"Do you see those shops? The rent is frighteningly high," said Shen Caidie. "The annual rent is at least ten million, and the ones closer to the center of the square are even more expensive. Despite the outrageous prices, many people still can't get a spot."
Gao Fei was startled, "Didn't you just say this place is usually sealed off? It's only opened up when the Jadeite Public Market is held, which typically lasts for about half a month... So, are you saying these shops only operate for half a month?"
"That's right, they really only do business for half a month each year," nodded Shen Caidie. "But the rent is indeed collected for the entire year."
"Isn't that a bit too overbearing?" Gao Fei frowned.
"It is overbearing and unreasonable," said Shen Caidie. "But still, many people fight and scramble to rent them because during the days the Jadeite Public Market is held, a large number of jade raw stones can be sold, making a lot of money."
"To earn a year's worth of money in just half a month, I guess only the Jadeite Public Market could manage that," Gao Fei remarked.
"In today's society, which is a money society, if you want to live comfortably, you need to have money," Shen Caidie said. "In recent years, the Jade Industry has been extrely hot, with large numbers of people entering the industry every year. So people get rich, while others lose money; being in the Jade Industry really depends on luck. If you're lucky, you can make a fortune, but if not...
it's hard to say."
"Heaven with one cut, hell with another," Gao Fei said. "A single cut determines life and death."
"Enough with the sighs; let's hurry up and select so raw stones," said Shen Caidie with a smile. "The raw stones here are all clearly priced, and in principle, you're not supposed to haggle. Of course, if you know the shop owner, it'll be different, which is why regulars at the Jadeite Public Market are in demand."
"You must be a regular too, right?" Gao Fei joked.
Shen Caidie shook her head: "No... I've only attended once, so I can't be considered a regular... However, I did et a few shop owners last year. We exchanged business cards, and they promised that if I buy their raw stones again this year, they could give a discount."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find those few owners right away!" Gao Fei urged.
With Gao Fei's prodding, Shen Caidie could only lead him to see those familiar shop owners.
...
An hour later.
Shen Caidie was frustrated: "Why did this happen? Why have all those owners stopped working?" She circled the square and then found out that the owners she had t last year were no longer there. She only learned this after asking around, discovering that those owners had discontinued their businesses.
"Co on, stop being frustrated." Gao Fei waved his hand. "Since those familiar owners are not around, let's go buy so raw stones from other owners."
"We have no other choice," sighed Shen Caidie. "It's just that... this ans we'll have to spend more money now..."
"Don't worry, with here, I guarantee you'll make your money back, and not just double or triple, but ten tis, even a hundred tis," Gao Fei chuckled.
"The shop right across looks pretty good," Shen Caidie pointed ahead and said, "It's quite sizable, why don't we go have a look?"
Gao Fei naturally had no objections.
As the two entered the shop, they saw a considerable number of raw stones inside; a rough count revealed at least several thousand pieces, and the prices weren't too steep. At this mont, many custors had already gathered in the shop. They were scattered around, each selecting stones they fancied.
"Feel free to pick and choose!
The stones here are all transported through official channels, all from the old pits, and the chances of finding jade are very high," the shop owner proclaid loudly, "Just last year soone here sliced open a stone to reveal Supre Grade Emperor Green, which sold for an astronomical price..." Naturally, one would boast vigorously about their own stones; after all, it's not illegal to brag.
Turning on his Clairvoyance, Gao Fei scanned the shop and his face revealed a hint of surprise, "I didn't expect to co across this..."
"How is it? The stones here aren't bad, right?" Shen Caidie asked in a low voice.
Gao Fei nodded, "Not bad," he said while walking forward and lifting a stone over half a ter in height. He glanced at the price tag, 18,000, not overly expensive. Without any hesitation, he pulled out his bank card and settled the transaction, and the stone over half a ter tall was now his.
"This stone looks quite ordinary," Shen Caidie comnted with curiosity.
"So stones can't be judged solely by their surface," Gao Fei said with a smile, "Alright, hurry and pick a stone, once you've chosen I'll help you deliberate." When they ca to Myanmar, the two had agreed that each would choose their own stone without interfering with the other, and Gao Fei had also promised to give Shen Caidie so advice.
"Okay, I will go and choose a stone," Shen Caidie nodded and walked toward the center of the shop.
