A day earlier, Zhuang Rui arrived in Yangon on his private jet. This time, he was treated much better than last time. As soon as he left the airport, he was picked up by a car arranged by Hu Rong and taken to a new estate that Hu Rong had acquired in Yangon.
The manor is not far from the venue of the jade auction. Qin Haoran will also be staying here tomorrow, which will save him the trouble of staying in a hotel and dealing with those familiar jade merchants.
As Zhuang Rui's net worth increased, safety became a top priority when traveling. Although Hu Rong was a local strongman in Myanmar, Peng Fei and Li Zhen still followed him.
As for Ouyang Jun, he was just here to join in the fun. Due to his family connections, he often attracts attention when he goes abroad, so he doesn't travel to many places. In recent years, he has been cooped up in China and insisted on coming out for a stroll.
"Alright, Brother Hu, I didn't expect it to turn out like this either. If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to the association to get the invitation..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head in frustration. When he first participated in the Myanmar auction, he received some special treatment and was able to participate directly even without an invitation from China.
However, in order to show that he was a member of the Jade Association, Zhuang Rui still chose to participate in the public auction as a member of the Jade Association, but he did not expect that this would cause a great stir in China.
These past few days, Zhuang Rui's phone has been ringing off the hook. Anyone he knows, even just a nodding acquaintance, has called to verify his identity, which is driving Zhuang Rui crazy.
"Brother Zhuang, that's not very classy. You sneak off to Myanmar to make your fortune without even calling me, Fatty?"
Just as Zhuang Rui was chuckling wryly, his phone rang again. Upon hearing it was Fatty Ma, Zhuang Rui immediately said irritably, "Brother Ma, why are you getting involved? I'm already at my wit's end. It's just a jade auction, who knows if I'll make a profit or a loss?"
"You can pay for it? I don't believe it even if you beat me to death. You can pick up a random piece of rock and maybe you'll find imperial jade inside."
Fatty Ma scoffed at Zhuang Rui's words. Although he and Song Jun participated in the jade auction as a hobby, their gains at the auction made them grin from ear to ear.
At the jade auction that Zhuang Rui attended, Fatty Ma and Song Jun bought over 100 million yuan worth of raw jade. After hoarding it for two years, they made a net profit of five times when they sold it last year. Now, this guy is considered a prominent figure in the jade industry.
However, after that jade auction, Zhuang Rui seemed to disappear from the jade industry. In the subsequent auctions, Fatty Ma and Song Jun, knowing their own capabilities, did not dare to participate.
"Alright, Brother Ma, I mainly came here to check on the mining projects I've invested in in Myanmar. I just happened to be attending the jade auction on the side. Okay, you can continue admiring the beauties in Africa, I'm not going to waste any more time with you..."
Zhuang Rui knew that Fatty Ma had been stationed in Africa for some time and had heard that Song Jun was being bitten by mosquitoes and insects all day long, and had lost more than 20 pounds.
"Damn, what pretty girls are there? They're all black women, and they're not even wearing tops..."
Fatty Ma was furious at Zhuang Rui's words, but little did he know that Zhuang Rui had already hung up the phone.
The weather in Africa is hot, and basically the women in those tribes have never worn tops since they were young. They just hang their breasts around all day in front of Fatty Ma, which makes Fatty Ma almost want to open a school here to teach these old African women what it means to be immoral.
"Hello? Damn it, are you hanging up on me?"
Before Fatty Ma could finish his grumbling, the phone went dead. Annoyed, he hung up, muttering, "You brat, you're a shareholder in this project too. Next time I'll make sure you go to Africa to see all the beauties..."
Zhuang Rui, far away in Myanmar, shuddered. Without asking, he knew that Fatty Ma was making things up about him. He just didn't expect that he would actually set foot on that land he hated so much in the future.
Since the auction was still two days away, Zhuang Rui took Ouyang Jun on a tour around Yangon.
When Zhuang Rui revisited the Shwedagon Pagoda, he intentionally looked for the Burmese-Chinese man who had sold him the ivory Buddha statue, but couldn't find him. This left Zhuang Rui somewhat melancholy; the Shwedagon Pagoda remained the same, but the man was no longer there.
"Damn, the weather in Myanmar is so hot. I wish I hadn't come..."
