This plum vase was obviously repaired by a master, but in fact, when the porcelain was broken, some small fragments had become slag, and it was impossible to completely retain them, and the part of the glaze that fell to the ground would also fall off and be damaged. But now there are no flaws on the surface of this plum vase, the subtle defects have been completely filled, and the glazed places on the ground have also been painted without traces, but they have not been completely restored to their original appearance.

The ghost hand Zhou Xiaoxian repaired the broken porcelain in the past, and there are no traces of splicing on the surface, but this blue and white plum vase is covered with crab claw patterns in the shape of a fish net. You Fang knew that it was made of fragments, but it did not look like a trace of fragmentation, but very much like the glazed opening of Ru kiln porcelain in the Song Dynasty. Open blue and white? Haven't heard of it! But there was only one on the table, and the restorer deliberately did not erase the marks that had been broken, but made it look like a glazed piece.

Who fixed it? It must be a master of skill, but why should it be restored like this? Mr. Niu Ranmiao invited himself to have a morning tea, but put this plum bottle on the dining table, what does it mean?

You Fang was in a moment of surprise, when he suddenly heard an old man's voice behind him say: "The ghost hand Zhou Xiaoxian never repairs fakes, so he asked his disciple Luo Dike to do it, and he was on the side, Luo Dike was busy for three days and three nights to repair this plum vase." My request was to repair the plum vase, but also to leave the story of what happened to it, so the restoration was like this, and the design was very clever. ”

Hearing this, You Fang hurriedly turned around and saluted to say hello, of course the person who came was Niu Ranmiao. This old man is very tall, in his early eights, and he still has the shadow of being handsome when he was young, but his hair is a little thin, and the bags under his eyes are slightly saggy. But his spirit is very good, his eyes are not cloudy, his body is very well-maintained, and his waist is quite straight. It was exactly half past six when he walked into the restaurant.

Niu Ranmiao smiled and nodded, came to the table and sat down, beckoned his right hand and said, "Mr. Rand, don't be restrained, just have a morning tea and chat, come and sit!" ”

Look at a person's outfit to know the atmosphere of some occasions, the old gentleman is wearing ordinary home clothes, light gold silk cotton texture is very decent, but it looks very casual, which means that there is no need to be too restrained at this time. You Fang was no longer polite, and sat down on the old man's right hand. There were only the two of them at the table, and two waiters dressed as chefs stood at the door, and Qi Jixue was waiting outside the restaurant.

The old gentleman took a sip of the morning drink specially prepared by the chef and asked with a smile, "Mr. Rand, how old are you this year?" Like Zhou Xiaoxian, he also called You Fang Mr. Rand, which sounded more like a joke at the moment.

You Fang replied, "Twenty-five years old." "It's not true, it's four years older than his actual age, but it's not entirely nonsense, because that's what the ID card named Melander says it's the age of.

Niu Ranmiao sighed, as if with a deep meaning: "You look younger, the reaction that day was really fast, I am afraid that I was not as clever as you back then, and I am very young, so I will be interested in meeting you." ”

You Fang replied a little shyly: "The old gentleman doesn't have to praise the juniors, in fact, my intention is ......" In front of this kind of old Jianghu, he didn't want to be too roundabout, and planned to speak directly.

Niu Ranmiao interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "What you want to tell me, Zhou Xiaoxian has already relayed it word for word in front of me, and I listened to the recording of your conversation at that time again, so there is no need to say it again." ”

Yo, before I could open my mouth, my mouth was blocked, and it seems that I really can't mention this stubble anymore. If you don't mention it, don't mention it, since Niu Ranmiao has heard that relay, You Fang can be regarded as fulfilling Wu Lao's last wish. Zhou Xiaoxian's master and apprentice are really helpful, and I must thank them if I have the opportunity.