Once Shen Caidie had left, Gao Fei continued to select stones. With his Clairvoyance, it was imdiately clear if a stone contained jade. Indeed, so stones held fine jade but were priced quite highly, far exceeding the value of the jade they enclosed. Stones like these had to be discarded.
An hour later, Gao Fei had picked out all the stones he liked, a total of four, the largest over a ter high and the smallest only the size of a child's fist, their combined price coming to 800,000.
Looking at the four stones before him, Gao Fei smiled with delight. On the surface, these stones looked very common, even ugly, but hidden inside was extraordinary jade. Once they were cut open to reveal the jade inside, they were sure to astonish everyone.
After pondering for a mont, Gao Fei selected four more stones, all of which were useless and not cheaply priced. Gao Fei did this on purpose; he didn't want to draw too much attention. Four successful pieces, four failures—50% success rate; that wouldn't draw too much suspicion.
"Mr. Gao," Shen Caidie's voice ca from behind him, "Could you co and help look at these stones?"
"Sure, I'll be right there," Gao Fei replied as he arranged the eight stones and turned to walk towards Shen Caidie. In front of her were sixteen stones of varying sizes. By appearances, these stones were all quite pretty—so even showed a Python Pattern. As is well known, stones with Python Pattern have a very high chance of containing jade, which typically makes them very expensive.
"How's that? The stones I've picked are pretty good, aren't they?" Shen Caidie asked.
Gao Fei glanced over them and nodded, "They're alright." Of the sixteen stones, nine were duds, but the remaining seven contained jade, each a dium to high-grade piece. Honestly, Shen Caidie's judgnt wasn't bad, "How much for all these stones?"
"It's over 15 million," Shen Caidie stated, revealing a staggering price.
"Hmm... that's a bit pricey..." Gao Fei responded as he sifted out five stones and said to Shen Caidie, "We can skip these five stones."
"Alright, I'll take your word for it. If you say we shouldn't get them, then we won't." Now Shen Caidie trusted Gao Fei very much. She turned down five of the stones and then took out her money to buy the remaining eleven, spending a total of over eight million. That wasn't a low price at all. "Shall we go cut the stones?"
Gao Fei nodded. "Sure."
And so, the two of them moved all the purchased stones outside the shop and let the shop assistant do the cutting.
"Look, they're cutting the stones."
"There's more excitent to watch."
"I wonder how lucky these two will be."
…
A crowd gathered around, pointing and murmuring about Gao Fei and Shen Caidie. This was normal; whenever there was live stone cutting, a large group would co over to watch the action.
"Would you like to cut yours first, or should we cut mine?" Shen Caidie asked.
"Let's start with yours," Gao Fei replied.
"Ok," Shen Caidie said without any hesitation and had the shop assistant start cutting the stones.
"Zzzzz…"
The first stone was cut open, revealing a hint of green inside.
"It went up! It went up!!"
"This girl is so lucky, her first stone went up!"
"Just not sure what kind of jade it is."
…
A wave of amazent rose from the spectators.
A smile appeared on Shen Caidie's face. The fact that the first stone had jade in it was a good sign! It seed her luck was pretty good today.
"Crack…"
All the stones were cut open, and a piece of jade the size of a billiard ball was extracted, a light green color and fairly transparent, undoubtedly a mid-grade jade.
"The size isn't small, but the color is a bit pale, and the transparency isn't very high."
"It would be suitable for making a bracelet."
"Making it into a bracelet might be a waste, it would be better to carve it into an object."
"Miss, sell this piece of jade to , I'll offer three hundred thousand." Soone started to bid for the jade.
"I bid three hundred and fifty thousand."
"I bid five hundred thousand."
…
In a mont, the price of this piece of jade soared to eight hundred thousand, and it looked like it would continue to rise.
"I'm sorry, I'm not selling this piece of jade," Shen Caidie said apologetically. She ran her own company and could process the jade herself. No matter how high the price offered to her, she wouldn't sell it.
Hearing that Shen Caidie wasn't selling, the bidders imdiately showed signs of disappointnt.
"Zzzzz…"
The shop assistant began to cut the second stone.
"Pff!"
When the stone was opened up, it was completely hollow, with nothing inside.
Clearly, this stone was a loss.
The third and fourth stones were cut open in succession, and they were just as empty.
Three consecutive lost stones made Shen Caidie feel a bit of pain. Those three stones had cost her several hundred thousand, but her face did not show the slightest distress. After years in business, she had learned to remain calm.
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