Chapter 67 Antique and New Skill Categories

After Liu Zhiye returned home, he sent away Guan Dapeng, who helped him move things.

Then he began to appreciate these antiques excitedly. These were different from the previous ones, they were all fine antique artworks, and the artistic value they contained was immeasurable.

Although he knew nothing about the appreciation of antiques and artworks, he believed that even lifeless antiques were valuable only if they were of good quality.

He remembered a conversation with Mr. Ma Weidu during a talk show.

The host asked: “The older the item, the more valuable it is?” Ma Weidu shook his head.

The host asked again: “The smaller the quantity, the more valuable it is?” Ma Weidu still shook his head.

The abbot finally asked, “Then… what kind is valuable?”

Ma Weidu said: “Good quality is valuable.”

Liu Zhiye can’t buy too many houses now because the time is not right. In this day and age, hoarding houses is simply courting death.

If you have money but don’t invest it, you can only collect antiques and artworks, or some rare jade, gemstones, emeralds, diamonds, as well as precious wood and medicinal materials, which may appreciate in value in the future.

As his collection of antiques and artworks grew, he found it increasingly boring, because he was only increasing his future wealth rather than his understanding of the history and culture contained in them.

To put it bluntly, he only enjoyed material things, but did not gain spiritual enrichment and fulfillment.

Ultimately he just has these things, but doesn’t understand and recognize them deeply.

It is easy to resolve this contradiction, which is to learn more and improve your ability to appreciate antique works of art.

I remembered some professional books I bought a while ago, but I haven’t read them yet. I’ll try to read one and see if it will trigger new skills.

Throw these vintage pieces of art into the space.

As usual, the system prompt tone appears:
“Ding Dong! The system detected an antique artwork – a yellow-ground enamel bowl with rouge-red landscape patterns from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (195 years old). It has obtained spatial energy. Yes/No to expand the space?”

“Ding Dong! The system detected an antique…”

“…”

It rang forty or fifty times in a row, and the space expanded to 50 cubic meters.

Wow! It is really a masterpiece. Only forty or fifty pieces have expanded the volume by 20 cubic meters. One piece is equivalent to 10 times the volume from the scrap yard.

I guess I got lucky today. It’s true that a man cannot get rich without unexpected wealth, and a horse cannot get fat without night grass!

I was thinking to myself that I should try to buy fine old items in the future. After all, funds are not unlimited, and good steel should be used wisely.

Then, I put my heart at ease and took out a book called “Antique Art Talk” from my space and started reading it by candlelight.

The book introduces:
The three realms of collection: “First is good, second is puzzled, and third is studied. Each realm is a different world. Collecting is like breaking through a maze, and seeing the true face after passing through the fog.”

Dating porcelain: “You must have a standard shape in mind, and compare the body, glaze, and painting techniques. It is better to believe in fakes than to take them seriously. The age and kiln must be clear.”

Identify old and new porcelain: “The rise and fall of glaze shows the growth rings, bubbles under the glaze account for six points, three points show the workmanship, and the vicissitudes of the bottom edge determine the authenticity.”

Bronze ware: “The sound of a light hand leaves no trace of earth, and the copper rusts naturally over thousands of years…”

Manuscript: “The source of ancient books is handwritten, and the Dunhuang Tibetan scriptures are national treasures…”

“…”

……

Porcelain from the Three Dynasties of the Qing Dynasty: “When collecting porcelain, you should pay attention to the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong periods. Look at more genuine pieces and don’t go astray. It’s a blessing to choose one from thousands of miles away. You must carefully observe the traces of time.”

Liu Zhiye took a cursory look at the book, but after reading the whole book, he exclaimed: “What Su Dongpo said is absolutely right!”

“The gentleman’s study is like the craftsman’s art. They have been fully developed since the Three Dynasties, the Han Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty.”

“Ding Dong! Because the host is studying a professional book on antique art appreciation, the system has opened a new skill category – life skills.”

“Ding Dong! A new skill has been added to the life skills category – antique art appraisal.”