Niu Ranmiao didn't finish his words, sighed lightly and continued: "In front of a person like Mr. Rand, there is no need to beat around the bush, you must also know the importance of casting names on the rivers and lakes, and with my identity, I just hate to find more valuable national treasures, so what I care about is not the price, even if the more expensive the better." …… I'm so old, what do I care? It's nothing more than caring about the foundation I have laid, and giving my children and grandchildren a peace talisman. ”

The old gentleman is very honest in front of the understanding person, for him, the heavy purchase of the national treasure to donate to the country does have this purpose, and the more expensive and the more money spent, the more he can express his heart, and the things he cares about are different from others. You Fang couldn't say anything else, so he could only reply with a smile: "Children and grandchildren have their own children and grandchildren, and the blessings left by the old gentleman to his children and nephews are far beyond ordinary people." ”

Niu Ranmiao's words changed sharply, and he didn't continue the topic just now, but asked seriously: "You want to find me, do you want to tell an elder, who is that person?" ”

In front of Niu Ranmiao, You Fang no longer concealed it: "His name is Wu Pingdong, he is a student of Liang Sicheng, a professor at the School of Culture and Museums of Yenching University, and an expert in ancient Chinese architecture. In November last year, he made a special visit to Macau, but he heard that you were not feeling well at that time, so he could not meet you. ”

Next, You Fang briefly talked about Wu Pingdong's deeds, academic achievements, and cultural views, including what he did in the intraday rollerball game at Sotheby's auction in London last year, and his resignation and absence from Beijing after he became terminally ill at the beginning of this year, and is now probably no longer alive.

Of course, he didn't tell everything, including his own tracking down of Wu Lao's final whereabouts and the process of designing to kill Crazy Fox and others, all of which he omitted, but it was enough.

After listening to this, Niu Ranmiao couldn't hide her regret: "I hate not knowing this person!" There are a lot of people talking about me in private, and I know this, but it is not easy for him to come all the way to talk to me. I didn't mean not to see him, I did get hospitalized for a minor operation last November. I have to thank you for bringing his relics and these last words with you today! ”

You Fang: "The old man doesn't have to thank me, Mr. Wu Pingdong has a great kindness to me, which is what I should do." …… You had surgery last year, you look very good now, and your recovery is very good, I wish you good health! He gestured with the drink in front of him raised.

Niu Ranmiao also raised her drink: "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that I'm old." …… Don't talk patronizingly, please come for morning tea, eat quickly. ”

There are all kinds of breakfast on the table, and Niu Ranmiao himself only eats a few things in front of him, and the others are obviously prepared for the only guest, You Fang, and You Fang is not polite, pick up the chopsticks and fill your stomach first. When he was almost finished, Niu Ranmiao smiled and said, "Young people are fragrant when they eat, and when I see you eating, I feel a great appetite." …… Mr. Rand, don't you have anything to say about yourself this time except for loyalty? ”

You Fang swallowed a delicate shrimp dumpling, stopped his chopsticks and took a sip of his drink, saying, "I heard that you bought a jade seal two years ago?" ”

Niu Ranmiao: "There is such a thing, it was also reported on the news, saying that I was going to donate to the country, but I never donated, do you want to ask this?" Journalists always write only what they want to say, I meant to collect it myself, and when I want to do it as an inheritance in the future, I will not leave it to my children and grandchildren but donate it to the country, and now I am still alive, so why rush it? ”

You Fang smiled: "Who dares to urge your old man?" Tell me that you are 90 years old this year, even if you are 100 years old? Last month, I was fighting a 115-year-old senior, and he beat him all over the place. ”

Niu Ranmiao couldn't help laughing, causing Qi Qixue outside the door to also look at her curiously, and laughed for a long time before saying: "Mr. Land, you really have a mouth of Jianghu people, and you are very good at making the old people happy, this trick is called 'Xing Cangsheng', right?" ”

In the past incision of rivers and lakes, "Xing" means to make people happy, "Cang" refers to white-haired old age, "Sheng" refers to men, and "Chai" refers to women. The so-called "Xing Cangsheng" is to make the old man happy, and "Xing Cangchai" is to make the old lady happy. It is usually a blessing for each other's health and longevity, and the elderly love to listen to it.

But you have to be skillful in your words, such as knowing that the other party is in her eighties, but deliberately asking, "Are you in your sixties?" "The old man must be very happy, because he is very young in the eyes of others. This is called "reducing the age of the elderly", and the heart of the elderly is sometimes the same as that of children, and they need to be coaxed.

Of course, You Fang's words are more skillful, which makes the old man even happier. This is actually a truth, but Niu Ranmiao didn't know it, thinking that he was just a simple Xing Cangsheng.