On his third day in Myanmar, the September jade auction finally opened, and Ouyang Jun naturally wanted to go and see it for himself. However, Beijing had already entered autumn and started to cool down, and the weather in Myanmar made him complain endlessly.
"Fourth Brother, you grew up in a honey pot, can't you even endure this little bit of hardship? Look at my father-in-law..."
Zhuang Rui also felt a bit overwhelmed. Compared to the last time he came, the weather was much hotter. Even though he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, he was covered in sweat, and his clothes were almost clinging to his body.
What impressed Zhuang Rui was that Qin Haoran was still dressed in a suit and tie in such weather. Although he was sweating profusely, he refused to dress like Zhuang Rui. He had heard that Hong Kong people were meticulous, and now he had witnessed it firsthand from his father-in-law.
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Ouyang Jun glanced at Qin Haoran walking ahead, pursed his lips, and remained silent. Of course, what he was thinking was unknown to others.
Today is the first day of this public auction. Just like last time, jade merchants from all over the world who are staying at the hotel have gathered at the entrance of the Myanmar National Jade Center.
Due to the decreasing production of jadeite year by year, and the increasing popularity of clear and green jadeite gemstones in Europe and America in recent years, Zhuang Rui observed that the number of participants in this public auction was far greater than that of the year before last.
"Aren't you going to open the door yet? We've been waiting for over half an hour..."
"Yeah, there's a shed inside. It's unbearably hot outside..."
"It's the same every year, what can you do when jade is so scarce? My friend, just stay calm and you'll feel better..."
When Zhuang Rui and his group arrived at the plaza in front of the jade center, it was already packed with people, numbering three to four thousand, several times more than the more than one thousand people the previous year.
However, these people were all complaining. Because of the hot weather, the sun was already high in the sky at seven or eight o'clock, and waiting in this square with few trees felt like being roasted by fire.
Seeing the soldiers with live guns and nuclear weapons around them, these people didn't dare to shout too loudly. In a country under military control, provoking the military is obviously a very unwise thing to do.
"Boss Zhuang, you've arrived!"
"Teacher Zhuang, please stand here, there's a shady spot..."
"Oh my, it really is Brother Zhuang! Over here, brother, come over here. Xiaoqian, don't you have any sense at all? Holding an umbrella for Teacher Zhuang?"
When Zhuang Rui and his group appeared at the entrance of the Myanmar National Jade Exchange Center, they caused a sensation. Almost everyone who recognized Zhuang Rui from the outside crowded around them.
The most enthusiastic among them was naturally Han Haowei, the owner of Han's Jewelry. Unlike those who wanted to see Zhuang Rui make a fool of himself, Mr. Han was completely convinced of Zhuang Rui's skill in gambling on stones.
Putting aside everything else, the two pieces of jadeite that Zhuang Rui sold to him some time ago were top-quality jadeite that are rarely seen in recent years. Zhuang Rui has not participated in any jadeite transactions in the past two years, so the origin of these two pieces of jadeite must be that he gambled on them a few years ago.
This fueled endless speculation in Boss Han's mind. Zhuang Rui could casually produce ten or so pieces of top-quality jadeite; who knew how many other treasures he might be hiding? So even though the rumors about Zhuang Rui were terrible within the industry, Boss Han never uttered a word of complaint.
"Old Han, I can't accept this kind of treatment. I think you're really being presumptuous with a beauty. Well, I'll just stay in the shade..."
Zhuang Rui and Boss Han have a long-standing relationship; otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of him when he was selling jade last time. Seeing a tall, fair-skinned beauty standing behind Han Haowei, holding an umbrella for him, he couldn't help but joke.
"Hehe, Brother Zhuang, look at all this fat on me, do you think I can withstand the sun's heat..."
Han Haowei didn't pay attention to Zhuang Rui's words. In their circle, keeping a mistress was extremely normal. Some people with good kidney function might even keep four, five, six, seven, or eight mistresses. If they didn't, they would be laughed at.
"Hey bro, we're old friends, aren't we? If you find any pieces you like at this auction, you'd better let me know..."
Han Haowei's thoughts were different from those in the industry who questioned Zhuang Rui. He was convinced that Zhuang Rui had unique insights and vision when it came to gambling on stones. From the moment he met Zhuang Rui, he made up his mind to follow closely behind him.
"Forget it, Mr. Han, your eye for talent is so sharp, there's no need for me to introduce you."
