Chapter Nine, Birdcage

Old Zhou, who is severely bald, is no less wealthy than they are. After all, they are all residents of this area; how much worse could it be? Even if he were to lie down and do nothing, he would not starve.

Then you will certainly suffer a loss

How delightful, this canary seems to be fated for me. Elder, would you be willing to part with it

In his words, he is the kind of person who would die if he were to become idle

At his age, he has long since retired. On ordinary days, apart from taking care of his grandson and such, he tends to his flowers and plants, and enjoys playing with birds and insects

This streamer is somewhat peculiar; while other streamers typically approach beautiful women, he instead goes to strike up conversations with elderly men, discussing pet birds, and he seems quite interested in it

The canary pecked at Hu Yang's outstretched finger, then tilted its little head, gazing at Hu Yang, occasionally chirping a few times, as if greeting an old acquaintance

As he watched the three elderly individuals depart, Hu Yang glanced at the live broadcast room and noticed many people inquiring: Did we make a profit, and if so, how much?

Hu Yang was momentarily taken aback, as he still had some words left unspoken. However, since the matter had reached this point, he chose not to say more. Everyone quickly completed the transaction, and all were pleased.

Faced with the sincere heart of the elderly, Hu Yang felt embarrassed

What is truly valuable is this base, made of sandalwood. Just look at the carving; it is exceptionally exquisite, not something an ordinary craftsman could achieve. Moreover, several pieces of jade are inlaid here. To put it this way: just the base of this cage is worth 100,000.

At this moment, Hu Yang could not help but extend his finger towards the canary, wanting to tease it

Uncle Liang, who was sitting nearby, also enjoyed conversing with young people, feeling that it made him more vibrant

It's not too bad! Compared to some people, the host is quite good.

The live broadcast room has once again exploded with activity, with the audience rising to over 3,000. After excluding more than 1,000 virtual data, there are approximately 2,000 real viewers.

The name of the canary is well-known to many, yet few have actually seen one. Even Wah Zai, for the first time, learned what a canary looks like.

The cage before us is an artifact left behind from the Qing Dynasty

How much is it? Hu Yang teased the canary in the birdcage and asked again

At this moment, even he, the owner who raises him, feels a bit jealous

Antique birdcages are typically scarce in number and are often crafted by renowned birdcage artisans of the time. They exhibit exquisite craftsmanship and possess significant historical and aesthetic value

To be honest, given his current abilities, there is no need for him to earn this morally questionable money. If he were a man of poor character, he would naturally have no psychological burden; the issue is that this elderly gentleman is different.

Old Liang's situation is quite similar; every day he just walks the dog, practices Tai Chi, and when he has time, he sings Cantonese opera with some elderly ladies

I did not expect that the host had been thinking about someone else's birdcage early in the morning, wanting to set a trap.

The next scene not only astonished those present, but also left the viewers in the live broadcast in shock

As soon as these words were spoken, the three old men, including Kang Bo, exchanged glances, feeling both shocked and somewhat gratified

"Old man, the canary was given to me, but the cage should still be purchased!" Hu Yang hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided not to take advantage of this opportunity

When the elderly gentleman settled the bill, he also took care of the table for Hu Yang.

What does it mean to make money quietly? The streamer doesn't care about earning this little amount; they are a second-generation rich kid

If money can solve it, he is not very willing to harbor this sense of guilt

Indeed! If it really costs 100,000 to buy it, that would be a huge loss, " said the bald-headed Old Zhou.

"Young man, Old Kang's canary, speaking of which, is still wild..."

Every morning, it is his habit to go to this tea house with old friends for dim sum

Not to mention others, even Hu Yang was surprised, as he did not expect this bird to be so close to him

Even though the Kangbo family is wealthy, they are still somewhat surprised

"Young man! You have a discerning eye! This is a canary," said Kang Bo with a proud smile.

Kang Bo is unhappy: "What is an old cage worth?"

Today, it is rare for Old Zhou to take a day off for himself. After having dim sum for breakfast, they plan to stroll around and take a walk.

Indeed! They are all good-hearted people

Before Hu Yang could finish speaking, Kang Bo decisively stated: "Since that is the case, I will give you 100,000."

