Before the competition began.
Ma Dong pulled Mr. Yao aside and whispered, “Mr. Yao, if we win today, I’ll give you twenty percent of the company’s shares.”
Mr. Yao smiled, “Young Master Ma, stone gambling is my hobby. Don’t talk to me about money—I don’t care about it.”
Ma Dong nodded, “Yes, yes, my apologies for being crass…”
Before he could finish, Mr. Yao lowered his voice and asked, “By the way, how much are twenty percent of the shares worth?”
Ma Dong: “…”
Didn’t you just say you don’t care about money?
Hypocrite!
Ma Dong answered, “Twenty percent of the shares is worth two hundred million.”
Mr. Yao seemed disappointed, “Only two hundred million…”
Ma Dong quickly said, “Mr. Yao, although twenty percent is currently worth two hundred million, as long as Uncle Mu keeps supplying me, in a few years, once the company goes public, two hundred million could multiply tenfold to two billion.”
Mr. Yao’s face lit up with a smile, “Young Master Ma, rest assured. I’ve never lost at stone gambling before, and I won’t lose today.”
Ma Dong said respectfully, “Then I’ll leave it all to you, Mr. Yao.”
“A small matter, no need for formalities.”
Mr. Yao finished speaking and rolled up his sleeves.
Seeing this, the surrounding crowd became as excited as if they’d taken a stimulant.
“My goodness, is Mr. Yao about to gamble stones?”
“I never thought I’d see Mr. Yao take action in person. This trip was worth it.”
“…”
“Mr. Lin, I’ve got Mr. Yao on my side. Who’s on yours?” Ma Dong asked Lin Jingzhi, brimming with confidence.
“I’ll do it,” Ye Qiu stepped forward.
Mr. Yao glanced at Ye Qiu with a look full of disdain.
A young upstart dares to compete with me in stone gambling? Courting death!
Mu En began announcing the rules, “Mr. Yao, Mr. Ye, the rule is best of three.”
“You can freely choose any raw material here and cut it open on the spot.”
“The one who cuts out jade wins.”
“What do you both think?”
Mr. Yao said, “I have no objections.”
Mu En looked at Ye Qiu, “And you, Mr. Ye?”
Ye Qiu said, “Mr. Mu, I have a question. If both Mr. Yao and I cut out jade, how will it be judged?”
Mr. Yao’s face was full of contempt. You really think you can cut out jade? Laughable.
Mu En smiled, “If both of you cut out jade, the winner will be decided by the value of the jade. Whoever cuts out the more valuable jade wins. Mr. Ye, any other questions?”
Ye Qiu shook his head, “No more questions.”
“Then let’s begin!”
Mu En made an inviting gesture.
Mr. Yao strode forward, pausing briefly as he passed Ye Qiu.
“Young man, stone gambling is a technical skill. Luck alone won’t cut it.”
Mr. Yao’s tone was like an elder lecturing a junior.
Ye Qiu was annoyed.
Who are you to lecture me, old man?
Just because you’re the Jade King?
If I give you respect, you’re a senior. If not, you’re nothing!
Ye Qiu said, “Mr. Yao, have you ever heard a saying?”
“What saying?” Mr. Yao asked.
Ye Qiu grinned, “Good looks, good luck.”
Mr. Yao sneered, “In this day and age, it’s about skill. Relying on looks will leave you starving.”
Ye Qiu’s smile widened, “Mr. Yao, you seem to know a lot about it. Looks like you’ve tried it before!”
“You—” Mr. Yao’s face turned livid with anger.
He hadn’t expected Ye Qiu to dare confront him publicly. This was intolerable.
“Kid, let me tell you…”
Before Mr. Yao could finish, Ye Qiu turned away and said to Lin Jingzhi, “Sister Lin, once we’re done here, let’s leave early. I’m not used to Dali—too many flies buzzing around my ears, driving me mad.”
Lin Jingzhi smiled radiantly, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Hearing this, Mr. Yao trembled with rage.
Who are you calling a fly?
I ought to squash you!
Mr. Yao clenched his fists, itching to punch Ye Qiu in the face. As the renowned Jade King, he’d never been so insulted.
Mu En glanced at Ye Qiu, somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Ye Qiu to challenge the Jade King.
“This kid’s got some guts, but so what? Your girlfriend will soon be mine.”
Ma Dong, seeing this, felt a pang of worry.
That bastard Ye Qiu is deliberately provoking Mr. Yao to throw him off balance and make him underperform in the competition.
Thinking this, Ma Dong quickly said, “Mr. Yao, don’t get upset. Let’s focus on the competition!”
“Uncle Mu said earlier that the raw materials for the competition are free, and we can choose any three pieces. If we cut out jade, Uncle Mu will buy it back at three times the market price.”
“Mr. Yao, as long as there’s jade in the material, I won’t take a penny—it’s all yours.”
Mr. Yao was stunned, “Is that true?”
Ma Dong said, “Uncle Mu promised it himself, so it must be true.”
Mu En also laughed heartily, “My word is my bond. Mr. Yao, pick any material you like—it’s on me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mu.”
Mr. Yao expressed his thanks, then said coldly to Ye Qiu, “I hope you have some luck today.”
Ye Qiu smiled, “Mr. Yao, I hope you have luck too. It’d be a shame if you lost.”
“Lost?” Mr. Yao shook his head and sneered, “I’ve never lost.”
Ye Qiu said, “What if you lose today?”
“There’s no ‘what if’!” Mr. Yao said, “I haven’t lost in the past, I won’t lose today, and I won’t lose in the future!”
With that, Mr. Yao ignored Ye Qiu and strode into the factory to select raw materials.
Ye Qiu looked at Mr. Yao’s back, sneering inwardly.
No matter how great the Jade King is, can he compare to my Heavenly Eye?
Soon.
Mr. Yao returned, holding a piece of raw material weighing a few pounds.
The crowd erupted in praise.
“As expected of the Jade King, picking a raw material so quickly.”
“Less than three minutes, right? Impressive.”
“That kid actually thinks he can compete with the Jade King at stone gambling. He’s asking for it.”
Mr. Yao said to Ye Qiu, “I’ve made my choice. What about you?”
Ye Qiu glanced around, walked to a pile of raw materials, and casually picked up a stone the size of a bowl, saying, “I’ve chosen too.”
Mr. Yao looked at the material in Ye Qiu’s hand and said disdainfully, “That piece won’t yield jade. I can give you a chance to pick again.”
“No need to pick again. This is the one,” Ye Qiu smiled. “I always trust my instincts.”
If instincts worked, what would be the point of experience?
Mr. Yao was thoroughly unimpressed.
Then, Mu En called over two workers to start cutting the stones.
