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

We need to generate excitement, to sell the value of this jade. We need to make it seem incredibly valuable, to entice Seventh Master into buying it. He'll pay, but I won't give the jade to him; it's going to Skinny Monkey.

This is a gambit, a calculated risk, but it hinges on successfully gambling on this piece of jade.

My heart pounds with a mixture of anxiety and exhilaration. This gamble is a matter of life and death, for me and Skinny Monkey. Our feud is nearing its dramatic conclusion.

"Alright everyone, listen up! I'm about to cut this stone, and everyone gets a share of the spoils! If I uncover a treasure, it's drinks on me!" Malan announced, clapping her hands as she moved through the restaurant. The diners erupted in excited applause.

Malan raised her hands high, exuding confidence and charisma. She's a master of this kind of showmanship. I watched as Seventh Master approached, supported by Ma Qing, with Chen Xi trailing behind. I wondered if Chen Xi's presence was related to our prior agreement.

They joined us in our private room. It wasn't entirely enclosed; Seventh Master's restaurant was a charming, rustic establishment. The private rooms were loft-style, with elegantly crafted, open-lattice walls, offering a sense of both privacy and openness.

Seventh Master arrived, his gaze shifting between me and the jade. He smiled. "Zhao Fei, gambling again? This piece looks promising; it has an alluring quality."

I smiled. "Seventh Master's keen eye is unmatched. This stone reveals ice-type jade upon opening, a high starting point. A single lucky color, and I've won. I won a sixty-million piece here last time, so I believe this is a lucky place for me."

Seventh Master chuckled, but Ma Qing immediately interjected, "Such frivolous pursuits! Gambling on jade is hardly a respectable business. Winning is fine, but losing millions… I urge you to reconsider. Invest your money wisely in legitimate ventures, and avoid leading others astray."

I smiled faintly. "Women, women. One loss, and you're terrified. I believe your luck was simply bad; don't judge the whole based on a single instance. Perhaps this stone will bring us fortune, wouldn't you agree, Miss Ma? Refrain from commentary; I don't need your unsolicited advice."

My retort was sharp. Ma Qing ignored me, settling Seventh Master into a seat. Despite her uniform, she remained strikingly alluring. A pity she's destined to be my boss's woman; I can only admire from afar.

Malan declared, "Sister, you pursue legitimate business, I'll stick to the underhanded. Let's see who triumphs first."

Ma Qing smiled. "Sister, I have no desire to compete. If you wish to return, you're always welcome. As I've said, you're entitled to half of Father's holdings."

"No, I don't want that. I've decided to reclaim it, and I will. Here's my card. Consider this official notice: we're competitors now," Malan declared boldly.

Ma Qing's anger flickered, but she remained composed, handing the card to Seventh Master. He read it, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Who gave you the audacity? You dare…"

"Father, am I a member of the Ma Gang? Is the Ma Gang your personal property? No! In today's world, it's about legality. Whoever registers first owns it. Sister taught me that; business requires shrewdness," Malan retorted defiantly.

Seventh Master chuckled. "Very well. I misjudged you. Let's see how far you'll go."

Malan reveled in Seventh Master's speechless astonishment. The pride was palpable.

Zhao Kui returned with a tool kit. I opened it to reveal a small, handheld electric drill with eighteen different bits. I selected a flat-head bit for smoothing the surface.

After setting it up, I examined the jade. Without further ado, I asked Zhao Kui for water to rinse away the debris. Prepared, I took a deep breath. Life or death hung in the balance.

I switched on the drill and began to work. Stone dust flew as I carefully widened the opening. The room fell silent; even the outside diners hushed, some craning their necks to watch.

The whirring drill drowned out all other sounds. My heart pounded, my breath came in gasps, yet I remained calm, my hand steady. This was a multi-million dollar gamble; I couldn't afford mistakes. Though I knew even if I damaged the stone, it wouldn't matter; it was large enough that there would still be plenty of usable jade, but I wanted a perfect result.

