Lord Fang, in his fifties this year, hails from a distinguished background. During the early days of the nation's founding, his parents relinquished their assets in Southeast Asia to return to the homeland and contribute to the construction of the motherland. Little did they anticipate that within just a decade, the country would be engulfed in tumultuous movements.
Given Lord Fang's heritage, he was inevitably swept into the ranks of the "black five categories" and subsequently, along with his grandfather, subjected to reeducation in the countryside.
As a young master, Lord Fang could hardly endure such hardships. Were it not for the protection of his grandfather back then, he might have chosen the same tragic fate as his parents.
Subsequently, Lord Fang developed a mentorship with his grandfather, learning many skills of antique appraisal. Several years after the reform and opening up, Lord Fang's relatives overseas located him and brought him abroad.
Due to the upheaval of the tumultuous movements, Lord Fang's personal life was delayed, and he remained unmarried for life. Eventually, he arrived in Flushing, America, and established his roots by opening an antique store.
It was the mentorship relationship with his grandfather that led Lord Fang to care for Jin Muchen, thus alleviating Jin Muchen's concerns about being deceived by Lord Fang.
When Jin Muchen pushed open the doors of Lord Fang's antique shop, Lord Fang had just returned from shopping for groceries. Upon seeing Jin Muchen entering the store, Lord Fang was taken aback.
Lord Fang, now a solitary figure, though in his early fifties, already had a head of graying hair. His stature was modest, yet traces of the hardships he had endured in his youth were visible on his face. Nevertheless, his spirit appeared remarkably robust.
"My dear boy, have you seen the sun rise in the west? Why have you decided to visit this old man today?" Lord Fang's tone carried a hint of reproach, evidently chiding Jin Muchen for not visiting him for so long. Jin Muchen felt guilty in response.
"Ah, my sincere apologies, Lord Fang. There were some matters..." Jin Muchen attempted to explain.
"Well, I understand. Youngsters like you are busy. I was just speaking casually; don't take it to heart," Lord Fang's understanding demeanor only intensified Jin Muchen's guilt.
Jin Muchen had resided in the boarding house designated by the school when he first arrived in New York. After a short while, he moved out from the designated boarding house and stayed with Lord Fang for several months, during which Lord Fang never accepted rent from him.
It was here that Jin Muchen completed his year of preparatory studies and gained admission to Columbia University. It was also during this time that he met Ma Ling. However, Lord Fang did not particularly favor Ma Ling, and Jin Muchen, though captivated by Ma Ling's beauty, eventually found excuses to move out from Lord Fang's place, citing the distance to Columbia University.
Ma Ling was a very astute girl who had long sensed that Lord Fang did not like her. Under Ma Ling's influence, Jin Muchen gradually visited Lord Fang less and less. Looking back, Jin Muchen realized he had been quite despicable.
Thus, he truly had no excuse earlier to explain his past behavior, but fortunately, Lord Fang didn't seem to mind.
"It's quite late now, and I'm feeling a bit hungry. Let's go out for dinner and talk more when we return."
Though Lord Fang's expression was stern, his eyes brimmed with mirth. Being childless himself and considering Jin Muchen as the grandson of his benefactor and as a dear friend, Lord Fang was naturally delighted by Jin Muchen's visit.
Watching Lord Fang's warm hospitality, Jin Muchen was overwhelmed with gratitude. However, he found himself at a loss for words and simply followed as Lord Fang led him out of the shop.
Lord Fang's antique shop usually saw its peak business during weekends, but even though it was not yet mealtime, Lord Fang chose to dine out with Jin Muchen, foregoing business for the moment. This camaraderie made Jin Muchen feel as though a warm current had suddenly surged into his heart.
In New York, when one craved Chinese cuisine, there were only two places to consider: Chinatown in Manhattan and Flushing. However, Chinatown in Manhattan primarily offered Cantonese and Teochew cuisine and had, in recent years, adopted a more upscale approach to cater to Western tastes. Thus, neither Jin Muchen nor Lord Fang were particularly fond of the flavors there.
In contrast, Flushing had become a hub of diverse Chinese regional cuisines in recent years due to the influx of immigrants from the mainland. Whether it was Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Northeastern cuisine, the popular Little Sheep hot pot chain, or even grilled lamb skewers, everything imaginable was available here.
This variety catered to the appetites of immigrants from different regions of mainland China. Furthermore, during weekends, business at the various restaurants in the area was typically bustling, as families from New Jersey often came here for a weekend outing.
Although it was only half past ten in the morning, the Szechuan Pepper Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant where Jin Muchen and Lord Fang had chosen to dine was already packed to capacity, with every seat in the hall occupied.
