Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Hu and an elder engage in a bidding war for a Glazed red jar, with Old Hu winning at 350,000 yuan.
• Chu Chen and Old Yu examine the jar, with Chu Chen conducting a thorough appraisal.
• Chu Chen finds inconsistencies in the jar's body and "flying red" phenomenon but also discovers "death bubbles" and other authentic features.
• Chu Chen uses his special ability to appraise the jar, leading to a surprising conclusion.

Character Developments

• Old Hu: Shows determination and risk-taking in purchasing the jar, hoping it's a genuine Yuan Dynasty piece.
• Chu Chen: Demonstrates his expertise in porcelain appraisal, meticulously examining the jar and using his unique ability to determine its authenticity.
• Old Yu: Expresses disbelief in the jar's authenticity but defers to Chu Chen's expertise.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of wealth and status through acquiring valuable antiques.
• The importance of thorough examination and expertise in authenticating antiques.
• The tension between hope and reality in Old Hu's situation.

Character Interactions

• Old Hu and the elder: Engage in a competitive bidding war, showcasing their desire for the jar.
• Chu Chen and Old Yu: Collaborate in examining the jar, with Old Yu deferring to Chu Chen's expertise.
• Chu Chen and Old Hu: Chu Chen delivers the disappointing news about the jar's authenticity to Old Hu.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen discovers a Glazed red jar with the inscription "Huo Ni" inside, proving it's a high imitation by Zhang Huo Ni.
• Old Hu, the owner, is shocked and initially refuses to believe it's fake.
• Chu Chen buys the jar for 100,000 yuan and takes it to the appraisal center in Beijing.
• The appraisal confirms the jar was made no more than thirty years ago, indicating a successor to Zhang Huo Ni.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen: Shows his expertise and integrity by buying the fake jar to maintain market order.
• Old Hu: Falls victim to his greed, leading him into a trap.
• Old Qian and Guan Guokang: Express concern about the potential impact of high imitations on the antiques market.

Significant Themes

• Greed: Old Hu's greed leads him to fall into a trap.
• Integrity: Chu Chen maintains his integrity by buying the fake jar to protect the market.
• Consequences of Actions: Old Hu's actions have serious consequences, affecting not just him but the entire antiques market.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Old Hu: Chu Chen tries to reason with Old Hu, who initially refuses to accept the jar's authenticity.
• Chu Chen, Old Qian, and Guan Guokang: They discuss the implications of Zhang Huo Ni's successor and the potential harm to the antiques market.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Guan Guokang reveals Zhang Huo Ni's motivation behind creating fakes: not for profit, but for recognition.
• Old Qian decides to investigate and rectify the situation, accepting potential losses and repercussions.
• Chu Chen joins the expert group to appraise porcelain pieces, uncovering two fakes worth nearly twenty million.
• A senior collector brings in a Qing Qianlong famille rose nine peach celestial sphere vase for appraisal.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen: Gains appraisal experience, earns respect from experts, and demonstrates professionalism and social awareness.
• Old Qian: Shows determination and willingness to make sacrifices for the industry, despite potential backlash.

Significant Themes

• Honesty and Integrity: Old Qian's commitment to rectifying the situation, even at personal cost, highlights the importance of honesty in the industry.
• Experience and Expertise: Chu Chen's growth in appraisal skills and knowledge, as well as the respect he earns from experts, emphasizes the value of experience and expertise.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Old Qian: They develop a mutual respect and working relationship, with Old Qian valuing Chu Chen's skills and Chu Chen offering his support.
• Chu Chen and Expert Group: Chu Chen's solid fundamental skills and astonishing eyesight gain him admiration and respect from the expert group members.
• Chu Chen and Collectors/Owners: Chu Chen's professionalism and careful appraisals reassure owners and collectors, even when delivering unpleasant news about their items' authenticity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen, an expert in the antiques world, inspects a celestial sphere vase at an appraisal event.
• He discovers discrepancies between the vase and genuine antiques, concluding it's a fake despite initial praise from others.
• Chu Chen points out multiple flaws in the vase's body, pigments, and glaze, convincing the experts and the owner.
• The owner admits he suspected the vase was fake but hoped for a different outcome.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his expertise and confidence in appraising the vase, gaining respect from other experts.
• Mr. Li, the vase's owner, shows initial disbelief but ultimately accepts Chu Chen's assessment.

