Treasure Hunt Around the World

Walking on the dry riverbed, glancing up at the scorching sun, Zhang Jing was numb. Seven days had passed, and he hadn't found a single piece of meteorite. He wanted to give up and go back to rest, but circumstances didn't allow it; he had a girlfriend. I need money to pay for living expenses and accommodation. Looking back to this day two years ago, it was also June. He had just graduated and inexplicably awakened the Treasure Hunting System. The treasure hunting system is similar to an electrician's toolbox, containing many tools. Zhang Jing's initial treasure hunting tool is like a metal detector, which can see metal within a two-meter radius in front of him (including underground). When Zhang Jing first obtained the system, he searched for treasure near his home and found metal clues everywhere underground, which he assumed were ancient coins or rare metals. After a long day of hard work, all they dug out were scrap metal and worthless coins. Thus, Zhang Jing had no choice but to leave his hometown and travel alone to the western frontier to search for metal meteorites, beginning an even more miserable life. Just as he was about to faint from the heat, Zhang Jing dragged his tired body to the side of the riverbed and sought shade under a rock that resembled a plank. He took off his backpack, took out his water bottle, and when he looked up, his gaze froze slightly, and he was taken aback. If there are meteorites in the wild, they are usually under your feet. Hanging overhead—this was the first time I'd ever heard of it, and the first time I'd ever seen it. This is a good thing, proving that it must have existed for a very long time, having gone through periods of river course change and mountain landscape alteration. Just as Zhang Jing was about to start digging, a high-powered pickup truck rumbled towards them from a distance. A cloud of dust fell, and the car stopped five meters away. "Zhang Jing," Li Mingcheng jumped out of the car, greeted him, and asked, "How was the harvest?" Li Mingcheng, 30 years old, a man from Shandong, is a professional treasure hunter who entered the industry early and has found many good things. Zhang Jinggang knew him when he first entered the industry. They stayed at the same hotel and drank together seven or eight times, so they were considered friends. Zhang Jing shook his backpack, looking like he was melting from the heat. "I just came from the provincial capital, and I have plenty of fresh vegetables in my car. Would you like some?" “No need,” Zhang Jing declined. “I’ve been out for a week and will be back by tomorrow at the latest. I don’t need any food.” "Or I'll give you a glass of cucumber juice, iced." Zhang Jing was exasperated; he had seen this video before. "What are you trying to say?" "I saw Xiao Jing get into the same luxury car twice. What I want to tell you is that there are plenty of good girls out there, so don't be impulsive." Zhang Jing moved his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. Li Mingcheng felt sorry for Zhang Jing, who had ended up with nothing after trying so hard, and got into his car and left. After a while, Zhang Jingcai emerged from his abnormal emotions, took a deep breath of the hot, dry air, first turned on his phone's camera function and filmed from a fixed position, then used a shovel to vigorously stab the dry rocks above his head. The target was embedded in the dry rock. Fearing that he might damage the meteorite, Zhang Jing carefully tapped it from noon until evening before finally removing it completely. Shaped like a whole peanut, about the size of a child's pencil case, and weighing about five pounds. In his two years in the industry, this is the largest iron meteorite Zhang Jing has found. I'm happy, but I shouldn't be too happy too soon, because prices in the market are very chaotic. One reason is that there are too many counterfeit products. Even if they are genuine, there is no fixed price; most are not expensive, and meteorites worth millions are very rare. Many factors influence prices. Based on material: stony meteorite, stony-iron meteorite, iron-damaged meteorite, tektite, etc. Origin: Unidentified meteorite, lunar meteorite, Martian meteorite, etc. Prices range from 10 to 100,000 yuan per gram, an exaggerated range, with the actual price generally below 1,000 yuan per gram. Although he didn't know the exact price, Zhang Jing had a rough idea in his mind. He figured that the piece in his hand was an iron meteorite, and excluding the possibility that it came from the moon or Mars, it was most likely an unidentified meteorite. Therefore, its price is approximately 800 to 1500 yuan per