The black market that Huangfuyun mentioned is exactly like this. It has existed in the Beijing-Tianjin area for many years and has a good reputation. Moreover, the information was obtained from industry insiders, so Huangfuyun, who was eager to replenish the Han and Tang ceramics in the museum, immediately took it to heart.
"Brother Huangfu, let's talk at home. It's hard to explain over the phone..."
After understanding the situation, Zhuang Rui remained silent for a while. If those ceramics were genuine, Zhuang Rui would also like to eat them. However, based on Zhuang Rui's experience, they were most likely fakes. But without seeing the items, he dared not make a conclusion.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Go and cause trouble for Peng Fei..."
After hanging up the phone, Zhuang Rui glanced at the pond below the pavilion and immediately exclaimed, because he spotted a punk youth in the pond's reflection, his hair all standing on end. It turned out to be the work of the little golden eagle once again.
"Looks like I'll have to wear a hat from now on..."
Zhuang Rui, both amused and exasperated, grabbed Little Golden Feather, bent down, and submerged half of its body in the water, saying, "If you misbehave again, I'll give you a bath..."
"Ouch!"
Little Golden Feather flapped its wings hard on the water's surface, splashing water that actually washed Zhuang Rui's face. The clever little creature flew to the artificial hill in the pond and chirped proudly at Zhuang Rui.
The little golden eagle's feathers are now a mix of white and reddish-brown. When water falls onto its wings, it immediately runs down the feathers without leaving a single drop.
Golden eagle feathers are extremely valuable and command high prices on the international market. A single tail feather from an adult golden eagle can often sell for thousands of dollars, which is a major reason why many people hunt them.
"Brother, you're really unfair! You stay in this paradise all day enjoying yourself while your brother has to work his butt off outside. I strongly protest! I want a raise..."
This was Huangfu Yun's first visit to Zhuang Rui's courtyard house in the past two months. From the moment he entered the main gate, his mouth was agape. Compared to the air-conditioned offices of the museum, this garden with its birdsong and fragrant flowers was simply like a fairyland.
Uh... birdsong naturally refers to the call of the golden eagle. In this yard, only one bird can exist; the other birds attracted by the lush greenery all become food for the golden eagle.
Zhuang Rui laughed upon hearing this and said, "Alright, Brother Huangfu, I'll give you a million more every year, but you won't get that garden house anymore..."
In the residential complex developed by Ouyang Jun, there are dozens of duplex garden apartments, each with an area of about 300 square meters, and the asking price is about 10 million yuan or more.
As a major shareholder of the real estate company, Zhuang Rui owns five such garden apartments, one of which he plans to give to Huangfu Yun and Yun Man as a wedding gift.
"Well, I still want the house, you evil capitalists..."
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Huangfu Yun stopped mentioning the salary increase. One million a year would take ten years to afford that house. Who knows how much that house will cost in ten years?
"Drink tea, drink tea. It's a Pu'er tea that someone gave me. It lowers blood lipids, warms the stomach, helps with weight loss, and even beautifies the skin..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and poured Huangfu Yun a cup of tea. He had been cooped up at home lately, so he had learned to brew tea. Every day, he would sit under the shade of a tree with his wife and mother, brew a pot of tea, and play with Ouyang Jun's little guy. It was truly a life like that of a god.
Pu'er tea has become popular lately, and Ouyang Zhenwu would occasionally bring back a few tea cakes, which Zhuang Rui would then embezzle. Since it was said to have weight-loss benefits, the famous Xu would constantly force Ouyang Jun to brew her several pots of tea.
Why does this tea taste so bitter?
Pu'er tea has only become popular among the people in recent years. Huangfu Yun took a sip of the red tea soup and couldn't help but frown.
"Hehe, this is a tribute item, something we couldn't get our hands on before. You should be grateful to have it now..."
After exchanging a few words with Huangfu Yun, Zhuang Rui asked, "Tell me about that matter. How many items does the other party have, and what price are they asking for?"
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui mention official business, Huangfu Yun's expression turned serious. He said, "This information came from a VIP member of our online art collection website. They have a very high level of credibility. Moreover, Teacher Tian has inspected this batch of porcelain and is inclined to believe it's genuine. However, the amount involved is quite large, so you should make the final decision..."
