It took about seven or eight minutes for the grandfather and grandson to calm down. The old man wiped away his tears and said to Zhuang Rui somewhat apologetically, "Young man, I'm sorry, I was thinking about something sad..."
"It's alright, old man. The deceased is gone, but we who are alive must still live well."
Zhuang Rui offered a word of comfort.
"Hehe, I'm practically halfway to the grave, and you still have to comfort me. I'm old, really old."
Young man, this piece of jade. If you want to polish it into a cabochon, this old man can still manage. My hand isn't as steady as it used to be, but polishing cabochons doesn't require advanced skills, so it shouldn't be a problem.
"However, if you want it carved into a pendant, I dare not take the job. If it were two years ago, I would have paid you to carve it even if you didn't give it to me. But these past two years, my hands have been shaking so badly that I'm afraid I might accidentally damage this jade."
As the old man spoke, a hint of regret appeared on his face. He had carved countless pieces of jade in his life, including top-grade jade such as blue-eyed mutton fat jade, but he had never carved a piece of imperial green jadeite. Now, although he had this opportunity, the old man was no longer as skilled as he used to be.
Having spent his entire life collecting jade, the allure of this exquisite piece was no less than that of a drug addict encountering narcotics. However, due to his own circumstances, he was unable to carve it himself. This caused the old man great distress.
"I do have a few apprentices, but... sigh, never mind..."
This piece of jade is extremely valuable. If there is even the slightest mistake during the carving process, it will be irreparable. The old man is really worried about the few apprentices he has trained for only a few years. His early apprentices have all started their own businesses and are no longer in Pengcheng.
"It's alright, sir, I'll think of another way. Please take care of yourself, I'll take my leave now..."
Zhuang Rui stood up, feeling somewhat disappointed. Shi Tou Zhai was a well-established business in Pengcheng, and if they couldn't handle this job here, then there was no point in going anywhere else.
Seeing Zhuang Rui get up to leave, the old man quickly said, "Young man, wait a moment. Just because I can't do it doesn't mean I can't find someone to do it."
"Oh? Please speak, sir..."
Zhuang Rui sat down again.
“These pendants are usually made of the twelve zodiac animals or Guanyin Buddha statues, and they require the most exquisite carving craftsmanship. If this were an icy jadeite, I would have my apprentice carve it. However, imperial green glass jadeite is too precious. If I make a mistake, I, the old man, cannot afford to pay for it. How about this, I will introduce an old friend to carve it for you. His skills are unparalleled in our industry. With my connections and the quality of your jadeite, I believe he will not refuse. However, you will have to make a trip to Beijing and come to my door in person.”
After the old man finished speaking, he looked at Zhuang Rui, waiting for him to make a decision.
"Sir, which master are you referring to?"
Seeing the old man speak highly of that person, Zhuang Rui asked him a question.
"I know, Grandpa, you're talking about Grandpa Gu, right? Hmph, Grandpa Gu may be powerful, but he might not be stronger than you."
Before the old man could reply, Wu Jia called out, though she was somewhat dissatisfied with her grandfather's words. In her heart, her grandfather's cooking was the best.
After Wu Jia finished speaking, she noticed that Zhuang Rui's expression was a bit strange, and thought that he didn't believe her. She said angrily, "Don't disbelieve me, what I said is true. My grandfather and Grandpa Gu used to be known as 'Southern Wu and Northern Gu'. They were very famous in the jade carving industry. If Grandpa hadn't been in poor health, the things he carved would not have been any worse than Grandpa Gu's."
"No, no, I didn't mean that. Of course I trust the old man's craftsmanship, otherwise I wouldn't have come to his door. But... is the Grandpa Gu you mentioned Gu Tianfeng, the vice chairman of the National Jade Association?"
Zhuang Rui didn't mean to disbelieve, but he felt that the world was a bit too... small. He and his senior uncle had only not seen each other for a little over ten days, and now he was being asked to come over.
