"Mr. Zhu, Brother Zhu, I know that rebuilding the Old Summer Palace is an extremely difficult task for everyone, and even difficult to achieve for many people! But life is not about setting goals for oneself, and living is a bit of a rush.
Can I leave some thoughts when I die? Now that I have a career and money, I don’t have to worry about food and clothing in this life.●⌒, but I can’t always live in such a hazy state, drunkenly and dreamily. What’s the difference between that and the walking dead?
"
"Even so, you can set an easier goal for yourself. Is it completely impossible to rebuild the Old Summer Palace?" Zhu Jun couldn't help but said.
"Haha, everything depends on people. As long as I work hard, what if I don't achieve it? As long as you live, it's enough not to regret it in the end!" Liu Dong said with a somewhat open-minded smile.
"Young man, I'll take this bronze statue of your twelve zodiac signs!" Mr. Zhu, who had been silent just now, suddenly said.
"That's great, thank you!" Liu Dong said quickly.
Zhu Bingren nodded and said with emotion: "It's rare that you can say this at such a young age. Old man, I didn't realize this until I was middle-aged, so I'm far behind you!"
"You're too polite, madam! I just expressed my feelings!"
"It's good to speak out what you feel. Just say what you think and do what you say! Young man, if your Old Summer Palace starts to be built, please let me know. I don't dare to say anything else, but the old man who makes bronze can still help.
Gotta be busy!"
"Great!" Liu Dong stood up directly with great joy.
Seeing Liu Dong's happy expression, Mr. Zhu smiled and waved his hand. He motioned Liu Dong to sit down. "You don't have to be too happy. I don't make things for you for free, and I have to pay per piece! After all, you
You have your ideals, old man, I also have my own ideals!"
"No problem at all, Mr. Zhu, I will give you double the price for all the bronze sculptures!" Liu Dong said with great joy.
For an international copper sculpture master like Zhu Bingren, his works have no worries about the market. It is extremely rare to be able to hire Mr. Zhu to do the copper melting process. As for the money, it is completely a trivial matter.
"No need! Just pay it as much as it should be! After all, no one's money comes from the strong wind!" Mr. Zhu shook his head and said.
Originally, Liu Dong wanted to persuade him again, but when he saw Zhu Jun on the side shaking his head vaguely at him, and seeing the strong look of determination on Mr. Zhu's face, Liu Dong had to stop what he was saying.
Come back.
"Mr. Zhu, I will be troublesome for you in the next period of time!" Liu Dong said.
"What's the trouble? The old man is meant to eat this bowl of rice! By the way, what do you want from the twelve zodiac bronze sculptures?"
"I'm not in a hurry, I can do it whenever you have time!"
Although Liu Dong's Old Summer Palace Museum construction plan has been put on paper, it is extremely troublesome to apply because the land area involved is so large and it involves the relocation of thousands of people. Therefore, it is just a piece of land.
Planning cannot be completed in a short time. If you add in the time of digging the foundation, I am afraid it will not be completed in two or three years.
Therefore, Liu Dong is not too anxious about the casting of the twelve zodiac bronze sculptures!
"Since you are not in a hurry, how about I prepare these twelve bronze sculptures and give them to you in the middle of next year?" After thinking for a while, Mr. Zhu said.
"Okay, no problem! By the way, Mr. Zhu, how do you calculate the expenses here? I'll give you the money!"
"My crafting fee is easy to say, 200,000 yuan a month! When it's time for delivery, you can just give it to me! However, the material cost for your bronze sculpture must be paid in advance!"
"That's no problem. Just tell me the number and I'll call you right away!" Liu Dong said quickly.
"Don't worry, just listen to me first! Since you like it too, you should be familiar with Xuande Furnace!"
"certainly!"
Mr. Zhu nodded and continued: "The craftsmanship passed down by our Zhu family, making molten copper wares is somewhat similar to the Xuande furnace. It is divided into three refinings, six refinings, nine refinings and twelve refinings! Yue refining copper materials
The finer and more refined the copper material, the more exquisite the copperware will be. However, for each additional refining, the cost will double. And if you choose to add gold and silver precious metals to the copper material, the cost will be
It will also be higher! So, you must think clearly before we sign the contract!"
Of course Liu Dong thought very clearly. As Zhu Bingren said, he was very familiar with the famous Xuande Furnace. He also knew the twelve refining methods of Xuande Furnace very well.
So after the old man fell behind, Liu Dong said directly: "Mr. Zhu, what I want is the best art. You can imitate the Xuande furnace of the Ming Dynasty to cast the bronze statues of the twelve zodiac animals. All the money spent is from
I'm responsible!"
Since I am not short of money, I naturally want the best things!
After listening to Liu Dong's words, Zhu Bingren couldn't help but nodded towards him with appreciation.
All artists, including the old man, have the mentality of pursuing perfection. This mentality is also the driving force for artists to climb to greater heights, and Zhu Bingren is no exception.
Therefore, Liu Dong’s idea of creating artistic masterpieces at all costs is deep in his heart.
