PS: It's three in the morning; please support us with monthly votes. If you have any, please cast a few. Thank you. "The Xiyi Museum."

At this moment, someone studying the sign looked puzzled. "Is there some hidden meaning behind the word 'Xiyi'?"

A museum's name surely carries significance. Take, for example, the first private museum in China, founded by the renowned private collector Mr. Ma, which is named Guanfu.

Guanfu is derived from the sixteenth chapter of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching: "Attain the utmost vacancy, maintain the deepest stillness, and watch the myriad things return to their origin. I watch their return." Guan means to observe, and Fu means again and again. Thus, Guanfu implies that only by calming one's heart and observing the myriad things repeatedly and meticulously can one truly discern their essence.

From this, it is clear that Mr. Ma chose the name Guanfu with careful consideration, its meaning profound. In that case, the Xiyi Museum must also possess a certain depth of meaning.

Of course, those in the know might simply assume the name was chosen because the esteemed Elder Qian’s name contains the character Xi (), making Xiyi a pleasant-sounding choice. However, those with deeper knowledge of traditional culture would not settle for such a superficial explanation.

For instance, the elderly gentleman who just lamented the decline of societal morals took a moment to savor the name before shaking his head and pontificating, "To see but not identify is called Yi (); to hear but not comprehend is called Xi (); to grasp but fail to obtain is called Wei (). According to the annotation by He Shang Gong, no color is Yi, no sound is Xi. Yi Xi Xi Yi, it is indeed profoundly mysterious..."

"What does that mean?" someone asked sincerely, seeking clarification.

"These are words spoken by Lao Tzu."

When someone expressed a genuine desire to learn, the old gentleman was happy to explain: "When you look for it and cannot see it, that is Yi; when you listen for it and cannot hear it, that is Xi; when you try to touch it and cannot feel it, that is Wei. Essentially, this is Lao Tzu's exposition of the Dao—he believed the Dao is formless, soundless, and colorless. A bit like air..."

The old man spoke on, and those around him, though seemingly grasping a little, were actually quite lost. This was normal; the Dao of Taoism is such that the Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao. If you don't understand, that’s precisely how it should be.

Seeing that his explanation wasn't quite landing, the old man finally concluded, "Just know this: Xiyi refers to a realm of void, stillness, and profound mystery. The Xiyi Museum likely suggests that the artifacts within are exceedingly profound."

"Ah, if you had said that earlier, we would have understood immediately."

In an instant, the bystanders nodded repeatedly, offering flattery about the old gentleman’s erudition.

The old man beamed, then modestly waved his hand. "This is nothing. Look, the museum doors are opening. Let’s all go in and take a look. We need to see just how profound these things really are."

On opening day, popularity is essential to create a successful atmosphere. Many newly opened malls favor sales and promotions, but a museum cannot really offer discounts. However, making entry free for visitors to browse at their leisure is certainly achievable.

Given China's massive population base, it inevitably harbors a large number of people with leisure time.

Of course, there are two types of idle people: those who are idle because they choose not to work, and those who are idle because they do not need to work, lacking financial worries. Most of those flocking to Drum Tower belonged to the latter category. Having some disposable income, they enjoy dabbling in antiques. Seeing the museum open, they naturally wanted to go inside and see what the fuss was about.

"If there are good pieces, we'll linger. If it’s all junk, we’ll turn around and leave immediately."

With that thought, a crowd surged into the museum. The first thing they noticed was the clean, bright, and impeccably tidy environment, which immediately put everyone at ease and significantly boosted the initial impression score.

However, for a museum, the environment is never the primary focus for visitors. A dirty or chaotic setting certainly leaves a negative impression, but the quality of the collection is the key to sustained operation.

"It’s divided into three areas: the porcelain section on the first floor, the painting and calligraphy section on the second, and a multi-functional area on the third."

Someone was currently studying the museum directory. "Each area is further subdivided in detail. For instance, the first floor has six exhibition halls dedicated to the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, displaying ceramics from different eras."

"Heh, collecting strictly by chronology. They certainly have ambition, but let’s see if the actual items are worth the boast..."

After grasping the layout from the directory, everyone dispersed according to their preferences—some with dismissive snorts, others with mild curiosity—to slowly begin viewing the exhibits in their chosen halls.

"Whoa!"

"Ah!"

"Amazing!"

Upon seeing the items, many couldn't help but utter sounds of astonishment. "Are these real?"

"Porcelain plaque paintings by the Eight Friends of Zhushan!" A true treasure of Republican-era porcelain.

"The Wucai Shierhua Shenbei [Five-Color Twelve Flower Immortal Cup]!" A renowned masterpiece from the Kangxi Imperial Kiln of the Qing Dynasty.

"The Hongzhi Chicken-Oil Yellow Plate!" A superb monochrome glaze treasure from the Ming Dynasty.

"The 'Shu Fu You' Eggshell White Small Bowl!" A Yuan Dynasty piece, comparable in fame to the Yuan blue-and-white ware.

