Chapter 45 – The King of Jades
Bai Xia gave the ten cutters to cut the Jade on stage. While they were cutting, she sold the previously cut ones. The venue was filled with people calling out figures after figures:
"10 million! 5 million yen! 20 million yen! 35 million yen! 800,000! 9 million! 17 million! 23 million! 200,000! 700,000! 300,000! 8 million! 3 million! 2 million! 5 million!"
In just thirty minutes, the fifteen cut jades were sold out. By this time, one of the uncut jades had been cut out.
The crowd murmured as Bai Xuan carefully brought the jade to the display table in front of Bai Xia.
"Bean green jade… and the green is so light," she said quietly, placing it down.
Bai Xia looked at the stone with her usual calm, analyzing it carefully. "This Bean green jade has a light green and grainy look. It's common but cheerful. It's going for 10,000 yuan."
The crowd immediately erupted with excitement:
"50,000! 60,000! 100,000!" Voices and paddles rose as the price skyrocketed until it sold for 100,000 yuan.
The next jade, white-base green jade, sold for 200,000 yuan. Purple-green jade went for 100,000 yuan, golden jade for 500,000 yuan, red jade for 200,000 yuan, and ink jade for 100,000 yuan. That marked the end of the (D) categories.
Bai Xia spoke into the mic, her voice calm but commanding. "Now we'll start the (C) categories."
As the first (C) jade was revealed—a deep olive-colored oil green jade—the crowd gasped:
"Wow! Oil green jade!"
"Look at that shine!"
"So deep, so mature!"
"This oil green jade has a deep olive green color, shiny, mature, and steady tone. Starting price: 50,000 yuan," Bai Xia announced.
Bidding escalated: "100,000! 250,000! 500,000!" It eventually sold for 800,000 yuan.
The following jades sold quickly: bean green jade for 600,000 yuan, snowflake jade for 1 million yuan, floating flower jade for 3 million yuan, and glutinous jade for 800,000 yuan. The (C) category concluded, leaving the crowd murmuring and amazed.
Bai Xia then moved to the (B) category. The first stone cut revealed lavender jade. The crowd erupted once again, voices overlapping:
"Lavender jade!"
"Miss Bai Xia just cut out lavender jade!"
"Such a rare find!"
Bai Xuan placed it on the display table, but Bai Xia calmly said, "I'm sorry, everybody, but this stone has been preserved for someone else." The crowd sighed in disappointment, whispering among themselves:
"Reserved… could it be for her mother?"
"Maybe for XB company?"
Next, sunny green jade sold for 5 million yuan, blue water jade for 8 million yuan, Clearwater jade for 12 million yuan, and mutton fat white jade for 10 million yuan. The (B) categories were finished.
Bai Xia addressed the audience: "For those who didn't get the chance to get jade today, I'll be opening my own store a few weeks from now, so please drop by and get what you like." Expectant gazes swept across the crowd, some women already whispering excitedly.
The (A) categories began. The first cut jade revealed spring color jade—green, lavender, and white swirled together. Gasps rippled through the audience:
"Spring color jade!"
"I've never seen one like this!"
"So lively and full of energy!"
Bai Xia spoke gently into the mic: "I'm deeply sorry, everyone, but this one is also reserved for someone else." The crowd broke into murmured discussions of disappointment.
The next cut jade was glass-type jade, and the venue erupted into chaos again. Its price rocketed until it was sold for 65 million yuan. Ice jade followed, reaching 50 million yuan.
Finally, the last uncut stone—the size of a football—was ready. The cutter began working. Ten minutes later, the stone was fully revealed: imperial green.
The crowd went wild, voices shouting over one another:
"Imperial green!"
"The king of jades!"
"I can't believe the size!"
"Look at that color!"
"Perfect clarity!"
Reporters immediately turned to their cameras, broadcasting:
"This is imperial green, the legendary King of Jades! Top quality and massive size, a truly rare find!"
Bai Xia's voice rang out: "Calm down, everybody. This imperial green is deep emerald, top quality. Starting price: 10 million yuan."
Paddles flew into the air, and the bidding frenzy began. The price climbed relentlessly until only two bidders remained: an old man and a young man. Bai Xia's eyes narrowed as she examined the young man. That face… she would never forget it. It was the handsome man from the casino.
The price rose higher and higher until the young man won, paying 150 million yuan. The auction ended. Buyers went to private rooms to settle their payments, with bank officials handling everything professionally.
The venue slowly returned to a lively buzz. Buyers mingled, snacks and drinks were shared, and reporters conducted interviews. Bai Xia was with her mother, elder sister, and some elite women when Stella approached.
"Miss Bai Xia, someone wants to meet you," Stella said.
Bai Xia excused herself. Walking down the hallway, she asked, "Who is looking for me?"
"The man who bought the imperial green...