To be honest, I really wanted to witness Tu Kela’s abilities. In Ye Qingcheng’s words, for strategists at their level, it’s a case of "one main, two assists, three attachments, and four non-contacts."
This primarily refers to the complementary relationships within the strategist realm. For example, a strategist in the ultimate game theory system requires high capabilities in judging psychological effect systems and in arranging situational stages. This is what's meant by "one main, two assists." "Three attachments, four non-contacts" refers to the complementary relationships. Taking the ultimate game theory system as an example, it needs other systems as supplements, with three skills complementing each other. If a strategist from this system were to learn the skills of the Stanislavski system, it would be counterproductive.
The ultimate game theory system emphasizes simplicity and effectiveness, while the Stanislavski system involves complex acting and human nature, which is detrimental to simple effectiveness. For instance, Zhu Guang, with his "victory-or-defeat-only" theory, can be considered a representative of the ultimate game theory system. He drew me into the game, didn’t act, but instead placed me in a situation, using rules to suppress me and psychological effects to incite conflict.
Regarding this Tu Kela, Ye Qingcheng analyzed him and said that originally, what he learned was chaotic, turning the complementary relationships of the strategist system into conflicting ones. Logically, his decisive and ruthless nature should align with the ultimate game theory system, yet he was also willing to be an actor and diligently studied the Stanislavski system. In the end, due to the conflicting nature of these two skill sets, he remained stagnant.
However, Tu Kela endured humiliation for many years and surprisingly managed to integrate all systems, becoming a master like the long-tongued ghost Li Jiu or the gluttonous ghost Cao Shi. It remains to be seen whether he has, like Li Jiu and Cao Shi, discovered his own unique methods.
Of course, reaching such a realm is rare and serendipitous. A genius like my senior sister, because the old ghost remained loyal to Master Wende’s ancient teachings, did not divide into four systems; any of the strategist skills could be handled with ease. However, she was still a hair's breadth away from the highest realm.
As for me, although nominally Li Jiu's disciple and having learned his skills from the sheepskin notebook, I had been in contact with the old ghost relatively early. I never systematically studied strategic methods. From the beginning, the old ghost guided me to find my own path. In my encounters with Li Jiu, inspiration struck, and I understood some causality, yet I didn't truly grasp it. Up to this point, I haven't truly reached the highest realm that teacher Wang Ren spoke of. The principle of "doing good deeds without asking about consequences" is a path that still holds a long way for me.
It is precisely because of these reasons that I became even more curious about Tu Kela’s capabilities. Thus, when Tu Kela asked if I wanted to lose or win, an idea formed in my mind. I smiled and wrote: "Gambling is about losing first and then winning. If you don't give the opponent a taste of sweetness, how can you make them willingly lose money?"
"Then please proceed. You will choose the stone on the right later. Based on its python pattern and origin, it is definitely the cheapest."
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
After we finalized our plan, Tu Kela, with a smile, chatted and negotiated with the two bosses. Then he said loudly:
"Then it's settled. Boss Tang is a distinguished guest invited by me, Lu Yao. Today, I will be the banker and take the first move."
"What do you mean by 'banker' and 'first move'?"
Although all the rough jade stones originated from "Chinese Style Jade Rough Trade Co., Ltd.," the rules of stone gambling distinguish between the banker and the players, with one banker and two players, similar to "Fighting the Landlord."
Because experts can be invited to appraise during the stone gambling process, the issue of price is subject to negotiation. This led to this rule: the banker goes first, but the value of the rough jade stone chosen by the banker must exceed the combined value of the rough jade stones chosen by the two players.
This is considered fair.
At this moment, the rough stones I bought from Boss Xie had also been sliced. Their value was at most two hundred thousand. However, this material was of old species and the patterns were superior, so it would sell well.
Boss Zhu and Boss Gu had their subordinates' experts examine the sliced pieces and decided to participate in the gamble.
"Boss Tang, you haven't brought an expert today, so I'm afraid our victory won't be entirely honorable," Boss Zhu said, feigning modesty while having gained an advantage. His smile was not genuine.
I remained non-committal and replied with a smile: "Boss Zhu, please rest assured. I used to play stone gambling, and my eyes are my ruler. I don't need an expert."
Actually, I don't know anything. I was just bluffing. If I lost, I wanted these two bosses to see me as an arrogant, overconfident sucker, a super "leek." I wanted them to continue playing with me, so I could increase the stakes. History always repeats itself, but my role is different now.
"You look familiar. Do we know each other?"
