Many watch repair and stamp engraving stalls now use these machines, which are much cheaper and faster than hiring a stamp engraver.
However, Zhuang Rui runs an antique shop, which focuses on developing and promoting traditional culture. Since the shop sells antiques, it would be inappropriate to have an automatic computer engraving machine. Therefore, Zhuang Rui decided to have the seals engraved by hand, even if it was a bit more expensive.
Another reason is that machine-engraved seals tend to be stiff and lack the smooth and flowing quality of hand-engraved seals, which is one of the reasons why Zhuang Rui wanted to hire a seal engraver.
Moreover, these seal engravers charge customers for carving seals, and if the seal stones sell well, they might be able to make up for the lost wages.
Even if he lost a little money, Zhuang Rui didn't care. This shop was just a way to pass the time in his spare time and to get rid of the batch of jewelry he got from Myanmar. Zhuang Rui never expected "Xuanrui Zhai" to make a lot of money.
After Zhao Hanxuan made the phone call, Monkey came up to Zhuang Rui, looking a little embarrassed, and said, "Brother Zhuang, business hasn't been very good these past few days. I only sold one pearl necklace for a little over 80,000 yuan, but quite a few people looked at it, and they all wanted to bargain, so I didn't sell it to them..."
The stationery business has been doing very well lately, with daily turnover of tens of thousands of yuan. I only made one sale. Zhuang Rui has been so good to them, and Monkey felt a little bad for not being able to sell anything.
"Hehe, monkey, are you getting used to staying in Beijing?"
Zhuang Rui didn't respond to the monkey's words, but instead smiled and changed the subject.
"It's a habit, Brother Zhuang. Haven't you noticed I speak fluent Beijing dialect now? Hehe, Da Xiong's wife even said she'd introduce me to a girlfriend..."
When the conversation turned to life, the monkey got excited. He said that Beijing was not comparable to Pengcheng. It was a metropolis that blended modernity with ancient culture in a very harmonious way. It was also very inclusive, and people from all over the world could find their place here.
Especially since Monkey and Nobita didn't do very well in Pengcheng before, but now they have a base salary of 10,000 yuan a month in Beijing, which makes them white-collar workers, and they can hold their heads high when they go out.
Of course, given their level of sophistication, they don't understand what "petit bourgeois" means. They don't go to bars; at most, they'll find a roadside stall, buy a few bottles of beer, and chug them down.
"Haha, you little rascal, have you never had a girlfriend before?"
Zhuang Rui burst into laughter upon hearing this. Seeing the monkey's blushing face, he realized he might actually be right.
"Brother Zhuang, back in Pengcheng, I, Monkey, was loved by everyone, and flowers would bloom for me. Da Xiong was nowhere near as good as me..."
Men are most afraid of being told they don't have a woman. When the monkey heard this, he got anxious and started boasting, spitting everywhere.
"Alright, alright, stop bragging. I'll be free these next few days, so let's invite Da Xiong and Xiao Jing out for dinner together..."
Zhuang Rui quickly interrupted the monkey, continuing, "These things aren't in a rush to sell. Prices can only go up, not down. Antique shops are like that – three years without business, then three years of profit. So when selling things, stay calm and act like you don't care if they buy or not. Don't give the impression that we're desperate to sell..."
After Zhuang Rui saw that Monkey was relaxed, he began to tell him about the ins and outs of the antique shop. In the past, Monkey and Da Xiong would put on a show, afraid that people wouldn't buy things, and they would try to find ways to trick people into spending money.
But antique shops are different. Even if "Xuanrui Zhai" is located in Panjiayuan, or even in a deep alley, its good quality will attract customers. As long as there are good items, some people can't resist the temptation.
These days, it's almost an era of collecting for everyone. Even those who don't know much about antiques will still go to the antique market to take a stroll. This number is enormous.
Moreover, not all collectors are wealthy. Some people are short of money but have their eyes on a particular item. In order to negotiate a price, they may even make dozens of trips. It depends on whether the seller can hold on. Whoever can persist to the end is the winner.
