Chapter 471: Huanghuali

In 2008, even with Guangzhou's strong economy and high wages, an ordinary civil servant's salary was just a little over two thousand.

Ye Anqi thought: To buy such a thing for one hundred thousand yuan, which would take four years of work without eating or drinking—is it worth it?

"It's worth it!" Yao Qiming was exceptionally firm. "Mid-Qing Gold-traced Five-colored Porcelain, and in such perfect condition, is generally between four hundred thousand and six hundred thousand. The reason this piece is cheap is, first, the origin of this emblem cannot be traced, and second, the meaning of the mark on the bottom is unknown, so it can only be sold at a discount..." Ye Anqi was noncommittal: "Then why hasn't it been sold yet?"

Yao Qiming was stunned for a moment.

To explain this, it really couldn't be made clear in a sentence or two: in the antique business, most consumers are only half-informed and act on a whim; they see an item that catches their eye and looks relatively authentic, so they buy it on the spot.

If they can sell it and make a little profit, that's best. If they can't sell it, they keep it for their own amusement. For things like this, most people won't spend too much money. A few tens or hundreds at the low end, a few hundreds or thousands at the high end. Never mind one hundred thousand; even those willing to spend three or five thousand are rare.

Those willing to spend tens of thousands are either veteran collectors or middlemen who make their living off this trade. This group is bound to be knowledgeable, have a sharp eye, and be extremely cautious.

Before making a move, they will think: this item doesn't have to make money, but it absolutely must not lose money. At the same time, they will calculate: if this item is kept for a few years, will it appreciate, and by how much? If it is sold at a premium, will there be anyone to take it off their hands?

Holding this mindset and looking at this item again: neither fish nor fowl, seemingly one thing but actually another, they will one hundred percent put a cross through it in their hearts.

Therefore, it created a paradox: this plate is clearly worth one hundred thousand, yet it never sells...

But explaining it like this was too troublesome, and Ye Anqi might not understand, so Yao Qiming was concise: "Because they don't know the value of the goods!"

Ye Anqi froze, opened his mouth, as if he were about to say something.

Lin Sicheng could be one hundred percent certain that Ye Anqi's next sentence would be: Does Chairman Yao know the value of the goods?

Since you know the value, why didn't you buy it?

Believe it or not, if this sentence were spoken, even if Lin Sicheng took out another three hundred thousand, this plate would never reach his hands.

Because Chairman Yao would think: Young Master Ye, do you think I took a kickback in the middle?

Lin Sicheng hurriedly interrupted: "Actually, most people are just unsure!"

Ye Anqi suddenly understood: not enough sharp-sightedness, insufficient experience, afraid of misjudging, so they dare not make a move.

But why was Lin Sicheng not afraid? Because he considered his own sharp-sightedness to be high enough, even higher than Chairman Yao's.

Looking back, Ye Anqi secretly thought, as expected: although Chairman Yao was smiling, the corners of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.

He probably disapproved, feeling that Lin Sicheng's words were too full and too arrogant.

But what Ye Anqi was concerned about was not this, but the purpose of Lin Sicheng suddenly interjecting: Brother, stop talking, otherwise this deal today will fall through...

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he blinked at Lin Sicheng. Lin Sicheng nodded imperceptibly.

The transaction process was very simple: swipe the card, then sign the transaction contract.

Besides the plate, several certificates were also given: from the Guangzhou Appraisal Association, the GD Province Collectors Association Appraisal Committee, and the Guangcai Zhijin Painted Porcelain Museum. The most authoritative one was the Identification Certificate issued by the Guangzhou Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau Cultural Relics Appraisal Center.

The conclusion was without exception: Mid-Qing period Gold-traced Five-colored Porcelain custom emblem plate. Parentheses: Folk Kiln.

The only slight difference was the era: some said early Qianlong, some said mid-Qianlong, only the one from the Anti-Smuggling Bureau Appraisal Center said: around the Yongzheng period. Lin Sicheng scanned it casually and stuffed it into his bag. He instructed the store manager again: pack it well, wrap it with more soft padding, he could pay extra.

