Chapter 18 Mr. Barnes
Stone Gambling Street was not far from the Johnson Family residence, it's just a few minutes drive away. As Phillip mentioned, today, Mr. Rogers brought in a batch of raw stones, which attracted many stone gambling enthusiasts.
When they arrived, the place was bustling with people, at least a few hundred, making it quite lively.
Dennis exclaimed, "This is quite a big scene!"
Phillip was also a bit taken aback but then became more excited. "A big scene is a good sign. It means Mr. Rogers has indeed brought good stuff this time. If we happen to find top-grade jade, we'll make a fortune!" he claimed enthusiastically.
"With so many experts around, I'm afraid any good finds have already been snatched up," Dennis said, his confidence greatly diminished after the recent incident.
"Haha, it all comes down to skill and luck," Phillip said confidently.
James and Jennifer tagged along, too. James is a maestro in the world of stone gambling, a master's master. With his touch, there's no way the stone gamble could go south.
But his good intentions were just met with ingratitude. Instead, he got a mouthful from Dennis, leaving him utterly disappointed with Dennis.
He respected Dennis, but that didn't mean he would allow himself to be continuously taken advantage of.
Jennifer asked James in a low voice, "How did you know that stone was worth forty thousand dollars?"
Having been exposed to stone gambling in the family, she had some understanding of it. In that situation, typically, they would have continued extracting jade, so she didn't stop Dennis. However, to her surprise, James had been correct. This made her very curious.
"I guessed," James casually replied.
Jennifer's expression instantly cooled off, snorting in displeasure, "Hmph, speak or don't, it's your choice."
Seeing her genuinely upset, James explained, "I learned it from books out of boredom."
"Who gives a damn where you picked that up," Jennifer retorted, clearly displeased.
She added, "Don't get too smug just because you've scratched the surface. There's a world full of people who outshine you. Bear in mind, keep your mouth in check later, so you don't end up embarrassing yourself again!"
Seeing her assertive demeanor, James couldn't help but recall the pitiful image of her being pinned down by him earlier, especially when her clothes were torn and his hands roamed over her body...
His roaming eyes were caught by Jennifer, who instantly reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on, her entire demeanor turning awkward. She shot back a fierce look, and said, "What are you staring at?!"
Right then, Dennis, who was leading the way, caught their commotion. He spun around, clearly annoyed. "What's all this jabbering about back there?" he asked.
"Nothing," Jennifer said, glaring at James in annoyance, falling silent.
Dennis knew many people here. After arriving, many people greeted him, and after some pleasantries, someone started shouting, "Hey, Mr. Rogers, most of the folks in the circle are here now. Why are you still keeping the good stuff hidden?"
Another chimed in, "Yeah, you're teasing us. If you don't show the good stuff, we'll leave."
Everyone was quite familiar with each other, joking around easily.
At this moment, Mr. Rogers from the jade gambling shop came out, laughing as he said, "I'm not in a hurry. If you leave, it's your loss. I'm telling you, in this batch of raw stones, there must be top-quality jadeite! It's up to who has the skill to dig out this top-quality jadeite."
Somebody doubted, "What! Top-quality jadeite? Is that for real?"
Someone remarked, "Nonsense, top-quality jadeite? It's not that easy to come by."
Another questioned, "Mr. Rogers, you're exaggerating. If there really is top-quality jadeite, you would have found it yourself. Why leave it for us?"
Many expressed their disbelief.
However, some who knew Mr. Rogers remained silent. They had solemn expressions, short breaths, and excitement in their eyes.
Mr. Rogers wasn't one to boast. He was quite honest. If he said there was top-quality jadeite in this batch of raw stones, then it was likely true!
Top-quality jadeite was the ultimate goal of all stone gambling enthusiasts. Finding it could bring years of joy.
Dennis clenched his fists, murmuring, "May God bless me to find that top-quality jadeite."
His words conveniently reached Phillip's ears nearby, who burst into a laugh and said, "Dennis, when did you turn so superstitious, even praying for luck? By my reckoning, with your skills, it's going to be quite a task to uncover this top-grade jadeite."
He added sarcatsically, "I'd advise you not to aim too high; finding a piece with some green would be achievement enough."
Dennis huffed, retorting, "Phillip, don't get too cocky. My stone gambling skills may not be top-notch, but they're surely better than yours. If I can't unearth it, then you stand no chance at all!"
Phillip wasn't angry; he laughed even more joyfully. He stated, "That's right, my stone gambling skills may not be as good as yours, but the person next to me is the renowned Mr. Barnes in the stone gambling circle.
"Just last year, he found three pieces of jadeite, making a big name for himself. With Mr. Barnes here today, I'm sure to find top-quality jadeite. As for you, Dennis, you better go to bed early."
"What? You're Dale Barnes?!" Dennis exclaimed in shock.
Mr. Barnes stood tall, hands folded behind him, emanating an aura of pride, and said, "Indeed, it is I."
Mr. Barnes wasn't at the top of the stone gambling circle, but he had some reputation. He had heard that this batch might contain top-quality jadeite, so he rushed over.
Hearing Mr. Barnes' name, Dennis's face fell, as though frostbitten; his enthusiasm and competitive spirit vanished. With Mr. Barnes around, his chances of scoring that premium jade were practically nil.
In that instant, his zest evaporated, and he considered packing up and heading home.
Jennifer silently cursed, "Phillip is such a rat! He has Mr. Barnes on his side; it's obvious he knew that the raw stone wouldn't produce any jade, yet he set a trap for Dad to fall into. And Dad has always considered him a friend!"
She wasn't foolish. Upon learning Mr. Barnes's identity, she immediately understood.
By now, Mr. Rogers had displayed the batch of raw stones. He said, "Everyone, these are the raw stones I brought over from Myanmar at great expense. They are all good quality, with some containing top-quality jadeite. Now, it's up to you to show your skills and see who can find it."
The auctioneer announced, "The starting price for these raw stones is two thousand dollars. The highest bidder wins."
The auctioneer continued, "The starting price for these raw stones is five thousand dollars. The highest bidder wins."
The auctioneer added, "The starting price for these raw stones is ten thousand dollars. The highest bidder wins."
In total, there were several hundreds of raw stones, and selling them all could rake in millions.
The raw stones priced from $2,000 seemed to be of the worst quality, looking most like ordinary stones.
The raw stones, starting at $5,000, appeared a bit better, showing a promising chance of revealing green jade.
The stones, with a starting price of $10,000, seemed to boast superior quality and garnered the most attention. Before long, eager buyers snatched up the raw stones and began their analysis.
Mr. Rogers hit the nail on the head. This time, the raw stones are truly a catch, with a high likelihood of turning up green.
In no time at all, a good number of people have struck green stones, even though it's not premium jadeite. The quality isn't top-notch, but it's sufficient for them to make a killing.
Phillip rubbed his hands, unable to contain his excitement, and eagerly asked Dale, "Master, shall we begin?"
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