Chapter 5 Valuation

Zhao Xiaofei naturally agreed. He offered 500 taels per bottle of streptomycin for dogs. "When we return to the modern era, I'll wholesale a truckload for you." Xiao Si and Yang, like entertaining a patriarch, led Zhao Xiaofei to the pawnshop, one following behind while the other led the way. Seeing them on the street, people might have thought they had changed employers and become the henchmen of this wealthy young man.

There were still six bottles of medicine left in Zhao Xiaofei's box, which was worth 3,000 taels of silver. Zhao Xiaofei said, "Shopkeeper Yang! I don't want the silver! Can you find any antiques worth this price? Give me a few!"

"Yes! Yes! I have Ru kiln porcelain from the Song Dynasty, and instruments of worship from the Liao Dynasty. I also have Tang Dynasty paintings and calligraphy, and Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain. Although they're not top-quality, they're still worth the price. I've calculated it, and I'll give you a Liao Dynasty instrument of worship, a Song Dynasty Ru kiln agate teapot, Tang Dynasty calligraphy by Zhang Xu, and a Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain vase. Do you think it's okay?"

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaofei was extremely excited. He glanced at Xiao Si, meaning, is the price right? Xiao Si said, "Mr. Zhao! Shopkeeper Yang has really spent a lot of money today. These things are worth it! Shopkeeper Yang won't make much!"

"Yes! Okay! Pack it up and take it away!" Zhao Xiaofei got up and went home after saying that. Xiao Si followed behind with the antiques.

When they got home, Zhao Xiaofei said to Xiao Si, "I'm leaving tomorrow. Please take care of this house for me. Ask your wife to help me clean it up when she's free."

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhao! I will take good care of the house! I'll have my wife come over to clean it every day!"

"Okay! I won't be polite anymore! Why don't you just quit your job at the government office and help me? How about I give you five taels of silver a month?"

"Thank you very much, sir! You are my adopted parents! I am willing to serve you at your service!"

"Okay! This is a year's wages! I'll pay you first!"

"Thank you, sir!" Xiao Si accepted the silver without hesitation and secretly decided that he would risk his life for Mr. Zhao. After arranging things, Xiao Si returned home.

After dark, Zhao Xiaofei placed the antiques in a wooden box. Holding the box in one hand and the jade pendant in the other, he thought to himself, "I want to go home." In an instant, Zhao Xiaofei was back in modern society.

He took a taxi back home and saw that no one was at home. So he walked into the house with a swaying step as if he didn't recognize anyone, and put the things in the cabinet in his room with the box on his back.

Just as he hid his things, he heard his mother come home and open the door. He immediately went to bed and pretended to be asleep. Liu Aiping came in, glanced at her son, sighed, and closed the door again. Zhao Xiaofei thought to himself, "Mom, why are you sighing? Your son will get rich tomorrow and reach the pinnacle of life from now on." That night, his eldest brother Zhao Xiaokun was on duty and didn't come home. So, he stayed awake all night in excitement.

The next day, Zhao Xiaofei, filled with excitement, took his ID card, bank card, and four treasures and took a taxi to Rongbaotang, Beijing's most famous antique auction house. Upon entering, he was greeted by a beautiful receptionist.

"Sir! How can I help you?"

"Girl! I have some family heirlooms here that I want to sell. Can you send a craftsman to take a look at them?"

"Could you first tell me which dynasty it is from?" The receptionist smiled very professionally.

"Four pieces! A Ru kiln from the Song Dynasty, a ritual vessel from the Liao Dynasty, calligraphy by Zhang Xu from the Tang Dynasty, and blue and white porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty. Can you handle this?"

The receptionist gave a playful smile, implying she didn't believe it at all. Zhao Xiaofei saw that there weren't many people in the country who could come up with all this stuff at once, so he said, "Miss, you don't believe it, do you? Here's how! Let's make a bet. If I have these things, and they're all real, how about you treat me to a meal later?"

"Sure!" The receptionist saw people like this every day. They all tried to get close to her, and it was annoying. Judging from the boy's temperament, he didn't look like a rich kid, nor did he look like someone from a cultured family.

Zhao Xiaofei took out the first Song Dynasty Ru kiln agate and pomelo porcelain and placed it on the table. The receptionist was immediately stunned. She had seen many cultural relics and even studied under a master. She could usually tell whether one was genuine or not. Of course, there were also high-quality imitations that couldn't be identified without a machine.

"Please wait a moment! I'll go and ask the master!" The receptionist said and went to make a phone call.

After a while, an old man came in. He was about 70 years old, with white hair. He looked knowledgeable and cultured, and he seemed very reliable!

The receptionist introduced: "This is Professor Qian here. He's an expert in porcelain!"

Zhao Xiaofei immediately extended his hand and said, "Hello, Professor Qian! Could you please take a look? How much is this thing worth?"

Professor Qian had seen this porcelain long ago, and with his years of experience, he immediately recognized it as authentic, and in excellent condition. He took out his white gloves, gently lifted the bowl, and turned it over to examine the inscription on the back: "Made in the Daguan Period." It must have been made during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song.

The azure glaze of Ru porcelain is a composite glaze. It is made from a natural mineral glaze containing multiple elements from Ruzhou. The legendary agate is added to the glaze. After high-temperature firing, it undergoes kiln changes in a reducing atmosphere, and eventually emerges from the fire. Due to the uncontrollable factors of kiln changes, the color of the Ru kiln varies in depth, as can be seen in the collection of the Palace Museum.

Professor Qian knew that Ru porcelain production had been discontinued for over 800 years, and the biggest challenges in imitating it were, first, the glaze used in Northern Song Dynasty firings could no longer be found due to war. Second, the firing method had been lost, leaving the mystery of kiln-fired color development unsolved. Ceramic firing takes dozens of hours, with meticulous attention to detail, including the precise temperature, the timing of heating, and the duration of the fire. Therefore, this piece before him is truly a masterpiece.

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