Power and Wealth

In the following ten days, Dong Xuebing was roaming around Beijing, looking for jade stones.

But the quality of jade stones in Beijing is too lousy. Dong Xuebing had combed the whole Panjiayuan and all the antique markets with stone gambling. But in the end, he can only find mid to low grade jade. Although these jades are considered good jades to the commoners and are expensive, they are useless to Dong Xuebing. Jades that are worth a few thousand to tens of thousand cannot even qualify to be auctioned. It must be those ice grades and above.

After ten days, Dong Xuebing still had not found the jade he is looking for.

As the Jade Auction is nearing, Dong Xuebing got anxious.

Early morning. Yun De Auction Company’s top floor.

The sky is still dark as dawn was breaking. It is at 5 am.

Qu Yunxuan, in silk lingerie, woke up and sat up on the bed. She looked at Dong Xuebing sleeping beside her and bend over to kiss him before getting dress. The past two days, Dong Xuebing and her were busy looking for jade stones and always spend their nights at their company. Qu Yunxuan has a guest room, equipped with a Queen-size bed, dressing table, fridge, closet, etc., behind her office. Normally, when Qu Yunxuan worked late at her office, she will sleep there. This room had become her second home.

Dong Xuebing rubbed his eyes and woke up.

“Did I wake you?” Qu Yunxuan looked at Dong Xuebing apologetically. “Sleep a while more.”

Dong Xuebing yawned. “I’m awake. Can you help me get a dress?”

Qu Yunxuan caressed Dong Xuebing’s face lovingly. “Don’t get anxious over the jade. Glass grade and Ice grade jades are not easy to come by. You must be tired from running around in the past few days. Sleep a while longer. We have a small-scale auction tomorrow, and I need to set up the premises tomorrow. Oh, is it fine if I will put up the wild ginseng you left with me for tomorrow’s auction?”

“I had given you the ginseng, and it’s up to you to decide.”

“Ok. I will go to work first and will wake you when I am back.”

After leaving her office, Qu Yunxuan sighed. How can she be not anxious to find good jade pieces? This will determine the fate of their Auction Company, but she does not want to give Xiao Bing stress, and she had pretended everything is fine. She had received news that Feng Yi’s Jia Xing Auction Company will be putting up a top Ice-grade Jadestone for auction and was very stressed.

Dong Xuebing did not return to sleep in the room. He tossed and turned on the bed, thinking where to find good jade stones.

Dong Xuebing had been to all the antique markets in Beijing but had not seen any good jade stones. Should he visit the antique markets again to try his luck? In the past, Dong Xuebing was lucky and gotten some treasures from the antique markets with his power. But now, there is nothing he can do. No matter how powerful his BACK is, it is useless if he did not find any jade. He can’t make a good jade stone appear out of nowhere.

Morning. Yun De Auction Company’s meeting room.

Qu Yunxuan had called for a meeting with her people in charge of the Jade Auction and the experts. Dong Xuebing was also pushed into the meeting room by her.

Everyone at the meeting was looking gloomy.

A man in his thirties said. “Manager Qu, we manage to collect all sorts of antiques for our past auctions, and even if we cross paths with Jia Xing Auction, it is fine. But the upcoming Jade Auction is on the same day as Jia Xing Auction, and until now, we only have a few pieces of jades. Most of the people preferred to put their jade up for auction with Jia Xing. We...”

Teacher Wei sighed. “I think we should postpone the auction two weeks later.”

Another middle-aged man added. “That’s right. We should wait after Jia Xing Auction completed their Jade Auction. Maybe we can acquire some good jades at that time.”

A woman replied angrily. “But Jia Xing Auction is doing this to provoke us. Are we going to hide from their provocations?” This woman seems to have some grudges with Jia Xing Auction.

Everyone at the meeting expressed their views, and it was a heated discussion.

Qu Yunxuan tapped on the table to get everyone to quiet down. “Xiao Bing, what do you think?”

Dong Xuebing raised his brows and said. “Give me a few more days. I don’t dare to say that I can get Glass grade jade, but Ice grade jade... is not a problem!” Glass grade jade ornaments can still be bought in the market, like the jewelry shops in the shopping malls, antique shops, etc. but it is very rare. Most of the shops will not even sell a Glass grade jade bracelet. These are for their collection, and it’s not easy to buy such jade items from the market.

Teacher Wei frowned. He does not believe Dong Xuebing’s words. “Mr. Dong, if it is Ice grade Jade ring surface...”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I understand. If it’s not a bracelet or some bigger pieces, it will be meaningless.”

