gifted collector

Chapter 427
Fang Ming didn't take Zhong Ping's suspicion to heart. In fact, many people who didn't understand the situation would think that the value of 500 million was too high, but in fact it was not.

The value mentioned by Fang Ming has not fully taken into account the fluctuations caused by auctions or market demand. In fact, in his opinion, if the heather root in front of him works well, it will , the value will be even higher.

The reason is also very simple. There are fewer and fewer such things now, and things in the world have always been rare.

Ke Moran held the wood in her hand and looked at it over and over for a long time, but in the end she could only give up. She couldn't see how expensive the thing in her hand was.

"Fang Ming, please explain to us why it is worth so much money."

Fang Ming nodded. He knew that he had to introduce it in detail, otherwise Zhong Ping and others would not understand.

"There are many materials for making pipes, such as copper, stone, and even red sandalwood that we are familiar with, but heather nodule is the most suitable material recognized in the world. This is of course because of its burning resistance, porous Sex, etc., the reason why the piece in front of me is valuable is because it is an old root, and it is estimated that it is more than 200 years old, such things are now rare or even impossible to see."

"The heather roots used to make pipes must be at least 15 years old. The older the heather root nodules, the better, because its wood grain will be more beautiful, the color will be more beautiful, there will be more small holes, and heat dissipation will be improved. However, because it grows in a poor environment and has very little water and nutrients, its growth is extremely slow. Generally speaking, if it is a root nodule of about 5 kg or 10 kg, it will take more than 30 years. It is said that around the 20s, heather root nodules that were more than 40 years old could be found, but now let alone 300-year-old ones, those that are about 300 years old have become rare species, but the oldest heather trees It’s only about 50 years now.”

"The root nodules of briar wood have no annual rings, and its age can only be judged from its grain. You see, the wood grain can be seen in this opening, which is meticulous and tight. It must be a hundred years old. The above-mentioned briar will appear. Therefore, under the current situation that there are no old briar nodules, there is no problem with the sky-high price of this piece.”

In fact, Fang Ming has never seen the root nodules of briar before, nor has he studied how to judge how old it has been based on its grain.But in his memory, he saw a picture, which showed the grain of briar nodules more than a hundred years old. By comparison, Fang Ming found that the piece in front of him was even closer, and Pixiu had already identified it. The value of it is around 500 million, that's why Fang Ming dared to make such a judgment.

"Making pipes from briar roots, especially those that are handmade, is a rigorous and complex process."

"First, clean the heather root carefully, pick out the cracks, etc., and then cut it into brick-sized cubes, and then bury it in the soil to 'ferment' naturally. After taking it out, you can start cutting it into pieces. The blank of the pipe. Then it is boiled in specially prepared water for at least 24 hours, which is to remove the possible flavor in the heather root, otherwise it will affect the taste of the tobacco when it is burned. "

"After being boiled, the billets can be placed in a dry place to dry in the shade. This step takes at least half a year, and many even last for a few years. This is to remove all the water in it after natural conditions. Otherwise it will cause the pipe to warp after molding."

"Many master pipe makers will boil the pipe again after air-drying the pipe blank until they actually make the tobacco half. The purpose is to completely remove the peculiar smell."

"The top-quality pipes must be made from the old roots of heather that have grown for many years, and they must be free of any cracks and scars, and the wood grain must be complete and hand-made."

"But, no matter what, no matter how good a pipe smoker is, he must have materials, right? Now that materials are in short supply, the value will definitely soar."

Now Zhong Ping and the others understood that the seemingly unremarkable piece of wood in front of them was really valuable.

"It seems that this time there is finally a family heirloom."

Seeing Ke Moran like this, Ke Liu smiled and said: "Auntie, even if you show this wood to others, you won't know it's a good thing. You might as well find someone to make it into a pipe or something, that would be better."

"This is a good suggestion. I will find time to look for it later, and I can always find someone."

Ke Moran nodded lightly, and immediately wondered whether he knew anyone in this area.

"By the way, Liuliu, are you here on business today?"

Zhong Ping knew that Ke Liu was also a very busy person, and because he was a public figure, in fact, there would be no fewer things than him, especially if he came here temporarily, he must come to him because he had something to do.

"Yes, Liuliu, what are you doing here today?"

