How crazy is betting on stones? "One knife will make you poor, one knife will make you rich, and one knife will pierce sackcloth." This is the lingo of stone gambling nowadays.
However, in ancient times, there were also people who were even crazier for gambling on stones!
That's right! It's the number one stone gambler in Sima Qian's works, Bian He!
Even having his feet chopped off could not change Bian He's heart for gambling on stones. When he cried bitterly while holding "He's Bi", he even gambled on it with his life and fortune.
Money was nothing to Han Du, but the frustration of buying a piece of waste stone made him very uncomfortable.
"Come again!" Han Du yelled, and immediately returned to the stone seller's side with his fingers playing the piano, "This, this, this... and these, wrap them all up for me."
When the stone seller saw Han Du buying food like he was buying vegetables, he immediately smiled. He had met a big customer! He quickly accepted the treasure money and wrapped the stone for Han Du.
"Come on, knock them all!" Han Du rolled up his sleeves and put his hands on his hips, staring at the stone, muttering to himself: "I still don't believe it..."
When the craftsman saw that there was a big business coming to his door, he naturally did not dare to neglect it and quickly called his assistants to join him.
Such a big movement has not happened here for a long time. Regardless of whether it was Ming merchants or natives, they gathered around curiously, wanting to see who was carving rocks like crazy.
You must know that this pair of stones is not cheap. The smallest ones cost only seven or eight cents, and the larger ones cost dozens or even hundreds of dollars. All added up, it cost Handu thousands of coins.
"Waste stone..."
"Shiraishi... What a pity. I thought it was a gem." Someone sighed.
"How can gems be so easy to find?" Someone sneered, "If gems are so easy to find, then why don't they open the gems themselves instead of selling the stones directly?"
"That's true..." After being scolded by someone, others didn't get angry. After all, being friendly makes you rich.
"Another waste stone..."
"It's Shiraishi again..."
...
Until all the stones turned into rubbish on the ground, Han Du didn't even see the shadow of the rubbish.
So many stones, not even a hair on them? Even if you use the money to buy gems, you will still have to buy about ten of them!
Han Du got angry and went straight to the stone seller, grabbed him by the collar and shouted, "Are you selling fake goods to deceive people?"
The stone seller was also dumbfounded. He did not expect that someone would buy all his stones in one go, and he did not expect that there was not even a gemstone in these stones.
Of course the stone sellers got some fake stones to sell there, but some of them were real stones from gem mines.
But at this time, the stone seller must insist that his stones come from the mine.
Things got loud and the other stone sellers also looked at this side. Many people frowned. They never thought that a liar would sneak in among them and be caught on the spot.
"Husband, it's just a small loss of treasure." An Qing motioned to Han Du to let go, in order not to commit such a gaffe for Qian Du.
Han Du thought for a moment, let go of his hand, but said reluctantly: "Is this a matter of money? He uses fake stones to deceive people, and he doesn't know how many people will be harmed by him in the future."
An Qing rolled his eyes and continued to persuade: "He is a stone seller and he doesn't know that we are coming. How could he deliberately trap us?"
"Then we can't take advantage of him like this." Han Du thought for a while and said.
"How can it be so serious?" Yao Yue stepped forward and held Han Du's arm, covering her mouth and smiling softly: "Maybe it's just your bad luck."
Yo ho?
Han Du's anger suddenly rose again, "Do you think you are lucky? Then pick some and try them. I don't believe you can find gems."
"Just give it a try." Yao Yue raised her smooth chin slightly, not showing any fear of Han Du.
Seeing the tit-for-tat confrontation between the two, An Qing had to intervene in order to ease the atmosphere, "I'll buy some too."
】
Yao Yue then picked a few and bought them.
Han Du glanced at it and couldn't help laughing. He pointed and said, "Look at what you bought. What can be in such a thin piece of stone?"
"And this, how ugly does it look like it has gems?"
No matter what Han Du said, Yao Yue paid the treasure in an orderly manner and bought the stone.
"Come on, let's go and open it now. I can't wait to see your luck." Han Du urged Yao Yue with a smirk on his face.
Seeing Han Du's childish look, An Qing shook his head helplessly and motioned to Zhao Wenqing to take the stone and follow him.
The craftsman was naturally open to business, but when he saw Yao Yue looking so bright and beautiful, he couldn't help but take a second look, and his voice couldn't help but lowered. , "May I ask you, girl, which piece to open first?"
Yao Yue casually took out the stone piece that Han Du despised and thought it could not contain gems, "That's it."
The craftsman took the stone piece with both hands, fixed it, and then began to knock it.
"Ding!"
An unusually clear sound came out. The craftsman was surprised and immediately put down the iron drill and hammer in his hand.
"Hu~hu~"
He blew the sand and stones away with two breaths and carefully buttoned the sand and stones clean. A bit of red came into his eyes.
"It's popular..."
