The World of Collectibles

Yang Ping is an ordinary man who loves collecting antiques and curios. His heart is full of lofty dreams, but the harsh reality leaves him no choice but to take solace in his collections: jadeite, walnuts, prayer beads...

Can an unexpected encounter change the life of a henpecked husband? That breathtaking meeting, have you even considered how frail my kidneys are? Should I aim to surpass Li Ka-shing, or just start by outdoing the Li Supermarket downstairs? Now there's a question.

The Chinese term for collecting curios literally means "playing with culture": a pastime steeped in cultural heritage. In practice, it refers to the objects that ancient literati kept in their studies. Small curios include Hetian jade, jadeite, walnuts, bodhi seeds, ivory, rhino horn, bracelets, and hand-held ornaments. A little larger, and you have birdcages and dog walking, flowers, birds, fish and insects, planted aquariums, and decorative furniture. Bigger still, and you're looking at bicycles, motorcycles, and off-road racing?