To get the answer, we turn to the particular setting he has chosen – Nong'an county. Getting there involves a journey over a twisting road and when you get there the place hardly stands out since the courtyard has an iron gate, similar to just about every other house in the village. But Jia’s has two carved lions sitting on each side, with big staring eyes. And, there are security cameras on the wall to monitor all movements in the big courtyard and a dog barking his warning.

Stone pot covered by a layer of snow.

No wonder, the courtyard is a showcase for some truly delightful stones. There are six stone lions that are different from each other and Jia explains, "Some are from the Liao and Jin dynasties, some from the Qing (1644-1911), and the others from Republican period (1911-1949)," pointing out each one, then adding, "The different craftsmanship and cultural features make them stand out from each other." And he has 500 to 600 of these carved items.

There are also stones used for sacrificial rites on display, or, in his words, "They're from the Liao and Jin and you see a carved pattern resembling a steamed bun, meaning hopes for a good harvest," as he points to another, and he can go on this way describing single carved stone.

Small wonder that he is called "Crazy Jia" by the villagers, especially after quitting his cushy job in Changchun and throwing all his savings at this collections for three decades, but he continues, shrugging his shoulders, "I can be really determined if I like one piece." As if to prove this, he explains he visited a farmer's home repeatedly in hopes of getting his hand on a piece from the Liao and Jin, but each time the farmer raised the price because of Jia’s determination until, finally, he forked over 52,000 yuan.