Rebirth of a Stock Tycoon

  "Boss! Look, this is the real deal, authentic black tourmaline!" Mr. Song held two fist-sized stones in his hand, his eyes brimming with tears as he plaintively peddled his wares to Old Zhao.

  Mr. Zhao said he didn't think much of these two black charcoal-like stones, but as a fellow who likes jade, he naturally knew a thing or two about gambling stones. Looking at the two stones with decent appearances, he still liked them in his heart. He then turned to Mr. Song and said, "Come on, let me take a look!"

  Mr. Song hastily handed over a slightly smaller piece of stone from his hand to Director Zhao, muttering non-stop: "Take a look, this is top-quality Pa Khan old pit jade! The old Pa Khan's black sand is as dark as coal, and there's a layer of wax shell on the surface. This is called black wax shell! Mo Han, Hou Jiang, and Nan Qi also have black wax shells. But the black sand of Pa Khan and Nan Qi is easy to dissolve, this is a hot commodity!"

  Mr. Zhao, puffing on his cigarette, carefully examined the black jade in his hand. He turned it over repeatedly, looking at the pine flowers, python patterns and scabies on the stone. He couldn't quite grasp the quality of the stone. Actually, Mr. Zhao was turning it over repeatedly to see if he could rub a spot to check its color and also to make it shine from the inside. However, these two raw stones were too rough. There wasn't even a window, so he really didn't dare to easily let go...

  Mr. Song looked at Old Zhao hesitating back and forth, his heart growing anxious. Mr. Song had run to so many jade processing shops and surrounding markets, but either they wouldn't accept it or the price offered was too low.

  Yesterday, Old Man Song got up early and ran to Xiao Zhong Temple. He had planned to make a move there! However, the boss of Miao Temple was even more ruthless, only offering 1,000 yuan for a stone slab! He himself had bought these two original stones for over 10,000 yuan! It's not appreciating in value, and he can't sell it at such a low price either.

  Mr. Song let out a deep sigh and said to Old Zhao, "These two pieces of stone are my treasured gambling stones that I've kept for many years! Originally, I wanted to open them up, but I was afraid they would be ruined, so it's better to keep them as mementos. After all these years, even if we just consider the original price of the raw material, it's already worth tens of thousands. If we were to open up a piece of jade the size of a thumb, it would be worth over a hundred thousand..."

  The impatient Manager Zhao glanced at Old Man Song and said, puffing on his cigarette: "If it's so good, why don't you untie it for your grandson to go to kindergarten? We're just small business owners too!"

  It made Mr. Zhao cough and almost speechless. Mr. Song sighed, if others didn't accept it or the price was too low. Mr. Song had already taken his stone and left early, how could he still be here wasting words with Mr. Zhao...

  Just as Mr. Zhao was turning over the stone, he saw the gate being pushed open by someone. Before entering, the person said: "Mr. Song, what are you busy with? Good afternoon!"

  As the sound faded, only Cui Xiaoyan was seen carrying a large plastic foam box, struggling to move it in. Putting down the box, Cui Xiaoyan casually picked up the napkin on the table and wiped her sweat. Apologetically sticking out her tongue, she said: "Boss Zhao, today I'll borrow your restaurant's refrigerator for use. Hehe, today I've prepared a lot of skewers..."

  Suddenly found Song Dage and Zhao Laoban staring at himself. Cui Xiaoyan hurried over and said, "What are you two doing?"

  Mr. Zhao coughed twice and said with a smile: "Teacher Cui, you're really something! With your slender figure, you can actually carry such a big box?" Cui Xiaoyan sighed and said: "What can I do... If I don't carry it, who will?" After finishing speaking, her heart felt slightly sour.

  Mr. Zhao saw Cui Xiaoyan's sad expression and quickly changed the subject, saying: "Come on, Teacher Cui, you're knowledgeable! Take a look at this! This is Mr. Song from our front community, he and his wife rely on each other for support, their children left early, leaving behind only one grandson. Now they are not well off and want to send the child to kindergarten. But the kindergarten requires a sponsorship fee of 20,000 yuan! Mr. Song has no way out, so he came to me saying he wants to give these two stones to me. Can we gather 10,000 yuan? What do you think, can we get 10,000 for these stones?"

