Actually, there used to be sandalwood in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions of my country, but because of its scarcity, it was quickly depleted. Later, the Ming Dynasty emperor sent people to Southeast Asia to purchase it. According to records, "By the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, most of the sandalwood produced in the world was gathered in China and stored in Guangzhou and Beijing. The Ming Dynasty over-harvested it, and by the Qing Dynasty, it had not yet regenerated, so the source was exhausted."
By the mid-Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong had sent people to Southeast Asia to procure sandalwood, but most of the sandalwood trees were too small to be easily grasped and were not yet mature enough to be of good quality, so they had to give up. Therefore, the sandalwood used by the Qing Dynasty royal family to make furniture was all from the Ming Dynasty's imperial reserves. Later, sandalwood became so scarce that it had to be purchased at high prices from private merchants. According to the unwritten rules at the time, no matter what rank an official was, if they saw sandalwood, they could not let it go and had to buy it all and hand it over to the royal weaving agency. From then on, the privately held wood was also plundered. By the time of Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th birthday and Emperor Guangxu's wedding, the imperial reserves of wood were almost depleted, and in the end, they were all used up by Yuan Shikai, who restored the monarchy and ascended the throne.
Before the Qing Dynasty, Europeans and Americans believed that there was no large piece of rosewood available and that it could only be used to make small objects. Even when a large number of Western missionaries came to China in the early Qing Dynasty, they were amazed by the many large rosewood pieces they saw and realized that the best rosewood pieces were all in Beijing. So they bought them from various sources and transported them back to their countries. Due to the inconvenience of communication, it was difficult to transport whole pieces, so they only bought patterned components such as cabinet doors and chests and attached wooden frames made of other materials as decoration. Now, many collectors abroad have some rosewood items from that period.
Moreover, the production of rosewood furniture is quite time-consuming. To create a high-quality and exquisite rosewood handicraft, each piece must be handmade. A large piece of furniture often requires more than a dozen craftsmen to spend seven or eight years to complete. However, the items in this hall are not very large, and the production process is not particularly complicated.
There is a saying in the craftsmanship of Zitan wood carving: "one chisel, two carvings, seven polishings." Polishing alone takes up seven-tenths of the entire production process. The tools used for polishing are also quite unique. First, wax is applied, and then it is repeatedly rubbed with horsetail grass and fine gauze until it is polished to a shine like brocade. Only then is the work considered complete.
When Zhuang Rui first entered, he judged the age of these rosewood pieces by their newness or age. Little did he know that well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty rosewood furniture could be just as impressive as newly made rosewood pieces in terms of appearance.
"Hahaha... Brother, you flatter me. Compared to the King of Sandalwood, my things are nothing."
Song Jun was delighted to hear this, but he waved his hands repeatedly, not daring to accept such praise from Zhuang Rui, who called him "King of Sandalwood!"
That was Ms. Chen Lihua, the curator of the China Red Sandalwood Museum and China's richest woman with a net worth of over 5 billion yuan. Song Jun had the privilege of entering Chen Lihua's red sandalwood warehouse and personally seeing the thousands of exquisite red sandalwood tables, beds, desks, and small tables. He also knew that his own collection was far inferior to Chen Lihua's.
It was after seeing Ms. Chen Lihua's collection of sandalwood that Song Jun decided to decorate his living room in this way. Sandalwood has a magical effect of nourishing people, and prolonged contact with it is very beneficial to the body. For example, when Chen Lihua was making sandalwood furniture, the yellow teeth of some of the craftsmen she hired turned particularly white, and a craftsman in his seventies even turned his white hair black, which gave sandalwood a mysterious aura.
"Hey Wood, let me tell you, Old Man Lü and the others have never been here before. I told Brother Song yesterday that you were coming, and he agreed right away. You've got some connections, kid..."
Although Liu Chuan was young, he was a straightforward person and got along well with Song Jun, which is why he was able to enter this villa. In the entire Pengcheng, no more than ten people had ever visited Song Jun's villa.
"Alright, we're all brothers, why bring up that? Liu Chuan, when have you ever behaved properly in front of me?"
