Chapter 87
Shen You had specifically brought a fine tea set and incense burner today.
She also displayed Master Jiang’s silk tapestry fan as decoration to enhance the atmosphere.
Just that teapot alone would be something collectors in the collecting circle would compete to acquire.
This represented the same craftsmanship as Song Dynasty Ding kiln, characterized by elegance, with a warm and lustrous color like jade.
The seemingly ordinary ceramic jar and smilax on the table also reflected careful consideration.
Quan Xiaosu and Cheng Liang held their breath subconsciously the moment they saw the complex and magnificent phoenix crown in the box.
“This is actually part of a private collection?! This is my first time seeing one without glass between us.” Quan Xiaosu breathed.
“I can’t imagine how beautiful it would look when worn, no wonder everyone wanted to become an enfeoffed lady.”
Indeed, even after enduring the passage of time, the interwoven golden threads still revealed glimpses of the brilliance that had once reached ultimate magnificence.
Shen You had felt equally shocked when she first saw it.
Restoring the phoenix crown had consumed tremendous energy, and sometimes after working an entire day, she couldn’t lift her neck, and when going out to buy food, her eyes would see golden afterimages.
When the great work reached completion, carefully examining it several times required another two hours.
“How did you achieve such excellent restoration?”
After Quan Xiaosu finished speaking, she and Cheng Liang looked expectantly toward Shen You.
“I will teach you later.”
Shen You picked up a bag of potato chips and began eating.
During the few days these two had helped at the studio, they had performed all tasks excellently, and she had already decided to keep them, having verified their salary and benefits with Gu Shaoyu.
After the group chatted for a while in the studio, Mr. Zhang and Wu Zhiyuan arrived, and throughout the journey from the main gate to the reception room, Mr. Zhang praised the layout of Xi Garden extensively.
“Boss Shen remains impressive since in such a short time, the studio has developed so successfully.”
Wu Zhiyuan looked toward the fan displayed on the shelf, recognizing it immediately. “Is this Master Jiang’s work?”
Shen You smiled and nodded. “Many things here are not yet fully equipped, so if there are any shortcomings in hospitality, please forgive us.”
“Boss Shen is too modest. Since you have brought out such fine tea sets, how can you say it is inadequate? Even the food box for holding tea snacks is a treasure!” Mr. Zhang smiled along.
Previously, he had only known Boss Shen was young and Professor Li’s disciple, but after getting acquainted, he realized she was far from simple.
What was displayed here represented only a fraction since the fire-washed cloth from last time had stirred even the capital’s collecting circles, and now countless people in the circle wanted to meet her.
During their pleasantries, Shen You also moved the items to the table.
Mr. Zhang and Wu Zhiyuan examined them in turn, confirmed everything was satisfactory, then Mr. Zhang immediately paid the remaining balance.
“Thank you, Boss Shen, for restoring this piece so beautifully that no repair traces are visible!”
Mr. Zhang looked at the perfectly restored phoenix crown in his hands, his face filled with joy.
Among people of Shen You’s age in the circle, few possessed craftsmanship of this caliber.
No wonder Professor Li, despite having many disciples with excellent family backgrounds and reputations, had specifically recommended Shen You.
Actually, more than one party had wanted to accept this commission at the time, but he now felt grateful that he had entrusted the work to Shen You.
“If my friends have anything requiring restoration in the future, we will still need to trouble Boss Shen.”
Shen You had been waiting for precisely these words!
“I don’t dare consider it troublesome. Since once I accept a commission, doing the work properly is simply appropriate.” She replied.
Afterward, Mr. Zhang and his companion spent time in the studio appreciating the antique jewelry from Shen You’s collection.
She had only brought these items today to enhance the presentation. After serving their purpose, she would take them back, leaving only one or two authentic pieces here permanently.
“Boss Shen, this coral and pearl hair ornament looks even finer than those treasured in museums.”
Wu Zhiyuan stood before the display case, instantly unable to move.
His discerning eye was unquestionable since he immediately looked past the pure gold headpieces to notice that understated hair ornament.
“Having handled so many items, I have never seen a single piece of jewelry using so many natural near-round pearls. It is clearly an imperial piece since only the royal family possessed such capability.”
Most remarkably, red coral was difficult to preserve and would fade after a century, yet this piece remained in excellent condition! Its value was naturally even higher.
He marveled admiringly, noting that every visit to Boss Shen’s place brought surprises that arrived late but inevitably came.
He even suspected Boss Shen had established a private collection museum.
Even if not now, she would very likely have one in the future, and Xi Garden provided the perfect venue.
Mr. Zhang and his companion saw that the studio indeed had many affairs to handle, so they didn’t stay for dinner, saying they would return to show support when Shen You’s establishment officially opened.
Shen You personally escorted them to the entrance.
After returning, she collected and secured the items she had brought today in the safe carefully, planning to take them home that afternoon.
The tables and chairs at the front had already been properly lacquered, while the canopy bed above needed to be dismantled and moved down piece by piece.
Four people worked together until evening, and by the time the sky darkened, they had reassembled it in the rest room.
This bed was also made of fine wood, and after cleaning, it provided both ornamental and practical value.
Shen You’s studio renovation emphasized utilizing every fraction without waste.
After completing the work, the dinner they had ordered from a nearby private restaurant arrived precisely on time, and including the gatekeeper, everyone sat together for dinner.
“Previously, I always ate alone here, cold and lonely, but now it has become much livelier.”
The gatekeeper brought out the pickled papaya strips he had made as a side dish for everyone to try. “These are simple things, I don’t know if you can get used to them.”
“They taste better than what I buy at the supermarket!” Shen You smiled and nodded.
Gu Shaoyu, who had never eaten this before, also gave a thumbs up.
Hearing everyone praise his cooking, the elderly man also felt happy. “Next time I will make some for you.”
“Alright, thank you, Uncle Song. When I work at the studio in the future, these will be perfect with noodles.”
Shen You didn’t mention payment since she knew Uncle Song wouldn’t accept it. Bringing more fruit next time would serve the same purpose.
After dinner, they checked the doors, windows, and safe, ending the day’s work before heading home.
With most matters at hand completed, Shen You really didn’t want to restore antiques for the next couple of days, and so decided to take a breather first.
During idle moments, she would lie down and play with prayer beads while maintaining the strings of her collection’s ancient qin.
Although these items displayed outside weren’t particularly fragile, they still required regular care.
Shen You casually plucked the strings twice, and the sound seemed somehow different in her hands compared to when Wen Zhi played, as though they weren’t the same instrument.
She wondered how things were going on his side since he hadn’t visited for several days recently, and no messages had appeared on her phone.
He had mentioned that when her studio selected an auspicious day, he, as a partner would also come to take a look.
While thinking about this, her phone suddenly chimed with a message notification, and Gu Shaoyu reported that someone was interested in the pink diamond and necklace, offering seventeen million for both items together.
This exceeded his previous estimate by one million since the buyer was only interested in the pink diamond, with the necklace being a casual additional purchase.
Shen You replied: “I will bring them to you tomorrow.”
Since Quan Xiaosu and Cheng Liang had worked busily for the past few days, Shen You had specifically sent them messages to take a day off.
In the morning, she handed the jewelry box to Gu Shaoyu, and since the buyer offering seventeen million had no time to visit the shop, Gu Shaoyu personally delivered the items to their home.
Three hours later, the studio’s account received the payment.
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