Kapitel 36: Antique Market (Part One)
Don't rush, don't rush, let me finish what I have to say..."
Seeing Fang Yi, who had always appeared composed, suddenly anxious, Man Jun couldn't help but chuckle. At just under twenty, Fang Yi exhibited a maturity that belied his youth, resembling a man in his forties or fifties. Man Jun had always found Fang Yi somewhat inscrutable, but at this moment, he finally glimpsed the young man's more youthful side.
"Brother Man, I'm not actually anxious..."
Fang Yi offered a wry smile and continued, "I've been practicing talisman drawing since I was five, and it wasn't until I turned fifteen that I could create a talisman in one go. It's akin to martial arts; what you see is merely the surface—the five minutes on stage are built upon ten years of hard work off stage..."
There was still something Fang Yi had not articulated: to successfully create a talisman, one must fulfill a fundamental requirement; the creator must be an inner strength master who has cultivated true energy. Without this prerequisite, it is impossible to produce talismans imbued with spiritual power.
"Brother Fang, do you think I can buy such talismans with money?" Man Jun asked, his face aglow with amusement.
"Most likely not..."
Fang Yi shook his head and replied, "You might be able to seek them out in a few Taoist sanctuaries, but that's uncertain. My master once said that the number of those who know how to create talismans is dwindling; some sects have even lost their lineage..."
As someone familiar with Taoist traditions, Fang Yi knew well about the various sects. Modern Taoism consists of five major schools: Zhengyi, Quanzhen, Zhenyi, Taiyi, and Jingming, each with its own unique lineage.
However, one commonality among these sects is their deep entanglement with the mundane world. The number of individuals who can devote themselves to the study of Taoist principles and the cultivation of Taoist arts has diminished significantly. An old Taoist once told Fang Yi that with his understanding of the Taoist scriptures, he could easily lead a major sect.
"Then it stands to reason, Brother Fang, if I can't even buy your talismans with money, they must be quite precious. How could I possibly charge you rent while you stay with me?" Man Jun's roundabout way of speaking finally circled back to Fang Yi.
"Alright then, Brother Man, I shall not mention rent..."
Upon hearing Man Jun's words, Fang Yi understood. However, in comparing the value of the talismans to rent, he couldn't discern who truly benefitted or who suffered, for there is a saying in both Buddhism and Taoism: belief brings existence, while disbelief renders it void. Thus, in the eyes of the world, these talismans could be worth their weight in gold or deemed utterly worthless.
"Hey, you two, always dancing around the subject of money—how vulgar!"
Seeing that their conversation had finally reached a conclusion, the plump man raised his glass and declared, "Come, let's have another round. If we set up shop at Chaotian Palace in the future, Brother Man, you must take good care of us..."
The plump man had accompanied Man Jun to his shop at Chaotian Palace and noticed many people greeting him along the way, indicating his good rapport. For the few brothers hoping to establish themselves at Chaotian Palace, it seemed they would need the support of the shop owner.
"Little Fatty, you've misspoken..."
Upon hearing the plump man, Man Jun laughed and said, "Since you've all called me 'brother,' that makes you my brothers as well. There's no need for formalities among family; you owe me a drink!"
"One drink? That's hardly enough! At least three!" The plump man, eager to find a reason to drink more, promptly downed three cups, smacking his lips as if regretting not demanding five.
"I see now—you just want to drink!" Man Jun laughed heartily at the sight of the plump man and said, "This is the last bottle of '82 Maotai, but I have some new wine. Today, I can assure you, there will be plenty of Maotai!"
Having navigated the antique trade for many years and amassed a considerable fortune, Man Jun was a genuinely good-natured person. Like now, this small businessman with millions to his name was unpretentious enough to drink and chat with a few impoverished youths, a rarity among most.
That evening, everyone enjoyed their drinks immensely, leading to a merry state of inebriation. By the end, apart from Fang Yi, the other three had tumbled under the table, and it was Fang Yi who carried them one by one into the room and tossed them onto their beds.
"Is this where I will live from now on?"
Lying on the newly purchased bed, Fang Yi, for once, refrained from meditating and instead stared at the pristine white ceiling, his mind racing with countless thoughts. In just three to five days since descending the mountain, the events and psychological upheavals he experienced far surpassed anything he had encountered in over a decade on the mountain.
"Should I consult an oracle for guidance?" A thought crossed Fang Yi's mind, but he quickly shook his head. Aside from the fact that divination does not yield personal insight, life and death are predetermined, and wealth and nobility lie in the hands of fate; one must simply align with the will of heaven.
...
In a haze, he lost track of time and eventually fell asleep. However, at five in the morning, Fang Yi awoke promptly, rising to the balcony. The third floor had only one room; the rest was a spacious platform, perfect for him to practice.
As the sun rose, casting a violet glow, Fang Yi absorbed the first rays of morning light, feeling invigorated. The city's dawn provided him with a completely different experience, a breath of life unattainable on the mountain.
After brewing a pot of millet porridge in the kitchen, Man Jun and the others awoke. Enjoying their porridge with pickled vegetables, Man Jun felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, contemplating whether to offer Fang Yi a salary; his service was better than that of a housekeeper.
