King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

I gently ran my fingers over the texture of the material, its dark, glossy surface exuding a comforting allure. It was a piece of black "Wu Sha" jadeite, with no waxy coating or signs of watermarks. The fine and uniform sand grains, coupled with a thin black-gray mist layer and faint black blemishes, were classic indicators of an old mining site. I confidently concluded that the raw stone came from the second layer of an ancient pit.

This stone weighed no less than 110 kilograms—a substantial piece, to say the least. It bore a cut surface, and as I examined the mist at the opening, its grayish-black hue presented the greatest gamble this stone offered.

The mist is a layer between the outer skin and the core of a jade stone, varying in thickness and often revealing whether the stone is of an aged variety or a younger one. Its presence signifies high hardness and maturity of the jadeite, making it an essential factor in assessing the quality, origin, and authenticity of the stone, as well as its market value.

Carefully, I studied the mist at the cut surface—a dense, dark gray layer several centimeters thick, sandwiched between the stone's crust and core. Though this mist layer is typically discarded during processing, even a small remnant mistakenly included in a bracelet could create a starkly contrasting "yin-yang" color, rendering the piece unsightly and devalued. It's no wonder artisans treat such material with caution.

Yet, the very presence of this mist layer hinted at the potential for top-quality jadeite within, a promising feature that significantly boosted the stone's allure.

As I inspected the piece further, its overall quality appeared exceptional. There were no visible signs of falsification. Skeptical, I squatted and attempted to lift the stone, suspecting it might be hollow and deceptively lightweight. However, its solid weight quickly dismissed my doubts.

Two companions watched my examination. One of them asked, "Brother Fei, what's the deal with this stone?"

I shook my head. "I can't tell," I replied. "Damn it. If it's genuine, its market value is no less than thirty million. The crust, the mist, and its overall appearance all point to a raw stone capable of producing jadeite worth billions."

"No way, Brother Fei! Even you can't figure it out?" Wang Gui, intrigued but equally perplexed, chimed in. Though knowledgeable, he too was at a loss.

Using a flashlight, I directed the beam toward the cut surface, searching for signs of tampering. The illuminated section revealed a translucent, somewhat fine-grained crystal structure with decent luster and water content. Its hue leaned toward spinach green, but the base tone was slightly gray, with uneven transitions in color and texture. Cottony inclusions and a less mature structure suggested a higher probability of it being a younger material.

This contradiction unsettled me. The thickness of the mist layer, at least five centimeters, strongly indicated an exceptionally aged stone. So why was the jade at the cut surface so immature?

This paradox defied my knowledge, leaving me baffled. Despite my certainty that the stone was counterfeit, I couldn't pinpoint the flaw. I couldn't help but marvel at the skill of the forger, a masterful deceiver who made even my expertise seem amateurish.

I scrutinized the cut surface further. Aside from a minor internal crack that seemed to extend inward, the stone displayed no faults. The presence of blemishes and mist suggested an authentic, high-quality piece worth at least thirty million, potentially escalating to over a billion if top-grade jadeite were extracted.

But how could that be? Frustrated, I stood and stroked my chin, my thoughts adrift. The rain poured outside, a steady reminder of the enigma I couldn't solve. If only Hua Hua were here—I was certain she would have an answer.

Just then, I crouched again and noticed an incredibly tiny hole under the light. It was almost imperceptible, a mark likely left by an electric drill.

This tiny hole, invisible without direct lighting, was evidence of tampering. Burmese traders often drill small holes to examine the internal crystals of a raw stone. Once analyzed, they might decide whether to proceed with a risky bet or abandon the stone.

The presence of this hole confirmed someone had already investigated the interior. Yet, peering into it revealed nothing, as the extracted crystals had long been removed. The hole offered no further clues.

But one thing was clear: this stone was a counterfeit.

I instructed, "Prepare the car. We're taking this stone to Boss Wei."

Zhao Kui nodded, quickly pulling the car around. With the help of a few subordinates, we loaded the stone into the trunk.

"Brother Fei, the rain's heavy, and you've got a wound on your back. Be careful not to get it wet—it might get infected," Wang Gui reminded me.

I nodded, but my mind was preoccupied. The mystery of the stone consumed me. Knowing it was fake only fueled my obsession to uncover how.

We drove through the rain to Da Chang Jadeite Store. The downpour had subdued the usual bustle, leaving the shop unusually quiet. After unloading the stone and carrying it upstairs, we met with Boss Wei in his office.

"Brother Zhao Fei," he greeted, "what brings you here today? Ready for some jade gambling?"

I smiled faintly. "Not today, Boss Wei. I've got a piece for you to look at."

Hearing this, his curiosity piqued. As the stone was carried in, his eyes lit up with excitement. Crouching to examine it, he exclaimed, "What a superb piece of black Wu Sha! Which site is this from? Such an oily sheen... Let me check the cut surface."

