To my astonishment, this piece of material turned out to be "jelly jade." What is jelly jade? It's a type of jade with crystals so delicate and translucent that they resemble jelly—remarkably clear, fine, and beautiful.
However, the color left much to be desired. Its exceptional translucency resulted in a pale green hue, rather than the vivid green typically desired—a common characteristic of jade from the Muna mines.
I examined the material carefully and remarked to two companions, "This is a premium piece. Despite the deceptive 'rogue window' cut, it's unmistakably jelly jade. It has color, the texture is mature, and the water content is abundant and of high quality—it's essentially icy jade at its core."
Hearing this, both companions were visibly excited. Wei, one of the jade experts, said, "It's about ten kilograms, which certainly includes bracelet-grade material. Jelly jade is exceedingly rare, and combined with its Muna origin and slight coloration, any bracelets made from it would fetch millions. This material could yield at least three bracelet-grade pieces. If the entire piece is uniformly high-quality, it could easily be worth billions."
I nodded in agreement as Kun Sang, another jade enthusiast, meticulously inspected the material under a light. After a moment of silence and a series of approving nods, he muttered, "The material is extraordinary, but the price..."
At that moment, the reality of the situation struck me—the quality was exceptional, but the price would be astronomical. The original owner must have recognized its value as jelly jade. When I glanced at the starting bid, I was dumbfounded—five million euros! That's over forty million yuan. No wonder no one else had shown interest; it was prohibitively expensive.
The two companions exchanged wry smiles. Though the material was outstanding, the cost was daunting. Wei remarked, "Jade from Muna is known for its unpredictable nature. Its co-mineralization often leads to dramatic transformations—vivid green stones sometimes cut to reveal a disappointing blue, while seemingly pale stones may deepen in color upon cutting. Years ago, a large Muna stone brought financial ruin for this very reason. Unlike stones from Damaikan, where even a blue base is attractive, Muna stones with blue tones lose their allure, appearing dull and lifeless. If we encounter blue here, it's over."
Acknowledging the risks, I examined the material again under a light. The internal green appeared consistent, with no visible blue. However, the possibility of blue inclusions remained uncertain.
I turned to Wei and said, "This is a high-stakes material. The odds of winning exceed 60%, making it a promising gamble. As long as there's no blue, it's a guaranteed profit. If the green deepens even slightly—achieving a spinach-green hue—we could multiply our investment several times over. Muna stones are famed for their high yield and exceptional gamble potential. When it comes to betting on jade, why not take the chance?"
My words left both men deep in thought. I wasn't worried, as I had no financial stake in this. Ultimately, the decision was theirs to make.
Wei clenched his teeth and declared, "Kun Sang, I'm in. Are you?"
After deliberating, Kun Sang finally nodded. "I'm in too. Let's split it fifty-fifty."
Wei smiled at me and said, "Zhao Fei, if this turns out to be premium jade, I'll gift you a two-million-yuan bonus."
I chuckled lightly and replied, "Let's win it first."
With determination, they placed a joint bid of 5.1 million euros. As the screen displayed the updated bid, we waited anxiously. Suddenly, the price was outbid, soaring to 5.5 million euros. The competitor? Chen Xi.
Scanning the room, I noticed Chen Xi and his sidekick Smiling Monkey smirking at us. My temper flared—these two troublemakers were clearly trying to drive up the price.
Wei's face darkened as he glared at them and muttered, "Those scoundrels are trying to steal this material from us."
Kun Sang remained silent but quickly submitted a higher bid—6 million euros.
I was shocked. Six million euros was no small amount. Clearly, Kun Sang was determined to secure this piece after his previous jade gambles had been less than successful. However, the price was soon outbid again, climbing to 6.1 million euros.
Fueled by anger, Wei and Kun Sang confronted Chen Xi. Wei demanded, "What's your game, Chen Xi?"
Chen Xi grinned maliciously and replied, "It's a gamble. If you're betting, why can't I? It's all about the money, isn't it?"
Wei glanced around the room and whispered to Kun Sang, "They can't have that much money. Let's push the bid to 7 million. If they match it, we walk away. Let's see how they pay."
Kun Sang hesitated but ultimately agreed. Raising the stakes, they placed a bid of 7.5 million euros. As the screen updated, Chen Xi and Smiling Monkey smirked in silence. They didn't counterbid.
Their silence confirmed our suspicions—they were just there to stir trouble. Though furious, Wei and Kun Sang had no choice but to finalize the purchase at an inflated price.
The paperwork was completed, and we retrieved the nearly ten-kilogram piece, taking it directly to the cutting room. To our surprise, Chen Xi and Smiling Monkey were there too, watching silently. Perhaps they were just seeking entertainment or petty revenge.