Significant Themes

• Authenticity and deception in the antiques world.
• The importance of thorough inspection and expertise in appraisal.
• The psychological struggle of a collector facing the possibility of owning a fake.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen interacts with Guan Guokang and other experts, earning their respect and admiration.
• Chu Chen and Mr. Li have a tense exchange, with Mr. Li initially defensive but eventually accepting Chu Chen's assessment.
• Chu Chen shares his concerns about the vase's creator with Guan Guokang, hinting at potential future issues in the antiques world.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen scores exceptionally well on the adult college entrance examination, impressing his master, Liu Lao.
• Liu Lao sends Chu Chen to Shanghai to help appraise disputed art pieces, accompanied by Guan Guokang and Elder Yue.
• Chu Chen reveals to Liu Qinshu (Liu Sizhe's sister) that Wen Meimei is alive and in Pingzhou.
• Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe meet Yi Hongguo, who shows them a Zhou Zhimian flower painting for appraisal.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen: Shows maturity and responsibility in handling sensitive information about Wen Meimei. He also demonstrates humility and consideration for his seniors' feelings.
• Liu Sizhe: Displays his knowledge of Chinese painting appraisal and his playful, talkative nature.
• Yi Hongguo: Reveals his eagerness to acquire good raw materials for his jewelry business and his concern for his junior disciple's well-being.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and Maturity: Chu Chen's handling of the Wen Meimei situation shows his growing maturity and responsibility.
• Mentorship and Guidance: The relationship between Chu Chen and his seniors, particularly Yi Hongguo, highlights the importance of guidance and learning from experienced individuals.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Liu Qinshu: They discuss the sensitive matter of Wen Meimei, with Chu Chen seeking Liu Qinshu's help in breaking the news to their family.
• Chu Chen, Liu Sizhe, and Yi Hongguo: The three engage in friendly banter and share their knowledge and experiences, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
• Liu Sizhe and Yi Hongguo: They exchange jokes and tease each other, showcasing their close relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Uncle Yi unveils a scroll painting of flowers by Zhou Zhimian, captivating Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe.
• Liu Sizhe expresses interest in buying the painting for his parents' anniversary, but Uncle Yi declines to sell.
• A middle-aged man, Old Song, arrives with a pair of bracelets he believes to be ice-type blue-veined jade, but Uncle Yi and Chu Chen suspect they are made from water foam, a material resembling jade but of much lower value.
• Old Song discovers he was deceived and vows to seek justice.

Character Developments

• Uncle Yi: Shows expertise in art and jade, acting as a mentor to Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe.
• Chu Chen: Demonstrates knowledge of jade by examining the bracelets with a magnifying glass.
• Liu Sizhe: Expresses interest in buying the painting for his parents, showing filial piety.
• Old Song: Initially naive about jade, learns from his mistake and becomes determined to seek justice.

Significant Themes

• Art appreciation and connoisseurship (Zhou Zhimian's painting, the evaluation of the bracelets)
• Deception and the consequences of ignorance (Old Song's experience with the bracelets)
• The value of knowledge and expertise (Uncle Yi and Chu Chen's ability to identify the bracelets' true material)

Character Interactions

• Uncle Yi and Chu Chen: Mentor and protégé relationship, working together to identify the bracelets' material.
• Uncle Yi and Liu Sizhe: Friendly interaction, with Liu Sizhe expressing interest in buying a painting.
• Old Song and Uncle Yi: Old Song seeks Uncle Yi's expertise to evaluate the bracelets, leading to a revealing conversation about jade.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen, Uncle Yi, and Liu Sizhe visit the Treasure Building's ghost market in Shanghai.
• Chu Chen encounters a jade plaque he likes but can't agree on the price with the stall owner.
• He later finds an item that catches his eye, and the stall owner offers him a cheaper price for new merchandise.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his experience and discernment in browsing the ghost market.
• Uncle Yi shows his knowledge and concern for his juniors' safety and education in the market.