Seeing that the old man was very interested, and even talked about the incision of the rivers and lakes that he was familiar with when he was young, You Fang took the opportunity to say: "You misunderstood what I meant just now, I actually want to say that a big connoisseur like you will not be unable to see through the 'intraplate ball game' of the Sotheby's serial jade seal auction, right?" What are you still doing when you're old! ”

The old man blinked, and his expression was a little childlike and naughty: "I know, but I just like to collect a jade seal, can't I?" ”

I really can't say no, hearing this sentence and looking at the old man's expression, You Fang also fully understands his mentality. People like Niu Ranmiao can't spend a lot of money at all, and the enjoyment of ordinary people visiting shopping malls and eating big meals probably doesn't belong to him. Collecting an ancient royal jade seal, holding it in your hand in your spare time, and playing with the mysterious atmosphere that commanded the world hundreds of years ago, this feeling is not experienced by others.

The old man has the surname of the old man, and sometimes he really looks like an old child, and he talks like a laipi. And with his net worth, buying a jade seal is similar to buying a new mobile phone from Youfang, who can say more? This is a personal hobby, he can afford to squander it, as for the impact and the objective role of contributing to the malicious hype of overseas serial bureaus, it is exactly what Wu Pingdong wants to admonish.

How should You Fang persuade it, thought about it and slowly read out a paragraph: "Selfish people are trapped in their own pursuits, and selfless people forget the pursuit of the world, but if these two are ultimately the same destination, it will be a great blessing in life." The ancients said: It is not for its selflessness and evil, so it can become its selfishness. ”

Niu Ranmiao stopped smiling, her expression became serious, she stared at You Fang with a questioning look, and only said after a while: "At your age, you shouldn't say such a thing, the tone is wrong." ”

You Fang sighed: "This is not what I said, but Mr. Wu Pingdong's last words in March this year, and then there was no news." ”

Niu Ranmiao also sighed: "I see, I understand what you mean, I will pay attention to it in the future." He pointed to the vase on the table and said: "Although this Yuan blue and white flower is imitated by contemporary people, it has left so many stories, and it can be regarded as a commemorative cultural relic." I want to collect it, put it with the jade seal in my private study, and tell my children and grandchildren its story when I have time, I wonder if I can? ”

You Fang immediately nodded: "Of course you can, you can stay when you are old." In my heart, I secretly said that the Yuan blue and white plum vase imitated by my father had gone through a lot of fate, but in the end, it was collected by Niu Ranmiao along with Wu Lao's last words, and it was also a good end.

Niu Ranmiao raised her head and asked, "Mr. Rand, you can make a price." This thing has its value, and I paid a lot of money just to ask the ghost hand students to fix it, and I don't want to take it empty-handed at the moment, and I don't plan to bargain. ”

You Fang shook his head and said: "I don't dare to let a rich man like you take it empty-handed, but it is a relic of Mr. Wu Pingdong, as long as you listen to Mr. Wu Pingdong's last words and persuasion, it should be given to you, otherwise, it is better to break it again, then I am afraid that no one will be able to repair it." ”

Niu Ranmiao thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll accept your favor." But it's not in vain, and if Mr. Rand has any problems in the future, he can ask me for a favor. But remember, don't embarrass my old man with those things that are the culprit, I can't help with that kind of help. …… Someone will give you a contact information, no matter what your name is from, and when the time comes, just call that number and report Mr. Rand's name. ”

You Fang can only say thank you, and secretly said in his heart Did he pick up Aladdin's magic lamp today? An old man popped out of it and said that he could do himself a favor in the future. But he also understands that people like Niu Ranmiao can't just go into trouble, and saying such things without asking his origin is enough to save face.

