Chapter 385: Antique Business Collapses
The next day.

In the early morning, busy people can be seen everywhere on the streets of the capital.

The first thing that catches your eye is the housewives who get up early and go to bed late. They are wearing coats and will check whether the stove at home is burning well before rushing out to ensure that the home is warm.

Then they would add coal to the stove and boil a pot of water for the whole family to wash, keeping an eye on the fire to ensure the home was warm.

After Liu Zhiye called Yan Jiecheng to go out together, they met various street vendors along the way. Their shouts came one after another, adding a lot of vitality to the capital city in the early morning.

For example, the shouting of the barber’s pole and the hawking of the sour plum soup seller are all unique sounds in the early morning of winter in the capital.

The cries of these vendors not only provide residents with daily necessities, but also become a part of life in the capital during the winter.

In addition, in the early morning of winter in the capital, you can see people doing various activities outdoors.

For example, the old man doing morning exercises in the park, the teenagers skating on the lake, and the masters playing table tennis, all of them are trying to overcome the cold and enjoy the fun of winter. These scenes together constitute a vivid picture of the winter morning in the old capital.

Liu Zhiye and Yan Jiecheng came out without having breakfast, so they found a snack bar on the roadside that was open early and had a meal.

In fact, they passed by here, and the fragrant smell of meat buns came to their noses. The two of them came here to smell the food, and looking at the busy figure of the boss, you can see how popular this snack cart is.

Order a steamed bun stuffed with pork and scallions and pair it with a portion of braised or fried liver. Drink the fried liver with big gulps. Never use a spoon, or the old Beijingers will laugh at you. They have a habit of never using a spoon when drinking fried liver.

Don’t underestimate this shop, it is located in a corner on the roadside. The steamed buns and fried liver they make are very authentic. No wonder their business is so prosperous and diners flock to it.

After tasting the dish, Liu Zhiye praised it highly. Still thinking of “Polan Hou”, he specially packed a portion of steaming buns and fried liver, ready to share this rare delicacy with him.

After breakfast, Liu Zhiye led Yan Jiecheng to the Di’anmen area in a hurry. Their destination was the quiet house at the foot of the imperial city, north of Jingshan Mountain.

Liu Zhiye has never lived in this house for a single day since it was renovated, and only comes to take a look occasionally.

However, it is obviously not appropriate to leave the house vacant for a long time after the renovation is completed. Moreover, it is necessary to conceal it from others so that they will not have any evil intentions to take over the yard after being found out.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Liu Zhiye decided to entrust the mansion to Yan Jiecheng’s master “Polan Hou” and several family members from Liujiazhuang for living.

This not only makes the house more lively and more humane, but also serves as a cover to prevent outsiders from prying eyes.

In addition, this mansion has quietly become a secret base for Liu Zhiye and others to collect antiques, cultural relics and artworks.

Moreover, this two-courtyard house is unusually spacious, covering an area of ​​nearly 900 square meters. There are also hundreds of square meters of open space in front of and behind the house, which is enough to park several cars. The rooms in the courtyard are arranged in an orderly manner.

What is particularly special is that a secret room is cleverly built underground, which is specially designed for collecting antiques and artworks. It is both safe and secret, and is undoubtedly the most appropriate choice for storing these priceless treasures.

In addition, if there are people living in this yard, it can effectively avoid being pried into and coveted by the outside world; and the residents are all Liu Zhiye’s confidants, who can keep secrets for him. If he wants to take back the house in the future, he will not cause trouble or disputes.

This layout is both comprehensive and ingenious.

As mentioned earlier, this is a two-courtyard courtyard covering an area of ​​over a thousand square meters.

What is a siheyuan? The siheyuan is a traditional residence in northern China. Its grand layout makes it a model of residence.

To determine the depth, we need to see how many courtyards there are from north to south. If there is only one courtyard from north to south, it is the first courtyard; if there are two courtyards, it is the second courtyard, and so on.

The two-entry courtyard house was improved on the basis of the one-entry courtyard house, and its layout is like a “sun” character.

When a Siheyuan is expanded from a one-courtyard to a two-courtyard one, a barrier wall is usually added between the south gables of the east and west wing rooms to divide the courtyard into two layers, the inner and outer layers. Two gates are set at the junction of the barrier walls for entry and exit, namely the hanging flower gates.

