Chapter 6 of 100

Chapter 6

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Chapter 6: Jade Carver

After hearing his words, the young man's face lit up with joy, and he quickly grasped the hand Liu Dong extended, saying with some nervousness, "H-hello! I promise I won't block your way again!"

"Wang Sheng, you should follow Xiao Dong's example and learn from him. He was just like you, not going to college and venturing out on his own. Now, he has mastered the art of jade carving, which is quite impressive!" The middle-aged man standing nearby said encouragingly.

"I understand, Uncle! I will definitely work hard!" The young man replied hurriedly.

Hearing this, Liu Dong smiled faintly. Looking at the somewhat embarrassed young man before him, he saw a reflection of himself three years ago when he first stepped into Quancheng, facing an uncertain future with trepidation. Now, thinking back, it all seemed like yesterday.

"It seems I should find some time to go home!" Liu Dong thought. In the past few years, he had not done well and had no money, so he had no face to return home. He was afraid to face his parents' disappointed looks. For the past three New Years, he had almost always spent them alone.

"Xiao Dong, Xiao Dong, what are you thinking about so deeply?" Wang Kun asked with a smile, looking at the young man lost in thought.

"Oh, sorry! Boss Wang, I was just lost in thought!" After a pause, "The South Sea jade materials I took from you last time are all carved. I brought them over today to deliver them to you." Liu Dong patted the black wooden box on his back.

"Hehe, I thought you came for this. Come in, let's go inside and talk!" Wang Kun walked into the store first, and Liu Dong quickly followed.

Liu Dong had been to Jin Yu Ge many times. Each time he entered, he couldn't help but look enviously at the various art pieces displayed around him. Opening such a store in the antique market had always been his dream.

Like all antique shops in the market, the first floor of Jin Yu Ge, with its over a hundred square meters of shelves, was filled with a variety of art pieces, including ceramics, paintings, and bamboo and wood carvings. However, almost 99% of them were modern crafts, sold to tourists who knew nothing about collecting.

The second floor, where the shopkeeper kept the more valuable items, was reserved for experts. It was also more luxuriously decorated and had many tables and chairs for rest. This was where the shopkeeper usually entertained guests. So, Wang Kun led Liu Dong straight to the second floor and found a table near the window, where they both sat down.

It was still early, and the staff had not arrived yet, so although there were exquisite tea sets on the table, there was no hot water. Fortunately, the two had been working together for a long time and didn't need to be formal. Liu Dong got straight to the point.

He gently placed the camphor wood box he had been carrying on the table, unlocked the five-star lock, opened the lid, and took out all the boxes containing the jade carvings, placing them in front of Wang Kun.

"Xiao Dong, your jade carving skills are getting better and better. If I hadn't seen you grow step by step, I wouldn't believe you were self-taught. Your skills have already surpassed those of a third-level carver." Holding the jade Maitreya Buddha figurine, Wang Kun's face showed admiration and respect.

In fact, while jade carvers were graded, only national and provincial jade carving masters were widely recognized in the industry. Then there were the jade carving master certificates issued by local associations, which had some influence in the local industry.

As for the third-level carver Wang Kun mentioned, it was a grading system established by the Quancheng Jade Carving Association, with five levels in total. These certificates were like university diplomas; national jade carving masters were like graduates from prestigious universities like Peking University and Tsinghua University, while provincial jade carving masters were like graduates from key universities. The certificates issued by local jade associations were like graduates from second- and third-tier universities. However, even with these certificates, they were more valuable when entering the jade carving industry, as they could earn a few thousand more in salary compared to self-taught carvers like Liu Dong.

Initially, the Quancheng Jade Carving Association had intended to standardize the salary structure of the jade carving industry through this grading system, encouraging more jade carvers to improve their skills to ensure the healthy development of the industry. However, after a few years, the system had become corrupted.

Now, the annual jade carving competition in Quancheng in September had become a tool for the association to make money. Without connections or money, ordinary jade carvers had no hope of advancing through the grading system. Therefore, although Liu Dong's skills were constantly improving, he was still seen as an unknown jade carver by those who didn't know him well.

