Chapter 2230 - 2133: Collapsed?
Master Li was already dumbstruck.
Seeing Huo Sining draw the lines herself, he thought Boss Lai was definitely finished.
But after watching Huo Sining finish drawing the lines, Master Li was utterly baffled.
If it weren’t for knowing the internal details, he would definitely think this pregnant woman was doing it on purpose. This was just too coincidental; although the remaining raw material was large, it contained three glue lines inside.
This woman could easily draw a few lines randomly to expose the glue lines, but instead, by sheer luck, she drew five lines and perfectly avoided the glue lines as if she knew beforehand where they were!
This is truly...
Master Li was staring, speechless, at the scene in front of him, unable to find the words to describe it.
He genuinely wanted to help this woman, but seeing the situation now, it seemed misfortune befell her, with even heaven not on her side!
Master Li felt a strong sense of helplessness and let out a long sigh, holding the marked material as he approached the stone cutting machine.
This time, the speed of cutting was swift. Master Li no longer had many reservations; the lines were drawn by this woman, and if it was a failure, it couldn’t be blamed on him.
The first cut sliced through like tofu, with a large piece of material removed.
It’s failed.
He continued with the second cut, the third cut.
After the fourth cut, still no green appeared, the spectators had grown accustomed to it, everyone knew this raw material was a failure.
"What’s the point of cutting further? Let’s stop. The Python Band moss is cut, yet no green showed. It’s best to spare the final cut, Master Li. There’s no hope!"
The onlookers couldn’t bear watching anymore, urging Master Li to finish quickly and stop wasting everyone’s time.
Since the material belonged to Huo Sining, Master Li couldn’t decide on his own, so he instinctively looked at the pregnant woman standing nearby.
Huo Sining remained silent, staring down at the waste material, staying in a long pause. Just when Master Li was about to proceed with the final cut, Huo Sining suddenly lifted her head and said to Master Li:
"No need to cut anymore!"
Master Li was taken aback: "Really not cutting anymore?"
Huo Sining nodded: "Cutting further won’t yield anything anyway, let it be, it’s failed."
Saying that, Huo Sining glanced at Boss Lai, with a half-smile, asking: "Boss Lai, how should the failed material be handled?"
Boss Lai was momentarily stunned, then laughed: "It’s Madam’s property, however you wish to handle it is up to you."
Huo Sining nodded in response: "Alright, this gambling failure is my first time. I have to take something back as a souvenir, to remember this lesson."
With that, Huo Sining tapped the large chunk of waste material cut by Master Li with her foot, calling out to Yingzi:
"Yingzi, take this piece back, forget the rest."
Yingzi heard Huo Sining’s words without any hesitation, bent down, and picked up the seven or eight-kilogram piece of waste material directly.
Over there, Boss Lai heard what Huo Sining said and saw her taking a piece of waste material, but wasn’t concerned, thinking Huo Sining simply wanted to take one piece back as an explanation to her family, so seeing Yingzi’s actions didn’t raise suspicion.
Master Li was a bit dazed upon seeing Huo Sining take back a piece of waste material, his expression showing complexity, no one knowing what he was thinking.
"Master Li, although this material was a failure, it still troubled you to solve it for me, here’s some compensation for your hard work, take it."
Huo Sining then turned to Master Li, smiled and expressed gratitude, before taking out a few Chairman Mao bills from her wallet and placed them into Master Li’s hand.
In the stone gambling trade, when a cut yields a rise, usually a tip is given to the Stone Solver Master, but if it’s a failure, generally no money is offered.
Thus, seeing Huo Sining offer a tip, Master Li’s face reddened with embarrassment, awkwardly pushing back. He found it unnerving; knowing the tricks within the raw material, aware the woman was swindled out of thirty thousand, and now still wanting to tip him, Master Li felt the money was burning hot in his hand, unwilling to accept it.
However, as Master Li declined, Huo Sining insisted, determined to have those Chairman Mao bills placed into Master Li’s hand.
Master Li initially wanted to continue declining, but once the money reached his hand, he froze.
His palm had grasped a stiff piece of cardstock.
Master Li’s eyes flickered, his peripheral vision catching that Boss Lai still had his gaze fixed on him, heart stopping for a moment, he smiled slightly, gratefully looking at Huo Sining and said:
"Madam, you’re too kind. Since you insist, I won’t put on airs, I’ll accept the money. Next time you need a stone solved, just come to me, I’ll do it for free!"
Huo Sining smiled: "I understand the rules of the stone gambling trade; business is business, it can’t be muddled."
With that, Huo Sining had no plans to linger outside the shop, signaling Yingzi and the accompanying Jade Beauty store employee, the three of them weaving through the crowd towards the street, soon disappearing from everyone’s view.
Master Li, holding the Chairman Mao bills, seized a moment when Boss Lai wasn’t paying attention to quickly slip the rigid piece of cardstock hidden among the bills into his pocket.
Once Boss Lai saw that Huo Sining and the other two had left without a trace, he sighed in relief, turning around with an icy glare toward Master Li:
"Li Dekui, get in here!"
Master Li’s lips formed a bitter smile, thinking inwardly, here it comes, looks like he’s going to lose his job today!
Sure enough, once inside the shop, Boss Lai crossed his arms, staring coldly at him:
"You’re a stone solver, it’s the shop’s work needing your interference? Who asked you to speak out of turn just now? If it weren’t for my good luck this time, your meddling would have cost me a thirty thousand yuan deal, are you planning to quit?"
Master Li’s anger surged within, feeling indignant:
"This is deception, you’re framing a pregnant woman, it’s utterly immoral!"
Boss Lai wasn’t ashamed, he was proud: "What deception, it’s a willing transaction, how does that equate to deception? Besides, who’s certain of this woman’s status? Her money is clean? I only cheated her out of thirty thousand; if someone else were involved, even three hundred thousand would be easy! Who knows where such people get their money, if not from exploiting the public? Can’t I take a little?"