Short, Light, Free Chapter 88

Chapter 88: The Value of Art III

Coincidentally, the factory had to travel to the city for a procurement so I got a free ride .

Upon arriving at the city's airport, I got myself a ticket to Beijing .

This thing called airplane was really amazing, and I puked in there .

Beijing, night time .

I walked around searching for a place to stay the night, but the hotels were simply too costly .

I ended up sleeping in a park that day .  

The next day, I asked around for recommendations and finally found an ancient street that sold chinaware .

Along the alley stood a shop filled with potteries, similar to those I made .

The shop wasn't big and the owner was elderly .

I went forward to ask, "Do you need a potter?"

The owner shook his head . "I only sell and don't collect . "

I tried again, "Then where are these potteries from?"

He pointed at himself . "I made them . "

I pointed at some of his works and said, "I can make one that's twice as nice . "

He got angry and chased me away .

Clenching my teeth, I found a nearby restaurant .

Lodging wasn't provided and I had one rest day a week .

My salary was 1,300 a month .

I rented a nearby place at 300 a month . It did not even have a toilet .

I kept the old man's shop in mind and rushed three ceramic pieces out during my off days .

Upon completion, I took them to his shop in hopes that he would dry them for me .

Of course, I wanted him to acknowledge my skills .

There were three customers chatting with him when I arrived .

Not wanting to disturb them, I squatted outside his shop .

After a short while, the three customers exited together .

It was only then that I realized they were together .  

As I stood up, they gave me a glance .

One of them tapped on my shoulder, asking, "Did you just buy those? What a strange color!"

"No, they're not done . I just made them and I'm intending to put them up for sale," I said with a smile .

He gave me a strange look and asked, "You made those?"

I nodded before entering the shop . "Can I pay you to dry these for me?"

The three customers followed behind me out of curiosity .

The old man waved while looking at the pieces in my hands .

After scrutinizing them, he said thoughtfully, "I remember now . You're that fellow who came in a few days ago asking if I accept ceramic works . "

"Yes . "

"I can't do it for you . Please leave . " He pushed my ceramic pieces back into my hands .

The three customers remained quiet .

Helpless, I left in search of another place .

The three customers stopped me .

"Little fellow, you said you were intending to sell the final products . Will you be willing to sell these half-made ones then?"

"They're not done . How can I sell them?"

"How about this . 500 a piece and I'll buy all three of them right now . We'll find someone else to dry them," one of them proposed .

I fell silent for a short while . I couldn't speak but I felt my head moving up and down a few times .

The guy smiled before taking 15 bills out of his money pouch and handing them over to me .

I accepted the money and handed over my works .

"What's your name, little fellow?" the other guy asked .

"Chalk . Why?"

"Would you write your name at the bottom of these pieces? For memory's sake . "

I nodded before searching for a suitable tool .

One of them handed a fountain pen to me . "Just write your name down . "

"This is expensive, isn't it?" I looked down at the pen .

"It's no problem," one spoke as all three shook their heads .

After some thought, I signed my name as CK .

A guy handed me his name card . "If you produce more works in the future and need them to be dried, just give us a call . We will buy them if they're good . "

I stood rooted to the ground as they walked away happily .

Within three months, I called them 15 times, selling them five pieces at 500 each, each time .

And every single time, they had me sign my name at the bottom .

Looking at the money in my hands, I found it all hard to believe . They never have even told me what they were doing with my works .

With 30,000 in my pocket, I quit my job and rented a shop right opposite the old man's .

I bought the necessary tools and called Gla.s.ses for the first time .

While he found it unbelievable, he also felt that it was only natural .

I started renovating the shop and displaying my works on the shelves .

I called the customers and shared the happy news with them, but they asked if I had with me ceramic works that hadn't been dried or colored .

After mumbling to myself a little, I said yes . For the money, it's always a yes .

They visited once a month and only bought pieces that hadn't been dried or colored .

Other than them, I had practically no other businesses .

I had a shop of my own but my business was only slightly better than the old man's .

After the first month, the old man came knocking on my door .

"Why are you doing here? Wanna smash my shop because I stole some of your business?" I asked, rus.h.i.+ng over to guard the door .

He shook his head .

"You're having regrets then? And want me to work with you? Do you think that's possible? I'm earning more than you right now," I continued .

He pointed at his own shop . "Go over there and I'll show you something . It has something to do with you . "

Interested, I followed him to his shop .

I tried guessing his motives but nothing came to mind .

He pointed at the television screen . "You made these, didn't you?"

It was an auction program .

Big red words: Collector's items, made by a modern ceramic artist, Chalk . 50,000 .

The so-called collector's items were precisely the three pieces that I had previously brought into the old man's shop .

The pieces were now completed and of a different color . A man in a white Chinese tunic suit smiled at the screen . "I, Chalk, have inherited valuable skills from my master, Liu Bing, and I'm here today after 15 years of hard work . As you can see from my work, aesthetically speaking, the pieces are lively . . . "

The old man pointed at the television and said, "They changed the color but I can still recognize that those belong to you . You are indeed more skillful than me and I accepted that, which is why I remember . "

I looked at the man who claimed to be Chalk . He was actually selling off my work as his own .

