Although the fourth brother was respectful of ghosts and gods, he wasn't afraid of people and was rather cunning. He was bored at the moment, so he stood up intending to cause some trouble, but unexpectedly, the fat man swayed and staggered towards them.
"Brother Zhuang, is it really you? Oh my, I almost didn't recognize you..."
Even from more than ten meters away, the fat man's voice came over. When the fourth brother heard that he knew Zhuang Rui, he swallowed the provocative words that were on the tip of his tongue.
"Fatty Ma?"
Zhuang Rui hadn't paid attention to the person Wei Ge and Lao Si had mentioned earlier, but when he heard the voice, he looked over and, lo and behold, it was someone he knew—Fatty Ma, Boss Ma, whom he and Zhou Rui had met once on the Tibetan grasslands.
"Mr. Ma, what brings you here? Are you also in the jade business?"
When Zhuang Rui saw that it was Fatty Ma, he quickly went to greet him. He had a pretty good impression of Fatty Ma. Although this guy always pretended to be weak while actually being strong, he was honest with him and was a friend worth making.
"Brother, don't be so formal. I told you last time, just call me Brother Ma. If I were a few years younger, wouldn't I look like Little Ma? Haha..."
Fatty Ma was very happy to see an acquaintance from so far away. He joked with Zhuang Rui that with his build, if you split him in half, there would still be room to spare.
"Brother Ma, let me introduce you. These are two of my buddies from university, Yang Wei and Bi Yuntao. You know Brother Zhou too, so no need for introductions. This is Mr. Ma, the richest man in Shanxi. Please get to know him."
Zhuang Rui noticed that the girl behind Fatty Ma was not the one he had met on the last trip to Tibet. However, he naturally couldn't ask too many questions about such things. He turned around and introduced Yang Wei and Lao Si to Fatty Ma.
"Brother Zhuang, are you trying to annoy your Brother Ma? What, the richest man in Shanxi? I'm just a country bumpkin. If you think I'm too kind, call me Brother Ma, or you can call me Fatty Ma. But these two little brothers' names are pretty cool, haha."
Fatty Ma wasn't someone who had been around the block; he was adept at reading people and situations. With just a few words, he greatly increased Wei Ge and Lao Si's goodwill towards him. Although he joked about their names, it only strengthened their bond and didn't make them angry.
"Brother Ma, what happened to that buddy who was with you last time?"
With Fatty Ma's arrival, Zhuang Rui was no longer able to leave, so he simply let him sit on the sofa and started chatting.
"He's here too. He just took the luggage to the room. From a distance, it looked like you, but this Tibetan Mastiff is too big for me to recognize. Brother Zhuang, is this the same snow mastiff from before?"
Fatty Ma sat down on the sofa, taking up half of it. The girl who was with him this time was quite well-behaved; she didn't wear much makeup and sat quietly next to Fatty Ma, listening to them talk.
Fatty Ma looked at the white lion with a look of disbelief. He had also raised several Tibetan mastiffs and knew that it would take at least a year and a half for a Tibetan mastiff to grow to the size of the white lion.
"Hehe, mine is just a Snow Mountain Mastiff King, a bit special. By the way, Brother Ma, you're here to attend this jadeite rough stone trade fair, right?"
Zhuang Rui didn't want to say much about White Lion, so he brushed it off with a single sentence and instead asked about Fatty Ma's purpose for the trip.
"What rough stone trading fair? It's just gambling on stones. I don't have anything to do in Shanxi, so I'm just here to try my luck. Brother, you have to give me some pointers. If there are any good items you don't like, just point them out to me, and I'll buy some to take back as gifts."
After Song Jun bought Zhuang Rui's painting of Tang Bohu's "Li Duanduan", he showed it off in the circle. Although Song Jun and Fatty Ma were not in the same circle, China values relationships, and these relationships are very complicated. The news reached Fatty Ma's ears in just a few days.
Although the messenger didn't know who the seller of the painting was, Fatty Ma thought of the fake painting Zhuang Rui had acquired, and then recalled that Boss Langjie had said in the grassland black market that Zhuang Rui was introduced by Song Jun. He could guess the truth pretty well, so he spoke highly of Zhuang Rui. However, he only guessed and didn't point it out.
