Chapter 104: Imperial Jade

At 2 p.m., the three of them reached Yunnan. Zhang Jiefangs business partner came to escort them. When they got off the plane, he welcomed them with enthusiasm.

Boss Zhang, how have you been since I saw you last? The person shook Zhang Jiefangs hand graciously.

Boss Wu, your car has changed to a Hummer already. Looks like you have earned quite a lot this year! Zhang Jiefang said with a laugh.

Not at all. Isnt it true that you guys are looking after me like a fortune god? Wu Facai said.

Wu Facais name was interesting. His family was poor when he was young. His parents hoped that he could make a fortune, so they named him, Wu Facai. But his surname was Wu, so it sounded like not getting rich! However, Wu Facai struggled a lot these few years starting from earning several ten thousand yuan and now he was a billionaire. [1]

How are the items? You know that Im not an expert. I am rarely involved in such business except when the items are good in quality! Zhan Jiefang explained.

Boss Zhang, dont you worry. The stones that came from Myanmar this time are the best. If it werent because we got along drinking, I wouldnt have asked you to join! Wu Facai said.

Hows the price? Zhang Jiefang was mostly worried about this problem.

A items, the price is about the same as B items, one piece for five hundred yuan! Wu Facai said.

Five hundred yuan, so expensive? Last time, it was just two hundred yuan? Zhang Jiefang asked in an exaggerated manner.

My boss Zhang, youre in this business, but you dont know the price? Last time, they were B items, and the stone wasnt bigger than this either! Wu Facai said, Youll know when you see the items!

Wu Facai had arranged a place to stay; it was a three-star hotel. The environment wasnt bad. Zhang Jiefang didnt nitpick because it was arranged by the other. Besides, it was comfortable here.

After he settled his luggage, Wu Facai arranged a dinner to welcome Zhang Jiefang. When Zhang Jiefang saw Wu Facais manner, it was clear to him.Even if tomorrows items arent ideal, I still have to take several ten thousand yuan out of respect.

The most important thing in business was face. Although profit should come first, face must be considered in a situation that didnt damage each others profit.

When he returned to the hotel at night, Zhang Jiefang gave Zhang Bing ten thousand yuan and said, Tomorrow, you two go and enjoy yourselves. If you dont have enough money, call me again!

No problem! Zhang Bing immediately accepted the money. When Zhang Jiefang usually gave Zhang Bing pocket-money, it was only a few hundred. This was the first time he was so generous.

Oh yeah, Uncle Zhang, What did you discuss with that Uncle Wu today? Yang Ming was curious, just now, he got lost on the topic during the dinner.One piece of cheap jadeite can sell for about five hundred yuan? There still exists such a huge profit?Yang Ming really couldnt understand that Wu Facai became a billionaire by just selling stones for three years!

What speed was this? If I could find a similar business, then, I will be richer than Wang Zhitao sooner or later!

Oh,youre talking about the gemstones! Zhang Jiefang was quite drunk, so he wanted to show off in front of a junior! Zhang Jiefang usually could maintain the dignity as a senior, but now, he was like their brother, sitting on the hotel bed and talking big. Yang Ming, you know Uncle Zhang has a jewelry business. Besides gold andplatinum. Jade is one of my key businesses too!

Real jade has two types, soft and hard. Common jade usually refers to soft jade; hard jade has another popular name imperial jade. We and your Uncle Wu were talking about the unpolished stone, so we dont know whether the stone is jade or not.Sincethere are different grades for jade,the best is what we call jade, and the latter is an inferior quality product. Jade looks like a stone, so we in the field usually call themgemstones.

Originalgemstone tradingis the most mysterious business in the market of jewelry. It was mysterious because of gambling, so the buyer has the statements of gambling jade, gambling stone.Gemstones usually have a layer of stone crust; the crust turned brownish-red, brown-black or other mixed colors because of oxidation. Therefore, it was hard to inspect its real value by just observing the appearance. Even today with scientific advances there isnt an instrument to distinguish through the outer crust whether it was a real jade or a ruined stone.