Ke Moran was still holding that piece of heather root in her hand, she knew that what Zhong Ping said was correct, Ke Liu must have something to do here today.

"Is such that……"

Ke Liu was not polite, and told what happened.

Zhong Ping frowned, and said, "You mean, you found an imperial tomb, but Li Mingguang had ulterior motives?"

Ke Liu naturally told Zhong Ping about his previous guess, but Zhong Ping still found it a little inconceivable that an official would put his hopes on this?
"I think there are still people like this in history."

Fang Ming's words made Zhong Ping fall silent immediately. Zhong Ping is a person who likes history very much. As he is familiar with history, he naturally knows that this is right. There are indeed many such people in history.

"Actually, our purpose is to ensure the normal excavation of the imperial mausoleum. I don't think there is any problem with this. We hope you can help us in this regard. If Li Mingguang has no problem, let's not talk about it. If there is a problem, we will It can be arranged in advance, anyway, there is no loss, isn't it? It will not cause any unnecessary trouble."

"Well, you're right, so let me arrange it."

These words convinced Zhong Ping that no one could be sure whether Li Mingguang was playing something abnormal, but Fang Ming's purpose was only to excavate the imperial tomb normally, which was justified even if he traveled all over the world.

As long as people are arranged to ensure this matter, if Li Mingguang has such an idea, he can stop it by himself. If he doesn't have this idea, then this matter will pass like this.

"Time is urgent, I think the sooner the better."

Fang Ming was overjoyed when he heard that, Li Mingguang is the mayor, and he is very capable, but it depends on who he is compared with. He and Zhong Ping are not in the same weight class at all.

"Someone will contact Liu Liu tomorrow."

It was quite late when Fang Ming and Ke Liu left Zhong Ping's house. According to Ke Moran's statement, they would have stayed, but in the end they decided to live outside, which would be more convenient.

"I really didn't expect you to have such a strong background."

Ke Liu has such a big background, which is far beyond Fang Ming's intentions. It can only mean that Ke Liu is "buried" too deep.It’s okay for a person like Ke Liu to be in another industry, but in the entertainment industry, he can still maintain a clean personality. It’s impossible for someone like Ke Liu to be forced to dedicate himself sooner or later.

"Being born in such a family has both advantages and disadvantages. Since I was a child, I didn't like it very much, so I went out early. Of course, I also know that if I don't have a family behind me, it is still a little hard to say whether I can get the status I am now."

Ke Liu is very clear-headed, knowing that although his own brilliance today is related to his own hard work, it still takes up the glory of his family to some extent. After all, his birth has already determined this point.

Fang Ming nodded lightly, changed the subject, and said, "I think otherwise, I'll come back early tomorrow morning..."

Fang Ming was interrupted by Ke Liu before he finished speaking, saying: "No matter what kind of arrangement it is, we can prepare it tomorrow, so we can leave together later tomorrow. We discussed this issue before, It’s useless for you to go back now. Besides, if you’re gone now, who will take us into the desert then?”

"This one……"

Fang Ming opened his mouth, but in the end he could only nod his head and said, "You are right, it seems that I am still in a hurry."

"If you care about it, you will be chaotic. Don't worry, since my uncle has intervened in this matter, everything will be fine. Let's find a place to eat and then find a place to rest. We can just wait for the phone call tomorrow." up."

Fang Ming knew that this was the most appropriate way to deal with it, so he agreed to Ke Liu's arrangement.

Even though it was late at night, as a provincial capital city, it would still be brightly lit and a bustling scene. At the beginning, Fang Ming and Ke Liu just wanted to find a place to eat, but after thinking about it, they decided to find a nice bar for a drink. After spending two hours, I found a five-star hotel room and fell asleep.

Fang Ming and Ke Liu were exhausted during this period, and they drank again, so they fell asleep like dead pigs as soon as they lay down.

The phone vibrated violently, Ke Liu opened her eyes with effort, grabbed it and saw that it was an unfamiliar call, and after answering it, she found that it was a gentle voice, and she knew it was her uncle Zou Qiang, Zhong Ping's secretary.After Zou Qiang asked where Ke Liu was, he said that he was coming now. Ke Liu got up right away to wash up and went to the next door to wake Fang Ming up.

(End of this chapter)