Chapter 29: Cutting Failure
Ice Grade!
Hearing these two words, everyone present grew excited. Even if they didn’t understand stone cutting, it didn’t mean they were unaware of jadeite grades.
Ice Grade—this was a high-tier jadeite just a notch below Glass Grade!
Master Liu seemed determined to shock everyone with his words. “Based on my experience, this piece of jadeite can at least yield two pairs of bangles, and the remaining material can be used to craft two sets of jewelry.”
“The company is currently expanding into the jewelry market and has already secured external funding. Once the funds are in place, we can open stores in over a dozen cities across the country.”
Lin Ziqing’s words seemed somewhat unrelated, but Lin Manxuan, being as sharp as she was, understood immediately. “Sister Qing, I’ll leave the raw stone in your hands.”
Lin Ziqing nodded and glanced at Yang Ning. “Manxuan, have the finance department transfer one million to Mr. Yang immediately.”
It was clear that Lin Ziqing held Yang Ning in high regard, even switching to a respectful form of address.
Two pairs of bangles and two sets of jewelry—if managed well, they could bring in at least four million in revenue. With jewelry prices soaring, four million might even be a conservative estimate.
“You have a new message. Please check it.”
A notification sounded, and a slight smirk curled at the corner of Yang Ning’s lips. Lin Manxuan’s efficiency was truly astonishing.
Soon, the System also sent a prompt:
Main Quest: [Millionaire]
Quest Description: In this materialistic era, people can only live in reality. Money isn’t everything, but without it, nothing is possible. Work hard to earn money!
Current Progress: 1,000,000/1,000,000 (Completed)
Quest Reward: Title [Millionaire]
You have obtained the title [Millionaire]...
Yang Ning immediately opened the [Attributes] interface. His unallocated attribute points had now reached 16. He decided to allocate them later.
Opening the title system, Yang Ning checked the effect description of [Millionaire].
In simple terms, the [Millionaire] title was an enhanced version of [Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household], increasing the trust of those around the Host by 15%. Without hesitation, Yang Ning replaced [Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household] with it.
At that moment, Lin Manxuan, Lin Ziqing, and the others suddenly felt an inclination to trust Yang Ning’s judgment without any doubt, believing that doing so would bring many benefits.
Oddly enough, they didn’t find this strange; it felt perfectly natural.
They had paid him fifty thousand for an appraisal fee, and he produced manuscripts of the Twelve Scrolls of the Spiritual Pivot Classic. They trusted his judgment that this raw stone was worth at least a million, and it turned out to be Ice Grade jadeite.
Doubt him?
Only a fool would doubt him!
This guy was practically a money-dispensing boy—no, a living god of wealth!
Zhou Bokang’s face turned pale. Pointing at the raw jadeite in Master Liu’s hands, he stammered in disbelief, “Impossible! This can’t be!”
Suddenly, he turned to Yang Ning and screamed, “I’m not selling! Give me back the raw stone! It’s mine!”
He lunged forward to grab it, but Yang Ning waved the agreement in his hand with a sly smile. “Breaking the contract requires a compensation of one hundred million. It’s all in black and white, Mr. Zhou. Are you sure you’re not selling?”
Zhou Bokang snapped back to reality. He had drafted this agreement himself, setting the penalty for breach of contract at one hundred million to prevent Yang Ning from backing out if the stone turned out worthless. He never expected to shoot himself in the foot.
At the same time, he noticed Master Liu, his assistant, and Minister Niu standing in front of Yang Ning, glaring at him with hostile expressions.
Lin Ziqing frowned. “Mr. Zhou, I hope you can restrain yourself. Otherwise, I’ll have security escort you out immediately.”
“I’m sorry, I lost control for a moment.” Zhou Bokang wiped the sweat from his forehead, fully aware that Lin Ziqing wasn’t bluffing.
“The real show is yet to come. I hope you can hold on.”
Yang Ning sneered inwardly but put on a regretful expression. “Even I’m starting to regret it.”
