In addition, below the oil paintings hanging on the wall, there are many clocks that look like they are from the 18th or 19th century, including pocket watches and wall clocks, of various styles, about fifty or sixty in total. Each clock has a small tag indicating its price.
"Hmm? This watch is nice..."
Zhuang Rui pointed to a pocket watch with a silver chain in the glass case and said in English to the middle-aged French man who had been staring at him, "Excuse me, can you understand English? Could you please take that watch out of the glass? I need to take a look at it..."
"Of course I understand, sir. It would be my pleasure to serve you..."
The middle-aged man politely bowed to Zhuang Rui, took out a bunch of keys from his waist, opened the glass cabinet, and took out the pocket watch that Zhuang Rui wanted to see.
This middle-aged man is named Reno. The shop has existed since his great-great-grandfather's generation, almost a century ago. Reno is considered a foreign antique dealer. He noticed Zhuang Rui as soon as he entered the shop; this seemingly young man must be an expert.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, China's consumption power has greatly increased. Foreign businessmen no longer think that only the Japanese are generous spenders. On the contrary, many foreign businessmen have now learned a few words of Chinese to communicate with those wealthy Chinese customers.
Zhuang Rui had no idea what the middle-aged shop owner was up to; his attention was focused on the pocket watch.
The silver chain on the pocket watch has become somewhat dull and slightly grayish due to oxidation. On the surface of the pocket watch is a cloisonné enamel figure in red, black and yellow. The figure is dressed in 18th-century gentleman's clothing and looks extremely lifelike.
After Zhuang Rui pressed the mechanism at the top of the pocket watch, the cover popped up. It was very responsive and had not become sluggish over time, indicating that it was well-maintained. Of course, the hands inside had stopped turning, as this was indeed an antique pocket watch.
"Twenty thousand euros?"
Looking at the price on the silver chain, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but frown. He could see with his spiritual energy that although the watch contained spiritual energy, it was only white and not very concentrated. In other words, its value was not very high.
There are also Western watches in China that are not from the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, and their prices are generally around 100,000 RMB. This watch is priced at 20,000 euros, which is a bit beyond Zhuang Rui's expected price. In industry terms, although it is an "obvious" item, it is priced at an astronomical price.
"Can you make this cheaper?"
Zhuang Rui raised the cloisonné enamel watch in his hand and asked Renault.
Renault shrugged and shook his head, saying, "Oh no, sir, this watch was left to me by my grandfather. It's worth at least 20,000 euros, and I really can't offer it any cheaper..."
"Damn it, why does he sound just like those unscrupulous merchants in China? Always talking about ancestors and grandfathers, did this foreigner ever set up a stall in Panjiayuan and receive professional training?"
Upon hearing Renault's English with a French accent, Zhuang Rui cursed inwardly, guessing that this Frenchman was probably a street vendor who had started out as a businessman, a genuine French antique dealer.
"Alright, since it was left to you by your grandfather, a gentleman doesn't take what others cherish, so I won't buy it. You can keep it as a memento of your grandfather..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head and handed the pocket watch to Renault. He was here to find a bargain, not to pick up trash. This thing is only worth about 100,000 yuan in China. Why would he spend 200,000 yuan to buy it abroad? Isn't that crazy?
"Oh, sir, if you really want it, the price is negotiable. I believe my grandfather in heaven would also want what he cherished to find a good home..."
When Renault saw Zhuang Rui return the pocket watch without hesitation, he knew that the price of 20,000 euros had shocked Zhuang Rui. He knew in his heart that although this thing was from the 18th or 19th century, many of them had been left over in Europe, and the price was actually not very high, only about four or five thousand euros.
"No...no, you can't say that. If your grandfather knew you sold this, he would definitely scold you for being an unfilial grandson..."
Zhuang Rui almost burst out laughing when he heard Renault's words. He was bored out of his mind anyway, and he was also full of anger today, so he decided to make fun of this guy.
Zhuang Rui had heard before that foreigners never take their own family members seriously. If you compliment his mother's looks and want to have some kind of relationship with her beyond friendship, the foreigner would probably be eager to sell it to you. Now it seems that this is indeed the case.
Zhuang Rui spoke in English, and Renault couldn't tell that his grandson was swearing. He immediately took out his pocket watch and said, "Ten thousand euros, sir, that's the lowest price..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head. He wasn't really interested in this thing. If he could buy it for 10,000 euros and then buy it for 1 million RMB back in China, Zhuang Rui would consider it. But with a price difference of tens of thousands of RMB, and the possibility of being stuck with it, Zhuang Rui wouldn't do this deal.
Just as he was about to refuse, Zhuang Rui suddenly remembered something and said, "Let's discuss this later. Do you only have these items in your shop? Do you have any older items? Or perhaps some damaged oil paintings or books?"
Zhuang Rui suddenly realized that people often bring antiques to Panjiayuan to buy and sell. This street is like Panjiayuan in Paris. Who knows, there might be foreigners who can't make a living and are not living a comfortable life who come here to sell their things.
