It's worth noting that the first cut of this piece of jade was almost flawless, except for the fact that it was entirely green. This high-quality, icy jadeite can already be considered a high-end product in the jadeite jewelry market.
If the second cut reveals green, the value of this jadeite will increase at least fivefold, because it is cut from both ends and green is visible at both ends. The possibility that the jade inside is connected cannot be ruled out, which would result in a piece of jadeite worth a fortune.
As the owner of the rough stone, Zhang Yunhui was pushed to the periphery. He was too nervous to look at it and stood to the side with a pale face, letting the jewelers do whatever they wanted.
"Tch...it's ruined..."
Suddenly, a voice came from among the people surrounding the raw stone, like a heavy hammer hitting Boss Zhang on the head, and Zhang Yunhui's vision went black for a moment.
"Move aside, let me see..."
Pushing through the crowd, Zhang Yunhui rushed to the innermost part of the area. Looking at the neatly cut surface, he saw that it was entirely composed of crystalline stone structures, without even a trace of green like the finest hair.
"It's collapsed, it's collapsed..."
Zhang Yunhui muttered to himself, then plopped down on the ground, staring at the cut surface of the rough stone, tears welling up in his eyes.
What could have been a sure-fire way to make a profit has turned into this mess because of his foul mouth and his disdain for Zhuang Rui.
Suddenly, Zhang Yunhui seemed to remember something, and he scrambled to his feet, almost rolling and crawling, to Zhuang Rui, saying, "Teacher Zhuang... could you take another look and see if it can still be cut open?"
At this point, Zhang Yunhui didn't care about saving face anymore. Face was nothing compared to money. As long as he could recover the losses, he would be willing to kowtow to Zhuang Rui even if it meant doing so.
Seeing Zhang Yunhui's pitiful state, Zhuang Rui felt a pang of sympathy, even though he had found the jade himself. He said, "Mr. Zhang, well... I can't say for sure... It's just that your piece is large. Even though the other end didn't yield any green, there's no guarantee that other parts won't. I think you should put the jade away..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Zhang Yunhui's eyes lit up immediately. He nodded and said loudly, "Yes, yes, that cut didn't even yield a fifth of the original stone. If I cut it in the middle again, I'm sure I can get some green jade..."
Zhuang Rui couldn't help but smile wryly upon hearing this. He advised Zhang Yunhui to put the stone away, thinking that once the storm had passed, it could still fetch a good price at auction in China.
It's worth noting that even if the second cut is a bad gamble, the rough stone still looks promising, and some jewelers with a high risk appetite will make offers.
But if Zhang Yunhui were to continue cutting now, that would be like an old man hanging himself... courting death. Two consecutive cuts would ruin the piece, and it would probably only fetch the price of the green part of the cut.
"Xiao Zhuang, what's going on? Did you just comment on this material?"
While Zhang Yunhui was busy moving the raw stones, someone told Old Tang what Zhuang Rui had just said. Only then did Old Tang understand why Zhang Yunhui wanted to make a second cut.
"Ahem, Mr. Tang, I was forced into this situation. This Mr. Zhang is really too much..."
Zhuang Rui shrugged helplessly. There are too many people who want to stand out but are overestimating themselves. If Boss Zhang hadn't come to provoke him, would Zhuang Rui have bothered with his business?
"Sigh, young people these days are too impetuous..."
Upon hearing this, Old Tang sighed, but his expression turned serious, and he continued, "Little Zhuang, I wasn't talking about you..."
Zhuang Rui waved his hand and laughed, "Hehe, Mr. Tang, I was just lucky, I was just talking nonsense. Please don't flatter me too much, senior..."
"Xiao Zhuang, many of my old friends have witnessed your expertise in appraising antiques. It seems you also have a deep understanding of jadeite rough stones. We must find an opportunity to discuss this further..."
