Su Shi's Inkstone
Who spent so much effort to make an ordinary Cheng Mud Inkstone? His main goal was to hide the other famous inkstone.
If he did not see anything abnormal with this inkstone by chance, it would probably be difficult for the inkstone to see the light of day again. Unless the old inkstone accidentally fell one day, one might discover that there was a treasure inside.
"Little Friend, I bought this old inkstone from a street stall in
Old Master Qin walked to his side and said with a smile.
"Dad, I told Li Mo that when I was about to send him off previously, but he rejected me."
"That's true. With his judgment, why would he take a fancy to such an old item?"
Old Master Qin patted his head. This was not an ordinary young man.
"Old Master, are you really going to give this to me?"
At this moment, Li Mo looked up and asked seriously.
Old Master Qin was stunned because he saw a bright light in his eyes. He was very familiar with this gaze. He had seen it countless times before. Could it be that he had misjudged and there was a secret about this old inkstone?
Li Mo suddenly laughed and waved his hand. "If you really wanted to give it to me, I wouldn't dare to accept it."
"You don't dare to take it, but I still want to give it to you."
Old Master Qin glared and reached out to take the old inkstone. He flipped it around but did not find any secrets.
"Old Li, come and see it."
"I've seen this inkstone many times. There's nothing to see."
Old Li shook his head.
The two old men looked at Li Mo, hoping that he would have any new insights.
Qin Yali also took it over to take a look. It was just an ordinary inkstone.
"Miss Sirui, please get a hairdryer, a blade, a towel, and a basin of ice water."
Li Mo turned around and instructed, I'll let you guys see the true treasure-hunting method today.
Qin Sirui sneered. "You're taking the initiative."
"Yali, you go too. Hurry."
The old master was more anxious.
Without a doubt, although the things Li Mo wanted were strange, it also indirectly told them that this old inkstone was really extraordinary.
Qin Sirui still had a sullen face as she was pulled out by her aunt.
Soon, the four things were gathered. The group of people in the hall next door probably heard the news and squeezed into the study one after another.
"Sirui, what's Li Mo doing? He's acting mysterious." Li Jiayu was jealous. He thought that with his status as an overseas returnee and the help of his family, his company would be listed in the future. Such conditions were outstanding among the younger generation, but he was really dealt a huge blow today.
Compared to Li Mo, Qin Sirui hated him even more. Seeing that he was whispering into her ear, her expression changed slightly and she took a few steps to the side in disdain.
Li Jiayu suffered another blow.
"Little Friend, everything is prepared. Shouldn't you reveal the secret?"
Li Mo stopped smiling and looked focused. He laid out the towel flat and erected the inkstone, revealing the base. Then, he blew on it with the hairdryer in the hot mode. As he blew on it, he moved it so that the base was evenly heated.
About three minutes later, Li Mo turned off the hairdryer, picked up the blade, and started scraping the edge of the base. Old inkstone powder kept falling.
Next, he kept repeating this step. After eight times, Qin Yali finally couldn't help but ask, "Li Mo, what secret did you discover?"
"Don't be anxious."
After repeating the steps four more times, Li Mo finally heaved a sigh of relief. The first step was too time-consuming.
He wiped the base clean with a towel. It was already a mess from his scratching.
But what about the secret?
"Grandpa Qin, he's deliberately destroying your collection. You and my grandfather have played with the old inkstone many times. You two would have long discovered any secrets. Why would we wait for this kid to reveal them?"
"Dad, Jiayu is right. He destroyed a good piece of old inkstone. Don't be fooled by him. Let's chase him away."
The two old men did not speak.
Li Mo turned a deaf ear to them. They were two newbies who did not know anything. No, they were not even newbies.
He tested the water. The temperature was just right. This time, Li Mo turned the hairdryer to the highest hot mode and heated it along the edge of the chassis. It was a local warming.
While everyone was confused, they saw him submerge the old inkstone in ice water. There was a sound, as if something had cracked.
After he took it out and dried it with a towel, Old Master Qin leaned his head closer to take a look. A clear crack appeared at the edge of the square base.
"This base is connected!"
