It is said that Xie Bin is idle now, and he no longer has to worry about his future life, so he is also particular about the conditions of life.

For example, now, Xie Bin is in someone's store and has begun to study how this hibiscus crucian carp is made.

In fact, hibiscus crucian carp is also a famous dish in Hunan cuisine, the dish uses the poached crucian carp of Dongting Lake specialty as the main ingredient, with green and red peppers, Shaojiu, pepper and other condiments, plus egg whites and steam them in the pot for half an hour. The work is relatively simple, and the main feature is in the raw materials.

It is said that the purse crucian carp in Dongting Lake is fat and plump, similar to a purse, with a delicate texture, sweet and delicious, it is the top grade of crucian carp, and the hibiscus crucian crucian carp made is the real hibiscus crucian carp. However, until now, the fish eaten in the store is farmed, and if you want to eat the wild, you have to spend a lot of money or have good luck.

But even so, this dish still made Xie Bin have an appetite, and he killed two crucian carp by himself. When he left the hotel, Xie Bin was still thinking about when he would try it himself. As a native of Shonan, Chen Minhan should like this dish.

Xie Bin actually thought of cooking for Chen Minhan to eat. Well, maybe it's because Xie Bin has some kind of idea about Chen Minhan, or maybe it's because Chen Minhan is Xie Bin's only eater, but Xie Bin was the first to think of Chen Minhan, which surprised him a little. Did you like her? Xie Bin, who had never experienced these things, thought of it with some trepidation.

When he arrived at Chaotian Palace, Xie Bin's mind ran to this large pile of antiques again. As a hawker who has been in the antique street for several years, Xie Bin has little hope for the things on these stalls. Speaking of which, the things on these antique streets are far worse than the wool on the jade street.

The wool on the jade street, no matter whether it is worth it or not, there are still one or two pieces of jade out of a dozen or so. However, in the antique street, you pick out hundreds of items that are not missing, and one of them is something that is open to the generation, and as for the treasures, don't think about it, the probability is too small.

But people just like this kind of atmosphere, like a girl shopping, you don't have to buy anything, you just like to see, if you really like it, you might as well spend money to take it. If you can pick up a treasure and pick it up, it's worth showing off for a lifetime.

Xie Bin walked leisurely in Chaotian Palace, like an ordinary tourist, it is estimated that no one would have imagined that Xie Bin looked like a recent college graduate, but he was already a millionaire.

Of course, under the current economic conditions, the gold content of multimillionaires is not high, and the number of people with tens of millions of domestic deposits does not know how much. Let's just say that most of the people who open shops on this street are estimated to be multimillionaires, and Xie Bin is really nothing.

The Chaotian Palace in the southern capital is a typical Ming Dynasty architectural complex, after renovation, it looks more solemn, but if you add the large and small antique shops, craft shops and dense stalls below, it is another feeling.

Nandu is a place where literati and ink writers come out in large numbers, and the Qinhuai River not far away also sings I don't know how many Qinhuai swan songs, and there are naturally a lot of good things left in Nandu, especially pen, ink, paper, inkstone, calligraphy and painting.

However, it has only been handed down, and as for how many antiques are serious in this antique market, there are different opinions. At least, Xie Bin's purpose here is not Taobaobei.

But not to mention, this large antique market is much more lively than the small streets of the island city, and there are also a complete range of items, you can see all kinds of strange things here, and there are even strange stones for sale.

The so-called strange stone itself is not very precious, what is precious is the shape and pattern of the stone. Nature is very peculiar, under the play of wind, rain, frost and thunder for I don't know how many thousands of years, the large and small stones have become colorful and have different shapes. Some players have also said that there are no two identical stones in this world, which means that each stone is a unique treasure.

That being said, no one likes a random stone. It is worth people to play, that is more peculiar, such as the rich shape of "Chang'e running to the moon", the colorful "small bridge and flowing water", etc., all have special meanings, especially most of them are naturally formed, so there are more characteristics.

Of course, there are not many people who play strange stones, and they are a small side door in the antique shop, and some people don't even think that strange stones are antiques.

However, no one is more serious because of this, and most players will like several things at the same time, just like Xie Bin, he plays bamboo and wood carving, but at the same time he plays jadeite, and he can also play calligraphy and painting ancient books or something. Do you think this jadeite is an antique?

