Chapter 565: Not Many Things

Wang Yan patted his shoulder happily: "Listening to your words, you also have research on these things?"

"Lord Wang is flattering me, I wouldn't dare call it research, I just like these things, but I can't afford to buy them, so I came over to open my eyes." Ma Du said: "It's Lord Wang who is truly unexpected. I asked around before, saying you were invincible in Beijing, but according to that, you don't look like someone interested in these things."

"Saying I have no culture?" Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, looking at Ma Du, who was a bit embarrassed, and said to Han Chunming beside him: "Come, Chunming, you tell him what kind of things I have."

Han Chunming felt the taste of low-key showing off and acting like a pig to eat the tiger. Although it was showing off for Wang Yan, he had already felt the pleasure before he even opened his mouth. He immediately giggled: "You underestimate our Lord Wang. Not to mention anything else, Lord Wang has been first in every subject in every exam since he was a child. And Lord Wang's dad was very fond of these things. He passed down a room full of red sandalwood and yellow rosewood furniture to Lord Wang. Lord Wang felt these items were interesting, so he studied the history and culture himself. He started collecting things a few years ago.

Just what I've seen, there's a jade thumb ring with a poem by Qianlong, a whole set of Hongzhi official kiln tea sets for drinking tea, a set of four Chenghua doucai wine cups with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum patterns for drinking wine, and some ornaments. Lord Wang's calligraphy and painting are first-class, with great skill. You haven't seen it, it's truly 'brush dancing like a dragon and snake, iron painting and silver hook, strength penetrating the back of the paper.' The four treasures of the study are also very particular; the inkstone is Su Dongpo's, the brush holder is from the late Qing Dynasty, the ink stick is from the Republic of China, and the paper is Qianlong paper, which is used less and less."

Ma Du was born in 1955, three years younger than Wang Yan and Han Chunming, and was only twenty this year. At this time, he was indeed as he said, just starting to collect, working as a milling machine operator in a factory. The money he earned each month was basically twenty or thirty, not enough for anything. It was later when the spring breeze blew across the land, in the 1980s, that he started large-scale collecting. Now this kid was like Han Chunming, looking around, trying to buy things if he could afford them.

However, he still understood, although not profound, he knew what was rare. He said "ai yo" and gave himself a small slap: "It was my dog eyes that looked down on people. Lord Wang, please don't hold it against me, I truly didn't expect you to have this hobby."

He knew what kind of people the big courtyard children were. If not fighting, then picking up girls, or eating and drinking. Before they started working, they were all very unreliable. Wang Yan, an ordinary person with no background, could make a name for himself as a "Lord" among a group of big courtyard children who thought they were the best, he thought it was even more unreliable. He truly didn't expect that he was more of an expert than him, and had good things long ago.

Wang Yan waved his hand: "It's okay, those who don't know are not blamed. I'm an unreliable person, it's normal for you to think that, if it were me, I would think so too."

"Lord Wang is broad-minded." Ma Du pondered for a moment and tested: "Lord Wang... I wonder if I could open my eyes?"

"What's wrong with that? Since you like these things, you must understand our ancestors' culture. We are in such a place, who doesn't trust whom? I live at Chongwen Sect... If you have time, just go find me directly, I'm usually home on Sundays. If you can't find me, just ask anyone, they all know."

Ma Du was also sensible. When the words reached this point, it was time to leave. He cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, Lord Wang, then I won't disturb you, you two stroll, see you later."

Watching him leave, Han Chunming said: "There are quite a few people with foresight now."

"Can't say that, it can only be said that there are many people who know goods, more are for collection, truly interested. Some have the heart to collect, some meet by chance. When this good opportunity passes, those who enter later will be for making money. So you kid cherish it, collect more good things."

"Lord Wang, you must have been collecting for at least three or four years, right? And you're leading people to flip tickets, give me a bottom line, how many good things have you collected, let me envy you properly?"

Wang Yan giggled: "Not many, just enough to fill a two-entry courtyard house."

