Zhuo Yu Feng Yang Chapter 1

The damp, musty smell mixed with the scent of dust assaulted him. Jiang Zhuo snapped his eyes open. What met his gaze was peeling, mottled wall paint, and beneath him, a hard wooden plank bed. This unfamiliar environment instantly put his nerves on edge.

Shouldn’t he be in the Museum’s duty room organizing cultural relic data? How did he end up in a different place the moment he opened his eyes?

Before he could sort out his thoughts, a cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind:

Ding—Host soul binding detected and successful. The Treasure Appraisal System is officially activated.

The Novice Gift Pack has been issued: Advanced Appraisal Eye x1, Antique Knowledge Reserve (Advanced) x1.

Function Description: The Advanced Appraisal Eye can identify an item’s material, age, authenticity, and estimated value. Duration: 120 minutes. Cooldown: 30 minutes.

Jiang Zhuo was stunned. Subconsciously, he reached up and felt his pocket. His fingertips touched a few warm paper bills. He pulled them out and counted: two hundred and thirty yuan.

A rush of memory fragments that didn’t belong to him flooded in. This was a parallel world, and he had transmigrated into the body of a poor young man with the same name. The original owner’s parents had died early, leaving him with a dilapidated old house. He barely scraped by doing odd jobs. These two hundred-plus yuan were his entire savings, accumulated through extreme frugality. He had collapsed yesterday from continuous overtime in a corner of Antique Street, which was how Jiang Zhuo had managed to take over.

“Treasure Appraisal System…” Jiang Zhuo murmured softly, his fingertips trembling slightly, but a sharp glint quickly flashed in his eyes.

He had studied cultural relic appraisal and had an almost obsessive love for antiques. However, in his previous life, he had only theoretical knowledge, few opportunities for practice, and no capital to venture into the antique world. Now, with this system, wouldn’t he be like a tiger with wings?

Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Jiang Zhuo flipped out of bed, changed into a relatively clean jacket, pocketed the two hundred-plus yuan, and, wearing a pair of canvas shoes with worn-down soles, headed straight for Antique Street.

Antique Street was bustling at this time. Vendors had set up small stalls, displaying a dazzling array of “treasures”: jade, porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, and copper coins, a mix of genuine and fake that made the eyes swim. Most tourists were there for novelty, squatting down to browse, but few were truly knowledgeable.

Jiang Zhuo moved through the crowd, subtly observing his surroundings. His gaze swept over the items the stall owners were praising to the skies, but he had his own internal measure of value.

He stopped at a small stall displaying many old copper coins. He squatted down and his fingertip seemingly casually brushed over a Five Emperors Coin covered in verdigris.

Ding—Primary Appraisal Eye automatically triggered.

Item: Shunzhi Tongbao (Imitation)

Material: Ordinary brass

Age: Modern imitation

Defects: Stiff script, verdigris floating on the surface, easily scraped off.

Estimated Value: 3 yuan

Jiang Zhuo’s eyes were calm. He picked up a small jade pendant nearby that looked ancient.

Ding—

Item: Xiuyan Jade Peace Buckle (Aged)

Material: Inferior Xiuyan jade

Age: Contemporary

Defects: Artificially dyed and aged, obvious internal cracks.

Estimated Value: 25 yuan

The stall owner, a bearded middle-aged man, saw him squatting there for a long time just looking and not buying. He impatiently waved his hand. “Young man, if you want to buy, just say so. If not, don’t block my business.”

Jiang Zhuo ignored him. His gaze swept across the corner of the stall, landing on a small copper censer covered in thick dust. The censer was palm-sized, ordinary in shape, and the patterns on its body were almost completely obscured by dust. It looked no different from a pile of junk, casually tossed in the corner by the owner, completely ignored.

He reached out and picked up the small copper censer. It felt slightly cool to the touch and heavy.

Almost simultaneously, the system prompt sounded again in his mind. This time, the tone carried a rare hint of fluctuation:

Ding—High-value item detected!

