As soon as those words were spoken, not only was Li Honglin stunned, but even Fang Rongkun was taken aback.
A pair?
Han dynasty pottery figurines were already quite rare in the antique market, and a complete pair? These figurines didn't seem like they had just been unearthed. If they had been passed down, the chances of them being a pair were nearly impossible.
"Miss, you must be joking. I've seen these pottery figurines before, but finding just one is already a big deal. Two... If you can actually produce a pair, the price would naturally double—no, no, if you really have a pair and they're from the right period, I'll pay three million."
This wasn't an exaggeration. Whether in domestic antique circles or at foreign auctions, Han dynasty pottery figurines were considered treasures.
However rare they might be, they still had reference prices. In recent years, a Han dynasty figurine had sold for three million at an overseas auction.
Jin Mutong silently took another small figurine out of the drawer.
Both Fang Rongkun and Li Honglin's eyes widened.
There really was another figurine! And it was clear these two were a pair!
Just as Li Honglin was about to speak, Fang Rongkun interrupted him, "Did you restore this yourself?"
"Yes, Professor Fang. I bought restoration tools from the 'Wanki' shop just to repair this small figurine."
Fang Rongkun held the small figurine, unable to let go of it.
As a professor in the archaeology department of Jincheng University, Fang Rongkun had seen his fair share of relics. Recently, he had just completed a rescue restoration project of newly unearthed Tang dynasty tri-colored pottery with his students. He shouldn't have been so enamored by such a small pottery figurine. However, this particular figurine was likely from the Han dynasty, remarkably well-preserved with intact details. The restoration, though slightly amateurish, restored the clothing details impressively well, to the point that even he, an expert in the field, could find no fault with it.
Naturally, he was excited.
Li Honglin was even more so. He had never imagined that he would find two high-quality authentic Han dynasty figurines in such an unassuming little shop.
In the antique trade, the term "kaimen" referred to genuine ancient pieces, with "da kaimen" being the very best of the genuine.
Li Honglin had initially planned to hide his interest to negotiate a lower price. But now, with a second figurine before him, he could no longer contain his excitement.
"I'll buy both of these figurines at the price I mentioned earlier. What do you think?" Li Honglin said hastily. He was so eager he didn't even feel like bargaining, afraid of missing out.
Jin Mutong thought for a moment and replied, "The price is fine, but if you truly want them, I have a small request."
Li Honglin responded, "Please, go ahead."
"These two figurines originally belonged together. It took me a lot of effort to reunite them, and I hope that whoever collects them in the future will keep them together. Even if you ever decide to sell them, they must be sold as a pair. Do you agree to that?"
Jin Mutong's tone was serious, and she spoke earnestly.
Li Honglin had expected a much more difficult request, but was surprised at how simple this one was. He answered sincerely, "Don't worry. We can write that into the sales contract, and I'll sign it. Do you have any other requests?"
Jin Mutong shook her head, "No, that's all."
Li Honglin grinned, "Actually, I have a request. I hope it won't trouble you."
"Please, tell me."
"I can see that you did an excellent job restoring this figurine. Could I ask you to restore this other figurine with the broken arm for me? That way, I won't have to ask old Fang here to do it and get charged extra."
Fang Rongkun: "…"
Jin Mutong modestly replied, "I don't want to show off my skills in front of my teacher."
Fang Rongkun said, "Young lady, your skill is quite good. I can see you've put a lot of effort into this. Since you've already invested so much care into these figurines, it would be best if you completed the restoration."
Jin Mutong didn't decline any further. "Alright, since you're buying my figurines, I'll restore this one for free. You can pick it up in two weeks."
Li Honglin said, "I didn't bring enough cash today, but let's sign the contract. I'll pay you a deposit of two hundred thousand, and I'll pay the rest when I pick up the figurines. Does that work?"
Jin Mutong agreed, "That's fine."
And so, Li Honglin signed and paid without hesitation, leaving happily.
In the following days, Jin Mutong, with the help of Hua, learned how to repair the missing arm of the small figurine.
The broken part had to be restored using a molding process. Since the figurine was over two thousand years old, Jin Mutong was extremely careful with each step to avoid causing further damage during the restoration.
"Don't worry about me, big sister. I'm fine. Go ahead and work on me," said the figurine, usually quiet but always comforting when it sensed Jin Mutong's nervousness.
Thus, though progress was slow, it steadily moved forward.
After the molding process came the stages of polishing, assembling, gluing, painting, and aging. Each step seemed tedious, but it allowed Jin Mutong to gradually discover the joy of restoring ancient relics.
It felt as if she were having a conversation with the craftsmen from over two thousand years ago.
Ten days later, Jin Mutong finally completed the restoration of the small figurine's arm.
This also meant that her time with the two small figurines was coming to an end.
