章節 19: Centuries of Agarwood (Part One)
Old man, isn't it just helping him authenticate some antiques? He has already given you a discount of over ten thousand..."
Despite hearing Elder Sun's explanation, the portly man still struggled to comprehend. In his view, how could a few casual words lead to such a substantial reduction in price? Such opportunities seemed too good to be true.
"Young man, one must uphold principles in life..."
Sun Lianda chuckled and shook his head. In recent years, the antique market had gradually heated up, bringing along a surge in demand for expert authentication certificates. Many so-called "experts" flooded the market with their dubious credentials, which greatly displeased Sun Lianda and contributed to his decision to leave the capital.
Moreover, Sun Lianda was not short of money. His eldest son was a renowned oil painter, with artworks displayed in galleries abroad, each fetching around a million dollars. The funds from his son were more than sufficient for Sun Lianda to indulge in acquiring items he cherished from time to time.
"Hehe, Elder, what do you think about me entering the antique trade?"
The portly man squinted his small eyes and eagerly filled Sun Lianda's empty cup with water, saying, "I may not have many talents, but I am eager to learn. Could you teach me a thing or two about antique authentication?"
After witnessing a dilapidated fan sell for fifty to sixty thousand, the portly man was truly tempted. Instead of dragging Fang Yi around in search of jobs, he thought it might be better to dabble in antiques. After all, he still had twenty thousand from the compensation, which should suffice for a while.
As for San Pao, the portly man did not consider him in this venture, as San Pao already had his household registration in Jinling and was currently awaiting job allocation. Given his family's connections, the job he secured would likely be quite decent.
"Eager to learn? I think you might just be full of hot air!"
Upon hearing the portly man's words to Elder Sun, Fang Yi and San Pao couldn't help but burst into laughter. San Pao, in particular, mercilessly exposed the portly man's true nature, recalling how, during their mountain trips, he would fall into a deep slumber whenever the old Taoist asked Fang Yi to recite classical texts.
"San Pao, what are you talking about? Back then, I simply hadn't found something that piqued my interest. Now that I've made up my mind, I will pursue the antique trade..."
The portly man's face, already not the fairest, was indiscernibly flushed as he passionately declared, "With Elder Sun as my teacher, I am confident I will thrive, for I believe I am inherently suited for this line of work..."
"Ah, young man, one can eat freely, but one must not speak carelessly; I cannot be your teacher..."
Upon hearing the portly man refer to him as a teacher, the previously smiling Elder Sun nearly toppled from his hospital bed. What a jest! Aside from imparting some knowledge of antique authentication to his two sons, he had never taken on a disciple.
This was not to say that Sun Lianda was reluctant to share his expertise; rather, he found it challenging to encounter someone worthy of being his disciple.
It is essential to understand that artifact authentication is a complex task that employs both traditional methods and modern scientific techniques to analyze and identify the authenticity, age, quality, usage, and value of cultural relics. This requires the authenticator to possess knowledge across various disciplines, including history, geology, and typology.
Such a polymath also needs extensive practical experience. Individuals like Sun Lianda, who have spent a lifetime studying genuine artifacts, often can discern authenticity through instinct alone, an insight that cannot be taught in a classroom.
Historically, artifact authentication has relied on "visual learning," grounded in keen eyesight and professional integrity. Given the immense financial incentives at play, moral constraints often appear weak, especially in recent years as collecting has surged, influenced by money, relationships, and social standing, leading to an often "uncertain" authentication process.
Sun Lianda had encountered a few individuals with keen eyesight, but their character often fell short. He had once guided a young man from a museum, but that individual, still lacking proficiency, had the audacity to issue authentication certificates, which left Sun Lianda deeply disappointed and dissuaded him from taking on any disciples.
As for the portly man before him, Sun Lianda had no intention of imparting knowledge of artifact authentication. He could see immediately that, given the chance for profit, this man would not hesitate to sell even his father's chamber pot, revealing an uncommonly low moral threshold.
"Elder, please give it some thought; I am quite resilient..." The portly man's persistence was remarkable, akin to a piece of gum that clung tenaciously, as he began to offer to massage Elder Sun's legs.
"Don't! Stay away from me; my leg is fractured..." Sun Lianda placed his hand on the call button, aware that if the portly man approached, he would have to summon a doctor to remove him.
"Elder, what a coincidence that we meet in the same ward; it must be fate..." The portly man reluctantly ceased his efforts, a mournful expression on his face as he inquired, "Elder, do you truly think I cannot pursue this line of work?"
"With your audacity, you could certainly try, but you would likely encounter many setbacks..."