In fact, Zhuang Rui had considered asking his senior master Gu to carve the jade at first, but firstly, his senior master Gu was far away in the capital, which was not very convenient, and secondly, his senior master Gu had always taken good care of him, so Zhuang Rui felt a little embarrassed to keep bothering him.
Another reason is that he has produced far too many good materials. If his master uncle Gu saw this piece of jade, who knows what he would say. For these reasons, Zhuang Rui thought of finding a craftsman in Pengcheng to carve it. However, he did not expect that after going around in circles, he would still have to go to that master uncle.
However, after hearing Wu Jia's words, Zhuang Rui also felt great respect for the old man in front of him. To be able to be on par with Master Gu, his reputation in the jade industry must be extraordinary. Pengcheng actually has such a master hidden away.
"Ah...you know Grandpa Gu? Then why don't you ask him to carve this jade?"
Wu Jia looked at Zhuang Rui and asked curiously, "Although this old master is famous in the jade industry, he is not a household name. People who are not familiar with this industry generally do not know the old master's real name."
"Yes, I didn't expect you to be an insider. I misjudged you."
Wu Jia's grandfather originally thought that Zhuang Rui had obtained the jade through other channels, but now it seems that the young man had most likely cut it out himself.
"Hehe, I wouldn't call myself an insider, I've just become quite interested in jade gambling in recent years and have had pretty good luck. As for Master Gu, he has some connection with my family..."
Zhuang Rui hesitated for a moment before briefly explaining his relationship with Master Gu. He knew that even if he didn't say anything, the old man in front of him would surely find out about the decades-long friendship between him and Master Gu.
“I didn’t expect you two to have this connection. Then there’s no problem. Old Gu will definitely help you with the carving. With his help, your top-quality jadeite won’t be wasted. When you see Old Gu, please give him my regards.”
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the old man was also quite surprised. It was indeed a coincidence. Although he lived in Pengcheng and had heard of Zhuang Rui's grandfather's reputation, he had never had any contact with him. He never expected that his old friend would have such a connection with the young man in front of him.
"Thank you, sir. I will definitely convey your message when I go to the capital."
Now that things had come to this point and everything had been said, Zhuang Rui prepared to take his leave.
Seeing Zhuang Rui about to leave, the old man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Oh, right, young man, I have a favor to ask of you, I hope you can consider it..."
Chapter 258 Northern and Southern Carving Techniques
"Old man, please don't hesitate to ask for anything. I'll do my best to help..."
Zhuang Rui held this master carver, who was as famous as his master Gu but was already in his twilight years, in high esteem. If it weren't for the fact that those rings and other jewelry were too flashy and his mother might not like them, Zhuang Rui would have given the jade to the old man to carve.
Zhuang Rui didn't know if his spiritual energy would help the old man with his trembling hands, but this was not like winning a few top-quality jadeite pieces in a gambling game. If it got out, he probably wouldn't have a good life.
Although Zhuang Rui now has some wealth, he knows that there are too many people in this world who could devour him whole, leaving nothing behind, so he suppressed that thought.
However, Zhuang Rui was already considering whether he should learn some acupuncture or something, even if it was just for show, so that he could conceal the presence of spiritual energy in case of any emergency in the future.
“Young man, with Brother Gu’s skills, after removing the top and bottom of this jadeite, you should be able to cut enough material for four pendants. There will still be a tiny bit left at both ends. Old man… I was wondering if you could sell me that remaining piece of jadeite? Of course, I won’t let you lose out on the price…”
The old man made this request with some helplessness in his heart. This Stone Shop was entirely supported by his reputation, but in recent years, the competition in the Pengcheng jade market has been quite fierce. In addition, due to his poor health, he rarely takes on business from his old customers. As a result, the popularity of Stone Shop has declined significantly.
The old man wanted to use the scraps from Zhuang Rui's jadeite to polish a cabochon as the store's prized possession, which would also help alleviate some of the pressure on his granddaughter. With his discerning eye, he could tell at a glance what kind of thing could be made from the jadeite and how much material would be left over.
Zhuang Rui did not agree directly, but instead asked the old man, "Grandpa, what other items can be made from the materials left behind?"
