When it comes to collecting bronzes, there’s a saying in the trade: the beauty is all in the patina.
Generally speaking, the rust color on a bronze artifact should be preserved as much as possible. Appropriate patina not only enhances its aesthetic value, giving it a look of “jade-like shimmer and emerald hue,” but also serves as a crucial reference for authentication.
However, one must also acknowledge the truth that Yu Feibai exposed.
If you clean the ancient rust off a bronze surface, the piece looks far uglier without the rust than with it.
This is because the ancient corrosion has eaten into the metal beneath, leaving the surface pitted and scarred.
When the rust is present, it’s not noticeable, but once it’s removed, the surface is unsightly, like the surface of the moon.
“You intend to remove the rust from the ancient sword.”
At this point, Yu Feibai cautioned, “Aren't you afraid the blade will look even worse?” “I’m not afraid of that.”
Wang Guan chuckled and shook his head, entirely confident. “Have you forgotten what the ancient texts record? The sword Emperor Gaozu used to slay the White Serpent required honing and polishing once every twelve years, keeping its edge perpetually like frost and snow.”
“In other words, to keep Chixiao dazzlingly bright and sharp, it still requires meticulous grinding.”
As he spoke, Wang Guan tapped the blade lightly with his finger, but because the rust spots were so thick, there was barely any sound.
Despite this, he nodded in satisfaction. “In my opinion, the metal of this ancient sword is dense and fine-textured; the rust spots shouldn't have penetrated deep inside. Once we grind off the outer layer of corrosion, it should return to its original appearance.”
“I think we should forget it,”
Yu Feibai disagreed, shaking his head. “If we damage the ancient sword, the loss will outweigh the gain. I think we should take it to the capital first for Elder Qian to examine before making a decision.”
“...That could work too,”
Wang Guan considered it and agreed with Yu Feibai’s suggestion. But in his heart, he thought, what if Elder Qian can’t do anything either? Then he would proceed as he intended and just grind the rust off.
“See? I said we should go to the capital, but you insisted on coming back to the Porcelain City.”
At this moment, Yu Feibai had something to say, sounding annoyed. “Now we have to make another trip, how troublesome.”
“It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, I definitely have to come back,”
Wang Guan argued, absolutely refusing to admit that he only remembered it was the Mid-Autumn Festival after getting off the phone with his father.
“The Mid-Autumn Festival?” Yu Feibai paused. “So soon?” “Another year has flown by; it really is fast.”
Wang Guan shared the sentiment and reminded him, “What about you? Are you staying here with me for the festival, or going to Jiuquan to be with your family? Oh, right. Your nephew’s full moon celebration should be coming up after the festival; have you prepared his gift?”
“You mentioning it just now reminded me,”
Yu Feibai slapped his forehead upon hearing this and sighed. “Sigh, it’s like this every year; I can never rest easy when a holiday comes around.”
“What man alive can avoid it?” Wang Guan smiled. “That’s why I plan to visit Elder Qian in the capital after the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
“It makes no difference to me,”
Yu Feibai waved his hand. “Since it’s the same for me anyway…” “Alright, I’ll call Elder Qian and let him know.”
Wang Guan nodded, immediately dialing the number for the grand residence. He explained the situation on their end. Elder Qian was naturally very supportive, advising the two of them not to rush over but to spend quality time with their families for the holiday.
“Understood. We wish you a happy holiday in advance…” A moment later, seeing Wang Guan hang up the phone, Yu Feibai’s expression turned strange. “Why didn’t you mention the ancient sword to Elder Qian?”
“I plan to give him a surprise,”
Wang Guan smiled.
“A surprise about what?”
Yu Feibai pouted. “We can’t even be sure it’s the Chixiao Sword; where’s the surprise in that? Forget it, I’m done chatting with you. Give me a ride to the airport.”
“What, you’re leaving now?” Wang Guan was startled. “Is it necessary to be in such a hurry?”
“I need to stop by Suzhou first to get the longevity lock I commissioned from Lu Chongming for my nephew.”
Yu Feibai explained that after determining what gift he needed, he had asked Lu Chongming to craft it, and it should be ready by now. Wang Guan wasn’t sure if it was finished, but since Yu Feibai was leaving, he naturally wouldn’t stop him and drove him straight to the airport.
After buying the ticket and seeing he still had ample time, Yu Feibai ate a meal before waving goodbye.
“Call me if anything comes up…” “Don’t worry, even if there’s nothing important, I’ll call to bother you.”
After some light banter, Yu Feibai passed security and boarded his flight. Wang Guan waved until the plane disappeared, then returned to the villa.
In the blink of an eye, the large villa felt empty, leaving Wang Guan feeling rather lonely.
“Never mind. I’ll pack up and head back to my hometown immediately.”
Action is better than thought. Wang Guan immediately returned to his room to pack his luggage. Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Wang Guan was slightly surprised but quickly answered.
“Elder Zhang… Yes, this is Wang Guan.”
Wang Guan was still wondering why Elder Zhang was calling him so suddenly when he heard the old man’s booming voice through the receiver: “You’re home, aren’t you? I’m at the gate. Come out and open it.”
“Ah?” Wang Guan paused, rushed out of the living room door in a few strides, and indeed saw a group of people standing outside the villa’s iron gate.
“See?”
At that moment, an elderly man among the group, with white hair, raised his hand slightly, and his voice came through the phone: “I see you…” The call ended just then, but Elder Zhang’s voice was loud and clear: “Wang Guan, come open the gate.”
