章節 16: Fan Surface
Ah, I say, sir, you can't just support each other in conversation just because you're all city folks, can you?"
The heavyset man glanced at the elderly patient beside him with some dissatisfaction and spoke up, "My brother was struck by him and can't move even now. I'm merely asking him to cover the medical and nutritional expenses; is that too much to ask?"
"Not too much, not too much. That's not what I meant..."
Upon hearing the heavyset man's indignant remarks, the old man chuckled, shaking his head as he replied, "If you hit someone, naturally you should cover their medical expenses. However, he does have a point; those in the antique business often don't have much cash on hand, but once they get started, they can thrive for years..."
"I don't care about that; my brother needs money for treatment..." The heavyset man twisted his neck, convinced that the old man was defending the driver.
"Hey, how can you speak to the elder like that?"
Though Fang Yi still felt weak all over, he was significantly better than before. With great effort, he propped himself up on his pillow and said, "I think there's no need to pay the deposit anymore; in a few days, it should be fine..."
Having circulated his energy through a small cycle, Fang Yi felt much improved. He believed that with a few more days of rest, he would fully recover. The soreness he felt might just be his muscles and bones reacting to the impact of the collision.
"Little brother, I truly have no cash on hand..."
Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Man Jun felt a bit embarrassed. He pointed with his left hand at the brocade box held in his right and said, "I did have some cash, but I exchanged it all for this item. Once I sell it, I'll have money. If necessary, I can supplement your brother's nutritional expenses later; what do you think?"
Originally, Man Jun intended to lock the fan surface by Tang Bohu in his safe, but he received a call from a long-time client while on the road, prompting him to bring it along to the hospital, planning to visit the client afterward.
"No need, twenty thousand is sufficient; it's already quite a burden for this brother..."
Fang Yi shook his head. Before coming down the mountain, he had little concept of money, but after learning that the heavyset man had not saved a penny after working for six months, he understood that twenty thousand was a considerable sum.
Moreover, while the driver bore responsibility for the accident, the heavyset man had also put himself in danger by standing in the middle of the road, so Fang Yi didn't want to make things difficult for the middle-aged man before him; after all, Daoism emphasizes kindness towards others.
"Ah, little brother truly understands reason..." Man Jun, having worked hard all day, finally heard a heartwarming remark. Fang Yi's sincerity nearly brought tears to the eyes of the seasoned Man Jun.
"Here, take my business card. Hold onto it for now; once I sell this item, I'll come right over..."
Man Jun took out a business card and placed it on Fang Yi's bedside. He could tell that these individuals were likely from the countryside but had spent some time in the city, making them difficult to dismiss. Their understanding of the situation pleased Man Jun greatly.
"Hey, I say, what's in that box of yours? Can you show it to the old man?" Just as Man Jun was about to leave, the elderly patient suddenly called out to him.
"Uh? Uncle, do you want to see this item?" Hearing the old man's words, Man Jun hesitated, as he was reluctant to reveal it.
Although Man Jun owned an antique shop in Chaotian Palace, the items he could sell were quite limited. He hardly made enough in a year to cover the rent, and most of his business came from long-time clients, like the boss he was about to meet.
Thus, antique dealers typically prefer not to show their valuable items to ordinary people who lack understanding, as they are unlikely to buy and might even damage the antiques.
"Young man, what's inside?"
Noticing Man Jun's hesitation, the old man smiled and pulled out a rosewood bracelet, a pair of white gloves, and a delicately crafted cylindrical object the size of a thumb from under his pillow, saying, "I understand the rules; I won't damage your item. Just let me take a look..."
"Ah, so you're a collector?" Seeing the old man's actions, Man Jun exclaimed somewhat exaggeratedly, and this time he did not delay, placing the wooden box on the old man's bed.
Having been in the antique business for years, Man Jun recognized that the old man's rosewood bracelet belonged to the category of scholarly collectibles, which evolved from traditional cultural artifacts. In modern terms, such collectibles can be understood as items imbued with traditional cultural significance.
If the old man had merely produced the rosewood bracelet and gloves, Man Jun might not have been inclined to show him Tang Bohu's fan surface. However, upon seeing the cylindrical object, Man Jun's expression changed, for he recognized it as a magnifying glass.
