Peach Blossom Divine Medical God Chapter 1922 - 1916: Stone Selection Master?

The crowd buzzed with excited chatter, dissecting the potential outcomes from what they believed was an expert standpoint.

Their assessments weren't entirely off the mark, of course. Yet, the true excitement of betting on raw stones stems from the unpredictability; not every stone can be judged by its exterior alone.

Some stones, appearing flawless on the surface, can disappoint when revealed. Conversely, a few unassuming stones might conceal extraordinary treasures. It's a gamble where absolute certainty remains elusive for anyone.

As the murmuring in the assembly began to fade, the shop boss was nearing the completion of his preparations for stone cutting.

Given that Mr. Jin’s stone was of a considerable size and possessed a regular shape, making it straightforward to handle, it was placed onto the cutting machine first.

"Mr. Jin, I'm commencing the cut now, with everyone present as witnesses," the boss announced, his hands rubbing together with a touch of eagerness.

After all, this wager encompassed a million, a substantial fortune by any measure for those involved.

"Proceed," Mr. Jin replied, radiating confidence, exhibiting no concern whatsoever about the possibility of losing.

In his own estimation, the victor was a foregone conclusion; there was genuinely nothing to fret about.

"Get on with it, boss, show us what you've got. All eyes are on you, nothing will go awry."

"Haha, it's been quite some time since anyone here in the market engaged in a stone bet! This is certainly invigorating."

"While there might not be much suspense, the thrill of witnessing it is undeniable. Boss, don't keep us waiting, slice it open swiftly so we can all see."

...

The spectators urged him onward, prompting the boss to expedite the process.

"Very well, I shall proceed with the cut." Unwilling to dampen the crowd's burgeoning excitement, the boss commenced his task.

Seizing the opportune moment, he powered up the cutting machine, beginning with the stone selected by Mr. Jin.

Zzzzz...

As the cutting machine whirred to life, a small opening soon appeared on the stone, though it was far too narrow to discern any interior details.

After a short interval, as the blade penetrated deeper, some of the material within started to become visible.

"Amazing, there's genuinely something of value inside! Mr. Jin truly lives up to his reputation, spotting it right away!"

"Indeed, one can discern the distinct texture of jade within; there's no question about the presence of good material."

...

Observing fragments of jade among the cuttings, the onlookers swiftly concluded that Mr. Jin had emerged victorious, showering him with effusive praise.

Mr. Jin, basking in the adulation, found his smile spreading uncontrollably across his face.

He was thoroughly enjoying this moment.

"Despite my relatively young years, I have frequented this raw stone market for quite some time. If I couldn't discern something like this, what would that say about my capabilities?" Mr. Jin remarked with a smug air.

This statement drew yet another wave of enthusiastic agreement from the assembled crowd.

"Precisely, precisely! Who in the raw stone market isn't aware of Mr. Jin's exceptionally sharp eye? You grasp the situation with a single glance; I truly admire you." The others offered him approving gestures.

Even the cutting boss held Mr. Jin's discerning eye for stones in high regard.

Throughout the cutting process, he offered a few words of commendation.

Amidst the ongoing conversation, the stone was swiftly cut open.

Split into two halves, it was removed from the cutting machine, revealing jade within. However, the quality was not exceptional.

Within the context of this raw stone market, it might fetch a price of five to six thousand bucks at most.

This outcome brought a measure of surprise to Mr. Jin.

For, based on its external appearance, the quality should not have been this mediocre.

Fortunately, he had not proclaimed it to be top-tier material, only that it contained substance, thus avoiding complete embarrassment.

"Well, my stone has been revealed; although the quality isn't superb, it is at least some jade. Now, it is your turn," Mr. Jin declared with a sneer, directly addressing Chen Yang.

Wang Jingman observed this exchange, a knot of nervousness tightening within her.

Were it not for her unwavering trust in Chen Yang, she might have concluded that Mr. Jin’s stone was superior; the stone Chen Yang had selected appeared to be in poor condition and was notably small.

It certainly did not seem like a specimen that would yield anything of value.

Yet, Chen Yang remained composed, a subtle smile gracing his lips.

"I informed you that your stone was a loser, not worth even eighty thousand; yet you insisted on taking the blame yourself," Chen Yang retorted cynically, then decisively turned to the boss and commanded, "Cut!"

Chen Yang's decisive command left everyone present momentarily stunned.

With such resolute conviction, could there possibly be something truly valuable concealed within?

Impossible; that stone was so diminutive and in such terrible shape, there was no way it contained anything worthwhile.

Impossible, utterly impossible.

This sentiment echoed in the minds of all.

"Right, I'll proceed with cutting the second stone now," the boss snapped back to attention, wasting no further time.

He swiftly adjusted the machine’s clamp, preparing to cut the stone that Chen Yang had chosen.

Mr. Jin fixed his gaze intently on the stone Chen Yang had selected, his expression tinged with a hint of displeasure.

Chen Yang’s earlier remark had struck a nerve.

He had anticipated the presence of jade, though certainly not of such poor quality, barely warranting eight thousand bucks.

Fortunately, he hadn't made any bold claims about guaranteeing high-grade jade; otherwise, the embarrassment would have been substantial.

"Hmph, our bet is on whose stone yields more value, not whose results in a loss. You label me as a fool now, but wait until your pile of junk stones turns out to be worthless; then, we'll see who the true fool is," Mr. Jin retorted with a chilling smile.

"Fine, we shall see."

Chen Yang couldn't be bothered to prolong the dispute; clarity would arrive once the stone was opened.

Before long, the shop owner had meticulously adjusted the clamp.

Prior to commencing the cut, he inquired from Chen Yang how he wished for it to be sliced.

"Slice it down the exact center, symmetrically. If the jade within is of good quality, the only issue will be the limited size of the material. A symmetrical cut will perfectly yield a pair of bracelets or a Jade Pendant," Chen Yang directed.

Hmm?

The moment Chen Yang voiced his instructions, everyone present in the room paused, a collective moment of surprise, before erupting into laughter.

Mr. Jin, in particular, guffawed heartily, his face alight with smug satisfaction.

"Wow, I couldn't stand you, which is precisely why I bet against you. Do you genuinely perceive yourself as a master, speaking so professionally? What a clown," Mr. Jin couldn't resist the urge to taunt.

The onlookers, who had maintained a degree of moderation until this point, also began to jeer upon hearing Chen Yang's words.

They openly discussed the arrogance often exhibited by young individuals.

The underlying reason for their reaction stemmed from the exceptionally challenging nature of accurately appraising stones.

For ordinary individuals, a success rate exceeding fifty percent was considered remarkable, let alone achieving a guaranteed profit.

Only a master artisan with unparalleled skill could confidently declare the expected yield of a stone with such unwavering certainty.

This conviction was precisely why they found Chen Yang's pronouncements laughable.

Not a single soul among them believed Chen Yang possessed such mastery.

Even the shop owner, tasked with the cutting, smirked, finding the situation amusing.

However, he remained silent, proceeding to follow Chen Yang's instructions, slowly repositioning the stone, preparing it for the cut.

Since the stone belonged to Chen Yang, and he was merely performing the cutting service, the boss naturally complied with Chen Yang's wishes.

"Alright boss, everything is set. May I begin cutting now?" the boss asked, a grin playing on his lips.

Chen Yang remained unfazed by the surrounding mockery; he surmised that the louder their laughter now, the more profound their embarrassment would be later.