“I know I created these things, but I didn’t give them a soul, but… but that’s not something I can decide…”
After figuring this out, Xu Guoqing couldn't help but feel a little troubled. The so-called accumulation and sedimentation of history cannot be replicated by aging. That kind of weight can only be expressed on objects after experiencing the vicissitudes of time and the changes in the landscape.
“XCMG, haven’t you ever thought about making your own things, giving them a soul and life? Although they can’t be called antiques, your craftsmanship is in no way inferior to those great craftsmen of the past. Why can’t the things you make become treasures that people will want to own thousands of years from now?”
After carefully examining the porcelain blanks painted by Xu Guoqing, Zhuang Rui forgot the purpose of his visit. In Zhuang Rui's opinion, Xu Guoqing's skill in porcelain making even surpassed that of those in ancient times.
"I?"
Xu Guoqing was taken aback by Zhuang Rui's words, then waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, it's just a hobby..."
“XCMG, don’t underestimate yourselves. More than a thousand years ago, our ancestors left us with precious works of art such as Tang tri-color pottery and porcelain from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. But what can we leave to future generations a thousand years from now?”
Zhuang Rui interrupted Xu Guoqing and continued, "Are we leaving behind only mass-produced handicrafts for future generations? What then represents the carriers of our era?"
Zhuang Rui had never thought about this question before, but after seeing Xu Guoqing and the things he made, something touched a chord in Zhuang Rui's heart. Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer craftsmen, and in various traditional industries, those who can be called masters are already extremely rare.
"Am I...can I really do it?"
Xu Guoqing's eyes lit up.
Zhuang Rui nodded and said, "Of course, if I may not be so modest, the only modern handicraft I can find without a single flaw in the object itself is your work, Mr. Xu..."
"Okay, I'll give it a try. I've always thought about imitating ancient porcelain before, and I've never thought about creating something myself. This is a completely new field, and it's worth my challenge..."
Xu Guoqing became more and more excited as he spoke, but after glancing around the huge laboratory, he couldn't help but sigh and say, "But... I'm going bankrupt now, and I can no longer support experiments like this..."
After Xu Guoqing finished speaking, his face turned somewhat grim. Having imitated ancient porcelain for so many years, he naturally knew that it was extremely costly. With his current financial resources, he probably didn't even have the money to hire a car to haul porcelain clay from Cixian County.
"No, Mr. Xu, you have money. As long as you agree to my conditions, I will build you the world's most advanced research institute in Japan, making your handicrafts one of the most popular art forms in the world..."
As soon as Xu Guoqing finished speaking, a voice came from the doorway. Although it was spoken in Chinese, it was very stiff, and from the words, the people in the room could tell that it was a Japanese person.
"Old Yu?"
Xu Guoqing ignored the voice, but instead raised his voice and called out to Yu Zhengjun with a hint of anger.
Yu Zhengjun, who had just gone out to open the door, looked a little embarrassed. He chuckled and said, "Old Xu, guests are always welcome. I can't just kick them out, can I? Let's sit down and talk things over..."
Although Yu Zhengjun also dislikes the Japanese, his transportation company recently wanted to transform into a modern logistics company, which involved cooperation with this Japanese person. Both sides rely on each other, so Mr. Yu also faces difficulties.
“Let’s talk outside. My lab is only for guests…”
Xu Guoqing glanced at Yu Zhengjun with some displeasure, then strode to the door, blocking the path of the Japanese man who had just spoken.
With the host gone, Zhuang Rui and the others felt embarrassed to stay in the laboratory any longer, so they returned to the outer room and found that in addition to Yu Zhengjun and Xu Guoqing, there were three more people in the room.
"Mr. Xu, please forgive my rudeness last time, and please believe in my sincerity. This factory is still yours. As long as you are willing to come to Japan with me, I will provide you with the best laboratory in the world, and will give you no less than three million US dollars in research funding every year, so that you can reproduce the exquisite porcelain from your great Song Dynasty..."
The Japanese man, who was only about 1.65 meters tall and in his early fifties, bowed deeply to Xu Guoqing after saying these words. Even Zhuang Rui and the others could feel his sincerity.
