The second update is here. Some critics in the comments section claim that Hong Chang Fa Cai has never been to Macau.

Honestly, I’m too poor to afford the trip... Hong Chang Fa Cai is the author's pen name, and the meaning behind it is profound, exceedingly profound...

........... The grinding wheel roared as it slowly passed over the rough jade material, spitting sparks, enveloped in smoke and dust.

The surface of this black Wusha rough stone was uneven, crisscrossed by two wide python stripes. The stone looked quite ordinary, lacking any distinctive features.

Wang Zhuo’s first pass with the grinder precisely cut a long window, two centimeters wide and ten centimeters long, right across the center of the material. Once sprinkled with mineral water, the onlookers immediately erupted.

Everyone had seen a successful cut ("zhǎng"), eliciting perhaps some excitement and a few exclamations, but that was it. To hear such loud, boisterous calls, to casually pick up a rough stone and start cutting without even carefully selecting the spot, only to achieve a dramatic success—that was truly rare.

“Bluish-green? Doesn't quite look like it.” “Isn’t that Blue Water?

Hurry up and look, is it starting to fluoresce?” “It looks like it has excellent translucency. Could it be glass type?

Such a large piece—he’s struck it rich!” “Holy cow, this kid is a genius! He said it would rise, and it did?

Does he have x-ray vision? Haha!” “Are you serious?

He’s taking all the good stones!” The noise of discussion was incessant as people crowded around to inspect the material, even pushing Wang Zhuo aside. An old man, after peering at the stone and squeezing out of the crowd, sighed contentedly, “A major success.

Glass-type Blue Water material. No cotton, no mist, just faint floating flowers, and starting to fluoresce—beautiful.” Blue Water simply means a pale blue hue.

Since it carries the word "Water," it implies extremely high standards for the ‘type’ (zhǒng), requiring at least Ice Type or better. Those blue jades that are Glutinous Type or Icy-Glutinous Type are falsely called Blue Water—it’s a deception of consumers.

Fluorescence (qǐ yíng) refers to the good transparency of the jade. It’s an effect produced when light refracts internally.

Only jade with high transparency and fine internal crystallization exhibits this. If the jade’s color is too deep, or the crystallization is poor, this effect cannot occur.

If the transparency is slightly lower, it’s called Oily Green (yóuqīng). Qi Fei and Qiu Lu were speechless.

Wang Zhuo’s image had risen to a level where they could only look up to him. To casually cut one stone and reveal a glass-type Blue Water jade was simply miraculous!

After perhaps a dozen people had examined the material, Wang Zhuo raised his voice, “I want to sell this piece. Any bids?” “Did you hear that?

He wants to sell this piece!” “Quick, call our boss and tell him to get over here.” “I bid two hundred thousand!” “Two hundred thousand? Get out of here, I bid two fifty!” Qi Fei and Qiu Lu exchanged glances, unsure what game Wang Zhuo was playing.

As they were about to step forward to question him, Wang Zhuo stopped them with a meaningful glance. “What does he mean?” Qi Fei asked Qiu Lu quietly, perplexed.

Qiu Lu smiled wryly and shook his head, “I don’t know either…” In the blink of an eye, the price for the rough stone was driven up to four hundred thousand. Nobody was foolish; shining a flashlight into the windowed area revealed jade that seemed bottomless.

The visible parts alone were enough to yield a pair of bangles, which could easily sell for tens of thousands each. If the entire piece were Blue Water material, the price would be astronomical; even if it was only partial, there was no room for loss.

When the price reached six hundred thousand, the competition finally separated the serious bidders from the hesitant. A few bidders who felt the price was unreasonable dropped out, while those who continued to bid hesitated, repeatedly walking back to the stone to re-examine it.

