Li Moying softly uttered an "Oh."


    She thought Qin Hao made sense, but she felt a bit awkward hearing Bai Jing''s tone of speech.


    This is my master; no one should tease him!


    Bai Jing did not keep Qin Hao waiting long, and she arrived here a few minutes later.


    She and her secretary got out of the car, followed by two bodyguards.


    "Hao, sorry to keep you waiting. Oh, who is this beautiful lady? Your girlfriend, young brother?" Bai Jing hurriedly changed her manner of addressing seeing a beauty standing next to Qin Hao.


    Qin Hao replied with a smile, "This is my friend Li Moying."


    "Hello, Sister Jing," Li Moying said politely.


    Bai Jing nodded, "Hello, don''t be so formal. Since you''re a friend of the younger brother, you are my friend too. It''s so hot outside, let''s go inside and talk."


    Qin Hao nodded, "Yes, that sounds good."


    As they walked, Bai Jing curiously asked, "Young brother, what brings you here? Planning to enter the jewelry business?"


    Qin Hao replied, "I heard the gem betting here is pretty good, so I came to just have a bit of fun."


    Bai Jing was taken aback, "Young brother, let me advise you, it''s better not to get involved with this stuff. I''ve seen too many millionaires, even billionaires, go bankrupt."


    "It''s okay, Sister Jing, I''m just playing occasionally. Isn''t buying rough gems also a gamble?" Qin Hao asked curiously.


    Bai Jing shook her head, "I usually purchase the cut rough stones directly, only making a move when I''m sure they''re good quality. I rarely bet on rough stones directly, or buy the ones that have been ''windowed.''


    Qin Hao asked, "Windowed rough stones? What does that mean?"


    Bai Jing was somewhat speechless, "Young brother, you don''t even know this and still want to bet on stones? ''Windowing'' means removing a bit of the outer layer from the rough stone to reveal the jade inside.


    Based on the texture and quality, you can roughly judge what quality of jade will come from the stone. It''s another form of gem betting but with much less risk.


    However, there are also losses involved. In Myanmar, there are experts in windowing who reveal small areas of the stone that look good in terms of color and quality but end up being worthless once they are fully cut.


    Of course, there are also fakes, where they attach a high-quality jade exterior to a worthless stone and then bury it in soil soaked with acid or alkali to create a similar-looking genuine exterior, disguising the man-made traces. I paid a lot of tuition fees to learn these things." She spoke in detail and seriously.


    Finally, she added, "The place I''m taking you to is frequently where I do business. It''s a big operation; there''s no counterfeit stuff there, all authentic from the Nangong Country mines. Many jewelry companies from across the country come here to buy their stock."


    Li Moying was also listening to Bai Jing''s explanations, hearing about these matters for the first time.


    As they talked, they walked through the market to a row of large courtyard houses behind it.


    Bai Jing led them to a courtyard called Yushiyuan.


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    For example, Liu Zhen Tao, whose gaze at Bai Jing carried a hint of lasciviousness.


    Among the people whom Qin Hao surveyed, many brought along elders aged around fifty or sixty.


    These elders were jade gambling experts maintained by big companies, having dealt with jadeite raw stones almost all their lives.


    They were specifically employed by companies to select raw stones.


    Such masters were not easy to find, and their prices were not something ordinary jewelry companies could afford.


    At that moment, another group of people came in from outside.


    Qin Hao turned his head to look, and saw Li Da Mei, Yuan Zhengxiang, and a middle-aged man entering.


    Li Da Mei spoke, "Dad, I heard there''s a new batch of goods here this time. Let me help you pick a few stones today?"


    Li Qiangsheng replied, "Nonsense, Master Guo is a master. You two should learn properly from Master Guo."


    Mr. Guo said, "Mr. Li, you flatter me. I''m no master, I only know a bit."


    Bai Jing also saw Li Qiangsheng; the two were competitors in Jiangshan City, and these days Yumei Jewelry Company had been edging out her Jiuchang Jewelry.


    Because Li Qiangsheng had somehow recruited a jade gambling expert.


    Therefore, Li Qiangsheng''s side had produced a lot of high-quality goods, which sold very well.


    Yuan Zhengxiang spotted Qin Hao, and then noticed Li Moying by his side, his look somewhat enviable and jealous.


    Damn, how come this guy changes the girl beside him every day?


    Wasn''t it rumored that he was with Du Wanrou?


    He''s really a scumbag, just you wait, I''ll let Du Wanrou see your true colors, Yuan Zhengxiang thought grimly.


    By ten in the morning, many people had arrived.


    Someone spoke up, "Mr. Xu, it seems everyone is almost here. Bring out the new goods, let us have a look."


    Smiling, Xu Yunfu said, "Alright, everyone, come with me."


    He led the crowd to the backyard, where stones of various sizes and shapes were laid out on the ground.


    There were hundreds of them.


    Xu Yunfu said, "These are all materials from the old pits, recently mined. I wrapped them up immediately and just had them transported here. Each stone has a price tag; feel free to make a purchase if you like any."


    Qin Hao quietly asked Bai Jing, "Jing, what does ''materials from the old pits'' mean?"


    Bai Jing explained, "Old pits are mines that have been excavated for decades or even a century. Stones from such old pits are very likely to produce top-grade gems.


    Raw stones from new pits are cheaper. Although top-grade jadeites have been found in new pits, jadeites excavated from new pits often change color and turn gray when worn over time!"