Fang Yi, did you see that? Even Old Sun believes there's a future for me in this line of work…"
Upon hearing Old Sun's praise, the portly man felt as if he had consumed a miraculous fruit, his entire being suddenly enlivened. With an air of triumph, he turned to Fang Yi and declared, "I've made up my mind; we'll set up a stall near Chaotian Palace. Fang Yi, you'll handle the sourcing, while sales will be managed by me and San Pao…"
The portly man understood that the feasibility of his plans hinged on Fang Yi's approval. Both he and San Pao were impoverished, and the twenty thousand yuan they possessed was a sum Fang Yi had risked his life to secure; without Fang Yi's consent, their efforts would be in vain.
"Old Sun, can this business really be pursued?" After hearing the portly man's words, Fang Yi directed his gaze toward Sun Lianda. With such an expert present, to remain uninformed would be a waste.
"The antique business often requires substantial capital," Sun Lianda advised. "My suggestion is to start with cultural artifacts…"
After a moment's contemplation, Sun Lianda continued, "In recent years, the domestic economy has improved significantly. People now possess some disposable income, leading to an increase in collectors. However, dealing in antiques necessitates a certain level of expertise. The timing for you to engage in the antique trade is not yet ripe…"
"Hey, old man, aren't antiques and cultural artifacts the same thing?" Before Sun Lianda could finish, the portly man interrupted, perceiving both terms as synonymous.
"How could they possibly be the same?" Observing the bewildered expressions on the young men's faces, Sun Lianda inquired, "Do you even know what constitutes an antique? And what defines a cultural artifact?"
"No, we don't!" Fang Yi, the portly man, and San Pao replied in unison.
"Ah, you know nothing yet you aspire to enter this field. Truly, the audacity of youth!" Sun Lianda chuckled wryly, shaking his head. With a sigh, he added, "Let me first explain what constitutes an antique or a cultural artifact…"
Before his retirement, Sun Lianda had served as the director of the Jinling Museum and was also a professor in the museum studies department at Jinling University, specializing in museum management. Although he hadn't lectured in years, he instinctively cleared his throat and reached for the teacup on the bedside table.
"Ah, old man, let me refill your cup…"
The portly man, displaying keen insight, filled Sun Lianda's cup with water and, along with San Pao, moved a stool to sit obediently between Sun Lianda and Fang Yi. Under the circumstances, this was the best they could manage; otherwise, the portly man would have likely sought a notebook to take notes, eager to demonstrate his earnestness in learning.
"Hmm, a promising student…" After sipping some water, Sun Lianda's regard for the portly man slightly improved. Though somewhat greedy, he appreciated the young man's respect for education, indicating potential for growth.
"Let's begin with antiques. The primary characteristic of antiques is their age. Given the term 'antique,' one must assess whether the item is sufficiently old, with 'old' denoting a minimum of a century; otherwise, it merely qualifies as a modern or contemporary craft. The second defining trait of antiques is their scarcity, echoing the old adage that rarity enhances value. Objects that are both ancient and rare will invariably attract fervent interest. Little fatty, should you ever stumble upon a pair of priceless Song Dynasty Ru ware tea bowls, you must deliberately break one…"
"Why? A pair is worth so much; wouldn't two sell for a higher price?" The portly man questioned, bewildered; he had no intention of committing such folly.
"Xiao Fang, do you understand the reasoning behind this?" Sun Lianda asked, looking at Fang Yi, who appeared contemplative.
"Old Sun, didn't you mention that rarity enhances value?" Fang Yi pondered for a moment before responding, "While two may form a pair, one would indeed be rarer…"
"Exactly, that's the point…"
Upon hearing Fang Yi's insight, Sun Lianda nodded with a smile, saying, "If you break one, the remaining piece becomes unique, and its value may multiply several times. Why? Because it exists as the sole specimen in the world…"
"I see, but isn't that rather cruel?" San Pao remarked, echoing the sentiment of the portly man.
"Xiao Fang, what is your perspective?" Sun Lianda redirected the conversation to Fang Yi.
"I also find that approach unpalatable…"
Fang Yi replied, "Items preserved for a century or even a millennium are exceedingly precious, their worth immeasurable by mere currency. To shatter one would indeed be a tremendous loss…"
"Hmm, your sentiments are commendable…"
Sun Lianda nodded approvingly, stating, "The practice of breaking identical antiques to maintain rarity is the domain of unscrupulous dealers. From a conservation standpoint, such actions constitute a crime against civilization…"
Sun Lianda broached this topic to gauge the character of the young men before him. Had they condoned the destruction of antiques, he would have ceased the discussion, withholding any further knowledge.
