Chapter 3

"Two thousand?!" Yu Lifei exclaimed, standing up and turning to leave. The money he had on him totaled just over two hundred, and this unremarkable clay figurine actually cost two thousand. It truly broadened his horizons. After he returned, he definitely had to tell the old man that a lump of clay in the provincial capital was more expensive than at home. After all, the ancient jade he bought in the south last time only cost two hundred yuan.

"Hey, don't go," the stall owner shouted when he saw Yu Lifei about to leave after hearing the price. He hadn't expected that just two thousand yuan would completely deter Yu Lifei.

"I don't have that much money," Yu Lifei said helplessly, though he had been attracted to the item, he could only look at it from a distance.

"How much do you have?" the stall owner asked casually. It was the first time he had encountered such an honest buyer. Although the buyer didn't have much money, it still made him very happy. This child bathing a cow figurine was something he had acquired from a rural scavenger. A scavenger was someone who roamed the countryside buying antiques. At the time, it had cost him almost nothing, as it was just a bamboo item, considered a bonus.

"I only have... seventy yuan. If you want to sell it, that's all I have," Yu Lifei said, immediately understanding the stall owner's meaning. Although he was kind, he wasn't stupid. If it came to cunning, even the old man would be outmatched by him.

"Seventy?" The stall owner frowned. This child bathing a cow figurine was almost cost-free, and no matter what price the buyer offered, he could sell it. For people like him, the value of the item didn't matter. Even if it was a fake, as long as he could make money, it was enough.

Seeing Yu Lifei about to leave, he was afraid of losing a sure thing, so he sighed, frowned, and reluctantly said, "Alright, alright, you seem like a straightforward young man. Let's be friends, I'll sell it to you for seventy." Even a small amount of meat is still meat, and this was a no-cost business. For him, as long as he could make money, it was enough.

Yu Lifei held the figurine and handed over a hundred-yuan note. The stall owner took it without much thought and immediately gave back thirty yuan. But when Yu Lifei was about to enter the rice noodle shop, the stall owner suddenly realized, "You only had seventy, right?"

"I have to eat, don't I? Besides eating and sleeping, I really only have seventy," Yu Lifei turned around and said with a smile.

Their transaction was complete, and the stall owner, who had thought the honest-looking young man was naive, could only laugh bitterly. He had been in the antique market for several years, but this was the first time he had encountered someone like Yu Lifei. Although he had made a hundred percent profit, he no longer felt the excitement he had felt earlier.

This rice noodle shop was on the antique street, and its decoration naturally couldn't be unconventional. Just from the outside, it looked ancient and elegant, with a sign, door, and pillars all in an antique style. Inside, all the tables and chairs were simple and rustic. Even in the main hall, there was a screen.

As soon as he walked in, Yu Lifei first glanced at the wooden price tags hanging on the walls. Seeing the reasonable prices, he felt relieved. Only then did he have the mood to look around the hall. As he scanned the area, he saw a familiar face. Since arriving in Tanzhou, he had only been there for a few hours, and the only person he could call familiar was the old man at the train station exit. Without much thought, he saw that the old man's table was still empty and walked over, placing the figurine on the side.

"Old man, is this seat taken?" Yu Lifei asked.

"No, young man, we really have a connection," Wu Wengu said with a smile, having noticed Yu Lifei as soon as he walked in.

"Thank you, old man. You just got off the train, why are you eating out?" Yu Lifei asked in surprise. If the old man had been picked up by his family, he should have had a good meal at home. Every time he returned, the old man would make him a good meal. How could he just eat out casually?

"I like the handmade noodles here. I've been out for several days and have been craving them. Can I take a look at this item?" Wu Wengu pointed to the child bathing a cow figurine that Yu Lifei had placed on the table and asked. He was an archaeology expert and had a lifelong passion for antiques. With his expertise, he felt this was a genuine item.

"Of course," Yu Lifei said, not really knowing why he had spent such a large sum of money on this trinket. When he held the figurine, he felt very comfortable, as if someone had spent money to make him feel good.

"Young man, do you know what this is?" Wu Wengu carefully took it, took out a small magnifying glass, and examined it closely. He then took a paper bill from the table, gently wiped it, and placed the figurine in front of him, asking.

"Bamboo carving, figurine," Yu Lifei said honestly. He was a complete novice when it came to antiques.

"Good, this is a child bathing a cow figurine. Look closely, it's made from a bamboo root, delicate and light, with a lustrous patina. The child is crouching on the cow's back, with a round face, smiling, one leg stepping to the side, the other bent, holding a bowl in one hand and a broom in the other, about to pour water to wash the cow. The old cow is lying on the ground, pressing its hooves to the ground, looking up at the mischievous child on its back, licking the water that flows down. It's a charming piece, crafted in one breath, making one feel joyful," Wu Wengu said. This item looked like a craft, but upon closer inspection, it was from the early Qing dynasty.

