"Feibai, think carefully. If a car or an airplane appeared in ancient times, everyone would know it was impossible. This bowl is the same; the moment I picked it up, I knew something was amiss."

Gao Dequan remarked, "Look at this Jian ware bowl; it is made far too perfectly and formally, appearing overly deliberate. Ancient artisans never worked this way; due to their technological limitations, achieving such precise uniformity was impossible."

As he spoke, Gao Dequan placed several Jian ware bowls side by side, gesturing, "Compare them yourself; they are virtually identical, down to the finest detail. It's as if they were produced using a mold and then meticulously finished."

"That scoundrel Tang Qinghua actually tried to pass off fakes on me." Instantly, Yu Feibai’s face cycled through shades of pale and ashen before flushing crimson with rage, and he burst out cursing.

"Haha, do you really think that’s likely? He was probably tricked too."

Gao Dequan chuckled, "This imitation is incredibly convincing. If I’m not mistaken, the clay body used for these bowls was sourced from the black glaze stones near ancient kiln sites, painstakingly washed, pulverized, and mixed with black clay before being carefully fired. These are high-quality reproductions. For such exquisite antique replicas, never mind you and Little Tang being fooled—even some seasoned experts might misjudge them."

"Ha, hearing you say that, Uncle De, I feel much better."

Yu Feibai slapped his chest, murmuring, "Well, I'm quite used to being disappointed by now."

"The key issue is the glaze color."

At this moment, Elder Qian also spoke up, picking up a magnifying glass to examine the Jian ware bowl. "Authentic Tuhao (Rabbit Hair) Jian ware features a glaze surface etched with fine cicada-wing patterns, dotted with gold, silver, and red 'stars.' The flowing, drooping rabbit hair streaks exhibit an irregular state of varying density, depth, and winding curves. However, the streaks on this bowl are remarkably straight, almost as if they were rendered with a brush."

"The pieces are incorrect; put them away."

After a brief critique, Elder Qian added with a touch of hope, "But don't fret over buying the wrong item; consider it tuition paid. You'll learn a lesson for next time."

"Thank you, Elder Qian." Yu Feibai looked crestfallen. "Since they are fakes, why bother putting them away? The water is boiling; let's just make some tea... Ouch!"

As he spoke, Yu Feibai reached for the kettle on the stove but was scalded by the piping hot handle.

"Careful! Knowing your impulsive nature, you should be more cautious," Gao Dequan expressed concern, letting out a breath of relief when he saw Yu Feibai was unharmed.

"Let me handle that."

Wang Guan smiled faintly, casually taking a towel, grasping the scorching hot kettle, and pouring the boiling water to thoroughly rinse the Jian ware bowls. He then broke apart the Xiao Long Tuan tea cake, ground it into a fine powder, and distributed it evenly into each bowl.

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

Finally, Wang Guan raised the kettle and tilted it gently. A column of water descended through the air, striking the tea powder in the bowls, causing a vigorous interaction that sketched out layers of wondrous patterns.

Struck by the hot water, the tea powder transformed into foam, clinging to the rim of the bowls like hop residue—clinging but not dispersing. This effect is what is known as yao zhan (biting the bowl).

Moments later, the foam subsided, revealing yellowish-white tea water in the bowls, from which thin wisps of fragrant steam ascended, emitting an intoxicating aroma that brought a sense of refreshment and ease.

"Did you study tea ceremony?" Yu Feibai asked, slightly surprised.

"No, I just saw the process of brewing tea cakes on television," Wang Guan smiled, continuing to pour. Amidst the splashing water, the tea foam in each bowl shifted unpredictably, possessing a certain marvelous quality.

"Heh, that's strange then," Yu Feibai murmured, perplexed. "I specifically consulted tea masters, and none of them brewed it as well as you. Is there some secret technique involved?"

Wang Guan paused the hand holding the kettle, glanced at Yu Feibai, and smiled slightly, "No secret technique, just steady hands. If you practice diligently for another couple of years, you could be like me."

"Oh."

Yu Feibai nodded, failing to grasp the hidden implication in the words.

However, Elder Qian and Gao Dequan, with their extensive experience, naturally understood the underlying sentiment in Wang Guan's statement. They exchanged a look; Elder Qian nodded subtly, and Gao Dequan immediately broke into a smile, announcing loudly, "Come, let’s all taste the tea first, and then admire Wang Guan’s treasures."

"Good."

Yu Feibai also brightened up, saying with a smile, "Elder Qian, please try this fine-grade Xiao Long Tuan as well; the flavor is quite good."

"Feibai, don't take this the wrong way, but this Xiao Long Tuan is decent, but it certainly doesn't qualify as 'fine-grade.'"

Gao Dequan picked up his tea bowl and chuckled, "According to ancient texts, the quality of a tea cake is primarily judged by the color of the resulting liquor. The general standard is that pure white is superior."

"Pure white color indicates the tea leaves were tender and the steaming process was perfectly controlled. A greenish tint suggests insufficient steaming; a grayish hue means the steaming was overdone; a yellowish tint implies the harvest was delayed; and a reddish hue means the pan-firing was over-scorched," Gao Dequan spoke fluently. "This tea is currently a yellowish-green, clearly showing the leaves were old, and the processing technique was less than perfect."

"Uncle De, you call that not lecturing me?"

Yu Feibai offered a wry smile. "Truthfully, I'm aware the grade of this Xiao Long Tuan is lacking. It’s just that, given my means, I can’t acquire the truly high-grade stuff. Unless Elder Qian personally steps in—with his esteemed reputation, acquiring not just fine grade, but supreme quality, would be effortless for him."

"Heh heh..."

Yu Feibai’s words clearly carried an undercurrent of urging. However, neither Elder Qian nor Gao Dequan paid heed, merely acknowledging it with a slight smile.

Yet, within those brief exchanges, Wang Guan confirmed his own suspicions: the backgrounds of these individuals were indeed extraordinary.

Of course, Wang Guan was also self-aware, recognizing that his presence here was a stroke of sheer fortune. Since his connections weren't intimate, it was best to remain quiet, observe more, and speak less.

Wang Guan lifted his tea bowl and took a few sips. He found the flavor of the Long Tuan tea cake to be rather distinct from loose-leaf tea, but the taste was undeniably aromatic.

Concurrently, Gao Dequan set down his bowl, took out a brocade box, and smiled, "Elder Qian, these are the treasures Wang Guan and I specially brought for your appraisal."

Before Elder Qian could speak, Yu Feibai, full of curiosity, asked first, "Elder Qian, may I look first?"

"Certainly," Elder Qian consented with a smile.

Having received permission, Yu Feibai quickly reached out and opened the brocade box. A delicate, small Yingqing (Shadow Green) bowl adorned with scrolling lotus motifs was immediately revealed to everyone.

Under the soft light, the bowl's glaze shimmered between blue and white, resembling a piece of shimmering jade—crystal clear, lustrous, and aesthetically stunning.

"How beautiful," Yu Feibai couldn't help but exclaim.

This proved that truly fine objects invariably delight the eye upon first sight.

"Feibai, I can tell you definitively now: this piece is genuine."

Gao Dequan smiled, "However, can you pinpoint its exact period?"

"Uncle De, are you doubting me?" Yu Feibai was confident. "When it comes to verifying authenticity, I might be a bit vague, but dating it—that shouldn't be difficult..."

Yu Feibai appeared very sure of himself, carefully picking up the Yingqing bowl, gently turning it over to closely examine the footrim.

................. New book, please save and recommend. Thank you for your support.