“Oh no, sir, your words are an insult to me. You must know, my shop is the largest art shop in all of Paris, and of course, it has much more than just these items. In the warehouse, there are many, many more valuable goods…”
Perhaps Zhuang Rui's meaning was not clear enough, which made this guy, whose name and appearance were somewhat similar to that of the French actor Jean Reno with his big nose, a little agitated. He started correcting Zhuang Rui's mistakes in a string of words, occasionally throwing in a few French phrases.
"Sir, I think you've misunderstood me. What I meant was, I don't like anything here. If you have something I like in your warehouse, then money... is definitely not a problem..."
When Zhuang Rui heard that the shop also had a warehouse, his eyes lit up. In antique shops in China, good items are never displayed on shelves; they are kept in hidden warehouses or safes. In any case, most of Zhuang Rui's treasures were in the basement.
Zhuang Rui wondered if antique shop owners in France also had this habit.
After explaining his meaning, Zhuang Rui took out a gold card from a famous Swiss bank and waved it at Renault. If the other party knew its value, he would know that the overdraft limit of this card could reach 5 million euros.
Chapter 628 Bronze Mirror (Part 1)
How could anyone doing business in a metropolis like Paris not recognize the gold card in Zhuang Rui's hand? Upon seeing the card, Renault's eyes widened, and his expression became even more respectful.
In recent years, the art market has continued to heat up, but people's eyes have also become more discerning. It is quite difficult to find a sucker in the antique business. When people buy valuable artworks, they usually bring a professional appraiser with them. It is really rare to see an individual like Zhuang Rui who can take out 5 million euros.
This was true both domestically and internationally, which is why Renault's eyes were shining brightly at that moment. He wished that the so-called Leonardo da Vinci paintings in his shop were genuine so that Zhuang Rui could buy them.
"Sir, these are all valuable works of art in the shop, and they are quite old. You can take a look at them again..."
"Oh, never mind then, I don't like any of these things..."
After hearing the shop owner's words, Zhuang Rui shook his head in disappointment and prepared to leave with Qin Xuanbing. This shop was the last one on the street. It seemed that the grass wasn't always greener on the other side. It was hopeless to find anything good here.
"Oh, sir, please wait a moment..."
Seeing Zhuang Rui walk out with that woman, Renault became anxious. He had only wanted to fool Zhuang Rui a little more and sell a few items in the store. Now that he knew Zhuang Rui was really not interested, he would naturally bring out the good stuff.
"Hmm? Is there something else?"
Zhuang Rui turned to look at Renault with a faint smile on his face. Although he had only been in the industry for a short time, he knew that if this store was truly a century-old establishment, then the real stuff would definitely not be displayed there.
Renault dared not play any more tricks this time. He bowed slightly to Zhuang Rui and said, "It's like this, esteemed sir and madam, if you have time, I can take you to see some of my grandfather's collection. I guarantee that they are all works of art of great historical value..."
Zhuang Rui nodded and said, "Alright, I hope your grandfather's collection won't disappoint us..."
"Please wait a moment..."
Renault was the only person in the shop. After letting Zhuang Rui leave, Renault closed the shop door and led Zhuang Rui and Qin Xuanbing from the quiet street into a nearby alley.
This Renault is a business, so Zhuang Rui wasn't worried about him playing any tricks. He followed him for about five minutes until they arrived at a two-story building.
The buildings here resemble traditional courtyard houses in old Beijing, all in a very old 18th-century architectural style. They are light-structured garden-style residences, not large, but magnificent and exquisite. Owning such a villa here would probably be quite difficult.
“This was left to me by my grandfather, please come in, gentlemen…”
Renault opened the door and very gentlemanly invited Zhuang Rui and Qin Xuanbing inside.
This was Zhuang Rui's first time entering a foreigner's home. As soon as he entered, he was attracted by the bright colors and delicate decorations. The furniture inside was also very exquisite and somewhat intricate. The cabinet in the corner was even handmade and assembled, which was very eye-catching.
On the walls and ceiling inside the house, there are some murals whose colors have faded somewhat, showing the house's long history.
"Gentlemen, this way..."
Renault beckoned Zhuang Rui and Qin Xuanbing through the living room on the first floor and into the backyard.
"Hmm, the basement?"
When Zhuang Rui arrived at the backyard, his eyes lit up as he saw Renault use a complicated combination lock to open a door, his heart filled with anticipation.
It may have been a shelter during World War II. The basement is very deep, going down seven or eight meters underground. However, there is a wall lamp every meter in the passage, so the light is very bright. The ventilation is also very good, so it doesn't feel stuffy.
Upon entering the basement, Zhuang Rui discovered that it was much larger than the basement of his courtyard house in Beijing, probably fifty or sixty square meters, and was divided into two rooms. Each room had a ventilation duct and a dehumidifier that was working.
"Sir, everything here was collected by my father and grandfather. I hope you can find something you like. Madam, please sit here and have a cup of coffee. I have everything here..."
Renault spoke of this place with great pride. He wasn't lying; there was a coffee machine on the wall table near the entrance.