It was all worthless foam and sponge, impossible to make the customer pay more, so the store manager readily agreed.

In a few minutes, the plate was packed, Fang Jin took it into his hands, and the group walked out of the store in a bustle.

Just as they were leaving, Ye Anqi tugged on Lin Sicheng's sleeve.

Estimating that the two had something private to say, Yao Qiming was very tactful; he gave Professor Gao a wink, and the two walked a few steps faster.

The two lagged behind intentionally, and Ye Anqi looked at the box in Fang Jin's hands and gestured with his chin.

Having just met, he certainly didn't know Lin Sicheng, but Ye Anqi knew Ye Anning: since they were small, his cousin had been famous for being calculating. If this thing wasn't worth one hundred thousand, she couldn't possibly watch Lin Sicheng throw away this money in vain.

Lin Sicheng understood, lowering his voice: "Second Brother, this plate should be an Official Kiln piece!"

Ye Anqi froze: what?

No matter how little he understood antiques, he knew the difference between Official Kiln porcelain and Folk Kiln porcelain.

Not to mention anything else, just speaking of value: in the same era, with the same craftsmanship, and the same condition and quality, just because of the difference between the words "Official" and "Folk," the price differs by more than ten times, or even dozens of times.

But the problem was, such a large store, specializing in porcelain, and having operated for so many years, how could they not distinguish between Official Kiln and Folk Kiln? If one were to say the store manager and the master craftsman of the shop didn't have a sharp enough eye, then what about Chairman Yao Qiming? What about Professor Gao Wen?

Both were famous appraisal experts in Xiguan; could it be that their eyes weren't sharp enough either?

Even with psychological preparation, even though Ye Anning had explicitly said that Lin Sicheng had made tens of millions just by picking up leaks, Ye Anqi was still half-doubting. After thinking for a long time, he finally couldn't help it: "Brother, are you sure?"

Don't tell me you misjudged it?

Lin Sicheng was between laughter and tears.

Ye Anqi's subtext was: it's not too late to regret it now; if it doesn't work, we'll go back and return it.

He shook his head: "Second Brother, don't worry!"

The two lagged at the back, talking in low voices. At the very front, Ye Anlan and Ye Anning were also whispering:

"Anning, what are Second Brother and Lin Sicheng doing?"

"Whispering."

"I have eyes, I can see that." Ye Anlan looked curious. "That plate is very valuable, right?"

"How do you know it's very valuable?"

Ye Anlan curled her lips: "Nonsense. Don't say you didn't see it, Lin Sicheng stopped Second Brother from talking."

Why not let Second Brother talk? Because Second Brother was afraid he would lose money.

Conversely: this plate must be very valuable.

She squeezed her eyes: "How much can Lin Sicheng make?"

Ye Anning didn't speak.

Based on her understanding of Lin Sicheng, he would never attach such importance to it—specifically instructing the manager to wrap it in more layers—unless it tripled or quadrupled in value.

Calculating this way, it was at least in the millions.

She thought for a moment: "Should be quite a bit!"

Ye Anlan persisted: "How much is 'quite a bit'?"

"Ask him yourself, I don't know!"

Ye Anlan had a sense of propriety and even more of a sense of boundaries: having just met, and barely having spoken a few words, it was impossible to ask Lin Sicheng such an intrusive question. She curled her lips: "Forget it if you won't say, I'll go back and ask my dad!"

"Ask who, Fourth Uncle?"

Ye Anning didn't speak, only tugged at the corner of her mouth: Fourth Uncle's level was likely even worse than Fang Jin's. Asking him was roughly equivalent to asking a blind man for directions. What's more, if Fourth Uncle were to be kind-hearted, he might point them down the wrong path with a single finger...

The two whispered to each other, heads down as they walked forward. As they walked, Li Zhen behind them suddenly called out to them: "Miss Ye, wait a moment!" The sisters turned their heads and saw Lin Sicheng stopped in front of an antique shop.