Song Jun waved his hand, interrupting Liu Chuan, and pulled Zhuang Rui to introduce the rosewood furniture in the room, unaware that Zhuang Rui's mind was not on this at all.
"Brother Song, I heard from Grandpa Lü that you love calligraphy and paintings the most. You must have acquired quite a few fine pieces over the years. Could you perhaps broaden my horizons a bit?"
More than half an hour later, Zhuang Rui patiently listened to Song Jun's explanation before asking a question. This was obviously Song Jun's residence in Pengcheng. Zhuang Rui naturally wouldn't leave empty-handed after entering a treasure trove. He had this idea as soon as he met Song Jun.
Upon hearing this, Song Jun's face showed a hint of embarrassment. He said, "Brother Zhuang, it's true that I like calligraphy and paintings and antiques, and I have indeed collected quite a few fine pieces. However, apart from the manuscript you mentioned yesterday, none of these items are currently in Pengcheng. They're at my grandfather's residence in the capital. That old man has taken all my treasures; he's a complete scoundrel..."
When Song Jun mentioned his grandfather, he seemed to be furious, his tone filled with resentment. Zhuang Rui, who was standing next to him, naturally did not know that the old disrespectful man Song Jun was talking about was once a powerful and influential general who commanded respect on the battlefield. Even now, he was a man whose every move could shake the capital.
"But Brother Zhuang, don't be disappointed. When you have time to go to the capital, I'll take you to see where Grandpa lives. Most of those things belong to me, so the old man will still give me that much face."
Seeing the disappointment on Zhuang Rui's face, Song Jun quickly spoke up. However, he himself was unsure whether his unreasonable grandfather would give him the face he was entitled to. As the saying goes, grandparents are more affectionate towards their grandchildren. His father was like a mouse before a cat when he saw his grandfather, and while his grandfather was affectionate towards him, he had also taken all the treasures he had collected over the years for himself.
"Alright, with Brother Song's words, I'll definitely pay him a visit another day..."
Zhuang Rui was not just being polite. For the sake of the spiritual energy in his eyes, he would find a time when the Song army was in the capital to visit him.
"Alright, you two, stop being so jealous. Woody, I told you yesterday I had a surprise for you, so I'll take you to see it now."
Sitting on the rosewood stool, Liu Chuan felt it was far less comfortable than sitting on a sofa, and he was already impatient. When Song Jun finished introducing things to Liu Chuan, he quickly pulled Zhuang Rui and walked towards the door.
Chapter 48 A Man's Favorite (Part 1)
In a corner of the villa's living room near the main entrance, next to the screen, there was a hidden door. The handle of the door was decorated in the shape of a dragon spitting out pearls, which looked like a work of art at first glance. The decoration was very clever and it was difficult to find without careful observation. However, Liu Chuan was obviously very familiar with this place, and he opened the hidden door directly and pulled Zhuang Rui out.
Behind the hidden door is the villa's garage. This design is intended to facilitate the owner's access, allowing entry and exit from either the garage or the living room. Furthermore, the air conditioning systems in the villas of Yunlong Villa are centrally controlled. To prevent the engine oil from freezing in winter, there is even air conditioning in the garage. Once inside the garage, the temperature is the same as in the room, with no difference whatsoever.
However, the automatic roller shutter door outside the garage was not opened. As soon as Zhuang Rui entered the garage, everything was pitch black. It wasn't until Liu Chuan turned on the wall lights that several bright lights illuminated the garage as bright as day, allowing him to see the whole picture. Seeing the three cars parked in front of him, Zhuang Rui felt a little excited.
Almost no man dislikes cars, and Zhuang Rui is no exception. After getting his driver's license last year, he had imagined owning a car more than once. However, with a monthly salary of just over 3,000 yuan, even if he didn't eat, drink, or sleep on the streets, he could only afford a small car like a Xiali or Alto after a year, not to mention the money he would have to spend on car maintenance every year. So at that time, he could only think about it in his mind.
In this garage, which was at least forty or fifty square meters in size, three cars were parked side by side. But the impact these three cars had on Zhuang Rui was no less than that of him being in a grand auto show.
