Chapter 373: Private Chat with Wen Han

We all hurriedly joined Wen Han in laughing.

After laughing,

Wen Han then said: "Zhao Laoban, we just chatted a bit about crickets. We can consider ourselves acquainted,

Mr. He told Qiu Xi that you have a Xuande Emperor's cricket jar. Qiu Xi showed me that photo.

I also had Master Liu look at the photo.

Master Liu, please give your opinion."

Master Liu then said: "Second Master Wen gave me the photo this afternoon.

I carefully examined the photo and compared it with the original in the museum; I feel this jar's shape is ancient and majestic,

From appearance it resembles objects from the Xuande Emperor's era; know that the Xuande Emperor reigned only nine years, this young man achieved success early, besides military and political affairs he loved insects and cherished flowers,

He was a super player. He ordered eunuchs to scour the country for flowers, birds, fish, and insects, and secretly commanded the Jingde Town official kiln to specially fire cricket jars for his amusement.

The treasures he made, whether craftsmanship or material, are top-notch.

The cricket jars he left behind are very rare; in the 1990s Jingde Town, while clearing the Ming imperial kiln, unearthed shards and restored a batch of cricket jars,

These jars all went into the museum,

and they are reproductions.

According to legend, only about five intact Xuande cricket jars exist in the world, making them extremely rare treasures.

Why are the Xuande Emperor's cricket jars so few in transmission,

there is one reason: in January 1455, the Xuande Emperor fell ill and died; his throne was inherited by his eight-year-old son, the Zhengtong Emperor Zhu Qizhen.

To prevent Zhu Qizhen from being spoiled by play and neglecting studies, the then Grand Empress Dowager Zhang issued an order to destroy all enjoyable objects in the palace.

The Grand Empress Dowager's order not only smashed all the cricket jars in the palace,

but also smashed and buried underground all the cricket jars that had been fired at the Jingde Town imperial kiln but not yet presented as tribute.

What survived are also a few cricket jars that the Xuande Emperor once bestowed upon his officials.

Think about it—how precious an intact Xuande Emperor's cricket jar would be.

Hearing Master Liu's detailed explanation, I only then realized how many stories this cricket jar has and how precious it is.

"Master Liu spoke well: where the superior likes something, the inferior will favor it even more.

Since the Xuande Emperor liked this, those below would cater to his taste, certainly using the finest materials and craftsmanship to make the cricket jars he liked.

"Zhao Laoban, have you brought this jar?" Wen Han asked me.

I nodded,

"Mr. Wen, I have brought it."

"Good, tell me how you obtained this jar." Wen Han asked again.

"Mr. Wen, this too is a coincidence; a few days ago I followed Mr. He to Fun Contest Hall and bought an imitation of Zhao Ziyu's jar, spending 950,000."

After I bought it back, I told a friend about it.

My friend, upon hearing that this ordinary jar was worth 950,000,

immediately told me his uncle's house had a jar that had been left at home, unattended.

His uncle's ancestors once served as high officials in the capital.

Later, due to some matter he was dismissed, returned to his hometown to live in retirement, and the jar was passed down in the family.

Upon hearing that, I had that friend take me to the countryside to his uncle's house to see the jar.

I also didn't understand this.

His uncle asked me for two million.

I didn't haggle, just bought it, brought it back, and showed it to Mr. He.

Mr. He took one look and told me it was a Xuande Emperor's cricket jar, a treasure.

He then took a photo and gave it to Mr. Wen for you to see.

I casually made up a story.

Wen Han looked at me,

"So that's how it is; it seems Zhao Laoban came by this treasure by chance."

"Well then, since you brought it, let's go inside and have Master Liu appraise it to see if it's genuine."

Wen Han finished speaking and stood up; Xiao Yue also hurriedly stood up and pushed open a side door.

I thought he would examine it here, but I didn't expect him to go into a room inside to look.

I and Master Liu entered that room one after the other.

After entering the room,

I closed the door.

Inside were a tea table and several chairs.

After Wen Han sat down,

he said to me: "Zhao Laoban, take out the treasure."

I then pulled out a box from my pocket.

I placed it on the tea table.

I opened the box,

I was about to take the jar out of it.

At that moment Master Liu was wearing a white glove,

"Zhao Laoban, let me take it. This item is very precious."

I then let Master Liu take the cricket jar.

Master Liu carefully took out the jar.

He placed it in his hand, examined it carefully, after looking for a while,

Then he took out a magnifying glass and examined it closely.

He looked at it for over ten minutes.

Finally he put down the magnifying glass and then carefully placed the jar into the box.

Then he leaned close to Wen Han's ear and said two sentences.

Wen Han nodded.

After Master Liu finished speaking, he left the room.

Only I and Wen Han remained in the room.

Wen Han then gestured for me to sit on the chair,

Wen Han took out a cigarette from his pocket,

"Zhao Laoban, do you smoke?"

I took it, I took out a lighter, and first lit Wen Han's cigarette.

Wen Han took a puff of smoke,

"Zhao Laoban, this jar is genuine; tell me, what are your terms? You just said you bought it for two million.

I'll give you triple—six million—how about that?"

I stared at the jar without speaking, took a puff of smoke.

Seeing I had no reaction,

Wen Han then said: "It seems six million doesn't move you, Zhao Laoban; how about ten million? I really like this thing.

If you agree to ten million, we can close the deal now.

Damn, a broken jar actually sells for ten million.

At this moment I looked at Wen Han,

Then I said: "Mr. Wen, although we haven't known each other long, I have always admired your reputation; I really want to get to know you.

Last time at the Douqu Hall, after I beat Qiao San, Li Tian wanted to arrest me; fortunately Mr. Wen stepped in to help.

Otherwise I would certainly be in jail now.

I have always kept this favor in my heart, but I've had no chance to repay it.

Mr. Wen, you've seen everything in Sijiucheng; I truly don't know how to repay you this favor.

This jar, in my hands, is worth nothing; I also don't really understand this thing.

Only in the hands of someone who understands it can a treasure show its brilliance.

How could a rough person like me understand it?

Since Mr. Wen likes this thing,

I decided to give this jar to Mr. Wen.

Keep this jar for your amusement."

After I said that, I pushed the cricket jar toward Wen Han.

After Wen Han heard I was giving it to him,

His two small eyes squinted together as he smiled,

"Hehe, Zhao Laoban, this favor is too big; I can't afford it. Back then in the Douqu Hall, why did I help you? Mainly because,

I just didn't want you to cause trouble in the Douqu Hall.

And there wasn't such a big favor.

Using something so precious to repay this favor,

Zhao Laoban, I, Wen Han, am somewhat confused.

Why did you give me this cricket jar, Zhao Laoban? Explain your reason.

After Wen Han finished speaking, he pushed the cricket jar back toward me.

Damn, I thought that after I gave the cricket jar to Wen Han, he would surely jump for joy.

However, Wen Han insisted I give a reason, one that must be reasonable; otherwise he wouldn't need me to repay the favor at all.

I really underestimated him.