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Luoyang, one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals.

Situated north of the Luo River, the area north of water is termed yang, hence the name Luoyang. It lies deep within the Central Plains, crisscrossed by mountains and rivers; it leans against the Qinling Mountains in the west, faces the Song Mountains in the east, is backed by the Taihang Mountains with the formidable Yellow River to the north, and gazes toward the Funiu Mountains in the south—said to be protected by rivers and mountains, its strategic position unparalleled under heaven.

In short, if you wish to inquire about the rise and fall of affairs past and present, one need only look upon the city of Luoyang.

Before the Song Dynasty, Luoyang, much like Chang’an, was firmly situated in the heartland of the Central Plains, serving as the nation’s political, economic, and cultural nexus. However, after two or three millennia of development, coupled with the ancients’ lack of understanding regarding sustainability, this region became less suitable for establishing a capital after the Song era.

Of course, regardless of its later status, as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization and a city that once shone so brightly, the cultural relics left behind across these millennia in this location are legion. They are as countless as the stars in the firmament. If one were truly to compile a detailed inventory, the resulting table would likely rival a dictionary in thickness.

“We aren’t here just for sightseeing, so why are you digging up so much information on historical sites?”

Seeing Wang Guan consulting his phone as if it were a computer while searching for Luoyang data, Yu Feibai immediately showed disdain. “Especially this kind of data—most of it is polished. It’s true those sites exist, but they aren’t as magnificent as you might imagine. You’ve been to enough places; you know the tricks behind tourist spots, don’t you?”

It wasn't that the sites were misrepresented; it was just that after being developed for tourism, commercial elements were inevitably layered on top. As for what those commercial elements were, anyone with travel experience would be intimately familiar.

Another distinct characteristic, given China’s immense population and the relatively fixed tourist seasons, is the phenomenon of massive crowds congregating at every attraction.

“It’s a good thing we arrived after the Mid-Autumn Festival; otherwise, the scene we’d be witnessing now would be absolute chaos.”

Amidst these musings, the three of them successfully reached Luoyang, secured lodging at a reputable hotel within the city, and then called Elder Hou to inquire where they should meet him.

A moment later, Wang Guan frowned, tapping his phone screen. “It won’t connect.”

“Is no one picking up, or is there no signal?” Yu Feibai asked, slightly surprised.

“It’s switched off.”

As he spoke, Wang Guan deliberately waited two or three minutes before redialing. He received the same result.

“Perhaps Elder Hou is busy,” Yu Feibai surmised timely. “It might be a critical moment, and he doesn’t want outside disturbances.”

“Mm,” Wang Guan nodded. He casually added, “Then we’ll just wait for him to finish and call us back.”

“We can’t just sit around doing nothing,” Yu Feibai’s eyes darted around as he immediately looked toward Tang Qinghua. “Didn’t you say you needed to buy something? Do you have a target in mind?”

“I certainly have a target, or I wouldn't have come,” Tang Qinghua laughed. “Things are mostly settled; I just need final approval from me.”

“Final approval? You just love plastering yourself with gold leaf,” Yu Feibai scoffed. “I think your role is clearly that of an ATM, just here to hand over the cash.”

While that might have been the truth, having it explicitly stated was naturally irritating. Tang Qinghua retorted testily, “You’re always undermining me. If you have the nerve, don't come along.”

“Alright, stop the banter, let’s get in the car.”

At that moment, Wang Guan had already hailed a taxi. He asked casually, “Qinghua, where to?”

“Tianzi Jia Liu Antique Market.”

Tang Qinghua gave the address as he entered the cab, and the driver nodded, immediately setting the vehicle in motion.

“Tianzi Jia Liu,” Yu Feibai mused aloud. “That name carries weight. Tianzi Jia Liu—Son of Heaven uses six horses for his carriage; a feudal lord uses five; a high minister, four; a great official, three; a scholar, two; and a commoner, one. This antique market naming itself after the Son of Heaven’s six-horse carriage shows enormous ambition—they aim to dominate the industry.”

Jia refers to the carriage. Jia Liu naturally means a carriage drawn by six horses. The Son of Heaven’s procession utilized a six-horse carriage; this was the highest ceremonial protocol in ancient China. At least before the pre-Qin period, only the Zhou Heavenly Sovereign was entitled to such grandeur.

“I know you’re learned, but you might have guessed wrong this time,” Wang Guan remarked, noticing the driver seemed hesitant to speak. He smiled and prompted, “The origin of the antique market’s name might not be what you assumed. Sir, you’re a local; you must know the story, right?”

“The Tianzi Jia Liu Antique Market is near the Eastern Zhou Royal City Square.”

The driver explained with a smile, “When they were constructing the square, the work crew unearthed some large tombs and several horse pits. In one of those pits, they found six horses and one chariot. Experts declared it proof of the Tianzi Jia Liu custom. Later, they even established a Tianzi Jia Museum. The antique market is right next to the museum, so it borrowed the name to gain prestige.”

“So that’s how it is…” Wang Guan and the others suddenly understood.

“Is that area the site of the Eastern Zhou Royal City?” Yu Feibai inquired. After all, the discovery of the Tianzi Jia Liu chariot must be connected to the Royal City. Furthermore, the driver mentioned the market was near the Eastern Zhou Royal City Square, which, judging by the name, wasn't hard to deduce.