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the monkey scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Brother Zhuang, I understand. Manager Zhao also told me this, but I just can't break some habits. I'll definitely pay attention in the future..."
"Hehe, Monkey, there's no need to rush this. Don't stay in the shop all the time. Go out and listen to people tell stories. There are many more intricacies here than in Pengcheng. You'll understand in time..."
Zhuang Rui patted Monkey on the shoulder. He had brought these two people out of Pengcheng, and he was determined to give them a good future. Moreover, these two were loyal enough to be of help to him in the future.
Zhuang Rui's way of thinking is increasingly aligning with that of a boss. A successful person is not only successful themselves, but also has a group of people who can help them build their empire.
Although Zhuang Rui's situation is rather special, as he didn't need any help when accumulating initial capital, there's always the possibility that he'll have to do everything himself once his business grows larger.
After calming the monkey down, Zhuang Rui chatted with Da Xiong for a while and learned that many customers would ask if seals were available for sale when buying the Four Treasures of the Study. Da Xiong was also very optimistic about the future seal stone business.
Zhuang Rui didn't leave at noon. He stayed at "Xuanruizhai" and had a quick meal with them because the seal craftsman was coming in the afternoon. Zhuang Rui wanted to test his skills. When he came to Xuanruizhai, Zhuang Rui brought a few small pieces of chicken-blood stone. With a little processing, they would make a seal.
"Master Ge, this is Mr. Zhuang, the owner of 'Xuanrui Zhai,' please get to know each other..."
Around 1 p.m., a sprightly old man in his sixties walked into "Xuanrui Zhai". Zhao Hanxuan greeted him and introduced him to Zhuang Rui.
“Master Ge, I’m young and like to do things straightforwardly. Although using machines to process seals is much cheaper, it would be a loss of the craftsmanship passed down from our ancestors. That’s why I asked you to come, but…”
As Zhuang Rui finished speaking, he flipped his wrist, revealing a rectangular piece of bloodstone in his palm. Although the shape was not particularly regular, the bottom surface was very smooth, which Zhuang Rui had intentionally cut out.
After taking out the bloodstone, Zhuang Rui continued, "However, I run a business, and the quality of the craftsmanship will affect our shop's reputation, Master Ge, don't you think..."
At this point, it's quite clear that Zhuang Rui is conducting an interview; he's going to put his abilities to the test.
"become!"
Master Ge was a straightforward man. After agreeing, he took the bloodstone from Zhuang Rui, opened his black leather bag, and took out a cloth satchel.
Zhuang Rui saw that there were more than a dozen carving knives of different sizes and shapes stuck in the satchel. Seeing Master Ge's demeanor, Zhuang Rui believed him a bit more. If you weren't an old craftsman, not many people would know how to use these tools.
"This is Changhua chicken-blood stone. The quality is average, and the seals carved from it would be considered mid-range. However, with my finishing touches, it should fetch a higher price..."
Master Ge picked out a carving knife from his satchel and began carving on the bloodstone while talking to Zhuang Rui, his words full of confidence.
Chapter 600 Master Ge (Part 2)
When Zhuang Rui saw Master Ge take out his carving knife and get to work, he raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Master Ge, don't you need to draw a pattern and write the words first?"
Although he was very skilled in his craft, Zhuang Rui's vision and knowledge were beyond the reach of ordinary people. With his extensive knowledge and strong memory, Zhuang Rui was also familiar with the seal carving technique.
Generally, when carving a seal by hand, one should first use a brush to write the characters to be carved on the surface of the seal before using a carving knife to remove the characters and pick up the clay. This is a common step in hand carving. However, when it comes to Master Ge, there is no intention of holding a brush at all.
"Hehe, names, nicknames, flowers, birds, insects, and fish—all can be carved into a small space with just my carving knife. Boss Zhuang, just you wait and see..."
Master Ge smiled and said something that sounded like an advertising slogan. He sat there without moving, carefully examining the seal stone in his hand. After playing with it for a while, he thought for a moment and then began to carve the bloodstone with his carving knife.