After hearing what Fatty Ma said, Wei Ge and Lao Si looked at Zhuang Rui with a strange expression. They had both heard Zhuang Rui mention Fatty Ma before, and knew that a Shanxi businessman had once wanted to spend 40 million yuan to buy a white lion. Both of them were from business families, and they knew they couldn't afford to spend 40 million yuan on a pet. With Fatty Ma's wealth, he was a big shot wherever he went. Seeing Fatty Ma being so enthusiastic towards Zhuang Rui surprised them both.
It's important to understand that Zhuang Rui's background, wealth, and status are on a completely different level from Fatty Ma's. Fatty Ma's enthusiasm towards Zhuang Rui just now even had a hint of flattery, which made Yang Wei and Lao Si look at Zhuang Rui with new respect.
"A good find? By the way, Brother Ma, my brother found something pretty good this morning. Could you take a look and see what you think of it?"
Upon hearing what Fatty Ma said, Zhuang Rui immediately thought of the jade disc that Lao Si had bought. Although Lao Si said he didn't want it anymore, Zhuang Rui wasn't short of money right now, and he didn't care about the jade disc anyway. Selling it and giving the money to Lao Si would be the ideal outcome.
"Oh, let me see it. Brother Ma is an amateur, so if I'm wrong, you guys are not allowed to laugh at me."
Fatty Ma is a jack-of-all-trades. He'll take anything that's an antique or has collectible value. He says that money in the bank might lose value, but antiques won't. Unless there's a third world war, the value of antiques will only rise.
The jade disc was in Zhuang Rui's handbag. It was worth tens of thousands of yuan. Like the broken porcelain pieces, Zhuang Rui didn't feel comfortable leaving it in the hotel room, so he simply carried it with him. After hearing what Fatty Ma said, Zhuang Rui took the jade disc out of his handbag and handed it over.
As for Fatty Ma's claim that he was an amateur, Zhuang Rui didn't really believe it. Given his eye for people, he was probably quite good at recognizing things.
Fatty Ma took the jade disc, rubbed it in his hands a few times, and said, "Brother, this jade hasn't been handled, so it probably hasn't been unearthed for very long."
Chapter 172 Pan Yu (Part 1)
"Brother Ma, you're using industry jargon. If you keep telling me you're an amateur, I'll get really angry..."
After hearing what Fatty Ma said, Zhuang Rui gave him a thumbs up. Being able to say the words "panyu" proved that Fatty Ma had put in a lot of effort in collecting jade.
As everyone knows, most ancient jade pieces that have just been unearthed have been eroded by soil or burial objects over hundreds or thousands of years, resulting in various colored stains. However, these stains are not perfect in terms of color, and instead make the ancient jade appear dull and rough. Therefore, after being collected, they must be "polished" to restore their original nature.
"Playing with jade," also known as "nurturing jade," is one of the greatest pleasures for many jade collectors. "Playing with jade" refers to a folk method of appreciating and handling jade. Through this process, dull-colored jade can be restored to its original appearance, and its color can undergo significant changes.
Even if ancient jade has the most beautiful color patina, if it is not polished, the patina will be hidden and not obvious, and the color of the jade's texture will be even more difficult to see. If the jade's nature is not restored, it will be like an ordinary stubborn stone. For example, the jade disc of the fourth brother is dark yellow on the surface and has no luster. However, if it is polished, it will become warm, pure and thick, and crystal clear.
As the saying goes, jade can nourish a person, and similarly, a person can nourish jade.
Great jade collectors throughout history have all understood the art of "playing with jade," a skill akin to the tea ceremony. It involves appreciating and studying something, reaching a certain level of mastery, and eventually becoming a set of conventions and routines.
Imagine carrying your favorite jade piece with you, keeping it close to your body, and carefully protecting it. After a long period of handling and wearing, it's like a butterfly struggling through its pupa, gradually shedding its rough outer shell and regaining its former spirituality, luster, and color. Its brilliant radiance shines in your palm, and the sense of accomplishment is irreplaceable.
The price of the same piece of jade can vary greatly depending on whether it has been polished or not. For example, the jade disc that Lao Si found could be greatly increased in price if it could be polished to a beautiful and antique appearance.
"Brother Zhuang, don't try to sweet-talk me. I need to take another look at this jade..."
There are too many artificially aged antique jade pieces, so even though Fatty Ma felt they were pretty good in his hands, he didn't dare to be careless. He took out a magnifying glass the size of his thumb from his pocket and examined them carefully.
Zhuang Rui smiled. Judging from the equipment that Fatty Ma was carrying, this trip must have been planned for a long time, and it was definitely not as simple as he said, just a casual stroll.