Significant Themes

• The allure and challenges of ghost markets: finding bargains and treasures while navigating fakes and high prices.
• The importance of experience and discernment in the antiques market.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen interacts with the stall owners, negotiating prices and showing interest in specific items.
• Uncle Yi gives advice and instructions to Liu Sizhe before they split up to browse the market.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen visits a stall selling Four Treasures of the Study, including a cloisonné horse-hoof zun and a jade ox paperweight.
• He buys the jade ox paperweight for 230 yuan after negotiating with the stall owner.
• An elderly man approaches Chu Chen, admiring the jade ox and offering to buy it, but Chu Chen declines.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his knowledge of antiques and Treasure Sense, showing interest in and understanding of the items' value and history.
• The stall owner is portrayed as a typical market vendor, trying to sell his goods at the highest price possible.
• The elderly man is revealed to be an experienced collector, appreciating the jade ox's value and willing to pay market price for it.

Significant Themes

• The value and appreciation of ancient artifacts and antiques.
• The art of negotiation and bargaining in markets.
• The importance of knowledge and expertise in the antique trade.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen interacts with the stall owner, negotiating the price of the jade ox paperweight.
• The elderly man interacts with Chu Chen, admiring the jade ox and attempting to buy it.
• Liu Sizhe briefly appears, asking Chu Chen for help in looking at something.

In "Treasure Pavilion: Ghost Market" (3), Chu Chen, an expert in jade appreciation, encounters a stall owner selling a jade ox paperweight. He identifies it as a Yuan Dynasty artifact due to its craftsmanship style and multi-layered openwork carving. He estimates its value at around sixty to seventy thousand yuan. Later, Chu Chen accompanies Liu Sizhe, who wants to buy a Hainan huanghuali armrest. Chu Chen detects a pungent sour scent on the armrest, indicating it's likely a fake Vietnamese huanghuali. Liu Sizhe then haggles with the stall owner, eventually settling on a price of 1,000 yuan for a different armrest. Meanwhile, Chu Chen notices a scroll at a nearby calligraphy and painting stall that reacts to his Treasure Sense. He discovers it's on silk paper, suggesting it could be valuable.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen discovers a painting scroll at a stall, which turns out to be a masterpiece by Jing Hao, a renowned painter from the Five Dynasties period.
• The painting, titled "Autumn Evening in Chu Mountains," is praised by Huang Gongwang of the Yuan Dynasty for its "transcendent structure and profound thought."
• Chu Chen, realizing the painting's value, engages in a negotiation with the stall owner to purchase it along with other paintings and a calligraphy piece by Niu Fubao.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his knowledge of art history and appraisal skills, recognizing the painting's authenticity and value.
• The young stall owner shows some knowledge of art but underestimates the value of the paintings, including the Jing Hao masterpiece.

