章 74: Affordable and Beautiful
"Zhao Ge, I comprehend now…"
Zhao Hongtao was aware that Fang Yi lacked foundational knowledge in this domain, thus he elaborated extensively. Fang Yi absorbed the information with great diligence and displayed exceptional understanding; he was able to grasp numerous concepts with merely a brief mention from Zhao Hongtao. The hour spent together was entirely fruitful.
"By the way, don't leave just yet; hand me that string of beads…" Just as the clock struck two in the afternoon and Fang Yi was preparing to take his leave, Zhao Hongtao suddenly called out to him.
"What's the matter, Zhao Ge?" Confounded, Fang Yi removed the Vajra bracelet and handed it to Zhao Hongtao.
"Your beads are indeed valued at fifty thousand, but they are rather plain. Allow me to enhance them a bit…" As he spoke, Zhao Hongtao placed the string of Vajra beads into a cushioned box, then cut the string, causing the beads to scatter.
"Now, Fang Yi, let's test your knowledge. Can you identify the material of this bead?" After severing the string of large Vajra beads, Zhao Hongtao opened a drawer and retrieved a bead approximately two centimeters in diameter, its surface a rich red with a slightly irregular shape.
"If I am not mistaken, this bead should be coral, correct?"
Fang Yi examined the bead closely for some time before tentatively providing an answer. Initially, he thought it might be a southern red bead, but upon closer inspection, he noticed concentric growth rings on its surface, aligning perfectly with Zhao Hongtao's description of coral.
"You clever lad, you learn quickly…"
Seeing that Fang Yi recognized the bead, Zhao Hongtao shook his head in mild disbelief. It had taken him half a year after entering the antique market to discern the differences between southern red, coral, and old red glass.
"This bead qualifies as an Akha-level coral, which is quite rare in the market and should be priced around three thousand…"
Zhao Hongtao rubbed the coral bead thoughtfully and continued, "Once you have some spare funds, consider collecting such items. I assure you, within a decade, the price of this bead could increase twenty-fold…"
Zhao Hongtao not only had a passion for decorative arts but also possessed extensive knowledge about them. In his view, renewable resources like decorative beads had limited potential for price appreciation. Even the increasingly popular decorative walnuts were not something he held in high regard, as they could be artificially cultivated, leading to a devaluation once supply increased.
However, he was certain that items crafted from scarce minerals, as well as those made from animal horns and teeth, would see significant price surges in the future. For instance, objects made from Asian rhino horn are already quite rare and highly valued in today's market.
Zhao Hongtao believed that in another decade, as these items approach extinction, their prices would certainly skyrocket. He had witnessed the value of some items he purchased casually ten years ago multiply over ten times.
"Zhao Ge, are you planning to combine this coral with the Vajra beads?" Upon seeing Zhao Hongtao take out string for threading the beads, Fang Yi began to understand his intention.
"Exactly! Adding this coral bead will elevate the status of your Vajra bracelet; this is what we call the finishing touch…" Zhao Hongtao nodded, swiftly threading the large Vajra beads together and tying them off before handing the bracelet back to Fang Yi.
"Indeed, it's transformed…"
Holding the bracelet in his hands, Fang Yi couldn't help but express his admiration. While he had gained a conceptual understanding of the significance of adornments from Zhao Hongtao's explanations, having the tangible item in hand rendered the experience profoundly more vivid.
"Zhao Ge, I will repay you for this later…" Fang Yi donned the bracelet, intending to ask San Pao for the money tomorrow to return to Zhao Hongtao, as he intended to sell this item; he could not take advantage of the three thousand yuan.
"What are you saying? Are you slapping Zhao Ge in the face?" Hearing Fang Yi's words, Zhao Hongtao's expression became serious as he replied, "If you're counting money, then when you bring that item tomorrow, Zhao Ge will also pay you, alright?"
"Fine, forget I said anything…"
Fang Yi chuckled wryly upon hearing this. He had initially intended to repay Zhao Hongtao for the string of Hainan yellow rosewood, but unexpectedly found himself in debt once more, and the calculations seemed increasingly convoluted.
