The origin of the star lotus world

Chapter 2329 Main Text
Chapter 2252 of the main text

I said I'd continue talking about things in the mortal world, some things worth mentioning. Many consumers in the mortal world are observing the price changes of precious metals. Many people are wearing their existing gold jewelry, feeling that natural materials, once considered luxury items, no longer look tacky, but are genuinely valuable and are making a comeback. The buyback price for pure gold is six or seven hundred yuan per gram, which is really valuable. This is something that was once ignored when we were young, but is now unaffordable. Even the price of silver jewelry in many stores has been adjusted from ten or twenty yuan per gram to around twenty yuan per gram. Gold jewelry with a fixed price is very expensive, far exceeding the standard price per gram. However, the buyback price is still calculated according to the standard, regardless of the craftsmanship, based on the purity and weight of the gold. Relatively speaking, the prices of some high-end gemstones and jade are still high, but they are not as popular as the gold and silver market. Gold jewelry, as a very hot luxury item this year, receives a lot of attention. It's just that it's so expensive that many consumers can't resist buying it. I didn't pay attention before, but the more I pay attention, the more I might shop—it's like being unable to resist. The more I see, the more I might like it; that's a possibility.

Fan Xingkong listened attentively to my explanation of some things before sharing his thoughts.

Fanxingkong said that in the mortal world where the original master resides, why has the price of gold jewelry suddenly risen so quickly? He heard that the price used to be five or six hundred yuan per gram, but this year it has exceeded one thousand yuan. What kind of appreciation rate is this? Those nouveau riche who own a lot of gold jewelry must be making a fortune. It seems that gold mines are much more luxurious than oil fields. There are always people who become extremely rich overnight.

I mentioned that last year in the mortal world, the price of gold jewelry did indeed reach around 600 yuan per gram. Sometimes it rose slightly, but not by that much. There was a price range where you could buy a little over two grams of gold jewelry for 1500 yuan, which would be a lightweight gold ring or a small gold pendant. You could negotiate the price down to 600-700 yuan per gram; that was achievable. Last year, I (the author) inquired about gold jewelry prices at jewelry stores; there were increases, but not as dramatic as this year's surge. In recent years, the price of gold jewelry has been steadily increasing, or maintaining a high price for extended periods—that's a fact; the overall market has been quite good. At the beginning of this year in the mortal world, gold jewelry became even more expensive, with prices rising rapidly from 600-700 yuan to 800-900 yuan, and then exceeding 1000 yuan in just a few months. Then the price either fell back or stabilized, remaining at a high level for gold jewelry. This summer, many stores are selling these kinds of items for 800-900 yuan per gram. Some brand-name stores are charging around 1,000 yuan per gram for gold jewelry, plus a separate craftsmanship fee per gram, which can range from tens of yuan to as high as 100-200 yuan per gram. Some stores offer fixed-price hard gold jewelry, which, when converted to a price per gram, can reach 1,600-1,700 yuan, and some are even more expensive, far exceeding the standard price. Many gold jewelry items priced below one gram are fixed-price items, with discounts available, but the discounts are small. The purchase price is often double or even more than the buyback price. Relatively speaking, investing in gold bars or buying gold jewelry priced per gram during store promotions is much cheaper. In the mundane world, many consumers pay attention to gold jewelry, but only a minority buy large quantities at once. Most people browse or buy small items, negotiating discounts ranging from 20% to 5%. See how much you can bargain; if you negotiate well, you might get a bigger discount. Buying a gold necklace or bracelet weighing only a few dozen grams indicates a large customer, and merchants are willing to offer more discounts. These pieces of gold jewelry, costing tens of thousands of yuan, are high-end, expensive items, yet there are still buyers.

Fanxingkong said that if he were an ordinary person in that world, seeing the incredible speed at which some precious metals appreciated in value, he would also pay close attention to related news. In the mortal world, the reserves of precious metals are vast, yet their prices have suddenly surged. Some might observe from the sidelines, and like the general public, they would pay close attention and read related information. After reading so much, they might buy some gold jewelry, developing an interest. However, they must act within their means, avoiding purchases far exceeding the standard price. They feel such investments are unsuitable, as they cannot be certain whether future buyback prices will reach a high of thousands or close to a thousand yuan. Investment must be reasonable and moderate, taking into account price corrections. If mining intensifies or old goods are refurbished, the prices of related commodities may decline. If one simply wants to follow a trend, these considerations are irrelevant, but one must still consider their financial strength and the quantity of goods to purchase. Moderation is key; avoid excess. This is a philosophical thought and personal experience.

I said, "Fanxingkong, do you want to choose a high-quality material like shiny, lustrous gold for your Year of the Dragon amulet?" If you think it's good, then such a material is fine. Precious metals are very common among high-quality materials.

Fan Xingkong said that while gold and silver are excellent materials, they are passed down as treasures, not as precious stones. This is because gold and silver can be melted and reforged, unlike gemstones, jade, crystal, pearls, and wood, which have fixed forms that are difficult to alter. Some details of these materials are unique. While gold and silver, being of divine quality, may possess dazzling and beautiful effects and, with proper maintenance, can be preserved for a very long time, they lack the unique textures of other materials and are not particularly special; they merely symbolize luxury and wealth. He considered three suitable materials: warm, lustrous white mutton fat jade, golden rainbow crystal, and magnificent celestial pearl. Mutton fat jade is the finest Hetian jade, a superior stone used even by ancient royalty in the mortal world. Its history spans thousands of years. Representing the noble character of a gentleman, it is a high-grade divine material that should maintain its natural oily whiteness, beautiful jade-like appearance, with cloud-like effects and a celestial, ethereal quality. The colors of the rainbow crystal are magnificent. The surface of this divine material changes constantly, resembling iridescent glass, yet it possesses the natural texture of top-grade crystal. It is the most transparent and beautiful among these divine materials. The exquisite pearl material exudes luxury and rarity. Amulets made from extra-large natural pearls are already rare treasures. As a wearable or collectible item, it is truly unique and also offers excellent beauty and skincare benefits.

Some choices are fine as long as they suit your needs; that might be a good choice.