Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  “What about this.” The man spoke out a price.

  Wang Yao was not that knowledgeable about such an antique, but he felt the price was a bit high.

  “It’s too high,” he replied.

  Wang Yao was a layman in regards to bargaining. Chen Ying beside him, as a host, took over the task. Her ability to bargain was much better than Wang Yao’s. She even cut the price down to less than $20,000.

  “Ah!” The man sighed because the price was a bit low. But, he was happy inwardly. He had been storing the book one year and no one had bought it. He finally succeeded in selling it, so the price was in a range he could accept.

  “Sir, what kind of the book it is?” Chen Ying asked curiously.

  “It’s a book of Taoist scripture,” Wang Yao replied. “It’s a classic Shangqing Sect worship.”


  “A Taoist scripture?” She was a bit surprised.

  “Yes, it’s Taoist scripture, but there is something relative to Chinese traditional medicine in it,” Wang Yao replied.

  “Got it.” Chen Ying remembered the name of the book inwardly.

  “By the way, you can also read some Taoist scriptures in usual books, which would help you practice and get further achievement,” Wang Yao said.

  He had said this to Chen Ying more than once.

  “I’m trying to read some,” she replied. She did read some Taoist scripture, which Wang Yao had also encouraged Su Xiaoxue to read. It helped Chen Ying keep calm, along with other benefits. She felt more peaceful, which was really effective in her practice.

  “Let’s go see more,” Wang Yao said as he put away the ancient book.

  Two people came to the outside of the yard. The man over 70, but still hale and hearty, was Chen Lao. The other person was middle-aged and looked very elegant and refined.

  “Is it here?” the other person asked.

  “Yes,” Chen Lao replied.

  They went forward and knocked on the door. There was no response.

  “He is usually here. Let me make a phone call.” The old man called Chen Ying.

  “Hello, Chen Lao. Yes, I am out with Mr. Wang. Ah, good. I will tell him to call you back.” She then hung up the phone. “Sir, Someone wants to see you.”


  “Who is it?” Wang Yao was watching a wood carving with interest. The wood carving was not a Bodhisattva, nor a Buddha, but a statue of the king of medicine. It was elaborate and vivid.

  “He did not tell me that, but I guess he might not be an ordinary person,” Chen Ying replied. It was impossible for the ordinary to find her. Even if he wasn’t rich, he was most likely fairly wealthy.

  “Then, he has to wait, ” Wang Yao said with a smile.

  Chen Ying called him back.

  “Do you think he is busy outside?” Chen Lao asked the man next to him. “Then, we have to wait.”


  “When it’s so cold?” the man asked.

  “It does not matter. There is a teahouse over there,” Chen Lao said. “Yes, there is. What about having a cup of tea?”


  The two men went to the teahouse.

  “How much is the wood carving?” Wang Yao asked the shop seller.

  “Your insight is very great. It was made of scented-wood with a long history. It might be a predestined relationship since you fancy it. The price is $35,000. No bargain is allowed.”


  Wang Yao could distinguish the material of the wood carving, which was indeed scented-wood, because scented-wood was a type of medicine material. But, the price was beyond his imagination. After all, the carving was not very big. “Too expensive.”


  “Not very expensive,” the seller said. “It could be traced back to Qing, and the material is so good.”


  Chen Ying whispered closely into Wang Yao’s ear.

  “Good,” he replied to her.

  “Call your boss out,” Chen Ying said to the seller.

  “Ah?” The seller in the shop was shocked.

  “I know your boss,” she replied.

  “OK, please wait for a while.” He went to the inner room. A middle-aged man in a Tang suit came out with a small, dark-red enameled pottery in his hand.

  “Hello, Boss Tan,” Chen Ying greeted him.

  “It is you. Come on into the inner room, please.” The middle-aged man instantly smiled to welcome them as soon as he saw Chen Ying.

  “Do not be in a hurry. This man takes a fancy to something. See?” She pointed to the carving.

  Boss Tan saw it was the statue of the king of medicine. “What about $18,000?”


  “Mr. Wang?” Chen Ying looked at Wang Yao.

  “OK, I’ll take it,” Wang Yao said and laughed.

