Chapter 628: The Treasure of the Shop, Into the Pocket
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It wasn’t hot today owing to the fact that there wasn’t any sun.
However, Song Zhengyang was certain that sweat rolled down his body when he realized he was revealing a top-grade red jade.
Song Zhengyang and Tie Xiaohu were focused on their task, but the crowd was getting uncontrollable. Everyone wanted to see what a top-grade red jade looked like.
The Lord of Jade ordered the two dozen security guards of Yu Ding Xuan over, as well as the dozen or so staff members, to maintain the order of the scene. He wasn’t going to let the crowd disturb Song Zhengyang.
Yu Ding Xuan held a gambling stone meeting every week, and these security guards were responsible for maintaining order. They had ample experience and were professional. They quickly cleared a large area, and unrelated people had to watch from outside.
Without all the pus.h.i.+ng, everyone could actually see the process with more clarity.
Tang Meng, Murong Feixue, and the like didn’t need to worry about the stones in Ling Yun’s cart being stolen. They could finally watch the stone-cutting process with ease and antic.i.p.ation.
The people closest to the stone cutting machine were, of course, Ling Yun, Long Wu, Tang Meng, Murong Wens.h.i.+, Murong Feixue, the Lord of Jade, Han Laosan, and the most famous jewel merchants and gamblers.
They could see the skills of Song Zhengyang first-hand.
“Brother Song, you have to be steady. We’ll postpone the stone gambling event today. Let’s cut this stone slowly. Let’s exchange places whenever you feel tired…”
The Lord of Jade nagged at Song Zhengyang during the small break that he took to wipe his sweat.
The Lord of Jade’s love for jade was real. His heart would be broken into pieces if Song Zhengyang accidentally chipped a corner off such a huge piece of rare top-grade red jade.
He would rather polish this basketball-sized top-grade red jade meticulously than continue cutting it.
Song Zhengyang and the Lord of Jade’s skills were publicly recognized as the top in the Antique Market. They were equal in skill. That was why only the Lord of Jade had the qualifications to remind Song Zhengyang to be careful.
“Don’t worry, Lord of Jade, I’ll bring out all my skills today! Anyway, this isn’t yours, why are you so worried about it?”
Song Zhengyang wiped his sweat and let his a.s.sistant help him to drip some water onto the stone to bring down the temperature. He even had the heart to joke around with the Lord of Jade ebulliently.
The Lord of Jade loved jades, whereas Song Zhengyang loved gambles. He was bold but cautious.
Ling Yun was unnerved at Song Zhengyang’s speed. Ling Yun would have used the Dragon Vein Sword instead of the stone cutting machine to cut the stone out. He would be able to get the whole candied gourd out in less than a minute.
After a few sips of water, Song Zhengyang dried his hands and continued his work on the stone.
Song Zhengyang was definitely bold. He was excited when he saw the gleaming top-grade red jade, but that didn’t change the way he cut the stone. He followed his professional senses. He didn’t falter and even picked up the pace.
Ling Yun understood very well that any leader in an industry naturally had his own way.
Ling Yun knew Song Zhengyang was feeling it. His gaze was hot and pa.s.sionate, but his face showed determination and calm. His movements were orderly. He was fast where he needed to be fast and slow where he needed to be slow.
It was the same with Ling Yun’s cultivation. The rush of excitement was understandable, but he couldn’t rush it. He wouldn’t screw up just because he was excited.
It was the same for all walks of life. The most obvious was high school students and their college entrance examinations. Many students that were at the top of their cla.s.ses under normal circ.u.mstances, and would have no problems entering top-rate universities, faltered at the most critical moment — the exams itself!
Song Zhengyang wasn’t going to let that happen. With the help of Tie Xiaohu and his a.s.sistant, he managed to extract the whole red jade in less than half an hour.
This was indeed the pure and excellent grade of red jade they had thought it to be. It was larger than a basketball, scarlet, and dazzling. It was transparent, dreamy, and gorgeous.
Song Zhengyang and Tie Xiaohu were the closest, and both their faces reddened with a s.h.i.+mmer from the red light.
Song Zhengyang switched the stone cutter off, his eyes radiating with excitement. He looked at the red jade quietly for a short while and gave Tie Xiaohu his next task. “Tie Xiaohu, can you lift it up? If you can, lift it up and show everyone!”