The piece of chicken-blood stone that Zhuang Rui picked out was neither round nor square; it was a rectangular stone with an irregular shape. He had only used it temporarily to make up the numbers. If it were to be sold as a seal stone, it would have to be processed further.
To Zhuang Rui's surprise, Master Ge did not directly work on the facets, but instead began to refine the bloodstone. With steady and powerful strokes, Master Ge smoothed out the rough spots on the surface of the bloodstone, making the whole piece look much better.
Master Ge, holding the carving knife, became incredibly quiet at this moment. It seemed that the flow of people coming and going in the shop had no effect on him at all, and even the area around him became quiet. Some customers who passed by stopped and watched.
To be honest, although Zhuang Rui had commissioned Master Gu to carve several items, he had never seen Master Gu at work before. This was the first time he had ever watched someone carve seals in person, and at this moment, his mind was completely captivated by Master Ge's smooth and flowing movements.
In Master Ge's hands, a small carving knife seems to come alive, carving left and right with incredible speed, making one feel quite dizzy. Just when you think the carving knife was on the surface, it appears in a seemingly unrelated place the next moment.
Like a master painter, Master Ge's face was very serious at this moment. His eyes, behind his reading glasses, were fixed on the carving knife and seal stone in his hand. Master Ge already had a clear idea of what shape this stone could be carved into.
Experts see the details, while laymen just watch the spectacle. Apart from Zhuang Rui and Zhao Hanxuan, the others watching Master Ge carve the seal were somewhat puzzled, because the positions of Master Ge's cuts seemed to have nothing to do with the previous ones.
After nearly an hour, everyone gradually understood, because a dragon head seal had appeared in Master Ge's hands.
Master Ge's carving appears to be a headless dragon, with its head held high, eyes wide open in anger, and mouth slightly agape. What's even more remarkable is the presence of a red dragon pearl in the open mouth. The originally rough bloodstone has been transformed into an exquisite work of art after Master Ge's processing.
The carving work was finished, but today's theme was seal carving. Master Ge looked up at Zhuang Rui and said, "Boss Zhuang, give us a topic..."
"Master Ge, please just carve a few words to suit the occasion. The material of this item isn't very good; I originally intended to practice on it myself..."
Zhuang Rui now has no doubt about Master Ge's craftsmanship. Putting aside the seal carving skills, the carving of this small craft alone is enough to make him a master.
This dragon head seal, both in conception and design, was completed in just one hour. Without decades of experience and countless carving sessions, one could never achieve such effortless skill.
"To suit the occasion? Okay..."
Master Ge agreed, opened his satchel, changed his carving knife, and continued his seal carving work.
However, seal carving is much easier than carving. After about 20 minutes, the entire seal was completed.
After completing the seal carving, Master Ge took out several sheets of sandpaper and began polishing the entire seal. The sandpaper was divided into coarse and fine sandpaper; the coarse sandpaper was used to polish the seal surface, while the fine sandpaper was used to polish the seal surface. After polishing, the seal was completely different from the original chicken-blood stone raw material.
"Boss Zhuang, how's the old man's craftsmanship? It's been a while since I've carved any seals, and my skills have gotten a bit rusty..."
Master Ge handed the dragon head seal to Zhuang Rui, his tone full of confidence.
“Master Ge, this isn’t just a skill, it’s an art…”
Zhuang Rui had already observed very carefully. Master Ge's background was definitely not simple, because this seal was not only a matter of seal carving, but also included carving techniques, calligraphy and painting, and many other disciplines. This completed seal could definitely be called a work of art.
"Young man, look at what words this master craftsman is carving!"
Some people nearby who were interested in seal carving couldn't help but remind Zhuang Rui that, judging from the craftsman's carving skills, his seal carving skills must be just as good.
"Yes, yes..."
Zhuang Rui agreed, took the inkpad Zhao Hanxuan handed him, dipped it in the inkpad, spread out a sheet of Xuan paper, held the seal with two fingers from each hand, and pressed it steadily onto the Xuan paper.
