"Time Pot"

Shi Dabing conducted in-depth research into the clay mixtures, forming techniques, shape design, inscriptions, and more involved in Zisha pottery. He was adept at using various types of clay or mixing sand-jar clay into the pottery clay, earning praise for its "coarse sand, antique quality, and even texture." He established the highly difficult technical system of shaping objects from nothing using slabs of clay and joined sections, a system still followed by the Zisha industry today.

Few of his works had survived. According to incomplete statistics, no more than a dozen Zisha teapots mentioned in written records existed, separately housed in museums and private collections around the country. As a result, antique collectors and Zisha teapot enthusiasts all regarded "Time Pots" as the gold standard.

Because of the enormous reputation of "Time Pots," numerous forgeries had appeared not only after Shi Dabing's death but even while he was alive. As the saying went, "Though Time Pots may be found for sale, most are forgeries rather than the real thing." Thus, obtaining a genuine work by Shi Dabing was an exceptionally difficult matter.

This Zisha teapot was a small one, commonly known as a "single-handled pot." Its shape was basically the same as the Zisha teapot made by Song Jun that had been used earlier. It was likewise a sand-mixed conical-hat pot.

The teapot was chestnut-colored. Fine, pale-colored sand was scattered across its surface, giving it a mottled appearance. Its color was a clear yellow, with the individual grains faintly visible. These clear-yellow grains of fine sand were commonly called "osmanthus sand." This teapot employed the traditional sand-mixing decorative technique, blending selected fine sand into the clay so that the "osmanthus sand" on the body appeared and disappeared like petals drifting through the air.

The processing and proportions had reached an exceptionally high standard for Zisha materials. The textural quality created by the mixed sand and its harmony with the overall form also displayed superb craftsmanship.

The lid was shaped like a conical hat, with a high, rounded surface and an oval knob placed on top. The body was relatively large and spherical, narrowing from the belly downward toward the foot and upward toward the shoulder.

Finally, the base bore the regular-script inscription "Made by Shi Dabing," carved with a bamboo knife, along with a cyclical-date signature. The strokes were deep, forceful, and rich in bone rather than flesh.

Looking at the teapot's overall form, it could only be described as simple yet magnificent, combining strength and gentleness. In four phrases, it was "coarse yet not gaudy," "plain yet deeply elegant," "coarse sand with antique quality," and "plain, elegant, firm, and refined." The teapot bore both the "Dabing" mark and a cyclical date, while its workmanship was exceptionally fine and meticulous. It was a rare treasure, extremely difficult to come by, and truly invaluable.

"Time Pots" appeared even more precious because of their scarcity. At the same time, this greatly increased the difficulty of distinguishing genuine pieces from forgeries. Chu Chen's chance to examine one so carefully from such close range was truly rare and valuable, giving him a standard to rely on in the antique market, which was now flooded with counterfeits.

After carefully admiring the "Time Pot," Chu Chen sighed inwardly with relief, while also developing an attachment to it. This Zisha teapot was magnificent without sacrificing delicacy. No wonder Uncle Fu had been so reluctant to part with it. If it had been his own, he would probably have felt the same way.

Chu Chen placed the teapot in its brocade box and said with admiration, "This teapot is truly exquisite. Master Song, you really are lucky."

Since he was about to obtain this "Time Pot," Song Jun was also beaming with joy. He thanked Zhu Dafu and told Chu Chen that he owed it all to his good fortune.

Zhu Dafu gently stroked the teapot and said with emotion, "To be honest, I really can't bear to part with it. But when I think about how old I am and how none of my juniors is a suitable successor, I'll have to find a good home for my collection sooner or later. This time, I'll let Master Song have his way."

Chu Chen hurriedly said, "Uncle Fu, you're only seventy-two. How can you say you're old? Besides, don't you still have Sister Xin?"

Zhu Dafu laughed. "Don't worry. I was only feeling sentimental about yesterday's trip. As for your Sister Xin, you'd better not count on her. Although she likes antiques, what she values most is their financial worth. To be honest, that's also the tragedy of our trade."

"Although more people have taken up collecting recently, most of them care about the financial gains. Let's set that aside for now. After all, without money, we can't continue collecting either. But many of them only have a superficial understanding of their collections. How can our ancestors' culture be passed down like this?"

These words plunged the other two into deep thought. Money was good, but too much money became mere vulgarity. The greater the profit, the more evil spirits it attracted. Correspondingly, the artistic and cultural value of antiques diminished in people's hearts.

Art and culture were often priceless because they were our spiritual nourishment and a form of inheritance. Money, however, always had a measurable value. If money came to dictate art and culture, it would not only destroy the heritage left by our ancestors but, more seriously, also destroy the future of human civilization.

Thus, the relationship between antiques and money was somewhat like the relationship between life and money. One's life could not exist without money, but one's life could not be controlled by money. Likewise, antiques could not be separated from money, but judging antiques entirely by money meant losing the value they were originally meant to embody.

