Chapter Fifty-One: Elder Qian

Zhang Wei knew that Zhou Fatty’s supposed request for his opinion was just a pretext; what Zhou really wanted was to show off his own taste in collectibles. Nevertheless, Zhang didn’t expose him and simply followed Zhou to the area displaying bronze wares.

Zhou Fatty had already chosen five items from the bronzeware collection: two bronze wine vessels, one bronze incense burner, and two pieces that appeared to be ritual objects. It was clear from his choices that Zhou had a particular fondness for bronzes.

“Brother, what do you think of these five bronzes?” Zhou asked, patting the lid of the half-meter-tall incense burner.

“To be honest, Fatty, I’ve only ever heard of bronzes or seen them on TV—today is my first time seeing the real thing,” Zhang Wei replied, tapping the side of the incense burner with his middle finger and listening to the resonant hum it produced.

“It’s fine if you want me to have a look for fun, but don’t count on me to vet them for you!” Zhang Wei admitted. He knew nothing about bronzes—not even the basics—and dared not pretend otherwise.

“Honestly, I’m still learning myself,” Zhou Fatty boasted, “I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I can at least distinguish between fakes and the real deal. Take this incense burner, for example: there’s a layer of verdigris on the exterior, which suggests some age. Inside, there’s a layer of ash, proving it’s been used before. So I judge this as an old piece.”

“Fatty, I think you’d be better off asking Manager Wang for the background story. Knowing where these bronzes come from will help you make a sound decision,” Zhang Wei advised, once again pushing the responsibility onto Manager Wang.

“You’re right; the provenance is important with bronzes. Unlike other collectibles, if a bronze comes from dubious origins, it’s best not to touch it,” Zhou said, furrowing his brow thoughtfully after hearing Zhang’s words.

Bronzes originated in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, used for rituals, ceremonies, and as containers. The most famous were the bronze tripods, which symbolized supreme power and were considered national treasures. In China, private trade of such items is illegal, and even ordinary bronzes are strictly regulated.

“Manager Wang, could you come over here for a moment?” Zhou called, beckoning to him.

“Mr. Zhou, have you found some antiques you like?” Manager Wang hurried over, a hint of delight flashing in his eyes when he saw the bronzes laid out on the floor.

“Yes, I’ve taken a liking to these sets of bronzes. But I’d like you to introduce their provenance to me. If there’s any problem with their origins, I won’t be taking them,” Zhou said.

“Mr. Zhou, I wouldn’t dare display anything with questionable origins in my shop! All these bronzes were brought back by my friends from abroad. They were originally taken overseas by the Allied Forces, and now, returned from overseas, they’re finally back home,” Manager Wang replied with a sigh, sounding sentimental.

Zhou Fatty seemed untroubled by Manager Wang’s story, but Zhang Wei couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. His mind-reading ability had already revealed the truth: these bronzes hadn’t come from abroad at all, but were commissioned from a metallurgical factory in Guangdong. After purchasing them, they were artificially aged, with special methods used to create fake patina so that most people couldn’t tell the difference.

Naturally, Zhang Wei didn’t want to see Zhou Fatty taken in, but with Manager Wang right there, he couldn’t say anything too blatant. Besides, he had already confessed to Zhou that he knew nothing about antiques, so even if he tried to persuade Zhou against buying, the advice might not be heeded.

“Mr. Zhou, since you’ve taken a liking to these bronzes, shall I call the movers now to have them delivered to your home directly?” Manager Wang probed.

“No rush. I’ll wait for my wife to come over and take a look first,” Zhou replied. He was eager to buy the bronzes and, feeling reassured by what he’d heard of their origins, was about to agree immediately. But, remembering that these items cost several million, he decided to consult Wu Qian first out of respect for her.

“Very well, take your time. If you need anything, just let me know,” Manager Wang said, retreating reluctantly, a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

Shortly after Manager Wang left, Wu Qian and Liu Yurou approached. Wu Qian was carrying a statue of Guanyin in her left arm and a scroll of calligraphy in her right, while Liu Yurou hugged a statue of the Laughing Buddha and had another calligraphy scroll tucked under her arm. Zhang Wei was astonished at the sight.

Most people agonize over picking even a single antique, afraid of making a costly mistake. Yet Zhou and his wife treated this as if they were buying wholesale; in just a short while, each had chosen four or five items. Altogether, the nine pieces they had selected must have been worth four or five million.

“Husband, are these lumps of copper on the floor the antiques you picked out?” Wu Qian asked, frowning as she nudged the incense burner with her foot.

“Wife, these aren’t just ordinary lumps of copper—they’re ancient bronzes, once used by royalty and nobility,” Zhou Fatty hurriedly explained, fearing she might object to the purchase.

“What use is something so heavy? Are you sure they’re not fakes?” Wu Qian demanded.

“Fatty, I think your wife has a point. These bronzes might not be as good as Manager Wang claims. If you trust me, I’d suggest not buying them,” Zhang Wei offered kindly.

“Brother, what’s wrong with these bronzes? Did you notice something?” Zhou asked, concerned.

“I can’t say for sure what’s wrong, it’s just a very strong feeling I have,” Zhang Wei replied, speaking as a friend out of a sense of responsibility. Whether Zhou listened was out of his hands.

“Zhang Wei, do you have experience with antiques?” Wu Qian asked curiously.

“Not really, I’m just going by intuition,” Zhang Wei answered honestly.

“If you don’t know, why act like an expert? My brother-in-law has studied antiques for years—how could your hunch be better than his judgment? Always interrupting with nonsense,” Liu Yurou shot back, sharp-tongued, glaring at Zhang Wei.

Her words sounded like playful banter between couples, but in reality, she was subtly warning Zhang Wei not to meddle or show off, lest he incur Zhou and Wu Qian’s displeasure.

Zhang Wei simply smiled and said nothing more. After all, Zhou Fatty could afford the loss; treating it as a costly lesson might even do him good.

As the four of them found themselves in an awkward silence, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance to the collector’s room, drawing everyone’s attention. Zhang Wei and the others craned their necks to look.

An elderly man entered, surrounded by a crowd. Dressed in a yellow Tang jacket, with a kindly face, white hair, yet vibrant and energetic, his steps were remarkably steady.

Zhou Fatty’s eyes lit up at the sight of the old man. He hurried over with a broad grin, saying, “Master Qian, what a surprise to see you here!”

“As long as these old bones can move, I like to get out and about. But you, Mr. Zhou, a busy man—what brings you to Chenxiang Pavilion?” Master Qian replied with a chuckle.

Master Qian, as Zhou called him, was a renowned appraiser in the world of antiques—an authority whose judgments had never been mistaken, a true titan of the field. Zhou had only met him once before and was delighted the master still remembered him.

“Master Qian, your timing is perfect. I was just considering buying a few bronzes, but I’m not confident in my own judgment. Would you mind taking a look for me?”