The Teacher Tian that Huangfuyun mentioned is Tian Fan, Jin Pangzi's colleague. He is also a researcher at the Palace Museum, with profound knowledge of ceramics. He also participated in the folk treasure appraisal event held in Jinan with Zhuang Rui.
Tian Fan, a well-known ceramics appraisal expert in China and one of the experts in the appraisal expert group of Zhuang Rui's website, has been in frequent contact with Huangfu Yun recently. He only gave this information after hearing that Huangfu Yun was interested in acquiring Han and Tang dynasty porcelain, so the credibility of the information is quite high.
The VIP membership system proposed by Zhuang Rui has been very successful. In just over a month, more than 20 items have been sold among members. All of them have been appraised by experts organized by Teacher Ma, and no one has bought a fake. Collectors and experts from all over the country have given the website very high praise.
Huangfu Yun also used the website to obtain a lot of information about the collection and made several private transactions, adding a few good pieces to the Dingguang Museum's collection.
"How many items are there in total? And what price did they offer?"
The black market is called the black market because some items cannot be sold in the open, and the trading methods are flexible and varied.
Zhuang Rui knew that black markets like this could be used for private transactions, and it wasn't necessary to hold an auction.
The antique trade is a murky place; even those who have been in it for decades dare not say that everything they buy is genuine.
Therefore, for many items auctioned on the black market, the organizers only receive a brokerage fee to help certain individuals sell their goods. Contrary to outsiders' speculation, the items on the black market are not provided by the organizers after they have been bought out. "These are photos. There are a total of thirty-two Tang tri-color pottery items, including tri-color horses, camels, female figures, musician figurines, pillows, and other items, covering almost all the tri-color pottery styles that have been unearthed..."
As Huangfu Yun spoke, he took out a thick stack of photos from his bag and handed them to Zhuang Rui, saying, "These three-color glazed horses and camels in good condition are worth at least 500,000 each, while the set of eight painted pottery figurines of court ladies has been offered 6 million..."
The total value of this batch of tricolor ceramics exceeded 20 million yuan. Although Huangfu Yun had ample funds, he dared not buy it rashly and had to consult Zhuang Rui first.
"If it's true, it's not from a new pit; it must have been unearthed some time ago..."
Zhuang Rui looked through the photos. The figurines were all dressed in brightly colored clothes. The maids had full, round faces and their hair was styled in various buns. The figures were vivid, lifelike, and colorful, full of life. The photos were taken clearly from various angles, and the traces of excavation were not obvious.
However, since the Tang Dynasty, collectors of all dynasties have been very fond of Tang tri-color pottery, and there are quite a few fine pieces in private collections. In the eighteen imperial tombs in Guanzhong alone, more than a thousand pieces of tri-color pottery have been stolen over the past thousand years.
Zhuang Rui dared not assert that the objects in the photos were fake. Tang Sancai (Tang tri-color pottery) has always been known for its gorgeous colors, and judging from these photos alone, the shapes and colors are completely consistent with the characteristics of Tang Sancai.
Are these items up for auction? Can I take a look first?
Zhuang Rui was quite tempted when he saw the photos. If these items were genuine, they would fill the gap in the museum's collection of Tang tri-color ceramics. The cost of 20 million yuan was not excessive.
However, the world of collecting is too murky; even insiders often get their hands dirty. Zhuang Rui only trusts his own eyes; he won't agree to a transaction without seeing the actual item.
"These items aren't up for auction; they're being sold by the black market boss on behalf of a friend. You can inspect them first, but they might not be as complete as this..."
Huangfu Yun knew that his young boss had a very sharp eye. Since he had known Zhuang Rui, he had never seen Zhuang Rui make a mistake in the antique business. In the world of antiques, Boss Zhuang had never been cheated.
Huangfu Yun's purpose in coming here was precisely to have Zhuang Rui come out of seclusion and appraise this batch of items.
"Okay, then go ahead and contact them. By the way, don't make it more than three days. I'm about to get back to studying hard and making progress every day, so don't let it interfere with my studies..."
Zhuang Rui was telling the truth. In just a few days, he would be going to Peking University to register. He had been away from campus for several years, and Zhuang Rui was still a little excited about returning to the ivory tower.
