Lu Fan walked up to a pumpkin-shaped stone and knocked on it, then shook his head and chuckled, "Although this stone is strangely shaped with clear veins, there's no jade inside."
"Really?" Xiao Qi asked blankly. "It feels like knocking on a watermelon to me!"
"I feel the same way!" Lin Ke said with an embarrassed laugh. "Lu Fan Ge, were you just guessing back when we were in the outer city?"
"What are you saying?" Lu Fan shot him a glance. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
"This stone is called a pumpkin stone, and it usually yields jade. However, the veins are too clear, which makes it difficult for jade to form," Group Leader Zhou chimed in.
"So, Group Leader Zhou knows a lot about stones too!" Xiao Qi smiled. "No wonder he's been strolling around the gem trading city!"
"I just know a little," Group Leader Zhou replied with a smile. "But this brother Lu... he's probably not simple."
"You flatter me," Lu Fan said with a gentle smile. "Since you have such confidence in me, it seems I should show you something!"
"You said it!" Xiao Qi grinned. "Then pick the stones quickly!"
Lu Fan didn't linger. He marked a few stones and then began to examine them. He ultimately selected three stones, each one odd-shaped.
Each stone had a price tag, and the value was quite substantial. Most people visiting Fanxian Pavilion likely couldn't afford them.
"Three stones for thirty thousand, that's quite a sum," Xiao Qi commented. "I wonder if these three stones will actually yield jade."
Quite a few people were watching, their gazes fixed on the three stones Lu Fan had chosen. Some shook their heads in disapproval, while others held a sliver of hope.
In the entire Fanxian Pavilion, stones were very expensive, and it was rare for anyone to buy three at once.
"Lu Fan Ge, are you sure these three stones can yield jade?" Lin Ke frowned. "The price is not low."
"If I say they can, they definitely will!" Lu Fan declared with full confidence, then headed towards the stone-cutting area. "Master, please be careful when cutting. The contents of these stones are quite valuable."
Seeing Lu Fan's serious demeanor, Lin Ke was utterly bewildered.
"These stones look ordinary, not like they contain jade."
Group Leader Zhou said, a hint of awkwardness on his face.
Just then, a few elderly men from nearby spoke up. "Little brother, are you new here? These three stones have been here for a long time, and no one has touched them. They look like inferior quality. Little brother, you should be cautious."
"Gem gambling is all about mindset!" Lu Fan said with a smile. "Until the stones are broken open, no one knows what's inside. Thank you for the reminder, sirs."
The elderly men were displeased but didn't say much more. Lu Fan was indeed correct; among many stones, the possibility remained as long as they weren't cut.
However, regardless, they were still elders, and Lu Fan's directness made them feel somewhat miffed.
The stone-cutting master carefully began cutting the first stone. Many people watched, filled with anticipation.
"Jadeite! The first stone yielded jadeite!"
The stone-cutting master exclaimed, a look of pleasant surprise on his face.
"It really yielded jadeite?" Lin Ke gasped. "This piece is much larger than the one from before!"
"Just give me an estimate," Lu Fan said directly.
"This finished jadeite is of good quality and can fetch at least a hundred thousand!" the stone-cutting master stated. Several staff members nearby nodded in agreement.
"A hundred thousand, doesn't that mean a profit of ninety thousand!"
Many people in Fanxian Pavilion exclaimed, feeling envious. They thought it was pure luck to cut such fine jade.
The elderly men beside them looked somewhat embarrassed. They had just told Lu Fan that these stones wouldn't yield jade, and now they felt a bit foolish.
Group Leader Zhou was also surprised. He had some expertise in stones, and under normal circumstances, the stone from before shouldn't have yielded jade, but the reality proved otherwise.
"Cut the second one," Lu Fan said, his expression indifferent. Su Dan Novel Network.
Meanwhile, the crowd in Fanxian Pavilion grew larger. Lu Fan had bought three stones, and the first one alone had brought a profit of ninety thousand. As for whether the second one would yield anything, no one knew for sure.
"Bloodstone!"
The stone-cutting master's voice rang out, causing another wave of gasps from the crowd. Their gazes turned to Lu Fan with newfound awe. Having selected three stones and yielded two exceptional pieces of jade, it was an accomplishment few could match.
"Boss, this bloodstone is quite substantial. Please give me an estimate," Lu Fan said with a smile.
The stone-cutting master, however, responded with a wry smile. "My level isn't high enough for this. This needs to be estimated at the front desk, but it's at least around five hundred thousand!"
"Five hundred thousand!" Many people shouted in disbelief. "This is too crazy!"
Lin Ke and Xiao Qi stood frozen, their faces filled with disbelief. They were ordinary working-class individuals and had never seen so much money before.
Group Leader Zhou also looked serious, his respect for Lu Fan growing. After this incident, he found Lu Fan increasingly mysterious, far more complex than he appeared on the surface.
As the news spread, Fanxian Pavilion became packed, with many people flocking to witness the spectacle. After all, the jade unearthed that day was not ordinary, and it all came from one person's selection – a rare occurrence.
"Sir, you have quite the luck. Would you like to cut the third stone?" the stone-cutting master asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Lu Fan had managed to identify two different stones, and if the third also yielded jade, his reputation would soar, and he would surely make a name for himself in the gem gambling world.
"Of course, I want to cut it. I want all three stones I chose to be cut," Lu Fan stated calmly. "If I'm not mistaken, the third stone is the main event!"
The stone-cutting master nodded and then began to cut it slowly.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses approached Lu Fan. "Little brother, I am Ye Chen, the Pavilion Master of Fanxian Pavilion."
"Pleasure to meet you!" Lu Fan said, cupping his fists and smiling. "May I ask what brings you here?"
"Little brother, your eyesight is extraordinary. You are likely no ordinary person," Ye Chen said with a smile. "I have no other intentions. Since the first two stones have been cut, Fanxian Pavilion will purchase them. As for the third stone, perhaps it's best to stop here."
"What do you mean by that?" Lu Fan asked with a smile. "I don't understand."
"Little brother, you are not an ordinary person and likely have some special skills. Fanxian Pavilion is a business, and we hope you can understand," Ye Chen stated frankly. "I am also acting on behalf of someone else. If there is a disruption to the establishment, it will be difficult to explain."
"That's not right. It's a matter of mutual consent. We paid for them," Xiao Qi interjected. "Even if all three stones yield jade, they must belong to us!"
Ye Chen smiled. "While that may be true, we must adhere to certain rules. If the market is disrupted, the Stone King might be displeased!"
Many people nearby felt indignant but dared not speak out further. Fanxian Pavilion was owned by the Stone King, and no one dared to cause trouble or act recklessly here.