“Coming.”
Wang Guan casually set down his travel bag and sprinted over. When he reached the iron gate, he realized that besides Elder Zhang, there were quite a few familiar faces.
“Boss Fang! Daoist Master Zhang?” Boss Fang was naturally Fang Mingsheng; only two or three days had passed since they last met in Hanzhong. Wang Guan had assumed he had returned to Chaozhou but was surprised to find him in the Porcelain City. As for Daoist Master Zhang, though half a year had passed, Wang Guan’s memory was sharp, and he naturally remembered Zhang Qing, the Dragon and Tiger Mountain successor who had bought the tapestry portrait of Heavenly Master Zhang.
Seeing all these people visiting together at this moment gave Wang Guan a strangely familiar feeling. Many thoughts raced through his mind, but his movements were swift. He casually opened the iron gate and, with a beaming smile, invited them in: “Elder Zhang, what a rare guest you are! Please, come in quickly.”
“Rare guest, my foot,”
Elder Zhang entered without ceremony, laughing loudly. “I’d love to visit often, but you’re running around the country all year and are never home. I figured you’d certainly be back for the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I kept watch nearby and finally caught you…”
“Haha, that’s my fault,”
Wang Guan admitted honestly, suddenly realizing. No wonder Elder Zhang and the others knew exactly when to show up just half a day after his return. While understanding, he also felt a strange curiosity. “Elder Zhang, if you needed to see me, couldn’t you just call? Why wait here specifically?”
“It shows more sincerity this way,”
Upon entering the living room, Elder Zhang spotted the travel bag by the door and frowned. “What, you just got back and you’re already leaving again?”
“Yes, going back to Jiangzhou for the holiday,”
Wang Guan stated calmly. “My parents are already there; I must join them.”
“Family reunion is important,”
Elder Zhang nodded understandingly. Then he smiled. “But there’s no rush; the festival is still a few days away. By the way, Little Fang mentioned you were treasure hunting in Hanzhong a couple of days ago. Did you find anything worthwhile?”
“I did have a good find… Please wait a moment, Elder.”
Wang Guan hesitated briefly before running out. He returned soon after with a box, handed it to Elder Zhang, and asked for his opinion: “Elder Zhang, some people said this is some kind of fluorescent tree resin, but after verification, they found it wasn't. You are learned and experienced; could you help me judge what it is?”
“Fluorescent resin?” Elder Zhang was startled, showing a hint of surprise. “Isn’t that stuff already extinct?”
“It’s good that you know what it is; because I heard it was extinct, I wasn't sure if it was genuine or fake,”
Wang Guan smiled. “Please lend me your discerning eye, Elder; one word from you will settle it.”
“What exactly is fluorescent resin?” Fang Mingsheng asked curiously at the same time. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Something that went extinct back in the Tang Dynasty, so it’s normal you haven’t heard of it,”
Elder Zhang explained casually, then opened the box to examine it carefully.
“Take your time, Elder,”
Wang Guan smiled, immediately boiling water to make tea, and called out to his guests. “Boss Fang, I thought you had returned to Chaozhou.”
“I did, stayed one night,”
Fang Mingsheng laughed. “But Daoist Master Zhang is planning a Daoist ceremony for the Mid-Autumn Festival and personally called to invite me to attend. Of course, I couldn’t miss it, so I came over. I arrived yesterday, just one day before you.”
Daoist sacrificial rites and ceremonies, commonly known as Daochang, are what people often refer to as rituals. During traditional festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival, it has always been a prime time for Buddhist temples and Daoist monasteries to showcase their prowess, and Dragon and Tiger Mountain is no exception. Hosting a Daochang to entertain the public and boost offerings to the temple is completely normal.
However, the preparation for the ceremony wasn't happening at Dragon and Tiger Mountain but right here at his doorstep, which naturally made Wang Guan feel something unusual was at play. The visitors are not here with good intentions.
Wang Guan remained vigilant inwardly but did not show any hostility. He calmly prepared the tea, poured a cup for each guest, and then smiled, gesturing, “Everyone, please don’t be formal. Have a cup of West Lake Longjing to moisten your throats.”
“Elder Zhang,”
Wang Guan turned to call out at the right moment. “Have some tea!”
“Mmm.”
Elder Zhang tapped the tea table with his finger, expressing his thanks politely, then looked up. “Wang Guan, how did you acquire this item? If you hadn’t mentioned beforehand that this might be fluorescent resin, I might have mistaken it for industrial adhesive.”
“I picked it up from an elderly gentleman’s house in Hanzhong,”
Wang Guan explained, then asked with a smile, “What’s wrong, Elder Zhang? Even you can’t tell what this is?”
“It’s all clumped together; I can’t tell just by looking,”
Elder Zhang shook his head. “We’ll need to run a test.”
“What kind of test?” Wang Guan blinked, reminding him, “Elder Zhang, someone already tested it. They dripped water onto an inkstone and ground it with an ink block, but even after half an hour of grinding, the substance remained a blob, showing no signs of dissolving.”
“Oh, that’s impressive,”
Elder Zhang exclaimed in surprise. “You actually know the useful property of this fluorescent resin.”
“It wasn’t me who knew; an old professor told me,”
Wang Guan did not take credit, smiling slightly. “He suspected it was resin from a fluorescent tree, but after testing, he found it wasn’t, so he sold it to me.”