The old man picked up the jade on the table, gestured back and forth, and said, "I can make two small fingernail-sized cabochons, or two pairs of small earrings, but I'm afraid I can't make any more than that."
"earrings?"
Zhuang Rui's heart skipped a beat. He knew his mother had pierced ears, but he had never seen her wear earrings before. Besides the pendant, making a pair of earrings for his mother would be a great idea. With his mother's style, she would definitely look beautiful in such earrings.
"Old sir, to be honest, I originally had no intention of selling this jadeite at all. But since you've brought it up, how about this: if we can save enough material for two cabochons, I'll use one to make a pair of earrings, and you can have the other one. Is that alright?"
After thinking for a moment, Zhuang Rui expressed his thoughts. Although he respected the old man, he would not use his own things to do favors.
“Okay, okay, bring back the rest of the materials. I’ll make the earrings for you. I’m going to call Lao Gu. If he can’t save these materials, I’m going to go to Beijing and give him a piece of my mind.”
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the old man stood up shakily with excitement. This was a win-win situation! He had not only fulfilled his dream of carving an imperial green jadeite, but he could also keep a ring face to save face. The old man was already very content.
"Grandpa, I'd better go and talk to him myself about this..."
Seeing that the old man was about to make a phone call, Zhuang Rui quickly stopped him. If the old man was calling his senior brother Gu, he would definitely be scolded. He had a good item but didn't show it to his own family first.
"Yes, yes, you go and tell him yourself. As for how you know this old man, well... just say you're classmates with my granddaughter, um, that's it. You young people can get to know each other better, haha..."
Having lived to such an advanced age, the old man quickly understood Zhuang Rui's meaning and secretly praised the young man for being polite and reasonable.
"Closeness?"
Zhuang Rui glanced at the girl beside him. Although she was pretty and had a sweet smile, Zhuang Rui had no intention of getting involved with her. Qin Xuanbing called twice a day, and there were also the occasional greetings from Officer Miao, which were already giving Zhuang Rui a headache.
"I'll call Master Gu when I get back. By the way, sir, I'd also like to ask you where there are many jade carving masters. I have some other materials that I'd like to have carved."
Zhuang Rui was thinking about his piece of red jadeite rough. Sooner or later, after it was cut open, he would still have to ask someone to carve it. There was quite a lot of jadeite inside; he could take out seventeen or eighteen pieces for bracelets. He couldn't very well trouble Master Gu again, could he?
"Hehe, among all the jade carving craftsmen in the world, Yangzhou is the best. I am a jade carver from Yangzhou. If you have a lot of material, you can go to Yangzhou and invite a few masters over."
The old man spoke of his legacy with a face full of pride.
Zhuang Rui had heard of Yangzhou carvers, but he didn't have any friends there. Going there in the dark would be pointless; who would come with him? So he continued, "Old man, could you introduce me to one or two masters when the time comes? Price is not a problem, as long as they are willing to come."
"Master? Heh, these days, anyone who can be called a master is only a few years younger than me. They wouldn't come out for money. But don't worry, once you've cut out the material, I'll call an apprentice over to help you carve it. His skills are almost as good as mine back then, and he's one of the best carvers in Yangzhou now."
The old man reassured Zhuang Rui. His apprentices from other places were now all capable of working independently in various jewelry companies. As long as Zhuang Rui could afford the price, he would surely give his master some face if he asked. Moreover, they were all in their thirties or forties, which was the golden age for them to hone their skills.
"Was Master Gu also a Yangzhou carver?"
Zhuang Rui was a little curious. Nanwu and Beigu seemed to have different lineages. As a junior, he was always very keen to gossip about his elders.
"No, Brother Gu is from the Beijing University of Technology faction..."
Seeing Zhuang Rui's confusion, the old man continued, "From ancient times to the present, jade carving has been divided into northern and southern styles. The northern style is centered in Beijing and is also known as the Beijing style; the southern style is centered in Suzhou and is also known as the Suzhou style or the Yangzhou style. And Brother Gu is a Beijing style craftsman."
