It was simple. First, she needed a rough jade.

A rough jade was not a type of jade, but rather the raw, shapeless piece of stone that precious jade was carved from.

Maria dialed Judy's number.

“Judy, I need a stone."

“What? A stone?" Judy mumbled through a mouthful of food.

After swallowing, she asked carefully, “What size and shape should the stone be in? And do you want a white, black, or green one?"

A random person listening in on this conversation might not have any idea what Judy was talking about.

But Maria, of course, knew that Judy was referring to the three different types of pure jade: white jade, black jade, and green jade.

Within these three types of jade, each piece of jade varied according to its size, shape, and purity of color.

But what Maria wanted did not fall into any of these three categories.

“Can you get me a mauve jadeite?" Maria asked.

“I'm not sure,"

Judy answered honestly, without any hint of surprise.

"Ll try to find the biggest one and send it to you.”

“No, I'm in a hurry. Just find me a half-pound one. Shapes don't matter."

“Okay." Then, remember something, Judy added, "Maria, I made chicken drumsticks. How about I bring some along with the stone?"

“No, thanks. I had dinner already," Maria refused bluntly.

However, Judy insisted, “You have to try some! I made a lot."

It was obvious that for Judy, giving Maria the chicken drumsticks was more important than giving her the stone.

“Fine, whatever," Maria said, rolling her eyes. She knew that Judy would keep pressing her until she agreed.