Sounds of amazement echoed through the different halls, bringing a mixture of surprise and deepening suspicion. Are these numerous famous porcelain treasures truly authentic?

"Is there any need to doubt? Didn't you see the appraisal certificates right next to them?"

At that moment, an astute observer pointed out, "The signatures and seals on the appraisal documents belong to top experts from the Palace Museum. And not just one; this kind of joint signature is impossible to fake. Furthermore, even if the certificates were suspect, with my own eye, I cannot find a single flaw in these objects."

The person who said this naturally possessed a degree of confidence; he was a minor, well-known collector.

This individual frequently purchased antiques near Drum Tower and had a decent eye, occasionally snagging a small bargain. Over time, others got to know him and recognized he wasn't a shill.

Besides, even if one person were a shill, it’s impossible for everyone to be one, right?

Prompted by this expert’s observation, others began to realize the truth. He was, after all, an experienced connoisseur; while his expertise might not be top-tier, he possessed basic appreciation skills. Under collective scrutiny, no matter the angle, no flaws were found, suggesting the pieces were indeed genuine.

As for how genuine they were, that remained a matter of opinion—for the benevolent to see benevolence, for the wise to see wisdom. Since the items were behind glass and couldn't be handled, everyone retained a slight margin of doubt, perhaps two or three parts reservation.

But regardless, it was confirmed that the museum was well worth visiting, and everyone continued their tour with genuine interest, erupting in fresh gasps upon encountering more treasures.

"What is the background of this museum?" After touring the first floor, one person couldn't help but click his tongue. "Most of these are exquisite masterpieces. Did they rob the Palace Museum?"

"Robbing the Palace Museum is certainly out of the question, but the museum's owner must have some connection to the Palace Museum," someone shared mysteriously. "I just saw several people—famous experts from the Palace Museum—who came to show their support."

"Really?"

In a flash, someone exclaimed in astonishment, "You mean these things are all authentic?"

"Nonsense."

Someone rolled their eyes. "You're too suspicious. After looking for so long, a group of experts found no discrepancies and are enjoying the viewing thoroughly. That alone proves the quality of the items is superb and guaranteed."

"That's true..." The person nodded, sighing involuntarily. "Six halls, and each hall has at least twenty or thirty items. That’s over a hundred fine pieces in total. The prices vary for each masterpiece, but even the most common pieces start at over a hundred thousand yuan, with the most expensive ones perhaps exceeding ten million..."

"No need to calculate. You won't take anything home for less than hundreds of millions," another sighed along. "Especially those few legendary treasures; if I could collect just one, my life would be complete."

"Stop dreaming."

Just then, someone called out, "Come on, let's head up to the second floor. If the first floor offered so many surprises, the second floor certainly won't disappoint. I wonder what famous paintings they have..."

Upon reaching the second floor, the crowd realized the painting collection wasn't vast, but it was substantial and highly distinctive. Unlike most museums, the Xiyi Museum didn't categorize its calligraphy and painting collection by styles like Gongbi (meticulous) or literati painting. Although they followed the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing chronological order, each period displayed the names of the artists.

For instance, during the Song Dynasty, famous calligraphers and painters included Su Dongpo, Mi Fu, and Li Gonglin. Beneath each artist's name were their works, complete not only with biographical sketches but also provenance details and critical commentary.

"The arrangement is quite novel," many praised after observing for a moment. Of course, the quality of the works was paramount. Beside almost every artist, their most accomplished pieces were displayed. While perhaps not every single item was a masterpiece, the overall standard was high.

"Good heavens! Su, Huang, Mi, Cai, Li Di, Li Gonglin, the Four Masters of the Yuan, the Four Masters of the Ming, the Four Monks of the Qing, the Four Wangs, the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou... They've swept up every famous painter worth mentioning."

After circulating through the floor, someone remarked with deep feeling, "The richness of this collection... perhaps only major auction houses like Rong Bao and Jiade, during their Spring and Autumn sales, could gather such an array of items."

"Maybe not. While Spring and Autumn auctions feature many pieces, they might not be as comprehensively complete as what’s here," someone marveled. "Not just works by great masters, but also superb pieces by lesser-known artists—truly rare."

This was undeniably true. Masterpieces by great names are universally known to be precious, thus well-cared for, and many have survived. However, less famous artists often lack widespread recognition; unless one has conducted serious research, their true caliber remains obscure. Lacking high renown, their works are often discarded during transmission, resulting in a scarcer surviving quantity.

The rich and complete collection kept many calligraphy and painting enthusiasts captivated, but even more people were secretly making phone calls, constantly inviting friends and family to visit. After all, today was free; tomorrow, tickets would be required. It was a case of "miss this village, miss this shop."

Upon receiving calls from friends, some arrived with skepticism, but after viewing the numerous treasures, they too offered copious praise and inevitably notified their other friends. Consequently, the number of visitors to the museum gradually swelled, snowballing into a monumental wave of interest... (To be continued)