"Who's up first?" Pi Xiaoqian asked.
"Cut mine first," Wu Youzhi handed over the rough stone in his hand.
It was about fifteen or sixteen kilograms.
"How should I cut it?" Pi Xiaoqian asked.
"Brother Guo, come help me draw a line," Wu Youzhi called out.
Guo Xuyang picked up a pen and drew a line down the middle: "Cut along this line."
"Alright. Please stand back."
As Pi Xiaoqian spoke, he fixed the rough stone onto the cutting machine and turned on the switch.
About twenty minutes later, the rough stone was cut open.
"Hey, Manager Wu, you owe me a meal tomorrow," Pi Xiaoqian shouted loudly, rinsing the cut surface with water.
Everyone looked, and a piece of sky-blue jadeite appeared before their eyes. It was incredibly beautiful.
It was rare to see such a clean base.
Wu Youzhi was also stunned. Most of the jadeite he had cut was green; such clean blue was truly rare.
He wondered if it had reached glass type.
"Manager Wu, five hundred million, sell it to me," Pi Xiaoqian said.
"What are you thinking? I've never seen such clean blue jadeite. Forget five hundred million, you won't get it for ten billion."
Wu Youzhi said, picking up the two separated stones.
Guo Xuhui and the others listened in astonishment. Such a stone was worth five hundred million?
If they hadn't eaten together just now and known each other, they would have thought Pi Xiaoqian was a plant, a shameless braggart.
"Brother, is Manager Pi telling the truth?"
Guo Xuhui asked, swallowing against his dry throat from nervousness.
"I think Manager Wu's jadeite should be glass type, though it's a bit small. It shouldn't be a problem to get ten billion for it," Guo Xuyang said.
"This is much more expensive than gold?"
"Gold has a price, jade is priceless. Rarity makes it valuable. That's why Manager Wu cherishes it so much. Your piece is also good, let Fatty cut it for you," Guo Xuyang said, pointing to the rough stone in his hand.
"Manager Pi, please cut it for me," Guo Xuhui handed the stone in his hand to Pi Xiaoqian.
"Brother, how should this one be cut?" Pi Xiaoqian asked.
"Open a window."
"Alright. Brother Xuhui, this piece you picked isn't very big."
"When did you start judging jadeite by size? Brother Hui chose this piece well."
"Heh heh. I was just saying."
The rough stone Guo Xuhui picked from the swimming pool was about five or six kilograms. He didn't know good from bad, just casually picked one. However, when he saw the stone Wu Youzhi had cut was worth hundreds of millions, he regretted it, regretting not picking a bigger one. Not only him, but Lin Ziqi, Xiao Li, and Xia Li also regretted it. Because as girls, it was difficult for them to carry large stones, and they hadn't gambled on stones before, so they didn't pick very big ones. Li Minxi was more experienced, directly picking a piece weighing over ten kilograms. If she could carry it, she would have picked an even larger one.
The window scraping was fast, completed in less than ten minutes.
"Skyrocketing profits? Brother. This one is mine, five hundred million," Pi Xiaoqian shouted.
"I say, Manager Pi, we agreed beforehand. I'll buy what you cut. You still have ten more pieces," Wu Youzhi said, leaning over to take a look.
"Don't say that, Manager Wu. I remember when we established the 'Perfect Ten' company, we agreed that the highest bidder wins. How about you make an offer?"
Wu Youzhi took it and looked closely. "Eight hundred million."
"This can yield at least three pairs of bracelets and ten pendants. If you can go over a billion, take it. Otherwise, I'll keep it for ten billion," Pi Xiaoqian said.
Wu Youzhi smacked his lips and remained silent. Pi Xiaoqian was right. A pair of glass-type imperial green bracelets would fetch at most three hundred million. Add the pendants and ring stones, and it would be around a billion. Taking this jadeite for ten billion would yield very limited profit for him.
"Take it. You're wealthy and extravagant, I can't compare to you," Wu Youzhi said.
"I'll keep this one tonight. I won't compete with you for the others," Pi Xiaoqian said. "I want to use these bracelets as the shop's treasures."
Guo Xuhui was stunned. Ten billion? How many zeros was that? How many cars would that be to sell? This was like a dream.
"Xiao Li, pinch me and see if I'm dreaming?" Guo Xuhui's words made Pi Xiaoqian laugh.
"I tell you, brother, this is real money. Once these stones are sold, you'll know investing isn't a loss. However, your luck is truly good; such glass-type imperial green is truly rare. Although it's not top-tier, it's not far off. Give me your account, and I'll arrange for someone to transfer the money to you."
Guo Xuhui looked at Guo Xuyang. "Brother Hui, just give your account to Manager Pi. He won't lose money. Don't forget he still has about ten pieces."
"Alright then," Guo Xuhui said, bringing up his account on his phone and letting Pi Xiaoqian take a photo.
"Who's next?" Pi Xiaoqian asked.
"Me. Fatty, cut it well for me. If it exceeds a hundred million, I'll treat you to a month of big meals," Li Minxi said.
"My dear ancestor, you picked it yourself. You can't blame me if it doesn't increase in value."
"Pfft, don't jinx it. I believe in Yangzi's judgment and want to treat you well. If you're ungrateful, then forget it. Whether it increases in value or not, I won't treat you to a meal. Yangzi, help me take a look and draw a line for me."
"Cut in half. Cut through the middle," Guo Xuyang said.
As soon as Li Minxi heard this, she knew it was over.
"No way? Is my luck that bad?"
"What are you howling about? It hasn't been cut yet," Pi Xiaoqian said.
"Didn't you hear what Yangzi said? Cut in half. What good can come out of it? You've known him for a long time; when has he ever cut something good in half?"
"That's true. What you're saying seems reasonable."
Pi Xiaoqian said, but his hands were already moving. He placed the stone on the machine and pressed the switch.
"Who told you to be so greedy? Isn't your stone the biggest? Look at Brother Xuhui, he made ten billion with such a small piece."
"Shut your jinxing mouth. Just work properly," Li Minxi said angrily.
Their bickering made everyone burst into laughter. It couldn't be helped; these two couldn't be together without arguing.
This stone took more than half an hour to cut.
"High-ice red jadeite? Xiao Xi, you promised to treat me to a month of big meals just now," Pi Xiaoqian shouted.
"I already said, whether it increases in value or not, I won't treat you. Why did you deliberately anger me?"
"I've looked. I've never gained anything from being with you. Manager Wu, how much do you think you'll buy it for?"
"It's almost half the size of mine. Let me make an offer. How about five hundred and thirty million?"
"Xiao Xi, what do you say?" Pi Xiaoqian asked.
"Fine. Just give me five hundred million. It's a gift from you anyway. The account is still the one I transferred money to before, Manager Wu. You can transfer it directly to me."