  Cui Xiaoyan nodded towards Old Man Song, listening to Boss Zhao's introduction of him. Knowing that Old Man Song was also a pitiful person, she couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice at the fate that had befallen him, and was moved by the fact that an old man with white hair was sending off a young man with black hair...

  While thinking, he took over the stone in Zhao's hand and picked up the magnifying glass on the table to take a closer look!

  A master just stretched out his hand, and he knew whether there was or not. The professional stone-handling technique, the magnifying glass placed on the ring with a careful expression, fully demonstrated Cui Xiaoyan's professionalism. Song Dage and Zhao Laoban were secretly shocked!

  Mr. Zhao was being polite, just like people from Beijing do when they meet someone and say "Have you eaten?" Friends from other places usually don't ask this question. Otherwise, those who are not familiar with the custom might think that the person asking is inviting them to eat! They would casually respond with "I haven't eaten yet!" thinking "Are you going to invite me to dinner?" Do people from Beijing actually invite or not?

  Mr. Zhao looked at Cui Xiaoyan after she finished examining the stone, then glanced at the python pattern and rubbed his hands together in the sandy area. He said to Mr. Zhao, "Hmm! This piece of black sandstone in my hand should be from the third layer of the Padang old pit. Although it's an old pit, it doesn't look good from the outside without a window. Generally, the probability of leaving the mine and rising is one in ten thousand. The probability of rising in the mine is much higher!"

  Mr. Zhao said with a smile: "Really didn't expect it! It turns out that Teacher Cui is still an expert!" Cui Xiaoyan's face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head and said: "Mr. Zhao, you're overpraising me! When my dad was alive, he was obsessed with gambling stones for a long time. When I was in elementary school, my dad would take me to the border of Yunmeng Mountain to look at stones. After looking at so many, I naturally understood them. It's not any special skill!"

  Mr. Zhao hurriedly laughed and said: "I really didn't know, I still have such a beautiful goddess of wealth by my side! Teacher Cui, you take a look, how much is this stone worth?"

  Mr. Song hastily chimed in, "Right, right! Teacher Cui, give a good estimate!" Seeing Mr. Song's expectant gaze, Cui Xiaoyan still spoke the truth: "This kind of stone comes from a small country in Southwest China, like this fist-sized stone in my hand. Converted to RMB, it's at most over 1,000 yuan. If transportation is included, the goods won't exceed 2,000."

  After finishing speaking, he seemed to have thought of something and fell silent for a moment before saying: "I remember when I was young, this kind of stone would only cost 20-30 yuan! But my dad didn't even dare to buy a few pieces! One time, we unearthed a half-celadon yellow skin, and at the time it sold for several thousand yuan..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Old Man Song hurriedly held out a slightly larger stone in both hands and said to Cui Xiaoyan: "Teacher Cui, take a look at this stone! I spent over 20,000 yuan on these two stones! Now I'm selling them at half price! I really am in urgent need of money!"

  Cui Xiaoyan looked at Song Dajie's expectant eyes, and helplessly sighed. She quickly put down the stone in her hand on the table, took over the stone from Song Dajie's hand, and began to examine it with a magnifying glass. As she examined it, she shook her head and said casually: "This piece of jade is even worse than the previous one. Look at this python pattern, it's broken and incomplete. There isn't even a single piece of green. It feels like only around the python pattern can some green be revealed. And even if there is green, I estimate that there will be many cracks..."

  Mr. Song asked with a sad face: "Can you take a look at the approximate value?" Cui Xiaoyan glanced at Boss Zhao and said: "The reason why gambling stone is valuable is that everyone judges whether there is material and color inside the stone through the skin and appearance, and then gives the initial value! Your stone doesn't even have a window. And... to be honest, I think it's hard to sell! The price is also difficult to estimate..." Actually, Cui Xiaoyan has already been very tactful.

  The implication is: This stone of yours will probably be worthless even if it's carved open. Who would spend money on a broken stone?

  At this time, Old Zhao said with a smile: "How about this? Mr. Song, I'll give you 3,000 yuan for these two stones. I want both of them! It's also helping out a neighbor, what do you think..."

  Li Xiaoteng had just walked to the door when he heard Cui Xiaoyan commenting on Song Dage's stone. He didn't hear it all, only that it was estimated to be not easy to sell, and not a good estimate... while Old Zhao casually offered 3,000 yuan for it.