"What channel is this?"

He answered immediately, "Should be Beijing television station, broadcasting studio . "

To be continued .

Coincidentally, the factory had to travel to the city for a procurement so I got a free ride . Upon arriving at the city 39 s airport, I got myself a ticket to Beijing . This thing called airplane was really amazing, and I puked in there . Beijing, night time . I walked around searching for a place to stay the night, but the hotels were simply too costly . I ended up sleeping in a park that day . The next day, I asked around for recommendations and finally found an ancient street that sold chinaware . Along the alley stood a shop filled with potteries, similar to those I made . The shop wasn 39 t big and the owner was elderly . I went forward to ask, Do you need a potter The owner shook his head . I only sell and don 39 t collect . I tried again, Then where are these potteries from He pointed at himself . I made them . I pointed at some of his works and said, I can make one that 39 s twice as nice . He got angry and chased me away . Clenching my teeth, I found a nearby restaurant . Lodging wasn 39 t provided and I had one rest day a week . My salary was 1,300 a month . I rented a nearby place at 300 a month . It did not even have a toilet . I kept the old man 39 s shop in mind and rushed three ceramic pieces out during my off days . Upon completion, I took them to his shop in hopes that he would dry them for me . Of course, I wanted him to acknowledge my skills . There were three customers chatting with him when I arrived . Not wanting to disturb them, I squatted outside his shop . After a short while, the three customers exited together . It was only then that I realized they were together . As I stood up, they gave me a glance . One of them tapped on my shoulder, asking, Did you just buy those What a strange color No, they 39 re not done . I just made them and I 39 m intending to put them up for sale, I said with a smile . He gave me a strange look and asked, You made those I nodded before entering the shop . Can I pay you to dry these for me The three customers followed behind me out of curiosity . The old man waved while looking at the pieces in my hands . After scrutinizing them, he said thoughtfully, I remember now . You 39 re that fellow who came in a few days ago asking if I accept ceramic works . Yes . I can 39 t do it for you . Please leave . He pushed my ceramic pieces back into my hands . The three customers remained quiet . Helpless, I left in search of another place . The three customers stopped me . Little fellow, you said you were intending to sell the final products . Will you be willing to sell these half made ones then They 39 re not done . How can I sell them How about this . 500 a piece and I 39 ll buy all three of them right now . We 39 ll find someone else to dry them, one of them proposed . I fell silent for a short while . I couldn 39 t speak but I felt my head moving up and down a few times . The guy smiled before taking 15 bills out of his money pouch and handing them over to me . I accepted the money and handed over my works . What 39 s your name, little fellow the other guy asked . Chalk . Why Would you write your name at the bottom of these pieces For memory 39 s sake . I nodded before searching for a suitable tool . One of them handed a fountain pen to me . Just write your name down . This is expensive, isn 39 t it I looked down at the pen . It 39 s no problem, one spoke as all three shook their heads . After some thought, I signed my name as CK . A guy handed me his name card . If you produce more works in the future and need them to be dried, just give us a call . We will buy them if they 39 re good . I stood rooted to the ground as they walked away happily . Within three months, I called them 15 times, selling them five pieces at 500 each, each time . And every single time, they had me sign my name at the bottom . Looking at the money in my hands, I found it all hard to believe . They never have even told me what they were doing with my works . With 30,000 in my pocket, I quit my job and rented a shop right opposite the old man 39 s . I bought the necessary tools and called Gla.s.ses for the first time . While he found it unbelievable, he also felt that it was only natural . I started renovating the shop and displaying my works on the shelves . I called the customers and shared the happy news with them, but they asked if I had with me ceramic works that hadn 39 t been dried or colored . After mumbling to myself a little, I said yes . For the money, it 39 s always a yes . They visited once a month and only bought pieces that hadn 39 t been dried or colored . Other than them, I had practically no other businesses . I had a shop of my own but my business was only slightly better than the old man 39 s . After the first month, the old man came knocking on my door . Why are you doing here Wanna smash my shop because I stole some of your business I asked, rus.h.i.+ng over to guard the door . He shook his head . You 39 re having regrets then And want me to work with you Do you think that 39 s possible I 39 m earning more than you right now, I continued . He pointed at his own shop . Go over there and I 39 ll show you something . It has something to do with you . Interested, I followed him to his shop . I tried guessing his motives but nothing came to mind . He pointed at the television screen . You made these, didn 39 t you It was an auction program . Big red words Collector 39 s items, made by a modern ceramic artist, Chalk . 50,000 . The so called collector 39 s items were precisely the three pieces that I had previously brought into the old man 39 s shop . The pieces were now completed and of a different color . A man in a white Chinese tunic suit smiled at the screen . I, Chalk, have inherited valuable skills from my master, Liu Bing, and I 39 m here today after 15 years of hard work . As you can see from my work, aesthetically speaking, the pieces are lively . . . The old man pointed at the television and said, They changed the color but I can still recognize that those belong to you . You are indeed more skillful than me and I accepted that, which is why I remember . I looked at the man who claimed to be Chalk . He was actually selling off my work as his own . What channel is this He answered immediately, Should be Beijing television station, broadcasting studio . To be continued .