There are also rules to follow when using seals. In ancient times, the act of using seals was a very serious matter. For antiques such as calligraphy and paintings, the seals and inscriptions after the calligraphy and paintings are finished are an indispensable part of the finishing touch. When using seals, one should generally be calm and hold the seal with both hands. When pressing the seal, the hand must be steady so that the characters of the seal can be printed evenly on the paper.
In ancient times, when emperors used their seals, there were eunuchs who were specifically responsible for using them. They had to kneel on the ground, raise the imperial seal above their heads and bow before they could stamp it down.
Zhuang Rui had seen Uncle De use the seal many times, and now he was using it quite properly. Master Ge nodded secretly, thinking that the shop owner was an expert.
Although I'm here for a job interview today, in today's society, bosses choose employees, and employees can also choose their bosses. Master Ge is just here to take a look. If the boss is someone who doesn't know anything and likes to boss people around, then sorry, Master Ge won't serve him.
However, judging from the current situation, although the boss is young, he is very capable in his speech and actions. He is a person who values old traditions. There's no way around it; old craftsmen just believe in these old traditions.
Zhuang Rui had no idea that it was just a simple gesture of his seal that had won Master Ge's favor. "Xuanrui Zhai, please appreciate!"
When Zhuang Rui raised his hands, five seal characters appeared on the Xuan paper.
However, people who have not studied calligraphy generally do not recognize these characters. Several guests nearby were asking Zhao Hanxuan about the meaning of these five characters.
"Boss, I'll buy this seal. How much?"
"This is a good item, 2000 yuan, boss, are you selling it or not?"
Even more so, some people simply asked about the price. In everyone's eyes, this thing was no longer just a seal, but an exquisite chicken-blood stone craft.
Zhao Hanxuan, a seasoned businessman, feared Zhuang Rui wouldn't know how to handle the situation, so he quickly called out, "Gentlemen, I'm sorry, this seal has our shop's name engraved on it. You won't get one if you buy it. If you want one, you can make an appointment here, leave your name and phone number, and Master Ge will call you when it's finished..."
After hearing Zhao Hanxuan's words, everyone quieted down, but they all surrounded Zhao Hanxuan, ready to order a seal. Zhao Hanxuan was quite knowledgeable about this business, so he listed the materials for the seal and the prices, providing them for everyone to choose from.
Zhuang Rui was focused on the words on the Xuan paper, seemingly oblivious to the noise around him.
These five seal characters are in the Small Seal script, also known as "Qin Seal script." The characters displayed on the paper are even and neat, with strokes as thin as lines yet as strong as iron. Zhuang Rui felt that even the ancient master could not have achieved such a level of skill in seal carving without any detailed drawing.
"well!"
After studying the paper for a while, Zhuang Rui looked up, gave Master Ge a thumbs-up, and said, "Master Ge, it's an honor for our humble shop to have you come and work for us..."
"Hehe, Mr. Zhuang, you're too kind. There aren't many young people your age who still uphold old traditions..."
Master Ge also had a good impression of Zhuang Rui and replied with a smile.
"Master Ge, you don't need to call me boss. Just call me Xiao Zhuang from now on. Please don't keep calling me boss..."
Zhuang Rui always respected capable people, and with Master Ge's skills, he was probably not an unknown person. Zhuang Rui was a little puzzled as to why Master Ge would come to his small shop, but since the person had just arrived, it was not appropriate to ask him rashly.
"Old Zhao, mark this down: the seals personally carved by Master Ge, in addition to the seal stone, will incur an extra charge for the carving work, 500 yuan per character, let's set a standard..."
When Zhuang Rui saw Zhao Hanxuan being surrounded by people registering, he quickly added a note. It wasn't that he was greedy, but Master Ge's skills were indeed worth the price. If he wasn't afraid of scaring away customers, Zhuang Rui would have offered 1,000 per word.
"Boss, this is way too much of a rip-off! A seal only costs a few hundred yuan, but this engraving costs over a thousand?"
"Yes, if that's the case, then we won't buy it..."
"Boss, are you obsessed with money?"