Mother Ye had opened one herself before, so the novelty had worn off. She simply watched with a smile.
Ye Eldest Sister-in-Law, Ye Second Sister-in-Law, and Lin Xiuqing were amazed, though. All three crowded right up to him.
A creamy-white pearl sat at the edge of the plump Oysters' meat. Ye Yaodong left it untouched so they could take a look first.
He was delighted himself. He had never expected to find one after opening only twenty-odd oysters. This one was roughly eight millimeters in diameter.
"There really is one!"
"Isn't this worth a fortune?"
Ye Yaodong picked out the pearl and handed it to Lin Xiuqing before saying, "Not necessarily. It depends on its quality and how round it is. I'm no judge, either, but it's definitely better than the freshwater pearls on the market. Put it away for now!"
Saltwater pearls differed from freshwater pearls. Most saltwater pearls were perfectly round. Formed in the sea, they felt finer to the touch, cooler, and smoother.
Freshwater pearls generally had irregular shapes-flat, oval, bumpy, and all sorts of others-and felt slightly rough to the touch. Poor-quality freshwater pearls could be ground into pearl powder, but saltwater pearls could not, since they had nuclei.
Saltwater pearls also contained a greater and more comprehensive range of organic substances, trace elements, and minerals. Their natural formation also made them more compatible with the workings of the human body, allowing them to absorb toxins from it.
Both sisters-in-law were terribly envious, their eyes fixed longingly on the pearl in Lin Xiuqing's hand.
"Even if you can't sell it, you can wear it yourself, right? How lovely."
"Are you going back to the Isolated Island to gather seafood on the fifteenth? Let us go with you!" Ye Second Sister-in-Law looked at him hopefully after speaking.