Sun Lianda sighed with a wry smile. The portly man's shamelessness was quite overwhelming, making him well-suited for business. However, succeeding in the antique trade required a discerning eye, and the portly man would inevitably need to pay some tuition fees at the outset.
"Hehe, I'll start small; I won't lose much..." The elder's words reignited the portly man's enthusiasm, his squinted eyes calculating something.
Having grown up together, Fang Yi recognized that whenever the portly man wore such an expression, he was likely scheming something mischievous. Sensing Sun Lianda's reluctance to take on any disciples, he interjected, "Alright, portly man, could you perhaps buy me something to eat first?"
"Now that you mention it, I'm feeling hungry too..." Upon hearing Fang Yi's suggestion, the portly man stood up, gazing at Elder Sun with an ingratiating smile, saying, "Elder, what would you like to eat? I'll bring it all back..."
"No need; someone is bringing me my meals..." Sun Lianda waved his hands repeatedly, genuinely apprehensive that the portly man would buy him something, only to immediately follow up with unreasonable demands.
"Sorry about that, Elder..."
Once the portly man and San Pao had departed, Fang Yi expressed his apologies, saying, "My friend, Wei Jinhua, is actually a good person at heart, very kind; he just fears poverty. Upon hearing that the antique trade could be lucrative, he wanted to learn from you..."
"It's alright; I'm not angry with him. His personality is indeed suited for business..." Sun Lianda waved his hand, a hint of curiosity in his voice as he asked, "Xiao Fang, could you show me the string of beads you have?"
In truth, Sun Lianda had long noticed the two strings of beads in Fang Yi's possession, but with so many people around earlier, he had hesitated to ask. Now, with only the two of them left in the room, he finally spoke up.
"Of course, these were left to me by my master..." After a brief adjustment, Fang Yi felt much better, at least regaining some strength in his hands. He promptly handed the two strings of Daoist prayer beads to Sun Lianda.
"Hmm? These aren't Buddhist beads..." Upon touching them, Sun Lianda paused, for the string of beads, measuring only 8×6mm, should have around a hundred and eight beads. He found, upon inspection, that this string contained only eighty-one beads.
"That's because they are not Buddhist beads..." Fang Yi replied with a smile, "These are called 'flow beads,' used in Daoist cultivation..."
"Indeed, eighty-one beads represent the eighty-one transformations of Laozi, symbolizing the pure Yang energy of ninety-nine; they are truly Daoist artifacts..." Sun Lianda looked at Fang Yi with surprise and said, "Xiao Fang, you know this item is called 'flow beads'? It seems you have a profound understanding of Daoism..."
Sun Lianda was quite knowledgeable, having studied both Buddhism and Daoism. He understood that while Daoism is a native religion, Buddhism has had a far more significant influence on the common people over the past millennium due to its differing teachings. Not to mention, Fang Yi was merely a young man under twenty; even many older experts in the antique field might not know that Daoist prayer beads are referred to as flow beads.
"Hehe, my master is a Daoist..." Fang Yi chuckled lightly but chose not to elaborate on his own background. Although he had grown up in the mountains, he was naturally composed and understood the wisdom of speaking only a little to others.
"No wonder..." Sun Lianda nodded in understanding and asked with a smile, "Do you know what material these beads are made of?"
"The eighty-one beads are made of old rosewood, dating back to the mid-Qing Dynasty..."
Fang Yi had been playing with these two items for several years and naturally knew their origins. He continued, "The string with twelve beads is an early Qing piece made from old agarwood. Wearing it helps me stay alert..."
"Hmm? This is old agarwood?"
Sun Lianda had initially focused on the old rosewood beads, but upon hearing that the other string was made of agarwood, he was momentarily taken aback, his expression turning serious as he picked up the magnifying glass from the bedside.
"Indeed, it is genuine old agarwood, and of the highest quality black agarwood!" After a thorough examination, Sun Lianda finally set down the magnifying glass, his face revealing a hint of astonishment. Clearly, this string of agarwood had exceeded his expectations.
As he held it in his hand, the beads exuded an ancient, elegant aura, their rich patina evident. Each bead shimmered with a lustrous sheen, their fragrance enduring through time. A thick layer of fine oil appeared on the surface, yet it was neither greasy nor soiled to the touch, making it a remarkably exquisite piece.
Moreover, as Sun Lianda rubbed the beads in his palm, he discovered they released intermittent wafts of a subtle fragrance that penetrated the nostrils, invigorating the spirit—a truly indescribable delight that made him reluctant to let go.
"This is a priceless piece of agarwood, treasured for centuries..."
Sun Lianda exclaimed repeatedly, fully aware that such handmade strings of early Qing agarwood were exceedingly rare and even more precious.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票