In addition, when installing the hanging flower gate in the second courtyard, a corridor will be set up along both sides of the hanging flower gate to connect the east and west wing rooms, serving as another passage connecting the houses.

Generally, you can walk along the corridor in rainy and snowy weather to avoid getting wet.

Liu Zhiye’s two-courtyard courtyard has a grand layout, open space and extremely high utilization rate.

The reconstruction was originally undertaken by the “Yangshi Lei” family, and the building materials were used regardless of cost, including some precious wood and stone.

Its architectural style cleverly incorporates the essence of traditional Chinese culture, allowing people to appreciate the profound cultural heritage while enjoying the spacious space.

In this courtyard, privacy is fully guaranteed, as if it is a paradise, where people can enjoy comfort and tranquility and comfort their souls.

Liu Zhiye has known “Polan Hou” for so many years and has a good understanding of his character.

“Polan Hou” is a person with bottom line and kind heart; he is a person who does not care about appearance and is not moved by external things; he is a persistent and sensible person; he is also a person who does not care about gains and losses for friendship; he is a person who can face everything calmly.

This is also a responsible, talented and proud gentleman from Beijing.

“Polan Hou” is such a person, passionate, stingy, open-minded, sincere, this is him. He loves antiques. He believes that this is a kind of culture that needs to be inherited and carried forward.

He is stingy with antiques. Once someone wants to steal his antiques, he instantly turns into a Pixiu.

He is sincere to Liu Zhiye. He is a senior in front of Liu Zhiye, and when he sees another junior who loves antiques but is stingy with them, he will be very happy.

Moreover, this person is kind, studious, and sincere. He is excited and feels that there will be successors. Therefore, he treats Liu Zhiye sincerely.

Therefore, the reason why Liu Zhiye dared to hand over his personal secrets to “Polan Hou” was entirely based on his deep understanding of and unconditional trust in this person.

In Liu Zhiye’s eyes, “Polan Hou” is not only a trustworthy partner, but also a pure land in the depths of his soul, where he can safely entrust those unknown secrets to him.

“Polan Hou” is the most open-minded person. He does not attach much importance to money in his life, but he loves antiques and is devoted to them all his life.

He is the grandson of a Manchu prince, and his ancestors have passed down many good things.

If you meet a prodigal son, he will definitely squander all these things, but Hou Paolao is a real antique lover. He would rather pick up junk than sell these treasures, and he continued to collect antiques throughout his life.

It was because of this hobby that he fell into such a state of poverty, and finally even sold his ancestral courtyard.

“Polan Hou” knew that Liu Zhiye was wealthy. If he helped him recycle antique artworks with a little trickery, the profit should be considerable. There was no need to sell off his property.

It’s just that he is a man of good character and would not bother to do so.

However, “Polan Hou” never expected that the person who generously donated money and bought his property at a high price was actually manipulated by Liu Zhiye behind the scenes.

Liu Zhiye secretly planned and decided not to reveal the truth to “Polan Hou” for the time being. He would wait for the right time and then quietly return the courtyard.

To him, a courtyard is just a drop in the ocean of his huge assets, not worth mentioning. This move not only shows his calmness and restraint, but also a unique consideration for friendship.

Moreover, after the reform and opening up, there are plenty of such courtyard houses in Beijing. As long as you have money, you can buy the “Prince Gong Mansion”.

It was just an ordinary courtyard. Liu Zhiye thought that as long as “Palan Hou” was happy, it was fine. After all, this was his ancestral home and his dream. “Palan Hou” had a special liking for antiques. As long as he had these treasures in his hands, he felt that the residence was not divided into noble and humble, and everywhere was a place to settle down.

What’s more, this place is very close to the “scrap collection station” where he works, making it suitable for both work and life.

In addition, he was happy to take care of these precious collections and houses for Liu Zhiye and ensure that they were safe. This friendship and responsibility also prompted him to settle down in this courtyard.

The person who opened the door for them was Liu Zhiye’s cousin Liu Shuliang, a man who also worked diligently in the security department of the Red Star Factory. He had a look of kindness and alertness on his face, and he was obviously used to the responsibility of guarding.