Significant Themes

• The value of art and its appreciation, highlighting the importance of knowledge and expertise in recognizing true masterpieces.
• The contrast between the perceived worth of an object and its actual value, as seen through the stall owner's and Chu Chen's perspectives.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen interacts with the young stall owner, engaging in a negotiation that benefits both parties, with Chu Chen acquiring the valuable paintings at a relatively low price.
• Chu Chen meets Liu Sizhe, asking about his progress at the ghost market, showing concern for his friend's acquisitions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe visit a "ghost market" where they find valuable items.
• Chu Chen acquires three bonus items, including Jing Hao's Autumn Evening in Chu Mountains.
• Yi Hongguo finds a coral official hat top bead.
• They return to the hotel, and Chu Chen reveals the painting to Yi Hongguo and Liu Sizhe.
• Yi Hongguo confirms the painting's authenticity and rarity.
• Guan Guokang visits Chu Chen, learns about the painting, and expresses interest in seeing it.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his expertise in identifying antiques, particularly huanghuali.
• Liu Sizhe shows curiosity and excitement about the valuable painting.
• Yi Hongguo displays his knowledge in appraising artworks and his enthusiasm for the painting.
• Guan Guokang reveals his interest in antiques and expresses surprise at the painting's value.

Significant Themes

• The thrill of discovery and the joy of finding rare treasures.
• The importance of expertise and knowledge in identifying and appreciating valuable artifacts.
• The value of friendship and shared experiences among the characters.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe's banter and camaraderie, with Liu Sizhe feeling jealous of Chu Chen's luck.
• Yi Hongguo's mentorship and guidance towards Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe.
• Guan Guokang's friendly and enthusiastic interaction with Chu Chen, expressing his admiration for the painting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen and his companions find a valuable painting at a ghost market.
• They go to the Treasure Pavilion for breakfast and encounter Xu Shengyan, who arranges for their items to be appraised.
• Chu Chen appraises a Yongzheng famille rose nine peach five bat plate and a Yongzheng coral ground polychrome nine autumn bowl.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his expertise in appraisal, using his special ability discreetly.
• Xu Shengyan shows professional courtesy and helps arrange the appraisal.
• A middle-aged man, the owner of the famille rose plate, becomes impatient and confrontational.

Significant Themes

• The importance of thorough examination and multiple perspectives in appraisal.
• The significance of reputation and professionalism in the appraisal world.
• The impact of forgeries on the market and collectors.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen interacts with Old Yue, Guan Guokang, Liu Sizhe, and Xu Shengyan, showing respect and deference to their experience while asserting his expertise.
• The middle-aged man challenges Chu Chen's appraisal, leading to a tense exchange.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group discovers the "Zhang Huoni" plate is a high-quality fake, causing shock and disbelief among the experts.
• Boss Qi refuses to have the plate scientifically appraised, fearing the implications of a second-generation Zhang Huoni.
• The group successfully appraises the remaining five items, all genuine masterpieces.
• Chu Chen purchases a brush washer and a cinnabar lacquer brush from Shopkeeper Xu.

Character Developments

• Xu Sheng Yan: Shows professionalism and hospitality as the shopkeeper, facilitating the appraisal process and offering items for sale to Chu Chen.
• Boss Qi: Demonstrates stubbornness and fear, refusing to have the fake plate scientifically appraised due to potential industry implications.
• Chu Chen: Displays his expertise in authenticating antiques, purchases items as gifts for his father, and shows humility in learning from senior experts.

Significant Themes

• Expertise and Authenticity: The focus on identifying genuine antiques and the consequences of high-quality fakes on the industry.
• Learning and Humility: Chu Chen's willingness to learn from senior experts and his humble attitude despite his evident skill.
• Value and Worth: The significance of antiques' historical and cultural value, as well as their market worth.

Character Interactions

• Xu Sheng Yan and Chu Chen: They interact as shopkeeper and customer, with Xu offering items for sale and Chu Chen purchasing two pieces.
• Experts and Boss Qi: The experts try to persuade Boss Qi to have the fake plate scientifically appraised, but he refuses due to fear of industry implications.
• Guan Guo Kang and Elder Yue: They engage in friendly banter, exposing each other's past preferences in auction items.