"Old man, you are very knowledgeable, much more so than that stall owner," Yu Lifei said with admiration. He was impressed that so much could be said about a figurine.

"Did you buy this just now?" Wu Wengu asked in surprise. If that was the case, it would be considered a lucky find.

"Yes, I spent seventy yuan," Yu Lifei said, feeling a bit pained. If it weren't for his inexplicable fondness, he wouldn't have spent such a large sum on something that couldn't be eaten or worn.

"Seventy? Young man, you've made a lucky find," Wu Wengu said, looking at Yu Lifei's expression in disbelief. To buy an early Qing dynasty child bathing a cow figurine for seventy yuan and still act pained, how could anyone live with that?

Although Wu Wengu had been in the antique business for decades, the number of lucky finds he had made was few. But this young man, who had just arrived in Tanzhou and hadn't even spent the night, had made a lucky find. Moreover, it was clear that Yu Lifei was not an insider, not even an antique enthusiast. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been unable to describe what he had bought. So, this could only mean his luck was incredibly good, so good that even a seasoned expert like Wu Wengu was very envious.

"Lucky find? When did I make one? Where did I make it?" Yu Lifei was confused.

"Ha, young man, you are really amusing. By the way, we've met twice now, so we must have a connection. Can you tell me your name? I'm Wu Wengu, and I live nearby," Wu Wengu said with a smile. He had never encountered someone who bought antiques but didn't know what a lucky find was. To make a lucky find, one needed knowledge, expertise, and skills, but most importantly, luck. The first three could be lacking, but luck was indispensable.

"Hello, Grandpa Wu, my name is Yu Lifei. I just arrived in Tanzhou today, please take care of me," Yu Lifei stood up, bowed respectfully, and said. Respecting teachers and valuing education is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation, and he had been raised with traditional education, which was deeply ingrained in him. Until junior high school, he had only been educated by the old man.

"Little Yu, can I call you that? A lucky find means buying a valuable antique at a very low price, and the seller is often unaware. For example, what you did today is considered a lucky find," Wu Wengu said.

"Is that so, Grandpa Wu? So, this child bathing a cow figurine is very valuable?" Yu Lifei asked, surprised that Wu Wengu was so interested in such a small item. Although he was also interested, his interest was completely different from Wu Wengu's.

"Little Yu, the purpose of collecting is not to make money but to preserve culture. Talking about money is vulgar. Bamboo carvings were highly favored by literati and scholars during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This piece is elegant in shape, with exquisite and delicate craftsmanship. The figures are vivid and graceful, elegant and refreshing, and of considerable value," Wu Wengu said. He felt it was too early to discuss the philosophy of collecting with Yu Lifei, and even if he did, it would be after Yu Lifei had solved his basic needs.

Antiques are generally played with by the wealthy and the leisurely. For the current Yu Lifei, they were indeed out of reach. But he was also very curious. Since Yu Lifei was a complete novice in antiques, why did he buy antiques, and why did he manage to buy a genuine one?

"Grandpa Wu, you are truly erudite and knowledgeable, able to explain so much about a simple clay figurine," Yu Lifei said in admiration. He had bought the figurine purely because of a feeling.

"I originally studied history, and after retirement, I was rehired and often help others authenticate items, so I naturally know more," Wu Wengu said humbly, though he often dealt with antiques, he didn't collect many himself.

"I hope I can have your level of knowledge one day," Yu Lifei said.

"Little Yu, you are young. As long as you work hard, you will achieve something. By the way, do you plan to sell this figurine?" Wu Wengu asked, thinking that Yu Lifei had just arrived in Tanzhou and, judging by his appearance, didn't come from a wealthy family. For Yu Lifei, the most important thing now was probably to solve his financial problems.

"Sell?" Yu Lifei asked in surprise. To him, "sell" meant fighting or hunting. In the mountains, whenever he "sold" his skills, he always had a harvest. Since he was twelve, all the wild game he and the old man ate came from his hands.

"Oh, I mean resell or transfer. Although you spent seventy yuan, if you want to sell it, it will be worth more than seventy," Wu Wengu said with a smile. Yu Lifei was a complete novice. This child bathing a cow figurine had no value in his hands. Moreover, a person without sin is envied for his virtue, and city people's thoughts...

"I don't plan to resell it for now," Yu Lifei thought for a moment. This child bathing a cow figurine gave him a very comfortable feeling. If he held it while sleeping, it would surely be a unique experience. Although he didn't have much money and was acutely aware of its importance, giving up something he liked for money would take away the joy of life.