Chapter fifty-four, there are people in the depths of the white clouds
Chapter fifty-four, there are people living deep in the white clouds
You Fang changed his clothes, trimmed his hair a little, went out and closed the door and came to the suite opposite. Like the room he lived in, there was a bedroom inside and a fairly spacious reception room outside. Zhou Xiaoxian explained straight to the point.
: "The Niu family is powerful and efficient, so I just mentioned that I wanted to talk to you, and someone found your place and opened a room at the opposite door."
You Fang smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, this is such a thoughtful way to meet."
Zhou Xiaoxian also smiled: "Mr. Rand, don't get me wrong. The reason why I didn't contact you in advance was because I was afraid of your taboos. In fact, I didn't mean any harm. It's just that you left in a hurry the day before yesterday. There are some things I want to find a private occasion for."
Please tell me, please take a seat."
You Fang sat down on the sofa and said politely: "I don't dare to ask for advice. Teacher Zhou is a senior and a well-recognized person in the industry. If you have anything to ask, just say it."
Zhou Xiaoxian was not in a hurry. He looked at the time and said, "Mr. Rand hasn't had dinner yet? How about we go to the restaurant to find a private room to chat?"
You Fang shook his head: "Don't go to so much trouble. If Teacher Zhou doesn't have anything to eat, just call the guest room for food delivery. Let's chat here while we eat."
Dining in the guest room seems very casual. Only people who are more familiar with it and are not afraid of being rude would treat each other to a meal like this. You Fang deliberately did this because he clearly wanted to get close to Zhou Xiaoxian. Since he wanted Zhou Xiaoxian to treat him to a meal, he asked him to treat him to a meal in the guest room.
.Zhou Xiaoxian nodded with satisfaction, and then made a phone call to order a meal.
Dinner was served in a short time. Seeing this gesture, You Fang understood that Zhou Xiaoxian did not come alone and had already prepared it. Generally, guests call in the room to order food delivery, and the restaurant is just for calling a waiter.
The convenience box was packed and delivered in a plastic bag, along with a pair of convenience chopsticks and a plastic spoon. You also ordered meal delivery in the guest room yesterday.
However, at this time, the chef pushed the dining cart through the door. The dishes had obviously just been cooked. The cups, bowls, and dishes were placed on the coffee table in the living room, which was no different from a private room in a restaurant. The wine was also ready, and the beer was white, red, and yellow.
There are both rice and foreign dishes, and the red wine has been opened and chilled in an ice jar, and the rice wine has also been boiled. It is obvious that this meal was specially arranged, and Zhou Xiaoxian just made a phone call to have it delivered.
Room.
After moving two armchairs and sitting down next to the marble coffee table, Zhou Xiaoxian asked, "What kind of wine does Mr. Rand drink?"
You Fang: "Whatever Teacher Zhou drinks, I will drink with you."
You Fang toasted half a glass of red wine and ate a few chopsticks to roast meat. Then Zhou Xiaoxian asked: "The blue and white plum vase you broke was very skillfully crafted. I'm very interested in its origins. Of course."
"Yes, this topic is a bit taboo. If there is any inconvenience, Mr. Rand doesn't have to talk about it." It's no wonder that he would ask this first. People like Zhou Xiaoxian are of course most concerned about professional issues. You Fang thought
After thinking for a while he replied——
"Since it is Teacher Zhou who is asking, I will tell you everything I can tell you. That plum vase was made by a contemporary antique craftsman, but this person did not forge fakes for sale. As far as I know, he has three rules for making utensils.
First, it must leave a unique mark on the surface; second, the imitation certificate must be issued in person and photographed for record; third, no counter-offering is allowed when accepting custom orders.
This plum vase should have been sold overseas at first. Later, it fell into the hands of an archaeological scholar in China through unknown channels, but it became a Yuan blue and white piece that is difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake. This old scholar has done a lot of work for the protection of cultural relics and traditional cultural heritage.
He devoted his whole life to the finishing work, and the plum vase is his relic. The reason why I brought this Yuan blue and white fake to participate in this collection activity is also related to the elder's last wish. As for his name, I can not say it for the time being.
?"
This matter took many twists and turns. Zhou Xiaoxian blinked when he heard it. The first thing he asked was the most professional question: "That plum vase has the author's mark on it. I heard that traditional Jianghu artists often have this kind of elegance."
, but I didn’t see it at the time.”
You Fang smiled and said, "This has nothing to do with Teacher Zhou's professional level, it's just the author's personal interest." But he deliberately didn't point out where the mark was to keep it a secret.
