48: Chapter 48 The Young Are To Be Feared 48: Chapter 48 The Young Are To Be Feared Wufu wasn’t afraid of misjudging, nor was she afraid of the truth.
Once she was certain about something, she would proceed, no matter the outcome.
She insisted on cutting the stone on the spot, and she would do exactly that, even if the interior wasn’t as she had predicted.
Seeing Wufu’s provocative demeanor, Mr.
Lin’s mustache quivered with rage.
Was he really afraid of this brazen young girl?
“Let her cut it, let her cut it.
I want to see what she can reveal!” he said with a flick of his sleeve, commanding the person beside him, “Chang Gui, go and move the equipment out here!”
The apprentice known as Chang Gui responded with a shout and glared at Wufu, ‘Bringing shame upon yourself, you’re done for!’
Unperturbed, Wufu waited, carefully examining the stone in her hands.
Cutting the stone was a matter of precision; she couldn’t just slice it any which way.
The quality of the jade inside couldn’t be discerned from the exterior, and a random cut could ruin what might be a larger piece, leaving only enough material for smaller items.
Therefore, she needed to make a decision: where to cut, how to cut, and what technique to use to preserve the jade inside and display it for all to see.
Old Man Shen swallowed hard, wanting to say something, but seeing Wufu’s focused expression, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Forget it, he thought.
Was he, a man with one foot in the grave, going to be less composed than a girl?
If there was jade, then his life’s work wouldn’t have been in vain.
If not, well, what was there left for him to accept?
It wasn’t long before the apprentice brought out the stone-cutting equipment from inside the shop, large and small, all placed at the entrance.
Somehow, word had gotten out that a little girl was going to challenge the master known as Yulin Ghost Hand in a bet on the stone.
Well, it wasn’t much of a bet, since the Hundred Treasures Silver Building wasn’t actually taking wagers.
So it was just a stand-off between the two sides, one saying there was jade and the other denying it.
The public cutting of the stone was a means for everyone to witness who had the better judgment and experience.
Not only that, some bystanders started a betting pool on the spot, taking wagers on who would win and what the odds were.
However, nine out of ten bets were on the Ghost Hand Master, with the only exception being Old Man Shen, who stood firmly by Wufu’s side.
“I’ll also bet on Miss Wufu.”
Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke up.
Someone recognized the speaker and laughed, “Old Zhang, have you lost your mind?
You’re bound to lose!”
“If I lose, I lose,” the man known as Old Zhang laughed heartily.
“I admire the young girl’s courage; it’s worth the bet.”
Hearing this, many seemed to agree.
A girl barely in her teens, daring to challenge the Ghost Hand Master—her sheer bravery and audacity already demanded respect.
Youthful audacity is indeed to be feared.
This phrase unexpectedly entered the minds of some, leading to a few more bets being placed on Wufu’s side.
Besides, she had odds of ten to one in her favor—what if she hit the jackpot and won?
Lin, originally content as most bets were on his side and stroking his beard smugly, shot a triumphant glance at Wufu, wondering how this brazen girl would end this farce.
But seeing a few people placing bets on Wufu, his expression darkened again.
Lack of foresight, you’ll all lose to death!
Seeing this, Wufu chuckled and placed all the ‘one string of cash’ she had earned that day for running errands on her own side.
Not far away, a carriage was parked to one side, with a servant bowing respectfully and speaking to someone inside.
A hand extended from within, slender fingers, neatly manicured nails, and holding an ingot of silver.
“Bet on that young lady,” a warm and gentle command came from inside the carriage.