When Chu Heng arrived at the cultural relics store carrying the deer legs, it was already around two-thirty. Because the market was about to close, there were no customers in the store at this time.
Only Erxi was bargaining with a young man with a pale face. Yan Muche and Zhang Yan, two young old men, each holding an enamel cup, huddled behind the counter and chatted quietly.
"Hey, you're here, Master Chu." Seeing Chu Heng come in, Erxi quickly waved his hand to say hello, and then said impatiently to the young man who was arguing with him: "Okay, let's forget it today.
You're lucky, our Master Chu is here, I don't have time to talk nonsense with you, it's just fifty cents, please keep the money."
He quickly put the fifty cents into the young man's hand, picked up a pair of blue and white plum vases from the Tongzhi period on the counter, and then ran out from behind the counter to give Chu Heng a cup of tea.
Tea.
The young man who got the money took one look at Chu Heng, happily took the money and walked out of the house.
"Here we come."
"You haven't come for some time."
Yan Muze and Zhang Yiyan also put down their enamel cups and stood up. Seeing that he smelled of wine, Zhang Yiyi smiled and asked, "Hey, are you here after drinking?"
"Ah, we drank at the Pigeon Market. It was the shed selling mutton soup run by Xiao Zhao and his brothers." Chu Heng slowly came to sit next to them and sat down, squinting his eyes and spitting out the alcohol: "You really
Not to mention, Xiao Zhao’s cooking skills are pretty good, and the mutton soup he cooks has a unique taste, no worse than those time-honored restaurants in the city."
"Oh, tell him, he can be regarded as an old craft passed down from his ancestors, so it must be good." Yan Muze handed him a cigarette and told him about ancient times: "His cooking skill of haggis,
I can even count it back to the time of Mr. Xianfeng. When I was a child, Xiao Zhao and his grandfather had a shop in Dengshikou. He usually took care of their business. If the little devils hadn’t come in later, their house would have been destroyed.
This mutton soup restaurant will probably be open until now."
"What? The Japanese won't get out of the way? Do they want to do this?" Chu Heng said in surprise.
"No." Zhang shook his head with a glance and said with hatred: "I remember that because Xiao Zhao and his grandfather cursed a few devils, the shop was smashed by those beasts, and they were also arrested and killed."
"Hey, this little devil is really hateful. He has killed so many loyal people." Chu Heng sighed.
"Okay, let's not mention these things about old sesame seeds and rotten millet. Save yourself the trouble." Yan Muze handed over the account book: "Take a look at this. The business has been good recently. I have picked up a few good things."
"oh?"
As soon as Chu Heng took it and was about to take a look, the door to the room was pushed open, and a man who was wrapped up tightly walked in furtively with his head lowered, holding a cloth bag under his arm, which contained a long
object.
"You have a cup of tea to sober up." Erxi quickly put the freshly brewed teacup in front of Chu Heng, walked quickly into the counter, and greeted the visitor: "What are you selling?"
"Please tell me how much this painting is worth." The man lowered his head and lowered his voice. He took off the cloth bag under his arm, untied it, took out a roll of painting and placed it on the velvet-covered cabinet.
"Silk painting!"
As soon as Erxi looked at the quality of the material revealed on the painting scroll, she knew that the silk painting in front of her was quite old and she didn't dare to get started with it. She quickly shouted to Yan Muze: "Master, you have to come and take a look at this."
"Okay." Yan Muze was about to get up and go over after hearing this.
"I'll go." Chu Heng put a hand on his shoulder and stood up. He glanced at the man who came to sell paintings, and there was a strange smile on his face.
Soon, he came to Erxi's side and raised his hand to rest on the scroll.
"Be careful..." The man was about to warn him, but when he looked up at him, he was stunned. Then he hurriedly lowered his head, reached out to grab the scroll on the cabinet and tried to leave: "I don't want to sell it."
"Don't worry, I'm here now, let's take a look before talking." Chu Heng politely put his hand away and slowly unfolded the scroll in front of him.
"Eh!"
Seeing the signature on the painting, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and then quickly looked at the painting carefully.
This silk painting was made by Liang Kai, a famous painter in the Southern Song Dynasty. It depicts a portrait of Zhong Kui. The painting style is concise, flexible and expressive. It vividly displays Zhong Kui's ugly but powerful characteristics. A quick glance at it makes people feel sad.
Fear.
Moreover, this painting has been passed down in an orderly manner. From the Song Dynasty to the present, it is densely packed with seals and signatures from more than a dozen collectors from various periods, including some familiar figures.
"Good stuff!" Chu Heng's eyes immediately fell in, and he quickly moved the lantern on the side further away, for fear of accidentally destroying this precious painting.
But the man selling flowers was so anxious that he broke out in sweat and shouted in a low voice: "You...why are you still buying and selling by force? Can't I stop selling?"
Chu Heng looked down at the painting and ignored it at all.
Erxi smiled and explained: "Don't get me wrong, we don't do anything to force you to buy or sell. Our master just likes this thing and just wants to take a look at it. When he finishes reading, if you don't want to sell it, take it back."
That’s it, come on, have a cigarette and take a break, it’ll be quick.”
"I don't smoke." The man pushed away the cigarette he was handed, looked anxiously at Chu Heng who was concentrating on admiring the paintings, frowned, simply stamped his feet, turned around and left.
"You don't want the painting? Lao Zhan?" Chu Heng raised his head with a smile when he saw this. He knew who this guy was when he first came in. It was Zhan Jianjun, the would-be boss he wanted from the Academy of Fine Arts.
.
Zhan Jianjun's body froze when his identity was revealed. He turned around with a wry smile, pulled off the scarf and mask around his face, looked at Chu Heng with evasive eyes, and said with anxiety: "Chu... Leader Chu, why are you here?
This."
"I also like antiques. This shop is opened by an acquaintance of mine. Come here for a stroll." Chu Heng leaned against the counter, looked down at the Zhong Kui statue, and asked: "This painting of yours is a rare good thing, why do you still pay for it?"
Are you willing to sell it? What happened to your family?"
"Yes." Zhan Jianjun nodded bravely and sighed: "My father is seriously ill and is in urgent need of some money. The family has been a little strapped recently, so I decided to sell this painting to provide subsidies."
"That's what I said." Chu Heng nodded clearly, and then reluctantly rolled up the scroll carefully: "How much money is missing?"
Zhan Jianjun thought he was going to accept the painting, so he hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Two hundred, just give me two hundred."
"It's not expensive." Chu Heng nodded, put the rolled scroll back into the bag, and handed it to him again: "I am also a person who loves antiques, calligraphy and paintings. I know how you feel. If you sell this painting, I will probably feel sorry for you for half your life.
, take it back quickly and hide it well."
Zhan Jianjun has been working diligently under him. He also appreciates the family's character and ability very much. He can't accept this painting regardless of emotion and reason.
"Ah?" Zhan Jianjun took the painting in shock, not understanding what it meant.
Immediately afterwards, Chu Heng took out a large amount of money from his pocket and handed it to him: "This is three hundred, take it first. If it's not enough, come to me. It's a loan to you. Don't worry about paying it back. It will last ten years."
It will take twenty years, and I will give it to you whenever you want."
Zhan Jianjun has a bold personality, but at this time he couldn't reach out to take the money. He shook his head and said: "This can't be done, leader, I can't take this money."
"What kind of leader doesn't lead? I am the leader in the unit. I have to call you brother here. Take it quickly. My brother appreciates it." Chu Heng couldn't help but put the money into his hand, and turned to face him again.
Xi ordered: "Xizi, go get twenty kilograms of white flour and get a few kilograms of beef. I want some fat."