The 24th day of being eavesdropped
Director Chen picked up the big pot and examined it carefully. He liked it more and more.
After he saw the inscription under the pot, he praised it endlessly: "This thing is a good deal. You have picked up a good thing, little brother. How much did you pay for it?"
"Really, I was afraid that I would make a mistake. With your words, I feel much more at ease."
Gu Jinshui breathed a sigh of relief and was very happy.
The director's wife saw the two men chatting and laughing, so she went to make a pot of tea and came over, saying, "You guys chat, I'll go in."
Gu Jinshui stood up and saw them off. When he saw the director's wife close the door, he sat down and said to the director, "I bought this thing for more than 70 yuan. I feel guilty, but aren't there many people around here who know what goods are? A few days ago, I heard that you are an expert in collecting antiques, so I wanted to ask you for advice. It's really the right time to come."
He asked, "What do you think is the appropriate price for this thing?"
Director Chen was stunned, holding up his glasses and carefully looking at the pot.
He said, "Shi Dabin was a master maker of purple clay teapots. Not many of his teapots have been handed down. Everything else is fine now, except the shape of this teapot. Also, Shi Dabin had a habit of putting his own signature on the teapots made by some of his apprentices that were better. So it's hard to say whether this teapot belonged to Shi Dabin or his apprentice. If it belonged to his apprentice, the value of this teapot would be lower, but at least it can be sold for two or three hundred."
"What if I want to exchange it? What grade of teapot can I get in exchange with the collector?"
Gu Jinshui leaned forward and asked tentatively.
"Exchange?" Director Chen was not surprised. It is common for antique collectors to exchange their collections with each other. After all, collecting antiques is a matter of personal preference. Some people like to collect small items, such as jade pendants, bracelets, and rings, while others only like to collect the four treasures of the study, such as Hui ink, rice paper, pen holders, and inkstones. Whenever they come across something they like, they are willing to exchange their slightly better ones for others' inferior ones.
Isn't there a saying that goes like this?
It is difficult to buy what you like, especially in the antique business.
Director Chen pondered for a while and said, "It's not difficult to exchange this thing for a first-hand product from the Ming and Qing dynasties."
This first-hand product means that you can tell that this thing is authentic at a glance.
Gu Jinshui immediately climbed up the pole, "What if I exchange it for the jade cicada in your hand?"
Director Chen was stunned for a moment, and then reacted.
He was not annoyed, and laughed: "I was wondering why you came to visit me for no reason. It seems that you came to exchange with me."
Gu Jinshui touched the back of his head: "I know I can't hide it from you, but doesn't it mean that I really like it?"
Generally speaking, the most taboo thing for a trader is to let others know that you like the price of a product. Even if you like it, you have to hide it, otherwise the seller will know and treat you like a fat pig.
But the situation is different now.
The product is in the hands of Director Chen, and Gu Jinshui is visiting him. If he says he is not interested, no one will believe him.
Director Chen picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea, and poured himself a cup. He still drank the high-grade tea, not a good tea. "Little brother, if it was another item, I would be willing, but the jade cicada is a good thing, and the blood-stained jade is not easy to find."
Damn it!
Gu Jinshui cursed in his heart.
He knew that Director Chen was not a fool. He could buy things from Song Jianshe for no reason, so he must have seen the things.
"Director Chen, why don't you tell me a price? If the price is right, I will definitely not say a word."
Gu Jinshui had to be prepared to be ripped off.
He saved nearly a thousand yuan, which was enough to break even.
Director Chen shook his head: "No, no, what do I need the money for?"
He paused, frowned again, and said: "But if you can find a good quality snuff bottle to exchange with me, that's another matter."
Director Chen waved to Gu Jinshui, "Come with me."
He led Gu Jinshui into a small room in the northwest corner, opened the door, and there was a row of glass cabinets against the left wall. There were small palm-sized snuff bottles inside, in addition to the snuff bottles, there were also some small ornaments
Director Chen pointed at the snuff bottle and said, "I have been collecting antiques for half my life. I used to collect them secretly, but now I am willing to buy them at any cost. But good snuff bottles are hard to find. If you can find a pearl snuff bottle, a jade snuff bottle, a white jade snuff bottle, or one that was used by the emperor, I will exchange it with you for the blood-soaked jade." Gu
Jinshui was speechless at this moment.
Snuff bottles are mostly made of porcelain, but also glass. How can pearl and jade be so easy to find?
He has given himself a difficult problem.
But he just won't admit defeat.
Gu Jinshui nodded to Director Chen, "Okay, then please leave the things for me. When I find such treasures, I will come to exchange with you!"
Director Chen was a little surprised. He nodded, "That's easy to say."
In fact, from the tone of his voice, you can tell that Director Chen doesn't think Gu Jinshui can do it at all.
The next morning, Gu Jinshui went to the hotel to buy soybean milk, fried dough sticks and beef buns, and took a stroll to pay his respects to Mr. Xi.
When Mr. Xi opened the door and saw that he had a big smile on his face and was holding something in his hand, he didn't say a word, but just stepped aside, turned around and walked into the house with his crutches.