Chapter 768 Truth or Falsehood (2)
"Hey, Jin Yu, out there causing trouble for other people's birds again?"
As soon as Zhuang Rui opened the door after getting up, he noticed that the little golden eagle that had flown to him had some bloodstains on its claws. Every night before going to bed, Zhuang Rui would remove the toe covers from the eagle, and the little thing would often take the opportunity to go out and cause trouble.
Recently, not only have his own pigeons been having a run of bad luck, but even the sky above this courtyard has been mostly deserted. Zhuang Rui hasn't heard the sound of pigeon whistles for almost a month now.
One day, sisters Ouyang Wan, Zhang Ma, and Li Sao went to a small park and overheard many people talking about a little eagle that had been stealing birds and harming many people's pet birds. Some people were even discussing setting a trap to catch the little eagle.
Upon returning home and hearing this, Zhuang Rui immediately began to teach the little golden eagle a lesson. Although the little creature nodded and agreed repeatedly, it still frequently ran out during the evenings and early mornings, though it didn't go to the small park much anymore.
Zhuang Rui didn't want to restrict the golden eagle's nature too much. Anyway, air rifles had been confiscated, and few people in Beijing used them to shoot birds. Besides, the golden eagle never ate food fed by others, so Zhuang Rui just let it be, as long as it stayed at home during the day.
"Wait, don't rush..."
Seeing the little golden feather flapping its wings and about to land on his shoulder, Zhuang Rui quickly waved his hand to stop it. He took a piece of leather from the doorway, placed it on his shoulder, and said, "Come on up..."
This is a leather pad that Ouyang Wan specially made for her son. It's not very wide, just wide enough to rest on his shoulder and withstand the little golden eagle's claws. Even if the pad is scratched through, it won't hurt Zhuang Rui's skin.
In addition, Ouyang Wan made an arm guard for Zhuang Rui, which was made of canvas and thin wire. However, Zhuang Rui thought it was too ugly and never used it. He was thinking about finding a skilled old craftsman to make a pair of eagle training tools for him.
What was old Beijing like? It was the stronghold of the Eight Banners. After entering the pass, the Eight Banners, who had nothing to do all day, spent their time walking dogs and training hawks, which led to the rise of this industry.
In the past, there were people who specially made tools for hawk training, from wristbands and shoulder covers for hawk training to chains and bells. They were all specially made, not only for practicality but also for aesthetics. Otherwise, those young masters from over a hundred years ago would not have been able to bear the embarrassment of going out with a rag draped over their arm.
However, that era is now a long time ago. Apart from the grasslands, it's impossible to find people who play with eagles in the city anymore. Zhuang Rui doesn't know if he can still find the craftsmen who used to make tools for training eagles.
"Ya ya..."
Little Golden Feather behaved in a very human-like way. First, it pecked at its own claws with its sharp beak, and then it actually squatted down, trying to use its tail feathers to cover the bloodstains on its claws. Its sneaky appearance made Zhuang Rui laugh.
"You're so smart," Zhuang Rui patted the little guy on the head, then turned to Qin Xuanbing, who had just left, and said, "Honey, I'm only going and coming back the same day, not going for several days. You should go back to your room and rest..."
Zhuang Rui and Huangfu Yun had arranged to inspect the goods today. When Huangfu Yun heard that Zhuang Rui wanted to see the goods, he drove all the way from Hebei. The location was chosen by Zhuang Rui.
The other party is also a prominent figure in the industry, and given Zhuang Rui's large and powerful family, they are not afraid of him playing any tricks.
After thinking for a moment, Zhuang Rui decided to meet at Ouyang Jun's clubhouse. He planned to bring Jin Yu there so that the little guy could enjoy the fun of flying.
"I'm going to eat in the front yard. You're just being vain. It's better if you don't come here when you're out..."
Qin Xuanbing rolled her eyes at Zhuang Rui, annoyed. She wondered where he found so many books that claimed pregnancy wouldn't affect sex life, and he would bother her every few days with them.
Qin Xuanbing's belly was already quite large. Zhuang Rui carefully helped his wife to the central courtyard. After she ate something and fed Jin Yu, he drove away from the courtyard with the two Tibetan mastiffs and the little golden eagle. ...
