Rebirth 93: Break off the engagement at the beginning and marry Bai Fumei

"So..." The middle-aged man looked at Chen Yang, his expression incredibly complex, like someone who had eaten three pounds of bitter melon with a spoonful of honey, a mixture of emotions. He stared blankly at Chen Yang, as if Chen Yang were a clay Arhat statue in a temple, and he was a pilgrim seeking divination, hoping the Arhat could guide him through his confusion.

Looking at his silly expression, Chen Yang couldn't help but burst out laughing, like the warm winter sun melting the snow on the branches. His voice was clear and teasing: "So, your treasure is probably a replica from the late Qing Dynasty or the early Republic of China. A genuine Hongzhi yellow-glazed bowl wouldn't have an ink-painted mark on it."

As he spoke, Chen Yang crossed his legs, his posture exuding an indescribable leisure and ease, just like a playboy on a stage. Yet, the light shining in his eyes made him someone not to be underestimated.

"Furthermore," Chen Yang glanced disdainfully at the middle-aged man, "yellow glaze has been reserved for imperial use since ancient times. It's incredibly precious! Ordinary people, let alone using it, would have to think twice before even looking at it. Think about it, which of those audacious tomb raiders would dare to covet the treasures in the imperial tombs? That's a business that could cost them their heads! So, before the Qing Dynasty, no one in the common people dared to imitate yellow glaze. Anyone who did was tampering with the sacred ground and asking for trouble!"

As Chen Yang spoke, he extended his index finger and gently tapped the yellow-glazed bowl, producing a crisp sound that seemed to resonate with the middle-aged man's heart: "To be able to imitate the yellow glaze from the Hongzhi period so vividly, I suppose only the craftsmen of the late Qing Dynasty could do it."

"However, as you know, the Qing Dynasty was struggling to survive back then, so who cared about the imperial family? Therefore, when these craftsmen were making imitations, they were careful to secretly add a mark in ink on the bottom of the bowl, as if to say, 'Hey, don't misunderstand, I'm just a replica, I didn't mean to impersonate the real thing!'" At this point, Chen Yang deliberately paused, looking at the middle-aged man with a cunning glint in his eyes, like a cat that had just stolen some cream.

At this point, the middle-aged man nodded involuntarily. He finally understood why the antique shop owner had looked at the item with such a strange expression. The problem lay in that inconspicuous mark on the bottom of the item. He had previously thought it was a matter of condition, but now, after Chen Yang's explanation, he completely understood—he had been blinded by his own limited perspective.

Seeing the middle-aged man's suddenly enlightened expression, Chen Yang couldn't resist teasing him again, so he asked with a smile, "Anyone who knows anything about this will know it's a fake as soon as they see the mark. You tell me, the flaw is so obvious, how come you just couldn't see it?"

"I..." The middle-aged man lowered his head awkwardly, stammering for a long time without being able to give a coherent explanation. Yes, how could he have missed such an obvious flaw in the inscription? Was he simply old and failing, his eyesight failing him?

"Hahahaha..." Chen Yang couldn't help but burst into laughter when he saw the middle-aged man's embarrassed expression. "Hey buddy, you're really blind to what's right under your nose! Think about it, when you got this item, weren't you just focused on the bright yellow glaze and the fine texture? As for that little inscription..." Chen Yang deliberately dragged out his words, as if imitating the middle-aged man's thoughts at the time, "Who would bother looking at that thing? The glaze and texture match perfectly, it can't be wrong!"

"That's what you call making a mistake!"

After listening, the middle-aged man sighed deeply, having to admit that Chen Yang was indeed right. When he first received the bowl, all he could think about was the yellow glaze and the body of the bowl; he hadn't even noticed the small inscription. He thought to himself, "The glaze and the body match perfectly, so it can't be wrong!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Chen!" The middle-aged man nodded politely to Chen Yang, then turned his gaze back to the box, pursing his lips, seemingly deep in thought. Seeing his expression, Chen Yang smiled inwardly. It seemed this man was planning to show off his most prized possessions today. So he said, "Brother, since you're already here, why not bring out the rest of your treasures and let me broaden my horizons?"

The middle-aged man, with an expectant smile on his face, carefully pulled a strangely shaped bottle from the box, his movements resembling a magician's trick. The bottle had a long neck and a round belly, like a fat giraffe or an upside-down pear, making Chen Yang want to laugh.

Chen Yang took a closer look and almost burst out laughing. This bottle was none other than the legendary "water chestnut bottle"! What a vivid name! It looked exactly like a giant water chestnut. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was a new variety sent by a fruit farmer!

Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Period, Yellow Ground Blue and White Water Chestnut Vase

The "6-8" water chestnut bottle is a type of bottle first created during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Its characteristics include a thick, long neck and a flat, round belly, resembling the shape of a water chestnut, hence its name. This bottle style was widely produced and developed during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, not only becoming standardized in form but also boasting diverse glazes, including monochrome, famille rose, and blue-and-white glazes. However, this type of bottle had little practical use.

