Chapter Eight: Crimson Eyes Discern the Jade

“Let’s not talk about this now. Have some soup first and regain your strength.” Sister Hong handed the bowl to me, her gaze full of gentleness.

I accepted the soup, feeling its warmth seep into me, and was suddenly moved.

After I finished drinking, I felt much better. Sister Hong sat by my bedside and began chatting with me in a casual, easy manner.

When she heard that I’d lived in a villa like this as a child, she smiled. “I knew the first time I met you that you had a different air about you. I was right, wasn’t I?”

“Thank you, Sister Hong,” I said gratefully.

“Rest well for now. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll figure out a way to find Mimi together. I’ve already sent a few well-connected people to make inquiries!” She patted my shoulder, then rose and left the room.

Lying on the bed, I found Mimi’s smile floating before my eyes. No matter what happened, I couldn’t let her come to harm.

But the more I thought, the deeper I sank: Su Li’s contemptuous face, my uncle’s disdain, replayed before me again and again; Mimi’s suffering; Sister Hong’s concern for me. All these images swelled together, forming a tumultuous sea within me.

“If I had money, would my fate have been like this?”

The splendor of Sister Hong’s villa reminded me of those childhood days, when our family of three lived in harmony. My father would walk with me in the garden, teasing the little fish in the pond; my mother, busy in the kitchen, would prepare us a sumptuous dinner.

Now, all of that was a distant memory.

I was no longer that pampered child, but a humble soul struggling at the very bottom.

I swore to myself: I must make more money, and quickly! Only then could I protect Mimi, and everyone I cared about.

Only then could I change our fate.

The next morning, I got up very early.

Sister Hong noticed me standing at the doorway and asked, “Is there something you want to say?”

“Sister Hong, I want to make money—lots of money!”

She looked surprised for a moment, then seeing my renewed determination, her expression softened into a satisfied smile. “If you’ve made up your mind, then I’ll help you.”

“But—will you trust me? After all, I’m not exactly a good person!” Her tone was completely serious, with no hint of jest.

“Sister Hong, if I can’t trust you, then there’s no one left in the world I could trust.”

“All I know is, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring.”

“All I can do is make sure I never disappoint the people who lend me a hand when I’m at my lowest.”

Sister Hong laughed. “I’m not so noble as all that!”

“All right, since you want to learn, I’ll give you a chance!” Here she paused and looked at me intently. “As you said, you have nothing right now. That means it’s time for your comeback—”

“If you want to get rich, I’ll show you a clear path.”

“But this road is a gamble: one cut brings poverty, the next, wealth!”

“Once you step onto this path, there’s no turning back!”

“I’ve already made my decision, Sister Hong. No matter how dangerous it is, I’m willing to try,” I said with resolve.

She nodded, a flash of approval in her eyes. “All right, then I’ll give you something. But this is top secret; only you can know about it. If necessary, you’d better burn it after reading. Of course, if you don’t, there’s no way I’d know!”

“I just want to warn you: this road is paved with blood! If you can’t see the blood, it only means you haven’t truly set foot on it.”

With that, inside her little villa, Sister Hong turned and went to her room, returning with a redwood box.

She opened it slowly in front of me.

Inside was a handwritten book.

On its cover, four bold characters: Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal.

Sister Hong looked up at me and said in a low voice, “This is a handwritten book about jade identification and stone gambling. The person who owned it has been dead many years.”

“I think it will be useful to you.”

“Also, there’s a basement under my villa with more than two hundred raw stones—perfect for you to practice on.”

She paused, then added, “This is all I can do for you. The rest is up to you.”

I took the Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal with utmost care, my thoughts churning.

I knew this book would be the key to changing my destiny.

In the days that followed, I immersed myself in the handwritten manual, barely eating or sleeping.

Its pages were detailed and profound, covering everything from basic jade identification to advanced stone gambling techniques.

I memorized every detail, pondering each page, afraid to miss a single crucial point.

At the same time, I began frequenting Sister Hong’s basement. The two hundred raw stones there became invaluable for my practice.

I examined each stone meticulously, analyzing and then cutting with the greatest caution.

As time passed, my eye and technique gradually improved; occasionally, I managed to win some fine jade.

During that period, aside from searching for Mimi, I spent almost all my time holed up in Sister Hong’s basement, living an unvaried, monotonous life.

Half a month later, I decided to step out and try my luck at a small stone gambling market.

I walked out of the basement into the morning light, my heart filled with hope.

After two weeks of diligent study and practice, I felt I’d acquired some skill.

Today, I was determined to test myself at a small stone gambling market.

These so-called small markets were really nothing more than low-end bazaars—more akin to a wet market or roadside stall.

Counterfeits abounded, and genuine goods were rare.

But it was precisely such places that tested one’s eye.

The market was packed, with vendors hawking their wares in every direction.

I weaved through the crowds, scrutinizing every raw stone.

Suddenly, an inconspicuous gray stone caught my attention. Its surface was rough, but a hint of green shimmered beneath—just as described in Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal: “rough outside, hidden beauty within.”

My heart stirred; I decided to take the gamble.

After bargaining, I bought it for twenty thousand yuan.

The vendor looked at me with a sneer, as if mocking my foolishness.

I found a corner and began to cut the stone.

As the blade sliced deeper, a vivid green gradually emerged—growing richer and brighter.

The bystanders gasped in astonishment, clearly impressed by the quality of the jade.

In the end, it revealed top-grade jadeite, worth more than three hundred thousand!

I was ecstatic—never imagining I’d make so much on my first try.

People crowded around, casting envious looks, some even offering high prices to buy the jadeite.

I politely declined, deciding to return to Sister Hong with my good news.

Just as I left the market and prepared to splurge on a taxi for once, I suddenly sensed several unfriendly gazes fixed on my back.