Chapter 33 - Finding Gold in the Sand (1/2)

After having breakfast, Professor Guo invited Zhang Jun into the study. Because of what happened just now, Professor Guo was so impressed with Zhang Jun that he no longer treated him as a stranger. He even displayed all his collections these years to Zhan Jun.

Professor Guo opened a large box and took out a number of frames one by one. Each frame was in the size of one square meter, on which were  fragments of various porcelain and ceramic. A thick cotton cloth covered each frame, which reveled that they were treasured by Professor Guo.

Zhang Jun thought to himself, “What’s so good about these broken porcelain pieces and ceramic?” But when he looked closely, he found that the texture of each piece was different. He couldn’t help saying, “Professor Guo, these fragments seem to be different.”

Professor Guo chuckled and said, “You have sharp eyes. Surely, they are of different types. For example, there are the fragments of the porcelain made by the top five kilns in the Song Dynasty, that is, the Jun Kiln, the Ge Kiln, the Guan Kiln, the Ru Kiln, and the Ding Kiln. In addition, there are the blue and white porcelain pieces of the Yuan Dynasty, the sweet white porcelain in Yongle Reign and Doucai porcelain in Chenghua Reign of the Ming Dynasty, and Enamel of the Qing Dynasty.”

“The above are just some representatives. The fragments I collected came from porcelains of various ages and regions. From the Han Dynasty to the early 1950s, more than you can imagine.” Professor Guo said proudly, “It’s not easy to collect these.”

Zhang Jun gave a thumbs up and flattered him, “Awesome. It is nearly a brief history of the development of porcelains. You deserve to be an archaeologist. Most people do not have such discrimination and courage.”

Professor Guo said reminiscently, “I started collecting them in the 1970s and didn’t fulfil my wish until last year. It’s been more than forty years. It’s really not easy.”

Zhang Jun did not have much interest in these fragments. However, Professor Guo was displaying his whole life’s painstaking effort, and it would be not good if Zhang Jun just had a look and then left. So he pretended to appreciate it.

While appreciating, Zhang Jun saw a piece of porcelain fragment casually. It was a palm-sized fragment of the blue and white porcelain of the Yuan Dynasty. When he stared at it and observed, he inadvertently used the power of X-ray vision. Suddenly, he seemed to have looked through the long river of history and reached the land of the Yuan Dynasty, and he felt the breath of that era.

He felt the cruelty, the majesty, the ambition, the anger, the depression, and the pain. Many emotions poured into his mind for a moment, making him full of mixed feelings. He couldn’t help sighing and saying, “The Yuan Dynasty is doomed to its end!”

Suddenly hearing such an abrupt sentence, Professor Guo was in a shock. But when he saw Zhang Jun was appreciating the fragment of the blue and white porcelain of the Yuan Dynasty, he suddenly understood and laughed, “The Yuan Dynasty only existed for about 80 years. Its government was corrupted and cruel to its people. Such a regime couldn’t exist forever. It brought destruction on itself.”

Zhang Jun nodded. He observed one by one. From the Song Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, and then to the Qing Dynasty, different porcelain fragments gave him different feelings. Even of the same dynasty and the same emperor, porcelains in different regions carried different emotions.

This was a very strange sensing ability. Zhang Jun could clearly feel the humanistic and historical characteristics of each item. It was a macro knowing without the help of any instrument, similar to the intuition.

In the beginning, Zhang Jun wanted to have a casual look to please Professor Guo. But unknowingly, he immersed himself in the long river of history, marveling at the prosperity culture of the past dynasties and feeling the change of the history and times.

He didn’t miss any fragment. He saw from beginning to end, piece by piece. Unconsciously, two or three hours passed. Professor Guo stayed with him at first. Later, seeing Zhang Jun being so fascinated, Professor Guo was really happy and went to read books with a smile.

After Zhang Jun appreciated all the porcelain fragments, he found that it was twelve at noon. As soon as he patted his head and got out of the study hurriedly, he saw that the table was full of dishes again.

He scratched his head in embarrassment and said, “Professor Guo, I’m sorry. I was too fascinated just now and forgot the time. Did I outstay my welcome?”

Professor Guo put down the large and thick book in his hand and smiled cheerfully, “I surely cannot judge a tree by its bark. Zhang Jun, I did not expect that you are also interested in porcelain. Otherwise, how could you be so fascinated? When most people see these things, I am afraid they will not want to look at it for more than one second, let alone appreciating it for hours.”

Zhang Jun was embarrassed for a while. He had the same thoughts at first. If it hadn’t been for that he thought it was so rude to leave after a glance, he would have left the study.

Professor Guo seemed very happy. He asked Zhang Jun to sit down and said to Guo Lan, “Lanlan , how I wish your brother is as diligent as Zhang Jun. Huh, that unfilial guy is lacking in both learning and practical ability.”

Guo Lan chuckled and glanced at Zhang Jun’s face, and she said, “Exactly. If It were my elder brother, I am afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold it for one minute. He should have been ashamed of being an antique dealer.”

Zhang Jun was embarrassed by so much praise. He smiled and said, “Professor Guo, I’m not an expert, and I haven’t dealt with porcelain before. I was just curious.”

Professor Guo was even happier and said, “It is good for young people to be modest. Good, very good. People like you can certainly make a difference in learning.”

Guo Lan rolled her eyes and said, “Dad, don’t always treat others as students in your class. Let’s start eating.”

He had a meal here in the morning, and it was nothing to eat here again at noon. Zhang Jun did not restrain himself from eating like a horse. His bold attitude made Professor Guo even more fond of him.