I carefully ground away the surface, Zhao Kui diligently rinsing away the dust. Then, my eyes widened. I shouted, "Damn it! Color! There's color inside…"

Malan's excitement was uncontainable. She peered at the jade, "Where?"

I shone a strong light on the exposed surface. I wasn't mistaken. There it was, a deep, translucent red. I'd only ground away ten centimeters, and already there was color. This stone was a fortune.

"Red! See it? Red inside! Red jade! Green is jade, red is jade! Ha! This color is magnificent!"

Malan joined in the excitement. "Everyone, it's on me tonight! Eat up, and then you're free to go!"

The room erupted in applause and cheers. I heard exclamations of excitement and the clicks of cameras. The excitement was so great that many people had already crowded into the room.

Chen Xi approached, looking astonished. His excitement was evident. "How's the jade?" he asked.

"Boss Chen, the jade has revealed its color, doubling its value. At current market rates, at least forty million. The color is deep and rich; it's red jade. You can check the price of red jade yourself."

Chen Xi frowned. "May I invest?"

I shook my head. "Boss Chen, you said I cheated you last time. I wouldn't dare let you invest again…"

Chen Xi looked puzzled but said nothing, returning to Seventh Master's side and whispering in his ear. I couldn't hear them, but Seventh Master's changing expression told me he was interested in the jade.

I ignored them and continued working, moving to another side of the stone. With four sides, one already showing red, another color would double the value again, to at least eighty million.

I resumed grinding. The hum of the drill gradually silenced the crowd. Everyone watched in stunned silence.

I was exhilarated, sweat dripping down my body. My mouth felt parched, but I moistened my lips and pressed on.

Slowly, I chipped away at the stone's surface, my heart pounding with anticipation. I silently urged, More color! Keep revealing more color! Each new color would double the value, so I hoped for as many colors as possible. A rainbow of hues would be a dream come true.

Jade possessing red, purple, and green is known as "Fu Lu Shou" (Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity). Adding two more colors makes it "Five Blessings at the Door," names that speak volumes about its potential value.

I'd ground away more than ten centimeters, but no new color appeared. Yet, I felt it was coming, a strange intuition.

Suddenly, a new hue emerged, washed clean by Zhao Kui's water spray. A stroke of incredible luck.

"Purple! Damn it, purple! There's purple! Look, purple!" I exclaimed, pointing at the jade. Everyone leaned in to see. Even Seventh Master was captivated, kneeling beside Ma Qing to examine the stone.

The top of the jade was mostly revealed, still a translucent ice type, unchanged in quality, only enhanced by the two colors.

I shone my light into the stone. The purple was remarkably pure, a vibrant, almost celestial shade. Seventh Master touched the stone, visibly excited. "Translucent, lustrous, aged and pure in color. A magnificent piece."

I looked at Seventh Master. He might not be a jade expert, but he knew quality. "Seventh Master, it's a double-colored treasure! At least eighty million now! This place truly is lucky for me, ha!"

"Eighty million? Are you joking? You're saying just any old stone is worth eighty million? It's that easy?" Ma Qing scoffed.

"My dear girl, you simply don't understand. This is an exceptional piece, ice-type base with two colors. Even a single bracelet would fetch millions. I'm a jade merchant from Beijing, and I can assure you, eighty million is a conservative estimate. Young man, will you sell? I'll pay eighty million on the spot," a portly man in designer clothes declared.

His words garnered agreement from many, who chided Ma Qing's lack of expertise. I watched Ma Qing's face contort in frustration, her eyes fixed on me with a venomous glare.

I reveled in her discomfort, a delicious sense of satisfaction. It was the sour grapes effect, I supposed.

I shook my head at the fat man. "I need to continue. Two colors have emerged; I want three, I want Fu Lu Shou…"

I reached for the drill, but Seventh Master stopped me, his hand on my arm. My surprise quickly turned to glee. I knew he was hooked.