March 31st.
Jiang Ci arrived at the Shan family's residence with the folding fan and the invitation.
She looked around and saw five or six bicycles parked outside, and several people walking in this direction.
Jiang Ci glanced around quickly and realized that everyone who had come here was a high-ranking official or a member of the elite.
She parked and locked her bicycle before going inside.
The guard saw the card in her hand, said nothing, and let her in.
After Jiang Ci entered, she exchanged only a few words with Shan Shengshuo. The people standing around him were all high-ranking and powerful, while Jiang Ci was just a promising young woman to them. She did not yet have enough achievements to attract their attention and make them actively try to win her over.
Dan Shengshuo's indifference towards her actually made Jiang Ci feel much more at ease.
She found a seat and sat down by herself.
"Comrade Xiao Jiang?"
A voice rang out.
Jiang Ci turned her head to look over and smiled, "Comrade Chen, you're here too."
This Comrade Chen is a junior leader in the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Jiangci had contact with him before.
Comrade Chen nodded, looked her up and down, and said with a hint of meaning in his voice, "I didn't expect you to come too."
Jiang Ci readily replied, "I am honored by Mr. Shan's invitation."
"Wasn't Comrade Chen invited by Mr. Shan?" She tilted her head and asked with a hint of doubt.
Comrade Chen laughed and said, "Yes, I was also invited."
He sat down next to Jiang Ci. "Do you know what kind of gathering this is?"
Jiang Ci shook her head. "Mr. Shan didn't tell me much. A while ago, he only told me that there was a gathering today, so I came."
"Do you also have invitations like this?" Jiang Ci asked curiously, taking out her card. "What kind of party is this?"
"Of course, this was specially made by Mr. Shan. Anyone who receives an invitation can come to the Shan family's house to attend." Comrade Chen took out his own card.
Jiang Ci glanced at it casually, but firmly remembered the jade seal pattern on the card, which was exactly the same as her own.
Jiang Ci lowered her eyes, knowing that Shan Shengshuo had given her this card not as a test, but because everyone's cards had this pattern.
He was certain that no one in the world knew the origin of this pattern, so he used it boldly and recklessly.
Comrade Chen looked around and said, "Actually, this is just an antique enthusiasts' association."
Jiang Ci hesitated for a long time, "Antique enthusiasts' association?"
Comrade Chen nodded. "As you know, before that regime collapsed, everyone kept everything secret and dared not reveal anything. Now that the policies have finally loosened up a bit, and Mr. Shan used to be in charge of Liulichang, he knows a lot about antiques, so he specially organized this gathering so that everyone can bring out their treasured antiques to appreciate each other."
Jiang Ci suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
Who wouldn't want to show off their antique to others?
Whether it's having your treasure appraised or having others appraise your belongings, it's essentially a way of showing off what you own.
Jiang Ci said somewhat embarrassedly, "But I don't have any antiques that I can show off. Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I was just an ordinary person."
She never showed the apricot blossom and parrot painting or the Ming blue and white porcelain to anyone, and Jiang Ci has never intended to show them to others.
Comrade Chen laughed heartily, “Everyone is the same. Once you get to know people at this gathering, you’ll naturally be able to find treasures, just like how people used to browse Panjiayuan in the old days.”
"The more you visit, the more your horizons broaden."
Jiang Ci looked like she was learning something.
After exchanging pleasantries, Shan Shengshuo invited everyone to the backyard.
Jiang Ci naturally went along as well.
Her eyes scanned her surroundings, memorizing the faces of everyone who came here.
Upon arriving at the backyard, Shan Shengshuo's grandson, Shan Fangdu, opened the door and invited everyone inside.
Jiang Ci followed at the very back, entering with the others.
She had originally come here hoping to find the imperial seal, but Jiang Ci was somewhat astonished when she saw the items displayed in Shan Shengshuo's backyard house.
From bronzes, swords, and large pieces of blue and white porcelain to calligraphy, paintings, jade artifacts, and jade bonsai...
A room that had been opened up to reveal a total area of 70 or 80 square meters contained no fewer than a hundred antiques.
Some antiques are even in better condition than those in museums.
The single perspective captured the essence of Jiang Ci's appearance.
He glanced at Shan Shengshuo and couldn't help but wonder why they had to bring Jiang Ci, a fledgling diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, into this gathering.
It was obvious to the naked eye that she had no family wealth and couldn't even afford to buy an antique.
They also need to send people to monitor her to prevent her from revealing any secrets.
Danfangdu strode over, and no matter what he was thinking, he didn't show it on his face. He smiled and said to Jiang Ci, "These are all my grandfather's collection."
"It's truly exquisite." Jiang Ci, looking like a country bumpkin who had never seen anything like it, exclaimed in a low voice, "I've only ever seen so many antiques in museums."
Dan Fangdu said, "My family has produced a minister in the past. Our family business has been passed down from generation to generation. In order to serve the country, our ancestors donated a lot of things. These things were not taken away by the leaders out of kindness."
His expression was quite righteous and awe-inspiring. "When my grandfather opened the museum, he donated a batch of antiques. He once taught us that no matter how rich our family is, we must never forget our country."
Jiang Ci followed his words and praised Shan Shengshuo's righteousness.
Jiang Ci, like someone lured by these antiques, curiously looked around.
She didn't do anything out of the ordinary; she was just looking at the antiques, including ivory items and some rather precious things that, according to legend, could revive a bedridden person simply by scraping off a tiny bit of the outer layer.
When the jade seal actually appeared in front of Jiang Ci, she didn't pay much attention to it. She just glanced at it a few times, treating it as an ordinary jade artifact, and quickly shifted her attention away.
This gathering seemed to be merely a display of Shan Shengshuo's collection for those who came; there were no transactions, no other intriguing words or actions, and no one else brought their own antiques.
Visitors either drink tea or appraise the collection, discussing ancient people and events, creating a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere.
Jiang Ci didn't glean much of a hidden meaning from it.
With that jade seal present, Jiang Ci couldn't possibly treat this gathering as something simple.
After staying at the Shan family's house for nearly three hours, Jiang Ci left with the others.
After seeing the people off with his grandfather, Shan Fangdu returned to the living room and asked Shan Shengshuo about his doubts, "Grandpa, why did you invite Jiang Ci? She's just my cousin's boss. If you're really worried that she'll bully my cousin, threatening her would be enough. Bringing her in won't do us any good."
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