Tie Xiaohu lifted it up without a word.
“Oh my G.o.d, such a huge piece of red jade… It’s bigger than a basketball!”
“A rare treasure. We can’t even measure its worth with money anymore…”
“How many bracelets, earrings, and rings could be carved out of such a huge piece of jade?”
“It can be sold at eight hundred million yuan with ease. This lad spent eighty million yuan, but just this red jade alone would grant him tenfold in profits! He’s going to get really rich…”
“Eight hundred million yuan? Don’t sprout rubbish if you don’t know anything. See how excited the Lord of Jade was? He can’t be excited over just eight hundred million yuan…”
“This is just the middle piece. I guarantee there’s also jade in the four remaining pieces…”
…
The onlookers shook with excitement, their eyes piercing straight into the basketball-sized red jade. They couldn’t help but speculate on its value.
The women were worse. Their mouths hung wide open, forgetting about their own image.
“So beautiful, like a dream… It would be even more perfect if there was sunlight s.h.i.+ning on it…”
Even Murong Feixue, who just saw the Night-Luminescent Pearl, was once again mesmerized, not by the value of the red jade, but by its unparalleled beauty.
Tang Meng was the most unkempt. He fell on his b.u.t.t once again, but happily this time!
Song Zhengyang rested for a while and ambled over to the Lord of Jade.
“Lord of Jade, there are five stones in this candied gourd. I unraveled the centermost piece, but I won’t do the same for the others…”
Song Zhengyang smiled, hinting at something.
“There’s no need.” The Lord of Jade agreed. He had recovered from his shock.
Of course there was no need. If one of them had jade in it, so would the other four.
The Lord of Jade turned towards Ling Yun next.
The chattering died down. Everyone wanted to know what the Lord of Jade wanted to say to Ling Yun.
The Lord of Jade stood up tall and suddenly gave Ling Yun a hold fist salute.
Ling Yun accepted it this time to everyone’s surprise.
No one thought it was inappropriate now.
“Lord of Jade, you’re too polite…” Ling Yun said quietly.
“I should have been polite to you from the start. It’s a little late now, please forgive me,” the Lord of Jade replied respectfully.
“Little pal, I have to thank you for your great eyesight. This rare treasure might have been buried in my courtyard forever if it wasn’t for you. That’s definitely my mistake…”
Song Zhengyang came up to the Lord of Jade without waiting for Ling Yun to reply. “Lord of Jade, there will be plenty of time for these courteous exchanges. It’s getting late, are we going to cut the King of Stones? I can get Ling Yun to give you the first cut if you like…”
The Lord of Jade looked around at the eager faces and nodded. “Of course!”
“But that’s Ling Yun’s treasure to ward off evil spirits…” Song Zhengyang reminded him.
“I know, I’m just about to discuss this with my little pal here…” The Lord of Jade gave Song Zhengyang a glare.
“Little pal, what terms would you accept for us to cut the King of Stones now?” the Lord of Jade asked Ling Yun seriously.
Ling Yun wasn’t going to continue acting generous. He put up with the act so that the Lord of Jade would give him the Green Dragon Out at Sea willingly. It was time.
“Lord of Jade, any cut on my King of Stones would destroy its power to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, my offer still stands. I’ll agree to the cutting of the King of Stones as long as someone compensates me with their own treasure to ward off evil spirits.”
The Lord of Jade couldn’t help but feel shaken. He had to take two deep breaths before he regained his calm. He then turned to his Green Dragon Out at Sea and gazed at it for the longest time before turning back to Ling Yun. “The rock in the middle of the yard, I’m sure you have seen it as well. That is our treasure, it’s called Green Dragon Out at Sea…”
“Little pal, I’ll use my treasure to exchange a chance at cutting the King of Stones. What do you say?”
“Lord of Jade, you mean, you will give the Green Dragon Out at Sea to me for free as long as I agree to cut the King of Stones?” Ling Yun looked deeply into the Lord of Jade’s eyes.
“Naturally, since I’m compensating you,” the Lord of Jade replied.
“In that case, the Green Dragon Out at Sea is mine now. Please have someone cut the King of Stones!” Ling Yun’s mouth curled up in a charming smile.