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It’s common knowledge that a Buddhist temple must have a bell. Buddhist bells are used to pray for longevity, inspire enlightenment, and deliver sentient beings from suffering.

Only a deep, resonant, and lingering chime can truly move the heart. Moreover, hearing a melodious bell in an ancient temple naturally imparts a sense of endless resonance and ethereal clarity.

The most famous Buddhist bell is undoubtedly the Yongle Great Bell at Dazhong Temple, reputed to possess five unique qualities, making it renowned both at home and abroad. This fame has extended to Dazhong Temple itself, making it one of the great temples of the world.

From this, one can appreciate the significance of a fine Buddhist bell to a monastery. Perhaps the original wealthy owner thought the same way, which is why after the temple was built, he didn't rush to acquire a bell to place in the Bell and Drum Tower; perhaps he intended to seek out a truly exceptional one.

However, it was a great pity that with his capital chain broken, he could barely sustain himself, and the matter was naturally postponed until Wang Guan took over the project, handing the temple over to Monk Banshan to manage, only then discovering the Bell and Drum Tower lacked a Buddhist bell. If it were a small bell, Monk Banshan had brought one along, decades old, but it was not large, only about thirty centimeters tall.

It would have been perfectly suitable for a small temple in Singapore. But the original owner had grand ambitions; he built the Bell and Drum Tower very large, rising two stories high, exuding a powerful aura.

To hang a small bell in such a structure would not only be mismatched but would likely become a subject of ridicule. “Looks like we’ll have to contact a manufacturer to custom-make one.” Pi Qiushi smiled, “Leave this matter to me.” Ancient bells are not standard off-the-shelf items; they are usually cast only when there is a specific demand.

Otherwise, who would they sell a pre-cast bell to? Naturally, Monk Banshan expressed his gratitude for Pi Qiushi volunteering for the task.

However. Pi Qiushi, in turn, wanted to thank Monk Banshan for giving him this opportunity, frankly stating that when casting the bell, he would definitely sneak in a private addition—a donation inscription.

This way, as long as the ancient bell hung in the temple tower, his name would be commemorated forever; in reality, he was the one getting the better deal. “Brother Pi certainly has an excellent scheme,” Wang Guan chuckled, “If I had known, I should have fought you for this job.” “You are already destined to go down in history; what’s the point of competing with me over this?” Pi Qiushi waved his hands and declared, “It’s settled.

Anyone who tries to snatch it from me, I’ll have a serious spat with them.” Since Pi Qiushi was eager to contribute to the monastery, everyone smiled and let him have his way. But man proposes, God disposes.

When they returned to the grand residence and heard about the Buddhist bell matter. Elder Qian pondered, “Casting a Buddhist bell requires great care.

We must consider not just the design and quality, but also its tone. Speaking of which, I know a master bell caster who has dedicated himself to studying ancient bells for over thirty years.

He once used ancient methods to recreate the casting process of the Yongle Great Bell, ultimately producing a replica incredibly similar to the original…” Hearing this, Pi Qiushi was overjoyed and quickly asked, “Elder Qian, where is that master?” Since a bell needed to be cast, they naturally had to find the best craftsman to help. The finished ancient bell might not last a thousand years, but surviving five hundred years without damage should be a given, right?

To be honest, even though Pi Qiushi had volunteered, he harbored doubts about whether modern factory casting techniques would suffice. He worried that if the ancient bell cracked after only a few years of striking, he would lose all face.

Pi Qiushi had been planning to discreetly inquire which factories had superior casting techniques, but hearing Elder Qian say this was like getting a pillow exactly when he was dozing off—it was exactly what he needed. However, the answer Elder Qian provided was rather unexpected.

“This person lives quite far away,” Elder Qian smiled at this time. “But I believe Wang Guan should know where he lives.” “I know?” Wang Guan was surprised.

“But I don’t know any master bell casters.” “You might not know him personally, but you must know where Shizhong Mountain is, right?” Elder Qian prompted. “He is currently living in seclusion near Shizhong Mountain.

Back when I was in Jingdezhen, I used to visit him and stay for a few days occasionally.” “Ah!” Wang Guan suddenly realized, “Lake Mouth Shizhong Mountain in Jiangxi?” “Are there other Shizhong Mountains?” Elder Qian chuckled. “Su Dongpo’s essay, ‘A Record of Shizhong Mountain,’ made that mountain famous.

Since you are from Jiangxi, surely you’ve heard of it?” “Of course, I’ve heard of it,” Wang Guan admitted, looking a bit embarrassed this time. “However, the county where my family lives is quite far from Lake Mouth, and I never had the right opportunity to visit.” This was quite normal; even within the same city but different counties, or even the same county but different towns, some people wouldn't bother visiting famous historical sites nearby.

The reason was twofold: first, being deeply rooted there prevents one from feeling the appropriate atmosphere; second, laziness kicks in, making them unwilling to make the trip. For Wang Guan, it was a combination of both factors; even after living in Jiangxi for over twenty years, he had never visited Shizhong Mountain.

Elder Qian simply shook his head at this, having nothing more to say. Wang Guan managed an awkward smile and then tried to remedy the situation: “Since it’s in Jiangxi, let me go then.

