Li Baolong stared wide-eyed at the incredibly sharp knife in his master's hand, as it sliced through the stone. With each stroke, the stone shrank, as if slowly being swallowed up by time.
When the stone was reduced to about the size of two fists, the master suddenly shouted excitedly, "It's out! It's out! This is a top-quality purple jadeite!" His voice was full of surprise and excitement, as if he had discovered the most precious treasure in the world.
In an instant, the previously quiet room erupted in commotion. Four or five figures swiftly surrounded it, each face filled with anticipation and curiosity. The experienced elder rushed forward to examine it, and with just one glance, he was stunned, muttering to himself, "My God! It's a purple jadeite that hasn't been seen in ten years! The last time I saw jadeite of this quality was at a grand trade fair ten years ago."
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped. They knew that the purple jadeite at that trade fair had fetched an astonishing price of ten million Hong Kong dollars, and the stone before them, in terms of both quality and color, was in no way inferior to that one, its value probably reaching at least fifty million Chinese yuan.
Meanwhile, the stone cutter continued polishing with utmost care, afraid that the slightest mistake would damage this rare treasure. Gradually, a crystal-clear, radiant purple jade was revealed to everyone.
"Wow, this jade is absolutely stunning!" one of the men exclaimed. He then turned to Li Baolong and eagerly asked, "Friend, are you interested in selling this jade? I'd be willing to offer 20 million Chinese yuan for it." However, Li Baolong smiled slightly and politely replied, "I'm sorry, everyone, this stone holds great significance for me. I intend to keep it for myself, so I cannot sell it to you. Please understand." With that, he gently stroked the purple jade in his hand, his eyes revealing undisguised affection.
Just then, a tall, refined-looking man slowly approached. This was Cai Lun. Smiling, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations, Brother Li!" At the same time, the elderly man who knew Cai Lun also walked steadily over, smiling broadly at Li Baolong, and said, "Young brother, if you are willing to sell this treasure, you can give me priority. I am willing to offer 30 million Chinese yuan to buy it." Hearing this, Li Baolong's lips curled into a humble yet confident smile, and he replied, "Thank you for your kind offer, senior. If a suitable opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly cooperate with you." With that, he gently stroked the newly unearthed jade in his hand, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Seeing this, Cai Lun, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh softly. It turned out that at this jade gambling event, he had bought two rough stones that seemed to be of excellent quality, but after cutting them open, he had not gained anything. Helpless, he could only prepare to spend a lot of money to buy those already cut open and ready-made stones.
Li Baolong, full of confidence, said softly to Cai Lun, "Mr. Cai, if you trust my judgment, I can point you to a stone! If you're interested in buying it..." Upon hearing this, a hint of curiosity and anticipation flashed in Cai Lun's eyes, and he quickly replied, "Since Brother Li is willing to offer guidance, I would be more than happy to oblige!"
After saying that, Li Baolong led Cai Lun to the third floor. He stopped and pointed to a stone in the center, explaining earnestly, "Mr. Cai, look at this stone. Although it looks ordinary on the surface, it actually hides something good inside. You might as well consider buying it and trying your luck."
Following Li Baolong's gaze, Cai Lun looked in the direction he indicated. The stone weighed approximately forty to fifty kilograms and was quite large. After examining it, he estimated the price in his mind and figured that even if he bought the stone, it would only cost around four hundred thousand yuan. Given his current financial situation, even if he lost the bet, it wouldn't be a financial blow. With that in mind, Cai Lun didn't hesitate any longer and decisively called over two staff members, signaling them to move the stone down and weigh it.
Soon, the stone was placed steadily on the scale, and the weight was as estimated. After Cai Lun readily paid the money, he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and immediately ordered people to move the stone downstairs for cutting.
Carrying two pieces of crystal-clear, vibrant green jade, Li Baolong left the bustling jade market with light steps. As he walked, he kept replaying the scene of choosing the two pieces of jade in his mind.
After walking for a while, Li Baolong felt a bit hungry, so he found a small restaurant nearby that looked fairly clean and tidy, ordered a few dishes, and quickly filled his stomach. Afterwards, following the route he had planned, he successfully returned to his hotel.
Upon entering the room, Li Baolong eagerly and carefully placed the two jade stones in his hands into his mysterious space. However, to his slight disappointment, the space didn't seem to change noticeably after being placed inside. Li Baolong couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be because there are too few jade stones, so they can't generate enough spiritual energy?" With that thought, he decided to collect more jade stones to try again.
Just as Li Baolong was lying on the soft, comfortable bed, preparing to take a nap, there was a soft knock on the door. He rubbed his eyes, got up, walked to the door, and opened it. The moment the door opened, Li Baolong was surprised to see two people standing outside—a hotel waiter and Cai Lun, who had a big smile on his face.
Upon seeing Li Baolong, Cai Lun immediately embraced him warmly, as if meeting a long-lost friend, and exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Li, you're truly an amazing person! The stone you pointed out to me before, after I cut it open, actually yielded a top-quality jadeite! And it's a very high-grade piece, with a market value of a whopping two million!"
"I came here today specifically to thank you properly. I'm thinking of giving you half of the profits, which is a full million. What do you think?" Li Baolong waved his hand and said, "Boss Cai, I can't accept this money. This stone is rightfully yours. You saved me money on buying the stone, didn't you?" Cai Lun quickly grabbed Li Baolong, wanting to treat him to dinner, saying that the old man from this morning was a jewelry tycoon from Hong Kong who also very much wanted to meet him. Li Baolong felt embarrassed to refuse and had no choice but to agree to attend the dinner.
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