"Damn it, are you trying to kill me?"
Zhuang Rui felt that he had just fallen asleep when his phone kept ringing incessantly. He wanted to ignore it, but the noise kept him awake. Just as he picked it up to hang up, he saw the name Wu Jia on the screen, and his mind immediately cleared.
"Miss Wu, is it? Please wait a moment, I'll be right there."
Zhuang Rui checked the time and realized it was almost nine o'clock in the morning. He quickly pressed the answer button and spoke into the microphone.
"Don't worry, Zhuang Rui. Uncle Luo called and said he might not arrive until the afternoon. I just wanted to let you know."
Wu Jia's words made Zhuang Rui want to vomit blood. Dude, I was busy all night yesterday.
Chapter 334 Luo Jiang
He went back to sleep for a while. It wasn't until after 1 p.m. that his stomach started growling with hunger that Zhuang Rui got out of bed. When he went outside, he saw the white lion lying pitifully by the door, probably hungry too. Zhuang Rui slapped his forehead, realizing he was a really bad owner.
Luckily, there were meat bones that Zhuang Min had bought in the refrigerator. Zhuang Rui washed some rice and stewed it with the bones in a pressure cooker. After about ten minutes, he had made a pot of meat porridge, which served as a meal for Bai Shi. He then took out two packets of instant noodles and cooked and ate them himself.
"Damn it, everyone says rich people eat delicacies every day, but my instant noodles don't even have an egg in them. Uh, at least they're seafood noodles..."
After letting out a burp, Zhuang Rui casually tossed the bowl into the kitchen. Life here wasn't much different from when he was living in a rented room in Zhonghai.
Wu Jia's call hadn't come yet, and Zhuang Rui, having nothing else to do, carried the two pieces of jade he was about to carve out from the basement and placed them on the living room table. He examined them carefully; he had been too tired after cutting them out yesterday to look at them closely.
The smaller piece, about the size of two fists, was of glass-type jadeite, the same quality as the first piece cut out yesterday. The setting sun shone through the window, illuminating the jadeite and making it dazzling and mesmerizing. Even though Zhuang Rui had seen it once yesterday, he was now completely captivated by it.
If the red jade under the lamplight is like a young girl just beginning to experience love, beautiful and reserved, then this red jade under the sunlight is like a passionate and unrestrained woman, radiant and captivating with every glance.
After lingering on this piece of jade for a long time, Zhuang Rui finally looked away and then at the icy jadeite. When placed next to it, the difference between this piece and the glassy red jadeite was very obvious. Although the colors were similar, the luster appeared somewhat dull and failed to give people the feeling of a babbling brook flowing through it.
The icy red jadeite is much larger than the glassy variety, weighing over forty kilograms. It's about the size of a basketball. A skilled jade carver could easily make at least thirty bracelets from it. The remaining material could be made into pendants, playthings, and earrings, all of which would be quite valuable.
Zhuang Rui had already started calculating in his mind. These two fist-sized pieces of top-quality red jade should yield five bracelets, worth over fifty million. Of course, Zhuang Rui had no intention of selling them. He planned to give one bracelet as a 70th wedding anniversary gift to his maternal grandparents, and keep the other four for later.
As Zhuang Rui thought about this, several girls suddenly appeared in his mind. Qin Xuanbing was naturally the first, followed by the dashing Officer Miao and the gentle and lovely Nurse Song. However, the one who made Zhuang Rui's heart itch the most was the charming and alluring host Liu.
"Sigh. One shouldn't be so shameless."
Zhuang Rui coughed loudly to bring himself back to reality, then picked up the remote control from the coffee table and turned on the TV.
"Little sister, this is a gift for you..."
The conversation between the two women on TV suddenly made Zhuang Rui's eyes widen, because the woman sitting on the horse was holding a bracelet.
"No, sister, I'm the younger one, you should be the one accepting this gift from me..."
"No, listen to me, this is a family heirloom of Shiyu's family!"
"Oh? Yours is Shih-Yu's family heirloom, and mine is too..."
At this moment, Xiao Fangfang, who plays Fang Shiyu's mother, took out a large string of bracelets and said, "Come, come, when you're out in the world, the most important thing is courtesy. As the saying goes, it's never wrong to be polite. Everyone who sees this gets a share."
