I trade in both worlds

In the following days, the appraisal work was carried out intensively and orderly. Mr. Zhong spent almost every day in the warehouse, accompanying these furniture.

The appraisal work lasted for more than half a month, until the end of February, when a detailed appraisal report was finally released.

The age, material, craftsmanship and even the historical stories behind each piece of furniture are recorded one by one.

Next, the auction house arranged for professional photographers and designers to begin carefully photographing and designing each piece of furniture.

A month later, a beautifully bound, illustrated album appeared in front of Xu Ziqi.

Opening the album, each piece of furniture is displayed at the best angle, accompanied by detailed text descriptions.

On the first day of March, spring returns to the earth and everything comes back to life. The morning light penetrates the mist and shines on the carefully carved archway. The completion ceremony of the archway is held grandly under the attention of the public.

Outside the Xu Zhuang Ancestral Hall, a towering clan archway shines brightly in the morning sun. It is not only a stone building, but also a symbol of the Xu family's supreme glory.

The archway is made up of huge stones, which are as hard as iron, as if they can withstand all the wind, rain and vicissitudes of the world.

The huge stone is carved with lifelike figures of people, birds and animals of various shapes and forms. Every stroke reveals the craftsman's exquisite skills and endless ingenuity.

On top of the horizontal beam, auspicious patterns of dragon and phoenix appear, symbolizing good luck and lasting blessings.

In the middle of the archway, the four golden characters "天下忠良" are vigorous, powerful and magnificent. They not only show the Xu family's loyalty and contribution to the country, but also inspire future generations to keep moving forward.

Officials from the county government also came to participate. They were dressed in official uniforms and looked solemn. They bowed to the archway to express their goodwill towards the Xu family.

The villagers also wore festive costumes, their faces filled with joy and pride. They gathered in front of the archway early, looking forward to that exciting moment.

The children excitedly shuttled among the crowd, and occasional bursts of laughter were heard, adding a bit of vitality and energy to this solemn occasion.

They may not fully understand the profound meaning behind this archway, but the sense of family pride has quietly taken root in their hearts.

The patriarch of the Xu family was dressed in gorgeous clothes, holding a sacrificial text, and reading out the family's glorious history and current glory in a loud voice.

His voice echoed in the empty venue, and every word seemed to carry the family's memories and expectations, inspiring everyone present.

Standing in the bustling crowd, Xu Jin's eyes wandered over those officials who were usually out of reach, his heart filled with doubts and curiosity.

Why are these "big guys" who are rarely seen in normal days so intimately integrated into the celebrations of their small village today?

So, he quietly slipped to Li Wenyuan's side, gently pulled his sleeve and asked: "Mr. Li, why can those officials put aside their status and come to our village to attend the completion ceremony of the memorial archway? No one in our Xu family is an official, and there are only a few people who study, and none of them have achieved academic honors."

Hearing this, Li Wenyuan smiled gently. He gently touched Xu Jin's head, and his eyes, which had experienced many vicissitudes of life, sparkled with wisdom. "Xu Jin, do you know why this memorial arch was built?"

Xu Jin nodded, his young face full of seriousness: "Because my sister bought the potato seeds."

"Then do you know what potatoes mean to Dayun Dynasty?" Li Wenyuan continued to ask.

Xu Jin shook his head and frowned slightly, obviously surprised by this question. Although he had heard adults talk about potatoes on weekdays, he had never delved into the meaning behind them.

Li Wenyuan looked at Xu Jin's young face, patted his little head, and slowly told him the history and current situation of Dayun Dynasty, as well as the important impact of increasing potato production on Dayun Dynasty.

Li Wenyuan smiled slightly upon seeing this, and said slowly: "Xu Jin, do you know that in our Dayun Dynasty, since the war at the end of the previous dynasty, the people have been displaced, the fields have been barren, and the grain production is extremely low. How many people have lost their lives due to hunger, and how many families have been broken apart by famine."

"In those years, there were starving people everywhere and people were living in poverty. It was a tragedy for the country and a pain for the people."

Xu Jin nodded and said dejectedly: "When my father was still alive, he told us that during the war in the past few years, most of the crops grown every year were taken away, and every household worked hard for a year but could not even eat half full."

"At that time, the villagers always had sad faces, and at night you could often hear people crying because of hunger."

Li Wenyuan heard this, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes, and he whispered softly: "I don't know how I got through those years. Every meal was a luxury, and every grain of rice was as precious as a pearl."

Xu Jin didn't hear clearly what Li Wenyuan said and looked at him in confusion.

Li Wenyuan came back to his senses, cleared his throat, and continued: "Potatoes have a short growth cycle and strong adaptability. They can grow tenaciously regardless of whether it is barren land or fertile fields."

"It has a high yield and is durable in storage. Once it is popularized, it will greatly alleviate the problem of food shortage. "Your sister bought these potato seeds from the foreign vassal and successfully planted them in her own fields."

"She then selflessly distributed the seeds to the villagers and taught them how to grow them. Before long, potatoes were widely planted in our Dayun Dynasty, solving the problem of food and clothing for countless people and alleviating the food crisis in Dayun Dynasty."

Xu Jin never thought that those round, yellow potatoes would have such important significance.

"So, Xu Jin." Li Wenyuan said earnestly, "Because your sister provided potato seeds, it solved the problem of food and clothing for the people and the food problem of Dayun Dynasty."

"In recognition of her achievements, the court conferred her the title of First-Rank Lady of Imperial Concubine, and gave her the memorial archway of 'Loyal and Good Person in the World'."

"This is not only an affirmation of your sister, but also a compliment to the Xu family. Therefore, those officials are willing to put aside their status and come here to participate in the ceremony."

Xu Jin suddenly understood, and an indescribable excitement and pride surged in his heart.

Li Wenyuan looked at Xu Jin and the children around him, and then said, "Although there are no officials in your Xu family now and not many people are educated, but now the Xu family has a clan school and a group of scholars like you. Slowly, the Xu family will no longer be common people, but may be a farming and reading family."

Xu Jin looked at Li Wenyuan in confusion and asked, "Sir, what is a commoner? Does a farming and reading family mean that they farm the land and study at the same time? Just like in our village."

Li Wenyuan patted Xu Jin's shoulder gently and explained, "Families in the world can be roughly divided into wealthy families, aristocratic families, poor families and common people.

"The rich and powerful may be at their peak for a time, but they often cannot last long because of their excessive power."

"The aristocratic families rely on the culture and reputation accumulated over generations to survive. They have both a profound cultural heritage and a broad social influence."

"Although poor families are in poverty, talented people often emerge from nowhere and use their talents to turn the tide and rewrite their destiny."

"The common people are the broadest foundation in this world. They are hardworking and simple, but often lack opportunities for advancement. They can only work quietly and hope that their descendants will be able to stand out one day."

"Then, how can our Xu family transform from a commoner family into a farming and reading family?" Xu Jin asked impatiently.

"Although the Xu family currently has no high-ranking officials, with the contribution of your sister and the establishment of a clan school, you young people are the hope for the Xu family's future." Li Wenyuan's words were full of encouragement.