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Lan Xue and Yang Ying had once again made a breakthrough in their relationship with Wei Yuan.
Having taken the most precious things from each other, it was only natural that they couldn't just get out of bed and pretend not to know each other. Although there were many men like this in society, Wei Yuan could not bring himself to do that.
After all, they had given him their most valuable possessions; could he really use his Repairing Ability to fix things for these two girls again?
When this thought first crossed his mind, Wei Yuan initially felt that his creativity was truly remarkable.
However, he soon realized that such an idea was rather lewd and shameless. The key issue was that he had too many romantic entanglements; both girls had become involved with him. What was he to do?
How could he embrace them both? Wei Yuan could not deny that as a traditional man, he harbored a hint of a harem fantasy similar to Wei Bao, but fantasies are beautiful while reality is harsh.
Clearly, Wei Yuan was not an expert in handling such matters and could only explore his options.
As for school issues, they had been completely resolved. After the release of the college entrance exam results, everything was set in stone.
Those who got into their ideal universities either sought summer jobs to gain experience or took the opportunity to relax. Those who did not pass either entered the workforce or chose to repeat the year; everyone had their own thoughts on the matter.
Wei Yuan had stayed at his Cousin's house for nearly a week, mainly discussing how to continue with Wei Yuan's plans. Under Wei Yuan's suggestion, Xie Ge's pharmaceutical processing factory began undergoing significant changes.
First, there was a transformation in the existing production methods. Originally, production relied heavily on manual labor; although there were machines, they were outdated and inefficient compared to modern standards.
Now, various industries were facing labor shortages, which directly accelerated the automation process in many manufacturing sectors.
This included both semi-automation and full automation. The main differences lay in efficiency and funding; although automated machinery required high initial costs, many were still willing to be the first to take the plunge.
Additionally, manufacturers and distributors of sales automation machinery began following suit by adopting down payment and installment payment systems, making it seem as exaggerated as buying a house. However, for a processing factory like Xie Ge, simply upgrading all machinery would require funding comparable to purchasing a home.
Due to insufficient funds, even if he wanted to replace the machinery, it was impossible to do so all at once. The down payment for all the machines alone was already a significant burden for Wei Yuan, even though he currently had several million on hand.
Simply replacing the machinery was not enough. After discussions with Xie Ge, Wei Yuan decided to continue with the original plan of manufacturing new drugs, and they adopted a highly specialized approach.
First, Wei Yuan rented a piece of land near Luoxia Mountain to establish a pharmaceutical research institute, which cost a considerable amount of money.
Moreover, even with the formula and a location, it was still not sufficient.
To this end, Wei Yuan sought out Academician Qin Luo, the old scholar he encountered when treating Zhang Sheng's mother, who was the Vice Dean of Jinghai City Traditional Chinese Medicine College.
Through Academician Qin Luo's introduction, he found an expert who had been researching Western medicine for many years. He also learned from Yang Ying that there had previously been an Elder Pharmacist at Purple Robe Pavilion who had left long ago to practice medicine independently.
After much effort, Wei Yuan finally located this Elder Pharmacist. The elderly man already had a large family and was facing difficulties; his son was struggling to find success, unable to buy a house, and even finding a wife was challenging. Although his eldest son was married with children, he faced various problems as well.
His wife fell ill and could not afford treatment; his son got into college but could not afford tuition; their house was forcibly demolished, leaving them without a place to live.
These were issues that many families in the city might face, and the elderly man had encountered them all. Given how common such situations were, Wei Yuan's financial support and sincerity eventually moved the elderly man to agree to return to the field and assist Wei Yuan.
Before any troops moved, provisions were prepared first.
Once all plans were set in place, Wei Yuan naturally needed to arrange for execution. This was not an issue; everything proceeded in an orderly manner after discussions with Xie Ge.
However, gradually the real problem surfaced: insufficient funds. Although both Wei Yuan and Xie Ge had considerable savings, facing such a large project left them feeling financially strained.
At this point, Wei Yuan realized that wanting to undertake something significant and truly establish a business required not only great effort but also substantial financial resources.
Wei Yuan finally understood that Xu Feng was very obsessed with using various underhanded methods to make money, because in that way, money came too quickly and too easily.
To truly build a career, one needs to sacrifice many things and pay a high price. However, underhanded methods seem much easier; as the saying goes, "killing and arson bring gold belts, while building bridges and repairing roads leave no corpses." There will always be those who exploit loopholes in this world.
However, Wei Yuan put in so much effort not only to genuinely build a career but also to ensure that people like Xu Feng and Shen Qingyi, who exploit loopholes, do not end up well.
But no matter how loudly the slogans are shouted, it is always difficult for a hero to find a penny. Fortunately, Wei Yuan was not an ordinary person; his Ability brought him various possibilities.
Having saved Zhang Sheng's mother from a major incident, coupled with all the actions taken by Xie Ge's pharmaceutical processing factory, it was impossible for Xu Feng not to notice. It was impossible to completely conceal everything.