The storefront was large, with a horizontal plaque mounted on top featuring black characters on a brown background: Nanfeng Zhimu. On both sides were door pillars, each with a pair of couplets in clerical script: Kundian Wood gathers light, the Xiguan moon shines on century-old wood.

Oyster-shell windows reveal charm, the Maritime Silk Road wind carries the craftsmanship of ten thousand nations.

Looking inside through the main gate: the shop was full of furniture.

No need to guess, it was certainly all Cantonese-style antique furniture, also known as Guangzuo Furniture, which belongs to one of the typical styles of Qing Dynasty furniture.

It roughly formed in the mid-Qing Dynasty, and due to Guangzhou's geographical advantage as a trading port, it absorbed Western Baroque and Rococo art to form a unique artistic style that combined both Chinese and Western elements.

"Why, is Lin Sicheng going to buy this?" Ye Anlan peeked inside, "How would he transport it back?"

Ye Anning shook her head: As long as the items are good, there is no need to worry at all; even chartering a vehicle specifically would be fine.

Just as she was about to explain, Lin Sicheng and Ye Anqi stepped onto the stairs, and the two sisters turned around and walked over.

Stopping at the entrance, Ye Anqi pointed at the door header: "Quite a bold claim!"

Lin Sicheng secretly praised: It was indeed quite bold.

This sentence originated from an ancient Yuefu poem: The south wind knows my intent, blowing my dreams to Xizhou.

This was originally a love poem, but placed here, and with the addition of this "wood" character, the meaning was very straightforward: We are a shop specializing in antique furniture, and we only receive those in the know.

Looking again at the two couplets:

Kundian Wood gathers light, the Xiguan moon shines on century-old wood.

Oyster-shell windows reveal charm, the Maritime Silk Road wind carries the craftsmanship of ten thousand nations.

Kundian generally refers to Nanyang; here, it refers to the origin of the raw materials for Cantonese furniture: Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. "The Xiguan moon shines on century-old wood" refers to the fact that this shop has a history of a hundred years, and the items sold in the shop likewise have a history of over a hundred years.

Oyster-shell windows refer to windows inlaid with scallop shells, which are very precious; it also refers to the small windows on cargo ships. "Craftsmanship of ten thousand nations" refers to all the artistic styles from both China and various European countries.

Combined: I am a century-old shop, using superior materials, all imported goods. The craftsmanship is even more particular; there is nothing from China or abroad that we cannot do. Back in the Qing Dynasty, we specialized in exporting abroad. Therefore, the shop has an extreme amount of old stock, all of which are the real deal.

Combined with that plaque, it was no longer just a bold claim, but boundless arrogance: If you don't understand, don't come in.

Don't say it isn't so; with this reverse psychology, anyone who could understand the door plaque and the couplets would, nine times out of ten, go in to take a look: I want to see just how good the things in your shop really are?

For example, Ye Anqi: He certainly didn't understand antiques; he just refused to accept it.

While secretly pondering, he took the lead and stepped into the shop.

As soon as he entered the shop, a female clerk in her early thirties came up to greet them: "Everyone, what are you looking for?"

Ye Anqi habitually replied: "Just looking around!"

"Alright, please feel free!"

The clerk replied with a smile and then retreated to the side. There was not the slightest intention to follow or provide an introduction.

Ye Anqi was stunned: They really were letting them "feel free"?

Combined with those two sentences outside: You want to look around, then feel free.

Nanfeng Zhimu... it really lived up to its name?

Ye Anqi gave a "Heh": "Sicheng, shall we look?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Look!"

They had already come in, after all.

Saying this, the group entered the foyer.

The place was extremely large, like entering a 4S showroom, with all kinds of furniture: Grandmaster chairs, large altars, floor screens, painting tables, vanities, bookcases, beds, daybeds... there was even a sedan chair.