Zhuang Rui originally intended to bring Peng Fei along, but the passenger seat was currently occupied by the little golden eagle, and since they were inspecting goods on their own territory, Zhuang Rui didn't let Peng Fei come along.
"It's time to get a new car..."
The Grand Cherokee, which originally could comfortably seat four or five people, now has almost no room left after the addition of the White Lion couple. Zhuang Rui is already considering whether to buy a stretched Hummer. He doesn't care about anything else, he's just attracted by the Hummer's huge interior space.
"Don't fly too far..."
After looking around in the car for a while, the little thing flew out of the sunroof at an intersection while Zhuang Rui was waiting for the traffic light.
Zhuang Rui wasn't too worried about this. With the golden eagle's eyesight, it could easily find its place in the traffic.
"Look, honey, a bird flew out of that car..."
"Is that a bird? That's called an eagle, okay? Holy crap, people these days are really rich, they're even raising eagles..."
When the light turned green, several minutes after Zhuang Rui's car had already driven off, the people in the car behind them were still discussing the eagle that had flown out of the car in front. Zhuang Rui's husband, who had been feeling quite proud of himself while driving his own car, was deeply shocked and didn't even notice when the light turned green.
Fortunately, there aren't many street photography cameras these days, otherwise Little Golden Feather would definitely be famous.
Ouyang Jun's clubhouse was still dozens of kilometers away from Beijing. After leaving the bustling city, Zhuang Rui gradually increased his speed, but as soon as he looked up, he could still see the little golden eagle in front of his car.
More than an hour later, Zhuang Rui's car drove into the club. In the parking lot, he saw that Huangfu Yun's car was already parked there, and next to it was a Buick minivan with a license plate that was not from Beijing. It should be the black market boss from Hebei.
"President Zhuang, this is President Li..."
Zhuang Rui parked his car and walked to the entrance of Building No. 1. Huangfu Yun and three others came to greet him. The person walking behind Huangfu Yun, Mr. Li, was in his forties. He was not tall, but he was very strong. His muscles made his suit look like a tight-fitting garment.
The two men following behind were probably Mr. Li's henchmen. Each of them was carrying a black leather suitcase that was about one meter long and wide, and they followed closely behind Mr. Li.
"Mr. Li, I'm so sorry, there was a traffic jam on the way, I'm a little late..."
Zhuang Rui shook hands with President Li. Although he didn't like dealing with people who had connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, it was unavoidable in the antique business. After shaking hands, Zhuang Rui turned to look at Huangfu Yun and asked, "Why don't you invite President Li to come inside?"
Zhuang Rui had no idea that Building No. 1 was not open to the public. Although he had called the security guards beforehand, they wouldn't let him in without seeing him in person. Huangfu Yun was only able to get in because Zhuang Rui had informed him of his license plate number beforehand.
"Oh, Mr. Zhuang, it was me who was waiting for you here..."
Mr. Li was a shrewd and perceptive person. He naturally realized from the situation where the security guard had stopped him that Director Huangfu was not a regular customer here. So, before Huangfu Yun could reply, he immediately responded, which eased Huangfu Yun's embarrassment.
In fact, Mr. Li was already very shocked when he received the notification yesterday that the meeting would be at this club. This club was rumored to be incredibly prestigious, and although Mr. Li had considerable influence in the Beijing-Tianjin area, he had never been there before. He felt even more awe towards Zhuang Rui's identity.
Moreover, the two snow-white Tibetan mastiffs behind Zhuang Rui are not something that ordinary people can afford to play with. Putting aside everything else, the money spent on meat alone each month would probably be tens of thousands of yuan.
"Ouch!"
A clear, crisp cry rang out, and Jin Yu swooped down from the sky. When she was about ten meters away from Zhuang Rui, she suddenly turned around, flapped her wings lightly, and used the air resistance to gently land on Zhuang Rui's shoulder.
Everyone looked up when they heard the eagle's cry, just in time to witness this spectacular scene. Even Huangfu Yun, who had seen Jin Yu before, was dumbfounded. That move was just too damn cool! "President Zhuang, this... this is yours?"