In your uncles level, I can only play around occasionally. Theres too much of an element of luck in play, and they will not let you bring an instrument in for jade gambling!

It was the first time Yang Ming was hearing of such a business in the world.Isnt this the same as buying lottery? Lottery

Yang Ming had an idea. Uncle Zhang, can we go to the place for stonegamblingto have a look?

Yeah,you can. Why not? If youre interested, uncle will give you a few pieces, and then you can play along with Zhang Bing! Zhang Jiefang said.

Yang Ming, lets not go there. What fun is there? Why dont we go around and play! Zhang Bing wasnt interested in it.

Zhang Bing, Ive never seen it before, so Im curious. It wont waste much time. Lets go have a look! Yang Ming suggested.

Yeah, thats right. Zhang Bing, whats wrong with you? Yang Ming is a guest and youre the host. The host is obligated to accompany his guest! Fine, I wont give you pocket-money anymore if youre not willing! Zhang Jiefang, of course, wanted Zhang Bing to get in touch with this business because it was such a big family business. Zhang Bing will inherit it. A bigger connection will be helpful for Zhang Bing in the future!

Ah?Alright then! Ill go! Zhang Bing became listless as soon as he heard about not getting pocket-money.

Yang Ming laughed. How could he not understand what Zhang Jiefang meant? However, he didnt expose it as long as he could achieve his aim!

That night when they returned to their room, Zhang Bing wasnt content. He asked withabitter face, Yang Ming, why are you interested in such a thing! So boring!

Hehe,Im just curious only! Yang Ming explained.

Brother, why cant you find something else to be curious about? Im still hoping to get a girl! Zhang Bing complained.

Get a girl? Dont do it in Yunnan. Didnt you read about Wiselys novel [2]? It is about a man having a one night stand. It turned out that the partnerwas a virgin. She kept forcing him to marry her. Of course, the guy disagreed and ran away! As a result, the lady was so furious that she cursed him with voodoo. In the end, the guy almost died by exploding! Yang Ming said.

F***, Brother, dont you try to scare me! Why does it sound like a pseudoscience? Zhang Bing couldnt help but have achill.

Science?Hehe, Yang Ming laughed.There are too many phenomena which cant be explained by science such as my special abilities. So is it considered pseudoscience or science?

Youre saying that its science? Its impossible to explain based on current technology. If youre saying that its pseudoscience, then how can you explain the phenomenon on Yang Ming?

So, not everything can be considered as science or pseudoscience!

Im telling the truth. You can try if you dont believe me! Yang Ming was having funwithhim.

Ah?F***. I wouldnt be here if I knew earlier. Oh my gosh, Im having such bad luck! Zhang Bing lay on the bed crestfallen.

Hehe,Im just trying to scare you. Truly, voodoo is quite rare now. In Yunnan, only Miao people [3] know how to do it. Of course, not all of them know how to do it! Only a small number of people know, and these people usually stay in a village that is isolated from the world! Yang Ming looked at Zhang Bings expression, and he couldnt help but find it amusing. Besides, there are rules in this tribe, so they arent allowed to simply curse anyone!

F***, I still feel that its quite confusing. No way, I have decided! Zhang Bing shouted all of a sudden.

You decided? What did you decide? Yang Ming thought he decided not to get a girlfriend anymore.

I decided that I will check her identification card before making her a girlfriend and just look for the minority race! Zhang Bing said.

Yang Ming was speechless.Why is this so exaggerated? Im only learning and applying immediately. I was just saying.

This night, Yang Ming slept so comfortably. Although the environment had changed, Yang Ming felt safe because he finally found a way to explore his abilities! Although he wasnt sure about it, he could at least give it a try.

On the next morning, Zhang Jiefang called Wu Facai after breakfast. Then he brought along Zhang Bing and Yang Ming to Tengchong [4] in Yunnan. Tengchong is one of the major distribution centers in the country.

However, this was just a small business. Some jewelers didnt import from Tengchong anymore; instead, they directly imported from Yangon [5]. Like Wu Facai, he imported from Yangon. Then he resold it when he was back in the country to earn the price difference.