Antique Dealer

Chapter 242 Secret?

After Fang Hao finished reading, Yan Sanzhi said, "Is there any problem?"

Fang Hao said no problem, and asked the price.

Yan San commanded and waved: "Give me 420 million, and you can take the things away."

Fang Hao was surprised. Based on his previous valuation, it was at least 460 million. Unexpectedly, Yan Sanzhi asked for 40 less.

Yan Sanzhi saw the strangeness on Fang Hao's face, and said, "I am like this. If you look right, it doesn't matter if you eat a little. If you don't look right, even if it doubles, I won't sell it to him."

That's the way it is said, but the old saying is good, there is no hatred for no reason, and there is no love for no reason. Is it true that Yan Sanzhi did this just because he saw the right eye?
Fang Hao didn't quite believe this statement, and the last time he left Yan Sanzhi's place, he felt that Yan Sanzhi's attitude towards him was different, which made him want to know the inside story, otherwise he would rather not Come to Yan Sanzhi to buy goods here.

"Old Yan, I can feel your love and care for me, but there are some things, I think it's better for us to be open and honest, otherwise I feel a little unbearable!"

"He's an honest man."

Yan Sanzhi nodded secretly, and smiled at Fang Hao: "Don't worry, I have no malice towards you. As for the reason... Well, I will give you another thing. If you can find out its secret, I will Tell you in advance."

Speaking of this, he bent down, took out something from under the cabinet, put it on the counter, and pushed it in front of Fang Hao.

Fang Hao looked down and saw that it was a cylinder-shaped timing device with a unique shape, resembling a bell and a drum.The dial is made of white enamel, with ink-painted twelve-hour scale and twelve Chinese characters, and a copper pointer in the center.
The body of the vessel is made of copper and gold, and a circle of lotus patterns are hollowed out from top to bottom, and Buddhist eight-treasure patterns such as wheels, snails, umbrellas, lids, lotus flowers, jars, fish, and pan lengths are carved on the twigs and tendrils. , surrounded by cloud patterns, exquisite carving, and exquisite lines and stripes, implying auspiciousness.There is a disassembly knob embedded in the middle of the base, and a "bell" is engraved on the left side, and the font is clear and clear.

Yan Sanzhi took out another clockwork handle and pushed it in front of Fang Hao: "Do you know what this is?"

Fang Hao raised his head and replied, "If I'm not mistaken, this is a wake-up clock made by the Palace Building Office during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty."

According to historical records, the Qing Palace set up a self-sounding bell office in the palace as early as the Kangxi period. During the Yongzheng period, it was changed to a bell office. In the first month of the second year of Qianlong (1737), the bell office began to expand. The craftsmen in the office include foreign missionaries, Foreign recruitment craftsmen and eunuchs.This wake-up clock with a unique shape is the product of the perfect combination of Western technology and Chinese timekeeping by the Manufacturing Office of the Qing Dynasty.

Yan Sanzhi smiled and said: "It seems that you really know a lot. You can take this wake-up clock back and study it. Don't worry. I will give me the answer when I come back from Qiongdao. If you can answer correctly, this wake-up clock is yours." Yes, it is your labor income."

Giving bells is very taboo in China, and Yan Sanzhi considered Fang Hao's feelings before saying that it was Fang Hao's labor income.

"This is not very good." Fang Hao hastily declined.

The clocks and watches of the Qing palace are customized by the clock making office of the manufacturing office. In addition to the strict requirements of the emperor, chiseling, carving, inlaying, inlaying, and plating, each process is made by the best craftsmen. Therefore, every piece of Qing palace clocks is unique. It is a boutique.

Like this wake-up clock, the workmanship is quite exquisite, and it is well preserved. The market value is at least around 80, and Fang Hao dare not accept it casually.

"Don't refuse in a hurry, I will tell you the reason when you find out its secret."

Speaking of this, Yan Sanzhi moved a bit: "Hey, I am getting old, and my old arms and legs feel rusty after standing for a while. Unfortunately, I am still working hard. Before I go to Qiongdao, I have to go there again. Send things from God. I won't keep you."

Fang Hao's heart moved when he heard the words: "To tell you the truth, I will go to Fengtian tomorrow."

Yan Sanzhi's eyes lit up slightly: "Then can you give me a jade hairpin?"

Fang Hao nodded and said, "Okay, just give me the item and the other party's information, and I will deliver it."