A dazzling red convertible Ferrari sports car with its beautiful lines was breathtaking; another was a dignified and stable black Mercedes-Benz S560; but what shocked Zhuang Rui the most was a massive Hummer that occupied almost a third of the garage, with the word "HUMMER" on its front. Once Zhuang Rui saw that car, his eyes never left it.
Although Ferraris and Mercedes-Benzes had once captivated Zhuang Rui, they appeared so small compared to this powerful and imposing Hummer. Perhaps these cars were similar in price, but visually, Ferraris and Mercedes-Benzes were far inferior to this six-wheeled Hummer.
The front of the Hummer features a row of protective bars about the thickness of a forearm, with six large headlights at either end, giving the vehicle a wild and even somewhat savage look. The 6.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine in the middle of the vehicle also contributes to a very even weight distribution. There are four exhaust pipes at the rear that resemble missile launchers. Although the Hummer looks very large, it gives a sense of agility and is not cumbersome.
"How about it, Wood, aren't you pleasantly surprised?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui's stunned expression, Liu Chuan chuckled and said, forgetting that when he first saw this car, he practically pressed his face against it.
"Surprise my ass, Da Chuan. Let me tell you, kid, a few bumps and scrapes are fine, but don't break it apart."
After hearing Liu Chuan's words, Song Jun, who came out later, said with a displeased expression that he would never have lent the car to Liu Chuan if he didn't need Liu Chuan to go to Tibet to buy Tibetan mastiffs for him.
"Hehe, Brother Song, don't worry, I'll definitely cherish it like my wife."
Liu Chuan walked to the car and gently stroked the body. His gaze almost made Zhuang Rui vomit his lunch; the guy's expression was just too lewd.
"Alright, you've seen the car, let's go back. I'll tell you about its maintenance. Damn it, why did I agree to lend it to you?"
Song Jun feigned deep regret, turned and left. Liu Chuan stuck out his tongue, then pulled Zhuang Rui, who was peeking through the car window, back into the room.
"Brother Song, this car is only worth a little over 1 million, you're not going to back out, are you?"
Sitting back down in that hard chair that was uncomfortable to sit on, Liu Chuan carefully observed Song Jun's expression and said cautiously.
"You don't know anything. It's true that this car costs over 1 million, but I spent over 3 million on modifications. Now this car has off-road capabilities and the comfort of a motorhome. Do you think I'm like those nouveau riche who bought it just to show off?"
Song Jun was telling the truth. After buying the car, he decorated its interior with the utmost luxury, and the money he spent was enough to buy several more cars.
"Brother Song, to be honest, I'm just running errands for you. I'm driving your car to find you a better Tibetan Mastiff. I'd like to drive my beat-up car, but what if it breaks down halfway there?"
Liu Chuan smiled and wasn't angry. He knew Song Jun's temper. If Song Jun liked you, you could smash his car and it wouldn't matter. But if he didn't like you, he wouldn't even say a word. The reason he brought Zhuang Rui along today was because he saw that Song Jun and Zhuang Rui got along well yesterday. With Zhuang Rui there, they were sure to get the car.
Zhuang Rui, who had been somewhat excited, now frowned and said, "Da Chuan, do you think we should get a different car? This car is too flashy to drive around in; what if we actually damage it..."
Zhuang Rui was interrupted by Song Jun halfway through his sentence. Song Jun waved his hand dismissively and said with an air of bravado, "It's alright. That truck is meant to run on the Gobi Desert. I wouldn't dare speed up on the roads of Pengcheng. If you encounter any fools on the road, just ram them. If you can't handle it, come find me. But I'm telling you, brothers, let's just leave those overloaded coal-hauling semi-trailers alone. Stay as far away as possible. We can't stoop to their level..."
Song Jun's words made Zhuang Rui and Song Jun laugh. Zhuang Rui was also very excited. It's just a car worth a few million. How can it be more precious than a person? At worst, if it gets damaged, he can pay for the repairs himself. Thinking of this, Zhuang Rui stopped talking. He was eager to try it out and wanted to take it for a spin right now.
"Brother Song, so you used to have a run-in with those semi-trailer trucks..."
Liu Chuan grinned mischievously. Although the Hummer's performance was almost comparable to a bulldozer, it would definitely be at a disadvantage against those large vehicles weighing tens of tons.