Therefore, the boundary between antiques is not so clear, and this antique and jade are inseparable, especially nephrite is still a relatively large item in antiques.

Xie Bin walked on the street, looking at the dazzling array of large and small objects, and felt quite happy. Watching the stall owners tell stories and depict a thing that doesn't know where it came from as a cultural relic that has been inherited in an orderly manner, Xie Bin feels that this industry is too interesting.

However, Xie Bin naturally will not send it to the door to be slaughtered, he knows very well that the more these large-scale stalls, the fewer good things there are, and it is not too much to say that 99.9% of the objects are imitation.

There are good things in those shops, but the prices are a little scary. Many people think that this antique is certainly valuable, the more famous it is, the more valuable it is, and the older it is, the more valuable it is.

In fact? No, Xie Bin knew that there was a painting of Qi Baishi that only sold for 80,000 yuan, of course, this price was a few years ago, and now it should be sold for 100,000 yuan. But compared with the tens of millions or even tens of millions that people know, this gap is not ordinarily small.

Qi Baishi's paintings are worth a lot of money, and it is not false that some of them are sold for a high price, but it does not mean that as long as Qi Baishi's paintings are sold for a high price. There are many things to consider when looking at the price of a painting, such as the size of the painting, whether there is a bell seal, whether there is a heritage or not, and even the content of the painting.

However, many people do not think so, but grab the calligraphy and paintings of celebrities and ask for prices, and some buyers are also looking for celebrity calligraphy and paintings to collect at home. If you collect the real thing, it's good to say, at most it will cost some more money, but if you desperately take it back, it is a fake, which is called losing money and losing people.

Lao Zhou, who was next door when Xie Bin set up a stall, once fooled this expert into buying Wu Changshuo's landscape map for 60,000 yuan. At that time, Xie Bin was watching from the side, and he really couldn't understand why that person would be like this. It's very simple, can Wu Changshuo's paintings fall on the stalls? Especially in this decade.

But people just like it, no way, otherwise whose money do these hawkers make?

Xie Bin walked and stopped, looked interested and occasionally squatted down to take a look, but never spoke, did not ask the price or bargain, and the stall owner only smiled and nodded and shook his head. Xie Bin has no doubts about the eloquence of these stall owners, as long as you talk, they can pull you to sell for a long time, and make you refuse no, not refuse. Many people are forced to spend three or five hundred yuan to buy some gadgets that they don't know because they are embarrassed.

As I walked, I suddenly saw a small stall selling bamboo and wood carvings. The stall owner is a young man about thirty years old, and he looks a little loyal and honest, but Xie Bin doesn't dare to judge people by their appearance, and every simple thing that can be mixed up here.

Xie Bin pretended to walk over casually, squatted down like an ordinary tourist, picked up a statue of a lady carved from cypress wood, and asked, "How much is this woman?" ”

The stall owner was taken aback by Xie Bin's earth-shattering words, but then glanced at Xie Bin without a trace, and said with a smile, "Brother, what, this is a top-grade cypress lady carving, well, one thousand five, you look at this workmanship, this craft is all family heirloom, pure hand-carved, take it back and put it at the head of the bed." ”

Xie Bin laughed secretly when he heard this, thinking that he was pretending to be a layman or pretending to be quite similar, this guy was taken to the ditch by his own words, haha. However, this skill is still really good, at least not much worse than Xie Bin's, and this person's craft may be family heirloom, the foundation is very solid, and this knife technique is also decent.

Xie Bin shook his head quietly: "It's too expensive!" ”

"And how much do you say?" The stall owner also felt that he had slaughtered too hard and wanted to surrender.

Xie Bin put down the lady carving, "You are not honest and sincere!" I'll look at the others. ”

The stall owner was a little apprehensive by Xie Bin's words, what does this mean? Could it be that he knew about the market in advance? This is not to blame the stall owner for thinking so, many laymen want to buy some things, they will inquire about the price in advance, so that when they bargain, they will know in their hearts, and if the price is higher, even if you seller says that he will not buy your things.

was shocked twice by Xie Bin, and the stall owner didn't dare to speak casually, for fear that he would reveal other flaws.

