Next to Old Wang's booth.
Lan Xiaohe was gasping, her face flushed red, and her hair wet from sweat, she looked very excited.
Her eyes were fixed on the raw ore being cut open by the stone cutting master. As the cut face was washed with water, a crystal clear green color was revealed.
"Damn! It's another full green ice type!"
The crowd around the booth grew larger, and they gasped at the sight of the green jadeite.
"Young lady, I'll offer you one thousand taels of silver for this stone. Are you willing to sell it?"
A newcomer quickly made a bid, only to be laughed at by the people around him.
"Haha, Old Wang, with so many people watching, do you really think you can still find a bargain? If this young lady agrees to sell, I'll offer three thousand taels."
The person spoke teasingly, while expectantly looking at Lan Xiaohe.
"Sorry, it's not my decision to make. Master, please continue to cut the stone."
Lan Xiaohe didn't even turn her head.
At this moment, she suddenly understood the madness of gamblers in the stone betting world.
Although these stones were not hers, and she was just trying to complete the task assigned by the employer.
But as she watched each stone being cut open, seeing the ordinary and even ugly stones suddenly become valuable, and hearing the people around her offering higher and higher prices, her heart couldn't help but swell with excitement.
"Alright."
The two stone cutting masters, whose arms were originally a bit sore, were also rejuvenated after seeing the full green color. They didn't hesitate to grab their special saws and cut the stones with a creaking sound. Soon, a pile of stone powder formed on the ground.
As stone cutting masters, when their employer gets a good piece of jade, they also get a big red envelope.
Moreover, their profession is somewhat superstitious. Since they have successively cut so many good pieces of jade, others would actively invite them to cut stones in order to bring good luck.
It can be foreseen that their income will soar in the following days, and their only concern would be whether their arms can withstand such high-intensity work.
Old Wang, the booth owner, went from mocking to astonished, and now his expression was as if he had eaten a fly - disgusted and uncomfortable.
He never thought that the stones chosen by the seemingly ignorant young master like picking watermelons would all skyrocket in value.
Admittedly, these stones had already been sold, and their profits or losses had nothing to do with him.
But that scoundrel insisted on cutting the stones right in front of him.
He felt a bit regretful.
All these treasures were sold by him after all. If he had opened these stones himself, wouldn't he be the one making huge profits now?
Out of the seven raw ores, five had been opened. The lowest value of them was worth more than one thousand taels, which directly made up for all the costs, and the rest was pure profit.
Thinking about others making huge profits compared to his own losses felt even worse!
"Oh, Old Wang, don't look so eagerly. No matter how much you look, it's not yours."
Yu Xian appeared beside Old Wang at some point, with an attitude that could anger people to death.
Yulan followed behind him, covering her mouth, giggling at her master's childishness.
Old Wang glanced at Yu Xian, his face sullen, but after a few hesitant glances, he sighed and said:
I admit your brilliance, I couldn't see the True Master. I apologize for my offensive words just now."
Yu Xian lightly exclaimed: "Old Wang, you're giving up so easily? I didn't even try hard yet, and you're already conceding?"
Old Wang snorted: "I always say what I think. If one's skill is not up to par, then it is not up to par. You're amazing, I admit defeat.
If you still want to humiliate me, then let's draw the line and start fresh. I am not someone who can't accept losing."
"Tsk tsk, Old Wang, I didn't expect you to be quite cute."
"Now that we've met like this, I'm called Yu Xian, may I know your name?"
Yu Xian is not the kind of person to hold grudges over small matters. Since Old Wang conceded, he didn't force the issue. Instead, he tried to make friends with him.
"Lu Yuan."
Old Wang reluctantly shook hands with Yu Xian, who reached out to him, with a somewhat proud and aloof attitude.
Yu Xian started laughing out loud, putting his arm on the big-beard's shoulder, with the appearance of close brothers.
"Little brother Lu, don't say your big brother doesn't take care of you! These jadeite stones were all cut from you; if you want, I'll sell them to you as a package deal."
Although Lu Yuan had a big beard, Yu Xian could tell he was actually quite young and purposely grew the beard to appear more mature.
Lu Yuan brushed off Yu Xian's hand, looking unconvinced: "You don't even look like you're in your twenties, and I'm already twenty-five. How can you be my big brother?"
Yu Xian touched his face, feeling quite aggrieved: "Do I have to tell everyone that I'm actually in my thirties?"
If he were still young, he wouldn't have chosen to settle down in the Mortal World and live a leisurely life. Instead, he would have stayed in Cultivation World to struggle for a chance at immortality.
Of course, in that case, he probably wouldn't have discovered his cheat codes, as it was rumored that being a child disciple added a blessing to your cultivation.
"Huh?" Lu Yuan was stunned: "I've always heard of people looking younger than their age, but I never thought I'd meet one today. Are you lying to me?"
"If it's not true, who would want to make themselves look over a decade older and have all those adorable young girls call them uncle?"
Yu Xian sighed, remembering a scene from his past life when he was almost thirty and single. As he passed by a school, he was called an uncle by a female student.
Damn, he was already an uncle without even having a girlfriend.
Convinced by Yu Xian's reasoning, Lu Yuan completely ignored that he had inexplicably become the younger brother.
"The jadeite stones you cut have excellent quality; if you're willing to sell them to me, I won't take advantage of you. I'll buy them all at market price."
Everyone loves good quality jade, and besides, he could make a small profit just by flipping them. The market was so hot right now, he didn't need to worry about getting stuck with them.
"Brother Lu is a straightforward person. In that case, I'll give you a discount on the jade."
Yu Xian cut to the chase, stabbing Lu Yuan's metaphorical artery.
Lu Yuan's face instantly froze.
He had acted too hastily!
At this point, he didn't have the thick skin to say no like Yu Xian did. He forced a smile and said, as though it was squeezed from his throat:
"Fine, I'll give you a 2% discount."
"That's too little. Think small, Brother Lu. We're not doing a one-time deal. Think about how you're a stranger in Prosper City. As your big brother, how could I not take care of you?
The discount you give me right now isn't just a simple discount; it's your pass for the future, your protective amulet."
"I have a guard…"
"What use is a guard in society? Can they fight against officials? I have connections, I can even see Prince Wang whenever I want."
"My Dad knows someone from the Prefecture Government."
"Your Dad's connections aren't yours. If you want to grow and become strong, if you want to be independent and self-reliant, you can't always rely on your father.
Knowing me is proof you're taking the first step towards becoming strong."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan's beard began to bristle, as though he could see the picture of his glorious return home, and his father realizing his son had grown up.
Luckily, his reason prevailed.
"How much do you want?"
"Just give me a 20% discount."
"No way!"
Lu Yuan immediately sobered up. If he dared to offer a 20% discount, his father would dare to break his legs.
"Well, how much then?"
Yu Xian acted like he was out of options.
With a hint of shame, Lu Yuan felt that he actually seemed small-minded.
"Nine and a half ... 10%! At most, I'll give you a 10% discount!"
He almost burst into tears.
"No problem! I'll give you the silver later."
Yu Xian clapped his hands, and the deal was closed on the spot.