The deceased Mr. Sidney Bentley was undoubtedly a wealthy and whimsical collector.
Nearly half of the second floor was transformed into his study, where almost all of his treasures were stored.
This was a typical Western-style grand study, with two large French windows facing south, opening onto an outdoor viewing balcony.
Between the two French windows stood a load-bearing wall, beneath which sat a Western-style fireplace. Above the fireplace hung an exquisitely detailed oil painting depicting a wooden sailboat struggling through a storm. Although Jin Muchen was not well-versed in such matters, a single glance revealed the painting's resplendent golden hues, indicating its unquestionable authenticity as an antique.
Before the fireplace lay his workspace, featuring a finely crafted teak desk and sofa chairs. Even if not considered antiques, the craftsmanship and materials of these furnishings would classify them as top-tier pieces, with their glossy patina adding to their allure.
The condition of these items was exceptionally preserved. Although not an expert, Jin Muchen could discern from the Rococo-style carvings that these furnishings likely had a history of over a century, making them unquestionably antique.
On the desk sat an exceedingly old typewriter, still of mechanical construction, likely dating back over a century, another unmistakable antique.
However, what intrigued Jin Muchen the most were the jade paperweight and the bamboo pen holder on the desk, both typical Chinese artifacts. These items occasionally emitted a golden shimmer, indicating their antiquity as well.
In the center of the study stood a small sitting area. While the sofa and coffee table were relatively ordinary, the carpet beneath the table was undoubtedly a superior Persian rug. The Chinese-style wooden root-carved tea set atop the table was also unmistakably an antique.
Along the left wall of the study stood a bookshelf, filled with volumes that, upon closer inspection, revealed a glimmer of significance. These books likely had histories of several decades, perhaps even centuries, with some possibly being highly valuable and rare editions, qualifying them as antiques.
On the right wall hung a grand fireplace, above which was mounted a stag head specimen, boasting twelve-pronged antlers, another antique.
Above the fireplace sat a smaller display shelf, holding several old rifles. Judging by their forms, barrel lengths, and calibers, Jin Muchen could determine that these rifles were certainly over a century old, well-preserved with glossy patinas, making them antiques as well.
Next came the items that most piqued Jin Muchen's interest in the entire room: the two display shelves flanking the fireplace.
Encased in glass, these shelves displayed exquisite Chinese porcelain. Cups, bowls, plates, dishes, and several plum vases were meticulously arranged, each exuding exceptional beauty. The radiant iridescence of these porcelain pieces nearly dazzled Jin Muchen's eyes.
Seeing these items, Jin Muchen felt his heart nearly leap from his chest. It was as if he had entered a treasure trove, brimming with countless riches.
While Jin Muchen briefly glanced at various Western miscellanea, he soon disregarded them. After all, despite their status as antiques, he lacked sufficient knowledge about these items and their market values. Hence, he focused solely on the Chinese porcelain displayed on the two shelves.
Jin Muchen approached the display shelf on the left side of the fireplace, but instead of immediately retrieving the porcelain, he carefully observed them through the glass.
The porcelain pieces on this shelf mainly consisted of plum vases and cong-shaped vases, serving as decorative pieces. Their vibrant colors and exquisite craftsmanship predominantly featured famille rose, underglaze blue, overglaze red, and gilt enamels.
The themes depicted on these vessels mostly adhered to Western styles, focusing on religious or romantic subjects. With just a cursory glance, Jin Muchen surmised that these vessels were authentic, likely exported Chinese porcelain from the Middle to Late Qing Dynasty.
Given the subjects depicted, vessels portraying religious themes were most likely in high demand around the 18th century. Additionally, these porcelain pieces were probably previously owned by European nobility, as porcelain marketed towards European commoners typically did not feature such themes.
Although these porcelain pieces qualified as antiques, their abundant presence in the market and lack of recognition in China meant they didn't command high prices domestically. Even in the West, their value was relatively modest.
After only a brief inspection, Jin Muchen lost interest in the porcelain on this side. Instead, his attention was drawn to the porcelain on the opposite side, which captivated him at first glance.