Gu Jinshui didn't hesitate to follow him in with the things, set the table, and took the bowls and chopsticks to serve breakfast.
The soy milk in the morning was steaming hot, and the aroma of beans made people's mouths water. The beef buns were made solidly, each one was the size of an adult's fist. Gu Jinshui
took a mouthful of soy milk and a mouthful of bun, and he ate it so happily.
Seeing him enjoying his meal, Mr. Xi across from him was speechless. He knocked on the bowl with his chopsticks, "Why, did you come to my place to have breakfast today?" Gu
Jinshui put down his chopsticks, "Master, you are joking, don't I have something to ask you?" "Do you
think I should ask you?"
Mr. Xi asked back.
Gu Jinshui laughed and said, "Doesn't this show that you care about me?"
Mr. Xi was silent for a long time, and he got goosebumps.
Why didn't I realize that this guy was so good at flattering when I first accepted him as my disciple? If he were to stay in the Qing Dynasty, he would be a traitor.
"Tell me what's the matter."
Gu Jinshui told the old man about the transaction between himself and Director Chen. He licked his face and picked up a piece of fried dough stick with chopsticks. "This is the thing. Master, is there anyone here who collects snuff bottles?"
Old Master Xi sneered: "Do you think your master knows everything? Even if others have such a good thing, they are reluctant to give it up for exchange. I think Director Chen doesn't want to exchange with you."
"How can I not know what he means?"
Gu Jinshui said: "But I really want that jade cicada, so I thought of you. You can do everything and you can definitely give me some guidance."
Old Master Xi was pleased to hear this. He looked at the dry pipe next to him.
Gu Jinshui quickly took out a new cigarette and replaced it for Master Xi. He lit it before handing it to Master Xi.
Master Xi took a puff and said, "You're right. If I let you, a young fool, go out and mess around, you won't be able to find this thing in eight hundred years. But if you go find someone, maybe there will be some clues."
"Could it be Master Chen Dengxing?"
Gu Jinshui had a quick mind and thought of it immediately.
Master Xi nodded, "He works at the Cultural Relics Bureau. Those people below have to look at him before they sell anything. If you want to say who is most likely to know where to find a good snuff bottle, it's him."
Gu Jinshui suddenly realized it and slapped his head.
That's not the case.
In the past, when people wanted to sell antiques, the first thing they would consider was selling them to the Cultural Relics Bureau, especially those farmers who didn't know the goods but were afraid of being ripped off. Every time they sold them to the Cultural Relics Bureau,
they would sell them in cartloads. Everything had to be sent to the Cultural Relics Bureau .
Gu Jinshui suddenly had a bright future.
Perhaps it was a blessing.
Chen Dengxing really had a clue.
He said, "I saw a jade snuff bottle once."
"Master Chen, please give us some pointers. I will never forget your kindness."
Gu Jinshui handed Chen Dengxing a Zhonghua cigarette.
Chen Dengxing looked at Gu Jinshui with a complicated look. How could Master Xi accept such a shrewd apprentice? He waved his hands and said, "I don't smoke. I can tell you who will sell this thing, but I have to tell you first that he is a stubborn old man. He won't sell it."
Gu Jinshui was very calm, "Don't worry, I will never force him."
But he just sat there, looking like he was listening attentively. He
didn't look like he would force him.
Chen Dengxing was a little hesitant about whether to say it.
Look at this, don't do anything bad later.
"You don't trust me, and you don't trust my master either."
Gu Jinshui knew what Chen Dengxing was thinking as soon as he saw him, and said with a smile, "I have a family and children, so I'm not stupid enough to break the law for a snuff bottle."
He said this.
Chen Dengxing had no choice but to give in and pointed out the place. It was a man in Beizang Village, Daxing. His ancestors had some background. His family sold a lot of things in the early years. Now there is only this thing left, and the old man is reluctant to give it away.
One year, there was no food in the countryside after rushing to the city. The old man's family was starving to death. He took the jade snuff bottle out and wanted to sell it to buy rice. People found Chen Dengxing, and after thinking about it, he still went to sell blood for money to buy food.
This shows how much he treasured that thing.
Gu Jinshui knew that this was a tough one.
But he didn't expect that when he came to visit, before he could even say anything, Master Guan's eyes widened and he waved his hand with full force: "No, absolutely not!"
"Grandpa, Grandpa, this matter can be discussed."
Gu Jinshui looked around. This was a rural mud house. There was an octagonal table in the main hall. The red paint on the bench had almost fallen off. "I really want it. Three hundred yuan, do you think it's okay?"
Grandpa Guan said directly: "Come on, come on, let's not talk about this."
Aunt Guan showed a hesitant look on her face and whispered: "Old man, this Daya is about to get married. These three hundred..."
Grandpa Guan hesitated, but quickly said: "No, I haven't heard of anyone giving money to marry off their granddaughter. How long can the Bai family treat Daya well after taking the money!"
He glared at Gu Jinshui who was listening beside him: "Okay, you don't have to say anything, just leave quickly!"
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