Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 714: Chapter 711 Heading to Changhua

After a thorough inquiry, Zhou Shitao found out that the ten stamps were discovered by Huo Sining within the kraft paper partitions of that stamp album.

Zhou Shitao chuckled and shook his head, ”A single stamp from this set could be worth more than ten of those garlic-head vases, and if sold together, they would be worth at least 500 of them! The person who sold these really took a big loss!”

Huo Sining’s face showed surprise; 500 of them, wouldn’t that mean these ten stamps were worth more than 500,000 yuan? This was indeed an unexpected delight. Huo Sining had initially thought the stamps could be worth at most 30,000 to 50,000 yuan, so this price was far beyond her expectations.

Huo Sining was aware that even if she did not buy the album, that scamming old man would have sold it to someone else. She feared that in other hands, those ten stamps would suffer the fate of buried treasures, never to see the light of day again.

Originally, Huo Sining had thought about selling this set of stamps, but after hearing Zhou Shitao’s explanation of the origin and history of the stamps, she abandoned that idea.

Such precious and rare stamps were better kept with her for the time being. Even if she wanted to sell them later, she could use the fame of the stamps to advertise her own antique shop once it opened, without letting others take advantage of such fine goods.

In the afternoon, Huo Sining went to Changhua with Liao Song and his friend Zhong Zifan.

Located in Zhejiang, Changhua is not a jadeite-producing area but is famous for its seal stones, where one finds the world-renowned precious stone — Chicken Blood Stone.

The Chicken Blood Stone, one of China’s four famous stones, boasts a vibrant red color like fresh chicken blood and a clear, jade-like luster.

The Chicken Blood Stone is extraordinary in shape, color, texture, and quality, incredibly beautiful to the beholder and challenging to part with, thus earning it the nickname ”national treasure.”

Much like jadeite, the collectible value of Chicken Blood Stone is very high, but it also faces a similar predicament — its provenance.

In the world of collecting, the surprise often lies not in the item itself, but in its origin.

This is true for jadeite, Hetian jade, and so it is for Chicken Blood Stone.

Jadeite from old mines in Myanmar is priced much higher than new mines; likewise, the difference between the old and new mines for Chicken Blood Stone can lead to a price differential of several times.

In the case of Chicken Blood Stone, other provinces in the country do produce it, but the largest quantity and highest quality comes from Changhua. In terms of color and texture, the Chicken Blood Stone from Changhua is superior to those mined elsewhere.

It is for this reason that the Chicken Blood Stone from Changhua is in great demand. Especially in recent years, as prices have soared, the old pits have been exhausted, and stones from new mines have entered the market. As a consequence, the number of people gambling on Chicken Blood Stone has increased, mounting a challenge to rival the jadeite betting scene.

Huo Sining had encountered a genuine old-mine Changhua Chicken Blood Stone once before. At that time, she was in a relationship with Zhao Mingcheng and had accompanied him to a charity auction within a circle of the wealthy. A venerable master of traditional Chinese painting had donated a seal that caused a sensation as soon as it appeared at the auction, fiercely slapping the so-called philanthropist tycoons who were only pretending to be charitable.

Back then, Huo Sining couldn’t discern the significance until after the auction had concluded. It was only from Zhao Mingcheng that she learned the seal donated by the master was the renowned Changhua Chicken Blood Stone, which had a long history not only as a beautiful seal stone but also as an antique relic. If properly valued, it would be worth no less than thirty million.

Thirty million — the concept was profoundly shocking to the former life’s Huo Sining. At that time, she thought that with thirty million, she would never need to work a day in her life again; she could simply live off that vast sum until her dying day.

Now, as Huo Sining reflected on it, she felt both a sense of sentiment and nostalgia. Although her past self had been foolish and timid, she had also been as innocent and pure as can be. However, back then, she had never imagined that her life would one day be like her current situation.

Because of that master of Chinese painting, a special affection for Chicken Blood Stone had taken root deep within Huo Sining’s heart, yet she had never once thought about personally gambling on a Chicken Blood Stone and bringing one back for herself.

The reasons were twofold: first, because her Water-Repelling Pearl had come too unexpectedly, and second, because her passion for Chicken Blood Stone was not as strong as it was for jadeite.

If Liao Song hadn’t suddenly mentioned Chicken Blood Stone, she probably would have long forgotten about that past life event.

However, now that she had arrived in Changhua, that fond feeling surged up within her once again, and an extraordinarily strong impulse suddenly emerged in her mind. If she had the chance to attend that auction again, she wanted to gamble on a Chicken Blood Stone to gift to that elderly gentleman.

After the charity auction concluded that year, Huo Sining had seen a report on the elderly master. It was only through the article that she found out the seal was a heirloom passed down in the master’s family. From the time the old man took up painting over seventy years ago, that seal had always accompanied him, and the mark of that seal could be found on every one of his artworks.

Such an important and commemorative treasure was donated without a moment’s hesitation by the master, showing a magnanimity and breadth of spirit truly deserving of the title ”master,” and it was something Huo Sining particularly admired.

The idea to gamble on a Chicken Blood Stone for the elderly gentleman had struck Huo Sining so forcefully that an intense urge arose within her, which was why she readily agreed to join Liao Song on the trip to Changhua.

Throughout the journey, Huo Sining hastily searched online for information about Chicken Blood Stone to catch up on, and though she was cramming at the last minute, her extraordinary memory left her with no worries of being cheated or making a mistake.

Perhaps it was because Liao Song and his friend had previously visited Changhua to purchase Chicken Blood Stone, but they were very familiar with the place. Throughout the trip, Liao Song introduced Huo Sining to the various local customs and delicacies of Changhua, making it feel as though they were on a sightseeing tour.

But Huo Sining knew that this time Liao Song’s visit to Changhua was definitely for stone gambling. When Liao Song had invited her over the phone, he mentioned that there would be a large Chicken Blood Stone trade fair in Changhua. By choosing this timing to visit, he obviously wouldn’t miss the trade fair.

Though Huo Sining had never gambled on Chicken Blood Stone before, she didn’t think it would be difficult. Her Heavenly Eye could see through the interior of jadeite raw stones, so Chicken Blood Stone should not present much of a challenge either.

The Hummer sped along the highway and soon arrived in Changhua County. Upon arriving in Changhua and after hearing Liao Song’s friend’s introduction, Huo Sining learned that in two days, there would be a three-day Chicken Blood Stone trade fair in Changhua County.