Chapter 95

Chapter 93: Three Methods of Polishing

"Ah, what a fine piece, truly a fine piece! The shape is simple and natural, the carving technique is smooth and proficient, the coloration penetrates from the surface to the core, and the internal ice-crack pattern radiates outward. It’s a genuine ancient jade from a thousand years ago! Yuncong, this time you’ve really found a treasure!" Li Lao examined it from all angles, even taking out a magnifying glass from his pocket to scrutinize it for over ten minutes before exclaiming with admiration.

"Is it really genuine, sir?" Li Yuncong asked, his face beaming with joy.

"Of course it’s genuine. If you don’t want it, you can leave it to this old man!" Li Lao said with a smile.

Hearing this, Li Yuncong chuckled and rubbed his hands, then said, "Hehe, you are a true connoisseur, sir. What rare treasures haven’t you seen? A small piece of Han jade, how could it possibly catch your eye!"

At Li Lao’s age, he had experienced everything. Although Li Yuncong’s flattery was pleasant to hear, it did not sway his mind. However, he did not need to compete with a junior for such a piece. "Here, take it! This chi dragon jade pendant is genuine Han jade, made of Nanyang Dushan greenish-white jade. Although the quality of the jade is average, a high-ancient jade with three colorations is very rare. Polish it well!"

Seeing the ancient Han jade being handed over, Li Yuncong’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly reached out to take it. He came from a family with a deep tradition in jade appreciation. Although the value of this Han jade was not as high as that of famous paintings or rare porcelains, it could still fetch around 500,000 to 600,000 yuan at auction. If it caught the eye of a collector, it could even sell for over a million.

However, such high-ancient jades, due to their long burial, often appear dull and lackluster. To restore their original lustrous appearance, they need to be polished further by their owner.

Generally, in ancient China, there were three main methods of polishing jade: Wu Pan (martial polishing), Wen Pan (literary polishing), and Yi Pan (mental polishing).

First, let’s talk about Wu Pan, also known as quick polishing. This involves wearing the jade on your person to warm it with your body heat. After a few months, the quality of the ancient jade will gradually harden. At that point, you can use a clean old cloth to wipe it. Once it starts to show some color, you can use a new cloth to continue wiping. However, avoid using colored cloths; white and coarse cloths are more appropriate.

The more you wipe, the hotter the jade becomes, so you must not stop. The more you wipe, the more easily the turbid and dry qualities will naturally fade, and the colored areas will naturally condense, making the jade’s color increasingly perfect. It usually takes about a year to restore the jade to its original state. However, if you are not careful, the jade can be easily damaged.

Besides Wu Pan, the second method of polishing ancient Chinese jade is Wen Pan, also known as slow polishing. Wen Pan involves frequently wearing the jade around your waist to warm it with your body heat. This method requires patience and cannot be rushed. It can be considered a way for ancients to cultivate their character. Usually, after two to three years of Wen Pan, the color of the ancient jade will only slightly show. It may take several years of "nurturing" for the jade’s color to become vivid.

If you wear it for over ten years, the ancient jade may fully recover its original appearance. However, according to some jade experts, ancient jades from the Qin and Han dynasties generally need to be worn around the waist for over ten years to restore their original state. For jades from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, it may take even longer, five to six times as long, or about 50 to 60 years, to restore their original color.

Regardless of whether it is Wen Pan or Wu Pan, the longer the jade has been buried, the harder it is to restore its original color and quality. This is because the longer it is exposed to the earth’s elements, the deeper the coloration penetrates the jade, and the longer it takes for the luster to reappear.

The third method is Yi Pan, which involves holding the jade in your hand while contemplating its virtues. By continuously absorbing the essence of the jade’s virtues, you can cultivate your own character. Over time, you can achieve a noble state where you and the jade become one. The jade is nurtured, and the person’s spirit is elevated.