Summary of "Carelessness" (Part 1)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen discovers a detachable brush head on a "hair" brush, making it practical and valuable.
• He purchases a set of old Huizhou ink, two reams of Republic of China era Wang Liuji rice paper, and two reams of Red Star rice paper, totaling 730,000.
• Chu Chen decides to send the purchased items and Jing Hao's "Autumn Evening in Chu Mountains" painting to Beijing.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his connoisseurship and decisiveness in purchasing high-quality art supplies.
• Guan Guokang shows his appreciation for art and regret at missing the opportunity to appreciate the painting.
• Old Yue reveals his eagerness to see the painting despite Guan Guokang's attempts to keep him away from Chu Chen's room.

Significant Themes

• The value and appreciation of art and antiques.
• The importance of luck and timing in acquiring rare items.
• The tension between business and personal interests.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen interacts with Shopkeeper Xu, purchasing high-quality art supplies.
• Guan Guokang and Old Yue argue over the opportunity to see the painting, highlighting their differing priorities.
• Everyone present reacts with surprise and disbelief upon learning about the Jing Hao painting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two security personnel deliver the painting to the antique shop, accompanied by Hu Yong, Chu Chen's bodyguard.
• Chu Chen learns that his maternal grandfather has arranged for Hu Yong's protection.
• The person in charge of the antique shop considers informing a powerful collector about the painting but changes his mind due to Chu Chen's powerful background.
• Chu Chen and Hu Yong head to Yi Hongguo's jewelry store, where they learn that Liu Sizhe has been taken away by people sent by Hao Ran's wife to discuss Meimei.
• Yi Hongguo suggests they take a plane to Yangmei that afternoon to meet his friend, who runs a jade processing plant.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen realizes his growing arrogance and vows to be more cautious in the future.
• The person in charge of the antique shop shows fear towards Chu Chen after learning about his powerful background.
• Yi Hongguo demonstrates his connections and willingness to help Chu Chen find a jade carving master.

Significant Themes

• The dangers of arrogance and the importance of caution.
• The influence of powerful backgrounds and the fear they instill in others.
• The value of connections and networks in achieving goals.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Hu Yong form a bond as Chu Chen accepts Hu Yong as his bodyguard.
• Chu Chen and Yi Hongguo discuss their plans for Pingzhou and Yangmei.
• The person in charge of the antique shop shows fear towards Chu Chen, highlighting the power dynamics between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Sizhe, Chu Chen, and Yi Hongguo travel to Yangmei, known as the "Jade Capital," accompanied by An Yongqing, a skilled gambling on stones master.
• Yangmei is a specialized jade ware village with a unique business model, involving shareholding systems and risk mitigation for jade processing.
• They meet Qiang Zhaojun, Yi Hongguo's friend, who tells them about the upcoming "A Thousand Gold Cut" gambling on stones event, with a prize of at least tens of millions.

Character Developments

• An Yongqing is skeptical of Chu Chen's gambling on stones skills due to his youth but is willing to witness his abilities firsthand.
• Qiang Zhaojun is enthusiastic and humorous, agreeing to help Yi Hongguo find a skilled jade carving master for Chu Chen.
• Chu Chen is humble about his skills, eager to help Qiang Zhaojun with the "A Thousand Gold Cut" event.

Significant Themes

• The power of luck and skill in gambling on stones.
• The unique business model and history of Yangmei, contributing to its status as the "Jade Capital."
• Friendship and favors, as seen in Qiang Zhaojun's willingness to help Yi Hongguo.

Character Interactions

• Yi Hongguo and Qiang Zhaojun's friendship is evident in their easy banter and willingness to help each other.
• Chu Chen and Qiang Zhaojun establish a friendly rapport, with Chu Chen offering to help Qiang Zhaojun with the "A Thousand Gold Cut" event.
• An Yongqing and Chu Chen's relationship is one of professional respect, with An Yongqing willing to judge Chu Chen's skills based on his performance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Sizhe inquires about the competition's participation rules, learning about the deposit and recommender system.
• Qiang Zhaojun explains the purpose of the deposit and the use of rough stones in the second round.
• Chu Chen expresses his determination to participate despite the uncertainty.
• Qiang Zhaojun offers rewards for reaching the second round and winning the championship, believing Chu Chen's chances are slim due to other strong contestants, including the Jade King's closed-door disciple.
• Chu Chen and his companions prepare for the competition, running into Zhang Yanbin in the hotel lobby.