Xie Bin looked at it for a while, pointed to a bamboo carved ornament of a fisherman's lying boat and asked, "How much is this?" ”

"This ......" The stall owner didn't dare to open his mouth at this time, and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Eight hundred yuan!" ”

The price of 800 yuan is not too much, after all, this is not an island city, but a southern capital, there are many rich people, and there are many people who are willing to spend money. What's more important is that this piece is really good, because of the characteristics of the material, bamboo carving is mainly used to make pen holders and other things, and there are relatively few ornaments like this. It can be seen that the author of this work has spent a lot of effort to complete, although it is a masterpiece of imitation, but it is also commendable.

It's not that Xie Bin can't do it, but he mainly wants to support his peers. In other words, a master like Mr. Liu has to show his heart with two works when he arrives at Xie Bin's stall. This can be regarded as a little respect that this line of craftsmen retains in this impetuous society, not because of anything else, but because of this craft. In these years, there are not many people who are willing to do this business.

"Did you engrave it yourself?" Xie Bin asked as he paid.

"Yes, the family tradition has been passed down for generations, and my grandfather has been setting up a stall in this Chaotian Palace since then," the stall owner said proudly.

Xie Bin said in surprise: "It's still a time-honored brand, hehe, it's not easy, how is the business?" ”

"It's reluctant, my dad didn't want to do it for two years, so he went to Confucius Temple to open a snack bar, and I stayed here, more free than going to work."

Xie Bin nodded, this is true, he is the same generation as this stall owner, and his father's generation happened to be when the handicraft was lonely, and it was understandable to give up. Since the beginning of the new century, the handicraft boom first began to surge in the first-tier cities, and then slowly spread to the whole country. As one of the cities with the strongest cultural atmosphere in China, the business here will definitely not be worse than when Xie Bin was in the island city.

Then the two introduced themselves to each other, and they both had the surname Xie. Perhaps because of this, the two quickly became acquainted, and soon talked about bamboo and wood carving.

After chatting for a long time, Xie Chengwen suddenly slapped his thigh, "Okay, you, it turns out that you are also an expert, and you dared to entertain me just now." ”

Xie Bin hurriedly smiled: "Brother Wen, don't blame it, don't make a joke when you see a familiar trade, don't take it seriously." ”

"Hahaha, I really won't tell you so much," Xie Chengwen smiled heartily, "You used to do bamboo and wood carvings?" ”

"Yes, two months ago, I set up a stall on the antique street in the island city, selling some crafts to support my family," Xie Bin said with some emotion.

"It's really rare to be a peer, so what do you do now? Don't do engraving anymore? Xie Chengwen asked.

"Well, the island city can't compare to Nandu, and making some money is just enough for living expenses, so you have to find a job that can support your family, right?" Xie Bin's words are very watery, in fact, according to his income in the island city, it is already the level of senior white-collar workers, if he makes a windfall from time to time, Xie Bin is absolutely no problem to support his family. It's just that Xie Bin has a special ability and has found a more profitable way, so he is naturally reluctant to continue to set up a stall.

Xie Bin is not afraid of setting up a stall, but he is afraid of being looked down upon by others because of setting up a stall, especially if he has not married a daughter-in-law. If people don't want to marry him because of his work, where will he cry?

"Alas, this line of work is not very easy, it is better to sell handicrafts in the name of antiques," Xie Chengwen sighed with empathy.

Xie Bin nodded, this is also true, you can't see it in the island city, but the vendors in this Chaotian Palace are doing extremely prosperous business, and even many people know that these are fakes, and they are willing to spend a few hundred yuan to buy two pieces to play. We can't afford the real thing, and we can't afford the fake? That's what many people do to these famous antique markets. Others are just traveling and buying souvenirs.

The Chaotian Palace in the southern capital is the same as the Panjiayuan in the capital, it is no longer simply an antique market, but has become a business card of the city, people always want to see this place when they come here, and then spend three or five hundred to buy some small souvenirs.

Of course, there are also some pure fat sheep, who come over with the idea of picking up leaks in the antique street, and then go back with a lot of fakes in their hands.

Someone asked, in this era, there are still such stupid people? Don't say it, there are such people, but you can't say that people are stupid. After all, the antique industry requires very professional ability and knowledge to play. But what should I do if many people like antiques but have not studied them systematically? Self-study! After learning on their own in a bookstore online for a period of time, many people feel that their ability is okay and their self-confidence is bursting, so they want to break through here.