"Alright, I must get back to work now. You should hurry home…" Zhao Hongtao waved his hand and said, "Don't forget to bring my beads tomorrow. If they are inferior to this string of Vajra beads, you can expect me to settle the score…"
…
After concluding his midday studies, Fang Yi returned to the market, only to find that Fatty and San Pao had not yet returned. Man Jun had again overindulged the previous night and had yet to open the shop. Fang Yi opened Man Jun's store and began to set up his own stall.
Compared to a few days prior, Fang Yi had now grasped a considerable amount of theoretical knowledge regarding decorative arts; what he lacked was merely practical experience. However, since he was selling rather than buying, the knowledge he had acquired was sufficient to impress those buyers with only a superficial understanding.
Moreover, Fang Yi's handsome appearance, coupled with his approachable smile, made him quite likable. After setting up his stall for over an hour, he successfully sold several items, earning multiple thumbs-up from a neighboring stall owner.
By three in the afternoon, Fatty, San Pao, and Lao Ma finally returned to the market. It seemed they hadn't purchased much; Fatty was empty-handed while San Pao held a large plastic bag from the supermarket, presumably filled with the beads they had acquired.
"Thank you, Ma Ge…" Fang Yi hurriedly went to the shop to retrieve Lao Ma's items, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. After all, it was a favor when someone forwent their own business to assist you with purchases.
"Fang Yi, it was just a matter of running a few errands; no need to be so polite…"
Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Lao Ma's expression brightened. He realized he had established a connection with these young men, and in the future, as long as their encounters in the market were not significant, Fang Yi and the others would likely lend him a helping hand.
"We owe a debt of gratitude to Ma Ge; without him, we would have spent at least an additional thousand yuan on this bag of beads…" San Pao interjected, noting that he and Fatty had gained valuable insights from this trip.
When they arrived at the wholesale market, Lao Ma encountered an acquaintance at the entrance and chatted for a moment. Fatty and San Pao eagerly entered the market, approaching the stalls selling beads to inquire about prices. Since they had no prior experience in this area, they had no way of knowing if the prices offered were high or low.
However, when Lao Ma entered the market and inquired about the same stall's prices, the vendor's response was significantly lower—almost half of what Fatty and San Pao had been quoted. The two were left dumbfounded, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
Yet, the vendor's explanation effortlessly dispelled San Pao's questioning; he explained that Lao Ma was purchasing wholesale and receiving a wholesale price, while he and San Pao were buying retail, hence the price difference.
Upon reflection, Fatty and San Pao conceded that the vendor had a point. As the saying goes, "familiarity breeds ease," and they proceeded to purchase beads from that stall, where the vendor was quite accommodating, providing everything from Buddha heads and towers to waist beads and cloud motifs.
"How much did you spend in total?" Fang Yi casually inquired.
"Just under fifteen hundred, enough to assemble three hundred strings of beads…" San Pao checked the ledger and replied.
"Three hundred strings of beads for only fifteen hundred?" Fang Yi was momentarily taken aback, then turned to Lao Ma and remarked with a wry smile, "Ma Ge, most of the items they purchased must be plastic, right?"
Had this conversation taken place before Fang Yi's midday studies, he would have had no idea whether fifteen hundred was a reasonable price. However, after learning about bead materials from Zhao Hongtao, he understood that fifteen hundred yuan would barely cover a few grams of Akha-level old coral beads.
"Those beads aren't worth much; you don't need high-quality beads for them…" Lao Ma chuckled. They were all small vendors, and those truly engaged in high-end decorative arts were typically focused on their shops; there was simply no market for premium items at this stall.
Thus, many of the beads Lao Ma had helped Fatty and San Pao purchase were indeed plastic, with even the cheapest natural stones being scarce. Of course, those unfamiliar with the trade would not recognize this, perfectly illustrating the concept of being "affordable and beautiful."
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