Everyone else naturally understood that Yang Ning regretted selling the raw stone to Lin Manxuan. They tactfully pretended not to hear, keeping their thoughts to themselves.
What could they say at a time like this?
Offer comfort?
They were too inexperienced for that. If they got roped into a conversation with this kid, they might not get the raw stone back. And if they ended up compensating him, that would be a real disaster.
Yang Ning put on a pained expression, then took out another high-quality raw stone. “Master Liu, help me cut this one.”
As Yang Ning handed over the stone, the System sent another prompt:
Main Quest: [Multi-Millionaire]
Quest Description: A million is just the beginning. Keep striving, young man! Work hard to become the multi-millionaire that others envy and despise!
Quest Progress: 0/10,000,000
Quest Reward: [Penetrating Vision]
Yang Ning couldn’t help but grin. Could this [Penetrating Vision] be an upgrade to [Eye of Appraisal], adding a see-through function?
Awesome, this is great!
Before Master Liu could take the raw stone from Yang Ning, Zhou Bokang shouted, “Old Liu, hold on. I’ve got a box of raw stones over there. Cut mine first.”
“This…” Master Liu looked at Lin Ziqing with a troubled expression. He had just heard about Zhou Bokang submitting his resignation letter. Strictly speaking, Zhou Bokang no longer had the right to linger in the company.
Lin Ziqing didn’t say anything, merely looking at Yang Ning.
“I don’t mind. It’s all just for fun. Doesn’t matter who goes first.” Yang Ning appeared very magnanimous.
Without another word, Zhou Bokang turned and dashed out of the stone-cutting room. Moments later, he returned, panting, with a box of raw stones in his arms.
“Old Liu, be careful when cutting. It’s very likely to yield green. The raw stone that just produced Ice Grade was from this batch.” Though he knew getting it back was unrealistic, Zhou Bokang still couldn’t let go of his frustration.
At this point, it wasn’t about regret anymore—it was about hating the so-called experts who had misled him into believing these raw stones had high gambling potential.
He secretly swore that one day, he would ruin the reputations of all these supposed expert masters!
“Don’t worry.” Master Liu had often privately mocked Zhou Bokang’s raw stones, but now he couldn’t laugh. His expression was grave.
First stone, a failure...
Second stone, a failure...
Third stone, still a failure...
Fourth stone, another failure...
“Minister Zhou… I mean, Old Zhou, do we keep cutting?” Master Liu frowned slightly. Something felt off. The appearance of these four raw stones was far better than the one that yielded Ice Grade, yet without exception, they were all worthless.
“Cut!” Zhou Bokang gritted his teeth.
“Alright!” Master Liu picked up another raw stone and, with his assistant, began grinding it on the rotating wheel.
Another failure!
Looking at the scattered debris and worthless material on the ground, Zhou Bokang felt his heart bleed. If he had sold these five raw stones, he could have gotten at least four or five hundred thousand, maybe even a million.
He had originally planned to take the remaining raw stones to another city for sale. Coincidentally, there was a jadeite exhibition in Yuezhou City next month, and he intended to ask a friend to help set up a booth to sell these stones.
But now...
Zhou Bokang clenched his teeth, his breathing growing heavier. “Old Liu, keep going. I refuse to believe I’m this unlucky!”
At this moment, Zhou Bokang resembled a gambler who had lost everything and was desperate to win it back.
Lin Ziqing, Meng Jianlin, Minister Niu, and the others watched coldly from the sidelines. In the past, they might have offered a reminder or even tried to stop him. But now, with Zhou Bokang having submitted his resignation and shown his attitude in the meeting room, it was tantamount to betraying the Lin Corporation.
From that moment on, they were no longer friends or colleagues—merely strangers. In the future, they might even become business rivals.
Another failure!
Zhou Bokang’s eyes grew redder as he stared at the worthless material on the ground, roaring, “Cut! Keep cutting! The next one will definitely yield green!”