Character Developments

• Qiang Zhaojun: Shows confidence in Chu Chen's skills but doubts his chances of winning due to other strong contestants.
• Chu Chen: Demonstrates determination and accepts Qiang Zhaojun's terms, hiding his special abilities.
• Zhang Yanbin: Struggles to pick up a girl, contradicting his online claims.

Significant Themes

• Luck vs. Skill: The debate on the importance of luck versus skill in gambling on stones.
• Reputation and Face: The importance of maintaining a good reputation and avoiding actions that could damage it.
• Uncertainty and Risk: The unpredictable nature of gambling on stones and the risks associated with it.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Qiang Zhaojun: Discuss the competition rules, rewards, and Qiang Zhaojun's doubts about Chu Chen's chances.
• Chu Chen and his companions: Prepare for the competition, with Liu Sizhe expressing unconditional support for Chu Chen.
• Chu Chen and Zhang Yanbin: Exchange messages in the hotel lobby, with Zhang Yanbin signaling Chu Chen to stop approaching him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen, Liu Sizhe, and Zhang Yanbin discuss the high cost and long treatment period of a new skincare product.
• Zhang Yanbin seeks Chu Chen's help in picking a 'rough' stone for the 'One Cut, Thousand Gold' competition, but Chu Chen declines due to the potential risks.
• They discuss Leng Shaming, the closed-door disciple of the Jade King, who is known for his exceptional jade gambling skills.
• The next day, they plan to visit a jade carving master in Yangmei and later take a stroll on Jade Street to gauge the market conditions.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen: Shows expertise in skincare and jade gambling, but remains humble and cautious about his abilities.
• Liu Sizhe: Displayed curiosity and eagerness to learn about jade gambling and its top players.
• Zhang Yanbin: Reveals his family's influence in the jade industry and his grandfather's expectations for him in the competition.

Significant Themes

• The value and cost of high-quality products and services (skincare and jade).
• The importance of skill and talent in competitive fields (jade gambling).
• The influence of family expectations and pressure on individuals (Zhang Yanbin's situation).

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and Liu Sizhe: Show a friendly and comfortable rapport, with Liu Sizhe often expressing his admiration for Chu Chen's skills.
• Chu Chen and Zhang Yanbin: Display a casual and familiar relationship, with Zhang Yanbin seeking Chu Chen's help and advice.
• Zhang Yanbin and Liu Sizhe: Interact briefly, with Zhang Yanbin sharing information about Leng Shaming and the jade competition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Chen and his companions visit Yangmei, known for its jade industry, and are amazed by the quality and variety of jade products.
• They learn that high-end jade finished products are expensive due to exceptional craftsmanship.
• Zhang Yanbin takes them to a local's house to view rough stones, revealing a hidden basement filled with them.
• Chu Chen discovers a unique rough stone with black veins that he believes could be scraped off, potentially revealing high-quality jade inside.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen demonstrates his expertise in jade and his ability to identify potential in seemingly flawed stones.
• Zhang Yanbin shows his local connections and knowledge of the jade industry.
• The homeowner displays his business acumen and the common practices in the local jade trade.

Significant Themes

• The allure and value of jade, despite its apparent flaws or imperfections.
• The local jade industry's practices, such as dim lighting to favor sellers and the exclusivity of certain deals.
• The gamble involved in purchasing rough stones, balancing risk and potential reward.

Character Interactions

• Chu Chen and his companions interact with local jade shop owners and dealers, learning about the industry.
• Zhang Yanbin's familiarity with the homeowner is evident in their casual conversation.
• Chu Chen and Hu Yong have a silent exchange regarding the unique rough stone, showing trust and understanding between them.