Old Tang was quite curious about Zhuang Rui. Although he came from a family of jade collectors, he was also quite knowledgeable about antique collecting and foreign oil paintings, and had many friends in these fields.
When discussing collecting topics, Tang Zenan had often heard his old friends mention Zhuang Rui's name. Before this year, he always thought that Zhuang Rui was an expert in the collecting circle, and that his success in gambling on stones was just due to good luck.
However, after what just happened, Old Tang truly changed his opinion of Zhuang Rui. As the saying goes, a great reputation is not undeserved, and Zhuang Rui's level of expertise in identifying raw stones may not be inferior to his own.
"Mr. Tang, I can't accept such praise. If I have time these next few days, I'd like to learn more about jade from you..."
Zhuang Rui's gambling on stones relies entirely on his keen eye. However, when facing this veteran who has been thriving in the stone gambling circle for nearly half a century, he is not so confident.
Seeing Zhuang Rui and Old Tang exchanging compliments, Han Haowei suddenly had an idea and said, "Hey, Brother Zhuang, you and Old Tang are both top figures in our jade gambling circle. Why don't you each choose a piece and have a contest of your eyesight?"
"Old Han's idea is great!" "Yes, two generations of jade kings gambling on stones at the same venue, what a great idea!" Zhuang Rui and Old Tang were talking, and there were quite a few people listening intently. As soon as Boss Han said this, people immediately cheered.
Chapter 967 Betting Failure (Part 2)
Tang Zenan's family had been in the jade and jadeite business since before the liberation, and could be considered a jade family. In the 1970s and 1980s, Tang Zenan left his job and started his own jadeite business.
Over the decades, Tang Zenan has proven his unshakeable position in jadeite rough stone appraisal through countless gambling experiences. Before Zhuang Rui appeared, there was only one "Jadeite King" in the country!
That was Tang Zenan.
However, Zhuang Rui suddenly appeared two years ago. He first made a fortune at a jade trade fair in Nanjing by spending only a few thousand yuan and earning tens of millions of yuan, thus beginning his legendary jade gambling career.
Later, at the Pingzhou Jadeite Auction, Zhuang Rui partnered with others to win the top bid in the auction. After the stones were cut on-site, the profit exceeded 100 million yuan. It was at the Myanmar Jadeite Auction that Zhuang Rui truly shone.
At that jade auction, Zhuang Rui only cut one piece of jade, but it was that rare and top-quality red jade that forged Zhuang Rui's legendary reputation in the jade gambling industry.
Looking back at Zhuang Rui's journey in jade gambling, many people have noticed that he has never made a mistake, and every time he gambled on a piece of jadeite rough, the price soared, and the jadeite that appeared was often a rare gem that ordinary people would only see once every few decades.
Therefore, although Zhuang Rui has not been in the jade gambling circle for long, he has been dubbed the "Jade King of the North" by some busybodies!
It has earned that title, and it has been accepted by many people.
Although Zhuang Rui's reputation in the jade gambling circle is slightly less than that of Tang Lao, he has a wide range of interests. He has not only made achievements in the jade industry, but also has a well-known reputation in the antique collection circle. It can be said that outside the jade gambling circle, there are definitely more people who know Zhuang Rui than people who know Tang Lao.
Now Han Haowei proposes to let two generations of "Jade Kings" be together!
The competition immediately sparked a lively response from the crowd. It was a rare and spectacular sight, and regardless of who won or lost, it would become a legendary tale in the world of jade gambling.
At this moment, everyone almost forgot that Zhang Yunhui was still cutting the stone, and they all started to clamor, wanting to bring about the ultimate showdown between Zhuang Rui and Old Tang.
"Crack...crack crack...snap!" Suddenly, the sound of the stone-cutting machine cutting through the stone echoed throughout the entire area, drawing the attention of those who were discussing Zhuang Rui and Old Tang's betting on selecting rough stones back to the raw stone.
