C19 A Work of Art!

Yun Buhui, deep in contemplation with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them upon hearing the words. He gave the jade before him one final, swift examination. He scrutinized every aspect, from the surface to the surroundings, including the base, growing increasingly astonished.

Next, Yun Buhui began to feel the jade's surface, gauging the thickness of the outer violet layer. He then took out a sheet of paper and started making calculations. After a considerable amount of time, he set the paper aside. When he looked at the jade again, there was a distinct change in his gaze.

"Ms. Su, could you find me an image of the Seven Fairies?" The Jewelry Store Boss was named Suqiu. Yun Buhui had learned her name when she introduced herself upon his arrival. Suqiu had also invited Yun Buhui to address her as Ms. Su and had expressed a desire to take him on as her sworn brother.

Upon hearing Yun Buhui's request, Suqiu promptly produced a laptop and began searching. Soon, an image of the Seven Fairies materialized. Yun Buhui glanced at the depiction and shook his head, "This version won't do. It's not right. Let's try another."

Suqiu continued her search on Baidu for the Seven Fairies' images. It wasn't until much later that Yun Buhui settled on a watercolor painting of a fairy descending to earth. The figures in the painting were remarkably vivid. Though not as beautiful as modern interpretations, the characters exuded an ethereal quality.

Yun Buhui meticulously compared the state of the Seven Fairies in the painting to the jade, feeling its surface to trace the stone's veins. He pinpointed each section before methodically ruling them out, akin to finalizing a design on a computer. After a lengthy process, his work was complete.

Yun Buhui then closed his eyes once more, pondering deeply. After a considerable time, a smile finally graced his face. "Ms. Su, I'm ready to begin carving. However, as this is my first encounter with such a technique, I can't guarantee complete success. There's a significant risk of failure, and should that happen, the loss would be substantial. There's still time to reconsider if you have any doubts."

"Mr. Buhui, as I've said, if I'm going to take you on as my brother, I should expect to pay some tuition fees. Go ahead and do your work. Even if you damage the two pieces of Imperial Green Jade, I won't hold it against you. I spent nearly 600,000 yuan when I bought this raw material, but relying solely on those two pieces of jade, I could at best recoup 100,000 yuan."

"In the worst-case scenario, I'd only be out 100,000 yuan, and that's an amount I can afford to lose," Suqiu said with a nonchalant smile. Without any hesitation, she then brought out the carving tools.

Relieved by her words, Yun Buhui took a deep breath and set to work. He had carved countless stones before, but they were mostly of little value. This was his first time working on something so precious. Despite the stone's mixed quality, it was still worth 600,000 yuan.

This time, he chose not to use the electric carving knife, feeling that it was too difficult to control the pressure, and a slight mishap could ruin everything. Even a minor slip could spoil the entire piece. So, he used his spiritual energy to guide the carving knife, meticulously chiseling and polishing bit by bit.

Suqiu claimed to be unfazed, but how could she not be nervous? She had invested 600,000 yuan in this stone. As a business owner, such reckless spending could lead to ruin. Yet, she maintained an air of indifference, though her constant, intense gaze on Yun Buhui's work betrayed her inner turmoil.

Yun Buhui had Suqiu brighten the room's lights to their maximum, and she even installed a few additional lamps to aid his work. Lost in the art of carving, Yun Buhui was oblivious to the passage of time, focused only on the figures emerging under his hands, transforming the flat jade into a vivid masterpiece.

As time slipped away, after more than two hours, Yun Buhui completed his final cut, feeling a twinge of soreness in his arms. He fetched a small brush to sweep away the stone dust from the jade's surface and then took a file to smooth out any areas that needed further polishing.

After some time, Yun Buhui took a dry cloth and meticulously cleaned the entire surface. It was only after this that he nodded his head, clearly pleased with the result.

"Ms. Su, why don't you come and see for yourself? Are you happy with it?" he asked.

Upon hearing his invitation, Suqiu rose from the couch. She had been looking forward to inspecting the work up close but had restrained herself, not wanting to interfere with Yun Buhui's process.

With eager steps, Suqiu approached the jade piece. A single glance was enough to leave her speechless. Before her was a scene of the Seven Fairies frolicking in a mystical lake enveloped in Immortal Qi. Each fairy was unique, their attire distinct, as if they had just arrived and were playfully splashing in the water.

