As Old Yan had said, Chu Chen often encountered situations like this in the market. The vendors' stalls were extremely crude: several plastic baskets sat on a sheet of plastic, one containing long, oval, light-brown fruits shaped like olives, while another held smooth, textured oval pendants that had already been polished. Of course, Buddhist music was playing in the background.
Just as Old Yan had said, a string of Bodhi seeds was generally not very expensive. While busy polishing them, these vendors would also constantly introduce "eye-opening treasure beads" costing anywhere from a few yuan to several dozen yuan to consumers. (In reality, they were merely small pearls, turquoise, garnets, and the like.)
Like Old Yan's bracelet, this one contained several pieces of turquoise in addition to the Bodhi seeds. Overall, it did look quite attractive, but as for its true value...
Chu Chen tactfully said, "A Bodhi seed bracelet like this is fine for everyday wear."
Old Yan immediately understood what Chu Chen meant. "Are you saying these Bodhi seeds actually aren't worth much?"
Chu Chen said, "Before discussing whether they're valuable, we first need to know what these Bodhi seeds really are."
Old Yan asked, "Then what are they? Aren't they Bodhi seeds?"
Chu Chen shook his head. "The products commonly called 'Bodhi seeds' on the market are a mixed bag, and there are so many varieties that they can dazzle the eye. The so-called 'Bodhi seed' varieties I know of alone number more than thirty. Common ones include Thousand-Eye Bodhi, Phoenix Eye Bodhi, King Kong Bodhi, and Dragon Eye Bodhi."
"But in reality, these so-called 'Bodhi seeds' sold on the market don't come from Bodhi trees. They're simply a collective term for the fruits of many ordinary tree species."
"Ah!" Old Hua was extremely surprised by Chu