Xu Guoqing shook his head and said firmly, "I'm sorry, I will not leave China. And even if I manage to replicate Cizhou ware, it will belong to China, not to Japan..."
"Mr. Xu, art knows no borders..."
The Japanese man bent over at a 90-degree angle again.
"Damn, do all these Japanese people have spinal problems?"
Zhuang Rui's back ached from looking at them. Beneath the humble exterior of the Japanese lay wolfish ambitions. In any case, Zhuang Rui had absolutely no goodwill towards the Japanese.
Furthermore, Zhuang Rui was a little annoyed by the Japanese people's insistence on providing Xu Guoqing with the most advanced laboratory. Did they think that only Japan valued traditional craftsmanship?
However, in China, this area is not really taken seriously. At most, people just shout slogans about protecting intangible cultural heritage, but they haven't actually spent a penny on it.
"Boss Yu, what's going on here?"
While Xu Guoqing and the Japanese were dawdling, Zhuang Rui pulled Yu Zhengjun aside and took a few steps.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Yu Zhengjun sighed and said, "Ah, President Zhuang, this Japanese man is called Yamaki Taro, and he's the chairman of a large Japanese company..."
"Don't talk about that. What I want to ask this Japanese guy is, is it because he invited Engineer Xu to Japan to make porcelain?"
Zhuang Rui curled his lip and interrupted Yu Zhengjun. "Japanese names are the most meaningless of all. Before the Meiji Restoration, only the nobility, aristocracy, and powerful families in Japan had surnames, while commoners had given names but no surnames."
In the early Meiji period, in order to compile household registers and levy taxes and conscription, laborers began to have surnames. As a result, place names, field names, background, family lineage, occupation, residence, house number, tools, and even the names of animals and plants became the basis for choosing surnames.
Japan doesn't have its own culture at all; it's all stolen from China. Like South Korea, they're the kind of people who eat the milk and then forget their mother.
"Mr. Zhuang, even though I brought this guy here before, I'm powerless to stop him. This little devil has become obsessed with Lao Xu, and this time he even brought people from the city. I can't say anything now..."
Zhuang Rui had really asked the right person. This whole thing was indeed started by Yu Zhengjun, and no one knew the ins and outs better than him.
Yamaki Taro's company entered China a bit late and has nothing to do with the automotive industry. Now, in addition to investing in Zhengjun's logistics company, he is also preparing to do some industrial work in Gaoyi.
Some time ago, under the leadership of Yu Zhengjun, Yamaki Taro originally intended to acquire Xu Guoqing's factory. However, after seeing Xu Guoqing's skills, the Japanese changed his mind.
Chapter 789 Political Achievements
It's unclear what possessed Yamaki Taro, but after seeing Xu Guoqing's imitations of Tang Sancai (Tang tri-color glazed pottery) and Cizhou ware porcelain blanks, he wanted to invite Xu Guoqing to Japan, and Yamaki Corporation was willing to provide Xu Guoqing with all the necessary conveniences.
Although Xu Guoqing was obsessed with the study of ceramics, he had no goodwill towards the Japanese at all and refused on the spot. Yamaki Taro later brought Yu Zhengjun to visit twice more, but they still failed to persuade Xu Guoqing.
"This picture of Shanmu is probably not of Xu Guoqing..."
After listening to Yu Zhengjun's explanation, Zhuang Rui sneered. Without huge benefits, would these Japanese be so kind as to offer Xu Guoqing such generous conditions?
Compared to the five major official kilns of the Song Dynasty, Cizhou ware porcelain was mostly made for the daily lives of ordinary people, and its output was very large throughout the dynasties, with a much larger number surviving to this day.
However, many people are unaware that Cizhou kilns also had kilns that produced porcelain exclusively for the imperial court. Because they were not the main supply base for the royal family, they produced relatively few pieces, and the number of surviving pieces is even rarer than that of Yuan blue and white porcelain. Only the Tokyo National Museum has two pieces of Cizhou official kiln porcelain, and their provenance is self-evident.
