Apprenticeship (Part Two)

"Hmm? A family heirloom?" 

Although Zhao Hongtao's sentence remained unfinished, Fang Yi grasped its meaning immediately. He withdrew his outstretched hand, fully aware that Sun Lianda had two sons. If this truly was a treasured family possession, accepting it would be inappropriate. 

"Fang Yi, what's the matter? Are you reluctant to accept it?" 

Noticing Fang Yi's hesitation, Sun Lianda chuckled and remarked, "Did I not mention earlier that this item is indeed a family heirloom? However, since my generation, there have been no merchants in my family. It is quite fitting for you to receive it..." 

Sun Lianda hailed from a scholarly lineage, with his family having served in the imperial court during the Qing Dynasty, enjoying considerable prosperity. 

Yet, by the late Qing period, the family's fortunes began to wane, relying solely on a collection of paintings and antiques from previous generations to make ends meet. In this challenging context, Sun Lianda's great-grandfather opened an antique shop in Jinling, bringing with him a selection of ancient artifacts and paintings. 

Through diligent trading of those antiques, Sun Lianda's great-grandfather rapidly expanded the business, establishing branches in Shanghai and other locales, achieving remarkable success. The jade piece, resembling the finest quality of Hetian jade, was a legacy passed down from him. 

This handpiece, sculpted in the form of a fisherman, depicted a legendary immortal who, with every cast of his net, reaped bountiful catches. It symbolized prosperity in business, and Sun Lianda's great-grandfather believed its significance warranted its transmission through generations. 

However, following the liberation, some branches of the Sun family relocated abroad, leaving the main line unable to sustain the antique shop. Thus, Sun Lianda now wore this handpiece merely as a family relic, devoid of its original symbolic meaning. 

"I cannot refuse such a generous gift from an elder, Teacher. I shall graciously accept it…" 

After hearing his teacher's account, Fang Yi accepted the Hetian jade handpiece. Having completed the apprenticeship, he regarded Sun Lianda as his closest kin, akin to his former master. What could be inappropriate about accepting a gift from family? 

"Congratulations, Teacher, on acquiring such a fine disciple…" 

Upon witnessing Fang Yi's formal apprenticeship, Zhao Hongtao expressed his congratulations and rose to retrieve his briefcase. From within, he produced an item wrapped in soft cloth and presented it to Fang Yi, saying, "Since the teacher has bestowed a welcoming gift, I, as your senior, must not be stingy. Fang Yi, accept this string of Huanghuali beads as my gift…" 

Zhao Hongtao understood that after Fang Yi's initiation, he now stood at a greater distance from both Fang Yi and Sun Lianda. After all, during his own graduate studies under Sun Lianda, he had never performed such a grand gesture of respect. 

"Hongtao, while your beads are indeed commendable, Fang Yi may not find them appealing…" 

Upon seeing Zhao Hongtao unveil the string of Huanghuali beads, Sun Lianda could not help but tease, having noticed that Fang Yi had descended from the upper floor wearing a string of antique agarwood beads from the Kangxi era on his wrist. 

"Hmm? Teacher, these beads are authentic sea yellow beads, with a diameter of 3.0, each perfectly matched. I've cherished them for three years, and they have developed a beautiful patina. Such quality is virtually unattainable in today's market…" 

Hearing his teacher's words, Zhao Hongtao was momentarily taken aback, feeling a twinge of indignation. He was knowledgeable about antiques and understood that sea yellow wood was the king among woods. Due to rampant deforestation in the 1990s, even in Hainan, vintage sea yellow wood was scarce. A set of sea yellow furniture now commanded prices starting at hundreds of thousands. 

Though the string of beads was merely that, each bead bore two corresponding eyes, and the tiger stripe pattern made it a true gem among beads. Three years prior, Zhao Hongtao had spent over ten thousand on them, and their current market value exceeded fifty thousand. 

Thus, while the beads may not rival the value of Sun Lianda's Hetian jade, they were still a respectable gift. Zhao Hongtao had felt a pang of regret when parting with them, not out of concern for the money, but because finding another string of such exquisite quality seemed nearly impossible. 

"What? Do you doubt the teacher's words?" 

Seeing Zhao Hongtao's skeptical expression, Sun Lianda chuckled, pointing to Fang Yi's wrist. "You may be knowledgeable about antiques, but first, take a look at the beads on Fang Yi's wrist before passing judgment…" 

"Oh? I hadn't noticed! Fang Yi, may I see them?" Although the room was illuminated, the evening light was dim, and Zhao Hongtao had genuinely overlooked the beads that adorned Fang Yi's wrist upon his descent. 

"Here you go, Zhao Ge…" Fang Yi removed the beads and handed them to Zhao Hongtao. 

"Ah, this… these are antique agarwood beads over a century old…" 

As soon as he held them, Zhao Hongtao gasped in astonishment, carefully placing the beads on the table. He then stood up, hurried to the sofa, and retrieved his briefcase, from which he produced a pair of white gloves and a magnifying glass. 

"Fang Yi, you wear these century-old agarwood beads?" While donning the gloves, Zhao Hongtao expressed his discontent, saying, "These, like my Huanghuali beads, must not come into contact with water. How could you wear them in this heat?" 

Zhao Hongtao, well-versed in the care of various antiques, knew that wooden items like beads should never be exposed to moisture, as it would lead to darkening and cracking. He had kept his own Huanghuali bracelet safely stored in his bag for years. 

"Zhao Ge, I truly wasn't aware of this guideline, but I tend to sweat very little…" Fang Yi replied bashfully, scratching his head. He had only recently learned about the intricacies of antique care, having been unaware of the many nuances involved. 

However, having practiced Taoist cultivation since childhood, Fang Yi was not prone to excessive sweating, even under the scorching sun. Moreover, he always removed the beads before bathing, thus minimizing any potential damage. 

"This is a collector's item, and you dare to wear it?" Zhao Hongtao shook his head in disbelief, lifting the magnifying glass to examine the string of antique agarwood beads closely. 

"This is Hainan old agarwood, the finest grade of agarwood. It is exceedingly rare now, and each bead is not perfectly uniform, indicating it likely dates back to the early Qing period…" 

As he scrutinized the beads, Zhao Hongtao elaborated, echoing the sentiments of Sun Lianda's son, but with an intimate familiarity regarding the material and its origin.