Various materials: Jiaozhi Yellow Sandalwood, Dagu Red Sandalwood, Kundian Wood, Gamba bean... various techniques: Luodian Inlay, Stone Inlay, Mortise and Tenon, and live-joint shoulder-holding.

Setting aside whether they were true antiques, this material and this craftsmanship could absolutely be considered the most authentic Cantonese style.

Scanning the room, Yao Qiming and Gao Wen exchanged a glance.

There were indeed many items, and they looked quite legitimate, but to be honest: as for how old they were, that was not necessarily certain.

This is because in the furniture trade, there are many methods for making things look old, and they are extremely sophisticated. Without ten or twenty years of foundation, no one dares to play with this. Moreover, every trade is like a mountain.

Yao Qiming specialized in Guangcai Porcelain and also dabbled in ceramics; regarding wooden items, he was basically a layman.

Gao Wen was a bit better than him, specializing in miscellaneous items, and had done more Artifact Research on bamboo and wood. But this "more" only referred to small categories: bead bracelets, Brush Pot, crown stands, arm rests, water droppers...

Aside from scholar's studio items, at most she only knew a bit about incense burners, Buddha statues, and some small carvings. Regarding the broad category of furniture, she could at most be considered knowledgeable, not expert. Although there was only a one-character difference, there was a mountain between them.

The two exchanged a look and instantly understood: if they were just looking, then of course it didn't matter.

But if these people became interested and wanted to buy one or two pieces, they would certainly have to have a word with the shop's owner.

At the very least, they couldn't be fooled by fakes.

Thinking this over secretly, the group wandered around the showroom.

Seeing prices that easily reached six or seven zeros, Tao An couldn't help but click his tongue: "A chair costs several hundred thousand, why is it so expensive?"

"Cantonese antique furniture is just this price. And the reason antiques are expensive is because they were expensive back in ancient times..." Fang Jin explained in a low voice, "If it were Suzhou-style or Beijing-style, it would only be more expensive."

"Are there no cheap ones?"

"Of course there are: Jin-style and Hui-style are relatively lower, Yong-style (Ningbo, Zhejiang), Lu-style, and Min-style are lower still, and other provinces are even lower..."

Tao An understood: this stuff is also divided into schools, and Cantonese-style ranks in the top three...

He looked left and right: "I feel like there's not much difference?"

Fang Jin paused.

There were certainly differences, and they were significant. But he hadn't studied this; he only knew a little bit of the surface, knowing only that Cantonese-style was large, sturdy, and pure. The first two points were easy to understand: large volume, thick panels, and thick legs.

The key lay in the last one, pure: Cantonese furniture basically uses only one piece of wood for each item. This is the so-called "made from one piece of wood": large furniture uses large material, small furniture uses small material, and it is rare to take external wood for splicing. This is also one of the pieces of evidence collectors use to identify Cantonese-style. Besides this, if he were asked to go any deeper, Fang Jin really couldn't say.

He spoke about what he knew, and Tao An listened, half-understanding.

The two followed behind, while Lin Sicheng walked through like someone looking at flowers while riding a horse.

But as he walked, Lin Sicheng suddenly stopped and pointed at a chair: "Huanghuali?"

Everyone paused for a moment.

Even those who knew nothing about antiques or cultural artifacts had heard of the Daimyo of Huanghuali: in the Qing Dynasty, it was the most precious furniture wood.

During the reign of Kangxi, the Hall of Supreme Harmony—commonly known as the Golden Throne Hall—had the emperor's throne, imperial desk, bookshelves, and the screen behind him all carved from Huanghuali wood.

It was not until the time of Yongzheng, due to the emperor's unique preferences, that Red Sandalwood surpassed it, and Huanghuali was relegated to second place.

How rare is this thing?

In his past life, apart from the Forbidden City, Lin Sicheng had never seen a single piece of Huanghuali furniture Cultural Relics that was in perfect condition and featured the "ghost face" and fragrant scent (markings and aroma).

Who would have thought that he would actually encounter one here?