Therefore, Liang Bo suggested to him that since he could not nurture it, and having encountered a fated person, it would be better to let go completely

When it comes to birds, insects, flowers, and plants, he now has considerable insights and is very willing to discuss them with everyone

However, Old Zhou has not retired yet and continues to work at the newspaper

The Qing Palace Workshop organized skilled artisans from across the country to specifically create birdcages for the palace, achieving a high level of artistic quality, which reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty

At this point, Hu Yang found himself in a difficult position. The more generous the other party was, the more ashamed he felt. This was because, initially, he was not interested in the bird, but rather in the cage. Originally, he had intended to take advantage of a bargain.

Today, birdcages, as traditional practical art pieces, serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. With the booming art market, they have gradually transitioned from the flower and bird markets into the antique market

Not bad

Hu Yang felt quite embarrassed and quickly said: "No, this cage is indeed quite valuable. To be honest, at first, I was only interested in the birdcage, planning to take advantage of a good deal. By the way, I forgot to introduce myself, which is a bit rude. I am Hu Yang, currently dabbling in antique appreciation."

Kang Bo is a true native of Yangcheng. In his youth, he worked hard, and the benefits brought by the reform and opening-up have allowed his family to live very well

Seeing the determined expression on Hu Yang's face, it seemed he was convinced that this birdcage was a treasure. Kang Bo asked, "One hundred thousand, are you really sure?"

After the Ming and Qing dynasties, birdcages gradually evolved into a form of art, regarded as a symbol of prestige for bird enthusiasts to showcase.

"Is it an antique?" Kang Bo was very surprised

Kang Bo had not yet reacted, but Liang Bo beside him advised, "Old Kang, it is evident that this canary indeed has some affinity with that handsome fellow. You have plenty of insects and birds at home, so just let one go out."

Wild birds are inherently difficult to tame, and some more stubborn species may even choose to go on a hunger strike. During this period, Lao Kang has been taking this bird out for walks, merely to enhance their bond, but it seems to have little effect

If that is the case, he wouldn't mind boasting with his old friends in the future, as he would have the capital to do so! The amounts of 100,000 or 80,000 are not really that significant.

"So this is what a canary looks like," a viewer commented in the live stream

He had not finished speaking when he was interrupted by another old man, who said: "Old Liang, pay attention."

Poplar nodded: "Profitable."

Kang Bo suddenly realized that someone was speaking to him. He turned his head and saw a young man at the neighboring table.

At Hu Yang's age, he indeed gives off an unreliable impression. Although they do not engage in antiques, they still have some understanding of them. In their area alone, there are quite a few antique shops, which seem to be frequented by elderly men.

Liang Bo is feeling frustrated: "What is there to be afraid of? It's not like it was Old Kang who caught it, so it’s not illegal."

Just now, they truly believed that the host had taken a liking to someone else's pet bird, especially when they saw that the canary was being affectionate towards the host, which left them with even fewer doubts

Viewers who watched Hu Yang's live broadcast yesterday are no longer surprised, as a porcelain box no larger than a palm sold for over 200,000 yesterday

Isn't it a bit foolish to say that? Isn't it better to make money quietly?

... ...

Wild canaries are typically green or olive in color, while pet canaries are usually a soft yellow

Those who engage in this line of work must have a bit of heart

Kang Bo pondered for a moment, then finally sighed: "Very well!"

Kang Bo waved his hand and said, "I will send you off, take good care of yourself"

Hu Yang asked, "How do you know it is wild?"

Wah Chai also looked over

Due to the passage of time, certain structures of the birdcage may exhibit signs of aging. If it is solely used for keeping birds, it is inevitable that irreversible damage will occur to the birdcage. Therefore, this birdcage has lost its function for raising birds and has become a highly ornamental piece of art

The practice of keeping birds as pets in China has a history of at least a thousand years. During the Spring and Autumn period, the phenomenon of caged birds began to emerge. By the Tang Dynasty, the enjoyment of birds had gradually developed into a trend. Throughout the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, keeping birds in cages became a common cultural leisure activity among the general public

"Oh! This canary of mine, it's the first time it's been so close to someone," Kong Bo exclaimed in surprise

"Young man, am I not mistaken?" Liang Bo could not help but ask.