Han Chunming shivered: "Filled?"

"It's a proper two-entry courtyard house with a veranda. There are fourteen rooms in total, all filled. But there are quite a few pieces of furniture and so on, these are big items, taking up quite a bit of space, and there are also quite a few calligraphy and painting works, strange stones, and jade items that don't take up space. Last time I counted, not counting the ones in my house, there should be 5,468 items."

"Then can I..."

"No! Wait a few years until it's safe. You also know I'm a half-expert, when the time comes, you and your master can help me take a look and see how many things are real." Wang Yan patted his shoulder: "Let's go, back, you owe me ten yuan, even if you look, you can't afford it."

Han Chunming looked at the people on the street looking for buyers, sighed regretfully: "I'd better go back and stroll on the street..."

It was after four o'clock when they got home. Because it was Sunday and no one was working, dinner was a bit early, and they happened to catch dinner when they got back.

Seeing Wang Yan enter the room, Su Meng got up to get the bowl and chopsticks. Su's father laughed: "You went out to play with friends, we didn't know when you'd be back, so we started eating first."

"Uncle, you're being too much of an outsider saying that. We're all family, always being so polite, I'm embarrassed."

"You, Lord Wang, still know how to be embarrassed? Truly fresh." Su Meng pouted and handed the bowl and chopsticks to Wang Yan: "Still drinking?"

"You still say Old Man Guan is a drunkard, I see you're not much better than Old Man Guan."

Grandma Su said: "Wang Yan only drinks a little in the evening, he's been drinking for several years, what are you saying? If he wants to drink, let him drink."

Wang Yan laughed: "Aiya, still Grandma loves me."

Su Meng rolled her eyes: "What did Yang Huajian look for you for? And went to such a good place as the Moscow Restaurant to eat Western food, is he asking you to do something?"

"Are you afraid I'll go out to help him fight? Or get involved with those big courtyard children again to speculate and profiteer?"

Grandma Su and the others didn't speak, but they indeed had that meaning. It was normal to think so. After all, although Wang Yan knew how to behave, he was also famous for loving to fight, fighting from childhood to adulthood. It was just that he was quite good at acting, plus after a long time, people ignored those things and just thought he was an honest person now.

The Old Su family didn't know what he had done or who he knew, but they knew Yang Huajian was a cadre child. This kind of person was indeed in a different world from them. If there was nothing, why would he invite him to dinner for no reason? And he was just an ordinary worker now, the only thing he could boast about was his good martial arts skills from childhood, so they thought of asking him to fight.

Another thing was the source of the 1,400 yuan he explained before. Since they had already accepted him as a son-in-law and he was like glue with Su Meng, it was normal to have such worries.

He shook his head with a bitter smile and explained: "What are you thinking about? Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, I'm already twenty-three, not to mention I'll be married to Su Meng in two months, just say those few years before, when have you heard of me causing trouble? As for finding those big courtyard children, it's even more impossible. People are soldiers, working, their fathers are one more impressive than the other, who still knows who I am?

It's just that Yang Huajian has a different background, maybe influenced by his family, he likes to make connections. Maybe he feels that I could mix so well before, and I shouldn't be bad in the future, so he's trying to win me over in advance, so that he won't be unable to speak when he needs me later. That's all, nothing big."

"What you said is reasonable." Su's father nodded and shook his head: "This society is too complex, we don't like this kind of thing, but there's no way. Alright, let's not talk about these things, hurry up and eat."

They had already lived together for a week, eating morning and evening together every day, and had already talked everything through. So eating now was no different from ordinary family eating. If there was something to say, say a few words; if not, eat quietly. It was just that Wang Yan could talk, chatting with his father-in-law about teaching and educating people, and history, talking about everything messy, always able to eat and drink happily, very harmonious.

After eating, Wang Yan returned to his home, lit a cigarette, carried a bucket of dirty water out, and had to wash clothes when he came back.

