With this Zisha teapot, Wang Guan employed his special ability to observe it, seeing only a very faint, milky white aura emanating from the body, which immediately signaled that it was a new pot. Yet, every other aspect of its craftsmanship—the exquisite refinement of its shape, the smoothness of the body, even the interior of the vessel—was absolutely flawless.

Wang Guan turned it over inside and out, truly unable to locate a single flaw, not even the slightest imperfection. Helpless, and unwilling to lie against his conscience, he could only offer an evaluation that seemed rather nonsensical to others.

Seeing the silence from Elder Qian, Gao Dequan, and Fang Mingsheng, Yu Feibai frowned slightly and whispered, "Wang Guan, if you don't understand it, don't talk nonsense."

At this point, Fang Mingsheng smiled and asked, "Brother Gao, he says this is a new pot. What is your assessment?"

"This is a fine pot!"

Gao Dequan replied slowly, taking the Zisha pot into his hands and admiring it intently.

Hearing this, Yu Feibai immediately glanced at Wang Guan. There was no malice in the look, only a hint of satisfaction and showmanship, as if to say, See? Listening to me was the right move.

Nearby, Fang Mingsheng’s expression shifted slightly, a mix of surprise and delight, as he spoke, "Brother Gao, you..."

"Hold on, let me finish."

Suddenly, Gao Dequan waved a hand, lightly stroking the pot’s surface, and sighed softly, "Good pots like this are extremely rare on the market today. This imitation is rendered so convincingly that it almost fooled me."

"What!"

Yu Feibai froze, disbelief coloring his face, and he exclaimed in shock, "Uncle De, you mean this pot is a fake?"

"Not a fake, but a reproduction."

Gao Dequan shook his head. "You must understand the difference between a reproduction (fangpin) and a counterfeit (yanpin). A counterfeit is simply false, whereas a reproduction is meticulously crafted using the finest materials and the most outstanding techniques."

"When I first looked at this Zisha pot, I knew it was a piece of excellent craftsmanship. Looking at it closely in hand only confirmed my initial impression. However, after handling it for quite some time, I kept feeling that something was slightly off. I scrutinized it repeatedly, yet still couldn't pinpoint the discrepancy."

Gao Dequan glanced at Wang Guan, feeling a certain melancholy, "It wasn't until you all handled it for inspection that I realized what was wrong while observing from the sidelines. As the saying goes, the bystander sees clearly."

"The bystander sees clearly."

Yu Feibai frowned, decisively standing up and moving a few steps away to examine the pot from a distance, but he gained no insight.

"Feibai, looking won't help you much. This kind of discernment is highly subjective. If you understand it, you understand it; if you don't, you must accumulate experience on your own," Gao Dequan advised. "What Wang Guan mentioned earlier about the 'spirit and rhythm' was actually correct. If we set aside the specific crafting characteristics and the period style, the abstract aesthetic can be summarized by four elements: form, spirit, temperament, and posture (xing, shen, qi, tai)."

"Only when form, spirit, temperament, and posture are completely integrated into one cohesive flow is it a truly perfect piece. This Zisha pot clearly meets that standard." Gao Dequan commented, with a touch of regret. "It's a pity, though, that it's ultimately a new pot; it hasn't endured the baptism of time, so it lacks the depth imbued by historical vicissitudes."

Yu Feibai became slack-jawed, ultimately holding onto a sliver of hope, looking expectantly toward Elder Qian, awaiting the final verdict.

Elder Qian smiled faintly. Although he didn't directly answer, his lack of rebuttal signaled his agreement.

"Alas, I misjudged it again," Yu Feibai muttered dejectedly, then looked up with a slight tinge of bitterness. "Wang Guan, how did you see that the pot was off?"

Indeed, the three others present turned to look at Wang Guan at this question.

One had to remember that Elder Qian and Gao Dequan had been collecting antiques for many years, dedicating the better part of their lives and energy to its study. Their knowledge and experience had reached profound levels, allowing them to discern the subtle differences between new and old pots. But Wang Guan was barely over twenty—how could he possibly possess such a depth of experience? On what grounds did he dare declare this pot a recent imitation?

Under everyone’s gaze, Wang Guan frowned, looking somewhat troubled. If he could explain, he would have done so long ago; there was no need to wait. Knowing this, he perhaps should have just claimed he couldn't tell.

"Alright, let's not pressure Wang Guan," Elder Qian interjected with a gentle smile. "Items like this that can pass for the genuine article are made using aged Zisha clay, crafted entirely by hand with exquisite skill. With such fine work and material, even an expert can slip up if momentarily careless. Furthermore, this pot has some age; its fresh glaze patina has completely vanished. If it weren't for that missing bit of yunwei (charm/essence), it wouldn't be strange at all for it to be mistaken for an authentic piece."

"As for that essence—it is something that can be felt but not put into words. Wang Guan’s ability to sense it is his unique gift, akin to what Buddhists call the sixth sense. Others cannot force it upon themselves."

Elder Qian spoke in a smooth, gentle tone, his gaze full of approval. He hadn't expected that an act of kindness would reveal such a promising young man; it was a pleasant surprise.

"Elder Qian, you flatter me," Wang Guan replied with a smile, looking quite shy, unaccustomed to such direct praise.

"Having talent is a good thing, but one must not become arrogant. Throughout history, there have been countless examples of the 'Young Man Who Injured Yong' (Shang Zhongyong); you must heed this as a warning," Elder Qian shifted his tone, encouraging Wang Guan with a smile. "Of course, Feibai, you shouldn't be disheartened either. Talent is, after all, only talent. Learning about antiques relies on accumulation. Diligence can compensate for slowness, and success will eventually follow."

"Elder Qian, rest assured. If I couldn't handle this small setback, I would have given up long ago," Yu Feibai rallied, his previous discouragement completely gone.

"Haha, that’s the spirit of a young man! Don't fear setbacks. Your age is your greatest advantage. It allows you to make continuous mistakes and then constantly summarize the lessons learned."

Meanwhile, Fang Mingsheng also chimed in with a laugh, "However, before we conclude, don't you all want to know the provenance of this pot?"

"Oh, judging by your demeanor, Mr. Fang, it seems you already know the full story behind this pot," Gao Dequan mused thoughtfully.

"Indeed, I knew from the start," Fang Mingsheng admitted readily, chuckling lightly. "Since acquiring this pot, I sought opinions from many people, including my own team of experts. Regrettably, most of them failed to spot any flaws. Even the few who sensed something amiss couldn't pinpoint the exact issue."

Fang Mingsheng sighed, then suddenly sat up straight. "Brother Gao, don't fault me for being repetitive, but I'll say it again: If you are willing to join me, the base salary is eight million, and you can name any other terms."

"Would this villa suffice?" Gao Dequan asked with a faint smile.

"Done," Fang Mingsheng declared instantly without hesitation. "If you sign a ten-year contract, the villa is yours."

"Mr. Fang," Gao Dequan remained unmoved and politely declined, "I appreciate your generous offer. However, I only wish to do what I enjoy. I must apologize."

.......................... I just realized the 'Ticket King' is actually myself—how depressing. I request recommendation votes; please give strong support.