you for the loss of your youth."

"Bang! Bang!"

The hotel owner tapped on the front desk, then pointed to three security cameras inside the room, saying, "Don't fight, these cameras are connected to the police station."

Xiao Jing didn't dare to make a move, and neither did Zhang Jing; it wasn't worth getting locked up for fighting.

Calming down, Xiao Jing looked at the backpack behind Zhang Jing and asked, "Is it true that you found a lunar meteorite on your WeChat Moments?"

"Fake."

What's in your bag?

"It has nothing to do with you."

“I love you,” Xiao Jing explained.

"Don't disgust me."