"Okay, just wait for a while."

Yan Sanzhi went to get a hairpin with exquisite jade quality and exquisite carving work, and then wrote Fang Hao his friend's address and contact number.

Back home, Fang Hao put all the antiques away, went downstairs to have a simple dinner, and then went back to study the wake-up clock brought back from Yan Sanzhi.

Everyone knows that the twelve hours are the traditional timekeeping units in our country. It was first used in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and it was expressed by the twelve earthly branches after the Han Dynasty.

But few people know that after the Song Dynasty, each of the twelve hours was divided into two parts: "beginning" and "positive", forming 24 hours, which is consistent with the 24-hour counting method of Western clocks.

This wake-up clock adopts the 24-hour counting method, which is divided into eight quarters in one hour and four quarters in hours.The twelve o'clock on the dial has "beginning" and "positive" settings, and the time is set 24 hours a day.

In addition to the travel time, time reporting, and engraving systems of ordinary clocks and watches, the system of sending and changing, setting and changing, and changing devices are added, which can be adjusted according to the length of the night of the 24 solar terms in a year and determine the start and end of the change. Interval time.The overall abnormal exquisiteness reflects the extremely exquisite craftsmanship of the craftsmen at that time.

According to Yan Sanzhi, the wake-up clock was in good condition. Fang Hao fully wound up the clockwork with the wind-up handle, and the clock began to run, and even the movement of the inner device could be clearly discerned. Fang Hao was amazed by the ingenuity.

After a while, Fang Hao frowned. Although the wake-up clock in front of him was exquisitely crafted and the decoration was extremely exquisite, he didn't find anything special about it other than that.

"Could the secret be inside the wake-up bell?"

This thought flashed through Fang Hao's mind. He picked up the wake-up clock and observed carefully through the hollowed-out decorations. No matter how he looked, he still couldn't find it.

"Could it be that the method I used is wrong?"

Next, Fang Hao exhausted all the methods he could think of to observe the wake-up clock from various angles, but still found nothing.

After researching for so long, there is still no clue. Fang Hao only feels that his head hurts. However, since it is a secret, it is normal that it is difficult to find. He did not force himself to continue. Have a discovery?
Looking at the time, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. Fang Hao took out his mobile phone and sent a message to Shang Xiaoxuan. He learned that he was still working overtime at the company, and it was estimated that he would be off work in half an hour.

"Xiaoxuan, are you chatting with your boyfriend?"

Shang Xiaoxuan put down her phone, with a smile on her face, when she heard a voice from the side, and looked up, it was the new designer Yu Qian.

Yu Qian is a 37-year-old intellectual woman who is well-known in the jewelry design industry. Shang Xiaoxuan thinks that she is enthusiastic and easy to talk to, but there is one thing that is not good about her. She is too curious. In layman's terms, she tends to gossip.

Fortunately, Yu Qian just loves to gossip and doesn't know how to talk nonsense, so everyone didn't find it particularly annoying.

Shang Xiaoxuan nodded, knowing that Yu Qian loves to gossip, she said bluntly: "He will pick me up later."

Yu Qian smiled and said, "Oh, that's great, like the one in my family, not to mention now, even when we first fell in love, he didn't take the initiative to pick me up. He's just a lump of elm, and he doesn't understand romance at all."

Shang Xiaoxuan smiled slightly: "Doesn't this mean that brother-in-law's feelings for you are always the same."

"Xiaoxuan, you are so nice to speak." Yu Qian covered her mouth and smiled: "But the one in my family has not changed in these years, I have always been quite relieved."

Since Shang Xiaoxuan still had work to do, Yu Qian chatted for a few words, then walked to her desk with a cup of hot coffee, then took out her mobile phone, opened WeChat, clicked on one of the people, and sent a message: " Alright, I found out clearly, Xiaoxuan has a boyfriend, so you should give up on that."

After a while, the other party replied a message: "Sister-in-law, have you met her boyfriend?"

"No, but I will come to pick Xiaoxuan home later."

"Help me take a look."

"I'm not going to do stupid things for you."

"Oh, I didn't intend to pry the corner of the wall. I just let you see what her boyfriend looks like and whether she is worthy of her."

"Get out, who doesn't know your little thoughts, besides, people are happy with each other, can we outsiders control it? I warn you again, don't do good things all day long!" Yu Qian snorted coldly and turned the other party The number is blocked.