gram. The following afternoon, Zhang Jing left the desert and took a car back to the provincial capital of Xinjiang. Because they didn't know the true value of the iron meteorite in their hands, they were also worried about being cheated by shrewd businessmen. Zhang Jing called an expert, an associate professor at Xinjiang University, whose major was related to antiquities and who also studied meteorites. He also took on private appraisal jobs. Generally speaking, even an associate professor wouldn't bother to associate with low-level treasure hunters. The reason the other party was so down-to-earth was because his wife needed to take imported medicine that wasn't covered by medical insurance every day to keep her condition stable. The two agreed to meet at the Blue Mountain Cafe at the north gate of the school. Zhang Jing arrived first, and the other party arrived later. "Hello, Professor Xu." Zhang Jing stood up and greeted him. Professor Xu's full name is Xu Zehong. He is in his sixties, slightly overweight, and wears thick glasses. Xu Zehong waved and said, "Sit down, let's pay the signing fee first." Having been in the business for a while, Zhang Jing knew the rules and handed the other party three hundred yuan with both hands. "What good stuff made you travel so far?" Xu Zehong asked curiously. Zhang Jing took out a peanut-shaped iron meteorite from his backpack and gently placed it on the table. Xu Zehong looked astonished. "How could it be so big?" The old man took out white gloves, put them on, and picked up the meteorite to examine it closely. Then he took out a magnifying glass and almost pressed his eye against it. After examining it for a while, Xu Hongze murmured, "Iron-damaged stone, with a relatively high density, and it's quite rare to see one this big." "How much can it sell for per gram?" Zhang Jing asked with concern. "More detailed analysis requires laboratory testing, which costs 3,000 yuan. You will need to pay an additional 2,700 yuan." I will provide you with a detailed certificate of authenticity, which will take about six hours. Come and pick it up before dark. It's 4 PM now, and it will get dark at 10 PM, exactly six hours later. Zhang Jing readily agreed, as Xu Zehong had a renowned reputation and high credibility within the treasure appraisal industry in Western Xinjiang. If something he has authenticated is genuine, it can often fetch an additional 50% more. After handing the meteorite to Xu Zehong, Zhang Jing strolled through the nearby night market. Passing by a lamb offal stall he had frequented many times before, he was reminded of Xiao Jing, his girlfriend of six months, whom he treated with utmost care and affection. If Li Mingcheng hadn't told him, Zhang Jing would never have believed that Xiao Jing was cheating on him while looking for something better. The food stall owner, a local in his forties or fifties, was clean-shaven and remembered Zhang Jing as a regular customer. He greeted him warmly, "Young man, how about a serving of lamb offal?" "Give me ten yuan." The shopkeeper was very enthusiastic, and Zhang Jing felt embarrassed to refuse. Ten yuan wasn't much, so he just wanted to make a token gesture. The process was quick; the offal had been pre-cut and prepared, and the owner weighed out ten yuan's worth in a disposable paper bowl and handed it to Zhang Jing. "Young man, I have a daughter who doesn't have a boyfriend. Why don't you add each other on WeChat?" "I have a girlfriend," Zhang Jing answered instinctively. “I remember your girlfriend. She went out for a late-night snack with another man last night. They seemed very close, so I thought you two had broken up.” It turns out this was a kind reminder from the boss. It's amazing how many good people there are in this world. Li Mingcheng reminded Zhang Jing when he was playing on the ridge, and the night market stall owner reminded him when he turned around, all because they were afraid of hurting Zhang Jing's poor self-esteem. "Give me another twenty yuan's worth of lamb offal." As he spoke, Zhang Jing pushed open the glass door of the refrigerator, took out a can of orange-flavored Wusu beer, popped it open, and took a big gulp. The late-night food stall owner was surprised, saying, "I thought you would be sad." “That was true,” Zhang Jing said in a Versailles-like tone, “but I just found a five-pound iron meteorite, so it’s really hard to be sad.” Zhang Jing wasn't the only customer; there were five or six others who all looked over with envy. The night market stall owner was slightly taken aback. He quickly wiped his hands on his apron, took out his phone and handed it to Zhang Jing, "Here, add my daughter on WeChat."