Then came the scene of the kung fu emperor running for his life. Zhuang Rui had seen this movie several times before, but the filthy thought that just came to mind was so similar to the one on TV. He had just been thinking about who to give the bracelet to.
"I'm a decent guy, but these days it seems like apart from Arabs, nobody can have three wives and four concubines anymore, right?"
Zhuang Rui sighed and changed the channel, only to find it showing the story of Emperor Kangxi, the womanizing emperor with dozens of sons. Zhuang Rui felt a tightness in his chest and angrily turned off the TV. This was blatant bullying! He had the desire and the courage, but there was no woman beside him.
Fortunately, just then, the phone rang, which forced Zhuang Rui to suppress his anger. He looked at the number and saw that it was Wu Jia calling.
"Master Luo has arrived? Great, great, I'll be right there at your shop."
Upon hearing that the old master Wu's apprentice had arrived, Zhuang Rui hung up the phone and quickly locked the two rough stones back in the basement. He then drove straight to "Stone Studio." "Little Zhuang, come here, let me introduce you. This is my apprentice, Luo Jiang. He's been an apprentice for over ten years and is now a well-known figure among Yangzhou jade carvers. He'll carve your jade; it won't be a waste of your material."
As soon as Zhuang Rui entered Shitouzhai, he saw Grandpa Wu sitting on the sofa in the shop, talking to a middle-aged man in his forties. Wu Jia was pouring water for the two of them. Grandpa Wu's hands were not very good, but his eyesight was good. He spotted Zhuang Rui at a glance and quickly beckoned him over.
"Hello, Master Luo. I'm really sorry to trouble you this time. Sir, please sit down. How could I let you get up?"
Zhuang Rui walked over and greeted the middle-aged man. Seeing that Grandpa Wu had gotten up to greet him, he quickly reached out to help him up and said, "Grandpa, you look much better than you did a while ago."
"Alas, I'm getting old. I have to bring out my apprentices to make even a few bracelets. I'm useless now."
The old man sighed and said to his apprentice beside him, "Luo Jiang, Xiao Zhuang is someone who has been kind to your master. You must do his job well. Remember the rules of our trade, and don't do anything shady..."
Upon hearing this, Luo Jiang immediately stood up and respectfully replied, "Master, don't worry, I know the rules and I promise I won't bring shame to your reputation..."
"Alright, among all my apprentices, you have the best reputation and the best skills, which is why I asked you to come. You talk to Xiao Zhuang first. Jiajia, help me up, let's go to the inner room."
Grandpa Wu stood up unsteadily and went inside with his granddaughter's help.
"Master Luo, what's wrong with Old Master Wu? What are the rules in the jade carving trade?"
Zhuang Rui realized that Old Master Wu didn't want to listen to their conversation and was probably trying to avoid suspicion by leaving.
Luo Jiang stood up, shook hands with Zhuang Rui, and led Zhuang Rui to the sofa. He said, "Hehe, in the jade carving industry, it's against the rules to reveal the employer's information for such private work. My master values this the most, which is why he said that."
Zhuang Rui noticed that Luo Jiang was very tall, even taller than Zhuang Rui himself. He had a very honest and simple appearance, and his smile gave people a sense of trustworthiness. Moreover, his hands were also very large, with thick calluses on the base of his thumb and the fingers, completely different from the skillful hands of a jade carver that Zhuang Rui had imagined.
However, Zhuang Rui had heard from Old Master Gu that jade carvers in the jade carving industry are somewhat similar to calligraphy masters in that their peak period is in their forties. This is because they inevitably lack experience in their twenties and thirties, and their energy is somewhat lacking in their fifties and sixties. Therefore, their early forties are the age when they are most likely to achieve success.
Many masterpieces by modern and ancient masters were completed during their prime. Although some masters also produced excellent works in their later years, their works from their middle age are still the most perfect in all aspects.
Of course, even though the jade carving masters like Mr. Gu are old, their vision and experience far surpass those of the younger generation. The pieces they actually create are not necessarily inferior to theirs, but in terms of time and quantity, they are naturally far behind.
For example, an item that Grandpa Gu spends half a month carving will definitely be better than something that Luo Jiang carves in three days, but the difference won't be that big. So, for a job like Zhuang Rui polishing a bracelet, which doesn't require too much skill, it's most suitable for Luo Jiang to do it.