Song Jun pointed at Liu Chuan, both amused and exasperated, and said, "You little rascal, you're full of bad ideas. Am I out of my mind to go looking for a car to crash into? I think your beat-up car is pretty good. Let's drive it out and compare them later. Don't worry, I won't make you pay for any scratches."
"Come on, brother, stop teasing me. I'll just leave my car in your garage. I'm setting off early tomorrow morning and need to buy some things for the road. I won't take advantage of you today. When I come back, you have to treat me to a feast in Tiandu. By the way, the Australian lobster we had yesterday was really good. It tasted much better than the crayfish we catch in our ponds and ditches."
Liu Chuan's words made Zhuang Rui want to kick him. A genuine Australian lobster imported from abroad for over three thousand yuan, how could it taste bad? This kid is a foodie, even more picky than Lei Lei and Qin Xuanbing.
"Alright, then I won't keep you any longer. I have to go out of town soon, and I should be back around the same time you return to Pengcheng. Let's get together then..."
Song Jun didn't insist. He knew that there were many things to prepare when driving a long distance, and his car had nothing to eat or drink.
Chapter 49 A Man's Favorite (Part 2)
Liu Chuan, clutching his car pass, excitedly ran outside the villa. He first drove his own car into the garage, then pulled out his Hummer. He waved to Song Jun and drove off with Zhuang Rui. When they reached the villa gate, several security guards snapped to attention and saluted. Liu Chuan was so busy he almost dropped the steering wheel to return the salute. Apparently, this guy had never received such treatment before.
Zhuang Rui sat in the passenger seat, looking at Liu Chuan with envy. He knew very well that with the second-rate driving skills he had learned in driving school, if he drove into the downtown area, he might end up making headlines for a Hummer hitting someone. So, although he was itching to drive, he didn't ask to take the wheel. He knew that if he did, Liu Chuan, that reckless fool, would definitely hand the steering wheel to him.
It was painful to look at, so Zhuang Rui simply took out the Hummer manual that he had specifically asked Song Jun for and started reading it.
This Hummer H2 is a civilian version of the Hummer with an aluminum alloy body that has undergone heat treatment. During assembly, the panels are first glued together and then fixed with rivets (similar to the manufacturing process of a radio), making it extremely sturdy. It also uses a central tire inflation system. Deflating the tires on snow, sand, or mud increases their contact with the ground, thereby improving friction. Once back on normal roads, you can simply flip a switch on the control panel to inflate the tires. Inflation and deflation can both be done while driving and will not affect the vehicle's speed.
The sealed central pressure regulator maintains system pressure balance and protects major components from contamination. Ventilation hoses on each component converge into a central hose from the air filter. This system allows the Hummer to drive in nearly 1 meter of water all day without fear of water, sand, and mud.
The welded steel frame features five heavy-duty crossbeams that effectively absorb stress during fully loaded driving in harsh road conditions. This superior structure gives the Hummer unparalleled power and agility. A high-load, multi-stage cooling system provides high-quality cooling for coolant, engine oil, transmission/transfer fluid, and power steering fluid, ensuring these fluids remain at normal operating temperatures. This significantly extends the lifespan of engine components and allows the vehicle to operate safely even in the most demanding conditions.
After reading these instructions, Zhuang Rui finally understood why Liu Chuan had been so persistent in borrowing the vehicle from the Song army. This vehicle was designed for driving in high-altitude, cold, mountainous, and hilly areas. In the sub-zero temperatures of winter nights in Tibet, the engine oil in most vehicles would freeze, causing them to break down. This wouldn't happen with the Hummer, and its excellent four-wheel drive system could easily handle all kinds of harsh environments.
Although this H2 six-wheeled Hummer is very large, its off-road performance is comparable to the military version of the H1 and the new H3. The user-friendly controls and instruments, high-back bucket seats, standard features including a DELCO sound system and power windows, and optional extras such as rearview mirrors with compasses and digital thermometers, heated windshields, premium MONSOON sound system, and remote keyless entry system left Zhuang Rui dazzled and amazed.
Sitting inside the car, looking at the bar, refrigerator, and luxurious sofa, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart, "Money really is a damn good thing."
