While enjoying the beautiful scenery and stocking up on delicious food, we didn't forget the purpose of our trip.
Zuo Ling visited almost every market, big or small, that had anything to do with antiques or collectibles, and she even went to the street vendors selling antiques.
I collected over fifty energy crystals of varying sizes and qualities, among which seven or eight were of quite good quality.
Three red energy crystals and one purple energy crystal.
These four items alone make the trip to Jinzhou worthwhile.
Having learned from Lao Dai's lesson, Zuo Ling became much more cautious, spending less than 80,000 yuan on more than fifty energy crystals.
Because of the treacherous mountains and difficult roads, Jinzhou was spared the ravages of war.
In hundreds of villages, almost every village displays ancient archways, opera stages, dance pavilions, gate towers, ancient Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, murals, and other ancient treasures that embody a thousand years of splendor.
Zuo Ling's ability to collect so many energy crystals is undoubtedly related to the advantageous location and outstanding people of Jinzhou.
One day, as the sun was setting, Zuo Ling arrived at an ancient village. The dilapidated ancient pavilion at the entrance of the village caught Zuo Ling's eye.
The ancient pavilion has an unusual shape, with a triangular roof and facade, and long eaves extending from both sides, resembling the mouth of a crocodile, as if it is swallowing the afterglow of the setting sun.
It stands alone at the village entrance, its shape hunched, its eaves mottled, its wooden pillars crooked, its colors dull, and its eaves covered with wild grass.
Whenever a gentle breeze passes through the pavilion, the creaking wooden eaves whisper of its past.
Zuo Ling felt a deep sense of desolation.
After traveling for more than ten days across Jinzhou, Zuo Ling recognized this pavilion. Some called it a stage, while others called it a dance pavilion.
Whether it's a play or a dance, nobody cares anymore; most people just refer to it as the Ancient Pavilion.
The children ran and played happily, laughing and shouting.
Upon seeing Zuo Ling, he slowed down and curiously circled around Zuo Ling and her car.
Zuo Ling took out the snacks she bought on the way and distributed them to the children.
The attractive packaging and the sweet, fragrant, crispy, and spicy flavor won the hearts of children.
They all asked Zuo Ling where she came from, whether she was looking for people from their village, and enthusiastically offered to guide her.
The children weren't speaking Mandarin, and Zuo Ling managed to understand most of what they meant through a combination of guesswork and deduction.
Zuo Ling has experienced this scenario countless times over the past few days.
The more remote the village, the more of the villagers' simplicity and honesty are preserved.
Zuo Ling used the fruits and snacks she brought from outside to exchange for energy crystals from the villagers on several occasions.
He took out an energy crystal and asked the eldest child, "Does your village have these? I'd like to trade for some."
Outsiders come to the village from time to time to collect antiques.
The village has electricity and a television, and villagers can occasionally watch programs like treasure appraisal shows.
The older child blinked and asked sharply, "Are you an antique dealer?"
The antique dealers cheated the village out of many good things, so he didn't have a good impression of them.
Zuo Ling quickly shook her head:
"I'm not an antique dealer. I make modern handicrafts and collect stones, not antiques."
Having visited many villages, Zuo Ling knew how much the people there disliked antique dealers.
The older children weren't much happier, but for the sake of the snacks, they didn't kick Zuo Ling out of the village.
"You wait."
He ran while shouting, "Grandpa, Grandpa, the antique dealers are here!"
Zuo Ling: "..."
The children who had been surrounding Zuo Ling suddenly moved far away from her, their eyes filled with wariness.
He was obliged to help someone who had eaten his food, so he refrained from spitting at Zuo Ling.
Zuo Ling felt heartbroken, having received the same treatment as someone who had been sent to the village.
Not long after, an elderly man who looked like the village chief came over, followed by several villagers.
Zuo Ling took out several kinds of colorful snacks, such as potato chips, spicy strips, and dried tofu, which were not worth much money, and distributed them to everyone.
While distributing the items, he said to the old man, "Hello, village chief, I'm not an antique dealer..."
First, state your identity, then explain your purpose: "I make modern handicrafts, I only collect stones, not antiques."
Take out several prepared jade earrings, beaded necklaces, and bracelets:
"These are modern techniques, they're not worth much. You can buy the lower quality ones for a few dozen yuan."
Turning to the side, the village chief refused Zuo Ling's gift, his eyes clearly showing disbelief:
"Worthless? Worthless? What are you after, coming all this way to our village? A few dozen yuan isn't even enough to cover your gas money."
Zuo Ling took out another small jade pendant and showed it to the village chief:
"Craftsmanship is about skill, and what I'm selling is skill. After processing the stones, I can make dozens of times more profit. However, high-quality stones are worth more money, while ordinary stones don't fetch a good price, so I only earn a meager living."
The village chief, in a cold tone, addressed one of the villagers:
"Go around asking around, if anyone is willing to sell, bring it to her to see."
After accepting Zuo Ling's snacks, the villagers' attitude was neither warm nor cold. They simply agreed and went to inform the villagers.
Zuo Ling had explored most of the villages in southern Shanxi.
No one knows what the villagers have gone through, but this village is the most anti-antiques village that Zuo Ling has ever seen.
With a forced smile, he said:
"Village chief, it's getting late. Could you please help me find a place to stay? Just somewhere that can shelter me from the wind and rain is fine. Nothing else is needed."
The village chief thought for a moment and said to the other person, "Take her to the ancestral hall."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Ancestral hall? Outsiders are allowed in the ancestral hall? Zuo Ling was full of questions.
The village chief was indifferent, so the villagers were naturally not very enthusiastic. With stern faces, they led Zuo Ling toward the ancestral hall.
Zuo Ling invited the villagers to get on the bus.
The villagers waved their hands: "It's not far, just a few steps away."
Zuo Ling had no choice but to drive, crawling along behind him like a tortoise.
The children scattered and ran off, shouting, "The antique dealers are going to the ancestral hall! The antique dealers are going to the ancestral hall!"
Zuo Ling rubbed his forehead, feeling firmly attached to the label of antique dealer.
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