Influenced by his elders, Li Xiangdong had loved traditional Hua Nation culture since childhood, especially holding Ming Dynasty furniture in high esteem. However, over the past decade or so, with the rise of the wealthy class in Hua Nation, the demand for rosewood furniture had surged. Various precious rosewoods had been hyped up one after another by merchants, driving prices up to astronomical heights.
Currently, the most admired wood in the market was Hainan huanghuali, but Hainan huanghuali timber resources were essentially exhausted, and occasionally a tiny amount of old material would surface on the market. Once discovered, the price would invariably be hyped to an unbelievable height.
Next was Indian sandalwood. Because of high market demand, its price kept doubling, and resources were extremely strained. There were also various other woods like padauk, chicken-wing wood, and ebony, varying wildly in quality and price, leaving ordinary consumers completely in the dark about the tricks behind them.
Chapter 47