Needless to say, this is a stage that a novice must go through to become an old bird. It is necessary to pay tuition by beating eyes, that is, those famous experts, who have not come all the way from taking medicine and wrestling to pay tuition? You ask Mr. Ma if he has ever wrestled? Even people like Guo Moruo have had the experience of being eye-catching, let alone others.

Almost everyone who is ambitious and wants to enter the antique industry has to go through such a period of time, and some people are still eye-catching even after playing for a lifetime. And now the technology is developing very fast, and the counterfeiters are also advancing with the times, and they have also become an industry, professional counterfeiting. Most of the goods on the antique street came out of those places, and it is said that there is such a workshop somewhere in southern Henan, and the means are very clever, and they almost update their own technology with the progress of identification technology. This is probably "you have your Zhang Liangji, I have my wall ladder". Anyway, the counterfeit industry arose at the same time as the rise of the antique industry, and probably as long as the antique shop exists for a day, the counterfeit shop will also exist for a day.

Xie Bin and Xie Chengwen have been chatting for a long time, and the two of them have a bit of sympathy for each other, but after all, they have just met, and they have not yet reached the point where they can communicate with each other, so they still keep three points for talking.

In the evening, Xie Chengwen invited Xie Bin to his house for dinner, but Xie Bin felt that he was still a little hasty, so he had to refuse and return to the hotel alone.

At four o'clock the next morning, Xie Bin got up and walked slowly by himself to the Confucius Temple. Confucius Temple also has an antique market, which has a good reputation, and there are more tourists here and it is more lively.

Because it was Sunday, Xie Bin actually saw the legendary "ghost market". Now the business conditions are more relaxed, not as many restrictions as before, the ghost market has almost disappeared, and the average person will not get up so early to visit the ghost market, at most it is around four o'clock in the summer, the sky at this time has been bright, the main customers are those who get up early and some people who like to hunt for curiosities.

Xie Bin also went around twice, which was no different from the antique street. Maybe there were some good things in the ghost market a few years ago, but now there are very few. In other words, if the state wants to arrest you, you can catch it even if you go out of the stall in the middle of the night.

By five o'clock, there were already a lot of people on the riverside, tourists who got up early, old people who exercised, and people who ran and practiced were very energetic. Those food stalls are also open, and it is not only Nandu snacks here, but almost all the flavors of the country can be found here.

The sun at five o'clock has risen high, shining from afar, reflecting the mist on the bank of the Qinhuai River very beautifully, with all kinds of antique flower boats and antique shops on the street, Xie Bin seems to have traveled back to the Ming Dynasty.

Xie Bin followed the fragrance to a steamed bun shop, the façade is not big, but clean and tidy, Nandu soup dumplings are written in four large characters in italics, it may be that the management office is looking for someone to write for these merchants. It is said that when restoring and recuperating the banks of the Qinhuai River, the country has made great efforts, otherwise there would not be today's Qinhuai prosperity. From the street to the street to the riverside, this area is rested according to the style of the Jiangnan market in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and in Xie Bin's eyes, this place is really beautiful. Xie Bin even wondered if he would also buy a house in this place, and if he had nothing to do, he would go to the river to take a stroll and see the flower boats or something.

But after thinking about it, Xie Bin still feels that he prefers the kind of life of "facing the sea and blooming in spring". Xie Bin had even been paying attention to those sea-view houses for a long time. It's just that the price of the sea view room is not affordable for ordinary people, and it is all high-rise.

But now that Xie Bin has money, maybe buying a villa with a sea view is the most suitable. Thinking about the kind of villa with a garden in front and a beach in the back, Xie Bin felt his heart suddenly accelerate.

Of course, whether it is a building or a villa, it will not be decided until he returns to the island city, and now he is more concerned about how the tofu in the bowl is made.

Tofu Lao is tofu brain, which is another name for Nandu people. However, in addition to the fresh and refreshing brain, the soup is more distinctive, in addition to the fungus, eggs, flowers, seaweed, etc., there is also an additional assortment, the full name is called "assorted tofu fishing", which means that the future is bright. Of course, the taste is really good.

And a cage of xiaolongbao also made Xie Bin eat with full appetite. This soup has a thin skin and many fillings, the entrance is fresh and fragrant, and the soup is thick and smooth and delicious, and it is indeed one of the famous delicacies in the country.