53: Chapter 53 Practice with a Flawed Stone 53: Chapter 53 Practice with a Flawed Stone Wufu prepared to leave, as she had been out for quite some time, and now that her business was settled, it was time to return home.
At home there still lay a problem, her incessantly worrying steamed bun of a mother.
Just as she took a step forward, someone caught hold of her sleeve.
She glanced sideways to find Old Man Shen grasping her and thrusting the raw stone into her hands.
Instinctively catching it, Wufu’s brows knit together in puzzlement as she looked at Old Man Shen.
Old Man Shen, now calm, said, “I told you the stone is yours to keep.
“Elder, this is top-quality jadeite.” Wufu said, “If you sell it, you and your granddaughter could live much better.”
The wrinkles on Old Man Shen’s face deepened, making him look even older as he said, “A man must not break his word.”
Wufu’s eyebrows rose inquisitively, “Are you sure?”
“I’m too old to deceive you.
Would I bother to give it to you if I were?” Old Man Shen glared.
Wufu broke into a smile.
Shopkeeper Lin, who stood to the side, felt a mix of envy and urgency and said, “That piece of raw stone, our Silver House can take it.
The silver that it’s worth, you are welcome to split it with us.” He could not stand to let Wufu simply take it away.
Wufu glanced at him, then at Old Man Shen and proposed, “Elder, I am in need of a fine piece of jade to practice my carving.
If you trust me, I can take this piece now, and once I’ve carved something fine from it and sold it, I can then share the profits with you, how about that?”
Two voices voiced their surprise at the same moment, one being Old Man Shen and the other Shopkeeper Lin, both sounded in unison, unable to hide their amazement.
How old could she possibly be?
Wufu toyed with the stone in one hand, raising an eyebrow, “What, can’t there be young craftsmen?”
It wasn’t that they didn’t exist, but craftsmen, generally, were men, and she…
But recalling her stone-splitting skill, it didn’t seem all that strange that she could carve as well.
Being able to chip stone meant a bit of carving skill was not entirely out of the question.
Shopkeeper Lin, however, was unwilling to settle and felt a sense of loss.
She had just mentioned needing a stone to practice with.
Indeed, practice, with top-quality jadeite at that?
Was she intending to use it to practice?
The moment he heard it, he knew something was off.
Probably a beginner who’d just learned the basics of carving.
He couldn’t just let her waste such a treasure.
“Miss Wufu, if you’re looking to practice, we have plenty of raw stones at the Hundred Treasures Silver Building.
This, after all, is top-quality jadeite.” Shopkeeper Lin began tentatively, his intention almost short of saying she was squandering a good thing.
Wufu looked at him sideways, “Does Shopkeeper Lin believe I can’t carve a fine piece?
You think this jadeite would be better suited to Silver House’s craftsmen for carving?
Like the Ghost Hand Master?”
Naturally, that was the case.
A fine piece should match a skilled craftsman!
“A ‘Skilled Craftsman’ who can’t even identify the presence of jade within, if I were this piece of top-quality jadeite, I’d feel slighted too!” Wufu said slyly, tossing the raw stone from hand to hand.
What, was she suggesting that to leave the jade to be carved by Ghost Hand Master would be a disservice to the stone?
Pompous, completely and utterly arrogant!
Shopkeeper Lin almost choked on his frustration when he caught the sarcasm in her words.
Watching her toss the jade up and down, his heart leapt and plunged in sync—terrified she’d drop it.
“Miss, even without Mr.
Lin, our Hundred Treasures Silver Building still employs plenty of skilled craftsmen.” Shopkeeper Lin glanced at the stone and gritted his teeth, “One hundred taels, what do you say?
We’ll take the raw stone for one hundred taels!”
One hundred taels, oh, that lit up the eyes of the onlookers.
Wufu just smiled faintly and said, “When I’ve finished my carving, then I’ll let Shopkeeper Lin value it.”
This meant there was no room for negotiation!
Shopkeeper Lin’s complexion darkened.
Wufu didn’t give a whit for his feelings, and after asking for Elder Shen’s home address, she waved her hand and left.