Although some actions might have startled the snake in the grass, Wei Yuan was betting on the opponent's arrogance. In their eyes, Wei Yuan and Xie Ge probably wouldn't amount to much and were hardly taken seriously.
Once the front lines were extended, retracting them would not be easy. For now, Xu Feng and Shen Qingyi could only continue on their path. However, time was pressing, forcing Wei Yuan to think of ways to raise money quickly.
Wei Yuan took out all his savings, first putting forward one million as the cost for establishing a new research institute for medicine. The costs for replacing machinery would have to be postponed temporarily because he still needed over three hundred thousand as capital. In his mind, Wei Yuan had already thought of a quick way to make money.
After figuring out how to make money, Wei Yuan temporarily left Luoxia Mountain. However, everything there continued in an orderly manner; it was just that the cost of purchasing machinery was still quite high, waiting for Wei Yuan to find funds to fill this gap.
With a goal in mind, execution was necessary. This time, however, Wei Yuan did not tell anyone; he simply took a taxi to a Jade Rough Material Market, which belonged to Ma Teng's father, Ma Yanggang, and was currently managed by Liu Haisheng.
This time he did not go solo again; he casually recruited a few college students from the talent market and offered them a salary of one hundred yuan each. Their job content was to wait outside the Jade Rough Stone Market, ready to follow orders from Wei Yuan.
Most people who come to the Jade Rough Stone Market are merchants who enjoy excitement and speculation; of course, some treat it as gambling. Thus, opening stones in this industry has a term called Gambling on Jade.
The so-called Gambling on Jade, also known as gambling on goods, refers to jadeite being covered by a layer of weathered skin when mined. It is impossible to know its quality until it is cut open; only then can one determine the quality of the jade inside. This is referred to as “Gambling on Jade.”
Jadeite produced by old factories generally has a skin, but the jade from riverbed water stones can also be considered old factory jade, with thin or no skin. Most jadeite from new factories is usually without skin, but those produced in alluvial layers may have skin. The thickness of the skin mainly depends on the degree of weathering.
When the degree of weathering is high, the skin naturally becomes thick. If a piece of jadeite raw material has color on its surface and looks good, and when the first cut reveals green, it will be favored by most people.
However, it is very possible that the green disappears with the second cut, which is quite common. In short, it’s a gamble driven by adrenaline; the chances of winning in jade mines are significantly higher.
Gambling on jade can lead to overnight wealth, hence the saying that one cut can lead to poverty and another to riches.
Basically, gambling on jade is a high-risk game. Although it’s not ten bets with nine losses, without any technology to see through raw jade material, unless one possesses a kind of x-ray vision ability, it’s unlikely to make money here; only dealers can ensure consistent profits.
Wei Yuan unexpectedly gained an ability, but unfortunately, it was not x-ray vision. He still did not know whether the rough material contained jadeite. However, since he came here, he certainly had other plans.
Wei Yuan was in the largest raw jade material market in Jinghai City, where the behind-the-scenes boss was the Ma Teng family.
There were large shops here, and some people simply set up stalls displaying various stones in red, green, white, and other colors; some were even quite expensive.
Here, every move could involve millions; some became wealthy overnight while others lost so much they nearly bled. Overall, jade, this so-called elegant item, became quite mundane in this setting.
At this moment, stepping into the jade cutting area marked the liveliest part of the raw jade material market. The noise grew louder and was often punctuated by bursts of exclamations.
“Gambling has risen; green has appeared.”
“Oh my goodness, we’ve made a fortune.”
“I bid five hundred thousand.”
"I'll bet one million."
All sorts of content existed, creating an atmosphere that felt as lively as a casino lobby in Las Vegas, with the surrounding people acting like frenzied gamblers.
Choosing a good spot to stand, Wei Yuan observed everything around him like a bystander, watching their excited cheers and the dejected faces after losses, all of which resonated in his ears, yet he remained unmoved.
At that moment, he spotted a familiar figure—a woman in a tight black dress and sharp black high heels shaped like chili peppers, her overall appearance accentuating her perfect figure.
Of course, that wasn't the most captivating aspect; the most alluring part was her eyes, which, like Wei Yuan's, held a calm gaze that observed everything. Those eyes contained a certain wisdom.
Her straight and prominent nose seemed to showcase her resolute character, while her cherry lips moved with an allure that suggested countless emotions. She was a woman whose features leaned towards perfection, exuding a mature charm.
Indeed, she was Yuan Ziyi.
Wei Yuan did not expect Yuan Ziyi to appear in such a place. She had completely modernized the Purple Robe Pavilion and led her disciples to establish a Medicine King nation. She was also the mastermind behind a pharmaceutical group.
A woman who liked to control the situation and had a strong desire for dominance—how could she be interested in Gambling on Jade, a game so unpredictable?
At that moment, the Stone Master was engaged in Jade Cutting, and it appeared that the owner of that Rough Stone was none other than Yuan Ziyi.
However, her expression remained very calm, even as those around her seemed more anxious than she was.