Yi Pan is a very high-level method, requiring a meditative spirit. It is more about the jade polishing the person than the person polishing the jade. Historically, very few people have reached such a spiritual realm, let alone modern people who are often restless.

Since Yi Pan requires a very high level of spiritual cultivation, and Wu Pan involves continuous polishing, which is costly, most contemporary jade collectors use a combination of Wen Pan and Wu Pan. They wear the jade close to their body and frequently handle it. However, regardless of the method used, new jade should not be polished immediately. It should be worn close to the body for a year to allow its hardness to recover.

However, Li Lao did not explain these details to Liu Dong and Li Yuncong, as they were both jade carvers and came from families with deep traditions in jade appreciation. They already knew these methods well, so there was no need for him to waste words.

"Damn, I’ve been tricked by you again!" Seeing Li Yuncong happily pack the jade pendant and carefully put it in his pocket, Li Lao slapped his forehead and laughed with a look of frustration.

He knew his own weakness; whenever he saw something good, he had to determine its authenticity. Otherwise, he couldn’t let it go. He would lose his appetite and sleep, spending entire nights researching to find a way to authenticate antiques. It was this passion and dedication that made the old man, despite starting late, a renowned expert in antique authentication in the entire city of Quan, the entire province of Dongshan, and even nationwide.

Hearing the old man’s words, Li Yuncong just chuckled and did not respond, knowing he had gained an advantage.

Seeing his expression, the old man shook his head slightly with a hint of helplessness. He had known Li Yuncong’s family for many years and understood his character well. Although he came from a distinguished family, he did not have the arrogance of a high-born child. Although he was somewhat lazy, he was generous and sincere, and most importantly, very filial. The old man liked him a lot.

"Alright, it’s already nine o’clock! Xiao Dong, let’s go! Otherwise, we might be late, and it’s not good to keep people waiting!" The old man said and prepared to leave.

"Mr. Li, are you going to do an appraisal? Can I come along?" Seeing the old man eager to leave, Li Yuncong quickly asked.

Perhaps time was running short, and they knew each other well, so after hearing his request, the old man did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.

"Brother Liu, thank you for your help earlier!" Walking behind the old man, Li Yuncong approached Liu Dong and said softly.

Liu Dong understood his meaning and nodded, indicating it was no big deal. "No need to be polite. Didn’t you help me last time?" He had a good impression of Li Yuncong, and now with the added connection through Li Lao, their relationship became even closer.

"Alright, since you put it that way, saying thank you again would seem too formal. But, I, Li Yuncong, will consider you a friend. If you need any help in the future, just let me know." He paused, glanced at Li Lao walking ahead, and whispered to Liu Dong, "Brother, I heard you are very good at gambling on jade. Can you take me along sometime?"

Hearing this, Liu Dong looked at him and smiled lightly. "Gambling on jade? I thought you wanted to take me to a casino!"

Li Yuncong’s expression turned bitter, and a hint of embarrassment showed in his eyes. "Gambling is out of the question. If my father found out, he would break my legs!" He involuntarily showed a look of fear, clearly having suffered for it before.

Seeing his unpretentious demeanor, Liu Dong felt even more favorably towards him. Perhaps due to his own personality, he preferred to be friends with people who were generous, warm, and broad-minded. Whether it was the somewhat silly but sincere and skilled Mu Gang, or the current Li Yuncong, both were the kind of people he could consider friends. After many years of friendship, Mu Gang was not just a friend but more like a brother, having fought countless times together.

The three did not leave through the front door of the Chenxiang Pavilion but through a side door.

"Mrs. Wu, I’ll be out this morning. Please take care of Nuan Nuan!" Li Lao said seriously at the door.

"Hehe, Mr. Li, I’ve watched Nuan Nuan grow up. To me, she is like my own granddaughter. I will take good care of her, don’t worry!" Mrs. Wu, who had been his servant for nearly ten years, reassured him.

Hearing this, Li Lao nodded, feeling very confident in Mrs. Wu’s care.