"Come on, help me back inside, the news is about to start..."
A hint of disappointment crossed the old man's face, but he didn't say much. It was all his fault; years ago, he hadn't acknowledged his daughter and grandson because of pride. Now, he couldn't interfere too much in Zhuang Rui's life. ...
The next day, Zhuang Rui set his alarm for 6 a.m. and got up early to drive to the TV station himself. Since he had promised someone, he had to do his job well. This was Zhuang Rui's principle. Besides, chatting with the experts there was a very enjoyable experience.
The treasure appraisal program was recorded smoothly. It only took a little over two hours to record the items brought by the treasure owners on site. Then some staff members dressed up as treasure appraisers and brought some items from the warehouse for appraisal. By noon, the seven-day special program had been recorded for more than half a day. If they came for another half day tomorrow, it would be completely finished.
After returning to the courtyard house in the afternoon, Zhuang Rui saw that Zhao Guodong had also arrived in Beijing and brought him an Audi. Zhuang Rui still preferred his own Grand Cherokee, so he tossed the Audi keys to Peng Fei.
Zhuang Rui was thinking about buying another car. After Xuanbing arrived, she would need a car too. But there was no rush. They would wait until Qin Xuanbing arrived and see what kind of car she liked.
After more people moved into Zhuang Rui's courtyard house, it became lively. Although Ouyang Lei was busy, his wife and son also moved in, leading a group of children to play in the courtyard, with a white lion following behind them.
This was Zhuang Rui's special instruction: whenever that girl Nannan ran towards the pond, the white lion would grab her by her clothes and drag her back. The way the chubby girl danced around in the white lion's mouth often caused the busy people in the courtyard to burst into laughter.
Zhuang Rui and the others were doing a thorough cleaning of the courtyard house and pasting couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) on all the doors. For an ordinary family, this work would be easy, but Zhuang Rui's courtyard had more than twenty rooms and they had bought more than two hundred "福" characters. They were very busy.
Chapter 538 A Joyful New Year (Part 2)
On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, Zhuang Rui came to the TV station for the last time, as the festive atmosphere in Beijing grew stronger.
As Zhuang Rui drove along the road, he could see that many people were wearing festive red silk cotton-padded jackets that were only worn during the Chinese New Year. Although the weather was still cold, everyone's face was filled with happy smiles.
"Happy New Year, Teacher Jin! I'm sending you my early New Year greetings..."
"Happy Chinese New Year, Teacher Sun..."
"Xiao Zhuang, Happy New Year, Happy New Year..."
Upon entering the CCTV lobby, all I could hear were New Year's greetings.
Although tomorrow is only the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chinese people have a custom that the 30th of the year is the most important. Look at those people who have been busy outside all year, rushing home before the New Year, just so they can have a reunion dinner at home on the 30th.
"By the way, Teacher Liu, did you know that someone bought a fake official Buddha statue from the Yongzheng era at Panjiayuan a while ago?"
While the experts took their seats and the host was talking outside, Zhuang Rui asked Liu An'an a question.
Before Liu An'an could answer, Fatty Jin interjected, "Teacher Zhuang, are you talking about Xiao Zhao, the stationery seller, who got set up?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui nod, Fatty Jin laughed and said, "You really asked the right person. Teacher Liu knows the most about that matter; he was the one who handled the appraisal..."
Fatty Jin also knew Boss Zhao, and they were quite familiar with each other. He himself studied under that master of Chinese studies surnamed Aisin-Gioro, learning calligraphy and appreciation of paintings and calligraphy. He often went to "Shuyazhai" to buy brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, so he was very clear about this matter.
"Well, it's been about 20 days since then. The quality of that Buddha statue's casting is still quite good. Some novices can easily be fooled. These days, people will stop at nothing to set up fakes..."
Liu An'an spoke of this matter with some emotion, but Zhuang Rui was relieved because he was also afraid that this might be a trap. What if Old Zhao transferred the shop for some other reason, and it caused other trouble after he took over?
The morning's program was filmed quickly, and the experts each received a gift bag. In addition to some snacks and gifts on top, Zhuang Rui noticed a large red envelope at the bottom, which he assumed was their payment for the event.
Actually, Zhuang Rui didn't know that the CCTV treasure appraisal program originally didn't have an expert fee budget. However, after Zhuang Rui joined and that incident happened, the station director specially approved 300,000 yuan as an expense to hire experts, 50,000 yuan per person. Jin Pangzi and his team still benefited from Zhuang Rui's influence.
"Wishing you prosperity and good fortune, give me a red envelope!"
After saying goodbye to the experts and the host, Zhuang Rui had just gotten into his car when his phone, which he had reset, rang.
"Hello, is this Mr. Zhuang? This is Zhao Hanxuan..."
"Is this Boss Zhao? Hehe, so, have you made up your mind?"
Although Zhuang Rui was unfamiliar with the name Zhao Hanxuan, he recognized the voice. It was the same Zhao Boss who had been tricked and raised for two years before being slaughtered like a fat sheep.
"Boss Zhuang, please call me Lao Zhao. I don't deserve that title..."