Just as he went out, he saw Old Man Guan sitting on the stone at the entrance of his courtyard playing with his bracelet. He greeted happily: "Lord Commander, have you eaten?"

"You're not eating at this time? Didn't you see me sitting here digesting? Asking nonsense." Old Man Guan looked left and right, seeing no one, waved for Wang Yan to come closer: "Good kid, I heard from Chunming you've collected over 5,000 items?"

"Your disciple's mouth isn't tight, how long has he been back, and he's already reported to you."

"Stop talking nonsense, when are you going to let your Nine-Gate Commander grandpa open his eyes?"

Wang Yan laughed: "I said when I wanted to see the tripod from the Shang and Zhou periods, I said it, wait until it's safe to see it later. Now that I hear there are many things, I don't have that patience? Wait a few more years, then you can see however you want."

Old Man Guan looked at him suspiciously: "You're not bragging to Chunming, are you?"

"Hi, why would I brag about this? You also know, now those old items are cabbage prices. Chunming said how many items I have, but didn't say I still have a group of brothers flipping tickets? I earned so much money, and after five or six years of searching, I only got over 5,000 items. It's mainly because I didn't put my heart into it. After all, I can't let all the good things be mine alone. It's just letting them look for good ones, not wanting everything. If I focused on collecting, regardless of quality, I could collect this many in a year. I have no proof, you'll know when you see it later, I'm off, pouring water."

Wang Yan waved his hand and left with the bucket.

This bastard, because of his ancestors, had some things in his hands. In the original drama, it was said to be passed down for three generations. But looking at the drama, when this bastard faked his death to test human hearts, Han Chunming found that secret room in the kitchen, and there were only so many boxes inside, not even filling the room, so he probably didn't have many things.

Maybe it was because of the chaotic situation in the Republic of China, he pawned some things to live, and because of the special era he was in now. Even if he had prepared early, his status as a remnant of the old era was there, and anyone would know what was going on. If he didn't get some things out, would that be appropriate? Having things wasn't enough, he had to have a certain quantity. This was still not knowing what kind of bastard he was when he was young; if he was gambling and whoring, he would have lost a part.

And even if the Old Bastard's family was at its peak, it definitely didn't have over 5,000 items. Because among them, a large part was their daily life. Only now could they be called items.

So for the number over 5,000, the old bastard was a bit scared. He knew things were cheap, but he didn't know Wang Yan could get so much money. After all, if it were a player like Han Chunming whose salary wasn't even twenty yuan, even if he collected antiques with all that money every month, he wouldn't be able to get a hundred or eighty items a year, and that was counting finding things.

Good things are everywhere—that's just a description, not really that easy to find. After all, in such a big place, scattered around, how could it be so easy to bump into, it also depends on luck...

Wang Yan's life, although different because of Su Meng, was basically the same, nothing more than having to be clingy with Su Meng at night, groping and touching, which was also quite interesting.

Of course, it wasn't without fresh things. One morning, he was acting like a monkey on Changan Street as usual, and very coincidentally bumped into foreign reporters. They took a picture of him passing by Tiananmen, under the gaze of the huge portrait of the leader, under the red flag fluttering in the sky, in the sparse crowd of people pedaling bicycles early in the morning, he was running with his long legs, wearing a tank top and shorts.

When he ran back again, he was stopped by this group of people and had a simple interview. The general idea was asking what he did for work, how much he earned, why he was running, what he thought about the future of China, etc.

Wang Yan's answer was of course standard, showing great confidence in the motherland. It's just that he answered in very fluent English. When asked why his English was so fluent, Wang Yan just gave a simple "learn from the barbarians' strengths to control them." And in the expression of the compatriot translator who was suffocating to death, he explained the meaning to the foreigners in a serious manner, and also wrote square characters in regular script, letting them understand.