The breakfast was not long, and it was finished quickly, and the chef had already stepped forward to ask Niu Ranmiao if he had cleaned up the table, and it was time to say goodbye to this shelf-type tourist. He was about to get up, but Niu Ranmiao sent the cook away, and leaned over like a naughty child and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Rand, can I ask you one more thing?" ”

You Fang was surprised: "If you have anything to say, just say it." ”

Niu Ranmiao pointed to the plum bottle a little mysteriously and asked: "I heard that there is a unique secret mark left by the author on it, and even a big expert like the ghost hand Zhou Xiaoxian didn't see it, you tell me?" I promise not to tell anyone! ”

You Fang almost amused the old man, and told him that the old man had nothing to do with it, so he replied, "Do you want to know?" Find a pencil, a blank piece of paper, and a magnifying glass. ”

The things were delivered quickly, and in order to show her secret credit, Niu Ranmiao sent everyone out, and ordered someone to close the door of the restaurant, so she asked with interest: "What are you doing with these things?" ”

You Fang did not speak, but enlarged and traced a small pattern on the plum vase on the white paper, that is, a certain section in the middle of the plum tree trunk that seemed to be very delicate and complex, and wrote the word "You" next to it. Then he took the plum bottle, pointed to a place on it, and handed the magnifying glass to Niu Ranmiao's hand.

Niu Ranmiao took a magnifying glass to look at the pattern on the bottle, then looked at the blank paper in front of You, and suddenly realized: "You really can't imagine it if you don't point it out, the author's surname is You, right?" ”

You Fang asked rhetorically, "What do you say?" ”

Niu Ranmiao still asked curiously: "What is the relationship between him and you?" ”

You Fang replied with a wry smile: "It's my father." ”

"Oh, I see, no wonder!" Niu Ranmiao patted You Fang's shoulder: "Thank you for telling me the truth, little wanderer, I promise not to tell others." "It's really dizzy, this old man actually calls him Little Wanderer, it seems that the name "Little Wanderer" can't be shaken off.

After speaking, Niu Ranmiao found a lighter out of nowhere, put the white paper in the plate in front of him and burned it, making it mysterious like a spy joint, and then asked someone to enter the door to clean up the mess on the table, and the breakfast was finally finished.

When he said goodbye and left, it was still Qi Jixue who sent You Fang with the car, and when she came out of the restaurant, Niu Ranmiao asked someone to give her a card, which had nothing else on it except a phone number, and You Fang carefully put it away. Qi Qixue saw You Fang coming out of the restaurant, her expression stopped talking several times, it seemed that she was also very curious, I don't know what You Fang was doing inside when she closed the door, and when she opened the door, she even smelled the smell of fireworks, but she didn't speak after all, and her expression was still a little cold.

After eating, Niu Ranmiao happened to go for a walk on the grassy slope in front of the small building, and sent You Fang out of the gate by the way. He pointed around and asked casually, "Mr. Rand, you also live in Guangzhou, what is the environment like here?" ”

You Fang muttered: "The environment is naturally excellent, but there is a small problem with the elderly living in it. ”

Niu Ranmiao asked casually, but when she heard such an answer, she was surprised: "What's the problem?" ”

You Fang pointed to the north: "Baiyun Mountain is not too high, the ups and downs are relatively gentle, because of the topography, the gentle slope here is suitable for building houses, but it is a little closer to the top of the mountain, and the mountain is slightly low." Another guide: "The view of the Luhu Lake in front is very good, there is a space distance and height, and it is not invaded by the moisture on the lake surface, but the court case is slightly wider and deeper. Pointing to both sides again: "The surrounding atmosphere is quiet, but in the field of vision, you can directly see the chaos and people on the other side of the Luhu Lake, and the people's sense is conflicting." ”

Niu Ranmiao frowned slightly, and said with a smile: "You still know feng shui?" Needless to say so much jargon, tell me directly, what are the small problems with the elderly living in the house. ”

You Fang: "To put it bluntly, living here is suitable for peace and mind, and the environment is naturally very good. But for the elderly, the season is a little inappropriate, the mood is easily affected by the autumn weather, and they always unconsciously like to recall the past. It is common to know that it is not a bad thing to reflect, but it is always the same unintentionally due to the environment, and occasionally it is in vain. ”

Living here at this time, the environment is prone to a kind of suggestion, which makes people involuntarily always like to recall the events of a long time ago, and sigh inexplicably, but I don't know why. The real subtlety of Feng Shui lies in this, the combination of the seasons and the people who live in this place is quite profound, beyond the vision of most ordinary Feng Shui masters.

To Mr. Niu's casual question, You Fang answered very carefully and carefully, and he was also meticulous in the investigation of the Feng Shui Bureau. However, Qi Qixue on the side looked at You Fang, but there was a faint hint of impatience and even disgust in her eyes.

(To be continued)