The cutting machine finally stopped. Master rinsed the dust off the stone with water, then picked it up and glanced at it under the desk lamp. "This is definitely a top-quality egg-shaped cabochon, full green, at least eight fen of water. You're good, kid, I wasn't wrong about you!"
The boss also came over to look, holding it and admiring it.
At this moment, a few idlers heard the conversation from inside and stretched their necks to look in. Seeing that I had found a high-grade piece, they rushed in to join the excitement.
The boss said, "Young man, how about it, are you selling?"
Hearing from Master that it was material for an egg-shaped cabochon, and it was full green with eight fen of water, I told the boss, "My friend has a shop, and I promised it to her. Maybe next time, I'll get it for you."
The boss looked a bit reluctant. I took it back, took out the remaining money from my pocket, gave Master five hundred, and then handed it to the boss, asking him to buy firecrackers.
I called Jing Lei and asked the driver to pick me up at the gambling stone shop on the old street.
This piece of material might not yield much finished product, considering its volume and weight, but it would produce high-grade pieces. Therefore, I could only keep it for Jing Lei, ensuring that the benefits stayed within the family.
I took out my cigarettes and offered one to Master. Master accepted and said to me, "Gambling on stones isn't a bad thing. You have a natural talent, and you'll surely achieve great things in the future. However, Master has a few words for you: you can gamble, but don't be stubborn. The ability to advance and retreat is what makes a master. Never be greedy when gambling. Once greed sets in, it's easy to lose your mind."
I said, "I understand, Master."
Master continued, "I observed you while the stone was being cut. You didn't have the impatience of a gambler, and you didn't take the wins and losses too seriously. This is very good. I hope you maintain this mindset. Money can't go into one person's pocket all the time. Many people are ruined by their mindset."
I nodded, remembering Master's words. For Master to speak such profound words, he was truly a master. He had seen countless stones; if he had gambled himself, even millions or tens of millions would have been within reach. Why would he guard a mountain of gold and silver yet be willing to help others cut stones? I truly couldn't understand.
I asked the boss for a piece of kraft paper, wrapped the stone, and put it in my backpack. I said goodbye to Master and waited outside for the car.
Before long, the car arrived. I waved for it to make a U-turn, and I got in. I told the driver to take me back to the mall. The driver didn't say anything and stepped on the accelerator.
Jing Lei was waiting for me in the office. Seeing me, she said, "Gambling on stones?"
I nodded and said, "I asked Master to take a look. It might yield some egg-shaped cabochons."
It's extremely rare for a stone to yield egg-shaped cabochons. The requirements are very strict: it must have a pure and clean base, high color, and sufficient water content. The base is paramount. If there's no color, then the water content is considered. A good base with sufficient water content can also serve as raw material for egg-shaped cabochons, but it's a notch below the previous category.
This particular stone possessed all three qualities.
I took out the stone wrapped in kraft paper. She looked at me curiously. After all the effort spent gambling on stones, why did I bring back such a small piece?
Indeed, it was about the size of a steamed bun in my hand.
However, it was wrapped, so she couldn't see inside.
Perhaps she thought it was too small and didn't pay much attention, nor did she ask to open it. She just doted on me.
I said, "The door is still open, aren't you afraid employees will come in?"
She kissed me and said, "Let them come in if they do. I'm not afraid they'll know!"
I was truly impressed. She was determined to make me the Zhang family's son-in-law!
I just didn't know if her father would agree.
After our affectionate embrace, she finally picked up the phone and called the master on the first floor.
The mall had a dedicated counter with certified jade appraisers and master jade sculptors.
It was the same master from last time. I picked up the stone from the coffee table, unwrapped the kraft paper, and handed it to him. He took it and suddenly showed an expression of surprise.
Keep in mind, he hadn't flinched even when faced with the million-dollar material last time.
Jing Lei was startled by his expression and quickly looked at the material in his hand. Seeing the full green stone, her mouth also fell open in amazement.
The green was too alluring!
And it was very transparent, as if the stone were a container filled with jade-green water. When the flashlight was shone on it, one could see all the way to the bottom!
The master glanced at the stone and said, "This piece of material is considered relatively large among the Hou Jiang rough stones. However, to yield such high-grade finished products is truly rare! Your previous stone was good, but this one is a peerless treasure!"
No wonder he had shown surprise. Masters like him handled millions or tens of millions of jade pieces daily and had long become indifferent to even the finest materials. He hadn't expected to be moved by a piece of exquisite jade.
Jing Lei, disregarding the master's presence, grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly.
Fifteen egg-shaped cabochons, starting at two hundred thousand each. The master said that three million was a conservative price in the Ruili market. If sold in the Hong Kong market, each cabochon might fetch that price.
Jing Lei asked the master to take the stone down, and she notified the finance department to transfer three million to my card. Then she said that if the selling price, after deducting profits, exceeded this amount, she would make up the difference.
I said, "Let's forget it. If I had sold it at the gambling stone shop today, I would have gone back to ask them how much they sold it for. The market is the market; we have to follow its rules."
However, I did ask her to give me some cash. I was going to Myanmar with Brother Leopard tomorrow, and I didn't have any money in my pocket.
She stood up, took out twenty thousand yuan from the drawer, and asked if it was enough. I said it was, took it, and put it in my bag.
She smiled and walked to the door, locked it from the inside, then came back, hugged me from behind, and said like a shy young girl, "Hua Zi, you're a small landlord with millions now. Should you give your servant a reward?"
I said, "The landlord doesn't have much leftover grain!"
She suddenly said fiercely, "I don't want you to have leftover grain; I want to squeeze you dry! I've heard those dark-skinned girls from Myanmar are very seductive!"
With that, she pushed me from behind, guiding me into the bedroom.
Jing Lei, I'm truly impressed. She can even come up with such an excuse.
After leaving Jing Lei's place, I went to where my mother worked. My parents misunderstood me, and Wang Xin refused to talk to me. I didn't dare to go home rashly, nor did I dare to buy anything to take back, as they might think my money's source was unclear, leading to greater misunderstandings.
I wanted to find my mother and explain things to her in person.
My mother was wearing overalls and a mask. Seeing me standing outside, tears immediately fell from her eyes.
In a mother's heart, even the worst child is still her flesh and blood. She didn't hold grudges. Even if I had truly made a mistake, she wouldn't hate me or disown me.
She walked up to me and said, "You're back?"
I replied "Mm." She didn't mention my going out, but said I had "returned," which made me want to cry.
I said, "I'm alright now. I was used by someone. The court didn't punish me; I'm innocent."
She said, "Mom knows. A mother knows what kind of person her son is. I had promised to visit you, but your father, that old thing, held a knife and threatened to kill himself, telling me he'd die if I went. Mom is sorry!"