After all, "Yi" (barbarian) means savage, uncivilized, and is a derogatory term. This was bullying people because they didn't understand the language, scolding them to their faces. So of course he had to make the foreigners feel his meaning of being humble and eager to learn. After they understood the true meaning later, he would turn around and say "fuck." Life is boring, find some fun. Although this fun is low-level, and he couldn't see it, just thinking about that picture was enough to make himself happy for a while. Regardless of whether it's high-level or low-level, entertaining yourself is what's important...

As for Han Chunming, the relationship between him and Cai Xiaoli was warming up day by day. There was no resistance on Cai Xiaoli's family side. After all, Han Chunming had saved their family before, and Cai Xiaoli liked him, and their family was all girls. As long as the groom's family was okay, the requirements weren't actually that high. After all, everyone wasn't doing well at this time, and even the decent cadre families weren't much better than the broad masses of the people. Han Chunming was someone they knew well, so it was quite good.

As for the pitiful Taozi, he had no goal. Poor family conditions were one aspect, and not being good at talking was another. Just looking at his appearance of only knowing how to be loyal to women, it was hard to please women. Dating was truly quite difficult. Unless he used the convenience of his city household registration to find girls in the village who were determined to enter the city to enjoy happiness, but he didn't like those either. He played quite well with Han Chunming and Cai Xiaoli, and playing by himself was boring, so he was still acting as their lightbulb. Heartless, giggling, the three played quite well together.

Han Chunming was under pressure. Not to mention the marriage with Cai Xiaoli was nowhere in sight, there was also the bicycle matter. Everyone in the courtyard who worked had a bicycle, and not having one always felt like something was missing. Besides, he still owed Wang Yan money that he hadn't paid back.

So unsurprisingly, he found the construction site at the Temple of Heaven again, dragging Taozi to work as a laborer every day after work to earn extra money...

"Little Yan, what is Fifth Son doing recently? Why is he acting so mysterious? Even if his relationship with Cai Xiaoli is good, he can't come back so late every day. It's Sunday, and he's not home after finally having a day off?"

By the water pool in the courtyard, Han's mother was washing and scrubbing, worried about the child who didn't let her rest easy.

Wang Yan was also washing and scrubbing, he propped up the washboard and scrubbed the clothes "ka ka," and replied happily: "I don't know either, I haven't even seen him for a while. Aunt, don't worry, don't you know Chunming? He's so smart, he learned a lot of gentleness, kindness, courtesy, frugality, and yielding from Old Man Guan, he doesn't do bad things, and he can't learn bad things."

"That's true, Fifth Son is the only one who makes me worry-free. Looking at him as the most unreliable, actually Fifth Son is the most thoughtful."

Wang Yan nodded in agreement, saying words of praise. Han Chunming was of course not bad, otherwise Wang Yan wouldn't be close to him; there were always multiple choices for completing tasks. Dying young was one kind of life, and being paralyzed in bed for a lifetime was another kind of life.

It was just that this kid's heart was too soft, especially the main line in the original drama, the grudge with Cheng Army Supervisor. It seemed his life realm was high, he lived clearly and transparently, with an open mind, and never took Cheng Army Supervisor seriously. In the end, he got some incense burner from the Northern Song Dynasty and angered Cheng Army Supervisor severely. But in reality, he never won against Cheng Army Supervisor and was played by Cheng Army Supervisor for a lifetime. Not to mention anything else, just the tug-of-war with Su Meng for thirty years was already a complete defeat, and he still acted like he was very generous and smiled away the grudges.

Just when the two were talking, a greeting of "Lord Wang" came from the moon gate.

Han's mother of course heard it, but just laughed and didn't take it seriously. Not to mention their Han Chunming, even their second brother, who was a few years older than Wang Yan, greeted him as "Lord Wang" when they met. Hearing it more, she got used to it. She just sighed that he became a "Lord" at such a young age, which was quite amazing. Words were always two-sided; having parents meant no upbringing, having no parents meant being capable and not being bullied.

Wang Yan turned his head to look at the door, and saw two young men walk in. One of them said: "Lord Wang, this guy is looking for you, I sent him over, I'm off."

"Thanks, Old Four."