"Haha, since you have already decided, I won't say anything more! However, the casting of bronze sculptures of the twelve zodiac signs is not a trivial matter after all... Well, let Xiaojun take the lead after eating at home at noon today.
You go out and find a place to stay first. After you settle down, we will discuss the details and sign the contract by the way!" Zhu Bingren said.
"Okay, I'll just listen to you!" Liu Dong agreed very simply.
He also knew that the casting of the twelve zodiac bronze sculptures involved a lot of precious materials according to his requirements, especially gold and silver, which were extremely valuable, so he needed to spend time to explain these clearly and implement them into a paper contract.
. This way, both parties can rest assured.
Of course, it is also to reassure Mr. Zhu. For Liu Dong, millions and tens of millions are no longer in his eyes!
However, if you have money, you must have money, but you cannot show off your wealth openly, especially in front of people like Mr. Zhu. Otherwise, you will only attract people's dislike.
Artists are proud!
At noon, after having lunch at the Zhu family. In the afternoon, Liu Dong chatted with the Zhu family and his son for a while. After roughly deciding on the matters that needed to be paid attention to for the twelve zodiac bronze sculptures, Liu Dong walked out under the leadership of Zhu Jun.
community.
"Liu Dong, I'm really sorry. There are only two suites in the house. One is used by my father as a study room, and the other is used as his old man's bedroom. There is really no way for you to live at home!" Zhu Jun said apologetically.
"Brother Zhu, it doesn't matter! Food and accommodation are just a small problem. Being able to meet Mr. Zhu this time is my biggest blessing!" As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Dong glanced at Zhu Jun and after hesitating, "Brother Zhu,
There is something I don’t know whether to ask or not?”
Smiling, Zhu Jun said: "You want to ask my father, who has extraordinary skills in bronze sculptures, why he still lives in such an old house, right?"
"Yes!" After a slight hesitation, Liu Dong nodded.
"well!"
Looking at Zhu Jun with a look on his face, Liu Dong quickly said: "Brother Zhu, if it's inconvenient, don't say anything. I'm just curious for the moment, nothing else!"
After waving his hand, Zhu Jun said: "Actually, there is nothing that cannot be said. There are two main reasons why my father lives in the old house?"
After a pause and a glance at Liu Dong who was listening attentively, Zhu Jun continued: "I guess you also know the origin of our Zhu family!"
"Zhu Mansion Bronze Art!" Liu Dongxin said.
"Zhufu Bronze Art" originated from Shaoxing, founded in 1875, the last year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, and has a history of more than 130 years. The first generation successor of "Zhufu Bronze Art", Zhu Yuxiang, who came from a scholarly family, and his
The third brother, Zhu Qingrun, a calligraphy talent who later became famous in Jiangnan, hung up the plaque of "Zhufu Yida Copper Shop". Since then, the Zhu family's bronze carving skills have been passed down from generation to generation and have become famous in Jiangnan, creating the golden name of "Zhufu Bronze Art"
Shop sign.
"...Zhufu Copper Art has always had a desire since my great-grandfather's generation to build a museum that fully displays the copper crafts of our Zhufu Copper Art! So over the years, my father and I have saved all the money we have earned for this purpose.
After you save enough money, you can purchase copper materials to build a museum entirely made of copper!"
Hearing this, Liu Dong nodded somewhat suddenly.
"No wonder Mr. Zhu agreed so easily after I mentioned rebuilding the Old Summer Palace as an ideal. He also has his own ideals and persistence in his heart!"
"So that's it! Mr. Zhu's persistence is really admirable!" Liu Dong said sincerely.
Few successful people can deposit large amounts of money in banks and yet be willing to endure poverty.
Even Liu Dong, although he had the ideal of rebuilding the Old Summer Palace, never delayed his financial expenditure.
"If it were possible, I would rather my father didn't have his so-called ideals and persistence! Over the years, he has really paid too much for the words 'Zhu Mansion Bronze Art'!" Zhu Jun said with a bitter smile.
Seeing him like this, Liu Dong didn't hesitate to ask any more questions! But he could also understand Zhu Jun's suffering. After all, before he got the relic and Yuan Guang made his fortune, Liu Dong was used to living a hard life in the antique city!
"Brother Zhu, I wonder if Mr. Zhu is willing? If possible, I am willing to pay for him to open the 'Zhu Mansion Copper Art' Museum!" After thinking for a while, Liu Dong said.
"Really?" Zhu Jun asked in surprise and doubt.
"Of course!" Liu Dong smiled and nodded.
"Xiaodong, this is not a small matter. Do you have to think about it carefully?"
"I have thought about it very clearly!" Liu Dong said.
The reason why he chose to fund Zhu Bingren was not without asking for anything in return! A reconstruction project of the Old Summer Palace would require thousands of exquisite bronze displays! If all these bronzes could be cast by Zhu Bingren, then they would surely
It is also a top-notch work of art with high value.
Therefore, Liu Dong must now try his best to add some excitement to his future plans! Even if he spends some money on it, it doesn't matter! (To be continued.)