Ice grade ring surfaces or smaller jewelry pieces can be found easily in the market. But these are too small and cost tens to hundreds of thousands, at most. It is pointless to put these items for auction. If they can’t get jade items worth more than a million RMB as the main attraction for their Jade Auction, they might as well don’t hold one. Or else, they will be a laughing stock in the industry.

The meeting ended, and everyone left with a heavy heart.

Qu Yunxuan brushed Dong Xuebing’s hair with her fingers and consoled him. “Don’t give yourself too much pressure. At most, we will cancel the auction.”

Dong Xuebing smiled helplessly. “I am the one who thinks lightly of this auction. In the past, I was lucky to find treasures from antique markets easily. To think about it, stone gambling is not as simple as it looks. If Ice grade jade can be found so easily, it will not be worth it so much. Sigh... a pair of Ice grade Jade bracelets cost at least 1 million now, right?”

“Around two million.”

“Ok. I... I will try my best.”

Qu Yunxuan said. “Take a rest this morning. I will be going to a nearby auction house to take a look. I heard they would be auctioning off some Jade raw stones.

Dong Xuebing was surprised. “They are also holding a Jade auction?”

“This auction at Shi Hai Auction House cannot be considered a Jade auction. They are only selling raw uncut jade stones, and don’t sell finished products. This is like stone gambling.”

“Ok. You go attend this auction, and we will go to Panjiayuan again in the afternoon.”

Dong Xuebing had also seen a few auctions of raw uncut jade stones in the past few days. Most of the stones were acquired by the Auction Houses from Ruili and Myanmar and were not from individuals. Their customers will bid for the stones, and at the end of the auction, the Auction Houses will cut the stones for the highest bidders. Because such auctions will take a long time, Dong Xuebing’s powers are useless. Furthermore, Dong Xuebing felt the stones put up for auctions should not be of high quality.

After Qu Yunxuan left, Dong Xuebing lazed in his wheelchair in the office.

Jade! Where can I find jade?!

Ten minutes...

Half an hour...

One hour...

Dong Xuebing could not think of a solution. He looked at his watch, and it was 10 am.

Since he had nothing to do, Dong Xuebing called the staff to get two people to push him downstairs. He decided to go to Panjiayuan himself to try his luck. Although he had been to Panjiayuan several times and could not find any jade items, who knows if he might get lucky today.

Dong Xuebing was about to leave the company when his phone rang. It was Qu Yunxuan.

Dong Xuebing answered. “I was about to call you to tell you that I will go to Panjiayuan now.”

Qu Yunxuan sighed loudly and said. “Xiao Bing, let’s postpone our Jade Auction.”

“Huh?” Dong Xuebing was shocked. “Didn’t we discussed this? Why are you changing your mind suddenly? Don’t worry. I will find an Ice grade jade ornament back these few days.”

“It’s not I don’t believe you. It’s because... even if we have Ice grade Jade pieces now, it is also useless.”

“What happened?”

“I am at Shi Hai Auction House, and Feng Yi had won a bid of uncut raw jade stone, and after cutting, the jade inside the stone is Glass grade jade. The jade is still the dark green glass type and can make a few pairs of bracelets. Do you know the prices of glass grade jade bracelets? A pair of lower quality Glass grade jade bracelets cost at least 10 million, and the better ones cost more than 20 million. Feng Yi can cut at least two pairs of bracelets from the stone he won, and how are we going to compete with him?”

Dong Xuebing was stunned. Why is that bastard so lucky?

Dong Xuebing could hear a loud commotion in Qu Yunxuan’s background. The people there should be very excited as such jade is rare, even in Ruili.

Qu Yunxuan sighed. “Let’s talk when I get back.”

Dong Xuebing was frustrated. Just ten days ago, he claimed he would teach Feng Yi a lesson and make him postpone his auction. But ten days later, the other party even found Glass grade jade, the best and rarest jade on earth.

What should we do? Should we give in and change our dates?

Eh! Wait! Dong Xuebing asked Qu Yunxuan suddenly. “When did Feng Yi buy that stone?”

Qu Yunxuan replied. “At the auction.”

“I am asking the time!”

“About ten minutes ago. That stone is the last item in the auction, and after Feng Yi won, it was cut open immediately.”

Dong Xuebing immediately brightens up. Damn! I have been waiting for this opportunity! Lady luck is with me today!

BACK 20 minutes!