Fortunately, Lord Fang was a regular here, so after exchanging greetings with the waiter, they were quickly escorted to a private room on the second floor.
Before Lord Fang could even place an order, authentic Sichuan dishes such as Mouthwatering Chicken, Sliced Fish in Hot Chili Oil, and Boiled Beef Slices were swiftly served.
Jin Muchen hadn't enjoyed such authentic Sichuan cuisine in a long time, and in Lord Fang's company, there was no need for formality. The two of them indulged themselves wholeheartedly.
After eating to their heart's content and ordering a few bottles of beer, they began to slow down and engage in conversation. Jin Muchen shared his recent experiences with Lord Fang, who offered him words of comfort.
"As for that girl Ma Ling, how should I put it? I never had high hopes for her from the start. She's too purposeful, and her intentions with you were never entirely pure. It's a pity you couldn't see through it back then..." Though Lord Fang's tone was mild, it was evident that he was pleased. Jin Muchen was the grandson of an old friend, and Lord Fang naturally didn't want to see him fall for a woman's schemes.
Fortunately, they parted ways, sparing Jin Muchen significant trouble. Jin Muchen now saw things clearly; there was no need to be heartbroken over a woman who only wanted to share the good times, not the bad.
"However, you... When your family encountered difficulties, why didn't you inform me? Instead, you took care of the withdrawal from school on your own. That affected your studies; it was a big deal!" Lord Fang's concern for Jin Muchen was palpable, leaving Jin Muchen with no choice but to nod helplessly.
"Lord Fang, I understand what you're saying. But when my family faced such unexpected circumstances, I had no choice. Given the circumstances, I couldn't burden my family any further. I'm not young anymore; it's time for me to support my parents instead." Jin Muchen explained, and Lord Fang nodded in understanding
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"Well, it's good that you chose to take a year off from school. It'll be beneficial for you to go out and gain some experience, interact with society. It's better than spending all day holed up in school without any contact with the outside world." Lord Fang approved of Jin Muchen's decision to take a break from his studies and earn money to support his parents. Having spent over twenty years in the United States, Lord Fang had seen many American university students who supported themselves entirely. Thus, he felt that Jin Muchen's decision was a sound one; young people should experience some hardships.
"By the way, why did you come to see me today?" Lord Fang finally remembered the purpose of Jin Muchen's visit. In fact, from the moment Jin Muchen arrived at the restaurant with that small box in hand, Lord Fang had sensed that something was amiss.
Jin Muchen seized the opportunity with a mischievous smile and handed the small box to Lord Fang with great care.
"A while ago, while I was working, I stumbled upon something unexpectedly. However, I'm not entirely sure about its authenticity, so I wanted to seek your expertise and guidance," Jin Muchen explained.
Lord Fang accepted the small box with a smile, and upon opening it, his eyes lit up. Holding the yellow-ground famille-rose openwork bowl delicately between three fingers, he muttered to himself.
"My boy, if only you had learned a bit more from your grandfather back then, wouldn't it be much better for you to have your own skills, rather than needing to consult me? What's this? Have you suddenly become interested in antiques?"
In truth, Lord Fang had long been worried about the issue of passing on his knowledge of antiques. Nowadays, few young people were willing to learn such things. He had hoped that Jin Muchen would take an interest in antique knowledge and learn alongside him, but the several attempts before had left Jin Muchen uninterested.
Now that Jin Muchen had suddenly developed an interest in antiques, Lord Fang felt genuinely pleased. However, as he spoke, he abruptly halted, his playful expression turning serious. He had assumed that Jin Muchen, as a newcomer without much knowledge, must have been deceived.
After all, what good thing could a newcomer like him have obtained? Yet, as soon as he touched the bowl, Lord Fang sensed something unusual. It wasn't that the bowl was amiss; it was too perfect.
"Well, the porcelain body is finely crafted, with a delicate texture and lightness. It is exquisitely white, smooth, and flawless. Although there are minor repairs along the rim and a short, thin line, it's been adequately restored. The base bears chicken-foot patterns and remains intact. The craftsmanship and style of the piece are distinct, with vivid carvings and smooth lines. This is indeed a fine piece! Hey, my boy, where did you acquire such a treasure?"
Upon hearing Lord Fang's appraisal, Jin Muchen felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. It seemed he had struck gold!
Whenever the topic of antiques arose, Lord Fang would immediately become animated, especially when he held the yellow-ground famille-rose dragon bowl in his hand. It was quite a surprise that such a novice as Jin Muchen had obtained it. Lord Fang couldn't help but feel even more excited and curious.