Seeing Jack Judd's bewildered expression, Aaron Cheney couldn't help but laugh. "Stumped, kid? Can't tell which of these stones has jade inside, can you?"
Jack Judd pointed indignantly at the raw stones with windows cut into them. "What do you mean? I can tell just fine! Those ones have jade inside!"
Aaron Cheney howled with laughter. "Then can you afford them?"
Jack Judd fell silent. The raw stones with windows were far more expensive than the ones with so-called "python bands." The money he'd scrounged together from his days as a small-time hood wasn't nearly enough to afford one.
Vera Xavier found the two of them rather amusing. Seeing her smile, Aaron Cheney started to butter her up. "You're the real expert at stone gambling. You even cut an Emperor Green back on the jade street at home. Why don't you teach us a thing or two?"
Vera Xavier pursed her lips. 'For a complete novice at stone gambling like me to teach others about it… that would be leading them completely astray!'
