NOVEL WEB Chapter 28: What is Useless Can No Longer Be Abandoned
“Have you made your choice?” Yun Qiao asked.
“Yes,” Jun Jiu replied. She examined the rough stone that Yun Qiao had selected and confirmed that it indeed contained a good-quality spirit stone. It was evident that Yun Qiao had chosen with care.
Jun Jiu nodded and promptly paid for the rough stone Yun Qiao had selected, which cost tens of thousands of taels. She did so without hesitation, leaving the steward amazed by the amount spent.
Yun Qiao was surprised by Jun Jiu’s decision. “Miss Jun, do you really want all of these?”
“Yes, all of them,” Jun Jiu affirmed. She then casually picked a rough stone for herself. As they approached, Jun Wan’er walked over with an air of arrogance, and Jun Lei smiled warmly at Yun Qiao from behind, though he couldn’t hide his disdain when looking at Jun Jiu.
Jun Wan’er’s eyes bore into Jun Jiu as she said menacingly, “Little girl, have you made your selection?”
“No matter how much you spend, the true outcome is only revealed when the stone is unraveled,” Jun Wan’er continued, her words drawing the attention of the onlookers. They knew that Jun Jiu and Jun Wan’er were about to engage in a stone gambling competition.
Jun Wan’er took the lead and stood before Jun Jiu, her posture exuding haughtiness. “First, let’s unravel Miss Ben’s rough stone.”
As the stone interpreter began to meticulously uncover the layers of the rough stone, all eyes were fixed on the process. Jun Jiu observed the unfolding events, noting that the process resembled that of revealing emeralds. The crowd buzzed with excitement, speculating on the potential outcome.
“Look, there’s an imperial pattern! It must contain a spirit stone!”
“And that emerald green color, this spirit stone must be of exceptional quality. It appears that Miss Jun Wan’er is on the verge of victory.”
“Indeed, Miss Jun Wan’er is sure to win. A young girl like her couldn’t possibly outdo Miss Jun Wan’er.”
The flattery heaped upon Jun Wan’er brought a triumphant expression to her face. However, Jun Jiu remained unruffled, her lips curving into a small smile as she watched the unfolding drama. She knew that the higher Jun Wan’er’s pride soared now, the harder she would fall.
Then, a sharp cracking sound echoed through the crowd.
“It’s unraveled!” someone exclaimed.
Jun Wan’er, her confidence unwavering, raised her chin proudly and asked, “Who can confirm whether this spirit stone is large?”
Silence greeted her question.
Yun Qiao, with a hint of disdain, remarked, “It’s quite sizable, but it’s nothing more than a waste stone.”
“Impossible!” Jun Wan’er’s smile froze, and she hurriedly approached the stone interpreter. What lay before her was a palm-sized spirit stone, but its radiance was dim, and its shell was marred by countless cracks. There was no trace of aura; it was utterly unusable.
Jun Jiu couldn’t contain her laughter any longer. “What’s worthless can’t become valuable.”
The abrupt shift in tone felt like a slap to Jun Wan’er’s face. She stared at Jun Jiu with a twisted expression, her fury evident. “You… What are you so proud of? You haven’t unraveled your stone yet! Miss Ben refuses to believe that you’ll find a spirit stone. At most, it will be a draw. Do you really think you can defeat me? Dream on!”
Jun Jiu merely smiled. “Oh? Then let’s unravel my stone and see.”
She handed her chosen rough stone to the stone interpreter, while the crowd watched with bated breath. Jun Wan’er, however, was quick to ridicule her once more, “Little girl, do you think that bigger means better when it comes to rough stones?”
Jun Jiu had selected a rough stone that was as tall as an adult. Laughter erupted from the spectators as they saw it.
The common belief was that the choice of rough stones depended not on their size but on their unique characteristics, such as beauty and cleanliness. These qualities were more likely to house spirit stones. The large, unsightly stone Jun Jiu had chosen, riddled with holes, seemed unlikely to yield a spirit stone.
Mocking and contemptuous voices filled the air, assuring everyone that Jun Jiu was doomed to failure.
It was now Jun Jiu’s turn to face the challenge, and she would soon reveal whether she could defy their expectations.