"Knock, knock, knock…"
Tang Yuan stood outside the Chinese-style main gate of the courtyard. After gently tapping the door knocker a few times, he stood with his hands behind his back, no longer moving.
About half a minute later, footsteps approached from a distance, and the Chinese-style main gate slowly opened.
"May I ask if you are Mr. Tang?"
The woman who opened the door was about thirty years old. She wore a graceful Chinese cheongsam, her hair was styled in a high bun, and although her appearance was only average, the classical and gentle aura she exuded added much to her charm.
"I am Tang Yuan. I had an appointment with Old Sun in advance."
Facing the woman who opened the door, Tang Yuannodded slightly in greeting and responded softly.
"Mr. Tang, please come in…"
After confirming his identity, the woman immediately stepped aside and welcomed Tang Yuan and Wen Muxue inside.
Inside the courtyard, a giant ginkgo tree was planted. It was early autumn in September, and the golden ginkgo leaves added a touch of poetry to the entire courtyard. Around the ginkgo tree, the courtyard owner had also planted many flowers and plants, lush and very pleasing to the eye.
Wen Muxue, visiting such a place for the first time, looked at the layout and scenery of the courtyard, secretly amazed. In Shanghai, a place where every inch of land is precious, to have an independent courtyard in the city center was one thing, but to also have the leisure and elegance to plant trees—such an act was truly overly extravagant.
Compared to Wen Muxue, Tang Yuan was much calmer. He followed behind the woman in the cheongsam and quickly walked into the pavilion in the center of the courtyard.
"Grandpa, Mr. Tang has arrived."
After the woman in the cheongsam led Tang Yuan into the house, she informed the elderly man sitting on the grand armchair not far away.
"Girl, serve the guests tea." The elderly man on the grand armchair slowly stood up, said to the woman in the cheongsam, and then walked towards Tang Yuan: "I didn't expect Mr. Tang to be so young and yet interested in seal collecting. This truly surprised me."
"I've been interested in antiques and curios since I was a child. When my family lived in Jiangzhe, I used to love visiting antique and curio shops. Now that I'm studying in Shanghai, I just want to look around when I have free time," Tang Yuan replied, half-truthfully.
"Not many young people nowadays are interested in antiques and curios."
"It's a good thing you have this hobby!"
Tang Yuan's answer clearly pleased the elderly man, so much so that his gaze towards Tang Yuan softened, and his words carried a hint of emotion.
Despite it being their first meeting and China Merchants Bank having arranged it, neither party rushed to the main topic. Tang Yuan followed the elderly man to the reception area and sat down, chatting casually while sipping hot tea.
During this time, Wen Muxue sat quietly beside Tang Yuan, watching him chat and laugh with the clearly distinguished elderly man, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
After a cup of tea, Tang Yuan began to get to the point: "Old Sun, I heard that throughout Shanghai, your research on seals is considered masterful, and your collection is second to none in all of Shanghai. I wonder if you would be willing to let a junior like me appreciate it?"
"Hahaha…"
"Young, and still so impatient."
Sun Fuzheng chuckled twice, then slowly rose with the support of his granddaughter: "My collection is all on the second floor. Let's go upstairs."
The pavilion had two floors in total. Tang Yuan had observed briefly after entering the house and found that the first floor was all living functional areas, so he guessed that the other party's collection should be on the second floor. Now it seemed he was correct.
Thus, Tang Yuan, with Wen Muxue, followed behind Sun Fuzheng and his granddaughter, ascending to the second floor.
…
Compared to the complex layout of the first-floor living areas, the second floor's layout was exceptionally simple. As far as the eye could see, there were only independent glass display cabinets or glass display stands. Under the soft lights, each seal, whether exquisite or rustic, emitted its unique brilliance.
Such a scene was truly somewhat shocking for Wen Muxue.
"Come, come."
"Tang Xiaoyou, come sit over here."
The elderly man was clearly quite proud of his collection. He motioned for Tang Yuan and Wen Muxue to walk towards the appreciation area near the window.
Tang Yuan gestured to Wen Muxue, then followed behind Sun Fuzheng, sitting directly opposite him.
"Tang Xiaoyou, I have a total of 527 seals here, with different materials and different collection values. Do you have any specific requirements?"
After Sun Fuzheng sat down, he looked at Tang Yuanand asked with a chuckle.
"Old Sun, to be honest with you, I came today with the intention of buying some seals to take home and enjoy collecting. As for specific requirements, I don't have any at the moment. If it's convenient for you, I wonder if you could show me some seals of different collection values?"
"Of course, if they are your private treasures, then there's no need to bring them out. I'm afraid if I see something I really like, it would be quite difficult."
Tang Yuan honestly stated his needs, his eyes full of sincerity.
"Private treasures?" Sun Fuzheng heard this and smiled, shaking his head: "Look around, all the seals here are my private collection. I cherish them like treasures. You can point to any one, and I can immediately tell you its material, age, and origin."
"Over decades, the seals that have passed through my hands, even if not tens of thousands, must be eight thousand. I have always believed that only time can be the eternal owner of antiques and curios, and we are merely appreciators. So, no matter which seal here you like, you can take it with you. I will never stop you."
When Sun Fuzheng finished speaking, he pointed to the seal collection not far away, his tone somewhat emotional.
"Not seeking forever, only seeking to have once possessed."
"Your open-mindedness truly impresses this junior!"
Tang Yuan cupped his hands towards the elderly man and praised him with a smile.
"Hahaha…"
"That's a fitting description, yes, that's exactly what I mean!"
Sun Fuzheng heard this and immediately burst into laughter: "You wait here. I'll go pick some seals for you to admire."
With that, Sun Fuzheng stood up again and walked towards his collection area, while Sun Fuzheng's granddaughter picked up a mahogany tray, covered with soft silk cloth, and silently followed behind Old Sun.
"I didn't realize you had a habit of collecting antiques and curios."
After Sun Fuzheng and his granddaughter left, Wen Muxue looked at Tang Yuan's profile, sighing with a somewhat strange expression.
"What?"
"Is it that unusual?"
Tang Yuan was in a good mood, seeing that everything was going smoothly, and asked with a smile.
"Isn't it unusual?"
"I thought you guys, boys, always liked collecting sneakers?"
Wen Muxue blinked, a hint of confusion on her cool and delicate face.
"Sneakers?" Tang Yuan's eyes flashed with a hint of disdain: "They haven't even figured out the things passed down by their own ancestors, yet they eagerly pursue those modern products from abroad that are hyped up by marketing. Isn't that just pure idiocy?"
Wen Muxue heard this and wanted to retort, but she opened her mouth and didn't know what to say, truly having nothing to retort with.
While Tang Yuan and Wen Muxue were chatting, Old Sun had already taken his granddaughter on a tour and returned to their original spot…