  Li Xiaoteng hurriedly walked in and shouted at Song Dage: "Dage!"

  Song Jianmin turned around and saw that it was Li Xiaoteng. He hastily replied, "Xiaoteng! Are you here to eat?" Before Li Xiaoteng could speak, Zhao Laoban hurriedly chimed in, "He's also a boss now... business is booming!"

  Li Xiaoteng nodded awkwardly at Manager Zhao, and seeing Cui Xiaoyan also standing beside him, didn't say a word. Immediately afterwards, he said to Song Jiandong: "Uncle Song, I heard from Manager Dong opposite that you've recently encountered some difficulties at home? Why not say a word about it?"

  Mr. Song secretly curled his lips and thought to himself, "Why didn't I speak up? We've borrowed from everyone we can..." He sighed and said, "Xiao Teng, our Chinese proverb says it well: 'help in emergency but not in poverty.' Although my wife and I have retirement benefits, they are limited after all."

  After a moment of silence, the sorrowful person continued: "At that time, for our child's lawsuit, we didn't spare any expense. Our family's savings were almost depleted! Now the mastermind is no longer around, and they are also from the countryside. At first, they refused to acknowledge their responsibility! Now they finally admit it, but they have no ability to compensate...". As they spoke, tears welled up in their eyes, on the verge of falling.

  Li Xiaoteng hastily said: "I heard you sell stones?" Song Dage replied even more sorrowfully: "Hai! Don't mention it! At that time, I was probably deceived too! Two worthless broken stones..."

  Li Xiaoteng hastily said: "I heard it's selling for 10,000? I'll take it!" Cui Xiaoyan was taken aback and opened her mouth to say something, but after careful consideration... Li Xiaoteng buying the stone, didn't seem to be because he wanted to gamble on the stone either.

  Li Xiaoteng finished speaking, without even looking at the two stones on the table, he casually took out his phone and dialed a number for Zhao Baozi. While waiting for the call to connect, he also casually pulled out a cigarette from his pocket! Before he could light it up, he heard Zhao Baozi shouting from the other end of the line: "Brother Teng, forever and ever! Unifying the rivers and lakes! Brother Teng, I'm almost done shopping, I'll be right back!"

  Li Xiaoteng didn't have the heart to tease Zhao Baozi, so he hastily said: "I'll take out 10,000 yuan from my cabinet and give you a heads up!" Zhao Baozi was taken aback for a moment. Then he asked: "Is it going to be counted as public funds? What are you trying to do again, Brother Teng?" Li Xiaoteng listened helplessly to Zhao Baozi's anxious words! He thought with some frustration: "Even good friends can't mention money... As soon as they do, their attitude changes..."

  He lit the cigarette in his hand, and Li Xiaoteng said silently for a moment: "Consider it a temporary loan. I'll make up the money the day after tomorrow, and I'll write an IOU on the account later!" After finishing speaking, he didn't even wait for Zhao Baozi to say anything, and then hung up the phone. He said to Song Dage: "Dad, I'm not lending you money. I'm buying your stone."

  Mr. Zhao stared at the two black stones on the table, then looked at Li Xiaoteng and said with some puzzlement: "Mr. Li, you have a good taste! You even bought such stones?"

  Li Xiaoteng glanced at Boss Zhao and said casually, "Hmm, I just happen to want to bet two pieces of stone. I think this stone is worth the price!" After finishing speaking, he rushed towards Song Dage and said, "Dage! Wait for me, I'll go get the money from across the way for you!" Just as he was about to leave, he turned around and came back. He snatched up the stones on the table and said, "You come with me to get the money together!"

  Mr. Song hastily waved his hand and said, "Little Teng! This stone is not worth 10,000!" Li Xiaoteng shrugged and said, "Uncle, we've been neighbors for so many years. You've seen me grow up! Why say that?" After finishing speaking, he rushed out like a swift horse.

  Mr. Song's eyes were red, and he nodded with a sob, then followed him out...

  Cui Xiaoyan and Boss Zhao looked at each other and hurriedly followed them out.

  The feeling of running with nothing to hide is really unbearable, the collection has not grown much, but members click and recommend every day, what else can be said? It must be the support of a large number of book friends. Thank you everyone! No comments, no reading! Hope to have extensive discussions with book friends in the review area! Come and add precision until it's all gone...