49: Chapter 49: Is it a bluff or real strength?
49: Chapter 49: Is it a bluff or real strength?
In the jade market, some jade merchants, in order to drive up the price and earn more money during stone gambling, always try to open a ‘window’ at the spot that best showcases the texture and color of the jade for spectators to view.
It is when a small part of the outer skin of the raw jade material is cut away, and the cut is polished to shine; in the jargon, this cut is called a “window”.
Wufu had examined the stone in her hands and had already calculated where to cut.
However, Old Man Shen, who had been by her side all along, seemed very nervous, wringing his hands together.
“You sure know how to put on a show; just make the cut already!” Chang Gui, the colleague, looked down on Wufu’s pretense.
Wufu cast a cold glance at him, effectively stifling the provocation he was about to hurl at her.
It was like seeing a ghost!
Wufu sat down and first glanced over the array of cutting tools of various sizes on the table, then examined the stone in her hand.
The stone’s shell was of the Black Usha Pi Jadeite Shell type, with a grayish-black color and sand grains ranging from coarse to fine.
Assessing the material, or finding the right point to start cutting, Wufu already had a plan in mind; now she just needed to select the right tool.
Since it was possible to brush before cutting, Wufu first picked up a brush and scrubbed at the chosen spot.
Her movements were gentle and slow but without any hint of unfamiliarity or awkwardness.
The crowd that had gathered to watch her slowly quieted down as they saw her reach for the stone.
Lin initially had a look of contempt, but as Wufu’s actions unfolded, his brows furrowed gradually.
Does this girl actually know how to evaluate stones?
Watching her movements, they were steady, not showing any signs of inexperience.
Lin soon came to terms with it.
So what if she knew a thing or two?
He had seen plenty of show-offs who had learned just enough to be dangerous.
And in the Nanyue Kingdom, there were quite a few prestigious families in Yulin, and craftsmen were as common as hairs on an ox.
It wasn’t clear where she might have learned a smattering of skills.
No matter what the outsiders speculated, Wufu remained completely unaware, or rather, she became even more focused and composed.
Having put down the brush, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, and she picked up a carving knife, lightly scraping it across the pad of her finger.
It had been a long time indeed!
Lin watched, letting out a soft exhale.
Usually, the first cut isn’t so accurate, and if you’re not sure, you could use a pen to mark it; otherwise, even a few millimeters off could mean a substantial loss.
The first cut was especially critical.
Indeed, cutting the ‘first window’ was underway.
But Wufu, without seeming to think, cut at once.
Hmm, even a master wouldn’t be so confident.
Thus, if the girl wasn’t bluffing, she was just playing around.
No wonder, a young girl wants to save face!
But he didn’t realize that Wufu was not ignorant of such methods.
However, they were for those uncertain of where to cut.
With her certainty and skill, why bother with superfluous steps?
Wufu made her cut confidently at the end of the area she had identified, neatly slicing off a sliver of the skin.
The crowd held their breath as they watched the girl seated on a small stool.
Her hands, slender and fair, holding the knife in a way that was extremely natural, as if she had been doing so for many years, while her steady and composed demeanor made everyone feel an unexplained tension.
Elder Shen was also tense.
His hands were no longer wringing; instead, they were clenched into fists, watching Wufu’s hands intently.
As a thin piece of the skin fell away, revealing a glimpse of the stone’s interior, the already quiet scene grew even quieter, as all eyes were fixed on the small ‘face’ of the stone, as though a mysterious veil had been lifted.