Zhuang Rui shook his head. This foreigner didn't know anything about preserving antiques. The steam from the coffee machine would damage the lifespan of the antiques. But that was someone else's business, and he didn't need to say anything. He nodded, took the white gloves Renault handed him, and walked towards the items piled up in the basement.
The room they were in was quite large, filled with various antique furniture pieces—of course, only foreign antique furniture—with very bright colors, and some small items were placed on top of the furniture.
Renault didn't seem to know much about antiques; the items on the table were just randomly arranged according to their categories, including 17th and 18th century clocks, medieval swords and armor, and even some Chinese bronzes.
However, these items, including the clocks, were mostly covered in rust, which made Zhuang Rui shake his head. Although these things were genuine, the spiritual energy inside was extremely weak, so they were obviously not very valuable for collection.
In fact, Zhuang Rui didn't know that these things were collected by Renault's grandfather over the decades, and some people even came to him to buy them. Renault had these things appraised, but they weren't very valuable. Some of them weren't even worth as much as modern handicrafts. The reason he didn't get rid of them was simply to commemorate his grandfather.
Zhuang Rui just mentioned that he wanted to see things with a long history, so Renault brought him along, though they didn't really have high hopes.
"Buddha's head?"
Zhuang Rui's gaze, which was looking around, was suddenly drawn to a head that was about the size of a human head. He walked to the table and carefully picked up the Buddha head, which was broken and whose face was almost unrecognizable, with both hands.
The Buddha head is missing an ear. Apart from the eye sockets, nose, and mouth, the face is very blurry. It is called a Buddha head because the head is covered with bumps, just like the Buddha statues Zhuang Rui saw in the temple.
However, the Buddha's head was so badly damaged that it looked as if it had been hammered off from one ear with a blunt instrument. Half of the ear was gone, which made Zhuang Rui's heart ache.
Zhuang Rui knew that many Buddha heads were stolen from ancient sites by Western colonists. If they couldn't move the whole statue, they would cut off the Buddha's head or hands. In many temples in China, the Buddha heads of many Buddha statues were carved and placed on later.
These Buddha heads, along with other looted artworks, were displayed as war booty in the rooms of Western colonists or collectors. If this particular Buddha head hadn't been so badly damaged, it probably wouldn't have remained in this basement.
Renault had been running his shop for many years and often had Chinese customers who were interested in these broken stones, which Renault considered to have no artistic beauty. When he saw Zhuang Rui picking up the stone statue, he immediately stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Zhuang, do you like this stone statue?"
Zhuang Rui nodded, but immediately shook his head and said, "This Buddha head is too damaged. If it were intact, I would have offered 100,000 euros to buy it, but... it's such a pity..."
Zhuang Rui was telling the truth. The Buddha head was so badly damaged that it had lost all its original color. Even if he bought it, it wouldn't have much collectible value.
"Oh, that's such a pity..."
Renault shrugged. He wasn't disappointed that the thing was broken; he was only disappointed that he couldn't make the deal.
"If you can find a complete sculpture like this elsewhere, I'd be willing to buy it..."
Zhuang Rui said somewhat unwillingly, "Those foreign robbers really stole a lot of good things. Renault's family didn't have them, but maybe someone else's family did."
Renault shook his head and said, "Sir, things like this are usually in museums. I don't know who has one at home..."
"Then let's just forget about it..."
Zhuang Rui was somewhat disappointed, but continued searching the items in the basement. These items all contained a trace of spiritual energy, and it was not an easy task for Zhuang Rui to distinguish them one by one.
"Huh? What's this?"
Beneath the Buddha's head, Zhuang Rui saw several rusty, palm-sized bronze artifacts and was momentarily stunned. He had just noticed that one of the bronze artifacts contained a rich purple spiritual energy, but the several iron-like pieces were stacked together, making it impossible for Zhuang Rui to identify which one it was.
"A bronze mirror?"
When Zhuang Rui separated the items on the table, he could see that these rusty objects were actually four bronze mirrors. However, three of them were so badly corroded that they were missing edges and corners, and the mirror surface no longer showed any trace of bronze.
There was only one bronze mirror, the one Zhuang Rui sensed was rich in spiritual energy. The mirror surface was relatively smooth, but the rounded edges and back were covered with copper rust. After rubbing it a few times with his hand, the powdery copper rust scattered on the ground.
Because the rust was too thick, Zhuang Rui couldn't see what the pattern on the back was, so he couldn't date the bronze mirror. However, judging from the spiritual energy content, Zhuang Rui knew that this object must be extraordinary, since it was so rusted yet its spiritual energy hadn't been lost much.
"What...what is this?"
After fiddling with the bronze mirror for a while, Zhuang Rui accidentally turned the mirror face up to the light, and a not-so-bright beam of light was reflected onto the wall in front of him.
Chapter 629 Bronze Mirror (Part 2)
While reflecting light, the mirror also has a focusing effect. The beam of light shining on the wall was significantly brighter than the light bulb above his head. However, in that beam of light, Zhuang Rui seemed to vaguely see something.