  They came into the inner room of the shop after paying. Parts of the furnishings inside had a long history, which showed that Boss Tan really understood wood products.

  “Come on, please have some tea.” The middle-aged man personally made tea for them.

  “Boss Tan, I guess your business is run well,” Chen Ying said.

  “Ah, we have to live,” he replied.

  In fact, the industry of cultural relics and antiques could bring large profits. There was a folk saying that it does not matter if it takes three years to close a sale because once it is made, the profits could help one afford their life the next three years.

  Boss Tan had engaged in the industry for more than 10 years. Even though he had a small antique shop, the profits were really amazing. It was even more than of a factory with hundreds of workers.

  “This is……” Boss Tan asked while smiling at Wang Yao.

  He was a smart trader and very good at watching people’s behaviors. He could guess Chen Ying really respected the young man. He knew who Chen Ying was, so it was not difficult to guess that the young man might be a boy from a big family who might be an investor.

  “This is Wang Yao,” Chen Ying said.

  Wang? Boss Tan suddenly thought of much.

  “Sir, Boss Tan was very famous on the Antiques Street. You could ask him if you are looking for something. He could help,” Chen Ying said.

  “Mr. Wang, what are your looking for?” Boss Tan asked.

  “Needles,” Wang Yao replied.

  “Needles?” Boss Tan was shocked. “What type of needles?”


  “The acupuncture needles for Chinese traditional medicine,” Wang Yao replied.

  It never occurred to Boss Tan that the playboy would want such rare gadget, which he did not have. He hadn’t even seen any in years because nobody would want to buy them.

  He told them the truth. Such gadgets were worthless. Few people were interested in them, so traders were unlikely to sell them.

  “Then Boss Tan, could you please help ask others who might be trying to sell some?” Chen Ying asked.

  He instantly agreed. After they finished their tea, Wang Yao and Chen Ying left.

  “Boss, who were they?” the shop seller asked.

  If he could have sold the wood carving, he could have deducted $1,000 from the sale. Now, his boss sold it at a low price. The shop might got no profits, let alone his deduction.

  “A magnate,” the middle-aged man said. “Do your job carefully and you will get the bonus this month.”


  “Yeah, you’re the greatest boss,” the shop seller said.

  “Enough of that. Don’t just flatter me. You need to sell more,” Boss Tan replied.

  “I’ll make more effort,” the shop seller said.

  The boss went back into the inner room. “Needles? They are really rare.”


  Meanwhile, Chen Lao came and the middle-aged man wandered for more than half an hour before they returned and knocked on the door again.

  “Hello, my young friend,” Chen Lao said.

  “Hello, Chen Lao, do come on in.” Wang Yao invited them to come in. Chen Ying made a pot of Wuyi rock tea for them.

  “May I introduce for you. This is Wu Tongxing.” Chen Lao introduced his guest to him. “He wants to invite you to see his family for treatment.”


  “What type of disease is it?” Wang Yao asked.

  “Eye disease,” Wu Tongxing replied.

  This was Wang Yao’s first time to be contacted about a patient with eye disease.

  “Do you have your case history?” Wang Yao asked.

  “I brought it with. Can you have a look?” Wu Tongxing asked.

  The eyes of the old tear in the wind and are dry and painful. The man also suffered from blurred vision. Wang Yao had a general idea of the patient’s condition after carefully reading.

  “Doctor Wang?” Wu Tongxing asked.

  “Have him come here. I will see him,” Wang Yao said.

  “Ah, but my father’s not good. Could you please go to my house?” Wu Tongxing asked.

  “It depends on the condition,” Wang Yao said.

  “OK, this is my business card.” The man passed him a business card. It was quite simple. It only had a name and a phone number.

  “Sorry to disturb you,” Wu Tongxing said.

  “I’ll see you out,” Chen Ying said.

  “What kind of person is he?” Wang Yao asked when Chen Ying came back.

  “The Wus are a big family in Jing. His father retired from the army,” Chen Ying replied.

  “Ah.” It seemed he could not avoid dealing with such people since he had come to Jing. “What’s the relationship of Chen Lao and that man?”


  “Chen Lao’s wife is surnamed Wu,” Chen Ying replied.