Chapter 0335 – Cutting Jade (I)

Zhuang Rui and Luo Jiang accompanied Elder Wu in the stone lounge and talked for a while. Only then drove away, Zhuang Rui first went to the bank to withdraw two hundred thousand out, this is to Luo Jiang’s commission, a monthly salary of two hundred thousand, in 2004, I’m afraid it is difficult for many people to imagine, can be seen in the modern society, jade masters of the scarcity of jade.

Into the courtyard of Zhuang Rui’s villa, Luo Jiang, whose face has always been calm, also revealed a trace of surprise, although he knew that Zhuang Rui’s family was not cheap, but also by the elegance and luxury of this villa was shocked.

Although jade carving is a craft, but jade carving masters need to master a lot of skills, like painting, sculpture, art appreciation, all of these are necessary, so Luo Jiang’s eyes are also very high.

According to the fact that Luo Jiang often takes some jobs for private jade cutting, those employers are also non-rich people, some people’s residence is even a few times bigger than Zhuang Rui’s here, but in terms of the taste of the villa’s decoration. Compared with Zhuang Rui, those people are worlds apart.

Just Luo Jiang didn’t know, Zhuang Rui this is also the former people planted trees, the latter people multiply, without that college dean and vice mayor lord, with Zhuang Rui’s imagination, is absolutely not design such a villa.

“Master Luo, this is our negotiated commission, two hundred thousand whole, do you want to see?”

After entering the villa and sitting down inside, Zhuang Rui put the bank plastic bag that he had been holding in his hand, put it on the coffee table and pushed it in front of Luo Jiang.

“Oh, boss Zhuang, this money you or first put away, two hundred thousand is my shouting price, and so the object is completed, you look at the value of this price, and then give me the money, if it is not worth it, you deducted from the money, as long as you can say that I carved out the jade deficiencies, a point not to take, I am also willing.”

Luo Jiang smiled, did not move the money on the coffee table, but said such words, let Zhuang Rui surprised and then some admiration, in ancient times. These craftsmen were the least status, but when it comes to style, they were no worse than those famous masters literati.

“It’s true that the famous masters are the best, master Luo, just for your character, it’s more than two hundred thousand, okay, I’ll accept this money first, and give it to you when it’s finished.”

Luo Jiang dared to say these words, that also has considerable confidence in his own craftsmanship, otherwise by the time someone picks out some thorns to withhold this money, that’s not a month of busy work for nothing, that is to say, even more perfect things, it is not necessarily impossible to find the meaning of the flaws to.

“By the way, Mr. Zhuang, I heard that you are also a director of the Jade Association?” Although Luo Jiang had no intention of prying into Zhuang Rui’s privacy, his heart was still filled with curiosity towards this young man.

One must know that the identity of a director of the Jade Association might be insignificant in the eyes of outsiders, but inside the jade business. That can be pivotal, the state on jade prices and the development of the market direction and regulation, are to be through the Jade Association’s research and recommendations to be implemented.

The introduction of all the provisions of the Jade Association, must be more than 80% of the members of the vote by a show of hands to adopt the implementation of the Jade Association, a total of forty members, remove three Song Jun, as just account for a name, there is no right to vote on the board of directors, it can be said that the rest of each vote, are crucial.

Jade Association’s member composition is relatively complex, most of them are the bosses or representatives of various famous jewelry companies in China, there is a competitive relationship between each other, to pass a resolution, is not a very simple thing, so like Zhuang Rui this has the right to vote on the status of the director, is a lot of people would like to fight for, of course, all of these are Zhuang Rui is not currently aware of, and he does not know that the old man of Gu’s a lot of painstaking efforts.

“Hehe, this councilor of mine is to make up the numbers, if it wasn’t for Master Gu, where would it be my turn to be this councilor!” Zhuang Rui laughed, he really didn’t take this position seriously in his heart, it was like that before, and it was like that now.

“Gu Tian Feng?!”

After Luo Jiang saw Zhuang Rui nodding his head and admitting it, his heart also understood, so his master had always explained that he should not weaken his name, and here was the reason! This young man in front of him actually had a layer of relationship with Elder Wu.

Wu Lao and Gu Tianfeng are known as “South Wu and North Gu”. Although the two are also close friends, but there is also competition between each other, the two have not been divided into a life on the next, dare I say that the master is trying to continue the competition to the disciple to go ah!

“Zhuang boss, you are the ancient nephew, according to this craft is certainly not worse than me, there are objects how not to carve their own, but on the contrary to find me on it?”

Just Luo Jiang some do not understand, Zhuang Rui since called the ancient Tianfeng for uncle, that he will certainly also cut jade, I do not know why to find on their ah?

“Oh, I learned to identify jade, but I know nothing about jade cutting, but also please Luo master you.”

