I looked up at him, refined and wearing glasses, quite out of place amongst the stone gamblers.
"How much are you offering?" I asked.
"My name is Zhang Chengfa, and everyone on this street knows my reputation. I always offer twenty percent more than others for rough stones. So, young man, are you interested in selling?"
Ang Chai, standing nearby, chimed in. With such a fine specimen unearthed, it naturally called for a discerning buyer.
"What's your offer? I'll see if it's really twenty percent higher," I replied.
Zhang Chengfa said, "This stone only has the top cut so far. It's not a fully revealed stone yet. I'm taking a gamble too. I bet it's seventy percent water-emerald color, enough for twelve pairs of bracelets. Each pair is worth two hundred thousand. I'll offer you two million four hundred thousand. What do you say?"
I countered, "Since you call it a semi-gambled stone, I'd like to make another cut. I bet it will reveal multiple colors. If it shows two colors, it can be made into decorative pieces, which are far more valuable than bracelets."
Zhang Chengfa conceded, "You're right, but that's only possible if the gamble pays off. If it doesn't, and the stone is ruined, it becomes worthless scrap."
"Indeed," I agreed. "If it's ruined, it's worth nothing. But I came here to gamble, and not to continue wouldn't be true to my principles. So, I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang, but we'll decide after the final result."
I turned to the cutter and said, "Strip the skin off the top. I'm betting on a 'Fu Lu Shou'!"
Although the stone's skin had a uniform color, the light reflected when illuminated was different. It had fluorescence, blues, and warm tones. That's why I was betting on its full color, envisioning a three-colored decorative piece – not just a villa, but a whole row of them!
The cutter remained silent. I gestured how to cut, and he immediately began.
Zhang Chengfa, slightly put out, stood aside to watch.
This stone was indeed old and hard. The roar of the machinery made that clear.
Jing Lei stood beside me, still showing no signs of tension. She took out a tissue to wipe the sweat from my brow, then linked her arm with mine, staying quietly by my side.
She didn't speak to me. The machine's noise drowned out everything else, making conversation impossible.
We could only communicate with our eyes.
The top layer was slowly cut open, and my heart pounded with extreme tension. I had been nervous when there was no color, but now, fearing a ruined stone, I was even more so!
The machine finally stopped. I didn't dare to look and asked the cutter to open it for me.
The cutter rinsed the dust off the cut surface with the water pipe, then removed the cover. A second gasp erupted from the crowd. I quickly looked down. The cutter had cleaned off all the dust, and the entire face revealed four colors: red, yellow, blue, and green!
The transition was incredibly natural, beautiful like a hand-painted silk scroll!
I was astonished myself. Nature's craftsmanship was truly awe-inspiring!
At this point, Zhang Chengfa spoke, "Young man, you truly have courage. You've managed a spectacular display. So, are you selling? I hope you'll sell it to me."
I replied, "I'm sorry, but we have our own jade shop, so we won't trouble you, Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Chengfa pressed, "Those who deal in finished products don't gamble on stones. Surely you know this rule? Are you afraid I'll offer a low price? Or is there some other reason?"
It was clear he didn't believe me. How could two young kids possibly own a jade shop? Even a small one would require substantial capital to operate. Just one good stone could cost hundreds of thousands or millions. Acquiring raw jade was a astronomical expense, not to mention the need for a vast inventory.
With just the two of us, we probably looked like students who had snuck out to learn from the adults at the stone gambling.
I smiled, seeing no point in arguing.
Zhang Chengfa persisted, "What do you say, young man? I'm a regular customer of Ang Chai. Do me a favor and I'll offer a good price."
I glanced at Jing Lei. She seemed indifferent. "If he offers a high price, let him have it. We can gamble again. We're not lacking this one piece."
"Then make your offer," I said.
Zhang Chengfa stated, "I'll still price it by bracelets. One pair of bracelets is worth three hundred thousand, so twelve pairs would be three million six hundred thousand. What do you think, little brother?"
His offer was indeed not low, but this stone couldn't be measured by bracelets. Since I was betting on a "Fu Lu Shou," I couldn't compromise its integrity. A single bracelet is too small to showcase all the colors; it would segment the different hues, and by damaging their quality, the advantage would be lost. Hence, his price was heavily discounted.
I said, "Thank you again, Mr. Zhang. We've decided to keep this stone. We'll take it back to make into decorative pieces, preserving its colors completely, for those who truly appreciate it."
Mr. Zhang looked disappointed. "I genuinely want it, but if you're unwilling, I can't force you."
I handed ten thousand yuan in cash to Ang Chai, telling him to set off firecrackers. Then I took out a little more, giving the cutter five hundred yuan, and the rest to the onlookers as red envelopes, a hundred yuan each, for them to buy cigarettes.
Jing Lei finally showed a hint of excitement and quietly asked me how much the stone was worth. I whispered in her ear, "The finished piece is worth at least eighteen million. Even if he bought it as rough, it would be no less than twelve million. That's why he's using bracelets to measure its price. We absolutely cannot sell it to him."
Yes, Zhang Chengfa knew what this stone could become. He was preying on our youth, and this deal was one we absolutely could not make.
While it's true that merchants are often sly, one can be clever but not deceitful. People like him, who think they're so smart, are the most detestable.
Jing Lei mentioned she had a client in Hong Kong who had specifically requested material for decorative pieces. "Why don't we send him a photo and let him buy the stone? He might even pay more than this," she suggested.
I told her, "I'll just do the gambling. You handle the selling."
I asked Ang Chai to find me a bag so I could put it in the car.
Just then, several people entered. They were dressed in what looked like Burmese attire, and they carried themselves with a timid air that made me uncomfortable.
Ang Chai quickly went to greet them, speaking to them in Burmese. It seemed they knew each other, but I couldn't tell how well.
The leader said something to Ang Chai in Burmese, his eyes fixed on me.
Ang Chai glanced at me. I felt their arrival might be related to me. I ignored them and went to Ang Chai, telling him we had other matters to attend to and would be leaving.
As I was about to leave, those men suddenly blocked our path. I pushed one of them aside and angrily asked, "What do you want?"
One of them said, "Someone wants to see you. We hope you'll come with us."
"Who are you?" I demanded. "Do you know where you are? You think you can just ask me to go somewhere?"
Damn it, my previous experience in Myanmar had left a scar. When people talk to me like this, I feel like killing them.
The man's face turned fierce, and he lowered his voice, saying, "You have no choice. If you don't come, someone's life might be in danger!"
Damn it! What is this even about? I accepted being held captive there, but on our own soil, they're acting wild and threatening me? How arrogant must they be?