Chapter 88: The Value of Art III
Coincidentally, the factory had to travel to the city for a procurement so I got a free ride .
Upon arriving at the city"s airport, I got myself a ticket to Beijing .
This thing called airplane was really amazing, and I puked in there .
Beijing, night time .
I walked around searching for a place to stay the night, but the hotels were simply too costly .
I ended up sleeping in a park that day .
The next day, I asked around for recommendations and finally found an ancient street that sold chinaware .
Along the alley stood a shop filled with potteries, similar to those I made .
The shop wasn"t big and the owner was elderly .
I went forward to ask, "Do you need a potter?"
The owner shook his head . "I only sell and don"t collect . "
I tried again, "Then where are these potteries from?"
He pointed at himself . "I made them . "
I pointed at some of his works and said, "I can make one that"s twice as nice . "
He got angry and chased me away .
Clenching my teeth, I found a nearby restaurant .
Lodging wasn"t provided and I had one rest day a week .
My salary was 1,300 a month .
I rented a nearby place at 300 a month . It did not even have a toilet .
I kept the old man"s shop in mind and rushed three ceramic pieces out during my off days .
Upon completion, I took them to his shop in hopes that he would dry them for me .
Of course, I wanted him to acknowledge my skills .
There were three customers chatting with him when I arrived .
Not wanting to disturb them, I squatted outside his shop .
After a short while, the three customers exited together .
It was only then that I realized they were together .
As I stood up, they gave me a glance .
One of them tapped on my shoulder, asking, "Did you just buy those? What a strange color!"
"No, they"re not done . I just made them and I"m intending to put them up for sale," I said with a smile .
He gave me a strange look and asked, "You made those?"
I nodded before entering the shop . "Can I pay you to dry these for me?"
The three customers followed behind me out of curiosity .
The old man waved while looking at the pieces in my hands .
After scrutinizing them, he said thoughtfully, "I remember now . You"re that fellow who came in a few days ago asking if I accept ceramic works . "
"Yes . "
"I can"t do it for you . Please leave . " He pushed my ceramic pieces back into my hands .
The three customers remained quiet .
Helpless, I left in search of another place .
The three customers stopped me .
"Little fellow, you said you were intending to sell the final products . Will you be willing to sell these half-made ones then?"
"They"re not done . How can I sell them?"
"How about this . 500 a piece and I"ll buy all three of them right now . We"ll find someone else to dry them," one of them proposed .
I fell silent for a short while . I couldn"t speak but I felt my head moving up and down a few times .
The guy smiled before taking 15 bills out of his money pouch and handing them over to me .
I accepted the money and handed over my works .
"What"s your name, little fellow?" the other guy asked .
"Chalk . Why?"
"Would you write your name at the bottom of these pieces? For memory"s sake . "
I nodded before searching for a suitable tool .
One of them handed a fountain pen to me . "Just write your name down . "
"This is expensive, isn"t it?" I looked down at the pen .
"It"s no problem," one spoke as all three shook their heads .
After some thought, I signed my name as CK .
A guy handed me his name card . "If you produce more works in the future and need them to be dried, just give us a call . We will buy them if they"re good . "
I stood rooted to the ground as they walked away happily .
Within three months, I called them 15 times, selling them five pieces at 500 each, each time .
And every single time, they had me sign my name at the bottom .
Looking at the money in my hands, I found it all hard to believe . They never have even told me what they were doing with my works .
With 30,000 in my pocket, I quit my job and rented a shop right opposite the old man"s .
I bought the necessary tools and called Gla.s.ses for the first time .
While he found it unbelievable, he also felt that it was only natural .
I started renovating the shop and displaying my works on the shelves .
I called the customers and shared the happy news with them, but they asked if I had with me ceramic works that hadn"t been dried or colored .
After mumbling to myself a little, I said yes . For the money, it"s always a yes .
They visited once a month and only bought pieces that hadn"t been dried or colored .
Other than them, I had practically no other businesses .
I had a shop of my own but my business was only slightly better than the old man"s .
After the first month, the old man came knocking on my door .
"Why are you doing here? Wanna smash my shop because I stole some of your business?" I asked, rushing over to guard the door .
He shook his head .
"You"re having regrets then? And want me to work with you? Do you think that"s possible? I"m earning more than you right now," I continued .
He pointed at his own shop . "Go over there and I"ll show you something . It has something to do with you . "
Interested, I followed him to his shop .
I tried guessing his motives but nothing came to mind .
He pointed at the television screen . "You made these, didn"t you?"
It was an auction program .
Big red words: Collector"s items, made by a modern ceramic artist, Chalk . 50,000 .
The so-called collector"s items were precisely the three pieces that I had previously brought into the old man"s shop .
The pieces were now completed and of a different color . A man in a white Chinese tunic suit smiled at the screen . "I, Chalk, have inherited valuable skills from my master, Liu Bing, and I"m here today after 15 years of hard work . As you can see from my work, aesthetically speaking, the pieces are lively . . . "
The old man pointed at the television and said, "They changed the color but I can still recognize that those belong to you . You are indeed more skillful than me and I accepted that, which is why I remember . "
I looked at the man who claimed to be Chalk . He was actually selling off my work as his own .