It’s also a good chance for me to go home, check on things, and organize some items.” Mainly, he needed to properly house the treasures he had recently acquired; he couldn't just carry them around everywhere, so they naturally needed to be secured in the vault. Seeing this, Pi Qiushi sighed helplessly, feeling it was destiny, and reluctantly handed the task over to Wang Guan.

Without delay, two days later, after settling matters in the temple, Wang Guan immediately set off back to Jingdezhen, planning to visit his parents first before taking time to go to Shizhong Mountain. After flying for two or three hours, the plane landed in Jingdezhen.

He didn't need anyone to pick him up; Wang Guan hailed a taxi himself back to the villa. Having been away for some time, the villa showed a few changes.

Under his parents’ care, the flowers and trees in the front and back yards had become even more lush, appearing more tranquil and elegant. Seeing Wang Guan return, his parents were naturally delighted, though they wondered why they didn't see Beiye.

But when they heard she was now working at the temple, his parents were relieved, nodding repeatedly, agreeing it was proper. Perhaps in the minds of the elders, no matter how wealthy their children become, they must not abandon work, as a career is the foundation for establishing a home and a life.

After staying home for half a day, Wang Guan felt restless. After saying goodbye to his parents, he went to visit Gao Dequan.

There was the usual catching up, discussing each other's recent endeavors. “Now everything is ready, we just need the east wind,” Gao Dequan spoke of the Mao Porcelain project, his face beaming.

“In another two months, once autumn sets in, we can open the kiln. After working hard for a year, I can finally relax.” “No matter how busy, it’s worth it.

It will surely cause a sensation nationwide then,” Wang Guan expressed his joy, mixed with a touch of regret: “But due to raw material limitations, we can only fire one kiln batch. What a pity.” “You’re being greedy,” Gao Dequan laughed.

“One kiln holds at least a few thousand pieces of porcelain; isn't that enough?” “Greed knows no bounds; it’s not that easy to be satisfied,” Wang Guan sighed, then smiled again. “But it’s close enough.

Collecting a complete set of Mao Porcelain, perhaps only a few people could manage that. Well, even the replicas, in thirty to fifty years, their value could approach that of the genuine articles.” “Once they are made perfectly, we can just sell them as originals,” Gao Dequan chuckled, his demeanor full of confidence.

Innovation is certainly difficult, but replicating something standing on the shoulders of giants—for a master of antique porcelain reproduction, passing off a fake as genuine is the basic requirement. If the replica cannot be made identical to the original, it is considered a significant failure.

Wang Guan certainly trusted Gao Dequan’s ability; even if he didn’t intend to sell the replicas as originals, he hoped they would be as flawless as the real ones. This was natural human sentiment, nothing to criticize.

“What about you? Any recent gains?” Gao Dequan asked concurrently.

“Feibai told me that right after I left Shanghai, you discovered the pirate treasure. If I had known, I would have stayed a few more days…” As they chatted, evening fell.

At Wang Guan’s invitation, Gao Dequan happily came to the villa. They enjoyed a lively dinner and viewed the treasures Wang Guan had brought back before finally leaving, clearly still wanting more.

There is no need to dwell on the situation at home; since Wang Guan rarely returned, he stayed for a few more days before setting off for Lake Mouth, Jiangxi. Lake Mouth is located at the junction of three provinces, named for the sole confluence point of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, known as the key to rivers and lakes and the thoroughfare of three provinces.

The county town also boasts quite a few famous scenic spots, as it has historically been a strategic location contested by armies, naturally attracting literati and scholars throughout the ages to compose poems, express sentiment, and leave behind much laudatory writing. However, among all these attractions, Shizhong Mountain stands out like a solitary bloom, eclipsing the scenery of all other spots.

This, to some extent, illustrates the astonishing influence of the great Northern Song literatus, Su Dongpo. Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, once said: Literature is the grand enterprise of governing a nation and an immortal achievement.

Regardless of the original intent of this statement, it sufficiently demonstrates the importance of a single great piece of writing. It’s not just Shizhong Mountain; there are countless places across China that have achieved eternal fame and remembrance precisely because of an ancient person’s essay, poem, or allusion.

This is what we call cultural depth, the very source of pride and honor. At this moment, Wang Guan arrived at Shizhong Mountain.

He saw the mountain situated at the boundary between the river and the lake: on one side was Poyang Lake, and on the other, the Yangtze River. The water in Poyang Lake was deeper, displaying a jade-green hue, while the Yangtze water was shallower, slightly yellowish.

The mountain itself, however, was verdant,ing between the green and yellow, creating a magnificent spectacle of mingled colors, each holding its own distinct charm. The scenery was uniquely characterized, no wonder it had been celebrated by people for centuries.

While admiring the beautiful scenery, Wang Guan did not forget his main purpose. Following Elder Qian’s directions and inquiring further, he gradually arrived before a very ordinary, unassuming residence.

Wang Guan immediately went up and knocked. After a moment, a young man opened the door, glanced at Wang Guan, and upon realizing he was a stranger, frowned slightly.

“Who are you looking for?” “Is Master Liu at home?” Wang Guan asked. Being in need of a favor required him to be polite.

“Looking for my grandfather?” The young man’s frown eased, then he casually replied, “He’s not here; he stepped out on an errand.” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets.)