"I'm old, so I talk too much. All we need to do is our part. Like now—it's getting late. Let's hurry up and sign the transfer agreements!" Zhu Dafu took out the four transfer agreements he had prepared in advance and addressed the two men with a beaming smile.

Chu Chen took his copy and gave it a brief look. After five years in the antique trade, he was quite familiar with such things. The agreement was actually very simple and generally followed the same format. They only needed to write the names of both parties, then fill in the amount and the item. If neither side had any objections, they could sign their names and the date.

The antique trade emphasized that a deal was final once the money and goods had changed hands. Signing such an agreement meant that the buyer had confirmed the item's authenticity, leaving no grounds for seeking compensation later. There was another arrangement in which the seller issued an appraisal certificate. If the buyer took the item home and discovered it was fake, he could then seek compensation from the seller.

However, some appraisal certificates nowadays were ambiguous as well. To give a simple example, a buyer might purchase a piece of Hetian jade, while the appraisal certificate merely stated that it was jade. After returning home, the buyer might discover that it was not Hetian jade at all but Russian jade. Even if he went back to the seller, he would have no real grounds to make a claim.

Therefore, when buying antiques, one had to keep one's eyes open. As the saying went, the buyer was never as shrewd as the seller. Newcomers to the antique trade should not assume they could seek compensation later. Likewise, whenever they saw an antique accompanied by an appraisal certificate, they needed to be especially cautious.

Chu Chen picked up the pen, filled in the item's name and price on the agreement, and signed his name and the date. The deal was then complete. As luck would have it, the agreement required a witness's signature, and Song Jun happened to be there. He could serve as the witness for Chu Chen's agreement, while Chu Chen could likewise witness Song Jun's.

The witness on the agreement did indeed serve a certain purpose, but it was not a decisive factor. If circumstances did not allow for one, leaving it blank would not matter.

After everyone had signed the agreements, they headed for the bank. Fortunately, it was not far away, and they arrived after walking for a few minutes.

As they walked, Chu Chen asked Zhu Dafu, "Uncle Fu, why didn't you get a check? That would have made the transaction less troublesome and saved us the trouble of coordinating our schedules."

Zhu Dafu smiled. "I'm old, and I'm not used to using checks. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, either. If I misread or wrote something wrong, it would be troublesome. It's more convenient to handle it at the bank. Besides, we won't be making large transactions like today's all the time. Cash is enough for everyday use."

After transferring the money at the bank, Chu Chen withdrew fifty thousand yuan. Fifty thousand might sound like a lot, but rent and broadband alone cost around twenty thousand, while the computer cost more than ten thousand. The rest would go toward buying stock and purchasing collectibles. Fifty thousand yuan could be spent very quickly. Earning money was easy, and spending it was just as easy.

Still, Chu Chen was excited when he looked at the four hundred and fifty thousand yuan in his account. Just a few days earlier, he had lost four hundred and twenty thousand. Today, not only had he filled the hole, he had even gained several tens of thousands more. He could not help sighing with emotion.

At that moment, Song Jun glanced at his watch and said, "It's about time for lunch. How about I treat you two today?"

When Chu Chen heard that, he came to his senses and said, "How could I let Master Song treat us? I'm the one who made a little money today. Besides, I'm the host here, so I'll definitely be the one to pay."

Seeing that Song Jun was about to continue protesting, Zhu Dafu laughed. "All right, Master Song. Today, we'll take advantage of this little tycoon, Xiao Chen. Next time we go to Yixing, we'll have to trouble you, the host."

With the arrangements settled, Song Jun could only nod in agreement. Chu Chen then took them to a fairly upscale private restaurant. Now that he had food in his hands and no worries in his heart, he really did have the air of a little landlord.

During the meal, the three of them engaged in a lively discussion about Zisha teapots and tea ceremony. Chu Chen was still a newcomer in both fields, of course, so Zhu Dafu and Song Jun did most of the talking. Overall, the meal was enjoyed by host and guests alike. It also taught Chu Chen a great deal and made him even more interested in tea ceremony.

Although the few dishes cost more than a thousand yuan, Chu Chen felt that it had been worthwhile. The food was indeed quite good, but more importantly, he had become much more familiar with Song Jun. By the end of the meal, Song Jun had even agreed to give him a tea set he had made himself.

This immediately put Chu Chen in high spirits. After all, Song Jun was a well-known master of teapot-making in the area. Obtaining one of his works often required not only money but also a long wait. Delighted, Chu Chen repeatedly said, "How could I accept that?"

After the meal, the three of them said their farewells. Song Jun had matters to attend to at home, so he booked an afternoon train and prepared to return. Chu Chen had originally intended to invite him to stay for two days and ask him for guidance on tea ceremony, but now he could only wait for another opportunity.

Song Jun was a very busy man to begin with, and Chu Chen did not know how long it would be before they could meet again. He felt somewhat regretful. Fortunately, communications were well developed nowadays. If he had questions about tea ceremony later, he could still discuss them over the phone. Still, it was ultimately not as convenient as speaking in person.