It is precisely because of the lack of physical examples that the Cizhou official kiln is not well-known and there are relatively few people studying it in China, but in Japan, the situation is exactly the opposite.
Cizhou ware is far more famous in Japan than in China. This is because, since the Song Dynasty, some Japanese people have purchased large quantities of Cizhou ware from China. Later, these shameless individuals actually claimed that they were made by them and that the ware was brought to China, and even cited classical texts to prove it.
There's no need to refute these things at all. With the discovery and excavation of Cizhou kiln sites in various places, these people from that island nation have been thoroughly slapped in the face.
Yamaki's invitation to Xu Guoqing to go to Japan may well be a calculated move. If he can successfully replicate the Cizhou official kiln porcelain of that time, even if it is a modern craft, its value will far exceed that of ordinary antiques, and Yamaki Taro will gain both fame and fortune.
Zhuang Rui's guess was correct. Yamaki Taro was indeed thinking about this. Although Japan is small and lacks various resources, its national cohesion is extremely strong, which cannot be denied. Otherwise, they would not have been able to become a world economic power in just a few decades after the war.
If Taro Yamaki can replicate the Cizhou official kiln porcelain that has been popular in Japan for a long time, then this reputation will be a huge intangible asset for his company.
That's why Yamaki Taro visited Xu Guoqing several times, trying to invite him to Japan. He even went so far as to pull strings with the government and use the guise of academic exchange to persuade Xu Guoqing to go to Japan.
This arrangement was indeed a windfall for Xu Guoqing, but it was a cultural distortion of right and wrong and an act of aggression, which was extremely shameful.
Although Xu Guoqing didn't have Zhuang Rui's profound understanding, he harbored a deep-seated aversion to the Japanese. Besides, he had squandered his vast fortune and didn't care about the favorable terms offered by Yamaki Taro. Without money, he couldn't conduct experiments, so he could finally settle down and live a peaceful life with his wife and children. ...
Yamaki Taro talked to Xu Guoqing for a long time, but failed to persuade him. In desperation, he bowed deeply to a Chinese man in his thirties who had come with him and said, "Mr. Cen, please talk to Mr. Xu. I beg you."
"Mr. Xu, hello. I think the conditions proposed by Mr. Yamaki are quite favorable. You can consider them. This is also a form of cultural exchange between China and Japan..."
The man speaking was about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. His speech was full of official jargon. When he spoke to Xu Guoqing, he was sitting on the only sofa, and the cup he was holding was one he had brought himself, giving him the air of a leader.
Moreover, the man's words sounded more like a command than a discussion with Xu Guoqing, causing Zhuang Rui to frown.
"Boss Yu, who is this person?"
Zhuang Rui asked Yu Zhengjun in a low voice.
"He's a vice mayor of the city, who also serves as the director of the investment promotion office. I didn't expect Yamaki Taro to be able to get this person here. This matter is a bit difficult..."
Yu Zhengjun only has some influence in this small county town. His reach is far from extending into the city. Let alone a vice mayor with real power, even a minor section chief or department head could bring down Yu Zhengjun's company if he were to get under his thumb.
Although Yu Zhengjun was a businessman who lived in a small county town, he was quick-witted and naturally familiar with the newly appointed mayor.
So Yu Zhengjun brought these people in without Xu Guoqing's consent, mainly because the other party was too powerful and he couldn't afford to offend them.
"Sino-Japanese exchanges? I've heard that the Japanese claim that their country is the birthplace of Cizhou ware. If that's the case, is there any need for exchanges?"
Although Xu Guoqing was obsessed with studying ceramics, he wasn't stupid. He didn't see things as clearly as Zhuang Rui, but he sensed that something was wrong. Plus, he didn't know the person in front of him at all, so he immediately refused.
"Hey, how dare you talk like that? Don't you know this is Mayor Cen..."
Perhaps out of consideration for his own status, Mayor Cen did not say anything after hearing Xu Guoqing's words. However, the secretary-like man behind him, who looked to be in his late twenties, disagreed and immediately stepped forward, his finger almost poking Xu Guoqing's face.