A small-mustached man with a Southern accent asked, “Friend, are you planning to sell this piece as is, or are you going to cut one or two more slices?” Wang Zhuo countered, “What do you mean?” The little mustache smiled and said, “I also want to buy this piece, but if you plan to cut further, then my current offer doesn't make much sense.” Wang Zhuo pondered for a moment, then nodded firmly, “Fine, then I’ll make one last cut!” …… “Boss Jiang, how is that piece?” As soon as Jiang Xianghe, who had been examining the stone, returned, Minister Li impatiently asked. Jiang Xianghe sighed and shook his head, “A massive rise.

This young man is truly divine today; I wonder what good deeds he did in his past life.” Zheng Mingshun frowned and inquired, “How much do you think it’s worth? Is it worth acquiring?” “It’s hard to say yet, he’s going to cut again.

The lines are already drawn.” Jiang Xianghe said, pointing toward the crowd where Wang Zhuo was drawing a small circle on the rough stone, handing the tools over to Qiu Lu. Li Qing scoffed from the side, “This Carver of Ruin (Dāodāo Kuǎ) is getting cocky too.

The Imperial Green he cut last time, and this Cabbage today, are about the same level.” “If his second cut is also a success, then we’ll split it fifty-fifty and buy this stone, what do you say?” Zheng Mingshun stated earnestly to Jiang Xianghe. This was tantamount to an open request for a bribe.

The money would undoubtedly come from Jiang Xianghe’s pocket, but Zheng Mingshun’s half of the proceeds could not be ambiguous when splitting the profits. “Agreed!” Jiang Xianghe nodded.

Minister Li, hearing this, immediately started calculating and said with a laugh, “Hey? Director Zheng, Boss Jiang, I, Old Li, have been standing here for quite a while too.

Can I be included in this deal?” Jiang Xianghe immediately looked troubled, not wanting outsiders involved in such matters: “Minister Li, I’m very sorry, but I already agreed with Director Zheng…” “It’s fine if you agreed, we haven’t paid yet. Bringing me in won't be a bother; money is for making, and it can lower some risk too.” Minister Li was determined to press the issue.

He was a superstitious man, and seeing Wang Zhuo constantly succeeding in his gambles, he wanted a piece of the sweetness. Jiang Xianghe looked helplessly at Zheng Mingshun.

He wasn't sure of the exact nature of Zheng’s relationship with this Fatty Li. With the situation developing like this, he had to let Zheng Mingshun decide.

Zheng Mingshun was internally extremely annoyed, but Minister Li stuck to him like flypaper. Dealing with a business leader who wasn't fully within the system, he truly had few options.

If he rejected him bluntly, this Fatty Li might gossip later, putting him in a passive position. Out of necessity, Zheng Mingshun nodded in agreement, forcing a smile so Minister Li wouldn't sense his dissatisfaction.

The discomfort was indescribable. Just as this decision was made, another shout of astonishment rose from the crowd—the second cut was also a success!

This cut was made on a slightly protruding corner of the rough stone, revealing only a coin-sized window. The jade underneath was identical to the first cut.

Many were already optimistically guessing: two successful windows showing Blue Water, and the windows were far apart, likely not connected judging by the python stripes. Could the entire stone be Blue Water?!

“Sir, you can make your offer now.” Wang Zhuo smiled at the little-mustached man with the Southern accent. “Are you stopping the cutting?” The little mustache looked at Wang Zhuo, and upon receiving confirmation, he squeezed into the crowd.

Someone approached Wang Zhuo to curry favor: “Brother, you’re not selling that White Cabbage, but you have to sell me this semi-guaranteed Blue Water piece.” Wang Zhuo chuckled and said, “I’m a man who respects money the most. Highest bidder wins, as usual.” Although he said that, his inner thought was: No matter how high your bid, it’s useless.

This stone was tailor-made for that group led by the man surnamed Zheng; I won’t sell it to anyone else for any price! Hearing that the owner was determined to sell, the second round of bidding immediately began, starting at a base price of one million—and it was the same person who had bid one million for the White Cabbage.

It was unclear if it was coincidence or deliberate. When the price reached 1.6 million, some people gradually backed away to the outer perimeter.