Chapter Summary: “Selection”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A promising rough stone initially appears nearly flawless, with fine sand and vivid pine-flower coloring. However, after its owner rubs the window, extensive black rot appears. Although the owner considers cutting it open completely, his friends persuade him to sell it rather than risk a total loss.
• Chu Chen unexpectedly selects the stone. The owner assumes Chu Chen is either an inexperienced wealthy gambler or someone acting on the belief that “where there is rot, there is color.” He agrees to sell it only if it is cut open at his house.
• Chu Chen continues examining the basement’s rough stones, carefully managing his supernatural abilities:
  • His Spirit Treasure Eye and related ability consume mental or spiritual energy.
  • Around thirty to forty uses make him sluggish; one hundred uses is his current limit.
  • Treasure Sense can automatically screen out stones worth less than ten thousand yuan, but its upgrade has cost him enormous resources.
• Chu Chen studies the available stones and selects five promising pieces: two small stones, one 50.8-kilogram stone, and two yellow salt-sand stones.
• His ability reveals that one yellow salt-sand stone is good while the other is poor. He plans to buy both if the prices are reasonable, partly to disguise the true extent of his powers.
• An 8.7-kilogram bayberry-sand stone looks especially valuable, with fine sand, a large python band, and flashes of vivid green. However, its numerous small cracks make it risky.
• The jade inside turns out to be glassy imperial green but is severely damaged by the cracks, leaving it worth only slightly more than ten thousand yuan. This surprises and frustrates Chu Chen, demonstrating the unpredictability of gambling on stones.
• A second 9.1-kilogram stone produces a better result but still fails to meet Chu Chen’s expectations. He decides not to inspect more stones immediately, saving his limited uses for another, larger household and for the evening finals.
• The chapter ends with Chu Chen examining the largest stone, a peculiar white salt-sand piece whose skin is coarse on one half and fine on the other, violating the usual preference for consistent outer characteristics.

Character Developments

• Chu Chen becomes more cautious and disciplined. Rather than relying recklessly on his abilities, he calculates how to conserve their limited uses and avoid mental exhaustion.
• His experience with the disappointing bayberry-sand stone teaches him that even apparently excellent indicators cannot guarantee valuable jade.
• Chu Chen also shows strategic awareness by considering buying both good and bad stones to conceal his supernatural accuracy.
• The rough-stone owner is portrayed as practical and skeptical. Though puzzled by Chu Chen’s choice, he assumes Chu Chen is inexperienced and focuses mainly on recovering his own investment.
• The owner’s friends influence him to avoid an impulsive full cut, helping him preserve the chance of selling the stone.

Significant Themes

• Uncertainty and risk: Attractive signs, expert knowledge, and supernatural abilities cannot eliminate the unpredictability of gambling on stones.
• Restraint versus greed: Chu Chen deliberately stops inspecting stones despite the possibility of finding something better, recognizing that he cannot seize every opportunity.
• Limits of power: His abilities are valuable but restricted by mental and spiritual costs, forcing him to plan carefully.
• Appearance versus reality: The exterior of a rough stone may suggest its quality, but hidden cracks or internal flaws can completely alter its value.
• Learning through experience: Chu Chen treats the selection process as an opportunity to study traditional indicators and improve his skills independently of his abilities.

Character Interactions

• The stone’s owner and his friends debate whether to cut open the black-rot stone, with the friends persuading him to wait for another buyer.
• The owner silently judges Chu Chen through his association with Zhang Yanbin and the presence of a bodyguard, underestimating him as a wealthy young gambler.
• Chu Chen interacts indirectly with the owner while selecting stones, using caution to conceal his true abilities and planning to negotiate prices later.
• His internal calculations about the next household and the evening finals show that his decisions are shaped not only by the stones themselves but also by the larger competition and his limited resources.