Silently open the skill interface:
Shooting: Level 8 (Special Sharpshooter)
Fighting: Level 7 (Hand Blade/Unarmed Ace)
Cross-country: Level 9 (unstoppable)
Reconnaissance: Level 6 (Special Elite)
Criminal Investigation Level 3 (Professional Mastery)
Special skills:

Bajiquan (mastered) Twelve-Way Tan Leg (mastered) Powerful Eagle Claw Kungfu (mastered)
Life skills:

Antique Art Appraisal (First Look)
Liu Zhiye had been studying hard late into the night, and his brain, which was a little sluggish, suddenly shook up and his whole body began to surge with emotion.

Wow! A new skill category has been opened. There are so many skills related to life, such as cooking, medicine, acting, chess, calligraphy, painting, playing musical instruments… This is the rhythm of an all-round life in the city!
What a pity! His system is half-broken and incomplete. It is not as versatile as others’ systems, which can learn anything in one go and speed up time.

There won’t be enough time. If you want to learn about every industry, you can learn until you die. I guess even Confucius would be impressed by his diligence and eagerness to learn.

—-

Vertical sun.

After Liu Zhiye sent off the second batch of trainees, he walked leisurely to the purchasing department of the factory’s logistics department.

Speaking of the Purchasing Department, it is not an ordinary department. Its status in the factory is not much lower than that of the Security Department.

Responsible for the formulation of the factory’s procurement plan, management of the procurement process, supplier management and maintenance, control of procurement costs, procurement quality and efficiency…

It can be said that this department has great power, and factory workers are trying their best to get into it.

He came to the Logistics Department today specifically to visit the Chief of Purchasing, Lu Dachuan.

Ever since the last time in Liujia Village, because of the supplies issue, the two of them have become friends and have been getting along very well recently.

When Lu Dachuan saw that it was Liu Zhiye who came to visit, he quickly stood up and warmly welcomed him.

“Brother Liu! How come you have time today to come visit me?”

Liu Zhiye smiled and teased him: “Brother Lu! I never come to your temple for no reason!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Dachuan looked at him strangely and wondered in his heart: What could be so difficult for this popular figure in front of Director Jiang to come to him for help?

“Brother! Why do you say that?”

“Come! Let’s sit down and talk. You don’t come to my house easily, brother!”

“If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know.”

After Liu Zhiye sat down, he exchanged a few polite words with Lu Dachuan and the others, and then explained his purpose.

So that’s it~ After Liu Zhiye bought the antiques from the Guan family, he lamented that his net worth had shrunk drastically.

I want to get some more funds for emergencies.

After much thought, the only way was to sell some of the prey in stock for money. Since there were too many, it would be too conspicuous if they were sold in the pigeon market.

So here he is, a member of the purchasing department today.

Liu Zhiye thought about it for a moment and said, “Brother! In terms of logistics procurement, do you have any advice on unplanned materials?”

Afraid that Lu Dachuan didn’t understand what he meant, he continued, “Is it allowed to purchase some extra supplies from people or units without the necessary procedures?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Dachuan said without hesitation: “Although there is no explicit regulation to allow it, there is no policy opposition either.”

“Of course you can. In fact, each unit also secretly gets supplies. After all, the materials allocated according to the overall plan are obviously not enough. Everyone is helpless and is trying their best to show their magical powers!”

When Liu Zhiye heard that this was a good idea, he explained his intention to Lu Dachuan: “Brother! If I can get some wild boars, roe deer and other wild animals, would you be interested?”

When Lu Dachuan heard this, he was shocked and asked him hurriedly: “Are you serious? Are you trying to trick me?”

Liu Zhiye was no longer anxious at this moment, and said calmly: “It is absolutely true!”

After hearing his exact answer, Lu Dachuan suddenly became excited.

“Where did it come from? How much is it? Can you sell it?”

Liu Zhiye said, “I don’t know exactly how many there are. I’m just asking for my friend, who is a cadre at the forest farm.”

“If you need it, get me a car and I’ll bring it back for you.”

Hearing this, Lu Dachuan slapped his thigh happily and said, “That’s fine! Please rest assured, my friend, no matter what it is, the price I offer is definitely higher than the market price.”

In this way, Lu Dachuan borrowed a big Liberation truck for Liu Zhiye from the logistics department.

Liu Zhiye drove out of the city, circled the capital for a few times, and found a deserted place to park. He took out two wild boars, ten roe deer, and three wolves from the space and threw them into the truck.

Then he took out a cigarette, smoked for a while, and went back to the Red Star Factory.

(End of this chapter)