Zhao Hanxuan's voice came through the phone. After a pause, he continued, "Boss Zhuang, I've thought it through. As long as you agree to take over Shuyazhai, I'll be your resident chef for a year..."
When Zhao Hanxuan spoke on the other end of the phone, his face was somewhat bitter. He was a native of Beijing and quite famous in the field of collecting scholar's objects. However, he never expected that he would make a wrong move in middle age, not only losing his own shop but also having to work for someone else.
However, the situation was pressing, and he had no choice. After considering it for two days, he finally made a decision. Before making the call to Zhuang Rui, he had already notified all the creditors that they must repay the borrowed money before the Lantern Festival. Otherwise, Zhao Hanxuan would not be able to get through the New Year.
"Okay, Lao Zhao, I'll be waiting for your call..."
Zhuang Rui was overjoyed to hear Zhao Hanxuan agree. To be honest, Zhuang Rui didn't care at all about how much money he could make from those stationery items. He was thinking about how he finally had a place to sell the jewelry he had obtained from Myanmar.
In his spare time these past few days, Zhuang Rui sorted out the jewelry he acquired from Myanmar, dividing it into several categories. One category is nephrite ornaments, mostly small decorative pieces. The jade material is of high quality, the carving is exquisite, and they are all quite old, mostly from before the Xianfeng era, and there are even quite a few from the Ming Dynasty.
These genuine antique jade pieces cannot be sold at the price of ordinary jade. These are antiques. Zhuang Rui roughly estimated that the value of these ornaments and pendants alone is over 50 million. This is Zhuang Rui's conclusion without including a few exquisite pieces in his calculations.
Other items are all gemstones, including Burmese rubies, turquoise, agate ruyi (a type of scepter), and other similar objects, all of which can be categorized as antiques.
Then there are the pearls, including a string of top-quality black pearls with a diameter between 9mm and 10mm, which are priceless treasures. Zhuang Rui didn't know why black pearls from the Polynesian Islands were in Myanmar, but these black pearls were definitely not dyed. They were expensive natural black pearls that only appeared at auctions.
Zhuang Rui would naturally not sell this. With Qin Xuanbing's fair skin, she would be even more beautiful and charming if she wore this pearl necklace. Zhuang Rui had already decided to give it to Qin Xuanbing as a gift when they got engaged.
"Hey, Mr. Zhuang, are you listening?"
Zhuang Rui was lost in thought and his mind wandered when Zhao Hanxuan's voice came through the phone.
"Yes, yes..."
Zhuang Rui quickly agreed.
“Mr. Zhuang, I can agree to your conditions, but I hope you can complete the transfer of Shuyazhai before the fifteenth of the first lunar month. You...you know, I'm counting on this money to save my life…”
Zhao Hanxuan wasn't in the mood for anything else. He just wanted to pay off his debts first, and then work for Zhuang Rui for a year. No matter what, a monthly salary of 30,000 yuan wasn't low. After a year, he would think of a way to start a business related to stationery.
"Hehe, Mr. Zhao, please keep that shop open as usual for now. I'll be there before the third day of the Lunar New Year. There are some specific things I'll need to ask for your opinion on then..."
Zhuang Rui smiled. He had another plan in mind, but it was just a vague idea; he needed to think it over carefully. He'd discuss it with Zhao Hanxuan when they went to the temple fair during the New Year. ...
Back at the courtyard house, it was already bustling with preparations for the New Year. Ouyang Jun and the others gathered in one room to play cards, while the children played in the yard. Fortunately, the yard was big enough for them to keep running around.
Ouyang Wan, along with Zhang Ma, Li Sao, and Zhuang Rui's cousins, busied themselves in the kitchen, steaming New Year's cakes, frying meatballs, pan-frying ribbonfish, potato slices, and crispy leaves, among other New Year's foods. The chef who was supposed to be serving the old man was given a day off by Ouyang Wan, because the New Year's Eve dinner was always the most delicious when it was made by oneself.
A few children would occasionally sneak into the kitchen, grab a few treats, and run off, followed by the laughter and scolding of several women. Jiang Ying and the others had all come from an era of material scarcity. Although they had hired a nanny to do the work for them all these years, they were now doing it with great enthusiasm.
As night fell, the sound of firecrackers gradually rose outside. Zhuang Rui turned on all the lights in the courtyard, and even the artificial hill in the courtyard was illuminated with colorful lights. The entire house was brightly lit in the night.
"Time for New Year's Eve dinner..."
The children in the yard shouted in unison, and at Ouyang Wan's call, they swarmed into the dining room, their chattering filling the large room.
The New Year's Eve dinner was divided into five tables. The old man's guards and Zhang Ma and others sat at two tables in the front yard, while three tables were set up in the dining room in the middle yard.
There were so many people that the women and children alone filled one table. Zhuang Rui and his brothers, along with Zhao Guodong and others, sat at one table, while Ouyang Gang, Ouyang Zhenwu, and others sat at a separate table. Of Zhuang Rui's generation, only Ouyang Lei was among them.
