Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 576 Purchasing Porcelain
Dashilan Hutong is very close to here, and in no time, the three masters were picked up.

Zhang Xuansong got out of the car first, glanced at Chen Fan squatting at the door, then walked towards Zhou Zhengdong, extending his right hand and laughing, "Welcome, welcome!"

Zhou Zhengdong quickly stepped forward, grasped the outstretched hand with both hands, and said respectfully, "Hello, hello, my Xiaofan has troubled you."

He had heard Chen Fan mention before that these three masters were all veterans of countless battles, and that they taught him the skills to kill enemies and win. Putting everything else aside, their status as veterans of countless battles alone filled him with awe.

As for the status of Zhang Xuansong and Lin Yuanxiang as retired division-level cadres, that is not so important.

Lin Yuanxiang and Li Shangde also got off the bus one after another and went up to greet them.

Chen Fan stood to the side and introduced, "This is Master Zhang, Zhang Xuansong; this is Master Lin, Lin Yuanxiang; and this is Master Li, Li Shangde."

After they shook hands, Zhao Wanru brought her daughter over and bowed to greet them.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Yuanxiang took out his key to open the door, while Zhang Xuansong waved to the accompanying personnel sent by the city, saying, "This is a family matter. What are you all doing following along? Go back, go back."

The accompanying person gave a wry smile, said nothing more, saluted Zhang Xuansong and the others, and then said to Zhou Zhengdong, "Mr. Zhou, you have my contact information here. If you have any needs, you can contact me."

Their primary purpose in accompanying the visitors is to resolve some daily issues for overseas Chinese and foreign guests entering the country, and secondly, they have a supervisory responsibility.

However, with Chen Fan around now, they are not so important.

Of course, the most important thing is that comrades from other departments had come in advance to make preparations, and their superiors had also given them instructions. Otherwise, even if the senior comrades had spoken, they would not have dared to leave their posts without permission.

After thanking them, Zhou Zhengdong watched them leave, leaving only his own people behind.

Even his assistant, after getting off the plane, went with the deputy liaison officer to the U.S. Liaison Office in China to learn about the relevant situation of exchanges between the two countries in advance, in order to prepare for future business operations.

Lin Yuanxiang unlocked the iron lock and pushed open the gate, and the group filed in.

Chen Fan glanced around after entering and was immediately surprised, "Huh? Why are there so many potted plants?"

In the spacious open space, several rows of wooden shelves have now been added, with ceramic jars on the shelves, each containing a plant. Compared to the original emptiness, the space has become much more interesting.

Zhang Xuansong, leaning on his cane, said as he walked, "Didn't you say that when we have money in the future, we'll fill this place with potted plants, and put them on wooden frames so we can move them when we need them? It'll look nice and won't affect the use of the space."

Li Shangde picked up where he left off, chuckling, "Last time you sent money, it gave us old folks quite a fright. Old Zhang was worried, so he went out of his way to find someone to help him investigate the origin of the money before he dared to use it."

Lin Yuanxiang glared at Chen Fan, "He didn't even write a letter beforehand. This is 38 yuan. How many people have 38 yuan these days? He's not being modest at all."

Chen Fan felt very innocent. "This was all done under the noses of the officials in Jiangnan Province. How could I keep a low profile? So after I got the money, I sent it to you as soon as possible."

Zhang Xuansong pushed open the door and turned to Zhou Zhengdong with a smile, "Your nephew is like an eel, he won't suffer the slightest loss. If he doesn't send the money to me and let me hold onto it for him, who knows how many people will come to beg for his money, he'll be lucky to get even a fraction of it."

Zhou Zhengdong threw his head back and laughed heartily, "The fact that he handed the money to you without hesitation, without giving any special instructions, shows that he trusts you. Once the money is in your hands, you can spend it however you want, and he certainly won't say a word."

Zhang Xuansong snorted twice, "Then I can't move even more. Since it's been handed over to me, I have to guard it for him."

By this time, everyone had entered and were looking around the house.

Zhou Yali moved closer to Chen Fan, grabbed his arm, and looked around, unsure of where to look. "Brother, is this your house? It's too big!"

Chen Fan pursed his lips, "It's alright."

It's not that big, the entire house only covers an area of ​​256 square meters, and the hall in front of us is only a little over 150 square meters. The key is that the ceiling is very high, a full 4.5 meters. In particular, the pillar of light that descends from the sky in the middle of the room makes the hall look even more impressive.

Zhou Yali glared at him, annoyed. "This is what you call 'okay'? It's even better than our house in America, okay?"

