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墨書 Inktalez
In the previous moment, perhaps Wei Yuan still attracted quite a bit of attention.
But at this moment, when the three stones he selected landed in the hands of the Stone Master, all focus shifted entirely to the Master Craftsman.
Extracting high-quality jade from seemingly inferior cheap stones is something that often happens. Coupled with Wei Yuan's calm expression, it inevitably caused everyone present to hold their breath in anticipation for these cheap stones.
At this moment, Wei Yuan also noticed that the Stone Cutting Master was an elderly man, probably over seventy years old, with white hair and bony hands that looked very strong, especially with the prominent veins on the back of his hands and the thick calluses on his palms, which were quite alarming.
Despite his age, the old man appeared energetic and full of spirit. His sharp eyes exuded a sense of authority and calm wisdom that made people hesitant to look directly at him.
It was clear that the old man enjoyed his work immensely; after all, what he witnessed here were the ups and downs of life—some people became rich overnight with a single cut, while others lost everything.
Even as a mere observer, witnessing such excitement was enough to draw one fully into the experience.
Here, the fees for Jade Cutting are relatively reasonable; they are not free but are charged based on the customer's situation.
For instance, if you gamble on a rise in value, you could potentially earn hundreds of thousands. In such cases, even if the Stone Cutting Master charges you a thousand or so, it wouldn't be considered excessive. Some people even willingly give more, believing that the Stone Cutting Master had good luck and should be rewarded, much like in a casino.
Conversely, if a customer incurs losses, the Stone Cutting Master typically only charges a small handling fee—around a hundred or so—since this relies on skill and the costs are negligible.
The old man's discerning eye scrutinized the grayish-white Rough Stone before him. His white eyebrows furrowed slightly, clearly showing sympathy for Wei Yuan.
At this point, the crowd began to disperse gradually, each searching for Raw Jade Material. Those knowledgeable looked for insights while those less informed merely enjoyed the spectacle. After the first grayish-white Rough Stone was cut open, everyone realized that regardless of how composed Wei Yuan appeared, this Rough Stone was still worthless.
"Brother, it seems your luck isn't very good; I don't think this rough material can yield any jade," said the Master Craftsman without hesitation. He swiftly brought down his cutting tool with precision. Soon enough, after a flurry of dust and debris, Wei Yuan's investment of over a thousand dollars was gone; there wasn't even a hint of green to be seen in the entire stone.
This was completely normal. Although there is generally no technological means to detect what lies within raw jade after it has been mined, stones that appear better on the outside are usually prioritized for cutting first.
This is likely human nature; people tend to favor things that look good on the surface. Even without knowing what lies beneath, they still hold a relatively optimistic view of such items.
The tendency to be enamored with appearances has been true throughout history, whether it pertains to people or objects.
The old man shook his head slightly, having already cut the second piece of stone, which was still a grayish-white Rough Stone. After a few swift cuts, he decisively sliced through it multiple times, and in an instant, this piece of stone was completely reduced to waste; there wasn't even a hint of green, let alone jade.
Although Wei Yuan no longer cared much about a few thousand dollars, that money didn't just fall from the sky. Especially with so many people watching, it felt as if everyone was questioning his judgment, and that feeling made him even more uncomfortable.
"Damn it, am I really that unlucky? Is there no other luck besides my Repairing Ability?"
Wei Yuan felt a bit annoyed. Now he understood why many gamblers were like this; losing even a little made it feel as if they had lost their entire fortune. They would grind their chairs down just to win back their capital.
Even when playing Mahjong, after losing a few hundred dollars, one would naturally want to appeal for another round—at least twelve more rounds. Eventually, after playing hundreds of rounds, they would lose all their capital.
It felt like life had lost its meaning. He vowed never to play Mahjong again. Anyone who lost five times or more consecutively in Mahjong or card games and had their appeals rejected would likely develop severe suicidal tendencies.
Of course, this emotion did not affect Wei Yuan's normal thinking. His mindset was still relatively stable. Within less than a minute, he had calmed down again, and a composed expression returned to his face.
After all, gambling on jade was just like betting; one always loses more than wins. If anyone thought they could get rich quick from this, then Ma Teng and his son would have been in dire straits instead of living comfortably.
Once he relaxed his mindset, the Jade Cutting Master Craftsman noticed that Wei Yuan did not show much change in expression and asked again, "Brother, shall we cut the last piece?"
Although his tone was steady, Wei Yuan sensed a hint of impatience behind it. After all, these were just a few cheap inferior Rough Stones; how could one expect to gamble out good jade so easily?
The Stone Masters here had previously cut many good stones; their Jade Cutting skills determined their income. Naturally, they did not want Wei Yuan to waste their reputation and time.
At this moment, Wei Yuan also calmed his mind and stopped fixating on this piece of stone. After all, it was the last one; he didn't possess any special vision to easily gamble out good jade.
However, the more he thought this way, sometimes unexpected gains would arise. This made Wei Yuan marvel at how wonderful life could be at times.