In truth, given Fatty Ma's wealth, he wouldn't have cared much for this jade disc. But collectors should all have experienced this: the thrill of distinguishing an object from a fake is something money can't buy.
At this moment, Fatty Ma's lazy and bloated expression vanished, replaced by a sharp glint in his small, almost slit-like eyes. His focused expression made Zhuang Rui realize a completely different Fatty Ma, and his chubby face became much more endearing.
After more than ten minutes, Fatty Ma put the magnifying glass back in his pocket. His five fingers, as thick as carrots, kept rubbing the jade disc. It was clear that this was just a habit. Zhuang Rui knew that this must be "playing with jade." Although he knew a lot about "playing with jade," he had never done it himself, so he couldn't help but watch intently.
"Hey, Brother Zhuang, sorry, I wanted to play with it as soon as I got it. My technique is too clumsy, please excuse my poor skills. This jade disc is alright, it has two kinds of patina, combined with the natural color of the jade, it's like 'Three Yangs Bring Prosperity'. It's just that I've never handled it. If someone likes to handle jade, the price can be higher. But usually it's only around twenty or thirty thousand..."
When Fatty Ma saw Zhuang Rui's eyes fixed on his right hand, he quickly stopped "playing with the jade." It wasn't appropriate for him to handle someone else's item, but his eye for jade was sharp, and his estimate was almost the same as Zhuang Rui's.
"Brother Ma, what are you saying? This little thing isn't worth much. My brother doesn't really like these things. If you like it, just take it and play with it. Don't talk about money..."
Zhuang Rui waved his hand. Although he spoke in a grand manner, he made it clear that the item did not belong to him. If Fatty Ma wanted it, he would naturally set a price.
Just as Zhuang Rui expected, Fatty Ma immediately said, "Brother, you're being generous with other people's money. That's not right. This thing would cost several thousand yuan even if you bought it from a street stall. I can't let my brothers suffer a loss. How about this, twenty thousand yuan. I'll take it. What do you guys think?"
After hearing what Fatty Ma said, Zhuang Rui looked at Lao Si. He originally wanted to help Lao Si sell it. The item was bought for two thousand yuan and then resold for ten times the original price. Lao Si should be satisfied.
"Okay, let's do as Brother Ma says..."
The fourth brother knew Zhuang Rui's intentions and didn't refuse. None of them cared much about the 20,000 yuan; if they refused again, they would be looked down upon.
"Brother Zhuang, your friends are all quite good-natured, very straightforward, just to my liking. Here, take the money, but the jade is mine."
Back in 2004, everyone, whether they were bosses or not, carried a genuine leather handbag. Of course, most people carried synthetic leather ones. Although Zhuang Rui had some assets, his bag was actually bought from a shopping mall for thirty yuan. However, the one that Fatty Ma used was obviously not a fake.
As he spoke, Fatty Ma took out two dollars from his handbag and tossed them to Lao Si. Without even looking, they were all pink banknotes with bank receipts attached.
The fourth brother didn't stand on ceremony. He took the money and put it in his bag, then said to Fatty Ma, "Thanks, Brother Ma. Tonight, I'll treat you to a meal at a place in Guangzhou and have some fun."
Upon hearing this, Fatty Ma waved his hands repeatedly and said, "That's a matter for you young people. I'm too old for that. I'm tired from the flight and need to rest today."
"Brother Ma, I'm afraid you won't be able to get any rest tonight."
The fourth brother's words made everyone laugh. With such a beautiful woman by his side, any man would probably have trouble sleeping.
The girl who accompanied Fatty Ma this time was much better than the one Zhuang Rui met last time. She was not only very pure-looking, but also very quiet. She just sat next to Fatty Ma and didn't do anything overly intimate.
It seemed that Fatty Ma liked the girl quite a bit, and he wasn't angry after hearing what Lao Si said. He chuckled and handed the jade disc to the girl, saying, "Yanzi, this jade is alright. Take it and polish it properly. If you can polish it well, you can still sell it for over 100,000 even if you don't want it anymore."
"Thank you, Brother Ma..."
The girl named Yanzi obediently accepted the jade disc, but seemed a little lost holding it. She looked at Fatty Ma and asked, "Brother Ma, what does 'playing with jade' mean? How do you play with this jade?"
"Let Brother Zhuang tell you. I only know a little bit, so I won't embarrass myself by showing off."