Zhou Xiaoxian is a knowledgeable person and it is difficult to ask questions, so he asked instead: "Isn't Mr. Rand, the elder's last wish, that you hit me in the eye with a plum vase?"
You Fang: "This is a misunderstanding. It's such a coincidence that I met Teacher Zhou! ... I would also like to take the liberty to ask, what do you think of this Yuan Qinghua collection activity?"
Zhou Xiaoxian: "You already know that the person soliciting this activity is Mr. Niu Ranmiao. With his wealth and status, it is understandable that he wants to collect a Yuanqinghua. Although I don't agree with this activity, the old man can't say anything.
I won’t come. Although it seems a bit childish and the scene is a bit chaotic, the old man is old and seems childish in some aspects. As a child, you have to understand."
You Fang nodded, then shook his head: "I would like to ask Mr. Zhou, from the perspective of industry experts, how do you view the impact of this event and those who come here to participate in the collection?"
As mentioned before, this solicitation event has had a considerable impact on the community. Counterfeiters and tomb-robbing gangs have taken action. The mad fox was alarmed. As far as visitors could see at the scene, some people were holding the newly unearthed treasures.
Qianlong Pastel Porcelain ran to the scene to check the wind and step on the line, but was blocked by Luo Dike.
Zhou Xiaoxian himself works in the Cultural Relics Conservation Research Office of the Palace Museum. How could he not understand what You Fang said, but he was not easy to answer directly, so he turned around and criticized his students: "I can't see what I do in the studio."
Jing, the doctoral student I led, Luo Dike, handled most of the matters outside. He also believed that the impact of this collection activity was very complicated. There were many counterfeit cultural relic dealers and people from tomb-robber gangs coming to test it, which was very annoying. But
I think this has nothing to do with Mr. Niu’s original intention.”
You Fang immediately took over the conversation and said: "Of course Mr. Niu's original intention was not like this, but given his status, the impact of his actions may have been unexpected by him. My elder's last wish is related to this. He
Before his death, he had always wanted to find an opportunity to interview Mr. Niu Ranmiao, but unfortunately he had never been able to do so.
In recent years, the international market has been crazy about Chinese cultural relics, especially the precious cultural relics that have been dispersed overseas in troubled times. Teacher Zhou must be aware of it, right? My elder, who has a similar status to you, once told the students that the Chinese cultural relics that have been unearthed and handed down from generation to generation have been unearthed.
In China, overseas collections are far larger than domestic collections. This round of hype is obviously driven by behind-the-scenes efforts. In fact, it has brought about a huge revaluation of Chinese cultural relics collected in the West, which is no less than a second
plunder.
Mr. Niu Ranmiao spent a lot of money on many occasions to buy back national treasures scattered overseas and donate them to the motherland. He cannot be overly praised, but it also caused a group of people with similar status to follow suit. And you and I both know that some things should not be done at all.
Paying such a high price to buy them back also created huge obstacles for others to save and recover other cultural relics. Mr. Niu had his own intentions, but he did not consider more and was adding fuel to the flames! From protecting and recovering cultural relics
, looking at the overall situation of sorting out and inheriting traditional wealth, the gains outweigh the losses.
As an industrialist leader who has returned to the motherland, Mr. Niu has more and better ways to express his national stance and patriotism. Moreover, he has also done admirable things in other aspects, such as donating to culture and education.
There is no need to express your scientific research career with this kind of behavior, let alone lead others and your children and nephews to continue to follow suit.
These were the last words of the elder. He had always wanted to advise Mr. Niu face to face, but unfortunately he is no longer alive. Teacher Zhou, you are a top expert in the study of ancient Chinese culture and the protection of ancient cultural relics, so you must understand his thoughts. So.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask you something. Since Mr. Niu has asked you to be responsible for the appraisal of this collection event, he will definitely ask you about the situation afterwards. Can you convey these words to him?
I know that most people are unlikely to speak like this in front of Mr. Niu, but with Teacher Zhou’s identity and professional position, I should be able to tell you, please!”
You Fang said all this in one breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He poured a full goblet of wine and drank it in one gulp. Then he stood up and bowed deeply to Zhou Xiaoxian.
As he spoke, Zhou Xiaoxian's face became more and more solemn. At first he was questioning, then he was surprised, and finally he stood up with a sigh, reached out and patted You Fang on the shoulder and said: "Mr. Rand, I should respect you."
You have a drink, and a toast to your elder, sit down and talk, you really surprised me."
