"The flea market is actually a general term. It is divided into antique street, jewelry and jade street, and antique furniture street.
"In addition, there are dining areas and hotel areas, with a total area of nearly 60,000 square meters.
"Among them, the antique street where we are currently located is the largest. Follow this archway and walk about 900 meters into the street, which is the street stall area in the market.
"The street stall area is divided into: calligraphy and painting area, porcelain area, miscellaneous area, cultural and entertainment area...
"If you want to really visit this antique market, you will definitely not be able to finish it in two or three days."
Downstairs at the Qingshi Archway of Chuzhou Flea Market, Shen Yu walked slowly with Gu Qingqing while introducing her to the general situation of the flea market.
Of course, his arm was still held tightly by Gu Qingqing.
"Senior, keep talking, I really want to hear it." Gu Qingqing turned to Shen Yu and smiled sweetly, looking forward to the following story.
Shen Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead, "The flea market was actually called the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. At that time, there were indeed all kinds of secondhand goods here.
"For example, second-hand clothes and shoes, watches and jewelry, old beds and furniture, and even pots and pans are also sold. Although the name has not changed now, they only sell antiques.
"The current flea market is not only the largest art trading center in Jiangnan Province, but also among the top ten antique markets in the country. The average daily passenger flow reaches an astonishing 50,000 people."
"Is it bigger than our Qingniuguan antique market in Dongjiang?" Gu Qingqing asked with some doubts.
Shen Yu nodded seriously: "Big, and not even a little bit big.
"Chuzhou is the ancient capital of six dynasties with profound cultural heritage. It is also a land of plenty and has been prosperous for thousands of years.
"Celebrities have emerged in large numbers since ancient times. If there are many celebrities and there are many rich people, there will naturally be more good things passed on to future generations.
"Nowadays, there are countless antique vendors from all over the country who are shopping for old houses in the streets and alleys of counties and towns in Chuzhou.
"From this point of view alone, although Dongjiang is the provincial capital, it is still three points behind Chuzhou in terms of culture."
At this point, Shen Yu paused, unscrewed the mineral water bottle and moistened his throat.
Seeing that Gu Qingqing was still listening with interest, he had no choice but to continue: "Whether it is calligraphy, painting, ceramics, bamboo and wood ware, ancient jade coins, Ming and Qing furniture, or Xuan furnace bronze mirrors.
"As long as it is in the antique category, you can buy it here. As for whether it is true or false, it all depends on personal vision.
"In addition, this is also the best and most formal place to sell antiques, besides auctions.
"As long as the origins of antiques are clean and orderly, even if they are official kiln porcelain of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, or authentic works of calligraphers and painters such as Shen Zhou, Tang Yin, Dong Qichang, etc., the big antique merchants here can give you a satisfactory purchase price.
“There are countless legends about getting rich overnight in the flea market. For example, someone bought a Ming Dynasty official kiln and became rich overnight, or someone sold an ancestral calligraphy and painting and instantly got hundreds of thousands and went to a sales office in a certain community to buy it. Got a building.
"The big merchants who bought calligraphy and paintings resold the calligraphy and paintings to rich people, and then went to buy a building in the same community.
"There are also countless stories of someone accidentally buying a piece of ancient jade and a piece of ancient porcelain, making a lot of money and changing their destiny.
"For antique collectors, the flea market is their ultimate dream place to find treasures."
The above words are one of the standard lines of flea market tour guides, and Shen Yu conveniently uses them.
After taking another sip of water, Gu Qingqing suddenly leaned into his ear and exhaled softly: "Senior, there are a few people sitting under the tree over there who have been staring at us.
"They don't sell or buy anything. They don't use the air conditioner at home on this hot day. Do they have any bad ideas?"
Shen Yu looked up and saw seven or eight middle-aged people sitting on rows of chairs chatting and resting under a weeping willow tree that was three to four hundred years old, or sitting on small benches drinking tea and playing chess.
Because some people are thick-shouldered and wearing a pair of sunglasses, which does look a bit intimidating.
These people seemed to have nothing to do, but when he and Gu Qingqing walked by, everyone glanced at them intentionally or unintentionally.
But most of them will continue to do what they should do after seeing it for a few times.
Those who play chess play chess, and those who engage in family affairs continue chatting.
