77: Chapter 77 Green Willows High on the Swing

Han Jingyang nodded slightly.

This guy is certainly enthusiastic enough, though I wonder if there are actually any good items in his shop.

In this day and age, there are many fools, but even more scammers.

And there are even more scammers in antique shops.

Still, since things have come this far, it wouldn't be polite to keep refusing.

Let's go!

Han Jingyang casually picked up an upright blue-and-white porcelain plate and took a look.

Holy crap!

Good stuff!

I'm not just blowing smoke.

A plate from the Yongle period just sitting in a spot where anyone could grab it? That's impressive!

The pattern—tsk tsk—couldn't be more authentic.

It probably wouldn't go for less than three or four hundred thousand.

Too bad it didn't trigger the Appraisal Technique.

What a pity.

Han Jingyang looked at the plate and put it back down.

Wang Zhiwei widened his eyes: "Master Han, you don't even like this one?"

"It's a pretty good plate, but it just isn't fated to be with me."

"No potential for Consecration, I suppose?"

"That's about the size of it."

"What a shame. I carefully selected this plate and put it here specifically so customers would see it first thing, but I never expected it to sit here for so long without selling."

"The feng shui is a bit lacking."

"Master Han, could you take a look?"

"Hehe..."

"I definitely won't let you work for free, you know. I understand the rules."

Han Jingyang shook his head: "It's not just about the rules. There are differences in adjusting feng shui; the effects between a minor tweak and a major adjustment are worlds apart."

Wang Zhiwei was slightly nervous: "Can it attract wealth?"

"Yes, and even when it comes to attracting wealth, the results vary. Some feng shui formations focus on a steady, long-term flow, while others can provide immediate results."

"I want both."

"That's possible, but the cost will be higher."

Wang Zhiwei widened his eyes in surprise: "Is that really possible?"

"Mm."

"If it weren't for Master Han's proven track record, I absolutely wouldn't believe these words. It sounds too much like a scammer bragging."

"So, do you want to do it?" Han Jingyang looked around the shop: "I didn't bring my compass, so I can't be too precise, but if I really adjust it for you, your wealth will definitely increase!"

"Do it. But I'm a bit tight on cash right now, so let's do it in a few days. Make sure you bring all your equipment and help me do it properly, Master Han."

"That's fine."

As Han Jingyang spoke, he looked around. Before long, he had examined all the items, big and small, in the shop.

He had made some gains.

But most of them were quite ordinary.

Only two items had skills.

One was a Dehua kiln guanyin statue.

The other was a Jiaqing period famille rose water pot.

"Name: Qing Guangxu 'Boji Yuren' Mark, Standing Statue of the Child of Wealth Worshiping the Guanyin."

"Grade: Sixth Grade."

"Attribute: Wealth Attraction +5."

"Skill: Wealth Pouring In."

"Name: Qing Jiaqing Famille Rose Water Pot with 'Chengmen Lixue' Pattern."

"Grade: Seventh Grade."

"Attribute: Love of Learning +2."

"Skill: Perseverance in Learning."

Neither of these two porcelain pieces was expensive.

The Dehua kiln guanyin statue was nice; Boji Yuren was also a famous artisan of the Dehua kiln. Wang Zhiwei asked for 360,000.

The famille rose water pot could only be considered a small boutique piece, and Wang Zhiwei asked for less than 100,000.

460,000 total. After a discount, it was 310,000, with a final payment of 300,000.

Han Jingyang nodded slightly: "Boss Wang, thank you. I'll give you a discount when I adjust your feng shui as well."

"Hey, that sounds great. Thank you in advance, thank you Master Han."

"There is just one small request."

"Master Han, go ahead."

"Can you stop calling me Master Han every other word?"

Wang Zhiwei quickly slapped his own face lightly: "My mistake, my mistake. Is 'Teacher Han' okay?"

"..."

Han Jingyang resigned himself to his fate.

Who told him to work in this line of business?

He couldn't blame anyone else.