However, the responses from Fang Yi and the others pleased Sun Lianda immensely. Despite their apparent financial struggles, they, including the portly man, had not succumbed to the lure of greed and retained their ability to discern right from wrong.
"In simple terms, antiques embody a profound historical depth, serving as the finest testament to a society's political, economic, cultural, and military evolution. Many archaeological findings are derived from antique artifacts. Furthermore, worthy antiques must possess cultural significance, aesthetic appeal, and artistic merit. Esteemed collectors have always approached their passion with a sense of stewardship, preserving cultural relics and safeguarding the essence of their spirit; this is the true meaning of collection…"
As he spoke, a complex emotion flickered across Sun Lianda's face.
A collector himself, Sun Lianda adhered to the principles of collecting, yet the current society's materialistic tendencies had transformed collecting into a more lucrative investment than stocks or real estate, leading to rampant looting and the illicit trade of precious antiques, a matter that deeply pained him and others like him.
"Fang Yi, should you pursue a career in antiques, always remember this: you may trade antiques, but never sell precious cultural relics to foreigners…"
Sun Lianda's demeanor turned serious. While the pursuit of profit is understandable, one must maintain a steadfast moral compass. He did not wish for his words today to inadvertently foster a generation of unscrupulous antique dealers.
For reasons unknown, the three youthful faces before him instilled in Sun Lianda a sense of hope; perhaps they would indeed achieve something noteworthy in the realm of antiques in the future.
"Old Sun, we will remember your words…"
Fang Yi and the others nodded, recognizing Sun Lianda's expertise in the field of antiques. Each of his statements was etched firmly in their minds.
"Very well, let's discuss cultural artifacts…"
Pleased with their responses, Sun Lianda continued, "The term 'cultural artifact' likely emerged during the Qing Dynasty's Five Emperors period, initially referring to the Four Treasures of the Study: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, along with various accompanying stationery, such as brush holders, ink wash basins, ink beds, inkstone droppers, water containers, arm rests, paperweights, seal boxes, and seals. These stationery items, with their diverse shapes and intricate carvings, serve both as objects of appreciation and as functional pieces, thus becoming artistic crafts displayed in studies and writing desks, hence the term 'cultural artifact.' However, in modern antique circles, the definition has expanded to include miscellaneous items, such as small objects made from jade, bamboo, wood, ivory, copper, stone, lacquer, materials, agate, purple clay, and crystal…"
At this point, Sun Lianda paused to sip from his cup before continuing, "The distinction between cultural artifacts and antiques lies in the absence of age requirements for the former; rather, it places a premium on material and craftsmanship. Cultural artifacts are refined and elegant, crafted by artisans who cater to the aesthetic sensibilities of literati. Some cultural artifacts stem directly from the creativity of scholars, while others are spontaneous creations of artistic expression. Consequently, cultural artifacts possess rich cultural connotations and depth. Of course, while cultural artifacts are meant to be appreciated, their age also holds significance; any cultural artifact that has endured the test of time will develop a lustrous patina, becoming increasingly cherished with age. In contrast, the primary focus of antiques is collection; collectible items are typically displayed rather than carried around or played with, marking one of the most significant distinctions between antiques and cultural artifacts…"
As a former university professor, Sun Lianda elucidated the differences between antiques and cultural artifacts with clarity and depth. Even Fang Yi and his companions, who knew little about the subject, grasped the concepts well. Following Sun Lianda's discourse, they gained a broad understanding of the antique trade.
"Listening to the old man is truly more enlightening than a decade of study!" Seemingly inspired by Sun Lianda, the portly man even attempted a literary flourish.
"Fatty, you've only completed nine years of schooling in total…" San Pao interjected, unceremoniously exposing the portly man's educational background.
"Aren't you in the same boat? Don't criticize me!" The portly man retorted, slightly pouting. In their rural community, reaching middle school was already a considerable achievement; many of his friends hadn't even graduated from elementary school.
"So, after hearing the old man's wisdom, do you still intend to pursue this line of work?" After such a lengthy discourse, Sun Lianda felt somewhat parched, raising his cup for another sip. However, due to his illness, he could not drink tea, and the water tasted rather bland.
"This matter depends on Brother Yi's decision…"
To Sun Lianda's surprise, when he posed this question, the portly man, who had been so vocal about his eagerness to engage in the business, turned his gaze toward Fang Yi, revealing that the true decision-maker among them was the usually reticent Fang Yi.