At the end of 2006, Ma Mingquan, a 63-year-old native of Ankang, gave up running a restaurant and opened a strange stone museum in the old town street of Hanbin District for 15 years. The small pavilion is full of strange stones he picked from the Han River, and over the years, the old man has not only had a lot of fun, but also added a lot of income to the family every year.
Switching from restaurant to odd stone: because work is too tiring
Ma Mingquan was born in 1959 and grew up snacking on the waters of the Han River. In 1996, Ma Mingquan opened a restaurant on Xing'an East Road, and the business was still good. But getting up early and resting late every day, busy life, let him feel very tired. At the end of 2006, Ma Mingquan decided to change careers to Qishi.
Ma Mingquan said that bonsai and strange stones are often together, and he has always loved bonsai, so he got acquainted with Zhou Yunkang, president of the Ankang Strange Stone Association. "At that time, he picked a stone from the Han River to show me, and I liked it at that time, and the next day we both ran to the Han River together to pick up the stone." Ma Mingquan said. In the Qishi cultural industry, Zhou Yunkang is both a teacher and a friend for Ma Mingquan.
Drive to the Han River every morning to pick up stones, and at night when it is dark, I am willing to go home. Recalling his past experience, Ma Mingquan said excitedly: "When I arrived at the riverside, I was happier and happier, and when I picked a person with a better appearance, it was simply unbelievable, holding it in my arms like gold, going home and cleaning it quickly, and putting it on the table when I ate to watch." Ma Mingquan said as he stroked with his hand.
Ma Mingquan, who loves strange stones, did not get the understanding of his family at first. Ma Mingquan told reporters: "At that time, my wife always asked me: 'What is the use of you holding this stone back?'" I explained it to her slowly, and told her about the texture and appearance of the strange stone. For a while, my wife also became interested in strange stones, and often accompanied me to the riverside to look for stones. ”
At the end of 2006, with the support of family and friends, Ma Mingquan opened a Ming Jin Qi Stone Museum in the old town street of Hanbin District.
15 years of operation of the Stone Museum: a lot of fun
Fast forward 15 years, this strange stone museum is operated by Ma Mingquan: there are more than 100 kinds of strange stones in the two small rooms, and pictographic stones, landscape stones, picture stones, etc. are displayed one by one.
Ma Mingquan can not only clearly remember the characteristics and collection time of each strange stone, but also give them their own names according to the characteristics of the appearance, such as: "Magpie Noisy Plum", "Longevity Turtle", "Old Life Star", "Hanshui Silk Road" and so on.
"The stones in the shop range from a few hundred yuan to thousands of yuan according to the appearance, and the fine stones are tens of thousands of yuan, and this 'magpie noisy plum' is the Han River fine stone, and the fine texture constitutes a magpie standing on the plum branch, and the cost price is about 8,000 to 1,000." Ma Mingquan introduced to reporters. A dark green, flat-shaped stone with a natural protruding corner in front of it, with a pattern on the upper part, and the plate containing the stones is limb-shaped, quite turtle-like.
Ma Mingquan said that mountain stones are often rough and need to be manually processed, and the value of Hanjiang strange stones lies in the natural finished products. Ma Mingquan said: "Picking home from the bottom of the river can only wash away the sludge on it, and if it is artificially processed, this stone will be meaningless." ”
According to Ma Mingquan, most of the customers who buy strange stones are about 50 years old, and many outsiders will also come to watch and purchase, and they can earn about 90,000 yuan in profits every year through the sales of strange stones. "If you can't sell it, you can collect it yourself, put it for 10, 20 or even 50 years, and leave a souvenir for your grandchildren." Ma Mingquan said.
Hobbies have become a habit: at the age of 63, he intends to continue to study the culture of the strange stones
Strange stone culture requires strong discernment skills, and sometimes luck. Ma Mingquan said that he regards picking stones as a kind of fun, and going to the river every day has become a habit, even if he can't touch a good stone, he also has the right to exercise and fitness. "The air by the river is fresh and the greenery is beautiful, and when you look at the tall buildings on both sides of the Han River, you are happy." Ma Mingquan said.
Zhou Yunkang told reporters: "Ma Mingquan used to do the catering industry and did not know much about qishi, but the 63-year-old man ran a small qishi museum and earned more than 90,000 yuan a year. The biggest reason is that he is a diligent man with legs and mouths, and is keen on learning. Wherever there are good stones on the river beach, he will run to which river beach, and if there are stones in the 'Stone Friend's house,' Ma Mingquan will go to learn and discuss, often staying all day. ”
(Li Qiliang's inscription poem for the Strange Stone of the Han River: When the sun leaves the rock, the sand rushes in a circle; the color and texture are out of the ordinary atmosphere, leaving a clear rhyme in people's homes.) ）
It is understood that the old city block plans to create a series of cultural blocks including calligraphy, strange stones, martial arts, etc., and use cultural integration to promote rural revitalization. In this regard, Ma Mingquan said that he will insist on studying the strange stone culture, "now not only for hobbies, but because it is more meaningful." ”
Huashang Daily reporter Cheng Bin Editor Wu Ning