Seawater is very corrosive, but the corrosion process of bronze in seawater is more difficult than that of copper, tin and lead.
This is determined by the properties of its alloy. The most difficult to corrode is the lead in it. Bronzes with high lead content can be preserved relatively better even in seawater.
Most of the bronze artifacts were unearthed from tombs, and very few were salvaged from the sea. However, Ye Yaodong felt that these bronze artifacts were stolen and transported by sea, but accidentally fell into the water.
After all, during the war, many of their country's antique porcelain, calligraphy and paintings were stolen from foreign countries.
"This 'cauldron' doesn't look that special." Father Ye held a flashlight and shone it back and forth, turning it in circles, but he couldn't figure out where the treasure was.
"It is rare enough that something thousands of years old can be preserved until now, and it is still in the sea."
"That's true." After hearing this explanation, Ye's father also felt that it made sense. Any machine left on the beach would easily rust, let alone something that was thousands of years old and was soaked in the sea and still in good condition when taken out.
"Hey~ Didn't you say there's still some in the sea? Do you still want to go in the water? Let's go in the water tomorrow?"
"Don't worry about anything else, but I saw a black box, I'll go down and fish it out first."
After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he looked at the surrounding sea. Fortunately, he just saw two boats with lights on in the distance. They were not heading towards them, so they were probably from other villages.
"It's dark now and we can't see. How about tomorrow?"
"I'm afraid it will be too late tomorrow, so let's go down now." He said as he put on his diving equipment.
"How can it be too late?"
"The villagers know that I brought back a tripod, so they will definitely guess why we stayed here all night. There are so many fishing boats ahead that saw us. If I come here again tomorrow, everyone will be watching me, and I won't be able to hide what I have brought up."
"Okay, then if you can't see clearly when you go down, just come up directly."
In fact, Ye's father didn't care much about it. He didn't have the concept of antiques. He just felt that the special thing "ding" was special. He had no idea about other things.
However, Dongzi doesn't want anyone to know. If he wants to get into the water now, then let him get into the water now.
Ye Yaodong had just noted down the approximate location of the wooden box. It was not far from the bronze tripod and the bronze wine glass, so it should not be an ordinary thing.
He went into the water in the dark, thinking that there would be no light on the seabed, but he didn't expect that there were a lot of luminous algae on the seabed around him, and some jellyfish around were also glowing.
The seabed at night is also a different scene. The seabed at night looks much more lively than during the day. Some marine creatures that cannot be seen during the day emerge at night.
With the help of the faint light given off by the creatures on the seabed, Ye Yaodong determined the location and also saw the black box. He swam over and held the heavy black box in his arms. He followed the old method, tied a rope, and went up to the floating boat to pull the goods. He didn't care about other things.
Father Ye was relieved when he saw him float to the surface not long after he went down. After all, it was more dangerous at night, and there was another boat coming.
“It was pretty quick this time.”
"Well, I found it and came up."
After Ye Yaodong climbed onto the boat, he pulled the small box up.
Father Ye helped take the black box and weighed it for a moment. "This small box is so heavy? And it's locked?"
"I don't know what this thing is, it's locked. Put it in the bucket and get a cloth to cover it. Then open it when you get back."
"There's a boat coming. I'll go and start the boat. You put it away first."
Ye Yaodong took the black box again, and without even looking at it for a few more times, he quickly put it into the bucket, covered it with a rag, and the boat quickly headed towards the village shore.
Even though it is right on the coast, it still takes more than ten to twenty minutes to drive to the shore.
As soon as their ship docked, the ships behind them also followed. Under the light of the shore, the ships next to them also saw that there was a large tripod on their ship and were surprised.
"Dongzi, where did you get the tripod?"
Ye Yaodong turned around and found that the boat that had just docked next to him was A Guang's. He had just bent down to pick up the goods and did not pay attention to the boat next to him.
"It was fished out from the bottom of the sea, just around the coast. I was shocked when I first pulled it out."
Father Pei smiled and said, "We can put it in the lobby of the Mazu Temple. It will be put to good use."
"Yes, you can put it in the Mazu temple, it won't be in vain." A Guang also laughed.
Ye Yaodong was also tempted. In this era, country people did not understand goods and did not know their value, so it would be nice to use them to honor Mazu.
People living along the coast believe in Mazu, but no one steals Mazu's things. If someone from the government really comes looking for her, they can just take them to the Mazu temple.
"That makes sense. We can move directly to the Mazu Temple later. The height here is also suitable."
He would feel uneasy if he kept it at home. This tripod was originally a cooking utensil, but later it was used for sacrificial ceremonies. It is a bad omen to turn a living thing into a dead thing!
