Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1443: Chapter 1427: Jiang Yindao, the Kintsugi Master

After listening to Wu Qingshan narrate the story behind this box of porcelain fragments, Huo Sining couldn’t help but be filled with emotion.

This is more than just a great find; it’s a monumental discovery.

”The origin of the items is not an issue, but as you know, I made it a rule when I was at the museum to take on no more than ten pieces a year. Now that I’m retired and idle at home, I take on even fewer projects.”

”In fact, my schedule for next year is already fully booked. If I break the rule, more people will seek exceptions from me in the future, which I find bothersome to deal with. So, I need to consider your matter carefully.”

Wu Qingshan told Mr. Jiang the complete origin of these porcelain fragments, but Mr. Jiang was not quick to agree and mentioned his principles to Wu Qingshan.

However, from the look in Elder Mr. Jiang’s eyes, Huo Sining could see that he valued those porcelain fragments very much and seemed eager to accept Wu Qingshan’s project.

At this point, Huo Sining was quite sure of the old gentleman’s identity; he should be Mr. Jiang Yindao, the heir to the porcelain repair family in the Magic Capital.

Huo Sining had heard of Jiang Yindao’s reputation when she first engaged with antiques; he was said to be highly skilled in porcelain restoration. His family had been employed by the national museum for generations, and by his generation, he had refined the craft by incorporating modern technology and theoretical knowledge.

It was said that even the most shattered porcelain could be miraculously restored to its original state in this old gentleman’s hands.

However, the craft of porcelain restoration is very complex and draining, and since retiring years ago, Jiang Yindao has almost hung up his tools. He doesn’t take on ordinary porcelain restoration projects, and his fees are extremely high, usually in the seven-figure range, which is unaffordable for most people.

Huo Sining never imagined she would encounter this legendary porcelain repair artisan here.

In fact, on Antique Street in the Magic Capital, Huo Sining once encountered an old granny in front of Yin Yizhai, holding a chipped plum vase. That plum vase belonged to the same series as a set of tea ware in her collection, known as 7501 Porcelain, also referred to as Red Official Kiln Porcelain.

While Huo Sining later gifted the tea set to Gu Xu’s grandfather as a birthday present, she kept the chipped plum vase for herself.

At the time, she considered seeking Jiang Yindao from the Magic Capital to help with its restoration, but was deterred by the high costs, and it was then that she first learned about the Qibao Rock Spirit Pearl’s ability to restore and refine, not only extracting essence from jadeite but also seamlessly restoring broken porcelain.

Because of this, Huo Sining abandoned the idea of looking for Jiang Yindao, and indeed, the plum vase was fully restored into an integral piece by Qibao’s tinkering, showing no trace of having been damaged.

Of course, Huo Sining couldn’t openly reveal Qibao’s extraordinary ability to restore porcelain, especially in such settings. If she had found those fragments herself, she would have done everything to find a solution, but since the fragments belonged to Wu Qingshan, although curious, she wasn’t overly concerned.

While this was Huo Sining’s thought process, Jiang Yindao and Shi Ronghe clearly had different ideas. The older generation possessed a much stronger sense of belonging and mission towards antique artifacts, so after Jiang Yindao refused Wu Qingshan’s request, Shi Ronghe immediately considered persuading someone already booked with Jiang Yindao to give up a slot.

Shi Ronghe, being quite reputable and connected over the years, quickly reached out to a client who had reserved with Jiang Yindao to restore a set of Shadow Celadon ornaments early next year. Through earnest persuasion, he managed to convince them to yield the slot to Wu Qingshan.

Due to this twist with the wood-fired kiln, everyone was quite engaged. During dinner, the conversation revolved heavily around this topic, and Huo Sining, although not very knowledgeable about wood-fired kilns, learned a lot from the discussions.

That night, Huo Sining and her group intended to return to their hotel, but Mr. Shi insistently invited them to stay. The next day, they toured Jingdezhen, experiencing its modern ornate ceramics.

On the day of the auction, around nine in the morning, Huo Sining and Gu Xu, along with Qibao, arrived at the auction venue.

The auction took place at the Changnan Guild Hall, a garden-style hotel on Porcelain Capital’s southern outskirts. The hall was spacious, with numerous security personnel, indicating thorough preparations.

Although Huo Sining didn’t have an invitation, Elder Mr. Shi had already spoken to the security staff, so after giving her name at the entrance, she entered the venue smoothly.

Inside the hall, many glass display cases were placed, each showcasing a delicate porcelain piece.

Though Elder Mr. Shi initiated the auction, the actual host was the Changnan Porcelain Research Society. The auction aimed to promote Changnan, so most pieces were actually modern crafts made using contemporary ceramic techniques.

Through refining kilns, painting layers, glazing and embedding, the intricate brushwork and divided florals in glazes—this was Huo Sining’s first time attending a modern craft auction. Hearing the step-by-step introduction of ceramic making, from clay selection to processing, from shaping to kiln firing, she realized for the first time how complex the initial stage of creating ceramic vessels is.

Although most porcelains at the exhibition were modern crafts, each piece embodied the designer’s entire effort. Some new painting and carving techniques deeply intrigued and delighted Huo Sining.

One particularly striking piece was a hollow, thin porcelain chandelier that combined ancient charm with Western trends. This fusion of East and West generated a uniquely harmonious style that thoroughly captivated Huo Sining.

Even though she hadn’t planned to participate in the auction, after seeing that chandelier, she became tempted and decided to find a way to acquire it during the bidding process.