Twelve years ago, when they had not yet left Hong Kong, they believed that semi-precious stones--middling in price but high in sentimental value--could sell well at department stores.
十二年前，當他們尚未由香港移民美國之前，即認為價格中等，又具有價值感的半寶石，在百貨公司裡應該極具銷售潛力。