After sitting down again, Zhou Xiaoxian toasted You Fang with two glasses of wine, and then said: "No wonder you left in such a hurry, leaving the fragments behind, and then stayed here without changing places. You were waiting for me."
Woolen cloth?"
You Fang nodded sheepishly: "I did have this intention, but I didn't expect Teacher Zhou to come in person. Of course it would be best if I could wait for you. These words are really only suitable to be said slowly in private."
Zhou Xiaoxian looked a little confused: "What you said is directed at Mr. Niu Ranmiao. Did you already know about it beforehand?"
You Fang told the truth: "I didn't know about it beforehand. I didn't know until Teacher Zhou told me."
Zhou Xiaoxian hesitated: "Then when you..."
You Fang explained in embarrassment: "I didn't intend to use that vase to defraud. If I did, the elders in my family would probably break my legs. I went to find someone, but unexpectedly I made a scene.
There was a misunderstanding, but I happened to learn that the collector was Mr. Niu, so I remembered the last words of an elder, deliberately let it slip, and wanted to find an opportunity to ask someone to tell it to me."
Zhou Xiaoxian looked at You Fang with a questioning look, and said with a half-smile: "Elder, break your legs? I don't dare to be so cruel to students! Otherwise, you will be the defendant in court. According to the old saying, you should
You are from a martial arts background, and the rules when studying art are quite strict! ...Okay, I won't ask about your origins. I should also thank you for what happened the day before yesterday. According to what you asked me to do, I should handle it for you.
but……"
You Fang asked nervously: "Is Teacher Zhou having any difficulties?"
Zhou Xiaoxian laughed: "There is no difficulty, but you are more lucky. You have the opportunity to tell the old man in person. I have called Mr. Niu to tell him what happened that day as an anecdote. The old man said that you, a young man,
It's very interesting to do things. I removed two thresholds on the spot but left one threshold. The reaction was not simple. If you don't mind, you might as well meet me by the way. Although I don't know exactly what the threshold the old man meant, but he gave me
Give you a chance to talk face to face."
Hearing this, You Fang was so excited that he didn't even break out in a sweat. He secretly thought that Niu Ramiao was indeed a veteran in the martial arts world. He was so "professional" that all his tricks were wiped out. He asked uneasily, "Mr., you want to see me."
, going to Macau?”
Zhou Xiaoxian shook his head: "The old man didn't invite you specially, he just wanted to meet you. He is going to the mainland for some relaxation recently and will stay in Guangzhou for two days. This morning, a secretary of the old man called and asked about the person who broke the vase.
Have you left, the young man from Fragments? If you haven't moved, say hello. Are you willing to have morning tea with the old man?... And I happened to have something to ask and wanted to say thank you in person, so I came in person.
Already."
Drinking morning tea? It’s normal when you think about it. If Mr. Niu comes to Guangzhou and wants to entertain guests at lunch or dinner time, I’m afraid there will be a group of dignitaries from the political and business circles waiting in line. They will only meet guests when they have breakfast.
Treating an insignificant person like Fang as a fun distraction is just like reading interesting news in a newspaper, but this time he is meeting a real person.
Niu Ranmiao was just having fun, but You Fang had to be serious and a little nervous. He subconsciously leaned forward and asked, "When and where?"
Zhou Xiaoxian: "In three days, if you get up early, a car will be sent to pick you up... A personal reminder, the old man is ninety years old. After all, he is a highly respected elder. Pay attention to your tone when you say something. Just make sure the meaning is clear. No need to say it.
It’s too much.”
You Fang: "I understand, and Mr. Niu probably understands many things better than me, but there are some things that should be said, because they are the last words to convey to others... You just said that as you get older, you become a little childish.
, but would such a respectable old boy like him still care about me, a real child?"
Zhou Xiaoxian was startled, and then he laughed dumbly and said: "That's right, how could Mr. Niu care about you! With our age and experience, we are not all children in front of him, but I worry too much."
After dinner, Zhou Xiaoxian left the Liuhua Hotel and did not really stay here. There was another detail that surprised You Fang. Although Zhou Xiaoxian found him, he did not send back the fragments of the plum bottle. After learning that three
When the Queen of Heaven Niu Ranmiao wanted to see him, You Fang was a little nervous, so he revealed all his tricks with just a few words to the old man. If he tried to do anything in front of Niu Ranmiao, he would probably be just doing what he did, so he had to be honest.
However, after thinking about it, I felt relieved. Liu Li's wealth back then was probably no less than that of Niu Ramiao today. As for his experience and sophistication in the world, he was not inferior to Niu Ramiao. There is a strange old man Liu Li who was at the bottom of the bowl of water.