Jade Cutting was the most thrilling part of the entire Gambling on Jade process; whether one would lose everything or strike it rich depended on this moment.
Looking at Yuan Ziyi's demeanor, it seemed that Gambling on Jade had been going on for some time. However, as a woman, she left the task of Jade Cutting to the Stone Master in the shop. As the owner of the Rough Stone, she could still provide her own requirements for Jade Cutting from the sidelines.
In some larger shops, this is a free service, but in smaller stalls, there are fees because a skilled Stone Master can earn quite a sum each month.
"It's rising, it's rising."
"Wow, it's really green; it has indeed turned green. This is a significant increase."
"The stone bought for one hundred fifty thousand is now worth at least over a million."
"This beautiful lady certainly has an eye for quality; thin skin and large filling, it truly is a good item."
With a splash of water, the stone immediately revealed its true form. Although it still belonged to Yuan Ziyi, those who enjoy watching others gamble easily became invested, imagining themselves in the situation.
Moreover, since Yuan Ziyi is a beautiful and wealthy woman, the onlookers were naturally excited, creating an atmosphere that felt like a pot boiling over.
This instantly attracted many spectators to come and watch the excitement. At this moment, this piece of jade Rough Stone was no longer just raw material; it was now clear material, with both its strengths and flaws evident at first glance.
Yuan Ziyi was clearly pleased with her judgment; a hint of a smile appeared on her otherwise serious face. However, this smile was even more alluring, as if a hundred flowers were blooming, intoxicating to the senses.
Yuan Ziyi was not lacking in money; what she was betting on was her own insight and the thrill of the moment. She prepared to take the jade away without waiting for anyone nearby to call out prices.
Generally speaking, not all onlookers are uninformed crowds; in fact, some among them are wealthy merchants. If they see jade that catches their eye, they usually shout out offers right there.
Then they would drive up the price among themselves, and it would be up to the jade's owner to decide who to sell to. Naturally, the highest bidder usually wins.
However, seeing Yuan Ziyi's demeanor made it clear that she wasn't short on cash and didn't seem interested in selling. As a result, those around her naturally refrained from making any futile attempts.
"Such a coincidence, I can meet you here?"
At this moment, Yuan Ziyi, who was about to leave, suddenly saw Wei Yuan and took the initiative to greet him.
After all, it was thanks to Wei Yuan that she was able to escape unharmed from an assassination attempt last time, and Wei Yuan was injured because of it. This made Yuan Ziyi feel concern for a stranger for the first time.
This feeling was peculiar, even beyond her control. For someone like Yuan Ziyi, who was usually adept at managing her emotions, it was somewhat surprising.
Wei Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Just came to take a look around."
Although he had heard about Gambling on Jade before, being there in person was truly a first for Wei Yuan.
The two men accompanying Yuan Ziyi were clearly elites from the former Purple Robe Pavilion. Wei Yuan could tell at a glance that these two were skilled fighters.
No wonder Yuan Ziyi could take away a piece of jade worth over a million without fearing envy from others. Anyone with ill intentions would at least have to weigh their own capabilities.
"Why not choose two stones to test your eye for quality?"
Yuan Ziyi smiled slightly at Wei Yuan.
Indeed, it was about her eye for quality, not luck. Those who treat Gambling on Jade as a game of chance are generally more inclined towards gambling; such people often end up losing more than they win. Winning can lead to addiction, while losing breeds resentment, hence the saying that nine out of ten gamblers lose.
However, if one approaches Gambling on Jade as a way to test their eye for quality or their luck with the right mindset, they are likely to gain more from the experience.
For many people, visiting the largest Raw Jade Material market without selecting a couple of stones to play with feels akin to going to Macau without gambling or visiting Amsterdam without indulging in its famous attractions—essentially, it would be a wasted trip.
So Wei Yuan was not particularly concerned about the money in his hands; after all, he did not possess the ability to see through Rough Stones, so there was no need to take such risks. He chose two inexpensive stones, spending a few thousand dollars, just to give himself a little luck.
Although Wei Yuan did not spend much, the people present still noticed him slightly because he was a rather peculiar young man. Generally, there are only two types of people in the Raw Jade Material market.
One type is the high-stakes gamblers, who either throw all their money in without hesitation or are somewhat more rational. They share a common trait: they spend a lot, often dropping several hundred thousand at least on just a few stones.
The other type simply gambles. These individuals usually do not have much money to spare; some even like to haggle. During Jade Cutting, they appear as if their entire fortune is in the hands of the master, displaying an anxious demeanor.
However, although Wei Yuan only selected a few inferior Rough Stones costing less than a thousand each, with surfaces that looked like gray sand and white sand—indicating they were unlikely to yield anything valuable—he appeared particularly rational. He showed no intention of bargaining and wore an exceptionally calm expression, as if he were merely participating in a game.
Sometimes, being overly obsessed leads to no gains, while those who maintain a casual attitude are more likely to achieve unexpected rewards.
"Master, please cut these stones," Wei Yuan said as he walked over and casually addressed the Stone Master.
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