Shang Xiaoxuan was concentrating on her work, and turned her phone to silent. After she finished the last picture and sent it to the client via email, she stretched herself, turned on her phone and saw that Fang Hao had already sent a message 5 minutes ago. Information, speaking of downstairs.

She quickly replied and went downstairs immediately, packing her things in a hurry.

On the other side, Yu Qian saw Shang Xiaoxuan tidy up the table, also put away her cell phone, stood up from the chair, picked up her bag, and walked quickly to Shang Xiaoxuan: "Xiao Shang, are you off work too?"

"Yes." Shang Xiaoxuan put the tablet into her bag and nodded.

The two went downstairs talking and laughing. Of course, Yu Qian was basically talking throughout the whole process, and Shang Xiaoxuan could only nod her head and speak modal particles.

When the two walked to the door, Shang Xiaoxuan pointed to a car parked not far away: "That's my boyfriend's car."

Yu Qian recognized that it was a BMW. As for the model, she didn't know the model, but the size looked quite large, so it must not be cheap. She clicked her tongue in her heart and guessed that Shang Xiaoxuan's boyfriend was probably a rich second generation.

Yu Qian smiled and said, "Would you mind introducing me?"

"Why would you mind?"

Shang Xiaoxuan chuckled, and led Yu Qian to the car.

In the car, Fang Hao saw that Shang Xiaoxuan was still following someone, so he got out of the car and greeted him proactively.

When Yu Qian saw Fang Hao's appearance, her eyes widened unconsciously, and she couldn't help shouting in her heart, ah!Why is he so handsome, like a star!
"Sister Yu, this is my boyfriend Fang Hao."

"Hello, nice to meet you."

Fang Hao stretched out his hand on his own initiative, Yu Qian came back to his senses, tried to keep calm, stretched out his hand and shook Fang Hao lightly: "Hello, I am Yu Qian, Xiaoxuan's colleague, you two are really talented and beautiful!"

Both Fang Hao and Shang Xiaoxuan smiled.

Yu Qian was very curious about Fang Hao's job and how the two met, but now is not the time to ask this question, so she took the initiative to say: "It's getting late, so I won't delay you."

Fang Hao said politely: "What kind of transportation does Sister Yu take? Do you need me to take it?"

Yu Qian thanked: "I have a car, today is not a restricted day, so I drove here."

"Sister Yu, let's go first."

"Ok, see you tomorrow."

Seeing Fang Hao and Shang Xiaoxuan got into the car, Yu Qian couldn't help feeling that Shang Xiaoxuan was lucky enough to find such a rich and handsome guy worthy of the name. Of course, maybe Fang Hao was just playing for fun, but with her so many years Fang Hao should be more honest with his experience in knowing people, and the possibility of deceiving Shang Xiaoxuan is very low.

At this moment, she wanted her brother-in-law to pursue Shang Xiaoxuan again, so that he would be wronged in the end, and teach him a lesson, but after much deliberation, she decided not to do this, and don't end up with something irreparable.

On the other side, the two got into the car, Fang Hao fastened his seat belt: "I didn't face you in front of your colleagues just now, didn't I embarrass you?"

Shang Xiaoxuan giggled: "With your face, you can't lose it even if you want to."

Fang Hao touched his face: "How come I was born so graceful!"

Shang Xiaoxuan burst into laughter: "I've discovered now that your skin is as thick as the city wall."

"That's why I can protect you from the wind and rain!"

"vomit!"

Fang Hao smiled and started the car: "You shouldn't be so late tomorrow, right?"

"You don't need to work overtime tomorrow, are you going to take the nine o'clock high-speed train to Fengtian tomorrow?"

"Yeah, how about I drive the car for you, just in time for you to take me to the train station."

"I don't want it." Shang Xiaoxuan flatly refused: "With my skills, it's easier to park for a while, and taking a bus is more comfortable than driving."

"You'll have to drive sooner or later, so it's better to get familiar with it now, otherwise what's the use of learning a driver's license?"

Shang Xiaoxuan thought for a while, then shook her head: "Forget it, there are too many cars in the capital, and I'm afraid of going on the road. And there are still traffic restrictions, so I'm in trouble."

Fang Hao thought for a while: "The traffic restriction is indeed a troublesome thing. It seems that I have to buy another car. What car do you think I should buy?"