I found it both funny and exasperating. How could they catch on? We couldn't possibly know each other; I know nothing about stone gambling, I was just bluffing.
"We probably don't," I said helplessly, resorting to politeness again.
Boss Zhu looked at me closely, shook his head, and said with a smile, "Then perhaps I was mistaken. Let's begin."
As the banker, I get to choose first. I looked at Ning Caichen and asked him seriously, "Which one should I choose?"
"I don't know," Ning Caichen replied honestly.
"Then I'll choose blindly."
With that, I looked down from the second floor and pointed to the rough jade stone Tu Kela had mentioned as being the cheapest. "This one."
After making my selection, I noticed that the expressions of the two bosses had changed, and several experts below were whispering. Finally, the two of them came downstairs, presumably to discuss their choices.
I was utterly bewildered watching from upstairs. I waved Lu Yao over and asked him, "Tu Kela, didn't you say that one was the least valuable?"
"Yes. I've been in the rough jade industry for so many years; these experts have eaten less salt than I have. Don't worry."
"I don't think their expressions are quite right."
Tu Kela laughed heartily. "These old foxes are just putting on a show. If they win against you, they won't embarrass you. They want you to feel like they put in great effort to win. This is called 'face' in the underworld."
The two bosses conferred with their experts downstairs for a long time. Finally, they chose two rough jade stones. They came upstairs together, and I saw that their expressions were somewhat grim.
Stone gambling, unlike celebrity games, involves wealthy individuals. In celebrity games, two million yuan is gambled, and one cut is made, creating heart-pounding tension. In stone gambling, the local bosses involved have built their fortunes over years, with both old and young to consider. When cutting a stone, they first open a window and then decide where to make the cut and how to proceed.
We drank tea and chatted on the second floor. Boss Zhu and Boss Gu's expressions were noticeably stiff. I was puzzled. If this was an act, these two were truly talented.
"Boss Tang, I remember who you are!" Boss Zhu spoke to me again. I looked at him in confusion.
"We've met?"
"We have, but you definitely wouldn't recognize me. That time, I was wearing a mask. You attended the celebrity game in the Empty Room, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"The celebrity game in the Empty Room involved trickery, yet you, with your professional skill, cut out a Dragon Stone variety that had never been seen before, astonishing everyone. How could I forget such a grand occasion? It's also my fault; if I had remembered this incident earlier, I wouldn't have dared to gamble with you."
I smiled awkwardly. "It's all in the past."
"The Empty Room has methods of deception that ordinary people cannot imagine. In such a situation, you could still discern the truth with your keen eyes. How could this small matter trouble you? We concede."
I was stunned. "Wait, these stones haven't even been cut yet!"
After speaking, I glanced at Lu Yao. Lu Yao also offered a conciliatory smile. "Even the King of Hell takes a nap sometimes. Let's see who's better at the end."
Boss Zhu and Boss Gu shook their heads and smiled bitterly. Downstairs, the windows had also been cut. A young girl carefully brought the rough stone on a tray.
Seeing the color of this rough stone, I frowned. It was red. This was red jade, a rare sight. Generally, red jade with good species and water is difficult to achieve a vivid hue, while red jade with vivid and bright colors often has poor species and water. It can be said that the red hue and species/water are difficult to reconcile. However, with this red jade, although I'm not a professional, looking at its color with a flashlight, it should be chicken comb red.
A high-quality piece, rarely seen, a once-in-a-century find.
Boss Zhu and Boss Gu stood up and bowed. "We accept our losses. There's no need to look at our two stones."
After the two bosses left, I called Lu Yao to my side. "Mr. Lu, what's going on?"
"Why are you calling me Mr. Lu again? Just call me Tu Kela. Yes, it's my fault. I said I'd lose first and then win, but this time I truly misjudged. Even the King of Hell takes a nap sometimes; I can't be right every time. This is your good luck." "Really?"
"Could it be fake?"
"Ah, I've lost interest. I'm going back to sleep. Tu Kela, arrange a hotel for me, right across from my wife's hotel. It's fine if she doesn't want to see me; I'll be her neighbor. Is that a problem?"
Lu Yao smiled obsequiously. "No problem, absolutely no problem."
"Keep those rough jade stones worth over two hundred thousand. I'll take this red jade. After all, it's a once-in-a-century find, worth a fortune."
"Okay, okay. I'll have them prepare a sandalwood box for you to pack it up. It'll be elegant and beautiful."
Ning Caichen and I were taken to a hotel. Ning Caichen asked me seriously, "Will Lin Han be here?"
"What do you think?"
"I think so."