Before the craftsman could say anything, a sharp-eyed person nearby saw it and immediately exclaimed.
One red, two blue, three yellow and four green, this is the most basic way for everyone to distinguish gems. Of course, the specific situation depends on the size, color, impurities, cracks, etc. of the gemstone.
But in any case, the appearance of red is the best sign, because it means that there is the greatest possibility of expensive gems later!
"It's red on the first stroke. It's going to happen!" Everyone couldn't help but craned their necks to see more clearly.
Han Du was dumbfounded. What do you mean? I bought so many of them and haven’t seen even a hint of color after taking them. Yao Yue just took out one and suddenly became outstanding?
"Girl, I'm willing to buy this stone for ten cents." A Ming Dynasty merchant came up and wanted to take a gamble.
Even the stone seller didn't like this stone. When Yao Yue bought it just now, it only cost 700 Wen. Now it has surged more than ten times in an instant, and everyone laments their good luck.
Seeing that someone wanted to buy it, the craftsman stopped and waited quietly for them to discuss.
"No, keep driving." Yao Yue refused directly.
Haishang also recognized the interest and slightly cupped his hands and took a few steps back. The stone was just a little red. No one knew whether it was large or small and of good quality. He could only produce ten sticks.
That is to say, he has a special preference for rubies, which is why he took the risk to pay such a high price.
The craftsman leaned a little to the left, and with the second hammer blow, only a trace of white ash was knocked out.
"No!"
"It's a pity. It's broken. If I had just sold it to that person, I would have made a profit. Now I can only smash it in my hands..."
The craftsman looked at the stone again and confirmed that the red color was indeed gone. He looked up regretfully and looked at Yao Yue.
Yao Yue raised her head slightly and signaled: "Continue."
The craftsman was instructed to lean a little to the right this time and tap lightly.
"Hi~ I'm red again!"
"No, is the gem on the right and not on the left?"
"If that's the case, maybe it's really going to happen!"
Haishang's eyelids also jumped, but he did not move. Even if red appeared at two o'clock, it could only guarantee that he would not lose money if he bought ten coins.
As for whether we can make money, we have to continue to see if other places can also become popular.
The craftsman looked at Yao Yue again.
This time, Yao Yue did not let the craftsman do his best. She pointed her hand and commanded: "Continue to the right."
The craftsman obeyed and continued to knock on the right side.
"It's popular again!" The crowd watching was excited.
"Continue to the right." Yao Yue said firmly.
The craftsman obeyed and continued knocking.
"It's red again, it's red again..." The people around immediately shouted in unison.
What followed was a scene where everyone was amazed repeatedly. In the end, the craftsman slowly polished the gem out, and people really saw its true face.
This top-quality ruby is about the size of a man's thumb. It is as red as blood and crystal clear without any impurities.
Held by the craftsmen under the sun, it exudes dazzling brilliance!
"Congratulations, madam, congratulations, madam! You may not be able to find such a top-quality gem in a year. I didn't expect that it was discovered by madam." Li Yuan quickly took the gem and presented it to Yao Yue with both hands.
At this time, even the maritime merchant who had just wanted to buy the stone had to retreat with regret. Because he knows that even if the other party wants to sell it now, he can't afford it.
Just seeing such a top-quality gem passing by him, the merchant felt as if he had lost tens of thousands of gems.
If he had been bolder and offered a higher price just now, maybe this gem would be his now.
Of course Yao Yue will not sell it. This is a gem she picked out with her own hands. It is of great significance to her.
Tens of thousands of guan is nothing to Yao Yue, but she still happily accepts it.
"All open."
Naturally, there were no top-grade gems like rubies, but three blue, two yellow and five gems were also revealed.
Even if you leave out the rubies, you have made hundreds of times the profit. If you add rubies, it can really be said to be a huge fortune.
Even the stones bought by Anqing turned out some gems, which was considered a small profit.
But the more this happened, the more Han Du doubted his life.
"I don't believe it yet." After gritting his teeth, Han Du came to another stall owner and pulled his hand in front of him.
"Wrap these up for me."
The craftsman carefully opened all the stones in Han Du, but after receiving them, there was still no trace of the gems, and even the smallest green could not be opened.
Han Du's face was livid, he held a handful of stone foam in his hand, threw it to the ground, and stepped on it with two feet.
"Come on, let's go back."
As soon as Han Du and others left, a swarm of people immediately surrounded the stall owner where Yao Yue and An Qing were buying stones.
The two stall owners also saw the gemstones carved out of their own stones, and they were filled with regret. If I had known that gems could be produced, why would I sell them? Wouldn’t it be nice to open it yourself?
One of them, in particular, missed an opportunity to become rich for three generations.
But when he saw the fat sheep suddenly appearing in front of him, the stall owner suddenly burst into laughter. With these people here, there is no need to worry about making up for some losses.
The price was immediately increased tenfold!