, I no longer feel embarrassed to deal with other old men in the world.
Three days later, You Fang got up very early. Just after washing up, the guest room phone rang. The Niu family sent a car to pick him up. He asked if it was convenient for him to go downstairs. When he went downstairs, You Fang was still thinking about what kind of car the Niu family would send to pick him up.
, it was too high-end, there was no need, he was not an important guest, and it was too low-end, and it looked shameless. As a result, he saw an off-road vehicle with a brand he didn't recognize parked at the door of the building.
The driver is a middle-aged man in his forties, holding the steering wheel with a serious smile. Standing next to the passenger door is a woman in her twenties, with very beautiful and delicate eyebrows. Her makeup is not too thick or too light, but her expression is...
Faintly, when he saw You Fang, he just looked at him with a little curiosity, and then asked politely but somewhat arrogantly: "Are you Mr. Melander?"
You Fang smiled and nodded, with an expression like looking at the girl next door: "My name is Melander, you are...?"
Woman: "My name is Qi Ruoxue, and I am the executive director of Macau Niu Enterprises stationed in Guangzhou Hengming Group. Mr. Niu wants to see you today, please come with me!" After saying that, he opened the door of the back seat and welcomed
The guest's posture was very standard, but his expression was always a little cold.
The place where the Yuan Qinghua collection activity is held is called Hengming Building. It seems to be the property of Hengming Group. When You Fang saw it for the first time, he was still thinking, why is it the same as his father's famous prisoner? Of course he doesn't know the other person's name.
How to write the name? You Fang thought to himself: "Wife Ruoxue? Well, it's quite cold. A typical cold beauty. Whoever marries you should be careful not to let it melt in the sun."
You Fang got in the car, and Qi Ruoxue didn't waste any more words. She directly asked the driver to drive, but instead of going in the direction of the city, she went east along Huanshi Middle Road, passed by the northern foot of Yuexiu Mountain, and entered the Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area.
Then we walked north along the shore of Luhu Lake. After leaving the noisy urban area, we walked among the mountains and rivers. The scenery was very good and the mood was good. There were also beautiful women traveling in the same car. The only thing that put a bit of a damper on the scenery was that the beauty was a little bit...
He didn't speak when he was cold.
Reaching the depths of Baiyun Mountain, the off-road vehicle drove up to an intersection with no road signs but a checkpoint. The mountain road shaded by green trees turned a few turns and arrived at a gentle slope facing Luhu Lake. This place is backed by green mountains.
It is not steep, and the trees on both sides are lush but not dense. The gentle slopes in the mountains have been artificially trimmed into a large grass platform, and unique railings are installed on the side facing down the mountain.
There is a parking lot on one side of the platform. Three cars have been parked. In the center of the platform are placed anti-UV sun umbrellas and leisure tables and chairs. Looking forward from here, you can have a panoramic view of the Lake at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, but the space is limited.
There is a considerable height and distance, and it is not affected by the night fog and moisture on the lake. On the north side of the platform is a three-story building with no signboard. It looks like it is a private villa, a resort, a club or the like, but at this moment it is obvious that
It was Niu Ranmiao’s foothold in Guangzhou.
I really didn’t expect that there would be such a quiet and elegant residence in the bustling suburbs of Guangzhou. The scenery and feng shui are good. Even if there are some problems for the elderly, it doesn’t matter. You Fang secretly sighed in his heart, rich people are rich.
If you are picky about the conditions, or someone will arrange everything for you to be very comfortable, ordinary people would never even think about living in a place like this.
However, he just lamented that he didn't have much envy. Maybe it had something to do with his mentality. He was proficient in Feng Shui and could observe the local atmosphere. As long as he was willing to look for it, he could naturally find a place with a small environment that was no worse than here and much cheaper. It was just that the artificial decoration was incomparable.
Just a comparison.
After getting off the car in front of the door, Qi Ruoxue led him to the first floor. He first stood at the door of a bathroom and asked him to go in and wash his hands before entering the restaurant. There were double-layered floor-to-ceiling windows facing south.
, open the curtain and you can see the scenery outside. There is a white maple dining table in the center. There are six chairs around the table, but only two sets of tableware are placed. One set is of course in front of the main seat, and the other is on the right hand of the main seat.
By the side, You Fang knew where he should sit just by looking at it.
Several chefs in white uniforms were placing various breakfasts on the table. However, You Fang was attracted by what was placed in the center of the table at a glance. It was the blue and white plum vase that he had smashed!