“That’s right.”

The driver was quite talkative—or perhaps most taxi drivers are talkative. After all, driving all day, if they didn't chat, they’d surely bore themselves to death.

As they talked, the car soon pulled up in front of the antique market gates. As Wang Guan paid the fare and stepped out, the driver hesitated slightly before kindly offering a warning: “Young man, take my advice: just look at the items inside; don’t get too serious about them.”

With that, the driver gently pressed the accelerator, merged into the flowing traffic, and vanished from sight in moments.

“There are still many good people in this world,” Wang Guan remarked.

They naturally understood the driver’s meaning. In fact, it wasn't just this Tianzi Jia Liu Antique Market; the situation was similar in antique markets across the country. If one lacked certainty, it was best to observe from a distance rather than engage too deeply.

“Qinghua, did you hear that?” Yu Feibai warned. “Don’t let yourself get fleeced.”

“Relax, I wouldn’t come on this trip unless I was confident,” Tang Qinghua laughed. “Besides, with you two here, you wouldn’t just stand by and watch someone cheat me, would you?”

“We would, and we might even add fuel to the fire, pushing you into the pit and stepping on you afterward,” Yu Feibai said cheerfully, causing Tang Qinghua to roll his eyes dramatically and sigh about choosing his friends poorly.

Amidst the joking, the three walked into the antique city. Upon entering, they noticed the foot traffic was sparse. Relative to the expansive layout of the market, a few dozen or a hundred people spread around hardly made a crowd. Outsiders seeing this scene would certainly think the market was desolate and doing no business.

In reality, this is characteristic of the antique trade. When business is good, it’s absolutely packed shoulder-to-shoulder, every shop overflowing with people, leaving barely any room to move. But more often, it’s a state of desertedness—from opening in the morning until closing at night, a whole day passes without a single customer.

Thus, in the antique business, especially for shopkeepers, patience is paramount; one must be able to endure solitude. Those lacking perseverance cannot survive in this line of work. Having several days, weeks, or even months pass without a single transaction can crush a newcomer with anxiety and pressure.

It can be said that this business is a massive winnowing process; those who can’t withstand the pressure have long since closed their doors. Therefore, the shops that endure, especially those that have been operating for many years, certainly possess their own network of connections and sales channels. This is a long-term venture; as long as no major incident occurs, business will inevitably improve, and establishing a century-old shop is not just a pipe dream.

The Tianzi Jia Liu Antique Market is newly built, so there won't be any century-old shops here, but there are definitely establishments that have been running for seven or eight years. The one Tang Qinghua is heading for is one such antique store.

“Boji Tang!”

Arriving at their destination, Yu Feibai looked up and nodded. “Nice signboard.”

The signboard was indeed impressive. The three large characters were presumably written by a master calligrapher; the script was grand and imposing, the ink rich and flowing, immediately giving passersby a sense of ancient elegance and charm.

Of course, for an antique shop, the signboard is secondary; what matters is the merchandise inside.

At this moment, the three entered the shop lightly. The interior space was relatively large, perhaps thirty to forty square meters. Tall wall cabinets lined the perimeter, filled with jars, vases, and various artifacts—a dazzling array. It was clear this shop primarily dealt in ceramics, supplemented by scattered Tang Sancai pottery, Buddha statues, and peony calligraphy and paintings.

The peony is Luoyang’s city flower, first cultivated in the Sui Dynasty, reaching its zenith in the Tang Dynasty, and considered supreme in the Song. Verses like, Only the peony possesses true national beauty; when its blossoms open, the capital city is moved, and Luoyang’s earth favors flowers best, the peony being the world's wonder, sufficiently illustrate the peony's status in Luoyang.

It symbolizes luxurious grace, unparalleled beauty, splendor, good fortune, prosperity, and the flourishing success and happiness of the Chinese nation. When the flowers bloom, Luoyang city is a sea of blooms and crowds, all vying to admire the peony’s delicate countenance.

Naturally, not everyone can manage to visit during the blooming season. In such circumstances, peony calligraphy and paintings naturally emerged. Although these works might not qualify as masterpieces or possess a strong artifact aura, they serve as the most suitable souvenirs for the average tourist. As long as the price is right, visiting guests will pick up a piece or two.

While peony artworks might lack significant collection value, hanging a vibrant peony depiction at home can certainly brighten one's mood. The famous essay On the Love of the Lotus designated the peony as the flower of wealth, perfectly capturing the common sentiment. For ordinary people, wealth is often the highest aspiration.

As for so-called ‘gentleman flowers’ like chrysanthemums, bamboo, lotus, or plum blossoms, they are not something the average person can afford to indulge in. History has long proven that those who favor these 'gentleman flowers' often lead rather miserable lives.

In any case, Wang Guan thought the peony paintings were quite nice; they looked festive and lively, fitting his aesthetic taste. Seeing a few peony pieces hanging on the wall, he felt a desire to purchase one.

“Director Tang has arrived.”

Just then, a middle-aged man, looking sharp and capable, approached them with a wide smile. “We’ve been waiting for you for quite some time!”

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