"Old Master, you're wise. The old inkstone's secret is here. There's a treasure in the inkstone." Li Mo gave a thumbs up. The second step was much easier. He used the blade to slowly pry open the thin baseboard along the crack. Although it was easier, it still took about five minutes.
The coin-thick baseboard fell off, revealing its true appearance.
A few heads squeezed over to take a look.
"Duck head green. This is Tao River Inkstone, one of the four famous inkstones." Old Master Qin exclaimed excitedly, "Quickly take it out and take a look."
Li Mo shook it gently a few times and the duck head green fell into his palm. Everyone's gaze was attracted.
Li Mo observed for a moment and said softly, "It's fine and crystalline. It's beautiful and moving. The stone patterns are like silk, like waves rolling in the clouds. This is top-notch duck head green. The inkstone table is square in shape. There are pine trees and bamboo stones carved on the sides. The carvings are exquisite and gorgeous. The images are clearly layered and lifelike. It's definitely made by a top-notch master."
Looking at the front of the inkstone table, there was actually a running script carved on it.
"Cleanse and sharpen, hair and metal. Cut and clear, firm and dense. Year Bing Yin, fights the north and south. The one who gives it to him is Huang Luzhi. Engraved by Su Shi in the spring of Year Zi Chou."
Li Mo held the duck head green with both hands and was extremely excited. This was the inkstone of the Song Dynasty's Su Dongpo. Su Shi, courtesy name Zizhan, art name Dongpo. He was known as Su Dongpo, one of the Eight Greats of the Tang and Song Dynasties. He was the leader of the literary world in the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty. He had very high achievements in poetry, prose, and painting.
He had many legendary works, and his paintings were basically in the hands of great collectors or as the treasure of a museum. However, this was the first time that his inkstone was discovered, and it was hidden in another famous inkstone.
"The hidden inkstone of Su Shi!" Old Master Qin's face flushed red. He wanted to reach out but retracted his hand halfway. "Little Friend, let me take a look."
How could Li Mo bear to put it down? However, the atmosphere in the study was too strange. Everyone was looking at him. Some of them wished they could kill him with their gazes, so they could only place it gently on the towel.
Take your time. I'll go out and calm down.
Qin Sirui was probably the only one present who was not interested in this. Seeing Li Mo's reluctant look, she suddenly felt that this person was quite interesting.
"You're really special." Qin Sirui followed her out. "Can you tell me how you discovered it?"
"Why do you want to be an actress?" Li Mo asked.
"Being an actor and playing different roles is actually acting out different lives to experience the sweetness and bitterness of each role. I like that feeling."
Li Mo nodded. This was a very pure thought. He did not know if she could stick to her ideals. The entertainment industry was a big dye vat. Many people had no choice when they entered it.
"Your purpose as an actor is to experience different lives, not for fame and fortune. I like antiques. Every time I meet one, I will first study if it's the real thing and which dynasty it belongs to, and I will study the social background at that time. When you suddenly discover that an antique is indeed from a certain dynasty, but it's incompatible with the environment of that era, you will have doubts. Why is this so?"
Qin Sirui did not understand and just looked at him expressionlessly.
"For example, this old inkstone is something that has been around for a long time in your eyes, but in our eyes, this old inkstone is not simple. It's one of the four famous inkstones in history. This kind of inkstone is not something ordinary people can use. It's either a high-ranking official or a rich businessman. Then in such a feudal society, why would those craftsmen casually make an inkstone table that isn't elegant?"
"That's why I became suspicious. You saw what happened next with your own eyes."
At this moment, Li Jiayu's voice could be heard in the study. "Grandpa, how much is this hidden inkstone of Su Shi worth? Is it worth 10 million yuan?"
"Only one of Su Shi's inkstones has been discovered so far. In terms of rarity, it might be even more precious than the inkstones left behind by Qianlong. It's also possible to get 20 to 30 million yuan."
"It's so expensive. Fortunately, that kid didn't want it. Otherwise, it would be equivalent to giving him tens of millions for nothing."
The two people who said the latter sentence were Qin Sirui's parents. Li Mo smiled at her. "Do you understand?"
Qin Sirui hummed softly and turned to look at the rockery in the courtyard. No one knew what she was thinking.