The same white-gray Raw Jade Material appeared unremarkable on the outside and was priced at only sixteen hundred dollars. Who would dare to think that something valuable could be hidden inside?
Sure enough, when the first cut was made, the Master Craftsman furrowed his brow slightly. Wei Yuan observed that this was his habit; after just a few cuts, he could generally judge whether this Rough Stone would yield good jade or not—and this judgment was usually quite accurate. Unfortunately, it seemed he had misjudged this time.
"Brother, looking at this situation, it seems there is still little hope."
Wei Yuan now seemed to be playing his last hand at the gambling table, while Master Craftsman was the dealer. Seeing that Wei Yuan had lost everything, the old man, though somewhat impatient, still showed some kindness and first gave Wei Yuan a piece of advice, urging him not to hold too much hope.
However, after a flurry of activity, a sharp female voice suddenly rang out: "Stop."
Upon hearing this, the Master Craftsman of Jade Cutting immediately halted his actions. He had never been optimistic about this grayish-white inferior Raw Jade Material, so he had started cutting very slowly.
When Yuan Ziyi shouted this command, several cuts had already been made on the Raw Jade Material, but there was no sign of green appearing. Even the most inexperienced Wei Yuan could not see anything worth stopping for.
Nevertheless, upon hearing Yuan Ziyi's words, the Master Craftsman still asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Slow down and be precise."
Yuan Ziyi's words sounded almost like an order. The Master Craftsman of Jade Cutting seemed somewhat displeased upon hearing this, but due to Yuan Ziyi's status, he did not dare to show it. Instead, he asked, "This stone doesn’t seem to have any value."
Yuan Ziyi immediately replied with lightning speed: "But I believe in this Rough Stone."
The Master Craftsman of Jade Cutting questioned in confusion: "From what can you tell?"
"My intuition."
At this point, the Master Craftsman did not respond. Perhaps he wanted to wait until the Rough Stone was completely revealed before saying anything further.
Although his professional judgment was questioned by Yuan Ziyi, the Master Craftsman remained calm and even became more focused on the Rough Stone due to her provocation.
"Gambling on Jade is all about going with the flow; since someone believes in it, I will cut it carefully for you."
Jade Cutting itself is a meticulous task, but it is also defined relative to the price of the Raw Jade Material.
Generally, there are two methods of cutting. One is to completely slice open the Raw Jade Material, akin to disemboweling it; this way, the true form of the jadeite is fully revealed. However, at the final stage of gambling, this method cannot be taken lightly—good or bad cuts directly affect the jadeite's value.
Moreover, in the market for Raw Jade Material, those who gamble with larger sums are less likely to adopt this method because they prefer another approach: taking their time. It’s like being gentle with a young girl or slowly rubbing their hand over a hidden card while playing poker.
Although it may not always be possible to change the outcome, just as sufficient foreplay does not necessarily lead to a satisfactory experience, this process is what many people enjoy and are crazy about.
This method also has a professional name, called "opening a window." It involves cutting a section of the rough stone first, and if a nice-looking jadeite is revealed inside, this is referred to as "cutting up."
At such times, especially in the raw jade material market surrounded by wealthy patrons, even if the jadeite inside the rough stone has not been fully exposed, it can already be marked up and sold. Of course, at this moment, those around will start bidding based on their own judgment, which can also be inaccurate.
The jade cutting master craftsman had already made five cuts on this stone when he was temporarily halted by Yuan Ziyi. When he resumed, his movements were slow and meticulous.
"Given this momentum, it seems there are no green parts visible around. Why not take the opposite approach and start cutting from the least likely spot to have green? What do you think?"
The old man suddenly asked. Wei Yuan glanced at Yuan Ziyi and replied straightforwardly, "Sure, you are the master; just go ahead with your cutting. I trust you."
After all, at this point, Yuan Ziyi's tone was no longer very respectful, so Wei Yuan felt there was no need to be disrespectful in return. The jade cutting master craftsman nodded at Wei Yuan's words and said, "Move up three centimeters and cut to see. If there is green in the stone, it should show up now."
"Still starting from the gray-white cutting surface but changing position."
The jade cutting master craftsman kept explaining his techniques as if he wanted to prove to Yuan Ziyi that he was the professional.
Wei Yuan glanced at the stone and couldn't help but admire Yuan Ziyi. This woman really had an eye for it or perhaps a sixth sense; it was quite remarkable.
"Did green veins really appear?"
A middle-aged fat man holding a black leather bag exclaimed in astonishment among the onlookers.
Indeed, green veins had appeared right on cue. At this moment, the jade cutting master craftsman smiled slightly as if congratulating Wei Yuan; unexpectedly, this young man's luck was extraordinary.
However, soon his expression became serious again. With focused eyes, he adjusted the position of the stone and made a decisive cut with his knife.
"Eh?"
At that moment, even the old man's face showed some surprise because with that cut, a cup-sized green vein emerged again. The softness and penetration of that green vein were quite intense, as if telling Wei Yuan that its value had increased exponentially once more.