There are many tools for identifying antiques, but the most common is indeed the magnifying glass. Man Jun immediately discerned that the one the old man produced was not a typical market item but rather one used by professionals, worth seven to eight thousand yuan, and unavailable for purchase in the domestic market.
Man Jun recognized it because he owned one himself, having bought it last year while traveling to Hong Kong. After showcasing it among his peers upon returning, he garnered plenty of envious glances, feeling quite elevated in status.
"Yes, this box is quite old; it's made of rosewood from the Republic era and is worth a bit..." The old man did not open the box immediately but examined the wooden box first, offering his appraisal before finally opening it.
"Uncle, take a look at this item and see if I've made a mistake."
Upon hearing the old man correctly identify the material of the box, a smile spread across Man Jun's face. Wooden items generally belong to the category of collectibles, which were not particularly valued in the early days of their rise, leading to fewer people interested in them. The old man's ability to recognize it at a glance certainly marked him as an expert.
In the antique trade, "making a mistake" refers to the act of buying a counterfeit as if it were genuine, often resulting in significant financial loss.
"Ah, it's a fan surface?"
Once the wooden box was opened, the old man immediately spotted the yellowed fan surface folded beneath a yellow silk cloth. His expression grew serious, and his hands became increasingly gentle. He now understood why the other party had been reluctant to show him the item.
Those knowledgeable in the field know that ancient paintings and calligraphy are among the most valuable and least well-preserved items in the antique world, easily damaged. The fan surface is a form of painting, and the difficulty of preserving such a folding fan is even greater.
"Eh, this... is this 'Watching the Plum Blossoms' by the Recluse Liu Ru?" As soon as he opened the fan surface, the old man exclaimed in surprise, carefully placing it on the quilt before leaning in to examine it closely with the magnifying glass.
"An expert indeed..." Seeing the old man's actions, Man Jun nodded inwardly. The old man did not look at the painting first but rather at the inscriptions and seals, a clear sign of a connoisseur.
"Hey, I say, Boss Man, isn't this just a fan surface?" San Pao, observing the old man's cautious demeanor, felt quite perplexed. Fans are sold everywhere; was it really necessary to put it in a box?
"True, it is a fan surface; however, it was painted by an ancient master, now considered an antique..." Man Jun chuckled at San Pao's comment, feeling pleased to have encountered an expert, and hoped to have the old man appraise it further.
"Then... how much is it worth?" The heavyset man interjected, aware that antiques could be quite valuable but unsure of their specific worth.
"Very expensive..." Man Jun smiled but refrained from revealing the price of the fan surface, fearing it might influence the old man's appraisal.
"That's no answer..." The heavyset man pouted upon hearing this, while the old man set down the magnifying glass and straightened his posture.
"Uncle, what do you think? Have you discerned anything?" Man Jun, unable to ignore the heavyset man, focused intently on the old man.
To be honest, although Man Jun had been in the antique business for a while, he was self-taught and had never systematically learned about antique appraisal. While he trusted his own judgment, he felt a twinge of anxiety about having purchased this item.
"This is Tang Bohu's 'Watching the Plum Blossoms'; I have seen a similar piece by him..."
The old man nodded and continued, "From the inscriptions, seals, and the style and quality of the paper, this is undoubtedly an authentic piece. Young man, well done! How much did you acquire this for?"
"Hehe, I spent quite a sum..." Man Jun chuckled, extending a hand to indicate a large amount, saying, "While this fan surface may not be worth as much as the painting, the seller was reluctant to part with it, so I ended up paying this much..."
Being a businessman, Man Jun naturally wouldn't disclose his actual purchase price, as the antique circle in Jinling is relatively small. If he revealed a low price, it could spread through the community the next day. Thus, he quoted a price he hoped to sell it for.
"Fifty thousand?"
Upon hearing Man Jun's quoted price, the old man's eyebrows raised, and after a moment of contemplation, he remarked, "Though your price is a bit steep, after the incident from a few years ago, the value of Tang Bohu's works has indeed risen. Fifty thousand is justified..."
"Uncle, you know about that incident? Truly an expert!" Man Jun gave the old man a thumbs up, but the admiration on his face was so evident that even Fang Yi, lying on the hospital bed, could tell it was feigned.
"Boss Man, what incident? Is there a story behind this?" The heavyset man, intrigued by their conversation, felt a strong urge to dive into the antique trade himself upon learning of the item's value.
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