After moving back home, he was afraid that he could not keep his family in order and would be in limbo for a few days.
This thing should either be placed in a museum or in a temple.
"How did you harvest today?"
"It's OK, it's fine. Help me lift it later, it's quite heavy."
"Okay, let's sell the goods on the ship first."
After they sold all the goods and returned to the ship, many people there also saw the big tripod on Ye Yaodong's ship, and everyone was talking about it.
"Such a big tripod, was it fished out of the sea?"
"Where did Ye Lao San get a tripod? Why does he bring back something big every few days? Either he brings back a machine or a big tripod."
"This thing doesn't look like gold or silver. Is it copper?"
"This is feudal dregs..."
"Dianpa, that chaotic period has long passed, but what is such a big tripod used for?"
"It's useless. It looks old and takes up a lot of space. It's in the way wherever you put it."
The villagers didn't realize that this was a national treasure, but they still thought it was quite rare, as no one had ever caught such a big lump.
"Everyone, please make way..."
"Hey~ Dong, is this what you guys just fished out there? Is there anything like this on the seafloor there?"
After being reminded, everyone came to their senses and remembered that his fishing boat had stayed in that sea area for a long time without moving. He also said that there was nothing wrong with the boat and he would come back after catching a net.
"Oh, is this the Haidilao we had just ordered? I was wondering why you stayed there for so long and didn't come back."
Ye Yaodong and his companions had no time to answer the questions of the villagers. They worked together to lift the tripod onto the cart and placed the cart horizontally. Ye's father was also standing by to hold the tripod in place to prevent it from falling.
Father Pei knocked on the big tripod and said, "This tripod is not light, it weighs more than 100 kilograms."
When they put the tripod on the cart, the villagers gathered around and touched and knocked it, thinking it was something strange.
"This tripod should be able to sell for some money, right?"
"It should be able to sell for a few dozen yuan..."
"Just ask the junk collector tomorrow and you'll know..."
Ye Yaodong's mouth twitched when he heard this. Selling this thing to a junk collector
He didn't know whether to laugh, or to smile, or to laugh.
"If I don't sell this big lump, what am I going to do with the few dozen dollars? I'm going to put it in the Mazu Temple to honor our Mazu goddess and ask her to bless us to have a safe trip to the sea."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... it's just right to put it in the Mazu Temple..."
"Yes, yes, bring it and burn it..."
"Adong is still more aware..."
"Yes, put it in the Mazu temple. With Mazu's blessing, you will definitely be able to get more goods safely."
"It's better to put it in the Mazu temple, otherwise it will be destroyed if it is sold to a junk collector..."
"Everyone, help lift it~"
"I'll help~"
"I'm coming too~"
The villagers were very enthusiastic. They rolled up their sleeves and rushed to work. The tripod that had been placed on the cart was lifted up by them.
"Let's go, let's go together, Adong."
Ye Yaodong was surrounded by villagers and walked towards the Mazu Temple. He was still thinking about the black box in his bucket, so he could only wink at his father, asking him to keep an eye on it and take it back first.
Father Ye understood, and although he wanted to go and see it, seeing that Dongzi seemed to take it very seriously, he had to hold back.
"I'll take those fish back for you first."
He still trusts his own father.
The villagers are extremely enthusiastic about anything related to the Mazu Temple. This is their faith.
Three villagers, each holding up one foot, carried the large tripod and went straight into the Mazu temple. The old man who was in charge of the temple also hurried out. After knowing their purpose, he quickly asked everyone to carry the tripod to the back door to clean it.
The villagers didn't need his help. They took their own initiative and went to the well to fetch water with buckets or brushes. In a few strokes, they cleaned the cauldron thoroughly and wiped it inside and out with rags.
"Okay, that's it. Is it clean now? Where do you want to put it?"
The old man who was watching over the temple pointed to a spot and said, "Put it there first. We need to leave it there for a while to pray and be influenced by it."
"OK."
Anyway, they don't understand the ins and outs of the temple, so they just listen to whatever the old man says.
"Adong, go and tell Mazu to present her with a tripod."
"oh."
He suddenly felt embarrassed. If he donated it, what if the people from the cultural center or museum found out and took it back
Forget it, never mind him. It’s a follow-up matter anyway. It’s not his problem, and he is sincere.
After muttering a lot in front of the Mazu Buddha statue and bowing again, he got up and followed the group out.
On the way back, I heard people everywhere discussing how he had fished out a large tripod and presented it to Mazu. Everyone was praising him for his high level of awareness. He could have sold it for dozens of dollars, but he just donated it. No wonder he was so lucky.
Ye Yaodong just wanted to laugh after hearing this.