Blue and white porcelain details

Think about it, this bottle, you might say it's practical, but it's really not. The neck is so slender, you can't put flowers in it, and it's easy to spill water. You might say it's not practical, but it's actually quite exquisitely made, with various glazes and patterns, it's practically a work of art!

Therefore, this water chestnut bottle was a true luxury item, something used by royalty, high-ranking officials, and nobles to display their status and wealth.

This water chestnut-shaped bottle, as its name suggests, resembles an inverted water chestnut. Its round and full belly extends downwards, eventually converging at a neat ring foot. The slender neck extends upwards gracefully like the stem of a water chestnut, creating a striking contrast with the plump body and highlighting its upright posture.

Chen Yang gently lifted the bottle, feeling a warm and delicate touch on his fingertips, a testament to the exquisite texture of the porcelain. Holding it in his hand, he found its weight to be just right, without any sense of bulkiness, further highlighting the craftsmanship.

The neck and main body of the body are decorated with intricate blue-and-white floral patterns. Fourteen auspicious flowers of various shapes and sizes adorn the design, some in bud, others in full bloom, vying for attention amidst the verdant foliage. The patterns are meticulously and tightly arranged, intricate yet orderly, perfectly capturing the beauty of the flowers and the abundance of the leaves.

The blue and white porcelain boasts a vibrant color, yet it is not overly intense, perfectly showcasing an elegant and noble temperament. It is worth mentioning that the types of flowers and the arrangement of leaves all bear a distinct Xuande style, as if they have traveled from that era when blue and white porcelain was prevalent, carrying the lingering charm of history.

Where the blue and white areas were left blank, the craftsmen filled them with a bright yellow glaze. The two colors complemented each other, making the piece appear even more elegant and refined. The pure and ethereal color of the yellow glaze, like a clear spring, is soothing and pleasing to the eye. Upon closer inspection, one can also see the faint greenish-blue of the blue and white decoration showing through where the yellow glaze meets the blue and white design, adding a touch of depth to the otherwise monotonous colors and making the entire piece more lively and dynamic.

At the center of the base of the vase, two double circles are painted in underglaze blue, the outer circles filled with yellow glaze, and the inner circles are inscribed in underglaze blue with the six-character double-line regular script mark "Made in the Yongzheng Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty". The characters of the mark are upright and neat, with the brushstrokes implying the style of seal script and clerical script, adding a touch of ancient elegance to this exquisite water chestnut vase.

This piece exhibits a strong influence of the Xuande kiln style in its underglaze blue painting technique, yellow glaze application, and choice of decorative motifs. Combined with the newly created small water chestnut-shaped vase form of the Qing dynasty, it can be considered a masterpiece of the Yongzheng imperial kiln, adhering to ancient styles without being bound by them. Compared to Xuande kiln pieces, the overall charm is less bold and unrestrained, but more refined and elegant, directly reflecting the delicate inner world of the Yongzheng Emperor.

This is a genuine Qing Dynasty Yongzheng period yellow-ground blue-and-white water chestnut-shaped vase with intertwined floral patterns!

The bottle looked simple. Chen Yang examined it closely, nodded slightly. There was nothing wrong with the bottle; it was just that it wasn't worth much in those days. This kind of water chestnut bottle would only be worth a few thousand yuan on the market, and it wouldn't be easy to sell because people in the industry weren't interested in such items at the time. Even if it went to auction, it would only fetch tens of thousands of yuan. Its true value wouldn't be realized until after 2010.

It was so cheap back then!

Chen Yang held the bottle, pretending to examine it carefully, and then said with a smile, "Your bottle is in quite good condition. The blue and white glaze is vibrant, and the yellow glaze is warm and lustrous like jade. It is clearly a fine piece from the Yongzheng period. Especially the mark on the bottom of the bottle, the six large characters 'Made in the Yongzheng Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty' are written in such a vigorous and powerful style that it is obviously an official kiln piece!"

"It's a pity..." Chen Yang deliberately dragged out his words, looking at the middle-aged man with a meaningful smile on his face.

The middle-aged man's heart skipped a beat, and he asked urgently, "What's the pity?"

Chen Yang spread his hands and said helplessly, "Unfortunately, its market value is not high because it was not used at the time and it was not a practical tool, so very few people recognize it. The price is a thousand or eight hundred, and it can't go any higher."

The middle-aged man was overjoyed upon hearing the price Chen Yang offered, feeling as sweet as if he'd eaten honey. He knew the shop he'd visited before had only offered a few hundred yuan! It seemed he'd made the right decision not to sell to that shop!

Suppressing his overwhelming joy, the middle-aged man took out another piece of porcelain from the box, indicating that this was the last one. After removing the outer packaging, Chen Yang looked at the porcelain on the table and couldn't help but glance at the middle-aged man. This guy really treated his place like a junk market.