Above the pond, a misty vapor rose into the air, sparking the imagination with its ethereal shapes, reminiscent of wafting Immortal Qi, subtle yet gracefully present. This was undoubtedly the interplay of the violet light and the ambiance. From above, it looked as if twinkling stars were hidden beneath the surface, adding to the celestial tableau.

On either side of the pond, two cranes lounged, their heads crowned with the rich hue of Imperial Green Jade.

Gazing in awe at the sight before her, Suqiu was moved. In that moment, she no longer saw a mere carving but a true masterpiece. The transformation of what was once considered a worthless piece of jade into such a flawless creation seemed nothing short of miraculous.

Suqiu realized that this piece transcended monetary value. The once unremarkable stars now served as the focal point of the entire piece, their brilliance enhanced by the violet and the Imperial Green Jade, elevating the work to its pinnacle.

She felt that this piece could become the crown jewel of her collection. The unexpected emergence of such a scene filled Suqiu with overwhelming emotion, her body trembling with excitement.

"Mr. Buhui, you are indeed my savior," she exclaimed. "Do you realize the significance of your creation? This piece will elevate my entire Jewelry Store to a new echelon. I can't thank you enough. For the masterpiece you've sculpted, I'm prepared to offer you a reward of 100,000 yuan. Please, don't decline; your work has truly astounded me and has surpassed all expectations."

Yun Buhui waved his hand dismissively and said, "Let's be frank, Ms. Su, when I first arrived, I indeed intended to make some money off you. But now that you've taken me as your sworn brother, it's only natural that I lend a hand. How could I possibly take your money?"

"Ms. Su, please, there's no need to rush. If you truly wish to assist me, consider this: I'm keen on developing a barren mountain, yet my pockets are empty. If you're willing to lend me some funds, I assure you, I'll repay you within six months."

This was not a new aspiration for Yun Buhui; he had harbored this idea for quite some time. Fallen Mountain Village, where he lived, was encircled by towering mountains, and leaving the village meant scaling these hills. Heading towards the Huang Family Shop was one thing, but venturing in the opposite direction meant getting lost amid the mountains, with only distant stone peaks in view.

Despite the abundance of mountains here, the yield of mountain goods was scarce. The reason being that these weren't soil-rich mountains but predominantly rocky ones. Legend has it that long ago, this area was a flat plain. But then, a deity carrying a great mountain on his back flew overhead. This deity, said to be the son of Kua E, bore the original Taihang Mountain.

It is told that as this Great God passed over this area, he was so captivated by a fragrance rising from the ground that he paused. During this brief halt, a few fragments of the mountain he carried tumbled down, and upon landing, they rapidly transformed into a range of mountains. Hence, Fallen Mountain Village got its name. These stories, passed down by the elders, may be steeped in myth, but the presence of the mountains is undeniably real.

"Taking on the barren mountain is a commendable idea, but what do you plan to do with it afterward?" Suqiu asked with a serene expression, neither consenting nor objecting, but simply inquiring with a smile.

"With the passage of time, people are increasingly valuing wellness. Yet, much of the food consumed today fails to meet proper standards. Even the so-called 'green food' available in the market often just means the absence of fertilizers and pesticides. This might be achievable with vegetables, but it's a far greater challenge when it comes to meat products."

Nowadays, pigs are ready for market after just three or four months, and the same goes for poultry like chickens and ducks. But there's an inherent problem with this: their growth period is simply too short. Even if they were allowed to grow for a longer time, the quality of today's poultry meat can't hold a candle to what it used to be.

Consider the difference in flavor between a chicken that's been raised on grasshoppers and one that's been fed commercial feed. It's undeniable. Of course, raising poultry this way means it takes longer before they're ready for market, but the price point is also markedly different from that of ordinary poultry. Moreover, I predict that within the next few years, or even the next decade, ecosystem breeding will become widespread across the nation. The high-yield, fast-paced breeding methods of today will gradually disappear from our sights, left behind by the times.

Therefore, I'm planning to lease the barren mountain behind us and start ecosystem breeding right there on the mountain.