"Boss Wang, you flatter me!" Liu Dong said calmly. He had long lost interest in the jade carving competitions in Quancheng. Even if he could participate, he wouldn't want to get those pieces of paper that could be bought with money.

"Hehe, I'm not exaggerating at all. If it weren't for those people breaking the rules, you would have already obtained the third-level carver certificate by now." After a pause, Wang Kun looked at Liu Dong and continued with a smile, "Of course, if that happens, I won't be paying you the same price for your work!"

A jade carver's certificate, like a university diploma, made a significant difference. If Liu Dong had a third-level carver certificate, he could earn at least 5,000 to 6,000 yuan a month.

In the year 2000, 5,000 to 6,000 yuan was a very high salary in Quancheng, higher than what most white-collar workers earned. If he took on some private jobs, he could earn even more, perhaps even over 10,000 yuan a month.

However, Liu Dong knew that unless he had connections within the Quancheng Jade Carving Association or was willing to pay 100,000 yuan, he wouldn't get the third-level carver certificate. Clearly, he had neither connections nor the desire to pay.

"Boss Wang, let's look at these jade carvings first!" Liu Dong said calmly.

"Sure, that's fine! We've been working together for a long time! I won't shortchange you. I'll pay you 1,500 yuan for the Maitreya Buddha jade carving and 200 yuan for each of the four South Sea jade pendants. How does that sound?"

After hearing this, Liu Dong did some quick calculations and nodded. This price was in line with what he had in mind. "Alright, let's go with this price!"

"Okay, are you taking more materials from me today?" Wang Kun asked.

"Let's not for now!" After some thought, Liu Dong shook his head.

The market for wood carvings had been good recently, and he wanted to take advantage of this time to make more wood carvings to sell. Compared to jade carvings, wood carvings were quicker to produce.

"Alright, when Xiao Qiu comes to work later, I'll have him transfer your salary and deposit to your card!" Xiao Qiu was the financial officer of Jin Yu Ge, but it was still early, and he hadn't arrived yet.

Liu Dong nodded. Before he started carving the Maitreya Buddha jade carving, he had paid a 5,000 yuan deposit to Jin Yu Ge. Now that he had delivered the work and didn't plan to take on more jobs, the deposit would be returned to him.

"Xiao Dong, I still stand by what I said before. If you're willing to work as a jade carver for Jin Yu Ge, I'll pay you 6,000 yuan a month, and I'll give you a raise every year based on your skill improvement. How does that sound?" As someone who had watched Liu Dong grow, Wang Kun was very familiar with the young man's jade carving talent and diligent learning attitude.

Over the past three years, he had seen Liu Dong transform from someone who knew little about jade carving into a skilled carver, surpassing even third-level carvers. Liu Dong's progress was greater than that of those who had a master. As a shrewd businessman, Wang Kun had long wanted to bring Liu Dong into his fold.

Seeing Wang Kun's earnest gaze, Liu Dong felt a momentary temptation but quickly shook his head. He knew that working at Wang Kun's store might be easier and more stable, but his free-spirited nature didn't like being constrained. If he had chosen a stable path, he would have followed his fellow villagers to construction sites instead of pursuing the uncertain path of carving.

Of course, there was another reason: Wang Kun's reputation in the Quancheng antique market was not good. Many people had been cheated by him, but in the antique business, it was all about discernment. Being deceived was considered one's own fault. Additionally, Wang Kun knew his limits and mostly targeted those without connections or powerful backers, so he had never had any major issues. His Jin Yu Ge had become increasingly prosperous over the years.

"Thank you, Boss Wang, for your consideration, but I'm used to my freedom and can't stand being constrained. So, I can only appreciate your offer in my heart!"

Although being openly rejected by Liu Dong made Wang Kun feel somewhat embarrassed, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes, he was a seasoned businessman with deep reserves of patience. "Hehe, since you say so, I won't force you. But the door of Jin Yu Ge will always be open to you. If you ever want to join us, I'll welcome you with open arms!"

"Hehe, thank you, Boss Wang. If I ever decide to settle down, I'll definitely come to you!" Liu Dong knew how to speak diplomatically.

"Alright, let's leave it at that!"

"Sure, let's leave it at that!"

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