Amidst the chorus of praise, Jia Qin smiled serenely, then turned to Wang Guan, saying, "A chance meeting is better than a planned encounter. How about we go up for a cup of tea?"

"Good."

Wang Guan was also keen to learn more about the jade gambling scene, so he readily accepted the invitation, smoothly following Jia Qin into the establishment.

Though the ground floor was cluttered with piled stones, giving it a chaotic appearance, the second floor was exquisitely decorated. It was entirely retro in style, featuring tables and chairs woven from bamboo and wood, complemented by archaic, gourd-ribbed Zisha teapots. Brewing a pot of steaming, fragrant, clear tea here would surely instill a profound sense of tranquil detachment.

Seated in the quiet refinement of the second floor felt like being in an entirely separate world from the clamor downstairs.

"Boss Yang certainly knows how to enjoy life. This layout is exceptional, truly tasteful," Wang Guan complimented, having exchanged names during their ascent—at least he now knew the proprietor's surname.

Wang Guan's compliment seemed to strike precisely the right chord with Boss Yang. While outwardly humble and polite, his face bloomed with a radiant smile, clearly pleased with Wang Guan's assessment.

It’s the second generation that truly understands taste... Boss Yang mused inwardly. Without hesitation, he brought out his finest tea, meticulously brewing a pot of superior grade, pouring it out with care.

As the tea fragrance filled the air, Wang Guan caught the scent and smiled. "Longjing from West Lake, and it’s Pre-Rain grade, no less. It’s rare that Boss Yang has kept some until now."

"I rarely drink this; I only bring it out when a distinguished guest like yourself arrives," Boss Yang chuckled, deeply impressed by Wang Guan's ability to identify tea by aroma alone, and eagerly asked for instruction.

"There's no great secret," Wang Guan admitted after a moment's thought. "It simply comes from drinking a lot; then you can distinguish them."

Upon hearing this, Boss Yang was even more awestruck. He knew that securing even a small amount of West Lake Longjing of this caliber required navigating numerous connections. The fact that Wang Guan drank it frequently suggested his own backing and network must be formidable.

Regardless of Boss Yang’s speculations, after taking a sip of the Longjing, Wang Guan proactively steered the conversation. "Speaking of which, I’ve been in the Capital for a while, and I never imagined there was a place dedicated to jade gambling here."

"It’s quite normal," Jia Qin laughed. "After all, the government certainly doesn't encourage or support such activities, nor does it allow extensive promotion. Everyone tacitly agrees not to hang prominent signage, so outsiders naturally wouldn't know."

"Precisely," Boss Yang chimed in with a smile. "In fact, anyone genuinely interested in this line of work only needs to make a few discreet inquiries at any jewelry company to learn the situation. As for ordinary people, whether they know or not is irrelevant."

"That makes sense." Wang Guan nodded lightly, then continued his inquiries. "Is it this lively every day? And, how is business in the shop? Very booming?"

"It depends on the situation. When new rough material arrives, it usually gets lively for a while, then it calms down," Boss Yang replied with a chuckle. "As for the shop's business, it's not exactly booming; we just scrape by, enough to support our families."

"You're being too modest."

Wang Guan certainly didn't believe it was merely enough to support a family; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of decorating the second-floor lounge so magnificently.

"Mine is truly small-time stuff. Young Master Jia is the one doing the major business," Boss Yang said, his expression filled with envy. "This year's Burma Public Auction is about to start. Young Master Jia must be fully prepared to sweep up the best lots. You’ll have to look out for us small players then."

"I will certainly do my best to look out for you, but this year's situation looks a bit precarious," Jia Qin shook his head slightly. Perhaps feeling comfortable with Boss Yang, he paused before softly advising, "Boss Yang, if you can hold off on selling any stock during this period, you should. Wait a bit longer; there might be some changes coming."

"What do you mean?" Boss Yang started, quickly lowering his voice. "Young Master Jia, have you heard some gossip?"

"Not exactly secret intelligence," Jia Qin sighed. "You know the situation with the jade market these past two years—it's been rather subdued, and prices show a downward trend..."

Before he could finish, Boss Yang nodded repeatedly. "That's right, that's right. Business has been quite dismal for the last two years. Especially since the latter half of last year, market conditions have declined; all the markets are quite cold. Mid-to-low-end products, in particular, have seen their prices drop by nearly twenty percent, and sales are down significantly too."

"Then Brother Yang, you also know that over ninety percent of the world's jadeite comes from Burma, and the high-end stones are one hundred percent sourced there," Jia Qin explained smoothly. "When the jade market is sluggish, it doesn't just make our business difficult; Burma's losses must also be considerable. So, to stimulate the market, they are resorting to old tactics again: claiming the supply of raw jadeite is dwindling, mining costs are rising, and strictly prohibiting raw material exports..."

"What?" Boss Yang jumped up. "That old starvation marketing trick again?"

"The trick doesn't matter if it’s old; what matters is if it works," Jia Qin sighed lightly. "In any case, the news I heard is that even before the Public Auction begins, the price of rough stones has already skyrocketed, instantly pulling jadeite prices back to the frantic levels of two years ago. The prices for rough stones across all grades have essentially recovered to their historical peaks from 2010."

