Chapter 60 - 59 Gathering

Words : 1405 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 60: Chapter 59 Gathering The stones in the basement ranged from a small size of three to four kilograms to a large size of two to three hundred kilograms, looking no different from the stones in a river. The surface of the stones appeared dull and unremarkable. Old Zhou picked up a small stone to show Lin Tian, who noticed that a small piece of it had been cut off. Old Zhou took out a flashlight and shined it on the cut surface, projecting a tender emerald light that seemed almost alive and ethereal. "Jade stone gambling, as a means of jade trade, actually rose in popularity around the China-Myanmar border just over the last decade or so. Now there’s a market for it domestically as well. Look at this piece I am showing you; it’s been ’windowed,’ which means it’s a type of rough jade that’s been cut open on one side to reveal whether there’s jade inside or not. This kind of semi-gamble rough is more expensive," Elder Zhou explained while demonstrating. "Then there’s another kind that hasn’t been cut at all to form any windows." Elder Zhou picked up another piece of rough jade and said, "Aside from shape and weight, no one can see whether there’s jade inside or not. Gamblers rely on their own eyesight and experience to judge by the skin’s appearance whether there’s jade inside." "So what sort of ’skin’ indicates that there might be jade inside a stone?" Lin Tian asked. He could use his X-ray vision to observe, but he wanted to learn how to identify jade, as having good luck at gambling for jade yet not being able to explain why could easily raise suspicions among those with ulterior motives. That was why Lin Tian needed to learn how to assess rough jade—to cover up the fact that he had X-ray vision. Besides, acquiring an additional skill was never a bad idea. "Brother Lin Tian, you’ve asked quite the advanced question. No one can be one hundred percent certain about the presence of jade in rough material. Some roughs with poor external appearance can also contain jade," Botong boasted, seizing the opportunity to show off his interest. Elder Zhou did not refute Botong’s statement. Instead, he patiently explained to Lin Tian, "While there’s certainly a luck factor involved, by observing the rough’s skin, you can discern certain things. For instance, if the skin has large crystals and a loose structure, the hardness will be low, and so will the transparency, generally indicating no jade presence or low-quality jade. Conversely, if the skin has small, dense, and fine crystals, the chances of finding medium to high-quality jade increase..." When it came to techniques of jade stone gambling, Elder Zhou was passionate and verbose, explaining the details to Lin Tian, the novice, on how to assess color, check for cracks, and which mines were likely to produce better material. In the end, he also instructed Lin Tian on how to cut stones and extract jade. Lin Tian was a quick learner when it came to understanding new knowledge, often grasping concepts that even an experienced jade gambler like Botong would struggle with for ages. With his X-ray vision, Lin Tian appeared even more experienced than Botong. "You’re a genius, Xiao Tian. You’ve already mastered what I’ve taught you. The only thing you lack is practical experience. Unfortunately, the rough I have here has been pre-selected and doesn’t offer much gambling value, so it’s not conducive to testing your skills," said Elder Zhou, growing increasingly fond of Lin Tian, who was young yet not impetuous and had a strong capacity for learning. Botong, having been playing with the stones, leaned over cautiously and said, "Grandpa, isn’t there a gathering tonight? Don’t you think it would be quite a show if Lin Tian participated?" "You rascal, just say you want to go and join the fun. You embarrassed me last time, and you still have the nerve to bring it up!" Elder Zhou seemed to recall an unpleasant memory and was slightly annoyed. However, after glancing at Lin Tian, he smiled again and said, "You’re right, this gathering is indeed an opportunity for real-world practice." Confused by the grandfather and grandson, Lin Tian curiously asked, "Brother Botong, what gathering are you talking about? Is it related to stone gambling?" "Heh, it is related to stone gambling, but it’s not so straightforward. In any case, there’s always excitement to watch at these events," Botong replied, his eyes flashing with rare seriousness, his mouth forming an enigmatic smile. The get-togethers of these wealthy folk were beyond Lin Tian’s understanding—such complex power plays at a mere meeting. He had nothing much to do that evening, and it seemed like it wouldn’t hurt to go along and have a look. "Where’s the gathering?" Lin Tian asked. "This time it’s at the Bai Family," Zhou Botong replied. The Bai Family! Their gathering was at the Bai Family, and Lin Tian was greatly surprised. He had quite the impression of the Bai Family, having had conflicts with both Second Young Master Bai and Mr. Bai; he had even killed their tribute, Uncle Zhao. If the Bai Family found out about this, Lin Tian and they would be in a life-or-death situation. "You two keep watching here, I’m going to take a little nap," Elder Zhou announced, warning Zhou Botong, "Don’t you dare sell my rough stone behind my back or else your butt is going to bloom if you do it again." Being elderly, Elder Zhou needed a small sleep to remain energized for the evening party after being excited all day. However, the warning given as he left was embarrassingly reverent, and seeing the puzzled look on Lin Tian’s face, Zhou Botong sheepishly confessed, "It happened last year, and the old man still remembers it. It was my mother’s birthday, and I wanted to give her a gift. I was a bit short on cash at the time, so I took a rough stone from the basement to sell. With so many stones, I thought no one would notice, but my grandfather caught me and gave me a beating." "How much did you sell that rough stone for?" Lin Tian asked curiously. "Five hundred thousand, but that’s not the point. Grandpa said I was cheated; that rough stone was worth at least a million, so he said he beat me to teach me a lesson," Zhou Botong said with a helpless shrug, speaking in shame. A million, huh? A mere stone worth a million, it’s infuriating to compare oneself with others. Before, when Lin Tian received a salary of five hundred thousand a year, he felt quite content. Now, compared to them, he realized he was a frog in a well. Why could Sun Decai be so arrogant? Why were the two brothers of the Bai Family so condescending? The reason was clear. As long as you have money in your pocket, your confidence would soar wherever you went, especially if it was a substantial amount. Seeing Lin Tian lost in thought, Zhou Botong waved his hand in front of Lin Tian’s eyes and said, "Lin Tian, when I mentioned the Bai Family just now, you seemed a bit uneasy. Do you have some conflict with them?" "Heh, there’s some conflict," Lin Tian responded after briefly retelling his clashes with Bai Yuze of the Bai Family at the Xiao Family’s event. "Hahaha, that’s damn satisfying! Lin Tian, you’re too awesome. Bai Yuze has never been cursed out like that before. Heh, I’m kind of looking forward to tonight’s gathering. He’s always the center of attention, but it looks like it’s time for a change," Zhou Botong laughed heartily, clearly relishing the chaos with a tone that showed his own displeasure with Bai Yuze. The two chatted and boasted, and after dinner at past six o’clock, Lin Tian drove following Elder Zhou to attend the Bai Family’s gathering. These kinds of gatherings don’t have much to offer for a full meal, just some drinks, snacks, and fruits, so Elder Zhou made sure to have dinner before heading to the Bai Family’s home. The gathering was scheduled for seven o’clock. By the time Lin Tian and company arrived at the Bai Family’s place, it was six fifty, just ten minutes before the start. This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.com

Chapter 60 - 59 Gathering

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