Zhang Xuansong and the other two led Zhou Zhengdong toward the tea table, saying, "We hired a temporary worker who comes to clean twice a week. He's paid by the day, which is a considerable burden for others, but Xiao Fan has plenty of money. He can live off the interest alone and live a carefree life. Consider it a way to help solve the employment problem for young people returning to the city."

Everyone sat down around the tea table, while Chen Fan rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen to brew tea.

When the water boiled, he came over again, opened the tea cabinet next to the tea table against the wall, and took out a few cups with a tray.

Zhou Yali quickly went up to help.

Just as she was about to take the tray, Chen Fan suddenly turned around with the cups in his hand, looked at the three masters, and asked, "Where did you buy these cups?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuansong turned around and said, "Oh, that was one of my former subordinates. He now works at the Ministry of Light Industry. The ceramics research institute there had stockpiled a lot of porcelain, so he paid out of his own pocket to send me a batch."

He paused for a moment, looked at the cup in Chen Fan's hand, and said with a sigh, "This batch of ceramics was fired in the same batch as the one Mr. Li used. There won't be any more like it in the future."

Chen Fan gasped, then looked at the cup in his hand. A delicate peach blossom was prominently displayed on it. It was indeed a "peach blossom with overglaze water droplets" and a 7501 porcelain!
In porcelain collecting, there is a special category called "Mao porcelain".

However, there are many types of Mao porcelain, most of which are ordinary porcelain and not particularly valuable.

Only the 7501 porcelain is unique and unparalleled, a pinnacle of ceramic craftsmanship in my country's history.

Even disregarding its historical value, the porcelain itself is priceless.

Chen Fan never thought about making money through collecting, so he never thought about actively collecting antiques and treasures, but he really wanted these kinds of treasures.

He immediately looked up at Zhou Zhengdong and said, "Uncle, talk to that cadre tomorrow and ask him to help us buy this kind of porcelain."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengdong stood up and walked over, took the cup from Chen Fan's hand, held it up to the light to examine it, and exclaimed in surprise, "What fine porcelain!"

Zhao Wanru also came over at this time and stood aside, saying, "I have never seen such beautiful porcelain before."

Zhou Zhengdong didn't turn his head, his eyes fixed on the cup. "The ancients said that porcelain should be as white as jade, as thin as paper, as bright as a mirror, and as resonant as a chime. This is the highest realm of porcelain. However, almost every piece of such porcelain that has been passed down is a unique piece, and its value is immeasurable."

This cup, though clearly made in modern times, perfectly embodies the highest standards of porcelain praised in ancient times…

He immediately turned to Zhang Xuansong, strode over, and asked, "Brother Zhang, which kiln produced this? Can it still be produced?" Zhang Xuansong clicked his tongue, looking somewhat troubled. "I heard from my old subordinate that this type of porcelain seems to be discontinued. As for whether it can be produced again, I'm not sure."

Chen Fan walked over with a tray, placed it on the table, and said seriously, "Uncle, it's impossible for you to let them continue production and then come to make the purchases."

As he spoke, he picked up a teacup. "I heard that in order to fire this porcelain, the Hunan Liling Ceramic Research Institute and the Jingdezhen Ceramic Research Institute worked closely together, and the Ministry of Light Industry's Ceramic Research Institute also transferred more than 40 technical experts to form a joint task force."

Many renowned ceramic artists participated in this work, including descendants and successors of the "Eight Friends of Zhushan," such as Wang Xiliang, nephew of Wang Dafan and a master of arts and crafts; Wang Guiying, daughter of Wang Yeting and a master of ceramic art; Liu Ping, son of Liu Yucen and a master of ceramic art; Xu Yafeng, granddaughter of Xu Zhongnan and a master of arts and crafts; as well as ceramic artists Zhang Jian, Zhang Songmao, Dai Ronghua, Shu Huijuan, and Xin Qingshan, a famous ceramic artist.

He said to Zhou Zhengdong, "These masters are all national treasures. Even if there were suitable top-grade kaolin clay, money alone could not bring these master craftsmen and art masters together again."

Zhou Zhengdong was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this. "I see."

Chen Fan laughed and said, "There's no need to be disappointed. Although we can't make more, as far as I know, the Ceramic Research Institute and Jingdezhen still have quite a few 'spare parts'."

Although described as spare parts, these were actually from the same batch of ceramics sent to Xiyuan Ceramics a few years ago. At that time, over 14000 pieces were fired, with over 4200 actually completed. Of these, over 2000 were selected and sent to Xiyuan Ceramics, while the rest were sealed and stored for later use.

Zhou Zhengdong's eyes immediately lit up, "Where are we now?"

Chen Fan raised his cup and smiled, "It doesn't matter where it is. If you make a request to that cadre, you should have a good chance of buying this batch of supplies."