"That's terrifying," Boss Yang frowned.

A stagnant market was worrying enough, but rising raw material costs meant increased overhead, making business even harder. Moreover, while a hot jade market was a good thing, too hot made one uneasy, fearing a bubble.

Of course, some argued that jadeite was the most resilient of all gemstones. Because raw materials are limited and non-renewable—once dug out, they are truly gone—such an item wouldn't suffer a market collapse even if prices retreated.

Both opposing analyses held some merit, leaving one unsure whose counsel to trust.

At that moment, Jia Qin advised, "Regardless, price increases are inevitable. You should prepare as early as possible."

"Understood. Thank you for the heads-up, Young Master Jia." Boss Yang was deeply grateful.

Meanwhile, Wang Guan inquired out of genuine curiosity, "I know Burma produces jadeite, but what exactly is the Burma Public Auction?"

Wang Guan wasn't feigning ignorance; he truly didn't understand. Since he didn't usually follow this field, he lacked the common knowledge. Specialization in different areas was perfectly normal.

Jia Qin, naturally, found nothing strange about this and casually explained, "In Burma, mineral resources, much like in China, are state-owned. To plug tax revenue leaks and ensure that the scarce jadeite resources generate more foreign exchange income for the country, management is extremely strict. Only through the Public Auction can raw jadeite stones be legally traded and exported; any other route is considered smuggling."

"As for the Public Auction..." Boss Yang helped explain from the side, "It means the seller publicly displays the rough jadeite stones intended for trade in the market, allowing industry insiders or the market to assess the quality and determine a generally accepted minimum transaction price. Buyers then bid above this baseline."

"Oh, that's quite similar to the auction process," Wang Guan observed through analogy. "They estimate a reserve price, then you compete, and the highest bidder wins."

"Exactly. The Public Auction is, in a sense, a massive bidding event," Jia Qin smiled. "There are sealed bids and open bids; it’s a grand contest of financial strength, insight, and courage."

Wang Guan nodded slightly, then asked, "When does this Public Auction start, and what qualifications are needed to participate?"

"Hm?" Jia Qin paused. "You want to participate?"

"Yes."

Wang Guan admitted it with a nod, then smiled, "Can a newcomer like me join the Public Auction?"

"The Burma Public Auction operates on a deposit system. Regardless of whether you are new or not, any jade merchant wishing to bid at the auction must first pay a deposit of ten thousand Euros to obtain an entry pass," Jia Qin said hesitantly. "Aren't you in antiques? Why are you interested in jadeite too?"

Wang Guan offered no detailed explanation, only offering a vague response: "I heard it's very exciting there, so I thought I'd go take a look."

"Oh..."

Seeing Wang Guan's reluctance to elaborate, Jia Qin tactfully did not press further. At the same time, he considered the timing and said, "I’m setting off in a few days. If you really do go, you can look for me there."

"That would be wonderful! Thank you, Young Master Jia," Wang Guan was delighted. Having an informed guide would certainly be far better than stumbling around blindly.

After a brief period of further small talk, Wang Guan rose to take his leave. Soon after, he returned to the Grand Residence and was about to seek out Old Man Qian to discuss the Burma Public Auction, but upon entering the sitting room, he found guests already present.

It was a graceful middle-aged woman, elegantly dressed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, radiating an aura of intellectual beauty mixed with a sharp, capable temperament. Though seemingly contradictory, this combination possessed a unique charm.

Seeing her, Wang Guan paused slightly, then his eyes shifted, and he instantly understood. Having seen a photograph before, he approached with a smile without waiting for Old Man Qian's introduction, showing deep deference. "Mrs. Tang..."

"Don't be so formal; call me Auntie Ya," Mrs. Tang smiled gently. "Qinghua often mentions you. But you’ve been in the Capital for so long and haven't visited. So, I decided to come myself."

At this point, many would have guessed: this Mrs. Tang was Tang Qinghua's mother. The character 'Ya' ( - elegant/refined) in Zhengya Xuan was derived from her name.

Hearing Mrs. Tang’s words, Wang Guan immediately offered apologies. "Auntie Ya, it was my fault. I shall pour you wine immediately to atone..."

As he spoke, Wang Guan felt a flicker of confusion himself, unsure why Mrs. Tang had come. He glanced subtly at Old Man Qian, seeking an answer.

Noticing Wang Guan's bewilderment, Old Man Qian smiled broadly. "Didn't you ask me to find someone capable of overseeing the overall situation and carefully mentoring Little Ye? After much thought, Ah Ya is the most suitable candidate. She has been in the trade for over twenty years and is intimately familiar with all the nuances. Having her spearhead the acquisition project might even help us drive the price down further."

"Of course, I've invited her. Whether I can persuade her to help you now is up to your own abilities."

Old Man Qian smiled affably, clarifying the situation, then sat back, watching the proceedings with an air of complete ease, occasionally raising his cup to sip tea...