"Master Xu, if you cut out an Imperial Green ice jadeite later, I'll offer twenty million for this piece of jade!"
"I'll add fifty thousand, twenty million and fifty thousand. Master Xu, I've admired you for a long time. Please sell this jadeite to me later."
"Who hasn't admired Master Xu? I'll offer twenty-one million for this jadeite!"
As soon as the machine started, many people began bidding. Most of them were owners of jade shops who had dealt with jade and jadeite for many years. They believed that such a large piece of Imperial Green ice jadeite on the cut surface must be of considerable size.
"Why did that kid sell the jadeite? Although he got over ten million, he lost over twenty million in one go."
"Did you see that? After hearing the bids from the bosses around, the kid's face turned green. He must be full of regret, having lost ten million."
"Regret? There's no such thing as regret in gambling on stones. Otherwise, that boss would have kept the rough stone for himself."
Hearing the rising bids, many people looked at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan deliberately showed a look of annoyance. This scene was clearly seen by Xu Yaolin, who became even more smug. He opened his fan and said to the crowd, "You can continue bidding. The highest bidder wins. After the jadeite is cut, we'll trade directly."
He then glanced at Chen Fan playfully and said, "My luck is indeed good today. I earned ten million without doing anything."
This was clearly mocking Chen Fan, as the rough stone was now in his possession, and he had no fear of Chen Fan going back on his word.
"I offer twenty-two million!"
"Ruixiang Jewelry, bids twenty-four million!"
The bidding stopped when the price reached twenty-four million.
Although this price was astronomical, it still depended on the size of the Imperial Green ice jadeite that would be cut out. If Ruixiang Jewelry felt the jadeite was not worth this price, they could refuse to pay.
Xu Yaolin allowed the bidding to continue simply to see Chen Fan's regretful and remorseful expression.
Finally, the moment everyone had been eagerly awaiting arrived. The stone-cutting machine had stopped.
The middle-aged boss opened the machine cover. This time, he dared not use a hammer to strike the stone skin. Instead, he inserted a crowbar into the gap and gently tapped it little by little, afraid of damaging the Imperial Green ice jadeite inside.
With a "crack!" the stone skin fell off, revealing the cut surface of the rough stone. However, upon seeing the cut surface, the middle-aged boss's eyes widened in disbelief.
"See? The boss's expression is so surprised. The Imperial Green ice jadeite must be quite large!"
"Of course. This is a rough stone that Master Xu took a fancy to. How could it be a failure?"
"Boss, did you cut out jadeite of the same size? Don't just stand there. Tell us what you cut out!"
"Boss, you're being too secretive. How big is the jadeite? Just say it."
Many people in the crowd anxiously inquired.
The middle-aged boss remained silent and looked at Xu Yaolin.
Xu Yaolin, still full of confidence and smugness, put away his fan and instructed, "Speak, tell them how big this jadeite is."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged boss said fearfully, "Master Xu, this, this, nothing, nothing was cut out."
Boom!
The middle-aged boss's words struck Xu Yaolin like a thunderclap.
His previous expression froze on his face. He suddenly looked at the middle-aged boss and questioned, "What did you just say?"
The middle-aged boss pointed to the stone-cutting machine, "Master Xu, you should come and see for yourself."
At this moment, the surrounding crowd was also stunned and crowded forward, wanting to get a clear look inside the stone-cutting machine.
Xu Yaolin quickly walked to the stone-cutting machine. When he saw the gray and white base color inside the stone, his expression was the same as the middle-aged boss's earlier – one of utter disbelief. He murmured, "How, how is this possible? There's such a large piece of Imperial Green ice jadeite over there, how can there be nothing here at all?!"
His face then darkened, and he pointed to the middle part of the rough stone, "Cut directly from the middle!"
The middle-aged boss dared not delay and quickly re-secured the stone-cutting machine.
"Master Xu is going to cut from the middle."
"He probably wants to see how much Imperial Green ice jadeite is inside."
"The stone skin on that side didn't yield any jadeite. There won't be any jadeite within at least five centimeters. Even if he cuts out Imperial Green ice jadeite from the middle, the price will likely be greatly discounted."
"That's natural. You see no one is bidding anymore. If nothing is cut out from the middle, Master Xu is going to suffer a huge loss this time!"
The onlookers were all aghast. They hadn't expected that nothing would be cut out from the other side of this rough stone!
Chen Fan, standing to the side, curved his lips into a slight smile.
Soon, the middle-aged boss started the stone-cutting machine, slicing the rough stone in half from the middle.
Before the middle-aged boss could completely stop the machine, Xu Yaolin personally stepped forward, opened the machine cover, and after lifting the grinding wheel, pried open the rough stone from the gap.
With another "crack!"
When Xu Yaolin saw the condition of the rough stone's interior, his entire expression froze! He stood there dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.
The surrounding crowd also crowded forward again. After they clearly saw the cut surface of the rough stone, they all shook their heads slightly.
Because this rough stone, when cut from the middle, also showed no trace of any jadeite!
In other words, this Imperial Green ice jadeite was now worthless, or at least its value would not exceed two million.
"Shuran, why is the Imperial Green ice jadeite on this side different from the one on that side?"
"And you bosses, why have you stopped bidding? This is a rough stone personally chosen by Master Xu, and it yielded Imperial Green ice jadeite. Where is the boss who bid twenty-four million earlier? Don't you want such a large piece of Imperial Green ice jadeite?" At this moment, Chen Fan's voice suddenly rang out.
For a moment, all eyes turned to Chen Fan.
Xu Yaolin turned around abruptly, staring at Chen Fan with furious eyes. How could he not know that Chen Fan was clearly toying with him?!
Qin Shuran rolled her eyes at Chen Fan and shook her head helplessly, explaining, "This isn't Imperial Green ice jadeite. This rough stone is a failure. It's no different from ordinary stone."
Chen Fan feigned realization, "Oh, so that's how it is. I didn't expect the renowned Master Xu to make a mistake sometimes. By the way, Master Xu, you yourself said that the transaction is final and there's no going back. Don't make me refund the money again."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yaolin's face turned pale and then red. He wished he could severely punish Chen Fan right now!
Ever since he started gambling on stones, he had been known as a jadeite prodigy. When had he ever suffered such humiliation in front of everyone?!