Let them call him whatever they want, as long as it isn't 'Master'.

The title 'Master' was unlucky.

It gave him the creeps.

But at least he had made some gains.

Han Jingyang declined the invitations from Zhou Yucheng and Wang Zhiwei to stay and visited a few more shops.

He was actually recognized twice.

Damn it!

Did his photo get leaked too?

He really needed to lay low.

Otherwise, he would really be getting roasted on an open fire.

Han Jingyang didn't stay at the Tianqiao Antique City for very long; he even lost interest in browsing because he kept getting recognized.

Everyone was looking at him like he was a monkey.

There was no respect at all.

Sooner or later, he would let these bumpkins know how tough he was.

Damn!

...

3:30 PM.

Zhou Yucheng brought Wang Zhiwei to Jiguang Zhai to pick up the goods.

As soon as they entered the door, Wang Zhiwei widened his eyes: "Holy crap, it really is different!"

Zhou Yucheng also nodded repeatedly: "A world of its own. I haven't been here for just a few days, and I can hardly recognize it. Walking in, I get an indescribable feeling. Brother, did you upgrade?"

Han Jingyang pointed to the sofa: "I made some minor adjustments. I'll renovate it again in a few days, and the effect will be even more obvious."

"Minor adjustments?"

"You're going to upgrade it again?"

"Are you really going to turn this into a celestial abode?"

"That's good. Although it's nice now, it's too functional and still lacks the feel of a paradise away from the world. Once the hardware catches up, the impact of walking through that door will be even stronger."

Han Jingyang chuckled: "Old Zhou, you've improved."

"Hehe, after spending so much time with you, I naturally understand more," Zhou Yucheng said, smiling and patting Wang Zhiwei on the shoulder: "Brother, Little Wang can't wait to test the power of that dharma instrument. His young wife is probably already waiting for him at home."

Han Jingyang took out a round Xiu jade pendant from the counter. It was made from the center of a bracelet, so it was slightly large in size but average in thickness. The material was quite good, with high transparency and a deep green color. At a glance, it looked almost like top-tier jadeite, more than enough to fool a novice.

Furthermore, it was old jade with a history of over a hundred years, dating back to the late Qing or early Republic period.

However, the price was very affordable; Han Jingyang had acquired it from an antique shop for only 3,200 yuan.

The front of the pendant featured a figure painting carved with low-relief techniques.

The background was a corner of a courtyard, with a round arched gate, flowers, trees, a small pavilion, and a swing.

There were two small figures on the swing.

A man and a woman.

The woman was hanging face-up on the swing's seat, as soft and boneless as if she had no strength, her waist bent into a breathtaking curve, vividly capturing the feeling of having lost all her energy.

The man was holding the woman with both hands.

The lines were very simple, one could even say sparse.

The two figures had no facial expressions and almost no details to speak of, consisting of only about a dozen lines of varying lengths.

Yet, when combined, they outlined a vivid and lifelike scene.

The back bore two lines of a short poem: "Purple paths ring with the neighs of red horses, green willows shadow the painted swing."

Such subject matter was actually quite common in ancient times. Especially during the Republic of China, when social mores were liberal and artistic concepts and styles absorbed many Western elements, countless works with similar themes were created, among which there were many fine pieces.

This Xiu jade pendant was a classic example.

The material was average, but the carving technique, conception, and artistic content were top-notch.

If the subject matter hadn't been slightly unpresentable, the value of this pendant would easily be several times higher.

Han Jingyang placed the pendant in front of Wang Zhiwei and chuckled: "Boss Wang, good items like this are rare. If I didn't have no use for it, I absolutely wouldn't sell it, no matter how much money was offered. After all, it concerns a man's dignity."

Zhou Yucheng let out an unkind laugh from the side.

Wang Zhiwei's face turned red, but he hurriedly snatched the pendant and turned it over and over, studying it for a long time. A moment later, he asked skeptically: "Teacher Han, how do you use this thing? Do I just wear it?"