"Is there truly no more Monthly Ticket support available? I implore everyone to offer their support. Additionally, this chapter title is my blessing for all the lovers in the world today, hehe."

As Wang Guan marveled at the dazzling, sacred light emanating from the Peach Cup, Xing Qiu clapped him on the shoulder, reminding him, "Stop spacing out. If you find it too difficult to choose, just close your eyes and pick one."

"No rush, take your time. The important thing is that it resonates with you," Pei Hongquan said with a gentle smile. Having already spent so much time looking, a few more minutes wouldn't matter. Moreover, he found Wang Guan agreeable, so he certainly wouldn't press the issue.

At the same time, Wang Guan snapped back to reality, knowing that in such a setting, distraction was inappropriate. He immediately retracted his special ability, yet his gaze drifted back to the Peach Cup, a flicker of awe crossing his eyes. This object was truly extraordinary...

"Well, have you decided yet?" Xing Qiu asked again. Pei Hongquan was patient, but he was growing slightly restless. After all, listening to the two of them talk while being unable to interject was an uncomfortable feeling.

"I've decided."

Just then, Wang Guan casually pointed, "Master Pei, I’ve taken a liking to this item. I wonder if you’d be willing to part with it?"

"What?"

In that instant, Pei Hongquan froze. "You want this Peach Cup?"

"That’s right, this very Peach Cup," Wang Guan chuckled. "Actually, our primary goal in coming to Yixing was to search for Tianqing clay material. Unfortunately, we searched for a long time without success. So, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing. Since we can’t find the Tianqing clay, taking back something made from Tianqing clay wouldn't be bad."

"That's just speculation; the item might not actually be made from Tianqing clay," Pei Hongquan kindly reminded him.

"I’m not worried. I trust that Master Pei Shimin wouldn't misjudge it."

Wang Guan’s decisive statement left Pei Hongquan with little room to argue. After all, as a descendant of Pei Shimin, how could he rebuke someone for placing faith in his grandfather?

After a brief silence, Pei Hongquan shook his head. "You should have a decent idea of this Peach Cup's condition. To put it bluntly, even an apprentice’s craftsmanship is superior to this. Are you really set on it?"

"I am," Wang Guan affirmed.

Wang Guan smiled. "Master Pei, you also understand that if a Zisha piece made by a master artisan using Tianqing clay, the price would be astronomical—likely beyond my means. But I still want to collect a piece made from Tianqing clay, so this Peach Cup is arguably the best option. I hope Master Pei can grant my request."

Pei Hongquan began to deliberate. After weighing the matter for a moment, he finally nodded. "Fine, if you want it, you can have it. Just hope you don't regret it later."

"If Master Pei is worried, I can sign an agreement, exchanging a piece of Shi Huang for the Peach Cup. Perhaps I’d even be the one getting the better deal," Wang Guan said with a slight grin. Pei Hongquan naturally assumed he was joking.

Pei Hongquan knew the history of the Peach Cup well. It was after Master Pei Shimin restored Xiang Shengsi's genuine Peach Cup that he also developed a desire to own one. After searching extensively, he failed to find one. Just as he was about to give up, he discovered this item at a street stall. Sensing its similarity to Xiang Shengsi’s Peach Cup, he bought it on impulse.

Back home, Master Pei Shimin examined it closely and concluded that the item might indeed be made of Tianqing clay. However, Pei Hongquan harbored some doubts about this conclusion. The piece was simply too crude, falling far short of the Tianqing clay pots he envisioned.

Furthermore, the piece’s poor condition meant it had sat in the room for many years. Many relatives and friends had seen it and, like Wang Guan, inquired about its provenance. But Wang Guan was the first person to explicitly ask for it.

Thus, weighing the options, exchanging this relatively inexpensive Peach Cup for a piece of Shi Huang valued at a million dollars seemed like a clear advantage for him. Pei Hongquan had no reason to refuse, nor did he feel any obligation to keep it purely because it was an heirloom.

Just then, Xing Qiu suddenly spoke up. "Master Pei, I'd like to purchase a pot—one of your works. I wonder if you'd be willing to sell me one?"

"Hmm?" Pei Hongquan was momentarily surprised, then smiled. "Which pot caught your eye?"

"It’s just..."

Xing Qiu hesitated, then nudged Wang Guan, asking him to point out which pot was the best.

"The Jade Drop Lion-Ball Pot is quite nice," Wang Guan understood immediately, then added with a smile, "But that’s a masterpiece; the price is sure to be very high."

"Money isn't the issue; the main thing is that I genuinely like it. I just don't know if Master Pei will agree," Xing Qiu’s expression was full of hopeful expectation.

"Young friend Wang has a sharp eye, picking out my proudest creation at a glance," Pei Hongquan chuckled appreciatively. "That Lion-Ball Pot was crafted three years ago after I chanced upon some old clay and was inspired to create it meticulously. I had intended to pass it down to my children, but having incurred a favor from you today, I feel awkward refusing. However, Young Friend Wang is correct—the price might be a bit steep..."

Hearing this, Wang Guan held up his fingers and gestured subtly. Xing Qiu saw the sign and immediately declared, "Seven hundred thousand. I’ll take it."

Hearing this, Pei Hongquan gave a reserved smile, effectively giving his consent.

The rest was uneventful. After Xing Qiu handed over a check, Pei Hongquan quickly retrieved two brocade boxes, carefully packed the two items, and presented them to Wang Guan and Xing Qiu respectively.