"Xiao Liu, you mustn't speak to Mr. Xu like that. We have such an expert in the restoration and manufacture of ancient porcelain here; he is the pride and glory of Shijiazhuang..."
Upon hearing the secretary's words, Mayor Cen's expression immediately tightened. He reprimanded the secretary briefly, then turned to Xu Guoqing and said, "Mr. Xu, your delegation representing Shijiazhuang to Japan for cultural and academic exchange is a very meaningful undertaking. It will greatly promote Shijiazhuang's development and enhance its city brand. I personally hope that you will seriously consider this matter. If you have any requests, please feel free to make them, and our government will do its utmost to help you resolve them..."
To be honest, the mayor is quite capable. On a grand scale, these words relate to the development and construction of Shijiazhuang. On a smaller scale, it shows that the leader has extended an olive branch, implying that any requests can be discussed.
Mayor Cen was originally the director of the investment promotion office and was just promoted to vice mayor this year. The reason he was able to go from a department leader to a city leader is because he made a lot of achievements in his position in the investment promotion office.
With Mayor Cen having connections in the provincial government, his achievements made things easier, and he was directly promoted from a division-level cadre to a department-level cadre. It should be noted that although he was only a deputy mayor, Shijiazhuang was a major city for the National People's Congress, and the municipal party secretary was a member of the provincial party committee standing committee, which was half a grade higher than that of a typical prefecture-level city.
These days, it's not like the 1970s or 80s when political integrity was paramount. These days, political achievements are directly linked to a city's GDP. A leader's competence is judged by whether the city's economic level improves during their term—these are all hard indicators.
If it weren't for Yamaki Taro's promise that he would invest 100 million US dollars in Shijiazhuang if Xu Guoqing could go to Japan to conduct research, the newly appointed Mayor Cen would have been too busy to bother with such a nobody as Xu Guoqing.
An investment of one hundred million US dollars was a considerable sum in an inland city in 2005. If it could be secured, it would be a real achievement. If Mayor Cen hadn't been in charge of the investment promotion office, even the city's mayor would probably have been tempted.
Of course, Yamaki Taro wasn't at a loss either. His 100 million US dollars was an investment, not a free gift. Moreover, the city would offer many preferential policies, which might even harm the interests of ordinary people. However, the officials didn't care about these things; they just wanted the money to be settled in Shijiazhuang.
"mayor?"
Xu Guoqing was taken aback by the secretary's words, but upon hearing Mayor Cen's reply, he shook his head and said, "I have no requests, and I don't want to go to Japan. I grew up here and don't want to leave. Mayor Cen, I'm sorry, I still have friends to entertain..."
Xu Guoqing, who also grew up eating grains, spoke relatively normally when facing this local official. This was the best he could say about dismissing guests; he couldn't come up with any more sophisticated language.
However, as soon as he said this, Mayor Cen's face immediately darkened, and he almost doubted that he had misheard. How dare a mere businessman tell him to leave?
"Who are you? Mayor Cen has official business to discuss with Mr. Xu. You'd better leave now..."
Mayor Cen's expression was a barometer for his secretary. Little Liu didn't dare to lash out at Xu Guoqing, but he gave Zhuang Rui and the others a look that clearly meant they should get lost.
The duty of a secretary is, of course, to solve problems for the leader. If Secretary Liu could not understand the leader's intentions, he would not be in this position.
"This...this, we..."
Secretary Liu's words not only made Yu Zhengjun's face turn ugly, but also made Li Dali somewhat uneasy.
Although Mr. Li claimed to have connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles of Shijiazhuang, his backer was only a deputy bureau chief in the city, which was several levels lower than the person in front of him.
These days, no matter how arrogant you are, it's too easy for the government to find fault with you once they get serious. Besides, President Li's background isn't exactly clean either. If Mayor Cen just cracks a few words, he'll end up in jail.
"What is this? Let's go quickly, the leader still needs to discuss official business with Mr. Xu..."
Secretary Liu didn't take these people seriously at all, and waved his hand as if shooing away flies.