One centimeter was sliced off, but still no color was visible, only thick fog. If the black fog was ingested, even just a portion, the gamble on this stone would be significantly reduced.
My master asked if I wanted to cut further. I said of course, I couldn't possibly take such a black stone back. It was better than a closed-end rough, which could still be gambled on. If this piece were placed in the pile of rough stones, likely no one would be interested.
I said, "I bet the black fog hasn't penetrated. Master, please make another cut from the opposite side, this time cutting two centimeters."
If one centimeter from this side still showed black fog, the other side would likely be similar. If one centimeter from that side also yielded no result.
My master secured the stone and continued cutting.
The equipment here was all German imports. Not only were they sharper than those in Ruili, but the cuts were very clean, and the polished surfaces were beautiful.
After the master finished cutting and rinsed it with water, he told me, "It's changed!"
I was startled. It had indeed changed, but I hadn't seen it yet, and I didn't know if the master meant it had improved or worsened.
I saw the master take the stone out from under the blade and wipe the water off the cut surface with a cloth. He handed it to me to see. One cut surface not only had no black fog but also no spots; it was a deep, dark green.
Indeed, there was high color beneath the black fog. My gamble on the color had paid off.
Judging from this single cut surface alone, the texture and clarity were at least five parts, with a very pure, impurity-free base.
It would fetch ten to eight times its price. Of course, I didn't want to stop here. I gambled that it was fully green. Although it couldn't compare to the three-million-dollar material, as long as the base was good, a million should be achievable.
I told the master, "Make a flat cut on this smooth side. I want to see if the color is continuous."
The master secured the stone. At this moment, Lan Ya came over and told me that Brother Leopard was looking for me, saying we would go see the giant stone together later.
I acknowledged, and asked the master to hurry.
The master nodded and quickly started the machine.
Lan Ya had never seen me gamble on stones before, nor did she know that I had won a significant sum of money. Seeing me spend tens of thousands on rough stones made her a little worried.
She stood beside me, a bit nervously, and whispered, "Did you really buy it for over twenty thousand? Won't you lose money?"
I said, "Look at how scared you are. Over twenty thousand here can only buy an ordinary small stone."
Lan Ya stuck out her tongue. "I knew it. A yellow, unremarkable stone like this is worth so much?"
I said, "You haven't even seen that giant stone yet. It might be priced at an astronomical figure."
At this point, the master handed me the cut stone.
The flat side was large. After cutting, I saw that the entire dark green portion was unbroken, a very pure piece.
Even so, it still looked dull. The rind would have to be peeled off entirely to reveal the texture and base.
However, experts see the details, while amateurs watch the spectacle. This stone now held no suspense. Although not dazzling, it was still a fine piece.
I left the stone at the deposit counter and then followed Lan Ya to the VIP room to see the large stone.
When I entered, the giant stone was still covered by a tarp, surrounded by many onlookers waiting for its true appearance.
Brother Leopard saw me approach, nodded, and gestured for me to stand closer.
At that moment, a staff member walked up to the stone, bent down, and untied the ropes at the base, pulling the tarp down with effort.
The crowd buzzed with discussion, people communicating in their various dialects.
This stone was over four meters long and two meters wide, higher at one end and lower at the other. The end closer to the interior stood five to sixty centimeters higher, at two meters fifty to six, while the lower end was one meter eighty to nine.
It was a black Wusha mountain stone, with distinct edges. It had decomposed from the mountainside and rolled to a certain location, without undergoing the washing of floods, remaining in its original place.
However, after being buried for thousands of years, the stone had developed a thick shell over time, losing its original appearance.
This was a black Wusha mountain stone with typical characteristics. The entire outer shell was in a shedding state, with several obvious cracks and fissures, but no prominent "mang" (a type of mineralized band).
Several people climbed the ladder to inspect the opened window.
The window was on the lower end, near the center.
A window about a foot square had been opened, not by polishing, but by cutting directly about three centimeters deep.
The opened window revealed a hint of green and white mist. When a light was shone on it, it emitted a halo, appearing pale green.
From this perspective, it looked somewhat like a bean-like jade.
If it were bean-like jade, this stone would have little gamble value. Even if it yielded such results, it could only be made into ordinary ornaments, where material is less valuable than craftsmanship.
If one were to gamble, it would be on a change in variety, on the water and clarity. Even if it were still bean-green or milky-green, as long as it had clarity and texture, and even if only one-third had substance, this stone would double in value even if its bid reached ten times the initial price.
I circled the stone. At the higher end, directly below, was a crack. The widest part was a gap of two fingers, extending upwards for about a meter and a half before closing.
The crack was filled with mud and sand. After years of sedimentation, it was extremely hard. Unless drilled, ordinary sharp tools would have no effect. I shone my flashlight on the edges of the crack. There was no change. The weathered layer was too thick. The light only illuminated the skin, revealing nothing inside. Da Feng Novel Network.
Although there was an opened window at the top, this stone was too large, rendering it of little reference value.
At least four sides would need to be opened for one to have a clear understanding.
Looking only at the opened window, it was no different from a closed-end rough.
Brother Leopard watched me circle the stone and asked, "What do you think? Have you figured anything out?"
I shook my head. "This stone has too much gamble value, with too many uncertain factors."
Brother Leopard: "But there's an opened window?"
I said, "The opened window has no reference value. Given its immense size, the possibility of a variety change is high. If it's accompanied by limestone or granite, it could be ruined with a single cut. Therefore, this stone is worth more uncut than cut. It's a pure gamble material; the more it's gambled on, the more valuable it becomes."
Brother Leopard nodded and said, "If we acquire it, how do you plan to handle it?"
I said, "Although this stone will increase in value if gambled as closed-end rough, ultimately stones must be cut, especially when purchased jointly. No one will leave their investment idle. Investment must yield returns."
This stone attracted a crowd of collaborators. Only by pooling funds to acquire it could the risk be minimized. Of course, if it yielded a profit, the benefits would also be diluted.
Brother Leopard said, "How confident are you in gambling on this stone?"
I said, "It depends on how many people participate. If the bid is too high, we should not be involved. To be honest, I only have a thirty percent confidence in this stone. I gamble that if one-third has substance and a three-part clarity, this stone will at least break even."
Brother Leopard: "In that case, it's worth a gamble."
I said, "The decision ultimately rests with you and Brother Qing. I just feel this stone has too many variables. If we can acquire it, we'll also need to be meticulous about the cutting position."
Brother Leopard: "Understood. You write the bid. We'll offer a price that we can afford, and try to avoid a second round of bidding."
I said, "Got it."
Once the bid is out, there can be bidding, which can lead to fierce competition. If a single price can make them hesitate, unnecessary losses can be avoided.