"Master Pei..."

At this moment, Xing Qiu seemed to have something else to say, smiling apologetically. "Could we possibly take a photo together?"

Pei Hongquan was slightly surprised but then relaxed. After all, at this time, counterfeit items were rampant in the market; even his works were frequently imitated. Therefore, when collectors or merchants came to buy his items, they occasionally requested a photo with him as a form of verification—proof that the piece truly originated from his hand and wasn't a forgery.

Assuming Xing Qiu felt the same way, Pei Hongquan readily agreed, striking a pose with a very warm smile.

"Wang Guan, could you help out and make sure it looks good?"

Xing Qiu handed his phone to Wang Guan, then stood beside Pei Hongquan, also beaming brightly.

Seeing this, Wang Guan vaguely felt that Xing Qiu was plotting something, but he chose not to expose it, instead cooperating smoothly. He took seven or eight shots until Xing Qiu was satisfied.

"Thank you..."

Upon seeing the photos, Xing Qiu's smile deepened.

"Smiling so happily, there must be a trick!" Wang Guan was certain.

Of course, Wang Guan only said this openly after they had left Pei Hongquan’s house. The transaction was complete. Without needing any prompting from Pei Hongquan, Wang Guan wisely took his leave.

Pei Hongquan offered no pretense of asking them to stay for a meal. After seeing his guests out politely, he immediately took the Shi Huang to his studio for research. This left Xing Qiu, who had hoped to dine with the Pei family, deeply disappointed. However, hearing Wang Guan's teasing revitalized him, and he grinned, "Don't slander me. I was merely creating the necessary conditions. If we can’t find Tianqing clay, we must find another path."

"What are you planning to do?" Wang Guan asked curiously. "Giving your father's creation to his daughter—is that helpful?"

"Whether it’s helpful depends on how it’s used," Xing Qiu said smugly, clearly full of confidence.

"Is that so? Just be careful not to backfire," Wang Guan remarked casually, not pressing further. Compared to Xing Qiu's scheme to woo a girl, Wang Guan was far more concerned with the mystery of the Peach Cup.

After a moment of thought, Wang Guan asked, "So, we’re not looking for Tianqing clay anymore?"

"No more looking. Let’s head back," Xing Qiu waved his hand decisively. "And thank you for your help these past few days."

"Don't be so polite," Wang Guan chuckled lightly. "As you said, rather than me accompanying you, it’s more like you accompanied me. After all, over these few days, I’ve gained quite a bit myself."

"Hehe, my gains today were even bigger..." Xing Qiu was beaming.

"Likewise!" Wang Guan smiled, and he and Xing Qiu returned to the hotel to immediately pack their luggage and head home. However, their directions diverged: Xing Qiu was returning to Ezhou, while Wang Guan was heading back to the Porcelain Capital.

After a brief farewell, they agreed to meet again in the future and parted ways.

Not long after, Wang Guan returned home successfully, sharing dinner with his parents. After the meal, he took it upon himself to wash the dishes before finally turning his attention to researching the Peach Cup.

Wang Guan had examined the cup carefully at Pei Hongquan's house. Now, looking at it again, studying it repeatedly, the appearance remained the same, yet the feeling was different.

Of course, this "feeling" was partly psychological. In reality, it looked the same: its surface rough, its color dull, devoid of luster, and it even lacked any maker’s mark.

It should be noted that Zisha teapots, like calligraphy and paintings, possess maker's marks. These marks—inscribed on the inside of the lid, the bottom, or near the handle root—indicate the era of creation, the maker, and sometimes the original user.

Generally, collectors place great emphasis on whether an object bears a famous artisan's mark, just as people examining exquisite porcelain will immediately turn it over to check for an Imperial Kiln mark on the base. The belief is that any piece lacking an inscription sees its economic value significantly diminished.

However, it doesn't mean unmarked pieces are inferior. Wang Guan knew that the Palace Museum housed a collection of unmarked Zisha pots, yet the quality of those pieces was exceptional, sometimes surpassing those of famous artisans. This proves that one cannot judge an item solely by its mark.

This Peach Cup was exactly such an object: its inner quality was rich, yet it wasn't apparent on the surface.

Wang Guan studied it for a long time but could not discern anything particularly special. After considering for a moment, he simply boiled a pot of water and rinsed the Peach Cup with the hot water.

At this juncture, it is necessary to mention the basic knowledge for caring for Zisha artifacts, especially newly acquired ones. They should first be rinsed inside and out with boiling water to remove surface dust. Then, the item should be boiled in an oil-free pot for two or three hours to eliminate the earthy smell and the "fieriness" of the clay.

Furthermore, there are subsequent steps for tempering, moisturizing, and revitalization—achieved by boiling the piece with tofu, sugarcane, and then tea leaves, respectively. After these three processes, the Zisha artifact transforms from a lifeless object into something renewed, having absorbed the essence of the tea, allowing the very first brew to leave a lasting fragrance on the palate.

However, after performing these three procedures on the Peach Cup, there was no discernible change, which disappointed Wang Guan, though he wasn't entirely surprised. After all, if a half-baked enthusiast like himself knew these steps, there was no reason Pei Hongquan wouldn't. He must have tested these methods repeatedly; if there were any changes, he would have understood them thoroughly long ago. Wang Guan performing this routine step would be superfluous.

If conventional methods didn't work, how could he unlock the mystery?

For a moment, Wang Guan frowned, racking his brain...

(To be continued)