Liu Shuliang recognized Liu Zhiye at a glance, his face filled with joy. He greeted him warmly: “Brother, you are back! When did you arrive?” Then, he turned to Yan Jiecheng and nodded slightly: “Brother Yan, you are here too. Did you come here specially to see Mr. Hou?”

Liu Shuliang was quite familiar with Yan Jiecheng, Xu Damao and others. They were frequent visitors here. Every time they visited, they never forgot to bring some special things – either exquisite bottles and jars, or calligraphy and paintings, books, or some antique furniture, making it seem mysterious.

Liu Zhiye smiled, nodded slightly to Liu Shuliang, and asked briefly: “Shuliang, is the Marquis at home now?”

Liu Shuliang responded quickly, also in a concise sentence: “The Marquis is at home. He just got up and was washing in the courtyard.”

“In that case, I’ll go ahead and visit him. We can continue our brotherly chat later.” Liu Zhiye said as he patted Liu Shuliang’s shoulder, then turned and walked into the yard.

…………

Liu Zhiye stepped into the backyard and shouted in a bright voice: “Uncle Hou, are you staying home?” Before he finished speaking, he had already walked into the yard.

When Master Hou heard the familiar voice, a smile immediately spread across his face. He hurried out to greet the man. When he saw that it was Liu Zhiye, he responded cordially, “Oh, it’s Xiao Liu! Why are you here so early?”

Liu Zhiye held the hot food in his hand and said to Uncle Hou with a smile: “Uncle Hou, you haven’t eaten yet, right? You are in for a treat today. I specially brought you some freshly fried liver and meat buns. They are still hot. Enjoy them while they are hot!” His words revealed his care and respect for the elders.

“Hey! How do you know I like this dish?” Master Hou said with a smile while eating.

Liu Zhiye smiled and said, “This is purely a coincidence. I tried his food and thought it tasted great, so I wanted to let you have a taste. I didn’t expect you to know it once you tasted it…” After saying that, he deliberately gave the other party a thumbs up, his eyes full of admiration.

“Polan Hou” raised the corner of his mouth slightly without saying a word. His favorite thing was collecting antiques, and food was another great pleasure for him. He had been very picky about food since he was a child and could only enjoy delicious food.

After “Polan Hou” hurriedly swallowed the last bite of food, the three of them sat together, and the atmosphere became increasingly solemn.

Liu Zhiye cleared his throat, went straight to the point, and briefly explained his main purpose.

Liu Zhiye looked solemn, and spoke frankly to Master Hou and Jie Cheng: “You two, after careful consideration, I think it’s time to pause our antique recycling business. In the near future, we have to keep a low profile and put our overt acquisition activities on hold to avoid unnecessary trouble.” His words revealed his unquestionable determination and consideration for the overall situation.

Upon hearing this, Master Hou’s face changed slightly, and a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes. “Why… is this happening?” He thought to himself. After all, collecting and preserving antiques is not only a hobby for him, but also a spiritual sustenance. The sudden ban made him feel unprecedentedly confused and puzzled.

Yan Jiecheng’s heart trembled when he heard this, and then he quickly echoed his master’s words: “Yes, Brother Liu, we have a good business of recycling antiques, and it is not illegal, so why can’t we continue to do it?”

In fact, he was reluctant to give up. After all, the time he spent helping Liu Zhiye to recycle antique artworks had not only broadened his horizons, but also brought him many benefits and growth. For him, how could he give up this career so easily?

Seeing the two people’s puzzled expressions, Liu Zhiye had no choice but to say, “Come closer, I’m telling you, there’s something fishy going on up there lately. To be on the safe side, let’s put this matter aside for now…”

“Master Hou, and you, there are some issues with your background… You must be careful in the days ahead.

Once you notice any disturbance or a change in the situation, immediately head to Liujiazhuang to avoid the limelight. Safety first, don’t be careless…”

When “Polan Hou” heard this, his face suddenly changed, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes that had seen through all the vicissitudes of life. It was obvious that he had seen through the deep meaning of Liu Zhiye’s words.

“Could it be that the world… is going to…” he muttered to himself, pointing upwards cryptically as he spoke.

