"I represent seven jewelry companies from Singapore, bidding $8.5 million."
Another $500,000 increase!
The smiles vanished from everyone's faces. The auction had devolved into a competition solely between the seven Singaporean jewelry companies and Zheng Jiachun.
"$8.6 million."
"$8.7 million."
…
"$10 million."
In the end, Zheng Jiachun emerged victorious.
The crowd now looked at Cao Yi with newfound respect, no longer dismissing him. Transforming $5 into $150,000 and $120 into $10 million—it was no exaggeration to call him a genius.
Despite the eager gazes upon him, Cao Yi remained calm. "Let's continue with item number 667."
The stone cutter, undeterred by exhaustion, took the stage again. This time, the atmosphere was hushed, lacking the previous mockery, leaving the cutter feeling somewhat disoriented.
Clearing his throat, he began to cut the stone, which was nearly as large as a grinding wheel, with fragments flying everywhere, kicking up dust.
The crowd's eyes sparkled with anticipation, like waiting for a beautiful woman to emerge from a bath.
After two consecutive wins, Cao Yi had enveloped himself in an aura of mystery.
However, as the pieces continued to fall away, the stone shrank from the size of a grinding wheel to that of a basin, and still no green appeared.
"I think this one's in trouble!" someone couldn't help but voice their pessimism.
"After the last two, one was waste material and the other was unrecognizable, so it's understandable. This one, number 667, is clearly known as a mid-grade rough from the Pagang factory. It's unlikely to yield anything exceptional," another offered a serious analysis.
Yet, with memories of being proven wrong still fresh, few were willing to echo those sentiments.
Suddenly, amidst the flying dust and shards, a glimmer of vibrant green appeared!
"What is this? The quality, the clarity—it's glass-like, imperial green!"
The cutter was momentarily stunned, muttering to himself.
"Today's events have surpassed all expectations."
"Wow, green again! And it's glass-like, imperial green!"
"Incredible, unbelievable…"
"Is glass-like imperial green that common?"
"Hey, the one who analyzed this earlier—are you feeling embarrassed?"
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Once again, the crowd was taken aback.
Cao Yi, at the center of it all, glanced casually at Big Gold Tooth, offering a fleeting smile.
Big Gold Tooth, after a moment of confusion, finally grasped the situation.
Just as the cutter switched to the polishing machine, preparing to smooth the stone, a voice rang out: "Wait! Don't cut yet!"
The abrupt interruption stunned not only the cutter but the entire crowd.
Big Gold Tooth pushed through the people blocking his way and approached Cao Yi with a grin. "Daoist Priest, as an outsider, you shouldn't be so greedy!"
His words left the crowd perplexed. How had consecutive cuts yielding exceptional jade turned into a charge of greed against Cao Yi?
Big Gold Tooth scanned the crowd and declared, "With treasure hunting skills like those of the past—where countless dangers lurked, people lost their lives—only two words have kept me alive."
Curiosity spread among the onlookers, eager to know what these two words were that could ensure survival in such perilous places.
Big Gold Tooth locked eyes with Cao Yi and slowly pronounced, "Know contentment."
Know contentment!
The crowd nodded, many wearing thoughtful expressions. Ancient tombs and perilous sites held immense wealth but also unimaginable danger. A lack of contentment could lead to dire consequences.
"Know contentment."
Cao Yi's face showed signs of contemplation, as though Big Gold Tooth's words had struck a chord.
Big Gold Tooth sighed. "As a Daoist, you should understand the importance of contentment even more. You've already cut two exceptional pieces of jade; the saying goes, ‘never push your luck three times.' Don't exhaust your fortune!"
Many began to realize what Big Gold Tooth was doing, cursing him internally for his cunning. His roundabout tactics aimed to dissuade Cao Yi from risking it all.
"Never push your luck three times."
Cao Yi furrowed his brow.
"Indeed, finding green again is already a stroke of luck. Why not go for a half gamble? That way, you won't exhaust your fortune, and you can still benefit—more in line with Daoist principles of balance with nature," Big Gold Tooth pressed.
Despite knowing he was being hustled, no one dared to speak up. On one hand, they envied the benefits Cao Yi had reaped, and on the other, a half gamble wouldn't raise the stakes too high, allowing them to participate.
Zheng Jiachun and the other jewelry merchants remained silent, having no reason to interfere.
"A half gamble?"
Cao Yi appeared torn, uncertain.
Big Gold Tooth turned to the crowd, signaling for a performance.
"Yesterday, at the jade trading fair, I cut a few hundred pounds of jade rough. At first, a huge patch of green appeared, but when it was fully revealed, it was all stone!"
Others joined in.
"My last gamble started at $500,000, but in the end, it didn't even sell for $50,000."
"Last year…"
Some even approached item number 667, seriously downplaying it.
Cao Yi stood there, feeling dazed by their chatter.
"I lost everything! Boo-hoo!"
A loud cry rang out from another corner of the auction.
Everyone turned to see a middle-aged man, about forty, sitting on the ground, sobbing like a child.
"See? That's what happens when you're not content!" Big Gold Tooth lamented.
As the crowd internally cursed Big Gold Tooth's audacity, they echoed his sentiment.
"The scariest part is that this man's luck has run out."
Big Gold Tooth struck a final blow.
Cao Yi's face turned pale, his lips trembling. He turned to the cutter and said, "Stop cutting."
He'd been fooled!
His earlier nonchalance had masked the reality.
The crowd cheered internally, reveling in the turn of events.
With his goal achieved, Big Gold Tooth confidently declared, "I'll offer $500,000."