Shen Yu smiled at Gu Qingqing: "Don't worry, these people are hired by some antique shops in the market to draw fibers. They don't have to run around, they just need to sit at the entrance of the market and watch people. They have no ill intentions towards us. ”
"Looking at people?" Gu Qingqing obviously did not understand what Shen Yu meant, and there was a trace of doubt in her beautiful eyes.
"Yes, these people used to be veterans of shoveling land. Now they are old and don't want to be exposed to the wind and sun anymore. They travel here and there and work for some antique shops in the market.
"Nowadays, there are many people who like to collect, but real objects are very rare.
"The current antique market can be said to be a seller's market.
"Winning everyone who comes to the flea market to sell antiques into their own store is also a top priority for every merchant.
"And bringing people into the store is what these fiber pullers do. When a person enters the market, whether he is simply shopping, a collector who buys antiques, or someone who comes to sell antiques, these people just need to take a look at them, and they will be... Can guess the other party’s true purpose.
"Their specific job is to first use their eyes to find those who come to the market to sell antiques, and then judge through conversation whether they are experienced collectors who keep their treasures, or newbies who sell antiques and don't know anything else.
"In the end, of course, the seller is taken to an antique store that pays him a salary. If the transaction is successfully completed, they can get a lot of commission from it."
"It's not easy for them to make money in this kind of business, right? Anyway, if a stranger approaches me, I quickly get out of the way." Gu Qingqing curled her lips mischievously.
"That's wrong. They are all veterans who have been dealing with antiques for 20 to 30 years. Their ability to interact with people and observe their emotions has long been practiced to the point of proficiency.
"As long as you don't say a word, you will definitely be impressed by the other person's enthusiasm and knowledge.
"And these people are generous. As long as they are sure that what you are holding is an old item, they will treat you to a nearby coffee shop, the most expensive one.
"Or go to a teahouse and order a pot of Pu'er worth hundreds of yuan. They won't blink an eye at the cost.
"But then again, 'There is no new paper for a hundred years, but porcelain turns into gold for a thousand years.' Not everyone knows the true value of antiques.
"These fiber pullers will try their best to lower the price, but they will not describe the seller's antiques as scrap metal and worthless.
"They are much better than merchants who collect goods from street stalls. In some respects, they even make a certain contribution to the protection of antiques, because they know that antiques are valuable and should be cherished.
"We are not their type. Even if we try to join in, they won't want to deal with us."
The two walked several hundred meters while talking and laughing, and came to a relatively narrow street that was completely made of ancient buildings.
"Look, Qingqing, this is a real antique street in the flea market. Although the shops on both sides of the street were antique, they were all antique buildings.
"This is a real old building from the Qing Dynasty, and the signboards, plaques, door and window decorations are all antique. Without these outdoor air conditioners, wouldn't it feel like you have suddenly traveled to ancient times?"
Gu Qingqing's beautiful eyes swept away, and there was a hint of expectation on her face: "Yes, I heard that many film and television dramas will come here for filming.
"Last year during the Dragon Boat Festival, top star Xiao Yuying filmed a movie here, and it was this year's box office champion, "Antique Fairy Game" with a box office of over 1 billion.
"Kung Fu superstar Chu Chuan and rising actress Lin Ruoxi also came here to film "Hang on by a Thread".
"At that time, my best friend asked me to accompany her to chase stars, but I was afraid of being scolded by my mother and didn't dare to come.
"Hey, I really want an autograph from Xiao Yuying and Lin Ruoxi."
"Qingqing, we are here to buy antiques, why do we involve movie stars?" Shen Yu said pretending to be angry.
Gu Qingqing glanced at Shen Yu, and then said shyly: "I just want to get an autograph from Xiao Yuying or Lin Ruoxi, not from Chu Chuan or other male celebrities. Senior, aren't you jealous?
?"
Shen Yu was speechless...
"It is now 11 o'clock in the morning, which is a time when the flow of people in the street stall area is relatively small, because most of the collectors and tourists are tired from shopping and are looking for a place to rest and eat.
“It’s important to be early when shopping at street stalls, because the earlier you go, the better you can encounter good things.
"But it also depends on luck. If you are lucky and can find good items at any time, I feel that we will be lucky today. Let's go."