Zheng Mingshun’s group approached, showing no apparent intention of participating. But Wang Zhuo had long noticed their movements.

Knowing they would certainly join the bidding, he was waiting specifically to sell the material to them. During a pause in the bidding, Qi Fei pulled Wang Zhuo aside and whispered, “You don’t lack money, so why are you in such a hurry to sell such a fine piece?

You could get a much higher price in big cities like Beijing or Shanghai.” “Exactly, Wang Zhuo,” Qiu Lu also whispered. “I guarantee that even if you let Sister Qi and me process it, the resulting products would fetch more than selling the raw material.

Material of this quality is rare nowadays; it’s a chance in a million.” Wang Zhuo pouted, unsure how to respond. His friends’ advice was entirely well-intentioned, but he couldn't tell them that this stone was actually only worth eighty or ninety thousand.

Instead of two bangles, it might only yield a few small carved pieces; apart from the areas around the two windows, the rest was just rock... “I bid two million!” The little mustache finally made his first offer, directly defeating an antique shop owner who had previously bid 1.8 million.

“I withdraw.” Others shook their heads one by one. After confirming that the remaining bidders would not raise their prices, the little mustache was about to speak to Wang Zhuo when Jiang Xianghe, who had been observing from several meters away, finally spoke after receiving a look from Zheng Mingshun.

“I bid two million and one hundred thousand.” Tanhua Residence was on this antique street, and about half of the bidders recognized Jiang Xianghe. Seeing him suddenly join the bidding, they immediately came forward to exchange pleasantries.

Wang Zhuo vaguely overheard Jiang Xianghe explaining to his friends that this rough stone was a joint gamble between him, Director Zheng, and Minister Li. Wang Zhuo secretly smiled; his scheme had managed to kill two birds with one stone.

The little mustache smiled faintly and said, “I’ll add ten thousand.” “We’ll add fifty thousand!” Zheng Mingshun said casually. The little mustache frowned slightly.

After thinking for a moment and about to speak, he heard Wang Zhuo suddenly say, “Fine, sold!” “Hey? Wait!” The little mustache immediately panicked, “I was going to bid more!” “Uh…” Wang Zhuo showed an expression of surprise.

“We agreed on a sale; you can’t go back on your word,” Minister Li panicked too. This price was twenty-five thousand lower than the limit they had previously discussed.

What a huge bargain! “This, I, but…” Wang Zhuo looked troubled, seemingly hesitating.

Qiu Lu next to him also grew anxious and was about to step forward to help speak, but he was stopped by Qi Fei, who signaled him not to interfere. Wang Zhuo’s acting was superb; even Qiu Lu was fooled.

But Qi Fei knew Wang Zhuo’s character and that he wouldn't do something like this; there must be a trick involved. Seeing Wang Zhuo’s distress, the little mustache pressed his advantage and said loudly, “Friend, I offer two million and five hundred thousand.

Are you going to turn your back on money?” Minister Li sneered at the little mustache, “Friend, be decent. The deal we already settled, you continue to disrupt—that’s not very proper, is it?” Seeing the fierce gaze fixed upon him, the little mustache finally showed a bit of retreat.

However, unwilling to give up so easily, he kept his eyes fixed on Wang Zhuo, hoping Wang Zhuo would be moved by the money and sell the stone to him. Zheng Mingshun looked kindly at Wang Zhuo and said, “Young man, a real man keeps his word.

Don't stray down the wrong path when you’re so young.” Minister Li also nodded repeatedly, “Exactly. So many people are witnesses here; you can’t go back on your promise for personal gain.” Wang Zhuo looked at Zheng Mingshun, then at Minister Li, then turned to the little mustache and shrugged helplessly.

“It’s just two hundred and fifty thousand. I can afford to lose!

I’ll give you two million and two hundred and fifty thousand! You win!

Take the money and leave with the goods!” Wang Zhuo made an expression of painful resolve, turned, and waved his hand.