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Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Gambling on stones has no experts, only winners and losers. As the saying goes, one cut leads to poverty and one cut leads to wealth. Before the stone is cut open, no one knows if there is a plane or a tractor inside.
Years ago, because of this two and a half ton stone, [Song Yan] lost over 3 million yuan. Not to mention losing all his savings, at the very least it was a huge blow to his vitality. To this day, just seeing that stone upsets him. Naturally when he heard someone wanted to buy it, he was more than happy to sell it off.
[Song Yan] didn't even get involved himself. The price [Zhou Zhengan] discussed with him over the phone could barely be considered a negotiation. [Zhou Zhengan] named his price and [Song Yan] immediately agreed.
"It's a deal, 36,000 yuan." [Zhou Zhengan] hung up the phone and said to [Yu Shu], "I still don't recommend you buy it. The shipping costs more than the stone itself."
"Oh come on, just for fun." [Yu Shu] transferred the money to the seller's account. "Where do you go to have the stone cut?"
She didn't need to worry about that. [Zhou Zhengan] arranged for people to transport it to the cutting yard. When the cutting yard workers saw the stone, they gossiped amongst themselves. Seeing it was bought by an outsider [Yu Shu], they secretly ridiculed her for being a fool who didn't know better.
Stones are usually cut starting from the outer shell, chipping away bit by bit towards the inside. But [Yu Shu] bought a waste stone for a coffee table, so they cut it directly down the middle.
The cutting fee was another considerable expense. The people present watched [Yu Shu] as if she were a fool.
In front of many old acquaintances, even [Zhou Zhengan] felt a bit embarrassed. "Money can't buy happiness."
"Tsk, women with little experience wasting money as always."
[Zhou Zhengan] smiled awkwardly to brush it off.
[Yu Shu] curled her lips, too lazy to bother with them.
The stone was so big, it would take at least ten hours to cut. At the earliest, it wouldn't be finished until the next morning.
[Yu Shu] was in no hurry. After wandering around, she went to meet up with [Ou Doudou].
She declined [Ou Doudou's] invitation to stay at her house, instead booking a hotel near her home.
That evening, [Shen Youlin] called to check up on her. Hearing [Yu Shu] went to Yunnan to attend her college roommate's wedding, he lamented that two more fools had jumped into the sea of love.
"You just can't say anything nice, can you?"
Although [Yu Shu] didn't expect much from marriage herself, even leaning towards being anti-marriage, she wouldn't promote her own ideals or force them onto others.
"No matter how wise, people turn into fools when they encounter so-called love. Their biology completely mutates."
"It's not as exaggerated as you say."
"Just you watch. Your former classmate finding someone to muddle through with is one thing. If she marries for so-called 'love', then she won't be able to see past the next half of her life."
"It's not as exaggerated as you say. There are quite a few happy marriages!"
Although the percentage was quite small, [Yu Shu] still hoped [Ou Doudou] would be one of them.
But wishes and reality often clash.
The next day, [Ou Doudou] came to find her with swollen, walnut-sized eyes. She rambled from the wedding banquet to the bridal gown, from the golden jewelry to the diamond ring. In her emotional state, she was rather incoherent.
After listening to her complaints, [Yu Shu] could only feel a headache coming on. Full of petty grievances picked out in minute detail.
"Maybe you shouldn't go through with this marriage."
"But...I really like [Xu Kai] a lot."
[Yu Shu's] headache intensified. Fortunately, [Zhou Zhengan's] call successfully rescued her.
When the three arrived at the cutting yard, the stone had already been removed from the cutting machine. A full crowd of people surrounded it, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise.
Seeing [Yu Shu] arrive, they swarmed forward, asking how much she would sell the stone for. It left [Yu Shu] panicking and at a loss.
Fortunately, [Zhou Zhengan] took control of the situation, pulling her to go look at the stone first.
At first glance of the cut surface, [Zhou Zhengan] was also shocked. His hand holding the flashlight trembled uncontrollably.
Almost no flaws or cracks, the water quality was extremely good. The ice was close to glass kind, and the flower inclusions flowed very vibrantly. Some parts were even purple.
[Yu Shu] didn't understand, but listening to the discussions around her, she knew the stone's value had shot up. "This is...worth more now?"
[Zhou Zhengan]: "Conservatively estimated, it's worth eight figures now."
[Ou Doudou's] jaw dropped in shock. Yesterday, when she heard [Yu Shu] bought a huge stone for a coffee table, she had jokingly teased her for having "more money than places to spend it."
[Yu Shu] helped her close her jaw. "Doudou, you have a dowry now."
Of course it could no longer be made into a coffee table. The stone was cut into slabs, and many dealers came rushing over, wanting to buy a slab or two after catching wind of it.
[Yu Shu] was frightened by the frenzied atmosphere. She quietly asked [Zhou Zhengan], "Aren't you going to buy it?"
"You're selling it to me?"
"I only know you here. If I'm selling, I'd sell it to you first."
In the jade market, often it wasn't buyers choosing goods, but goods choosing buyers. Good jade slabs never even reached small dealers without substantial financial backing.
Compared to ordinary families, [Zhou Zhengan's] family was well off. But in the local jade business, they didn't rank high at all. [Yu Shu] willing to sell to him was no different from outright giving him money.
"Buy it! Of course buy it!"
Upon hearing the news, the stone's original owner [Song Yan] also came. Seeing the stone, he regretted bitterly, stomping his feet in distress.
Life really is peaks and valleys.
[Yu Shu] felt bad, and quietly asked [Zhou Zhengan], "Should I...add some money for him?"
[Zhou Zhengan] shook his head. "That's not how it works. A bet is a bet."
"Oh."
The cutting continued. With [Zhou Zhengan] helping her, [Yu Shu] went about eating, drinking, and having fun while pulling [Ou Doudou] along.
A week later, [Yang ZhiXia] and [Xia Zhiyang] arrived. Hearing about [Yu Shu's] brilliant feat, they shook her violently.
"Ahhhh! You've made a fortune, you've struck it rich! Don't you forget me when you're wealthy and prestigious!"
"Rich woman! I don't want to work hard anymore! Hurry up and be my sugar mama!!!"
"Let go, let go! If you strangle daddy to death, there goes your dowry!"
Every girl dreams that one day her best friend will strike it rich and then financially support her.
[Yu Shu] waved her hand grandly as she stood on the bed, solemnly announcing, "Comrade [Ou Doudou], Comrade [Xia Zhiyang], Comrade [Yang ZhiXia]: You've realized the dreams of thousands of girls. Daddy will grant each of you one wish."
"Wahhh...quick, pinch me, pinch me!"
"I love you so much!!!"
It was the four classmates' first reunion since graduating. Without any awkwardness, they chatted and laughed boisterously well into the night, too excited to sleep.
The next day, the four girls went to [Zhou Zhengan's] processing plant with eight panda eyes.
The stone had been completely cut. [Zhou Zhengan's] "conservative estimate" was still too conservative. The two and a half ton pebble yielded one ton of jade. The best section was all emerald green. The emerald section could make eight or nine bangles. With water quality and color like that, some had already offered 3 million to buy a single bangle.
[Zhou Zhengan] originally wanted to keep it all for himself, but he didn't have the appetite to swallow it down. After discussing it with [Yu Shu], they decided to buy this batch together with [Song Yan].
[Yu Shu] was quite superficial. She pulled [Zhou Zhengan] aside and asked quietly, "Just tell me. How much is it worth now?"
"Conservatively... 38 million."
The later unit was naturally in yuan.