Chapter 4: Zou Yue'e

One can only consider selling the jade tablet to generate more money from it

No, my mother works here, and I came to deliver an umbrella

Sitting in the subway on my way back, I played with the jade pendant, feeling the smoothness of the jade with my thumb, unable to part with it.

Tang Sancai

For example, in a siheyuan, one would avoid planting mulberry and locust trees. The character for "mulberry" (桑) is homophonous with the character for "mourning" (丧), which is considered inauspicious. The locust tree is avoided because it is known to attract a pest colloquially referred to as "hanging ghost" (吊死鬼), leading to the undesirable implication of passersby remarking, "Why are there so many hanging ghosts at this house"

Upon descending to the first floor and walking towards the mall's exit, I could still hear Manager Zou's high heels following closely behind me, likely because we were headed in the same direction

Sister Cui called me affectionately, making it even harder for me to refuse. After much hesitation, I reluctantly nodded and said, "Alright, I also plan to go to Liulichang to sell something. However, I must clarify that my discernment is quite limited, and I cannot tell the authenticity of many items."

How come? Are you here to buy tea leaves or tea utensils

Thank you, Manager Zou

I looked at him eagerly, stopped in my tracks, and pointed to my own nose: "Did you call me?"

I let out a sound and said, "You flatter me, my name is Gu Jing." There were too many people yesterday, so I didn't see her at all

... ... Mr. Zhao, you are joking. I was hoping you could introduce a few more clients to my sister. ... ... Haha, look at what you are saying, of course, that is not a problem. Wherever you want to go, we will go. ... ... Alright, alright, we won't stop until we are drunk. ... ... But you must remember to take good care of my little sister ... ... really. Will you keep your word?

I can also advise you? I am also an outsider!

To my understanding, there is no absolute distinction between genuine and fake Ming and Qing plaques; rather, it is a matter of new craftsmanship versus old craftsmanship. This jade plaque exhibits a free-spirited artistic style, with smooth lines that are neither stiff nor clumsy. It should be classified as old craftsmanship, an item from the Ming and Qing dynasties. However, I am not a professional in this field, so I cannot make a definitive conclusion regarding its specific market price. In any case, in several small auctions held in Beijing and Shanghai in previous years, the prices of old craftsmanship Ming and Qing plaques fluctuated between 10,000 and several hundred thousand.

Manager Zou was dressed in a coffee-colored office lady outfit, her voluptuous figure accentuated by flesh-colored stockings that tightly wrapped around her legs, making her quite alluring. I noticed that many young male employees in the library were secretly staring at her. However, several middle-aged female sales staff nearby were all pursing their lips disapprovingly.

I have to go deliver an umbrella again, sigh, the weather forecast these days

After exiting the subway station and passing by the KFC at Qianmen, the sky was not beautiful, as a dark cloud swept in, seemingly signaling rain. I hurried a few steps, crossed the alley, and returned to my own courtyard. I simply reheated some leftovers in the Galanz microwave, which had been repaired several times. By the time I filled my stomach, fine raindrops began to patter down; it was a light rain, but this kind of rain is the least likely to stop, often lasting an entire day.

Zou Yue'e curiously asked: "Why? I think that little person is quite beautiful."

Isn't that being modest? Zou Yue'e smirked and glanced at me: "I remember that Sister Cui lives near Qianmen, how about we take a stroll around Liulichang? It's on the way anyway"

I couldn't help but think to myself that once I earn a lot of money, I must find a beautiful person like Manager Zou and Yan Wanru to be my wife

I shook my head, rummaged through my parents' room to find two umbrellas, took one and grabbed the other, then went out to take a bus to Zhushikou, where I transferred to route 57 and arrived at my mother's workplace—Malian Dao Tea Street. My mother works in the finance department on the third floor of the tea market. I knocked on the door, went in, handed the umbrella to my mother who was busy with accounts, greeted her colleagues one by one, calling them aunt or this and that, and then took my leave.

"Is it a burial?" Zou Yue'e exclaimed, "You really know more about this. Look at that; otherwise, I would have been the outsider. Fortunately, I didn't buy it."

I was startled and hurriedly waved my hands, saying, "Please don't send me off, please don't send me off"

Zou Yue'e thought for a moment and smiled in realization: "I see, it's Sister Cui's child from the finance department, haha, then we are not outsiders. I see you are quite knowledgeable about antiques. Here's the thing, I am planning to send some gifts to an old client. If you have the time, could you help me with some advice?"

As I stepped onto the elevator, Manager Zou's high heels also stepped onto the stairs not far behind me

Oh? Who is your mother

When one is well-fed and warm, desires arise; true collecting is a pastime for the wealthy, and I am not yet at that level.

It is not a matter of whether it is beautiful or not; setting aside personal preferences, Tang Sancai should not be given away carelessly. I thought to myself, fortunately, you asked me, otherwise, it could have offended someone. In the television series "Dream of the Red Chamber" filmed years ago, there is a Tang Sancai displayed in Jia Mu's room. In fact, this is a mistake, a bug, because during the Qianlong period, it was impossible for anyone to have Tang Sancai in their home; it is a funerary object, specifically meant for burial with the deceased, and is considered inauspicious. This is similar to how one should not give a clock as a birthday gift.

It is evident that she is a very shrewd and tactful woman

With her crescent-shaped eyes, rosy lips, and voluptuous figure, she exudes a mature charm in every gesture, possessing remarkable beauty. If I remember correctly, her surname should be Zou, and she is the manager of the sales department, barely qualifying as my mother's superior. She wears a smile on her face and, over a short distance of ten meters, greets several sales personnel warmly, displaying a very approachable demeanor. "Old Li, isn't your wife hospitalized? You should leave work early to go home. Xiao Zhao, Xiao Liu, it's getting windy outside, and it might rain. If you didn't bring an umbrella, feel free to take one from my office. Thank you all for your hard work today." She wears a smile on her face and, over a short distance of ten meters, greets several sales personnel warmly, displaying a very approachable demeanor. "Old Li, isn't your wife hospitalized? You should leave work early to go home. Xiao Zhao, Xiao Liu, it's getting windy outside, and it might rain. If you didn't bring an umbrella, feel free to take one from my office. Thank you all for your hard work today."

As the saying goes, everyone has a desire for beauty. When I walked through the revolving door, I cast a glance at her charming face from the corner of my eye

Manager Zou approached me with a smile, sizing me up a few times. "I thought you looked familiar; you were the one who showcased your skills at the antique market yesterday, right? I was just in the corridor at that time and saw it clearly. Indeed, heroes emerge from youth, haha. My name is Zou Yue'e, it's a pleasure to meet you"

"It is not necessary to buy the real thing; it is too expensive for me to afford." Upon seeing my agreement, Zou Yue'e reached out to hail an Elantra taxi on the street. After getting in, she sat next to me in the back seat and said, "Last time I heard him mention that he seems to really like Tang Sancai. Hmm, I went to the antique market yesterday just to buy a piece of imitation Tang Sancai, but unfortunately, I didn't find anything suitable."

My mother is named Cui Yumei

The phone in her bag rang, and I heard her giggling continuously; it seemed to be a familiar voice on the other end of the line

As I just arrived at the elevator entrance, I saw a mature woman walking towards me from a distance

To my surprise, Manager Zou actually said to me, "... please hold on."

vixen

She is a colleague of my mother and holds a higher position than her. Although she is only a few years older than me, I still politely address her as Aunt Zou. "Aunt Zou, to be honest, I don't quite understand either."

Hypocritical!

Looking across all of China, it is the people of Beijing who are the most particular about these matters