They had now entered the city. Liu Chuan's Hummer maintained its speed through the city traffic, just as agile as it had been on the sparsely populated outer ring road. Like the man himself, he drove aggressively, sometimes making Zhuang Rui wonder if Liu Chuan had reversed the brake and accelerator. However, this also demonstrated the Hummer's agility. Power steering, a 4-speed transmission, unique suspension, and an astonishingly small turning radius made the Hummer exceptionally nimble, handling more like a sports car than a truck.
Liu Chuan drove the car nimbly into the supermarket parking lot near Zhuang Rui's house. The huge car, like a heavy tank, attracted the attention of the security guards and other drivers. Although it wasn't his own car, Zhuang Rui felt a strange sense of superiority after getting out. At that moment, he could understand why it was so easy for people who drove Ferraris to pick up girls.
"Alright, stop showing off and go buy things."
Zhuang Rui kicked Liu Chuan, but the guy refused to leave after getting out of the car. He leaned against the car door and flirted with a few girls who were reasonably good-looking, which made Zhuang Rui almost want to vomit. He dragged Liu Chuan into the supermarket.
Liu Chuan had driven all over the country and had the style of a seasoned traveler. He took out a list he had prepared beforehand and he and Zhuang Rui each pushed a supermarket shopping cart. They bought everything from toilet paper and chewing gum to canned beer, mineral water, and various vacuum-packed cooked foods. By the time they checked out, the miscellaneous daily necessities and food alone cost more than two thousand yuan. Looking at the shopping carts that had gone from two to four, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but feel lucky. If it were any other cart, it probably wouldn't have been able to fit even half of the items.
It took two supermarket staff members to help push the four shopping carts to the parking lot. There were quite a lot of items, but once they were sorted and placed in the carts, they weren't very noticeable. There was still a lot of space in the cart. The two oval sofas that took up half of the cart were enough to save the two of them the money they would have spent on hotels along the way.
After getting in the car, Liu Chuan took Zhuang Rui straight to his house, where he took out three flat, military-green iron buckets. Seeing Zhuang Rui's questioning look, he pointed to the buckets and said, "These are essential. Otherwise, when we get to Tibet, sometimes we can't even find a gas station. Are we supposed to push these big things around?"
"Hey, you're the real expert..."
Seeing Liu Chuan's preparations, Zhuang Rui realized that although he had participated in a club in college that frequently organized outdoor training and had learned a few days of wilderness survival skills, he was far inferior to Liu Chuan's unorthodox methods.
"Of course! Let me tell you, these oil drums were made using high temperature, high pressure, microwave bonding, and vacuum treatment. Look at this spiral oil inlet and outlet, it's also equipped with a detachable pull-out oil pipe and a hand-held handle, making refueling very convenient. I had to pull a lot of strings to get them from the military."
It was rare to hear Zhuang Rui's compliment, so Liu Chuan started boasting again. However, with these fuel tanks, the Hummer's range would indeed be greatly enhanced. The three fuel tanks could hold 90 liters of diesel. Even if the Hummer consumed more than 20 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, these spare fuel tanks could still allow it to travel several hundred kilometers.
After finding a gas station and filling up the Hummer and the spare gas can, Liu Chuan drove Zhuang Rui home. However, as Zhuang Rui was getting out of the car, Liu Chuan called out to him mysteriously, "Wood, you definitely won't regret coming with me. There's a surprise for you in a few days."
"Get lost! Remember to pick me up early tomorrow, don't oversleep."
Zhuang Rui paid no attention to the surprise Liu Chuan mentioned. There are no surprises or unexpected events in this world. At this moment, he was filled with anticipation for tomorrow's itinerary.
Pengcheng is located in the northernmost part of Jiangsu Province, at the junction of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces. Tibet, on the other hand, is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, separated from Pengcheng by five provinces: Anhui, Henan, Shaanxi, Hubei and Sichuan. The total road distance is 3,630 kilometers, and only about 60% of it is expressway. Therefore, this trip will definitely not be very pleasant for Zhuang Rui and Liu Chuan.