Of course, Man Jun was unaware that Fang Yi had been responsible for the daily meals at the temple since he was six years old; such tasks had long since become second nature to him, and he hardly considered them arduous.
"Come on, brothers, let me take you to explore the antique market..."
After breakfast, Man Jun leisurely lit a cigarette and said, "Later, I'll take you to the market management office. Once you pay a month's rent for a stall, you can set up shop there..."
"Brother Man, we don't even know what we're going to sell yet. Are we really going to set up a stall so soon?"
Upon hearing Man Jun's words, Fang Yi and the others looked bewildered. Although they had defined their business as dealing with cultural artifacts, they were still unclear about what constituted such items. What were they going to sell?
"You don't need to worry about that; Brother Man has it all figured out..." Man Jun waved his hand with a smile, rising to his feet. "Let's go and familiarize ourselves with the market and see if we can secure a good spot..."
The somewhat dazed trio could only follow Man Jun as they exited the courtyard and made their way towards Chaotian Palace.
Chaotian Palace, located within the Water West Gate of Jinling on Yecheng Mountain, is the largest, most well-preserved ancient architectural complex in the Jiangnan region. The name "Chaotian Palace" was bestowed by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, signifying "worshipping the heavens" and "meeting the emperor." It was renamed the Jinling Museum in the late 1970s.
As they approached Yecheng Mountain, the grand red walls and green tiles of the palace came into view. Upon closer inspection, the sprawling complex of over seventy thousand square meters exuded an extraordinary grandeur.
"Wow, is this all part of the antique market?"
Although his family had moved to Jinling, that was after San Pao left for military service, so he was not very familiar with the area. Seeing the majestic red walls and green tiles, he assumed the market was housed within.
"San Pao, you're quite naive, aren't you?" The plump man scoffed at San Pao's comment. "That's the Jinling Museum inside; the antique market is outside. How can you call yourself a Jinling local?"
While the plump man was feeling quite smug, he had forgotten that just two days prior, he had rushed straight into the museum without even noticing the large sign overhead that read "Jinling Museum," loudly exclaiming, "This antique market is huge!"—a rather embarrassing oversight.
"I've never been here before..." San Pao muttered.
"Let's head to the market..."
Man Jun waved his hand, leading the group towards the street outside the museum's entrance. "The Chaotian Palace was converted into a museum only seven or eight years ago, but our antique market has been around for quite a while, from the late Qing Dynasty until now, over a hundred years!"
Man Jun's words were not mere boasting; the Chaotian Palace antique market is a flagship in the field of collectibles in Jinling and even nationwide, comparable to Beijing's Panjiayuan.
"By the way, the former director of the Jinling Museum is Old Sun..." Man Jun pointed towards the museum and said, "I was still setting up stalls outside when Old Sun was in charge. Fang Yi, you should try to connect with Old Sun; having a solid backing is crucial in this business..."
Man Jun's statement was not without merit. If Sun Lianda were to vouch for Fang Yi, claiming him as his disciple, no one in Jinling would dare to sell him counterfeit goods.
"That's just a fleeting encounter; how could Old Sun possibly take notice of me..." Fang Yi smiled wryly at the thought. He had only learned of Sun Lianda's esteemed position in the antique world during his recent conversation with Man Jun.
"That's hard to say; I think Old Sun has taken quite a liking to you..." Man Jun chuckled. "Come on, the market is just ahead, and my shop is inside..."
"Brother Man, this place isn't very large, is it?"
Upon entering the antique market, Fang Yi roughly counted the shops on either side, totaling around twenty to thirty, far fewer than the makeshift stalls lining the street. The majority of foot traffic seemed to linger around the stalls, with few entering the shops.
"Who says otherwise..."
Man Jun nodded in agreement with Fang Yi's observation. "The management here is a bit chaotic. I've heard rumors that the antique market may move in the future, though I'm not sure of the specifics. It probably won't happen for another three to five years..."
As a veteran of the antique market, Man Jun was well aware of the current situation at Chaotian Palace. A few years ago, things were fine, but in recent years, as the craze for antique collecting surged, many began to peddle fake items, tarnishing the market's reputation. The management was ineffective, making regulation nearly nonexistent.
Building a reputation may take a century, yet destroying it could take merely three days. The old players and collectors seldom visit Chaotian Palace anymore to hunt for treasures, and tourists rarely purchase items from shops. Man Jun's store could only rely on repeat customers.
"Brother Man, you're here early today?"
"Brother Man, here, have a cigarette; these guys look unfamiliar..."
Indeed, Man Jun was well-liked. As soon as he and the others entered the market, several vendors who had set up early greeted him warmly.
In the antique trade, there are indeed hierarchies; for instance, Man Jun, who could afford to run a shop, belonged to the ranks of antique dealers, while the stall vendors were of a lower tier. Typically, they would nod and bow when encountering Man Jun.
"These are my younger brothers; they'll be earning their keep here too, so don't you dare bully them..." Man Jun smiled as he greeted a few people and introduced Fang Yi and his companions.
"Of course not! Your brothers are our brothers, Brother Man..." Those who mingled in the antique market were savvy individuals. With flattering words being cost-free, they quickly bonded with Fang Yi and his friends as if they were old acquaintances.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein