C18

"Hey, Jun, up with the birds today?" Ma Yan had just finished making breakfast when she saw her son emerge, pushing the door open. "Come and grab some breakfast then!"

Chu Yunhe also stepped out from the bathroom, freshly shaven and looking sharp, his face beaming with confidence. With money now in his pocket, he was certain his toy company was on the brink of a new lease on life.

"Jun, take it easy today, okay? Dad's been swamped these past couple of days. Once the company's affairs are in full swing, we'll treat ourselves to a feast at Tianhai Hotel!"

Chu Yunhe made his way to the dining table as he spoke.

"I can't just lounge around at home. The college entrance exams are right around the corner, and I've already lost a day and a half. If I take it easy now, I'll fall behind on my studying!" Chu Jun said, splashing water on his face in the bathroom.

"Oh, and Mom, Dad, I won't be home tonight. I'm meeting up with Liu Tao to catch up on the last two days of study notes," Chu Jun called out while brushing his teeth.

"Going to see Liu Tao? Sure thing, we should invite him over for dinner sometime!" His parents were always supportive of his dedication to his studies, and Chu Yunhe readily agreed.

By the time Chu Jun was done in the bathroom, his father had already headed to the company, leaving only his mother at the dining table. Something about her gaze felt off, making him uneasy. "Mom? Is something bothering you?"

"Jun, listen, you're old enough to understand boundaries. I'm not against you dating, but I'm not exactly for it either. Just don't go causing trouble for that girl," she cautioned.

Chu Jun nearly choked on his porridge, his face turning beet red. It took him a moment to regain his composure. "Mom, you've got it all wrong. I'm seriously just going to study!"

He knew what his mother was implying—she was worried he might skip out on coming home to spend the night with Su Xiang, and who knows what else.

Despite his lengthy explanations, his mother's piercing gaze remained unsettling. He hurriedly finished his breakfast, retreated to his room to gather his things, and made a swift exit.

Chu Jun didn't head to school, nor did he move into Liu Tao's place as he had previously mentioned. Instead, he made a beeline for the train station.

This was a plan he had concocted the night before, pivotal to securing the urgently needed start-up capital. With the likelihood of reclaiming any money from his dad now slim to none, Chu Jun knew he had to find another way.

After purchasing his train ticket, he settled into the green carriage and found his seat. There, Chu Jun allowed himself to relax, closing his eyes instinctively as he revisited the clues that had surfaced in his mind the day before.

The entire scheme had sparked from a single thought he'd had after a beam from a collapsed building struck him on the head. Setting aside the question of any newfound abilities, the impact had jolted a new target for his money-making plans into his mind.

Stone gambling—what was it?

Jade, once mined, is encased in a layer of weathered crust, making it impossible to discern whether the stone truly contains jade, let alone assess its quality or translucence. Only through cutting can one reveal its secrets.

To buy such a stone before it's cut is to gamble.

In the jade trade, the highest stakes and most tantalizing prospect is stone gambling. There's a saying in the industry: stone gambling is akin to gambling with your life. Win, and you could earn a fortune, multiplying your investment many times over, becoming a millionaire overnight. Lose, and you could be left with nothing.

But Chu Jun was not going in blind; he had a lead. He remembered reading about a stone gambling factory in Nanyang where, at the end of '98, someone struck it incredibly lucky, unveiling a piece of glass-type jade.

That particular raw stone had languished in the shop for nearly six months, its plain appearance deterring potential buyers.

The fortunate individual had recounted in a newspaper interview how the stone, no larger than the size of a palm and shaped oddly like a pistol, had seemed an unlikely candidate for quality jade—a sentiment echoed by experts. Yet, on a whim, he'd made the purchase, and it had transformed his life, catapulting him into wealth overnight. Clearly, once Chu Jun made his move, that lucky individual's days of fortune were likely numbered.

In my recollection, the name of the stone-gambling factory was the Navy Stone Gambling Factory.

The green-skinned train finally lurched into motion. Having grown accustomed to the high-speed trains of the future, Chu Jun had no choice but to tolerate the sluggish pace of this old relic. Thankfully, the journey from Tianhai to Nanyang was a mere three hours, even on this slower mode of transport.

The two cities weren't far apart, separated only by the Yellow River. To the north lay Huangbei Province, with Tianhai City as its capital—Chu Jun's hometown. To the south was Huangnan Province. The stone-gambling industry hadn't really taken off nationwide, with most activity concentrated in the south.

Nanyang boasted the country's largest jade carving wholesale market, making it a hub for inland stone gambling. It was the proximity of these two places that allowed Chu Jun to catch wind of the news, presenting him with another opportunity to act swiftly and decisively.

"Beer, soft drinks, mineral water!"

"Peanuts, sunflower seeds, eight-treasure porridge!"

"Excuse me, sir, could you please move your leg?"

Chu Jun's lips curled into a smile at these familiar calls. Surrounded by uninterested middle-aged men, he had no desire to strike up a conversation and instead turned to gaze at the ever-changing landscape outside the window.

Nanyang City, a historic city in Huangnan Province, was naturally accessible by a direct train. But as he emerged from the station, Chu Jun felt a wave of disorientation—it was his first visit to this city, and everything seemed so alien.

"Where to, young man?" A friendly taxi driver approached, eager for business. "Are you here for fun or visiting relatives?"

With the taxi driver's genuine smile, Chu Jun quickly gathered his thoughts. First things first, he needed to locate the Navy Stone Gambling Factory.

"Oh, I'm looking for my aunt. She has a small shop over at the Great Jade Carving World. How much to get there?" Chu Jun didn't let on that he was new to the city; a less scrupulous driver might take him for an unnecessary ride.

"Great Jade Carving World? That'll be five yuan!" The taxi driver quoted the fare promptly. Both parties agreed on the price without further ado, and they were off.

After Chu Jun stepped out of the car, his mind went blank once more. He had assumed the market wouldn't be very large, but a quick glance revealed at least two to three hundred storefronts.

With no other option, he resigned himself to a leisurely search.

Just then, a black Mercedes-Benz pulled up nearby. A man and a woman emerged, apparently father and daughter.

"Daddy, it's so hot here!" the girl exclaimed, fanning herself with her hand in a sweet, enticing manner.

Chu Jun instinctively gulped, suddenly feeling the heat himself. The girl was clad in a light blue tank top paired with denim shorts, showcasing her long, shapely legs. Her figure was strikingly curvaceous. In this day and age, her fiery attire was downright distracting.

Realizing Chu Jun's gaze was on her, the girl whipped her head around and shot him a fierce glare. Mortified, Chu Jun's face flushed as he quickly averted his eyes.