"What channel is this?"
He answered immediately, "Should be Beijing television station, broadcasting studio . "
To be continued .
Coincidentally, the factory had to travel to the city for a procurement so I got a free ride . Upon arriving at the city 39 s airport, I got myself a ticket to Beijing . This thing called airplane was really amazing, and I puked in there . Beijing, night time . I walked around searching for a place to stay the night, but the hotels were simply too costly . I ended up sleeping in a park that day . The next day, I asked around for recommendations and finally found an ancient street that sold chinaware . Along the alley stood a shop filled with potteries, similar to those I made . The shop wasn 39 t big and the owner was elderly . I went forward to ask, Do you need a potter The owner shook his head . I only sell and don 39 t collect . I tried again, Then where are these potteries from He pointed at himself . I made them . I pointed at some of his works and said, I can make one that 39 s twice as nice . He got angry and chased me away . Clenching my teeth, I found a nearby restaurant . Lodging wasn 39 t provided and I had one rest day a week . My salary was 1,300 a month . I rented a nearby place at 300 a month . It did not even have a toilet . I kept the old man 39 s shop in mind and rushed three ceramic pieces out during my off days . Upon completion, I took them to his shop in hopes that he would dry them for me . Of course, I wanted him to acknowledge my skills . There were three customers chatting with him when I arrived . Not wanting to disturb them, I squatted outside his shop . After a short while, the three customers exited together . It was only then that I realized they were together . As I stood up, they gave me a glance . One of them tapped on my shoulder, asking, Did you just buy those What a strange color No, they 39 re not done . I just made them and I 39 m intending to put them up for sale, I said with a smile . He gave me a strange look and asked, You made those I nodded before entering the shop . Can I pay you to dry these for me The three customers followed behind me out of curiosity . The old man waved while looking at the pieces in my hands . After scrutinizing them, he said thoughtfully, I remember now . You 39 re that fellow who came in a few days ago asking if I accept ceramic works . Yes . I can 39 t do it for you . Please leave . He pushed my ceramic pieces back into my hands . The three customers remained quiet . Helpless, I left in search of another place . The three customers stopped me . Little fellow, you said you were intending to sell the final products . Will you be willing to sell these half made ones then They 39 re not done . How can I sell them How about this . 500 a piece and I 39 ll buy all three of them right now . We 39 ll find someone else to dry them, one of them proposed . I fell silent for a short while . I couldn 39 t speak but I felt my head moving up and down a few times . The guy smiled before taking 15 bills out of his money pouch and handing them over to me . I accepted the money and handed over my works . What 39 s your name, little fellow the other guy asked . Chalk . Why Would you write your name at the bottom of these pieces For memory 39 s sake . I nodded before searching for a suitable tool . One of them handed a fountain pen to me . Just write your name down . This is expensive, isn 39 t it I looked down at the pen . It 39 s no problem, one spoke as all three shook their heads . After some thought, I signed my name as CK . A guy handed me his name card . If you produce more works in the future and need them to be dried, just give us a call . We will buy them if they 39 re good . I stood rooted to the ground as they walked away happily . Within three months, I called them 15 times, selling them five pieces at 500 each, each time . And every single time, they had me sign my name at the bottom . Looking at the money in my hands, I found it all hard to believe . They never have even told me what they were doing with my works . With 30,000 in my pocket, I quit my job and rented a shop right opposite the old man 39 s . I bought the necessary tools and called Gla.s.ses for the first time . While he found it unbelievable, he also felt that it was only natural . I started renovating the shop and displaying my works on the shelves . I called the customers and shared the happy news with them, but they asked if I had with me ceramic works that hadn 39 t been dried or colored . After mumbling to myself a little, I said yes . For the money, it 39 s always a yes . They visited once a month and only bought pieces that hadn 39 t been dried or colored . Other than them, I had practically no other businesses . I had a shop of my own but my business was only slightly better than the old man 39 s . After the first month, the old man came knocking on my door . Why are you doing here Wanna smash my shop because I stole some of your business I asked, rushing over to guard the door . He shook his head . You 39 re having regrets then And want me to work with you Do you think that 39 s possible I 39 m earning more than you right now, I continued . He pointed at his own shop . Go over there and I 39 ll show you something . It has something to do with you . Interested, I followed him to his shop . I tried guessing his motives but nothing came to mind . He pointed at the television screen . You made these, didn 39 t you It was an auction program . Big red words Collector 39 s items, made by a modern ceramic artist, Chalk . 50,000 . The so called collector 39 s items were precisely the three pieces that I had previously brought into the old man 39 s shop . The pieces were now completed and of a different color . A man in a white Chinese tunic suit smiled at the screen . I, Chalk, have inherited valuable skills from my master, Liu Bing, and I 39 m here today after 15 years of hard work . As you can see from my work, aesthetically speaking, the pieces are lively . . . The old man pointed at the television and said, They changed the color but I can still recognize that those belong to you . You are indeed more skillful than me and I accepted that, which is why I remember . I looked at the man who claimed to be Chalk . He was actually selling off my work as his own . What channel is this He answered immediately, Should be Beijing television station, broadcasting studio . To be continued .