The taste of writer's block is truly awful, please give votes for support. Of course, Wang Guan didn't make things difficult, choosing to tell the truth. Since he desired nothing, he stood firm; having no favors to ask of Fourth Master Qiao, he naturally didn't care if Fourth Master Qiao was pleased or not.

Besides, Wang Guan found it somewhat laughably absurd, faintly sensing that Han Lang viewed him as a romantic rival.

What a disaster out of nowhere! Wang Guan sighed inwardly, yet didn't worry too much, continuing his assessment of the long-stemmed pipe: "The item is fine, certainly, but it absolutely cannot be an antique. The forging technique for the bowl mimics the craftsmanship used for Xuande censers, but the actual forging process for the Xuande censers was only deciphered and mastered in the last two or three decades."

"This means the piece can't be more than thirty years old," Wang Guan weighed the pipe in his hand, then chuckled again, "And judging by the patina on the stem, it looks quite good if it’s ten or eight years old at most."

"Yes, exactly ten years."

Fourth Master Qiao stroked his clean-shaven chin and laughed, "That was when my old pipe broke, and someone gifted me this one. It felt heavy and sturdy, so I've used it for ten years. As for the Ji Xiaolan pipe being an antique, that’s just everyone joking around; nobody takes it seriously..."

"Once the old man lives to be one hundred and twenty and passes the pipe down, then it will be an antique," Wang Guan quipped casually. "If it goes up for auction then, selling for two or three hundred thousand shouldn't be a problem."

"Heh, well, I'll wait for that day to arrive." Fourth Master Qiao smiled, then suddenly looked surprised. "Wait a minute, isn't that wishing myself dead? Alright, you've spun my head around."

"Old Master, you should think of it this way: living to one hundred and twenty is already a bonus, you've earned more than your share. Whether you live past that or not hardly matters," Wang Guan explained with a smile. "So, it’s not wishing for death, but rather a form of commitment, a belief that I will definitely reach that age."

"Right, exactly right." Fourth Master Qiao nodded repeatedly. At the same time, seeing the two chatting so animatedly, Han Lang felt a bit restless. He seized an opportune moment to naturally interject: "Mr. Wang has truly sharp eyes. I wonder if you’ve ever heard of the Táng Hòu Xíng Cóng Tú?"

"Táng Hòu Xíng Cóng Tú?"

Wang Guan paused, a mix of pleasant surprise and sudden excitement in his eyes. "That famous painting by the Tang Dynasty court painter Zhang Xuan—the original is lost. The most precious version is a Song Dynasty copy, but I heard it disappeared overseas during the Republic of China era. The Palace Museum now only holds a copied imitation."

Mentioning the name Zhang Xuan might not grant him the immediate household familiarity of Tang Dynasty court painters like Yan Liben or Wu Daozi. Furthermore, very few works by Zhang Xuan have survived. However, two Song Dynasty copies are immensely famous. Almost anyone with some knowledge of ancient Chinese painting knows the reputation of these two pieces.

The Spring Outing of Lady Guoguo and Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk, two national treasures, originated from Zhang Xuan's brush. Unfortunately, due to the sheer passage of time, the originals have not survived, leaving only the copies to be handed down. Still, considering that these copies are national treasures, one can only imagine the value of Zhang Xuan’s true works.

Amidst his excitement, Wang Guan continued his inquiry: "Which period is the copy of the Táng Hòu Xíng Cóng Tú from? Is it Song Dynasty? Do you know its whereabouts?"

"I heard someone mention it," Han Lang said with a slight smile. "When chatting with a friend, he brought up that painting, saying it was something incredibly valuable that might be auctioned in Hong Kong."

"Hong Kong!" Wang Guan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Which auction house? Do you have any detailed information on the piece?"

"I don't know the specifics," Han Lang shook his head, then added with a smile, "If you're interested, Mr. Wang, I can give someone a call and ask."

"That would be great, thank you for the trouble." Wang Guan agreed without hesitation.

Now, it was Han Lang’s turn to feel dejected. He brought up the painting and offered to help primarily to show off a bit. He hadn't expected Wang Guan to actually take the bait so readily.

We are 'rivals,' aren't we? You’re asking me for help; aren't you afraid of appearing weaker? Han Lang grumbled internally, but since the words were already out, he couldn't go back on his word. He had no choice but to stand up and make the call.

The call connected, and after some pleasantries and exchanges, Han Lang concluded his conversation. He turned back and smiled: "I found out. The painting seems to have been a former imperial collection from the Song court, recorded in the Xuanhe Painting Compendium. Furthermore, it bears appreciation seals from literati and famous figures of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, as well as from An Qi of the Qing and Zhang Congyu of the Republic era. Its provenance is traceable, confirming it's a genuine Song Dynasty copy."

"Excellent, truly excellent." Wang Guan looked visibly pleased and offered Han Lang his sincere thanks.

"It was nothing, don't be so polite," Han Lang waved his hand. Frankly, he didn't quite understand why Wang Guan was reacting with such intensity over just an old painting.

"Gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment; I need to make a call too."

As he spoke, Wang Guan offered an apologetic smile and stepped out of the hall, dialing Pi Qiushi's mobile number. A moment later, Pi Qiushi's hearty voice came through: "Brother, you need Big Brother for something?"

Their relationship was close enough that Wang Guan got straight to the point. "Brother Pi, have you heard any rumors lately? Especially regarding auction items in Hong Kong?"