But as he inspected it, his expression shifted. Furrowing his brow, he remarked, "This is extraordinary. The cut shows mist and blemishes, with a translucent 'glutinous' texture. Though slightly immature in water content, this is a premium piece. It's a guaranteed win. Brother Zhao Fei, where did you get this?"

"Bought it," I replied nonchalantly.

To my surprise, Boss Wei seemed equally perplexed by the stone's authenticity. It had captivated even him.

"Brother Zhao Fei," he said, feigning disapproval, "you're playing it solo without inviting me?"

I chuckled. "You're the boss of a jade gambling shop. You can't just gamble casually. I'll leave this stone here for now, and tomorrow, I'll bring some friends over to gamble. It'll be good business for you."

Boss Wei grinned and nodded, clearly pleased.

To be continued…

Boss Wei smiled and said, "Alright, I'll look forward to that. But, if you're planning to sell this stone, I'm interested. How about we discuss an investment? I could offer you a 30% stake in it."

I chuckled lightly and replied, "I think I'll sell it. Black Wu Sha is not really my preference, and I don't gamble on it. But this stone is truly exceptional—its mist, its blemishes, the weight, the potential color shift—it's all pointing towards something extraordinary. If the color shifts well, this could be worth billions. The mist layer alone suggests it could be at least ice-grade or higher, with vibrant green tones that could exceed the value of three hundred million. With over a hundred bracelet positions, it's a game changer."

Boss Wei's eyes widened, and he let out a laugh. "Brother Zhao Fei, you're truly meticulous—nothing escapes your notice. But tell me, how much did you pay for this piece? I'll double your money if you sell it to me."

I couldn't help but laugh at his boldness. He had clearly been moved by my analysis, but I knew his intentions. Despite his apparent interest, my real goal was not to sell to him. "Boss Wei, I'm afraid it's not that simple. I've made an agreement with an old friend to let them inspect the stone first. You know what they say—trust is everything in this business. If they don't buy it, then we can talk further. How about that?"

Boss Wei frowned, clearly reluctant but nodded in agreement. "Alright, alright. I understand. The stone's yours, of course. You'll let me know once your friend's had a look."

I smiled and asked, "Boss Wei, would you mind inviting a couple of people to join us tomorrow? Specifically, Si Yan and Chen Xi. It's important."

He looked puzzled but didn't ask any further questions. "Si Yan and Chen Xi? No problem. I'll make sure they're here. You can count on me."

With that, Boss Wei crouched down again, caressing the stone thoughtfully. "Brother Zhao Fei, are you sure you're selling? If you're thinking of cutting it yourself, I might still be interested in investing in it."

I smiled and shook my head. "No, I'll sell it. I'm not in the market for black Wu Sha, but this piece—its potential is undeniable. It's a gamble on the mist, the blemishes, and the color change. There's a good chance of a major color shift, and if it does, this stone could bring in a fortune. I've seen the value it could reach."

Boss Wei smiled awkwardly, his gaze shifting between the stone and me. "Brother Zhao Fei, you really do know how to analyze a stone. You're absolutely right. If this stone delivers on its potential, we're talking a serious windfall here."

I leaned in, watching his reaction carefully. "If I do decide to sell, it will be after my friend has seen it. I trust them, and once they've made their decision, I'll know what to do. For now, the stone stays here."

Boss Wei seemed resigned but nodded quickly. "Understood. It'll stay here. No problem."

I stood up, ready to leave. Just as I was about to speak, my phone rang. It was a call from Zeng Boss, which meant my old friend had arrived. I answered the call, only to hear Zeng Hong's voice.

"Zhao Fei, my father and I have arrived at the Ruili airport. The rain is pouring—hurry up and pick us up!" she said urgently.

I frowned. "Damn it, how come she's here too? What a hassle." The call ended, and I turned to Boss Wei.

"Boss Wei, my friend has arrived. You know him—he's Zeng Boss. Tomorrow, I'll bring him here for some jade gambling. We should prepare some good pieces. There's money to be made. I'll go pick him up now. I'm counting on you for the rest."

Boss Wei shook my hand firmly. "Of course, don't worry about a thing. But if you're willing, I'd like to discuss this stone with Zeng Boss as well. Maybe we can work out a deal."

I chuckled and nodded. "Sure. But only after my friend has had a look at it. I trust his judgment."

I released his hand and walked out of the office, my mind racing. I couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Borrowing money, huh? If they really wanted to help me, they could just mortgage their store and come up with the money in no time. But they didn't have the heart for it.

As I left, my thoughts were focused on the upcoming meeting. I had no intention of selling the stone to anyone just yet. Not until I had answers.