Dust flew everywhere, and white dust filled the air, making it impossible for anyone to see the cut surface of the rough stone. After about several tens of seconds, the smooth and neat cut surface was finally revealed.
A sharp-eyed person, after clearly seeing the cross-section, immediately exclaimed, "It's a disaster! There's still no green!" "Oh dear, thank goodness I listened to Teacher Zhuang and didn't make a move earlier..."
"Yes, this material is probably all green. It's not even worth 7 million RMB, let alone 70 million..."
"Old Zhang has really lost big this time, six million eight hundred thousand euros, it's going to be a huge blow to his business..."
"Serves him right. Teacher Zhuang didn't provoke him. He tried to climb over others to get ahead. He got what he deserved..."
Among the onlookers were many knowledgeable people who were well aware of Zhang Yunhui's initial provocation of Zhuang Rui. This directly led to Zhang Yunhui facing the situation of not being able to sell his first winning bet, which was probably unprecedented in the world of jade gambling.
Mr. Zhang's face was ashen, and he no longer had the arrogance and confidence he had shown earlier. Looking at the smooth cut of the jade on the stone-cutting machine, Zhang Yunhui wished he could just crash into it.
As the saying goes, everything happens because of those who try to stand out. Zhang Yunhui originally thought Zhuang Rui was an easy target and wanted to use this opportunity to establish his position in the jade gambling circle. However, he never expected that he would end up becoming the clown himself. Not only did he end up with nothing, but he also suffered direct economic losses of tens of millions.
Mr. Zhao, who had previously made an offer, circled the rough stone a few times before unexpectedly saying, "Mr. Zhang, I'll take this piece for 20 million. What do you think?"
"Hey, Old Zhao took advantage of the chaos..."
"Yes, the material was bought for 70 million, and they want to buy it for 20 million? That's a good deal..."
"That's not necessarily true. It might not even be worth 20 million. The green-spotted cut might only be worth seven or eight million at most..."
When Mr. Zhang made his offer, the room became lively again. Many jewelers were mentally calculating whether to follow suit. Because if the green could penetrate even a finger's width, the price of twenty or thirty million would still be worthwhile.
"20 million? Old Zhao, that's really unfair..."
Without a second thought, Zhang Yunhui refused outright. He felt incredibly frustrated, as if his lungs were about to burst. He felt like a tiger fallen into the plains, being bullied by dogs.
From Zhuang Rui's comments to now, only an hour has passed, but the prices have changed drastically. Only now does Zhang Yunhui truly realize what the expert effect means.
Old Zhao wasn't angry. In business, maximizing profits is paramount. He smiled and said, "Old Zhang, given the quality of this piece, 20 million is already quite a lot. If the green is thin, I'd be losing money even if I spent 20 million..."
Zhang Yunhui was furious but had nowhere to vent his anger. He waved his hand and said fiercely, "I won't sell, I won't sell! I'd rather keep it to line my toilet than sell it!" Everyone could see that Boss Zhang had lost his composure, but his behavior was still considered good. There were just as many people who jumped off buildings after losing everything gambling on stones as those who jumped off buildings after the stock market crash.
"Xiao Zhang, as the old saying goes, nine out of ten gamblers lose, and the same goes for jade gambling. No one can be a perpetual winner. Don't worry about it. If you really don't want to sell, just keep this piece for a few years..."
Old Tang was a kind man. After seeing Zhang Yunhui's condition, he stepped forward and offered some advice. He had been in this business for too long, and he had personally witnessed not only the failure of cutting up rough stones worth 60 or 70 million, but also the failure of gambling on stones worth hundreds of millions.
Zhang Yunhui said dejectedly, "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Tang, I'll listen to you..."
He originally wanted to make another cut to see what would happen, but if he did that, the whole piece of material would basically be ruined. After much consideration, Mr. Zhang accepted Mr. Tang's suggestion.