"No, I haven't," Pi Qiushi admitted, clearly sharp himself, and immediately asked, "Has some treasure surfaced?"

"Something close to it," Wang Guan chuckled. "I just heard someone say that the Tang Dynasty's Táng Hòu Xíng Cóng Tú by Zhang Xuan is up for auction in Hong Kong. Since you're usually well-informed, Brother Pi, I'm calling to confirm if it's true."

"What? The Táng Hòu Xíng Cóng Tú?" Pi Qiushi also sounded surprised and pleased. "Which dynasty's copy?"

"The Song Dynasty copy," Wang Guan explained. "The very one that was the number one collection of the great Republic of China collector, Zhang Congyu, which was lost overseas during that period."

"Really? Wait one moment, let me ask someone." Hearing this, Pi Qiushi immediately ended the call. About three to five minutes later, he called back, chuckling, "Brother Wang, it turns out your sources are even better than mine."

"Just a coincidence," Wang Guan asked curiously, "What did your contact say?"

"It's true," Pi Qiushi laughed. "But it's being auctioned at a small auction house in France. This auction house hasn't given the painting much attention and isn't promoting it at all. However, since it is a rare treasure, it has caught the attention of certain people. Of course, these people are scoundrels; they all want to snatch a bargain, so they are keeping it quiet."

"A bunch of disloyal fellows, really inconsiderate. If I hadn't tricked them just now, they probably wouldn't have told the truth..." Pi Qiushi cursed a few times, then continued smiling, "Regardless, it's confirmed—the piece is genuine. So, Brother Wang, are you interested in this painting?"

"Of course, I am," Wang Guan admitted. "I've been studying Tang Dynasty painting recently, and I've long admired the works of masters like Zhang Xuan, Zhou Fang, and Guan Quan."

"Why didn't you mention Yan Liben and Wu Daozi?" Pi Qiushi asked with a smile.

"Those are divine masterpieces held securely in major museums and by great collectors; they would never part with them," Wang Guan sighed. "So, I have to settle for the next best thing."

"This 'next best thing' is still divine, not much of a step down," Pi Qiushi laughed. "It was fine when we didn't know, but if others catch wind that such a treasure is being auctioned, there will inevitably be a fierce battle."

"Let them fight. If it’s a genuinely good piece, I'm not afraid to contend with others," Wang Guan now possessed considerable wealth and the capital to spend lavishly, so his confidence was high.

"In that case, Brother, are you planning a trip to Hong Kong?" Pi Qiushi asked with a smile. "Do you need me to act as your guide?"

"I couldn't ask for anything better." Wang Guan was pleased but also showed a trace of hesitation. "However, I am currently a guest at a friend's house and expect to stay for two or three days..."

"No problem, the auction isn't for a few days anyway," Pi Qiushi replied cheerfully. "I don't have much planned; I can go to Qinggang first and scout the situation. You can join me after you've finished your business."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Pi."

After a few more pleasantries, Wang Guan hung up and returned to the hall. By this time, it was already noon. Fourth Master Qiao immediately called out, "Xiao Er, go tell your sister to bring the guests out for lunch!"

"Grandpa, please call me by my real name."

At this moment, Qiao Zhishu inexplicably appeared from somewhere, clearly dissatisfied. "Stop calling me Xiao Er! I'm not 'second,' and I'm certainly not 'small'..."

"You haven't even grown hair yet; how big can you be?" Fourth Master Qiao scoffed. "Only when I'm holding a great-grandchild will I be able to confirm you're not small. Now, hurry up and go fetch your sister; don't dawdle."

Qiao Zhishu nodded helplessly, quickly ran off to call, and then rushed back, breathless, "Grandpa, Sister and her friend have gone out. They said they were going to some beauty and wellness center for weight loss, so they won't be eating lunch."

"Nonsense."

Fourth Master Qiao frowned, feeling a bit helpless. After all, he was the one who teased Qiao Yu about getting fat, and now Qiao Yu was using that as a legitimate excuse to avoid Han Lang, so he couldn't do much about it.

"Never mind, let's eat by ourselves."

Of course, Fourth Master Qiao understood the principle of counter-productivity. He didn't dare to pressure his granddaughter too much, so despite his frustration, he didn't lose his temper trying to drag her back. Instead, he smiled thinly and said, "It's inconvenient to have young ladies around when we're drinking later..."

Whatever Fourth Master Qiao said went. Wang Guan and Han Lang could only nod in agreement, and under his guidance, they proceeded to the adjacent dining room for a lunch that, while rich and delicious, felt somewhat restrained.

After lunch, Wang Guan received a text message. After reading its contents, a look of hesitation crossed his face.

Just as Wang Guan was contemplating how to bring it up, he noticed Fourth Master Qiao smiling knowingly. "Is that Xiao Yu?"

"Uh..." Wang Guan was momentarily startled, realizing he couldn't hide it, and confessed with a smile, "Yes, she gave me an address; I should probably go over there now."

"Then you should go," Fourth Master Qiao maintained his amiable demeanor. "But this must be your first time in Jinyang, so you aren't familiar with the roads. How about I send someone to drive you?"

Wang Guan truly found it hard to refuse such warm hospitality from Fourth Master Qiao. With a wry, helpless smile, he honestly nodded his acceptance. And as expected, the driver turned out to be Han Lang... (To be continued)