Fatty Ma waved his hand. He had a deep understanding of jade-playing. A piece of ancient jade could be very valuable if played with properly, but it could also be worthless if played poorly. There were many intricacies involved.
"Brother Ma, you've put me in a bind..."
Zhuang Rui said with a wry smile.
"You know a lot, kid, but you just don't show it off. That painting by Tang Bohu, you did it, didn't you? Stop pretending, I'm asking you to tell me, so just tell me. Yanzi, go light a cigarette for your brother Zhuang..."
Fatty Ma looked at Zhuang Rui with a half-smile, as if to say, "If you don't talk, I'll expose your secrets." He casually tossed a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes to Yanzi beside him, telling her to offer Zhuang Rui a cigarette.
"Brother Ma, if this is a celebratory cigarette, I'll smoke it."
Zhuang Rui took the cigarette Yanzi offered and joked with Fatty Ma.
"Don't provoke your brother Ma. Yanzi is studying at a university in Beijing. She hasn't graduated yet. Once she graduates, I'll marry her, and then you'll be calling her sister-in-law."
Fatty Ma seemed genuinely interested in this girl named Yanzi. His words and actions were no longer as frivolous as before, and he treated Yanzi with great respect. This made Zhuang Rui take a few more glances at the girl. Someone who could keep someone like Fatty Ma under her thumb was definitely no ordinary person.
"Brother Zhuang, don't listen to Brother Ma's nonsense. I'm just here with Brother Ma on summer vacation to see the sights."
Swallow's voice was very pleasant, soft and gentle. Judging from her current personality, she was also very docile. Zhuang Rui and the others secretly cursed Ma Pangzi for being an old cow eating young grass.
"Playing with jade, as the name suggests, is to nurture jade. Holding and playing with ancient jade in your hands often will make the jade more smooth and the color more perfect. However, there are many intricacies involved. There are many folk methods for playing with jade, but I only know a few."
As Zhuang Rui spoke, he took the ancient jade back from Yanzi's hand and played with it. Although he had never handled jade before, he was very knowledgeable about the theory behind it, as it was a very important part of collecting ancient jade.
Uncle De is a master of jade polishing, and he always has five or six jade pieces hanging on his waist. He has passed on all his experience in polishing jade to Zhuang Rui. If he only talked the talk but didn't walk the walk, Zhuang Rui could still fool some people.
"Hey kid, don't talk so big, I want to hear it too..."
Zhuang Rui's words attracted the attention of Wei Ge and Lao Si. Even Zhou Rui looked at Zhuang Rui, who was often seen playing with a piece of jade. It was quite a pleasing sight. Lao Si was already regretting selling the jade disc.
Zhuang Rui glanced at Yanzi and said, "It's not common for girls to handle jade, because this kind of thing can't come into contact with perfumes and some chemicals, otherwise it will be corroded, the outer layer will be damaged, and the original luster will be affected."
"I don't use perfume or other cosmetics. I'm sorry, Brother Zhuang, please continue."
Yanzi interrupted Zhuang Rui, feeling a little embarrassed, and gestured for Zhuang Rui to continue.
Zhuang Rui didn't mind, smiled, and continued, "Let me first explain why we should polish jade. As everyone knows, most ancient jade is unearthed from tombs. Because of the different locations where it was unearthed, the nature of its corrosion and color patina is also different."
For example, ancient jade unearthed from water-filled pits or places with particularly humid soil and water accumulation in the south often has water stains. In contrast, ancient jade from dry pits in the north often has more soil erosion. The yellow color on this jade disc is the soil staining.
Due to soil erosion and water erosion, coupled with the repeated exposure to varying degrees of dryness and wetness over the years, even the most beautiful and abundant color stains on ancient jade will remain hidden and unseen. In addition, the jade itself has varying shades of color and has also accumulated a lot of impurities.
If we don't handle and play with it, the jade's texture won't be revealed, its color won't seep out, and its impurities won't be removed. If we want a high-quality ancient jade with excellent color and patina to show the color of a gemstone, then we must use the handling method to nurture the jade.
There's a saying among antique jade collectors: "To collect without playing with it is to waste a precious resource; to obtain a treasure is like obtaining grass." This illustrates the importance of handling and appreciating jade.
"Youngest brother, get to the point, how should we polish this jade?"
Viagra was getting a little impatient and urged him on.
"I'm a little thirsty."
Zhuang Rui smacked his lips.
"Here, brother, I have Red Bull."
Fatty Ma readily tossed over a can of drink.