Yellow Jade Crab (Part One)

A day later, Wang Xiaoxi and Lu Zigang each arrived carrying a wooden box.

Wang Xiaoxi presented his box first. The Prefect opened it and saw a variegated jade butterfly hairpin inside. Jade had always been valued for pure colors, so mixed colors usually meant a lower price.

However, Wang Xiaoxi's design was exceptionally clever. He had carved the variegated section into a butterfly, so the hairpin itself still looked as white as mutton-fat jade, while the butterfly was brilliantly multicolored. Even more remarkable was that the hairpin had been carved from a single piece of jade, yet the butterfly at its head could tremble faintly.

It turned out that Wang Xiaoxi had always excelled at openwork carving. He had then used the Kunqie jade knife to intricately carve the butterfly's wings, transforming what had originally been a hard piece of jade into something that could tremble in the breeze.

Seeing that Wang Xiaoxi's skill had reached such a level, the Prefect was secretly astonished. Just then, Lu Zigang presented his own box.

The Prefect opened it and saw a crab-shaped wine stand carved from celadon jade. Although the workmanship was also quite exquisite, compared with Wang Xiaoxi's butterfly hairpin, it seemed plain and unremarkable.

When Liu Sizhe reached this point, Fatty Dong, sitting nearby, said anxiously, "Then doesn't that mean Lu Zigang lost?"

Liu Sizhe laughed and scolded him, "Fatty, don't interrupt. Let me finish the story..."

Seeing this, the Prefect sighed inwardly and was about to announce his judgment when Lu Zigang stepped forward calmly, bowed, and said, "My lord, the ultimate man has no dreams, and the ultimate skill leaves no trace of workmanship. Jade is a spirit-bearing object. This humble one crafted this crawling stand, which is also a spirit-bearing object."

The Prefect was intrigued. "Could