Item: Xuande Censer (High-quality folk imitation, Mid-Ming Dynasty)

Material: Fengmo copper (wind-polished copper)

Age: Jiajing period, Ming Dynasty

Characteristics: Thick, mellow patina on the body, rounded tripod feet, the base is inscribed with “Made in the Xuande Era of the Great Ming.” Although not an official mark, the calligraphy is vigorous and the craftsmanship is exquisite.

Estimated Value: 8,000–10,000 yuan

Jiang Zhuo’s heart skipped a beat.

Good heavens, this was a genuine find!

He calmly wiped the dust off the copper censer, revealing a hint of the antique copper color. He looked up at the stall owner, his tone flat. “Boss, how much for this small copper censer?”

The bearded stall owner glanced at it and scoffed. “That piece of junk? No one wants it. If you want it, give me a hundred yuan and take it.”

He had casually picked it up from a scrap yard anyway. It had been sitting there for days, and no one had even asked the price. Making a hundred yuan was a profit.

Jiang Zhuo frowned, feigning hesitation. He haggled for a moment. “This thing looks like a pile of scrap copper, not worth that much. Eighty, and I’ll take it.”

The stall owner hesitated for a few seconds, thinking that leaving it there was just taking up space. He waved his hand. “Fine, fine, eighty it is. Consider it a loss for me.”

Jiang Zhuo counted out eighty yuan from his pocket and handed it over. He picked up the small copper censer and turned to leave, moving quickly as if afraid the stall owner would change his mind.

The stall owner watched his retreating back, curled his lip, and muttered, “That kid sure knows how to bargain,” before turning back to greet other customers.

Jiang Zhuo hurried into a secluded alley off Antique Street before stopping. He carefully rubbed the copper censer in his hand. The patina on the body was warm and delicate; it was indeed a fine piece.

Buying a Ming Dynasty copper censer worth over ten thousand yuan for eighty yuan—this was a massive score.

He leaned against the wall, looking at the censer in his hand, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

With this system and this first pot of gold, he could finally make his mark in this world.

He needed to make money, establish a firm footing in this chaotic antique world, and become a true appraisal master.

As for other things…

Jiang Zhuo looked up at the bustling crowd outside the alley entrance. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, scattering onto the ground in mottled light and shadow.

He hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.

The immediate priority was to sell this copper censer and convert it into tangible cash to pave the way for his subsequent plans.

Jiang Zhuo didn’t rush to find a buyer. Instead, he returned to the dilapidated rented room.

In the corner of the room was a dusty wooden box, a relic left by the original owner’s parents. Inside were a few old clothes and some scattered small items. After searching for a long time, Jiang Zhuo found an iron box at the bottom. He opened it to find half a piece of dry, hard copper polish. The original owner’s father had been a craftsman, earning a living by repairing locks, duplicating keys, and maintaining old copperware. This polish was a tool he used to buff copper pieces. Since no one inherited the craft, it had been forgotten at the bottom of the box.

Jiang Zhuo dipped a little, mixed it with warm water to dissolve it, and carefully wiped the surface dust off the censer. His movements were gentle, as if he were handling a rare treasure. The scrolling lotus patterns hidden beneath the dust gradually became clear, the lines smooth and graceful, carrying the freehand charm unique to the Mid-Ming Dynasty. After wiping, the patina on the censer body glowed with a warm, dark golden luster, making it appear even more antique and elegant.

He wasn’t doing this to “fake” anything; the layer of accumulated dust was so thick it obscured the scrolling lotus patterns. Without wiping it off, it was impossible to see the pattern flow and the base color of the metal. The genuine old patina was warm and restrained and could not be wiped away. Instead, once the surface dust was removed, the censer’s inherent antique texture slowly revealed itself.

After finishing this, Jiang Zhuo tucked the censer away and headed straight for Debao Xuan, located deep within Antique Street.

Debao Xuan was one of the few long-established shops on this street. The owner, Wang Youde, had been navigating the antique world for thirty years, handling hundreds, if not thousands, of rare antiques. He had a keen eye and a solid reputation, making him the most discerning buyer. Compared to the vendors squatting on the roadside, selling treasures here was not only safer but also guaranteed a fair price.