Looking at the old man's expression, along with the Green Veins revealed in the Raw Jade Material, some seasoned observers immediately reacted: "It's going up, it's going up."
"It's cut green; this is a big increase. This kid is going to make a fortune."
One cut can lead to poverty, another to wealth; this is the most thrilling aspect of Gambling on Jade.
Just a second ago, no one had high hopes for the Raw Jade Material, and now it had become the focus of everyone's attention. Some impatient Wealthy Tycoons were already preparing to bid.
"Fifty thousand, I bid fifty thousand."
Suddenly, the fat man holding the Black Leather Bag was the first to call out a price. As he shouted, the surrounding people immediately fell silent.
At this moment, since the Raw Jade Material had not been fully opened yet, the Master Craftsman in charge of Jade Cutting felt obliged to ask Wei Yuan: "Brother, what do you mean?"
The old man's meaning was clear: do you want to continue cutting or sell it off?
Wei Yuan hesitated for just a moment before continuing: "Let's keep cutting; Master, please proceed."
After all, the owner of this Raw Jade Material was Wei Yuan. Since he had spoken up, both the Stone Cutting Master and the fat man had to respect his opinion.
Understanding respect naturally leads to earning respect from others. Feeling Wei Yuan's respect for him, the old man smiled and looked at the stone, which was smaller than a basketball. He then chose an angle and prepared to make another cut.
"Brother, good luck."
Before making his move, the old man smiled. Upon hearing this, everyone around knew that the Master Craftsman was about to start cutting. They all held their breath in anticipation, and the entire venue became very quiet.
He selected a spot on the stone that was about ten centimeters long and then made a decisive cut.
This action was absolutely nerve-wracking. A stone worth over a thousand yuan now had its surface Green Veins indicating a price that had increased tenfold or more. However, cutting it again could either revert it back to its original state or cause its value to rise even further.
It was this existence of two extreme possibilities that made it all feel so thrilling.
Watching the old man's movements, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that this cut was the pinnacle of experience, vision, and technique. The knife had just grazed the side of the green stone; cutting too deeply would ruin its structure, while cutting too lightly would prevent them from seeing the Green Veins.
"Hmm?"
As the knife sliced down, the old man's gaze paused, and those around him quietly focused their attention. The probability of cutting jade from such inferior stone was precisely what captivated them.
Gently brushing away the stone dust with his hand, the old man smiled slightly and said, "It seems we've struck it lucky again."
At this moment, Wei Yuan's face also showed a look of excitement.
The green was so vibrant and translucent that even someone as inexperienced as Wei Yuan could tell that its value would surely multiply.
"This price will at least double."
"That's incredible."
The people around him kept expressing their amazement. The fat man holding the Black Leather Bag quickly urged Wei Yuan, "Brother, I'll offer 120,000. Sell it to me?"
"I'll offer 150,000." At this time, a middle-aged man wearing glasses next to the fat man also called out his bid.
Wei Yuan ignored them and looked at Yuan Ziyi, noticing she slightly nodded at him. He then turned to the Master Craftsman of Jade Cutting, who said, "Brother, this strand of green is crystal clear and has a pure luster. Although its concentration isn't very high and it's not particularly large, it can still be considered high-quality sunlit green. Just based on this strand of Green Veins, it's worth over a hundred thousand."
"Can we continue?"
Seeing that the entire Raw Jade Material had not been fully revealed yet, Wei Yuan was not in a hurry and simply asked the Stone Master.
The Master Craftsman replied, "We can continue. If we use a grinding wheel to polish it, we can further assess its quality. Polishing is the safest method for revealing green in rough materials; if done slowly and carefully, it won't damage the jade inside."
"Then let's continue," Wei Yuan concluded after hearing this.
The old man continued, "However, if we polish it and find that the interior green is impure, then I can't guarantee the price."
Wei Yuan realized that even if the quality was not top-notch, at least the Green Veins were still present, preventing it from reverting to its original state. Therefore, he felt indifferent and said, "It's fine; after all, it was obtained by luck. If the quality is really poor, it's just a matter of luck."
Upon hearing this, the old man immediately laughed and said, "Brother, in all my years here, you have the best mindset I've seen. A calm heart brings better luck."
At this point, the old man continued to turn the stone and rubbed it a few times from top to bottom, revealing its captivating green hue.
He then paused again and said, "Now it's certain that this is definitely jadeite, and the green is of even higher quality. The price has at least doubled now. Do you want to continue rubbing?"
Wei Yuan knew that continuing would mean completely revealing the stone. At that moment, the fat man spoke up again: "350,000. I'll take it. How about letting me have it?"
350,000?
Although it seemed like an easy profit, Wei Yuan was not very tempted. Perhaps while rubbing out the green hue, he had already decided to fully uncover it before making a decision.
"Master, please continue."
Wei Yuan's voice was not loud, but it resonated throughout the venue like thunder, earning admiration for his courage.
Even Wei Yuan himself found it hard to understand why he was so determined that a good piece of jadeite would emerge. Although he had Ability, he did not possess x-ray vision. Yet, why was he so certain?
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