Actually, it is possible to bring animals on a plane, but it involves many complicated procedures, including immunization checks and vaccinations. Liu Chuan was afraid that the Tibetan mastiff he bought would die before it even got on the plane, so he gave up on the idea of flying.
Another point is that if they fly into Tibet, their travel plans will be restricted, and they may not be able to buy a purebred Tibetan Mastiff. You should know that in recent years, the price of Tibetan Mastiffs has skyrocketed, and they are almost priceless. In some of the larger cities in Tibet, it is already very difficult to find a purebred Tibetan Mastiff. You have to go to some remote areas where herders live to have a chance to find a good Tibetan Mastiff, and even then, you still need to be lucky.
The harsh natural environment of Tibet goes without saying. High altitude and lack of oxygen are difficult for most people to overcome. Soldiers guarding high-altitude outposts often develop altitude sickness after a few years. News reports have shown that many tourists have collapsed as soon as they got off the plane at Lhasa Airport due to their inability to adapt to the high-altitude climate and had to immediately take the next flight to leave.
Liu Chuan's preparations were quite good. After sending Zhuang Rui home, he asked a friend at the hospital to buy several oxygen bags just in case. Although he felt that he and Zhuang Rui were both in good health, he dared not be careless. In that kind of place, a breath of oxygen might save a life in a critical moment.
The harsh natural environment of Tibet is only one aspect; wolves in the uninhabited grasslands are also a major enemy of humans. In the Ngari region, for example, there are frequent reports of herders suffering heavy casualties from wolf attacks. There have even been cases of Tibetan officials being found dead in their open-top jeeps after their vehicles broke down on the way to their villages. Therefore, gun control is not feasible in many parts of Tibet, where many herders are often skilled hunters.
Around 6 a.m., Liu Chuan picked up Zhuang Rui, ate some breakfast, and then drove away from Pengcheng.
Because of the highway, it was just past 10 o'clock and we had already traveled more than 400 kilometers and entered Anhui Province. There were still a few dozen kilometers ahead to reach Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province. After driving on the highway for more than three hours, after exiting National Highway 206, there were significantly more vehicles on the road, so Zhuang Rui handed the steering wheel to Liu Chuan.
At that moment, Zhuang Rui was looking at the mezzanine compartment of the carriage, a space about one meter in size specifically for storing valuables, and asked Liu Chuan with some concern, "Rogue, won't we get into trouble carrying these things?"
Liu Chuan, a cigarette dangling from his lips, skillfully steered the car with one hand. He glanced back and said nonchalantly, "What's the big deal? That gun has a license, so even if we get caught, it's no big deal. Besides, with this car in hand, are we afraid of being checked? Don't worry about it."
As they were talking, the half-burnt cigarette ash fell into the car and was casually blown away by Liu Chuan. It's a shame that this guy said yesterday that he treated this car like his wife. If Song Jun saw this, he would definitely be so angry that he would pick up the Remington shotgun in the car and shoot Liu Chuan like a rabbit on the spot.
Zhuang Rui's concerns were not unfounded, because right in front of him was a Remington five-shot single-barrel shotgun that was about 70-80% new. The red stock and the dark barrel exuded a murderous aura. Next to the shotgun were two machetes about a meter long, their sharp blades gleaming coldly. They were clearly not the kind of weapons that gangsters used to scare people in movies.
These two knives are certainly not ordinary. According to Liu Chuan, they are made of high-strength spring steel taken from the chassis of some imported trucks that were scrapped in car accidents. He spent a lot of money to have them shaped on a lathe and then sharpened on a milling machine. You should know that spring steel is made through multiple processes of quenching and tempering. So, although these two machetes may not be able to cut through iron like mud, they are probably no less powerful than the so-called divine weapons of ancient times, such as Gan Jiang and Mo Xie.
Gun and knife controls are quite strict in China. If someone really took it seriously, the two boys could be sentenced to several years for the crime of illegally possessing military equipment. However, with Liu Chuan's assurance, Zhuang Rui felt relieved and reached out to pick up the hunting rifle.
If we're talking about men's favorite things, guns would probably be number one. However, most people don't have access to guns, so they settle for cars instead. But in this world, the number of military enthusiasts and gun enthusiasts definitely exceeds the number of car enthusiasts.