Chapter 1, Antiques
The Wish-Granting Compass
After locking the bicycle, he joined the crowd. To be honest, most of the people here are middle-aged and elderly individuals, trading in some antiquities, which can be considered a hobby and a way to pass the time
Yang Tianwen took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and began to study it. The quality of jade is determined by its depth of color and the presence or absence of flaws. Of course, to sell well, it also needs to have some provenance, such as being an ancient piece of jade once worn by a certain emperor of the Han Dynasty
Engrossed in the moment, unaware of the passage of time, a sudden discordant ringtone broke the silence. Yang Tianwen did not look up; instead, he reached for the phone at the edge of the table and answered, "Hello..."
The fat man was taken aback for a moment. Although this had happened often before, the amount had never been this large. He couldn't help but ask, "Are you really this confident in me?"
On the other end of the phone, a hearty male voice came through: "Wen Ge, is that a joint investment between the two of us?" The chubby man is one of the few friends of Yang Tianwen, both having come from the orphanage. However, this chubby man started working early and did not attend university like Yang Tianwen.
Although 40 square meters may seem somewhat spacious for a single occupant, when filled with several rows of densely packed bookshelves, an abundance of old books, and a vintage desk, it can start to feel rather cramped
The courses in the archaeology department are few and quite relaxed, allowing Yang Tianwen more time to plan for life. After class, as is customary, Yang Tianwen hurriedly ran out of the classroom, talking on the phone as he walked: "Fatty, I searched for a long time last night and finally found out that the jade really has some significance, it's worth hetushu.com. I'm heading over now."
Yang Tianwen was not disappointed either; he stood up and was about to leave when he suddenly caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye. It was a thick square stone block, about half an inch thick, used by the old man Cai to prop up the corner of a chair. If it were just a stone block, it would not have attracted Yang Tianwen's attention, but the key was that a compass pattern was displayed on the stone block. A compass is generally used by feng shui masters to assess the feng shui, or as a decorative item to attract good fortune and ward off evil. Such compasses are certainly not rare at these street stalls; they come in various types, sizes, and styles. However, the compass pattern on this stone block appeared to be naturally formed, without any signs of carving, giving a sense of unity and wholeness.
After making the payment, Yang Tianwen handed the box to the胖子 and said, "In the afternoon, I might be busy. You should take it to the bank, rent a safe deposit box to store it first, and then contact the buyer online."
After carefully reviewing for more than ten minutes, the boss lay on the chair, half-closing his eyes, and did not urge for a response.
The old man pulled out a brand new wooden box, opened it, and handed it over, saying: "Please check it."
Yang Tianwen closed the door and ran out of the forty-square-meter doghouse he rented, hopping on his bicycle and racing towards the school. Breakfast? Skipped, being a little hungry is not a big deal. The doghouse is very close to the school, and it takes less than two minutes to reach by bike
"Not bad, it's true, the fat man pays!" Yang Tianwen said as he closed the box. He casually took out about ten envelopes with the image of an old man from the inner package and handed them to the fat man. He expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, God of Wealth." He omitted the word 'sir'.
The Chinese nation boasts a splendid civilization spanning five thousand years, characterized by the greatness of our ancestors and the wisdom of those who came before us. Even in today's world, where technology is highly advanced thousands of years later, it is likely still difficult to fully comprehend this legacy. A remarkable book on physiognomy, based on the theory of the five elements, records the changes in human nature and the destinies that lie ahead. Can this be explained by science?
The two individuals, familiar with each other, made their way to a relatively secluded stall, greeting the owner with familiarity: "Grandfather Caishen, what happened to that piece of ancient jade from last time?"
"Master Caishen, what is the name of that stone under your seat? Is it for sale?" Yang Tianwen inquired.
Yang Tianwen's school is merely a second or third-tier university, which has relatively lenient regulations. As long as you do not disrupt the teachers and classmates during class, you can generally do whatever you like. Yang Tianwen is an exemplary student, never having missed attendance even once, and his grades are considered excellent. All of this is for that damned scholarship. Without the support of parents or relatives, Yang Tianwen not only has to be self-reliant but also believes that such free money should not be passed up. Yang Tianwen is indeed an exemplary student, never having missed attendance even once, and his grades are considered excellent. All of this is for that damned scholarship. Without the support of parents or relatives, Yang Tianwen not only has to be self-reliant but also believes that such free money should not be passed up.
"No," replied the old man with a financial background. "Are you trying to read for free again?"
The old man looked down at the chair, reached underneath, and gently pulled out a stone slab. After examining it, he handed it over and said, "Oh, this thing? I picked it up on the mountain before; it's not worth much. If you want it, I'll give it to you, consider it a buy one get one free."
Yang Tianwen has been mingling here for nearly two years. Who among those familiar with him does not know that this guy's greatest pleasure is to read books without paying for them? Do not be fooled by his unassuming demeanor; in reality, his IQ is as high as 249, just one point shy of 250, and he possesses an extraordinary ability of photographic memory, making him an absolute prodigy
After the fat man left, Yang Tianwen spoke up and asked, "Grandfather Caishen, do you have any old books like fragmented pages of unofficial history? I would like to take a look."