It's still 78 now. In two more years, that batch of spare parts will be distributed to the employees of the ceramics factory as welfare items. They'll be everywhere in Jingdezhen. Only a little over two hundred pieces will be sent to the Beijing Ceramic Research Institute.

Then in the 10s, an overseas Chinese went to Jingdezhen and bought more than a thousand pieces of them without limit at a price of a dozen yuan each.

In the 1990s, in 1997, a small porcelain bowl was auctioned for a high price of 1.7 million yuan at an auction house.

Therefore, now is the best window of opportunity to acquire this batch of porcelain. If you miss it now, it will be difficult once the porcelain is distributed as welfare items.

Zhang Xuansong, standing nearby, asked Chen Fan with some curiosity, "How do you know all this?"

Chen Fan turned his head and grinned, "I have readers. One of them works at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Factory. He said he'd send me a few pieces when his company releases this batch of porcelain."

Zhang Xuansong's face fell; he hated people who liked to show off the most.

Zhou Zhengdong didn't dare to delay and was about to go find that cadre when Chen Fan grabbed him, saying, "No need to rush. Just mention it when you see him tomorrow."

Seeing Chen Fan's response, Zhou Zhengdong stopped insisting and said, "Alright."

Just then, the sound of boiling water came from the kitchen. Before Chen Fan could get up, Zhou Yali immediately ran over and said, "I'll go get some water."

Chen Fan stood up again, carrying the tray over there, saying, "I still need to wash the cups."

Zhou Zhengdong immediately shouted, "You're not allowed to go!"

Chen Fan turned to look at him, raised the tray in his hand, and smiled, "Reluctant to part with it?"

Zhou Zhengdong's eyes were full of regret. "This is a rare piece of ceramic! Aren't you afraid of it getting chipped or damaged?"

Chen Fan laughed and said, "No matter how fine the ceramics are, they are meant to be used. If they are not used, they are not teacups, but just ornaments."

He paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Besides, there are more than two thousand pieces of ceramic like this waiting for you. Don't worry about breaking them."

He then turned and left, leaving Zhou Zhengdong with only his outstretched hand making a few grasping motions, as if he wanted to stop him but was powerless to do so.

Chen Fan went to the kitchen, turned on the tap to rinse the teacup, then rinsed it with boiling water before getting the tea leaves.

Zhou Yali was examining the kitchen equipment. "There's even a gas cylinder?"

Chen Fan chuckled twice. "There are not only gas cylinders, but also piped gas. It's just that the main pipeline hasn't been laid here, otherwise we wouldn't need these cylinders."

Zhou Yali crossed her arms and nodded, saying, "I thought conditions in the mainland were all very poor, like that Overseas Chinese Hotel, which was said to be the best hotel in the country, but I thought it was just so-so. Now it seems that not all of them are backward."

Chen Fan placed tea leaves into each cup one by one, and said with a smile, "Is this not falling behind?"

He pointed to the small building at the end of the garden outside the window and said, "Look over there, there's a boiler room. They've built a heating pipe that runs all the way here. When winter comes, we can use the boiler to keep warm, and the whole house will be cozy and comfortable."

Zhou Yali poured water from the kettle and asked curiously, "When I was little, my grandparents told me that people in my hometown slept on earthen beds. What do earthen beds look like?"

This trip back to her hometown was too rushed, especially since the ancestral graves were destroyed, and her father was in a terrible mood; she didn't dare to say a word. And since the hotel only had beds, she naturally didn't see a traditional earthen bed.

Chen Fan turned to look at her, "I have one in Lujiawan, it's the room on the first floor where Huang Li and the others sleep."

"what?"

Zhou Yali was stunned. "Why didn't you say so sooner? I didn't even go see it."

Chen Fan snatched the kettle from her hands and glared at her irritably. "Pour the hot water, why are you distracted?"

He then said, "You didn't say you wanted to sleep on a heated brick bed."

He then pointed to the small building behind, "But it's there. We can go see it later. Next time we come in winter, we can sleep on the earthen bed there."

The two returned to the tea table with their teacups, each placing one in front of them, and then began to chat.

Zhang Xuansong said, "Brother Zhou, you said you went abroad at what age? Do you still remember the Zhou family's business partners from before?"

Zhou Zhengdong shook his head. "How would I remember? It's similar to finding relatives. Just take the address and name and search slowly."

It's not that he necessarily wants to find those business partners from back then, but the Zhou family has always prioritized relationships in business. They were old friends of Mr. Zhou, so even if it's just to fulfill his father's last wish, he should go and see them.

(End of this chapter)