"Thanks, brother." The young man who was brought in also thanked him, then walked to Wang Yan: "I'm here to open my eyes, Lord Wang."

Wang Yan frowned and looked at this person who was wearing a military uniform, thin, with a crew cut, looking quite handsome: "You were the one eating with Li Laosi at the Moscow Restaurant just now..."

"Ma Du!"

"Ah, right, Ma Du."

Actually, Wang Yan recognized him when eating before. He was the very famous person in the Beijing circle in the real world, a child of a big courtyard, sent down, worked in a factory, later wrote novels, was an editor, opened a personal museum, and became a famous collector.

Wang Yan was also quite surprised, but he didn't care before, didn't expect to meet him again now... ===== CHAPTER 566 =====

Ma Du was also stunned for a moment, then immediately laughed and nodded at Su Meng: "Hello, sister-in-law!"

Seeing Su Meng respond, he continued: "Don't worry, Master Wang, I will definitely come to show my support when the time comes. For your wedding, Master Wang, ordinary people wouldn't even be qualified to attend."

"Listen to you," Su Meng said with a chuckle as she looked at Wang Yan, "You coming is giving Wang Yan face." She then added, "I won't disturb your conversation then, I'm heading back."

She was still quite tactful and wouldn't get in the way. Although she really wanted to hear what the two were talking about, seeing the surprise and hesitation in Ma Du's eyes, she could only politely retreat and ask later.

"Take care, sister-in-law." Ma Du waved at Su Meng, then turned back to look at Wang Yan in confusion: "Master Wang? Does sister-in-law not know about your prestige?"

"Although we grew up in the same courtyard, we haven't had much contact before, and we haven't known each other properly for even a month. Besides, there's no prestige to speak of; I'm just a worker repairing equipment at a food factory, nothing to show off about." Wang Yan sat on a stool and pointed at the items in the room: "Feel free to look around."

Ma Du let out an 'ah', and without a word, he first leaned over the table to look at the tea set. After turning it over and examining it for a long time, he turned back somewhat awkwardly and said: "Master Wang, why don't you tell me about it?"

The current Ma Du was still a layman, only just beginning to touch upon these things. He just liked them and didn't have any deep research. As for telling stories like Old Lao Guantou, Wang Yan couldn't do it, let alone a novice like Ma Du.

With a faint smile, Wang Yan began to talk to him about these items, from history to the kilns, from the kilns to the specific artifacts, and from the artifacts, he spoke specifically about their characteristics. This stuff was mainly about history, combined with the various techniques and craftsmanship of the time; Wang Yan was still very knowledgeable about these things.

It could be said that he was looking for something to do; he had met Ma Du completely by accident, so interacting with him and passing the time was quite interesting—it was just for fun, after all.

So, what was originally Ma Du coming to look at things ended up with Wang Yan giving him a lecture, and it wasn't until the afternoon that he finished talking about the items he had kept at home.

"You really don't have a foundation; in the future, just focus on understanding our Chinese history. These things are all connected. When we look at these old objects, we are also feeling the wisdom of our ancestors and experiencing the history and humanities of that time."

"Many thanks for your guidance, Master Wang. I have truly benefited a lot today. How about this, it's really a bit late today; next Sunday, I'll buy some food and wine and come over to treat you to a drink, and let me also experience what it's like to drink from this doucai wine cup."

"Easy to say, easy to say. You're a stand-up guy, I recognize you as a friend. Take this golden nanmu bracelet back to play with; consider it a gift for our first meeting. I won't keep you; there will be plenty of time in the future. Take care on your way."

Ma Du thanked him repeatedly while holding the bracelet, and after being seen off by Wang Yan, he left, feeling that today had not been in vain. He had broadened his horizons, gained knowledge, obtained an item, and made a friend.

He finally understood why Wang Yan could be called 'Master'; he hadn't seen the legendary fighting ability, but when it came to getting along, it was truly like a spring breeze. Just this point alone showed that the man was not simple...