Chapter Thirty-One: Ambition for the Royal Granary
He was born in the May 7th Cadre School in Madu and grew up in a military compound. His background is really impressive.
However, there are many people in Beijing with better backgrounds than him, and there are more units that he cannot afford to offend.
"Do you know the Royal Granary?"
"Royal Granary? Are you talking about the one over the East Shitiao Bridge?"
"Yes! Those are the granaries, which are now the warehouses of the department store!
If you can help take down those nine warehouses, I will give you a set of old mahogany furniture for free!"
"Oh, my brother Zhang!
How dare you think!
Those nine granaries, I’m not saying whether the department store is for sale or not, but it is. Can you afford it?"
Ma Du looked at Zhang Junping with a wry smile on his face, he actually wanted to buy the royal granary!
I used to feel that I could do a lot of things, but I didn't expect that this person could do a lot of things better than me.
You actually want to buy the royal granary and use it as a studio and collection hall. How serious are you?
“I definitely can’t afford it now, but in a few years, it shouldn’t be a problem!
Besides, if I ask you to talk now, they will probably kick you out!
I’m telling you to pay attention, slowly clear up the relationship, and after two or three years, when the environment becomes more relaxed, buy it!” Zhang Junping said confidently.
The royal granary mentioned by Zhang Junping is also called Nanxincang. It was built on the basis of North Taicang in the Yuan Dynasty in the seventh year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1409). It is 10 years older than the Forbidden City.
It can be said that the Royal Granary has witnessed the 24 generations of kings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the entire history of Kyoto during the Republic of China and New China.
The reason why Zhang Junping paid attention to the Royal Granary was because the architectural structure of the Royal Granary was very suitable for use as a studio and collection library.
It is 24 meters wide, 17 meters deep, and 7 meters high. The bottom of the wall is 1.5 meters thick and the top is about 1 meter thick. They are all made of black city bricks.
There are eaves and rafters on the front and rear of the roof without flying rafters. On the front slope there is a cantilevered eaves door with a width of 4.4 meters and a depth of 2 meters. It is also equipped with ventilation holes and skylights to ensure constant temperature and suitable humidity in all seasons.
In later generations, some people transformed this place into an art granary and art exhibition hall.
And the granary culture also emerged.
After traveling through time, what Zhang Junping wanted most was these nine granaries.
There are a total of thirteen royal granaries, three of which have disappeared in the long river of history, and one has only remains. Only these nine are truly well preserved.
Everyone rolled their eyes. This is so awesome. Will you be able to afford it in a few years?
As for those nine granaries, it can be solved not only with money, but also with many favors before it can be successful.
Anyway, he doesn't have the ability to survive this mess now.
However, the set of old mahogany furniture that Zhang Junping promised was so attractive that even Ma was reluctant to refuse it.
"Okay! I'll ask for you, but I can't guarantee it will work!" Ma Du was a little depressed. Although he didn't refuse, in his opinion, there was a high chance that this old mahogany furniture would be ruined.
"Don't worry, Brother Ma, no matter whether it succeeds or not, your work will not be in vain!
It’s done, I’ll give you a set of old mahogany furniture!
If not, I’ll give you a pair of old mahogany armchairs!”
Zhang Junping naturally saw that Ma Du was not very interested in this matter and was not very enthusiastic. Even if he said hello, he would not pay much attention to it.
In order to stimulate Ma Du's enthusiasm, Zhang Junping made another promise.
"real?"
"Of course it's true!
If you are worried, Brother Ma can take away the armchair first after the furniture is repaired!"
"Brother, aren't you slapping me in the face? I can't believe you anymore!" Ma Du was still a face-saving person. He was too embarrassed to agree directly. He laughed twice and changed the topic: "By the way, I came to see you today, brother.
I would like to ask, was the Luban box opened last time?"
Yes, Ma Du is still thinking about the Luban box.
"I've been too busy recently and haven't had time to open it!" Zhang Junping then remembered that the Luban box he got back from the junkyard hadn't been opened yet.
"Brother, you see you have so much furniture, just give me the Luban box!
Brother, I have been collecting for more than half a year, and I don’t even have anything decent in my hands!” Ma Du held Zhang Junping’s hand and begged.
"You are so insincere!
When I asked for furniture just now, I called me brother, and now it became a brotherly conversation again!
It shows that you are not even eager for Lu Ban Box!" Zhang Junping couldn't help but joked.
They were all looking for furniture, and they all talked about Brother Zhang. Then he turned around and immediately started calling himself brother again.
"Brother, please stop teasing me!
My eyes were opened today. I have been to the Forbidden City several times!
It’s not as exciting as today!” Madu Lao’s face turned red and he introduced with some embarrassment.
"Okay! I'll give it to you, but I have to open it first and take a look!
If there’s something in it, I have to keep it!”
Zhang Junping said as he opened his tool box and took out the Luban box he found at the junkyard.
Opening the Luban box requires special skills. Without understanding the location of the mechanism, you will never be able to open it with brute force, unless you directly break it into pieces in a destructive manner.
In that case, the contents inside will basically be damaged.
Of course, there are no absolutes in everything. Maybe some people are extremely lucky, like the male protagonist in the novel, the son of luck. After just a few shakes, the Luban box will be opened.
There are two openings on the top and side of the Luban box, one real and one false.
Fake openings are of course of no use. Only finding the real opening will work.
You can also try your luck at this step, or try a few more times to find the real opening.
After opening the opening, the top board can be slid to one side.
Do you think it can be opened like this?
Wrong, this is just the beginning!
If a Luban box could be opened so easily, it would not be a Luban box.
There are three hidden compartments on the side of the other end. After opening and taking out the hidden compartments, you can move the wooden board on the top and completely open the Luban box.
In later generations, Zhang Junping once specialized in the production process of Luban boxes.
Not to mention opening it, he can even make it.
In Ma Du's eyes, Zhang Junping just moved his fingers a few times, fiddled with the left and right twice, and with a click, the Luban box was opened.
"Look, look, what treasures are inside!" Seeing the Luban box being opened, Ma Du urged without caring about anything else.
"Nothing less, it seems to be several pieces of paper stacked together..." Zhang Junping picked it up casually and twisted it. The stacked papers separated, revealing the contents inside.
"Let me see, let me see, is it a treasure map?" Ma Du was very imaginative.
"Don't move!" Zhang Junping carefully put the things back into the box.
He turned around and found a pair of white gloves, put them on, and found a pair of magnifying glasses. Then he carefully took out the piece of paper and slowly opened it.
"What?" Ma Du was even more itchy by Zhang Junping's movements.
Zhang Junping carefully opened the stacked papers and revealed what was inside.
Then he watched carefully for a while with a magnifying glass, put down the magnifying glass, and laughed excitedly at the horse.
"Brother Ma, now I have the money to buy the royal granary!