Zhuang Rui laughed it off, not taking the doubts from the outside world to heart at all. Moreover, he didn't plan to have the stone cut on the spot this time. As the saying goes, people are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat. He would just keep to himself and make his fortune quietly.
"Is that the legendary Jade King of the North? How come he's so young?"
"It looks like it's him. Judging by his age, he's probably not even thirty yet. He's probably just lucky..."
"Let's put them to the test and see who has the real skills." The Yunnan Jade King will also be here this time, so let's see who has the real expertise.
There were quite a few people in the room who had doubts about Zhuang Rui, and many of the people standing on the sidelines were already pointing and talking about it.
Occasionally, some of the words drifted to Zhuang Rui's ears, leaving him both amused and exasperated. "What did I do to deserve this? I can't even keep a low profile anymore."
In recent years, due to the popularity of jadeite, many traditional businessmen have also joined the ranks of those gambling on jadeite. They are already wealthy and successful people, and they were quite disdainful when they saw that Zhuang Rui was so young.
Chapter 958 Old Tang
The entry barrier to the jade gambling business is neither too high nor too low; there is only one condition: having money. This has attracted many people from traditional businesses to get involved.
These people were already successful in their original fields, and they were very arrogant after entering the jade gambling circle. Although they had heard of Zhuang Rui's glorious achievements, they looked down on him now that they saw how young he was.
"Old Tang is here..."
"It really is Old Tang! Quick, let's go take a look..."
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd, and the entire square immediately stirred. Those who had been pointing and whispering around Zhuang Rui stopped commenting on him and rushed to the outer perimeter.
Zhuang Rui also heard the shouts of those people. He turned to look at Han Haowei and asked softly, "Is that Old Tang from Yunnan?"
Zhuang Rui hadn't actually been in the jade industry for very long. Apart from knowing some jade merchants, he didn't know much about the well-known appraisers and experts in the industry.
However, he had heard of Old Tang's name. Back then, those bored people compared him to Old Tang, calling them the "Jade Kings" of the North and South!
Han Haowei was a thoughtful man. Fearing that Zhuang Rui, being young and impetuous, might still harbor thoughts of comparing himself to Elder Tang, he said, "Brother, Elder Tang has been here for almost half a century. Please don't mind..."
Zhuang Rui laughed upon hearing this. He appraised jadeite rough stones solely based on the spiritual energy in his eyes. He only admired this old man and would never have any other thoughts. He waved his hand and said, "Old Han, Old Tang is a senior in our jade industry, on the same level as Jade King. He is my elder, so how could I be jealous of this old man?"
Zhuang Rui had learned from Old Master Gu that Old Master Tang was also an old friend of his for decades. In the past two years, when they talked on the phone, Old Master Tang often mentioned Zhuang Rui. However, Zhuang Rui seemed to have disappeared from the jade industry, which made Old Master Tang feel quite regretful.
From Old Master Tang's words, Zhuang Rui learned that Old Master Tang liked to mentor younger generations and especially enjoyed helping others when gambling on stones. Such an old man could only inspire Zhuang Rui's respect.
Moreover, Tang Lao's reputation is far superior to Zhuang Rui's fleeting success in jade gambling. He has truly built his reputation over decades, traversing the jade gambling market both in China and abroad. Many of the stories about him are still told today.
Many people know that Yangmei in Guangdong is a large jade trading center in China, where almost every company participates in jade gambling. The initial development of Yangmei was inseparable from the support of Mr. Tang.
That happened in the early 1990s. Back then, the domestic jade trading market wasn't as booming as it is now, and Yangmei wasn't the jade trading center it is today. At that time, a jade merchant from Myanmar brought a rough jade weighing over 400 kilograms and planned to sell it in Yunnan.
Since it was almost Chinese New Year, the Burmese businessman was eager to sell, so his asking price wasn't very high, around two million. However, in the early 1990s, this price was considered astronomical.
Many people are eyeing this piece of jade, but not many are making a purchase. Later, a group of women from Yangmei also set their sights on it, but they were unsure, since it was a million-dollar item and a loss could mean they would never recover.
At that time, the group of women from Yangmei asked Old Tang for advice, and Old Tang did not refuse. After carefully examining the material, he honestly told them that it was a rare violet jade stone, and that they could earn at least 10 million yuan after buying it.