The next moment, Dong Xuebing felt his body swaying, and he looked around him. He had returned to the time when the two staff are carrying him down the stairs. Over the past few days, Dong Xuebing had not accumulated 20 minutes of BACK. But he had not to keep track of how much time he has, and he just shouted 20 minutes to return deeper into the past. He estimates time had returned to around 14 to 15 minutes ago!

In an instant, the wheelchair is carried down the stairs at the ground floor lobby.

Dong Xuebing quickly shouts. “Xiao Tao! Come here!”

Qu Yunxuan’s secretary, Xiao Tao, was speaking to someone in the lobby. She looked at Dong Xuebing and asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Quick! Push me to Shi Hai Auction House!” Dong Xuebing does not know if he can get there in time and be in a hurry. He could sense her confusion as she walked towards his wheelchair slowly. Dong Xuebing immediately pushes himself forward. “Quick, lead the way.”

Xiao Tao knows about Dong Xuebing is very close to Qu Yunxuan and did not ask any questions. She immediately pushes Dong Xuebing out of the company.

Dong Xuebing rubbed his hands and said. “Faster! Thank you! This is an emergency!”

Xiao Tao quickens her pace, and in the end, she was almost running.

Shi Hai Auction House is located at a street next to Yun De Auction and can be reached by cutting through the alley. On his way, Dong Xuebing tried calling Qu Yunxuan, but she did not answer as the auction should still be on-going now.

Damn!

Dong Xuebing quickly shouted to Xiao Tao. “Push me in!”

Xiao Tao pushes Dong Xuebing through Shi Hai Auction’s main door.

These raw jade stones auctions are normally not held in hotel ballrooms and were held in the auction companies. Dong Xuebing could locate Shi Hai Auction House’s meeting room at one glance due to its small size. Xiao Tao knows Dong Xuebing is in a hurry and ignored the staff. She quickly pushes Dong Xuebing to the meeting room, where the auction is taking place.

A staff stopped them. “I’m sorry. An auction is taking place right now.”

Dong Xuebing quickly said to the staff. “Give me an auction number tag now!”

That staff replied. “The auction had already started, and you cannot enter now. if you want to buy raw jade stones, please come again.”

Dong Xuebing had no time to lose and turned to Xiao Tao. “Push me in!”

Xiao Tao hesitated for a second and pushed Dong Xuebing forward. That staff got mad and tried to stop them by grabbing the wheelchair. Dong Xuebing looked at him coldly, grabbed that staff’s wrist, twist it, and gave him a hard push. That staff was pushed back several steps. Even though Dong Xuebing is injured and cannot move his legs, but he is still stronger than the most working class.

The doors of the meeting room opened, and Xiao Tao barged in with Dong Xuebing.

The Auctioneer on the podium was saying something with a microphone, in front of many people.

Dong Xuebing’s entrance to the meeting room attracted the attention of everyone. One staff member near the door quickly walks up to ask what was happening. The staff behind Dong Xuebing quickly explained and was staring at Dong Xuebing angrily. The person in charge of the auction frowned as interrupting auctions is against their regulations.

“Xiao Bing?” Qu Yunxuan saw Dong Xuebing and walked over from her seat.

The Jade stone expert, Teacher Wei, was with Qu Yunxuan, and he followed behind.

The person in charge knew Qu Yunxuan. “Manager Qu, he is...”

Qu Yunxuan looked at Dong Xuebing and said. “He is my friend and is here with me.”

The people from Shi Hai Auction House finally allowed Dong Xuebing to enter because of Qu Yunxuan, and he was seated together with them at the back of the meeting room.

Qu Yunxuan asked softly. “Xiao Bing, why are you here?”

Dong Xuebing was staring at the podium. “Let’s talk about this later. What item is being auctioned now?”

Qu Yunxuan explained. “It’s a raw jade stone with a small window cut opened. From the exterior, it should be an Ice grade jade stone. But we are not sure about the size and quality inside.”

“Is this the final item?”

“It should be. After this stone is sold, they will start cutting it.”

Dong Xuebing was relieved. He managed to get here on time!

After the brief interruption, the Auctioneer continued with the auction. “No. 22 bid 6.8 million... 6.8 million... are there any higher bids? ... Ah... 7 million... No. 5 offered 7 million... is this the final price? 7 million... 7 million once...” It was Feng Yi who made the 7 million bid, and he was smiling proudly.

Teacher Wei frowned. “The price is too high.”

Qu Yunxuan nodded. “But this is not a surprise from the quality of this stone. Many people will like it.”