"Boss Zhuang, I wonder if you have all the materials ready? If they are, we can start work today."
Luo Jiang seemed to be a very honest person. He didn't mention wages at all and immediately started working. However, this was also a sign of confidence. No matter how nice your words are, if you don't produce good work, it's all for nothing.
“I have prepared the jade material, but there’s no rush. You’ve just arrived in Pengcheng, why don’t you rest for a day first? You can stay at my house, the jade carving place is there too.”
Zhuang Rui was very satisfied with Master Luo, and then said, "Let's invite Old Master Wu to dinner tonight, and thank him for this."
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Luo Jiang said, "Master probably won't go, so let's just forget about it."
Sure enough, when Zhuang Rui went inside and told the old man, Grandpa Wu really disagreed. He waved his hand and said, "Don't bother with all that. This old man has eaten everything. If you have any good items in the future, just put them in my shop to give this old man some face. You two go and get busy..."
"Alright, sir, I'll give you a surprise later."
Zhuang Rui doesn't plan to sell the items carved from glass-type jade, but he can give some of the items carved from ice-type jade to Old Wu's shop for sale. Moreover, his ice-type jade has a very pure color, and the red jade bracelets he makes, although they can't compare to blood jade bracelets, can still fetch around a million yuan each.
Chapter 335 Jade Carving (Part 1)
Zhuang Rui and Luo Jiang chatted with Grandpa Wu at the Stone Studio for a while before driving away. Zhuang Rui first went to the bank and withdrew 200,000 yuan, which was Luo Jiang's commission. A monthly salary of 200,000 yuan was probably unimaginable for many people in 2004, which shows how rare jade carving masters are in modern society.
As Luo Jiang, whose face had remained calm throughout, stepped into Zhuang Rui's villa, a hint of surprise appeared on his face. Although he knew that Zhuang Rui was wealthy, he was still shocked by the elegance and luxury of the villa.
Although jade carving is a craft, master jade carvers need to master a wide range of skills, such as painting, sculpture, and art appreciation. Therefore, Luo Jiang has a very high level of vision.
Logically speaking, Luo Jiang often takes on jade carving jobs for private individuals, and those employers are all wealthy and influential people. Some of their residences are even several times larger than Zhuang Rui's. However, in terms of the taste of the villa's decoration, those people are worlds apart from Zhuang Rui.
What Luo Jiang didn't know was that Zhuang Rui was also benefiting from the work of others. Without the dean of the academy and deputy mayor, Zhuang Rui's imagination would never have been able to design such a villa.
"Master Luo, this is the commission we agreed on, exactly two hundred thousand. Would you like to take a look?"
After entering the villa and sitting down, Zhuang Rui put the plastic bank bag he had been holding onto the coffee table and pushed it in front of Luo Jiang.
"Hehe, Mr. Zhuang, you should keep this money for now. Two hundred thousand is the price I quoted. Once the item is finished, you can decide if it's worth that price and then pay me back. If it's not, you can deduct it from this money. As long as you can point out any shortcomings in the jade I carved, I'll be happy to pay nothing..."
Luo Jiang smiled, not touching the money on the coffee table, but instead uttering these words, which surprised and impressed Zhuang Rui. In ancient times, these craftsmen were the lowest in status, but in terms of integrity, they were no less than those famous masters, literati, and scholars.
"As expected, a great teacher produces outstanding students. Master Luo, just based on your character, you're worth more than two hundred thousand. Okay, I'll keep this money for now and give it to you when the work is finished..."
Luo Jiang dared to say these words because he had considerable confidence in his skills. Otherwise, if someone found fault with his work and withheld the money, he would have worked for nothing for a month. After all, even the most perfect thing has its flaws.
"By the way, Mr. Zhuang, I heard you're also a director of the Jade Association?"
Although Luo Jiang had no intention of prying into Zhuang Rui's privacy, he was still filled with curiosity about this young man.
It's important to understand that while the position of a director of the Jade Association may seem insignificant to outsiders, it carries immense weight within the jade industry. National policies and regulations regarding jade prices and market trends rely on the Jade Association's research and recommendations for implementation.
All regulations of the Jade Association must be approved by a show of hands of more than 80% of the directors before they can be implemented. The Jade Association has a total of 40 directors. Apart from the three directors like Song Jun who are just nominal directors without voting rights, every remaining vote is crucial.