Is there any difference between the two?
Zhuang Rui really knew nothing about carving.
"Hehe, the difference is huge. Southern craftsmanship is delicate, with a focus on the lifelike and exquisite details, especially in jade ornaments."
Northern craftsmanship often employs concise carving techniques, typically leaving a large area on the jade to create a "sparse yet impenetrable" effect. With just a few strokes, the shapes of figures, flowers, birds, and animals can be vividly depicted.
Secondly, there are differences in design. Let me give you an example.
The old man stood up, walked to the safe, took out an item, and placed it in front of Zhuang Rui.
"This is a famous Qing Dynasty carving, 'Squirrel Eating Grapes.' In the north, a large leaf is usually used as the base to highlight the shape of the grapes on the surface; but look at this piece, the grapes are carved out in detail, and the jade underneath the grapes has been hollowed out."
The old man turned the exquisite jade carving over and pointed out the hollow part inside for Zhuang Rui to examine closely.
"Southern craftsmen have always been 'unsparing of good materials,' willing to sacrifice unnecessary parts for a masterpiece; while northern craftsmen are more 'conservative of materials,' trying to preserve the integrity of the jade as much as possible. This 'Squirrel Eating Grapes' piece weighs 458 grams. If it were carved by a Beijing craftsman, at least 600 grams could be preserved."
From an artistic point of view, Southern craftsmanship pursues the ultimate and perfection. However, with the gradual decrease in the availability of Hetian jade and jadeite materials, most collectors or consumers use weight as one of the standards for evaluating jade carvings. Therefore, Southern craftsmanship has now also drawn on many techniques from Beijing-style carving.
However, in the current jade market, southern craftsmanship accounts for 80% of the market share, while northern craftsmanship accounts for less than 20%, and this share is shrinking further.
"Really? The difference is that big? Then why is Master Gu so famous?"
Zhuang Rui was startled by the old man's words; the Beijing-style carving was really disappointing.
The old man smiled and said, "The main reason is that during the Qing Dynasty, those emperors all recognized the craftsmanship of Yangzhou. So now, the price of Yangzhou craftsmanship is higher than that of northern craftsmanship. Also, there are more jade carving talents in the south than in the north, ensuring a steady stream of successors. Furthermore, jade carving has become an industry, developing very well and with a wide influence. In contrast, the number of practitioners in the north is decreasing, making it difficult to achieve scale. There are still quite a few people in Yangzhou with my skill level, but nowadays, among the Beijing-style jade carvers, Brother Gu is truly a pillar of strength. If it weren't for him, haha, no one would even mention Beijing-style jade carving anymore."
It's clear that the old man is very proud of his Yangzhou origins, but he also highly praises the craftsmanship of Mr. Gu.
After hearing the old man's explanation, Zhuang Rui finally understood the inside story of the carving industry. It turned out that the old master was unique in Beijing-style carving, which explained his high status in the industry.
In fact, Zhuang Rui had underestimated his senior apprentice. Gu Tianfeng was not only extremely talented in carving, but also an expert in identifying and appreciating jade, which is why he had remained successful for decades. His status in the jade industry was similar to that of the master in the antique world, surnamed Aisin Gioro.
Although the purpose of the trip was not achieved, Zhuang Rui still benefited a lot. After saying goodbye to the old man, he drove home. Zhuang Rui picked up the phone but hesitated. He had only been home for two days and Bai Shi was still sick. Should he go to Beijing right away?
"Let's make a phone call to get some information first..."
It's a bit unethical to not burn incense normally and then suddenly seek help from Buddha in an emergency. After thinking for a while, Zhuang Rui still dialed Old Master Gu's number.
Chapter 259 Going to Beijing
"Uncle, Mom is ignoring me."
He entered the villa with his phone in hand. His niece rushed into his arms to complain, but Zhuang Rui saw that his older sister was arguing with the instruction manual for her Passat. When she saw Zhuang Rui come in, she just looked up and greeted him.
"Okay, don't pay any attention to her. Be a good girl, go play with your grandma."