I handed the material to the master cutter and said, "Shall I take charge?"
Wei replied, "Zhao Fei, you decide."
I instructed the cutter, "Remove the 'rogue window' and slice it into three-centimeter-thick slabs while preserving bracelet-grade sections."
The cutter hesitated, explaining that the material's outer layer was already one centimeter thick, making such precision challenging. I reassured him, "I trust your skills."
The tension in the room was palpable as the master cutter began his meticulous work. Even Wei and Kun Sang, seasoned gamblers, were visibly nervous. Though they could afford the loss, the stakes were high—not just financially, but emotionally. Meanwhile, I felt a mix of excitement and anticipation; this was their gamble, not mine.
The first cut revealed a slice of translucent green jade—jelly-like and pristine, with no trace of blue. Overjoyed, I exclaimed, "Look at this! Jelly jade, icy texture, pale green with potential for gradient coloration. It's a win!"
Wei and Kun Sang inspected the cut, their faces lighting up with relief and excitement. The gamble had paid off—at least for now. But the real question remained: should they stop here or aim for even greater rewards?
Wei and Kun Sang studied the freshly cut jade with a mixture of awe and deliberation. Wei finally broke the silence, his voice filled with exhilaration. "Zhao Fei, you've got an incredible eye! This piece is flawless so far—icy, delicate, and without a hint of blue. If the remaining core holds the same quality, we're looking at a massive win."
Kun Sang, tracing his fingers along the jade's gradient, added, "There's no visible cracking, the texture is uniform, and the bracelet positions are intact. If this turns out to be a full high-quality yield, it could easily fetch over two billion yuan."
I nodded and said, "Based on the current state, the material is already worth around 1.2 billion yuan. If you cut deeper and find full consistency, the value doubles to nearly 2.4 billion—close to 300 million euros. But it's a gamble. The next cut could confirm its uniformity—or ruin its value entirely."
Both men fell silent, caught between the promise of extraordinary profit and the looming risk of significant loss. The tension was almost palpable.
"I'll gamble," Wei declared, breaking the stalemate with steely resolve.
Kun Sang clenched his fists, his inner struggle evident. After a long moment, he exhaled sharply and said, "I'm in. Zhao Fei, guide the cut."
Excitement surged through me. Although I had no financial stake, the prospect of uncovering a jade treasure was intoxicating. I directed the cutter, "Slice vertically through the middle. Preserve three bracelet sections while leaving the remainder for carving. This way, even if the material isn't uniform, the loss is minimized."
The master cutter, sensing the weight of the moment, nodded solemnly. He began his work, the diamond blade sparking against the dense stone.
The room was silent save for the grinding of the cutter. Wei, Kun Sang, and I stood motionless, eyes fixed on the material as it yielded to the blade. Every passing second felt like an eternity. Even though I wasn't financially invested, I couldn't help but feel the rising tension.
At last, the blade finished its cut. The cutter carefully separated the halves, revealing the jade's core. The room fell into stunned silence.
I stepped forward and examined the cross-section, my heart racing. "Incredible!" I exclaimed. "The green runs deep, with consistent saturation. There's a gradual transition to a richer spinach-green hue, and the icy clarity remains impeccable. This is full material—worth every bit of the risk."
Wei and Kun Sang leaned in, their faces breaking into wide grins as they saw the unblemished interior. Wei slapped me on the back, laughing heartily. "Zhao Fei, you've made us rich! This is the gamble of a lifetime."
Kun Sang, though more reserved, couldn't hide his elation. "This is a jackpot. The material is flawless, with no blue and no major inclusions. If we process this properly, the market value could easily exceed three billion yuan."
I added, "You've not just won—you've multiplied your initial investment nearly fourfold. Congratulations!"
The tension that had gripped the room dissipated, replaced by an atmosphere of celebration. The cutter, relieved and slightly proud, handed the slabs over for closer inspection. Even Chen Xi and Smiling Monkey, lurking on the sidelines, couldn't suppress their astonishment.
Kun Sang, unable to resist a dig, glanced at them and said dryly, "Thanks for the competition earlier. It only made this victory sweeter."
Chen Xi's smirk faltered, and he muttered something inaudible before leaving with Smiling Monkey in tow. Their attempt at sabotage had clearly backfired.
With the excitement of the cut subsiding, Wei turned to me and said, "Zhao Fei, your insight made this possible. We owe you more than just a bonus. Let's celebrate this win properly."
I smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The gamble had paid off in spectacular fashion, turning a high-stakes risk into a once-in-a-lifetime triumph.