The Western Han White Jade Hairpin

"Elder Wu." Zhang Yang turned back and approached him. One glance at the porcelain vase in Elder Wu's hands told him it was genuine.

"My young friend, do you know much about porcelain?" Wu Daorong asked, holding up the vase.

Zhang Yang grinned and nodded. He had experience with all kinds of antiques.

"Good. Sorry for the trouble, but could you take a look and tell me when this vase was made and what it's worth?" Wu Daorong placed it in Zhang Yang's hands.

"Zhang Yang, we're going home!" Cheng Dongxue urged.

They had come to buy her mother a birthday present, but things had gone wrong from the start. Zhang Yang had run into trouble, and now that it was settled, he was helping someone appraise a vase. Hadn't they lost sight of why they were here?

"Don't rush me. This vase is well made. Let me take a look." Zhang Yang smiled at Cheng Dongxue with confidence.

"Please do," Wu Daorong said.

Zhang Yang examined the blue-and-white porcelain vase. It stood a little over thirty centimeters tall and was intact apart from a drilled hole in its base. He reached a conclusion at once, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

"Well?" Wu Daorong asked when he saw Zhang Yang smile.

"What period do you think it's from?" Zhang Yang asked the man who had bought the vase.

"The Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty," the man replied.

"It is from the Qing dynasty, but not as early as the Qianlong era. The workmanship even resembles modern techniques. This vase dates from the late Qing to the Republic of China period. More precisely, it's a piece of porcelain brought back from overseas," Zhang Yang said.

Everyone was surprised, especially the collectors who knew only a little about porcelain.

"This kind of porcelain was originally made for export to earn foreign currency. Once it reached other countries, people who didn't know what it was turned it into a lamp. They drilled a round hole in the base to run the wire through."

"So it isn't worth much, especially with that hole. At a glance, I'd put it at less than ten thousand."

Zhang Yang gave both the date and the estimate with confidence.

"Ah—"

The man stared in shock. He had clearly lost a great deal.

"But I paid a hundred thousand for this Qianlong blue-and-white vase!" he exclaimed. He had taken a terrible loss.

"You certainly know your antiques, my young friend. This vase is a tricky one. Many experts wouldn't buy it. It's fine as a decorative piece, but if you're collecting in the hope that it will appreciate, it's definitely a poor choice."

Wu Daorong again expressed his admiration for Zhang Yang's appraisal skills, then turned to the man.

"Don't be too upset. This happens in the collecting world. If you like it, keep it. It still makes a fine display piece, and it is old, after all."

"I suppose that's all I can do." The man held the vase and lowered his head, at a loss for words.

Cheng Dongxue was convinced now, too. Zhang Yang might have guessed right once, though he had nearly been tricked. But twice? He wasn't that bold or that lucky.

"We're going home, and we still haven't bought a birthday present," Cheng Dongxue complained. Zhang Yang had been so busy showing off his appraisal skills that he had forgotten about the gift. Then it occurred to her that he might be stalling on purpose.

"You came to buy a gift? My shop has quite a few things. Why not take a look? I'm sure you'll find something you like." Seizing the chance, Wu Daorong invited Zhang Yang to his shop. He wanted to get to know the young collector.

"Then let's take a look, Elder Wu," Zhang Yang agreed at once. He wanted to get to know Wu Daorong as well. He had long heard of him, but they had never been friends.

"Let's go and see. Elder Wu's shop is a big one; we're bound to find something you like." Afraid Cheng Dongxue would object, Zhang Yang hurried to reassure his wife. They had come all this way and couldn't go home empty-handed. He wanted to pick out an antique that would impress his mother-in-law, Yang Su.

"But..."

"No buts. Just stay with me."

Cheng Dongxue had never visited Antique Street or bought an antique, so she had no sense of the prices. After looking around today, she had learned that none of them came cheap.

She worried that the money she had brought would not be enough. Zhang Yang, meanwhile, never carried much money.

But Zhang Yang insisted, so Cheng Dongxue stayed with him. Without her, he had no substantial sum on him and might be mocked again.

With Elder Wu leading the way, Zhang Yang and Cheng Dongxue arrived at Antique Pavilion.

Antique Pavilion was a sizable shop, one of Wu Daorong's businesses. Several employees were inside, busy preparing to close for the day.

When Wu Daorong returned so soon after leaving, they all greeted him.

"Professor Wu."

"Professor Wu."

Wu Daorong was a well-known figure. He also held an honorary professorship at Capital University.

"My young friend, feel free to look around and choose anything you like. Whatever you pick, I'll give you a twenty percent discount." Wu Daorong stood to one side and let Zhang Yang browse.

Once inside, Cheng Dongxue saw antiques of every kind. Soon she was absorbed in looking through them herself.

Zhang Yang needed to choose a suitable gift for his mother-in-law, preferably something she could actually use. She didn't like antiques, especially after Cheng Hai had paid dearly for his mistakes a few times.

Yang Su was in her forties and still fairly young. She was attractive, too, with a mature charm. The gift had to suit her taste, or she would turn up her nose at it and bully Zhang Yang again.

Women liked jewelry, so Zhang Yang focused on the jade and jadeite pieces.

"That's a good piece. You could buy it." Wu Daorong had been watching Zhang Yang. When he saw him pick up a White Jade Hairpin, he offered his approval.

"Western Han white jade, boldly carved from a single piece of raw stone. The craftsmanship suggests it came from the imperial court. At the very least, it belonged to a Western Han noble," Zhang Yang said admiringly.

"A keen eye. Just as you say." Wu Daorong was even more surprised. Zhang Yang truly knew a great deal.

On closer inspection, the head of the White Jade Hairpin was a butterfly with its wings slightly spread, while its long body formed the shaft. A trace of red rind from the original stone remained at the tips of the wings, making the butterfly seem lifelike.

Zhang Yang gently stroked the White Jade Hairpin. It felt exceptionally smooth, showed signs of use, and had an authentic patina.

"It really is beautiful." Hearing them, Cheng Dongxue hurried over and took the White Jade Hairpin, delighted.

"Elder Wu, what do you think?" Zhang Yang was asking for a price.

"The shop bought this White Jade Hairpin when I wasn't here. An employee paid five hundred thousand for it. At cost, with a forty percent discount, call it three hundred thousand. Let's consider it the start of a friendship." Wu Daorong sighed. The hairpin was good, but it was nowhere near worth five hundred thousand. His employee had misjudged it, and it had sat in the shop for years without selling.

Zhang Yang was startled. He had chosen the White Jade Hairpin because he had seen value in it far beyond its use as a hairpin. Apparently, Wu Daorong had not discovered its secret.

"Elder Wu, I'll take the hairpin, but I insist on paying the original price," Zhang Yang said.

Wu Daorong was taken aback. "My young friend, why? Is there something I've missed—its true value?"

Wu Daorong sensed that something was amiss. Zhang Yang was willing to pay five hundred thousand, more than Wu Daorong had asked. Unless Zhang Yang was a fool, there had to be a secret Wu Daorong had overlooked.