"Finally done. My time with you two is running out. Do you have any last wishes you'd like to fulfill?" Jin Mutong asked, feeling a bit reluctant as she thought about their brief time together and the upcoming farewell. She wanted to do something more for the two of them.
The younger pottery figurine immediately became excited. "I do, I do! But can I really make a wish?"
"Of course," Jin Mutong said with a smile, her mood lifted by its enthusiasm.
"Can I ask for anything I want?" the younger pottery figurine asked eagerly.
Jin Mutong nodded. "Yes, go ahead and tell me what it is."
"But... what if my wish is a bit troublesome or costs money?" The younger figurine lowered its head and shuffled its feet, sounding a little embarrassed.
Jin Mutong couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry, just say it."
"Well... I want a box," the younger figurine's eyes sparkled with expectation. After speaking, it quickly added, "I'm not trying to trouble you on purpose, big sister. It's just that I'm afraid if we end up in someone else's hands, they might put us in a place we don't like. If you buy us a box, then we won't be placed randomly."
The next day, at the antiques street.
"How about now? Do you see anything you like?" Jin Mutong asked after walking them around the market.
"Yes! Do you see the stall selling watches behind you on the right?" The younger pottery figurine swallowed nervously, sounding excited.
Jin Mutong turned around to look.
"I see it, but they're selling watches."
The younger pottery figurine said seriously, "Yes, but look at the third box on the second row. I think it's perfect for me and my brother. Isn't that right, brother?"
"Mm," the older figurine responded in agreement.
"Alright," Jin Mutong agreed. Since both brothers had made the suggestion, she had no reason to refuse.
She approached the stall and examined the watches. Though it was just a street vendor, the owner had a sense of style, displaying the watches in wooden boxes, which gave them a distinctive charm. The boxes came in different sizes and conditions, and the younger figurine had picked the least noticeable one.
"How much are these watches?" Jin Mutong asked as she pointed at one nearby.
The seasoned businessman knew the tricks of the trade. If she showed too much interest in the box, he might refuse to sell or charge a high price.
The middle-aged man, happy to see a potential customer, replied enthusiastically, "The watch you're eyeing is a new Armani model this year, quartz. Are you buying it for your boyfriend?"
Jin Mutong was caught off guard. "I'm buying it for... my dad."
"Then you've picked the right one. This style is both fashionable and dignified, perfect for your father. He'll definitely compliment your thoughtfulness. I have a daughter too, so since you're so filial, I won't overcharge you. Just 800 yuan."
Jin Mutong was astonished. Even imitation watches were this expensive now?
"Wow, that's too expensive! I can't afford that," she said, shaking her head.
The vendor quickly added, "This price is very fair. You can check around the market, and you'll find others selling it for over 1,000. This is one of my best-selling models. If that's too much, I have cheaper ones too, like this one for just 500 yuan."
Jin Mutong put on a hesitant expression. "I didn't bring much cash today, and your prices are way over my budget. How about this: I'll look for something else for my dad. But I noticed that your box looks pretty nice. Could I buy just the wooden box?"
The vendor raised an eyebrow, disappointed. He had hoped she would make a sale and was visibly deflated by her request.
"This wooden box isn't for sale. If you're not buying a watch, don't waste my time," he said irritably.
Jin Mutong smiled. "I'm not asking for it for free. I'll pay you 50 yuan for it. That way, I can package the gift nicely."
The vendor shook his head. "I bought it for 100 yuan myself. I can't sell it for 50."
Jin Mutong looked troubled, as if even 100 yuan was out of her reach. She pointed at the older, more worn box and said, "What if I pick this one that's a little dirtier? Could you give me a discount?"
Hearing this, the younger figurine turned to its brother and explained, "Brother, don't be fooled by her innocent appearance. She's actually very clever. She acted uninterested from the start so she could buy it at the lowest price. That's how she got me, too."
Jin Mutong: "..."
Who's acting foolish?!
The older brother didn't respond but smiled.
Jin Mutong's tactic worked. The vendor, unaware of the box's true value, haggled half-heartedly and eventually sold it for 50 yuan.
After paying, Jin Mutong left with the box. The younger figurine was thrilled. "The size is just right. Both of us will fit inside. Just make sure to create a divider for me. I want my own room."
"Alright, I'll do that for you when we get home," Jin Mutong agreed happily.
When she got home, she carefully inspected the box. It was simple, with no carvings or decorations, just a single metal clasp that seemed like a later addition. The wood was dark brown and had an oily sheen, making it look old, which was probably why the vendor sold it for such a low price.
Jin Mutong didn't know if the box had any real value, but seeing the brothers' joy made the 50 yuan more than worth it.
Once everything was set up and the divider added as requested, the next day, Li Honglin arrived promptly at the antique shop. Just as he approached, he saw Jin Junhao, from the neighboring shop, walking out leisurely. Junhao froze when he saw Li Honglin, his eyes suddenly flashing with excitement.