Zhuang Rui’s words let Luo Jiang suddenly realized, the heart also produced a trace of pressure, others are experts in jade appreciation, if this is a little mistake in jade cutting, that is not only to lose their own people, I am afraid that even the master’s face is also lost.

Thinking of this, Luo Jiang’s face became serious and said to Zhuang Rui: “Boss Zhuang, in that case, you bring out the prepared material. I’ll take a look at it first, what kind of objects can come out, how many pieces can come out, and we’ll discuss it.”

“Success, Master Luo you have a drink first, I’ll go get the jade material.”

Zhuang Rui nodded, stood up, opened the door of the basement, carried out the two pieces of red jadeite that were ready, and placed them in front of Luo Jiang.

“This …… this …… is red Fei?”

Luo Jiang was originally drinking water, leisurely surveying the furnishings in this hall. He suddenly found two pieces of red Fei wool appearing in front of him, and with his eyesight, he could tell at a glance that the smaller piece of red Fei material, with its transparent seed and water and rich color, could be completely called top grade jadeite.

Luo Jiang’s mouth opened wide in surprise, even the tea in his mouth flowing down the corner of his mouth on the clothes, did not notice.

No wonder Luo Jiang so surprised, he from the age of more than ten years to follow Wu old master jade cutting apprenticeship, twenty-six or seven years old when the master single, these years the hand carved by the superb jade is like a river of crucian carp, more than countless, this kind of superb red jadeite he has seen, but just a thumbnail size ring face only, like this volume, not to mention see, Luo Jiang simply have not heard of it.

“Excellent, excellent ah! A rare sight in a hundred years, no, a rare sight in a thousand years!”

Reaching out to wipe the tea around his mouth, Luo Jiang’s eyes, which have always been very stable, revealed a frenzied look, reaching out to the table, the small piece of glass seed of red Fei cupped up, his mouth still muttering.

Zhuang Rui did not expect this Luo master’s reaction will be so big, thought in his heart if that half of the piece is also taken out, I do not know in front of this jade master will have what performance.

As I said before, it is difficult for a disciple to find a good teacher, similarly, it is also difficult for a good teacher to find a disciple, a good carver, his greatest wish is that the objects carved out of his hands can be passed down through the ages, so that his name can be included in the annals of history, but can you expect the objects carved out of the shit ground to be passed down through the ages?

For example, many of the works carved by Wu and Gu have been included in the National Museum, which is the greatest recognition and acknowledgement of their art of carving. Of course, the materials used in those works were themselves top-grade jade.

Therefore, in this line of jade carving, if you want to reach the height of “South Wu and North Gu”, you not only need exquisite jade carving techniques, but also need to have a representative work, and often some good carvers are not famous because they do not have a good work to come out.

Limit the development of these carvers, in fact, is the jade itself, after thousands of years of mining, whether it is hard jadeite jade, or soft jade, the number than before are greatly reduced, and the best jade, is rare, evaluation of a piece of jade works of good or bad, carving is important, but the quality of the jade itself, or to occupy the first place.

After putting the piece of red jadeite in his hand back on the coffee table, Luo Jiang’s fervor on his face became more and more obvious, if this item is carved into a small pendant, it is enough for him to be among the ranks of contemporary carving masters.

“Boss Zhuang, let’s make a negotiation, okay? This piece of glass seed material, I can design him into a pendant, after carving out the value, I guarantee that in more than 80 million yuan, and I will give you this time to carve other objects, all pennies. But I have a condition, in the sale of this red Fei pendant, in the certificate of authentication of the producer there, to have my name.”

Luo Jiang raised this condition is not excessive, a precious jade in the sale, is required to have its origin, like the quality of jade, from where, jade master’s name, etc., are to be listed in it.

As for the two hundred thousand dollars, compared with this reputation, it seems to be so insignificant, if there is the old man like the reputation, a day or two of work casually carving a small object to charge hundreds of thousands of dollars, not at all he is now a month of two hundred thousand dollars can be compared to the price.

“Pendant? Wait, Master Luo, what I want to make is a bracelet! This piece of superb red Fei, I want all of it to be made into a bracelet, and it won’t be for sale either, do you have any misunderstanding?”

After hearing Luo Jiang’s words, Zhuang Rui felt a bit puzzled, he was interested in carving out another pendant, but that has nothing to do with this piece of material now!

“Carve it into a bracelet? That’s fine! What? Not for sale?”

Zhuang Rui’s words made Luo Jiang seem to fall from heaven to hell, his mood became lost all of a sudden, although the bracelet is not much about craftsmanship, but it can also help to raise his fame.

However, Zhuang Rui’s sentence is not for sale, but let Luo Jiang’s hope is all empty, said this object does not circulate out, who will recognize their own.