Shang Xiaoxuan said: "I don't know much about cars, I believe in your aesthetics."

"Don't you have an opinion?"

"It's up to you to decide for yourself!"

Fang Hao knew that Shang Xiaoxuan insisted on certain things, so he didn't take it lightly, and then talked about other things.

The two chatted and laughed, and they didn't feel the passage of time, and they arrived at the community where Shang Xiaoxuan lived.

After parking the car, the two said good night to each other. Shang Xiaoxuan opened the car door, turned around, and quickly pecked Fang Hao's face, and then quickly got out of the car: "We've paid the fare!"

"Be careful!" Fang Hao watched his girlfriend run into the gate of the community, touched the place where Shang Xiaoxuan kissed just now, smirked, and then drove home.

The next day, Fang Hao had breakfast, took the hosta and some simple luggage, and went to the train station to meet Zhu Zhiqing and Ji Wenxue.

During the journey, Fang Hao received a call from Tang Mingshan, saying that he and Hu Jue had arrived in the capital.

Speaking of it, Tang Mingshan really wanted to make a change and didn't want to stay in Xijing all the time. This time he was very tough towards his mother, even threatening him with a hunger strike. In the end, his mother succumbed and agreed to Tang Mingshan's coming to the capital. There are three chapters of the contract.

In order to be able to come to the capital smoothly, Tang Mingshan agreed to everything he could. As soon as he arrived in the capital, he felt that anyway, the sky was high and the emperor was far away, so he could do whatever he had to do.

Fang Hao asked him and Hu Jue to go to the hotel to settle down first, and to get familiar with the environment in the past two days. When he came back from Fengtian, the villa would almost be completed, and the rented place could be vacated now.There are two rooms and one living room, just enough for the two of them to live in.If they don't want to live together in the future, as long as they have money, they can live anywhere.

After getting off the train, the group took a taxi for more than half an hour to go to the hotel where they were staying. After packing their luggage, Fang Hao and Zhu Zhiqing talked and gave the jade hairpin to Yan Sanzhi's friend.

Yan Sanzhi's friend is named Zhang Zhuoyue, Fang Hao called him, and now he is still in the store in Fengtian Antique City.

The hotel is only a 10-minute drive from Fengtian Antique City, but today is a working day, and it is already past three o'clock, and the antique city is sparsely populated.

Fang Hao came to a small antique shop according to the road signs that Zhang Zhuoyue said on the phone, and was just about to walk in when he saw someone arguing in the shop.

At this moment, Zhang Zhuoyue was very angry. The young man in front of him was simply unreasonable. After negotiating the price, he actually refused to buy it. He seemed to be a knowledgeable person, so why didn't he even care about the rules!

The most basic rule in antique trading is that when the two parties are bargaining, if the buyer proposes a price, and the seller agrees, the buyer must buy it.

This sentence seems to be nonsense. Since the price I proposed is definitely something I can afford, of course I will buy it. Do you need to say that!

The truth is this, but many newcomers in the antique industry just can't do it.The reason is the problem of eyesight and experience. Some people will hesitate when they see something they like, not knowing whether to buy it or not, because they don't know how much the thing is worth.

For example, the seller offers 100 yuan, and the buyer counter-offers 30. At this time, the seller agrees, and the buyer may feel cheated instantly, and immediately say that the item is no longer needed. This situation is actually very common.Of course, it is not easy for such a buyer to be scolded a few times, and it is possible to be beaten when encountering some grumpy sellers.

Besides, Zhang Zhuoyue has encountered such a thing now. The young man came over with the middle-aged man next to him, and asked if there was any familiar or handed down chicken heart pendant.

Originally, Zhang Zhuoyue didn't want to do business with such an unfamiliar individual visitor, but when the young man spoke politely and sincerely at first, Zhang Zhuoyue's heart softened, and he took out a chicken heart pendant from the Han Dynasty.

The young man discussed with the middle-aged man for a while, and then bargained with Zhang Zhuoyue. Zhang Zhuoyue is not a person who likes to be silly. After talking for two rounds, Zhang Zhuoyue thought the price was right and agreed. The whole moth actually said no, and made him very angry. Isn't this a waste of his time?
Ever since, the two started arguing, and when Fang Hao arrived at the door, the two got angry and escalated to a quarrel.

(End of this chapter)