“It’s hard to say. Anyway, you have to be careful. Let’s keep a low profile in the near future!” Liu Zhiye nodded to him and said in a deep voice.

“Okay, okay… I’ve got it. I must go to Liujiazhuang to bother you.” Master Hou is not a reckless person. When facing risks, he knows his limits and will definitely cherish his own safety.

“Also, I want to take all my things away. Master Hou, you should also keep your own things well…” Liu Zhiye persuaded.

“Ji Lan Hou” finally noticed something strange, and he quickly agreed: “Okay, okay, okay, I’ll listen to you. After this New Year, I will go back to the scrap yard and do my job peacefully. I don’t think anyone would really compete with a rag collector…” These words came out of his mouth with a bit of helplessness but also a bit of relief.

“Follow me. The things I collected for you are all stored in the basement. Take a look first!”

“Okay!” Liu Zhiye nodded, and he followed his master down to the basement.

Leaving Yan Jiecheng alone to wait outside, they quickly opened the heavy door of the underground secret room. When they stepped in, they were surrounded by thick darkness and there was chaos everywhere they could see.

“Polan Hou” groped on the wall with familiarity. Soon, a beam of light penetrated the darkness, and the lights in the basement came on, dispelling the long-standing silence and darkness.

The basement is extremely spacious, with a total area of ​​500 square meters. It is cleverly divided into several independent and private spaces using load-bearing columns. Each room appears to be both separated and connected, and is now filled with antique artworks.

The dazzling array of antique artworks before him stunned even the experienced Liu Zhiye.

In just over a year, it is truly impressive that “Polan Hou”, Yan Jiecheng, Xu Damao and others have accumulated such a rich collection! Their vision and luck are undoubtedly outstanding in this industry.

“Polan Hou” gazed at the antique artworks in front of him, his tone full of reluctance and pride: “This collection includes more than 200 paintings and calligraphy from various dynasties, more than a thousand precious books, more than 2,000 porcelains from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and more than 5,000 miscellaneous cultural relics. Each piece is unique and contains profound cultural heritage; and there are more than 3,000 pieces of modern celebrity artworks, each of which is a shining pearl of contemporary art…”

“Good, that’s great. Thank you all for your hard work over the past year…” Liu Zhiye, even though he owns hundreds of thousands of precious collections, his joy is still beyond words.

To him, the more of these treasures, the better. He never thinks they are too many, but is only afraid that his collection is not rich enough.

With so many things, it was impossible for him to use the space to take them away directly in front of “Polan Hou” and others.

In order to keep the secret, he had to make a fake phone call to Ge Shuping and ask someone to drive a large Liberation truck to help with the transportation.

Even so, Liu Zhiye had to make three trips back and forth to transport all these antique artworks.

By the time he had finished the work at hand, the morning had passed quietly.

In a blink of an eye, it was almost lunch time. Liu Zhiye was in a particularly good mood, so he happily decided to invite “Polan Hou”, Ge Shuping, Yan Jiecheng, and Liu Shuliang to go to the famous “Donglaishun” to enjoy a hot pot feast.

Halfway through the journey, Liu Zhiye suddenly remembered that his wife Gan Ning was waiting for him in Nanluoguxiang!
He then hurriedly settled “Polan Hou” and others at “Donglaishun”, then turned around and rushed home to pick up Gan Ning to eat hotpot together.

As soon as they got home, Gan Ning started to complain to him like a machine gun: “Where have you been so early in the morning? You were nowhere to be seen, and you are so late now?”

“Hey, this is my fault! I decided to make an appointment with Li Cheng to visit his master this morning. You were still asleep at that time, so I didn’t have the heart to disturb you. As a result, I didn’t pay attention and didn’t come back until so late.

Don’t worry about anything else. I’ve already made an appointment with Master Hou, Jie Cheng and Lao Ge. Let’s go to Donglaishun for a gathering. You can come too. After all, we haven’t been to this restaurant for a long time. What do you think?” Liu Zhiye invited with a smile.

“Okay! Let’s go now. You’re not at home and I haven’t even had breakfast yet!” Gan Ning said pitifully while rubbing his stomach.

Well, she is really pitiful. She can do everything except cooking.

(End of this chapter)