After finishing the meal, I tidied up and cleaned everything, then returned to my desk. Due to limited space, that small old desk was placed in front of the bed. I sat down heavily, picked up the cigarette on the table, lit it, and took a deep puff. A cigarette after a meal brings joy akin to that of an immortal. After savoring the moment, I immersed myself in my books. There were no classes in the afternoon, so I had plenty of time. I had just made a significant deal today, allowing me to take a break for a while. I sat down heavily, picked up the cigarette on the table, lit it, and took a deep puff. A cigarette after a meal brings joy akin to that of an immortal. After savoring the moment, I immersed myself in my books. There were no classes in the afternoon, so I had plenty of time. I had just made a significant deal today, allowing me to take a break for a while
Half an hour later, Yang Tianwen arrived in the city, well-acquainted with the route, at a small market specializing in the buying and selling of antique items from street vendors. Here, one could even find some worn-out rare editions and ancient treasures from various dynasties. Of course, the majority were fakes, yet many still came to seek their fortune. Since leaving the orphanage, Yang Tianwen had been making a living by reselling some genuine small items. These included small copper coins and small Buddha statues, which had low costs and decent profits. Generally, with a good eye and a bit of luck, items purchased for several dozen yuan could be sold for several hundred or even a thousand yuan. Naturally, most were fakes, but many still came to seek their fortune. Since leaving the orphanage, Yang Tianwen had been making a living by reselling some genuine small items. These included small copper coins and small Buddha statues, which had low costs and decent profits. Generally, with a good eye and a bit of luck, items purchased for several dozen yuan could be sold for several hundred or even a thousand yuan.
An energetic old man in his sixties was dozing in an armchair. Hearing a sound, he squinted his eyes and sat up, saying: "Young man, I didn't expect you to have such good taste... I told you, the things I sell are definitely genuine." No one knew the old man's name; everyone called him Uncle Cai, or referred to him as Old Tu or Old Cai.
In university, relationships among classmates tend to be rather superficial, as aside from attending classes, there is little communication among them. Yang Tianwen is particularly so; after class, he rushes home. Since he does not live on campus, he can only recall the names of a few individuals, without any significant friendships.
Turning east and wandering west, I found nothing of interest and rode away, placing the stone slab in the front pocket of my bicycle. Riding alone through the city streets filled with towering buildings, this familiar city always gives Yang Tianwen a sense of unfamiliarity that is hard to shake off.
Yang Tianwen listened, smiled broadly, and said: "Of course"
The changes in celestial phenomena are unpredictable and multifaceted, with the stars twinkling and containing boundless philosophy. As early as ancient times, there were practices of astrology and divination to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. Moreover, there were alchemists pursuing the art of longevity. The miraculous acupuncture techniques of ancient times are far beyond the capabilities of modern medicine, and the greatness of the ancients cannot be expressed in words. Ancient legends and glorious history—how many people today take the time to reminisce about them
After wandering around the vegetable market, I bought some vegetables and returned home. In the kitchen, I casually prepared a few simple dishes and randomly picked a book from the shelf. I opened it and began to eat while reading. For all these years, only these books have been able to alleviate the sense of loneliness in my heart. Yang Tianwen's reading material is quite eclectic, encompassing official histories, unofficial histories, military texts, Daoist scriptures, astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, and astrology, yet it lacks foreign works, as Yang Tianwen truly looks down upon such things.
Things that are free and of personal interest, Yang Tianwen would naturally accept them without hesitation, expressing his gratitude by saying: "Thank you, I am leaving" hetushu .com .com
"Handsome, wake up... Handsome, wake up..." The unconventional alarm clock signals the arrival of a new day. Our protagonist squints his eyes, begrudgingly and helplessly crawls out of bed, reaches out to silence the cursed alarm, and murmurs, "Not being able to wake up naturally is the most painful thing in life for me." He kicks off the blanket, puts on his clothes, and rushes into the bathroom.
The stout man nodded happily and left with the item. This piece of jade was purchased for nearly 2,000 yuan, representing the largest transaction since the two of them partnered together over the past two years. If resold to a good buyer, it could fetch at least several tens of thousands.
Introducing Yang Tianwen, who is twenty years old this year. He is relatively good-looking, somewhat more handsome than the average person, but falls far short compared to those star-level heartthrobs. Growing up in an orphanage, he successfully gained admission to XX University at the age of eighteen, where he was assigned to the less popular archaeology department. As for his personality, it is hard to define. He exhibits both optimism and a tendency to be reclusive and socially withdrawn.
Yang Tianwen felt very assured. Firstly, everyone had grown up together, and their friendship was deep. Secondly, it was absolutely impossible for the Fatty to continue in this line of work without him. The antique business requires not only luck but also extensive professional knowledge and strong skills in assessing goods. If you can't even distinguish between genuine and fake items, what is the point of being in this business? In the realm of Taobao, one cannot claim to know everything about astronomy and geography, but one must at least understand a significant portion of it.
Yang Tianwen smiled quietly without saying a word, while the chubby man rolled his eyes, feeling unconvinced. Having been here for more than a year, almost two years, how could one still be unfamiliar? Such words are meant to deceive newcomers. However, the chubby man was not foolish enough to voice his thoughts and offend anyone