The jade market is currently experiencing a price fluctuation almost daily, with the trade in raw jade stones being particularly booming. In a few years, when the raw jade stones are almost exhausted, even the piece that Zhang Yunhui gambled on and failed will likely become a highly sought-after item.
Therefore, Zhang Yunhui understood what Tang Lao was saying very well: if he kept this piece of material, he would still have a chance to turn things around. Moreover, many large domestic companies and speculative funds were entering the industry, so he might be able to find an opportunity to swindle it away.
"Mr. Zhuang, are you free tonight? How about we grab some dinner?"
"Teacher Zhuang, it's been almost two years since we last met. How about we get together for dinner tonight?"
"Hey, I think we should all find a place to have a meal together, and maybe we can ask Professor Zhuang and Mr. Tang for some advice..."
Although the entire piece of jade couldn't be cut, Zhuang Rui's comments were all spot on. It turned out that the gamble on this rough stone was indeed a disaster. Those who had previously questioned Zhuang Rui's jade gambling skills all started trying to get on his good side.
Those who come to Myanmar to gamble on jade are basically all millionaires, and no one cares about this small amount of money. Right now, they are arguing about who should host the event.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhang, who had just been riding high, quietly packed up the rough stone by himself, and with the help of his staff, rented a car and left. In this business, it's all about winning and losing; if you win, you're sought after, but if you lose, nobody cares.
Finally, the more than one hundred people gathered in the stone-cutting area decided to have a meal at a nearby hotel. As for who would treat them, Zhuang Rui didn't know and was vaguely dragged along.
"Brother Zhuang, so, do you agree with or disagree with the suggestion I just made?"
After sitting down at the hotel, Han Haowei hadn't forgotten his earlier suggestion. He took a sip of water to moisten his throat and brought up the topic again.
"Old Han, aren't you talking nonsense? Everyone knows Old Tang's status in the jade gambling circle. Why would a junior like me get involved..."
Zhuang Rui waved his hands repeatedly. It wasn't that he lacked confidence, but rather that he didn't want to pursue this empty fame at all. With his current wealth, he no longer needed to rely on fame to make a living.
"Xiao Zhuang, the quality of the raw materials at this auction is quite uneven, so it really requires a discerning eye. How about we each pick a piece of rough jade and give it a try?"
To Zhuang Rui's surprise, Old Tang was actually very interested in Han Haowei's suggestion. As soon as he said this, people at more than ten tables in the hotel started to make a fuss.
The fact that Tang Zenan could say such a thing is enough to show that in his mind, Zhuang Rui's level of rough stone appraisal is at least on par with his own.
Zhuang Ruinian is only thirty years old, yet he is so highly regarded by Elder Tang. He is the "Jade King" of the North!
It seems that Zhuang Rui will truly live up to that reputation from today onwards.
"Brother Zhuang, didn't that old man Gu say you've lost your reputation these past two years? Why not take a gamble? Nobody's betting anyway, what's there to be afraid of?"
Just as Zhuang Rui was about to decline, Peng Fei suddenly whispered something in his ear that made Zhuang Rui pause in surprise.
"That's true. Many people in the Jade Association are questioning themselves, so this is a chance to prove themselves."
Thinking of this, Zhuang Rui smiled and looked at Old Tang, saying, "Grandpa, since you are in such a good mood, I will gladly oblige. How about this, tomorrow we each choose a piece of material and cut it open right here?"
"Good, good young man, you should be full of energy. It's settled then."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Old Tang was immediately delighted.
After hearing Zhuang Rui's comments on the rough stone, Old Tang was secretly shocked. Even with his expertise, he dared not say that the stone was entirely green, yet Zhuang Rui's assessment was spot on.
Tang Zenan had never met his match in the jade gambling circle for so many years. Now, in his old age, someone with an eye for jade has appeared who is no less discerning than him. This has made the usually unassuming Old Tang excited and unable to resist testing his eye for jade with Zhuang Rui.
Chapter 968 A Gamble Beyond Jade Gambling