This partially cut raw stone allows people to see the jade inside through the small window, and it is not as risky as other uncut stones. Naturally, it will fetch higher prices, but there are still risks. For example, it might be only a thin layer of Ice grade jade near the surface, and nothing inside, or the rest of the jade have impurities or is of a lower grade.

“7 million twice...”

Dong Xuebing looked at Qu Yunxuan. “Aunt Xuan, how much money can we use?”

Qu Yunxuan hesitated. “We must keep 2 million for marketing and other expenses, and can use about 10 million. You are thinking of...”

Dong Xuebing replied firmly. “This is a good piece of jade. Give me the bidding card.”

Qu Yunxuan blinked and asked. “How good is this piece?”

“As good as Glass grade! We must get it!”

Teacher Wei looked at Dong Xuebing in disbelief. You had only arrived for less than a minute and did not even look at the stone carefully. How can you claim this stone is Glass grade jade? He does not believe Dong Xuebing is an expert in stone gambling. The real experts will use a torchlight to examine the stone before they can ascertain the quality of the stone. How can you claim that it is a good stone from so far away, and you want to buy it? This is ridiculous!

“Glass grade?” Qu Yunxuan asked. “Are you sure?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. We must get it, even if the price reaches 10 million!”

Teacher Wei panicked. “Manager Qu! We must not do that!”

Xiao Tao, who was seated behind, heard what they were saying and was shocked. 10 million?

Qu Yunxuan took a deep breath. Although the company has 10 million to spare but to spend it all on this stone is not a good move. If the jade in the stone is not of high quality, the 10 million will go down the drain. The whole company will be done. That’s right. It will be impossible for them to make a comeback, and the company will be bankrupted! Feng Yi can bid 7 million for that stone is because his company is rich. A company that’s worth more than 100 million will not be affected by this small amount of money. But Yun De Auction Company is still a small company, and 10 million is equivalent to all its assets. One wrong move, and they will lose everything!

Teacher Wei persuaded. “Manager Qu! This stone is at most an Ice grade jade, and 7 million is already overpriced!” Every jade stone experts have their ways to grade the stones, and Teacher Wei can’t detect any indications that this stone is a Glass grade stone.

Dong Xuebing looked at Qu Yunxuan.

Qu Yunxuan exhaled and smiled wryly. “I will not interfere in this anymore. Here, I will let you handle this.” She passed the bidding card to Dong Xuebing.

Teacher Wei slapped his forehead and felt he is going to lose his job.

Dong Xuebing did not explain himself, because the Auctioneer had counted to the third count and had raised his hammer.

Dong Xuebing quickly raises his bidding card and shouts. “7.5 million!

The Auctioneer was about to drop his hammer when Dong Xuebing shouted his bid.

Feng Yi, who was seated in front, frowned and turned to look at Dong Xuebing and Qu Yunxuan. Before the Auctioneer can say anything, Feng Yi raised his bidding card and said. “7.8 million!”

Dong Xuebing immediately raise. “8 million!”

Feng Yi hesitated for a second. “8.5 million!”

Dong Xuebing raised his card emotionlessly. “8.8 million!”

The few experts that had come with Feng Yi thought highly of this stone. As long as there is more jade inside, they will surely make money from it. But the price now is much higher than their expectations. If the jade inside is not of high quality, they might not recover their capital and will suffer a loss. An old man sitting beside Feng Yi signaled to him with his eyes. Another expert, sitting opposite Feng Yi, also shook his head, indicating him to stop bidding.

But Feng Yi is unwilling to give up.

“8.8 million... No. 18 offered 8.8 million... Once... are there any more bids...”

Feng Yi frowned and shouted again. “9 million!” He thought to himself that he should win with 9 million.

But Dong Xuebing upped Feng Yi’s bid. “9.2 million!”

Teacher Wei was speechless, and Qu Yunxuan was keeping quiet. She had given Dong Xuebing the authority to bid, and Xiao Tao also felt the company would be shutting down soon. She was nervous and worried as the company will have no more money if they win the bid!

Feng Yi’s face changed. He thought for a while and suddenly smiled. A small company with only around 10 million dares to spend so much on a piece of jade stone? They are putting their lives on the line. Feng Yi is waiting for Yun De Auction Company to become the laughingstock of the industry.

“9.2 million once... 9.2 million twice...”

Finally, the Auctioneer drops his hammer. “9.2 million! Sold!”

Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded to Aunt Xuan.

With the commission and other charges, Dong Xuebing still has to pay slightly more than 10 million to Shi Hai Auction House!

This is really make-or-break for Yun De Auction Company!