"Zhuang Rui, come here, sit over here..."
Ouyang Gang's loud voice rang out, and the room fell silent. Everyone's eyes turned to Zhuang Rui, and the Ouyang brothers' eyes were filled with envy.
You should know that being able to sit at that table is equivalent to being able to participate in the core affairs of the family. Although Ouyang Long and Ouyang Lu have now reached the level of department-level cadres, they are still not qualified to sit at the table.
"Come here, Xiao Rui. The old man is testing you to see how much you, as a collector, know about New Year's customs."
Ouyang Zhenwu smiled and waved to Zhuang Rui, dispelling the doubts of his brothers. However, everyone could see that Zhuang Rui was greatly favored by the old man.
"Fire the fireworks, then eat!"
The old man waved his hand, and Ouyang Lei's son took an incense stick and lit the "Ten Thousand Firecrackers on the Earth" hanging on the big tree at the entrance of the restaurant. Immediately, the sound of firecrackers crackling and popping rang out.
"It's Chinese New Year! Time to set off firecrackers..."
Amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers and the dazzling sparks, everyone's face was beaming with joy. The children were especially excited, shouting with delight. It took a lot of effort to get these little ones, who wanted to keep setting off firecrackers, into the restaurant.
"Dad, Mom, I wish you both boundless happiness and longevity..."
After the old man waved his hand to indicate that everyone could start eating, Ouyang Zhenwu and Ouyang Wan's children all stood up and toasted the old man and the old woman with a glass of wine.
"Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma on your mother's side, wishing you both..."
Behind them, Ouyang Lei and Zhuang Rui, the third generation, lined up to offer New Year's greetings.
Finally, it was the children's turn. They all knelt down on the ground, kowtowed, and then scrambled to their feet, chattering as they reached out to ask the old folks for their New Year's money.
"Okay, I have them all, I have them all..."
The old man and woman were all smiles as they handed out red envelopes prepared by their daughter to the children.
"It's Chinese New Year..."
Zhuang Rui felt a warm feeling flow through his heart as he looked at this scene of four generations living together.
Chapter 539 New Year Customs (Part 1)
After kowtowing to the old man and woman, a group of little ones, starting with Zhuang Rui's second uncle, bowed down one by one. After kowtowing, they stood up and reached out for red envelopes. Wearing many winter clothes, their clumsy appearance made the adults laugh.
"Uncle, give me a red envelope!"
Among all the people in the room, Zhuang Rui was the youngest, so he was the last to kowtow to him. Looking at his niece's chubby little hand, Zhuang Rui took out the red envelopes he had prepared and handed them out one by one, both amused and exasperated.
Before leaving, Zhuang Rui hugged Nannan and said, "Nannan, how about your uncle keeps your red envelope for you?"
"No, Mom said this is for Nannan's dowry when she grows up..."
The little girl shook her head repeatedly, and what she said immediately caused a burst of laughter in the room. She didn't know what a dowry was; she was just repeating Zhuang Min's words.
"Okay. When you get married in the future, your uncle will give you a big red envelope..."
Zhuang Rui flicked the little girl's nose and let her go. Children eat together and it tastes better. Normally, you have to follow them around with a bowl to get these little devils to eat.
After Ouyang Gang picked up his chopsticks, the New Year's Eve dinner officially began. Their family didn't have any rules about not talking while eating, and the dining room was filled with laughter and joy. At this moment, there were no ministers, no governors, and no generals; there was only deep family affection.
The old man and woman didn't eat much. About half an hour later, the doctor who was eating in the front yard came over and, together with Ouyang Wan, helped the two elderly people to take a walk in the yard.
The children had almost finished eating, and a bunch of them took their firecrackers and went to the yard to set them off. The crackling sounds from outside added to the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
"Alright, you guys come over here too..."
After the old man passed away, Ouyang Zhenwu called his son and Ouyang Lu and his brothers to the main table. Except for Zhuang Rui's eldest uncle, who was still out of town, this meant that two or three generations of people were present.
Listening to the sound of firecrackers outside, Zhuang Rui raised his glass to his two uncles and said, "Now that firecrackers aren't banned, it finally feels like the New Year again. A few years ago, these New Year traditions were almost completely lost..."
"That's true, but there are pros and cons. Setting off firecrackers during the Lunar New Year increases the city's fire rate by 60% compared to normal times. If we don't allow them, we'll lose our tradition..."
The speaker was Ouyang Long, who was now in charge of a region and knew these things very well. The Spring Festival was also the busiest time for them. Ouyang Long finished his New Year's Eve dinner today and flew back to work tomorrow.
Of course, being busy doesn't mean they're trying to get promoted. On the contrary, many people with higher official ranks might even visit them instead.
"We shouldn't talk about national affairs during the New Year, Xiao Rui. You're a collector. This is related to our country's traditional culture. Can you explain the customs and traditions associated with the New Year?"
Ouyang Zhenwu often heard his son praise Zhuang Rui for his expertise in appraising antiques, but now he wanted to investigate Zhuang Rui to see how much he knew about traditional Chinese culture.