Chapter 273

After Lin Fei selected his five stones, the ten-minute blind-selection period concluded. Next came the process of "windowing" the stones each contestant had chosen. Windowing involves cutting a small aperture into the raw stone to expose the jade inside, sometimes called skin-peeling. However, a small window cannot reveal the full extent of the jade within; whether it is solid, partial, or fragmented remains unclear. Moreover, the quality and translucency of the jade cannot be precisely determined this way. To accurately judge the grade and total size of the jade, one must perform a "large window" cut. This involves selecting the optimal spot on the stone—based on the initial window—and cutting it open, typically removing no more than a quarter of the total volume. Dozens of stone-cutting machines on stage whirred into action, filling the venue with a harsh, grating clamor. Despite the noise, the guests’ enthusiasm grew; they could now catch a glimpse of the jade hidden within the stones selected by these experts.