A string of copper bells hung on Debao Xuan’s wooden door. As Jiang Zhuo pushed the door open, the crisp ringing sound echoed.

Wang Youde was wearing reading glasses, sitting by an octagonal table, polishing a small blue-and-white bowl. Hearing the movement, he looked up, saw an unfamiliar young man, and then lowered his head again. The cotton cloth in his hand continued to move slowly and deliberately across the bowl’s surface. He spoke unhurriedly: “Young man, are you buying or selling? If you’re buying, look around yourself. If you’re selling… you have to pass my inspection first. I’ll tell you now, I don’t take fakes.”

Jiang Zhuo didn’t waste words. He placed the copper censer directly on the octagonal table and pushed it toward him. “Boss Wang, take a look at this.”

Wang Youde hadn’t taken it seriously, only glancing up casually, but the moment his eyes landed on the censer, the movement of his hand paused slightly.

He didn’t speak. He took off his reading glasses, replaced them with a clearer magnifying glass, and then slowly leaned closer to the censer. His fingers gently traced the patterns on the body. The patina his fingertips touched was warm and delicate, the heavy texture accumulated over time, something artificial aging could never replicate. He flipped the censer over to the bottom and saw the six-character regular script mark, “Made in the Xuande Era of the Great Ming.” The brushwork was vigorous and powerful. Although not an official kiln mark, it carried a unique vitality belonging to folk craftsmen.

Wang Youde’s fingertip rubbed the inscription a couple of times. He looked up at Jiang Zhuo, his eyes calm but assessing. “Where did you get this censer?”

“It’s a family heirloom,” Jiang Zhuo lied without changing his expression, his tone flat. “I need money urgently, so I want to sell it.”

Wang Youde didn’t press. It was the rule of the antique world: don’t ask about the origin, only look at the authenticity. He repeatedly examined the censer’s metal body, patina, and craftsmanship. Only then did he put down the magnifying glass, lean back in his chair, pick up the celadon teacup on the table, and take a sip. His tone was measured. “A folk imitation Xuande censer from the Jiajing period. The condition is good, but the mark is a bit lacking, so it’s not top-tier merchandise.”

He paused, looked up at Jiang Zhuo, and named a price: “Nine thousand yuan. I’ll take it. At this price, you won’t find anyone more honest on the entire Antique Street.”

This price was even higher than the lower limit estimated by the system, showing considerable sincerity.

Jiang Zhuo’s heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained neutral. He spoke calmly, “Boss Wang, add five hundred more. Nine thousand five hundred, and I’ll sell it immediately.”

Wang Youde raised an eyebrow at that, put down his teacup, and looked at Jiang Zhuo with a half-smile. “You’re a young man with quite an appetite. Alright, nine thousand five hundred it is. Consider it making a friend. If you have good things in the future, remember to think of me first.”

With that, he didn’t delay. He immediately got up and went to the back room to retrieve the money. Nine thousand five hundred yuan, a stack of brand-new hundred-yuan bills, neatly placed on the table.

Jiang Zhuo counted the money once. The amount was correct. He pushed the censer toward Wang Youde, turned, and walked away.

“Hey, young man, leave a contact method!” Wang Youde called out behind him, his voice still in that unhurried tone.

Jiang Zhuo paused, turned back, recited a string of numbers, and then, clutching the money, quickly walked out of Debao Xuan.

Stepping out of Antique Street, the sun was bright and warm on his skin. Jiang Zhuo felt the heavy stack of cash in his pocket, and a faint smile finally touched the corner of his mouth.

Nine thousand five hundred yuan.

This might not have been much to his former self, but to his current self, it was the first stepping stone to establishing himself in this world.

He first went to a nearby clothing store, spending three hundred yuan on a set of fitting casual clothes. Then he went to a shoe store and bought a new pair, replacing the canvas shoes with worn-down soles.

The young man in the mirror, dressed in clean clothes, was tall and straight, with clear, handsome features. He was no longer the down-and-out poor young man.

Jiang Zhuo looked at his reflection, his eyes sharp and determined.

This was just the beginning.

With the Treasure Appraisal System and the starting capital, he was going to stir up a storm that belonged to him in this complex antique world.