Later, through Mr. Tang's mediation, the group spent more than 1.3 million yuan to buy the raw stone. However, when they saw Mr. Tang again a few months later, they never mentioned the jade stone again.
After this incident, whenever these women from Yangmei went to see Old Tang, they would buy goods worth millions of dollars each from him. Even if they bought the goods elsewhere, they would still take them to Old Tang so that he could take a look first.
Mr. Tang had a friend who originally wanted to buy it but couldn't. Later, the friend resented Mr. Tang and said that the violet jade stone had made more than 100 million yuan. Anyone in Yangmei who had anything to do with the jade stone made a lot of money.
Yangmei Village has now developed into a new high-end jade market and has replaced Hong Kong as the leader in the jade market. Many industry insiders believe that Yangmei started with that piece of violet jade.
One person can drive the development of the local economy and industry, which shows Tang Lao's status and influence in the eyes of people in the industry.
Although this legend may not be true, it has been circulating for over a decade, and many people still talk about it with great enthusiasm. Furthermore, the fact that the Yang women involved haven't come forward to deny it speaks volumes.
After a brief commotion on the periphery of the crowd, a group of people surrounded an old man and walked towards the entrance of the jade trading center. Whether it was intentional on the part of the guide or not, their route passed right by the place where Zhuang Rui and the others were standing.
Zhuang Rui looked at the approaching people from afar. Tang Lao, who was walking at the front, was not tall. He was wearing a beige Chinese-style mandarin jacket, was a bit thin, had a full head of white hair and was balding. His eyes were very bright. He kept greeting the people on both sides. He did not have the arrogance of the Jade King and was very kind.
One of the people next to Tang Lao whispered something in Tang Lao's ear after seeing Zhuang Rui and the others. Tang Lao, who was originally walking towards the entrance of the trading center, slowed down and walked in Zhuang Rui's direction.
Zhuang Rui knew the old man had come for him, so he quickly went to greet him. After reaching Old Tang, he bowed deeply and said, "Old Tang, greetings. I am Zhuang Rui, a junior. I have heard Master Gu and Uncle Tian talk about you before, but I have never had the chance to meet you. Today, I am fortunate to finally be able to hear your teachings in person..."
Since Old Master Tang, Old Master Gu, and the Jade King of Xinjiang were all of equal standing, Zhuang Rui naturally had to treat them with the respect due to a disciple. In the eyes of the older generation, this was very important; otherwise, Zhuang Rui would inevitably be reprimanded by Old Master Gu when he returned to Beijing.
However, Zhuang Rui's respectful demeanor towards Old Master Tang, and his humble attitude, surprised some onlookers who had expected a clash between the young and impetuous Zhuang Rui and Old Master Tang.
"Xiao Zhuang, I know your grandfather too. He's kind of my mentor, but learning has its order, and only the most accomplished can be considered a teacher. I, this old man, dare not accept such praise from you..."
Old Tang smiled happily, holding Zhuang Rui's hands tightly and refusing to let go for a long time. When he mentioned Zhuang Rui's grandfather, the onlookers were even more surprised. It turned out that the two were old friends.
Zhuang Rui was also a little surprised. He had only heard some anecdotes about Tang Lao's gambling on stones, but he didn't know much about his experiences. He immediately asked, "Tang Lao, do you... know my grandfather?"
"Yes, I know him. I studied geology in the 1950s. After graduating from university, I was assigned to the Jiangsu Provincial Geological Bureau to conduct geological surveys and mineral exploration. I worked in metamorphic rock areas for more than 20 years. I was fortunate enough to attend several of your grandfather's lectures, and his lectures on the relationship between regional metamorphic rocks and jade formation had a great influence on me later..."
After Old Tang finished speaking, everyone's faces showed a look of sudden realization. When they looked at Zhuang Rui again, the contempt from before was gone, replaced by a look of understanding.
It's important to understand that both antiques and jade are traditional trades that emphasize a clear lineage. According to Mr. Tang, Zhuang Rui comes from a family of jade dealers, so his current achievements are only natural.
What these people didn't know was that Zhuang Rui had never even met his grandfather. He only learned that his grandfather was engaged in geological research a few years ago from the notes his grandfather left behind. He had never received any teachings from his grandfather.
"Xiao Zhuang, I've heard you're quite famous in the antique business. This old man will definitely have to come and ask you for advice..."