The composition of the Jade Association is quite complex, mostly consisting of owners or representatives of well-known domestic jewelry companies. They are in competition with each other, so passing a resolution is not a simple matter. Therefore, Zhuang Rui's status as a director with voting rights is something many people want to obtain. Of course, Zhuang Rui is unaware of this, nor is he aware of Old Master Gu's painstaking efforts.
"Hehe, I'm just a filler member here. If it weren't for Senior Uncle Gu, I wouldn't have gotten this position..."
Zhuang Rui smiled. He didn't really take this position seriously, not in the past, and not now.
"Gu Tianfeng?"
After seeing Zhuang Rui nod in acknowledgment, Luo Jiang understood. It turned out that his master had always told him not to diminish his reputation, and that was the reason. This young man in front of him actually had a connection with Old Master Gu.
Master Wu and Gu Tianfeng were known as "Wu in the South and Gu in the North." Although they were also close friends, they were also rivals. They never came out on top in their lifetime. It seems that the master wanted to continue the competition with his disciple.
"Boss Zhuang, you are Gu Gu's apprentice, so your skills should be no worse than mine. Why don't you carve the objects yourself and instead come to me?"
Luo Jiang was a little confused. Since Zhuang Rui called Gu Tianfeng "Uncle-Master," he must also be able to carve jade. Why did he approach him?
"Hehe, I studied jade appraisal, but I know nothing about jade carving. I'll have to ask Master Luo for help."
Zhuang Rui's words made Luo Jiang realize something, but also put him under some pressure. Zhuang Rui was an expert in appreciating jade. If he made a mistake while carving the jade, he would not only lose face for himself, but also for his master.
Thinking of this, Luo Jiang's expression turned serious, and he said to Zhuang Rui, "Boss Zhuang, since that's the case, please take out the materials you've prepared. Let me see what items we can make and how many we can produce, and then we can discuss it further."
"Alright, Master Luo, please have some water first. I'll go get the jade..."
Zhuang Rui nodded, stood up, opened the basement door, took out the two pieces of red jade he had prepared, and placed them in front of Luo Jiang.
"This...this...this is red jade?"
Luo Jiang was leisurely drinking water and looking around the hall when he suddenly noticed two pieces of red jadeite rough in front of him. With his keen eye, he could immediately tell that the smaller piece was transparent, with rich and vibrant color, and could definitely be called top-grade jadeite.
Luo Jiang opened his mouth wide in surprise, not even noticing the tea dripping from his mouth onto his clothes.
It's no wonder Luo Jiang was so surprised. He had been apprenticing under Master Wu in jade carving since he was a teenager, and when he was twenty-six or twenty-seven, he graduated and started working on his own. Over the years, he had carved countless top-quality jade pieces. He had seen this kind of top-quality red jade before, but it was only a ring face the size of a thumbnail. He had never even heard of a piece of this size, let alone seen it.
"A masterpiece, a masterpiece! A once-in-a-century find, no, a once-in-a-millennium find!"
Wiping the tea from his lips, Luo Jiang, usually so composed, revealed a fanatical glint in his eyes. He picked up the small piece of glass-type red jadeite on the table, muttering to himself.
Zhuang Rui hadn't expected Master Luo to react so strongly. He wondered what kind of reaction the jade carving master would have if he took out the other half as well.
As mentioned earlier, it is difficult for an apprentice to find a good master, just as it is difficult for a good master to find an apprentice. The greatest wish of a good sculptor is that the objects he carves can be passed down through the ages, so that his name can be recorded in history. But can you expect objects carved from dog shit to be passed down through the ages?
Like Mr. Wu and Mr. Gu, many of their sculpted works have been collected by the National Museum of China, which is the greatest recognition and affirmation of their sculpting art. Of course, the materials used in those works are top-grade jade.
Therefore, in the jade carving industry, to reach the level of "Nanwu Beigu", one not only needs exquisite jade carving skills, but also needs to have representative works that are worth mentioning. Often, the reason why some skilled carvers are not famous is because they have not produced any good works.
What limits the development of these carvers is actually the jade itself. After thousands of years of mining, the quantity of jadeite and nephrite has greatly decreased compared to before, and top-quality jade is even rarer. When evaluating the quality of a jade work, the carving technique is certainly important, but the quality of the jade itself should take precedence.