Qiao Xi'er chose the one priced at 200 taels, while Ling Yin chose the one priced at 80 taels.
The people gambling on stones were all men. When they saw several young women gambling on stones, the surrounding people became very interested. Not only those who were hesitating and choosing at the stall, but also passersby gathered around to watch the excitement.
"What do women know about gambling on stones? They'd be better off staying home learning needlework, being good wives and mothers. Getting rich and doing great things is a man's job," said a pedantic scholar fanning himself.
Qiao Lian'er frowned and blew her nose.
Lingyin and Qiao Xier also rolled their eyes.
"You can't be so absolute. The capital is full of hidden talents, and there are many women who are skilled in various fields. Maybe we can find a good one. Let's wait and see." A chubby uncle smiled gently.
"Girl, it's okay if you lose the bet. Lots of people lose every day, and they're used to it."
Despite the uncle's kind words, most people were still hoping to see a few people make a fool of themselves. In the world of jade gambling, who would really want someone else to unearth a good piece?
“I’m not trying to belittle women, but look at the stones they chose. They’re the least likely to yield any good quality stones. They’re completely clueless,” said a gaunt young man.
"So what if you can't make it? I see you here all the time. You've made a few profits, but you're probably going to lose all your family fortune by now." An old man looked at him with the eyes of someone who was clearly looking at a spendthrift.
The young man then fell silent, craning his neck and waiting for Qiao Lian'er and the others to fail so that he could regain some face.
The boss hesitated to cut the pieces until everyone's emotions were sufficiently heightened, then finally said, "Let's get ready to open."
The worker brought in a heavy, hand-cranked cutting machine with a rounded blade.
Two burly men with thick shoulders walked over and placed the eighty-tael stone under the blade first, leaving the more expensive stones behind, a way of whetting the appetite.
Then two burly men each held one of the handles, their arms moving so fast that it was impossible to see clearly. The blade cut into the stone, and in just a few blinks, the stone was split in two, the cut surface smooth and complete, without the slightest resistance.
Everyone was already used to this technique, but when they looked at the cross-section, their eyes lit up. It was a whole piece of jadeite! The outside was of average color, but the inside was several grades higher. It was a medium-quality icy jadeite. The stone alone was worth at least three thousand taels of silver.
A rough estimate suggests that six bracelets can be cut from the scraps, and the remaining scraps can be used to make dozens of pendants, beaded bracelets, and smaller pieces that can be inlaid in gold and silver. After processing, the total value can reach ten thousand taels of silver.
The crowd suddenly became lively, with people rushing forward to start bidding.
“Young lady has a discerning eye. I’ll take the stone. I’ll offer two thousand eight hundred taels.”
“I will offer two thousand eight hundred and fifty taels.”
"How stingy! I'll offer three thousand taels."
"Everyone, wait a minute. There's still one stone that hasn't been cut yet. They're all together. Once it's cut, we'll bid again." The boss gestured for everyone to be quiet.
This kid, the way these people are looking at those girls is different now. The other stone is even more expensive; maybe it can yield even better jade.
"Hmph, it's just a blind cat catching a dead mouse, a stroke of luck. I don't believe that you can be lucky twice." The young man was filled with sour thoughts and looked up at the sky.
"Shut up, luck is part of ability. He's lucky, unlike you who only knows how to make sarcastic remarks," someone mocked.
Even if the second stone doesn't yield a good one, the other party has already made a fortune from the first one.
The burly man then took over and quickly cut Qiao Xier's stone open. Everyone held their breath and stared intently at the cut surface.
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