Although the display shelf on the right side of the fireplace held fewer items—only a few small bowls and two porcelain plates—they were genuine Chinese-style porcelain. While lacking the vibrant colors of the other side, these pieces, adorned in blue-and-white motifs, boasted a simple yet elegant craftsmanship that appealed more to Jin Muchen's sensibilities.
Carefully, Jin Muchen retrieved these bowls and plates, examining them closely. All of them dated back to the Qing Dynasty, with the two butterfly-themed porcelain plates likely being products of the Mid-Qing Official Kilns, displaying excellent preservation.
The other four small bowls were exquisite products of the contemporaneous folk kilns.
After a thorough examination, Jin Muchen came to a conclusion. His recent studies with Fang Bo had not been in vain, as his knowledge of Chinese antiques proved invaluable at this moment.
If he were to acquire these bowls and plates and place them in Fang Bo's shop, they would surely sell well. Many Chinese nationals in America were eager to acquire items from their homeland. Even if the prices were a quarter lower than those in China, they could still fetch around ten to twenty thousand RMB each. Acquiring them at a lower price would be even more profitable.
As Jin Muchen carefully observed one of the porcelain plates, pondering his options, a voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"Excuse me, sir, have you finished looking? If you're done, may I take a look?"
Raising his head, Jin Muchen noticed a well-dressed individual standing beside him, eyeing the porcelain plate in his hand eagerly.
Jin Muchen smiled wryly as he placed the porcelain plate back into the cabinet, then gestured for the man to proceed.
"Are you Japanese?" a voice sounded in Jin Muchen's ear. Turning to look, he saw a man in his thirties, slightly balding, with a smile that seemed ingratiating. Jin Muchen hadn't noticed this Asian man earlier.
Clad in a brown suit, he appeared to be quite the show-off, though the tight-fitting suit accentuated his slim frame, giving him a somewhat comical appearance, as if a child were wearing adult clothes.
He wasn't wearing a tie, and his open collar revealed a thick gold chain, while his hands were adorned with ostentatious gold rings, giving off a nouveau riche vibe.
His appearance could only be described as sleazy, with droopy eyebrows and beady eyes. His first impression was undeniably shady.
With a thick Hong Kong accent, he spoke English, asking Jin Muchen if he was Japanese. Jin Muchen, already harboring unfavorable sentiments towards the Japanese, felt even more displeased by this man's question.
"No, I'm Chinese," Jin Muchen replied firmly. Surprisingly, upon hearing that Jin Muchen was Chinese, the man's expression immediately changed. He turned away without another word, muttering to himself
as he left, "Damn, why are there so many of these damn Northerners everywhere?"
Though his voice was barely audible, Jin Muchen heard every word clearly. Just hearing the term "Northerners" caused Jin Muchen's veins to bulge on his forehead. Without a doubt, this man was from Hong Kong, and one of those who harbored no sense of belonging to China, even displaying contempt towards it.
These days, such individuals from Hong Kong and Taiwan were causing quite a stir in the United States. Jin Muchen, already disliking these types of people, was now even more frustrated to encounter such an unpleasant character today, especially one who tried to act tough in front of him.
"What's wrong?" Candice, standing beside him, sensed Jin Muchen's unusual mood and grasped his hand, asking.
"Nothing! Just encountered a pest," Jin Muchen replied, his voice not too loud but certainly audible enough for the man in front to hear. The man immediately turned his head, his small, beady eyes landing on Candice. His gaze turned lascivious, making Candice uncomfortable.
Disgusted by the man's behavior, Jin Muchen snorted disdainfully. The man, sensing Jin Muchen's hostile gaze, immediately wilted, shrinking his neck and turning away.
Over the past few years in the United States, Jin Muchen had encountered many immigrants from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Some were good, some were bad. Individuals like the one he just encountered were familiar to Jin Muchen. They were nothing more than despicable opportunists, quick to kowtow to Westerners but arrogant and contemptuous towards Chinese, especially those from the mainland.
Inherently spineless and servile, they were beyond redemption.