For a moment, everyone was somewhat taken aback. Seeing Mr. Zheng’s reluctant expression, they had assumed he was in some kind of trouble. As acquaintances, Yu Feibai intended to probe further; if it was indeed an injustice, he, as a conscientious, wealthy young man, could certainly step in to help.

Of course, Wang Guan and Tang Qinghua knew perfectly well that this young man was just bored out of his mind, eager for something to happen so he could stir things up to his heart's content. This behavior could be understood as the thrill-seeking nature of a spectator hoping for drama; any talk of justice or conscience was merely polishing his own image, a severe overestimation of his character.

But Mr. Zheng didn't know that. He felt a twinge of gratitude. If there were a public vote for China's Top Ten Outstanding Youth, or a Touching China Good Youth award, he would unhesitatingly cast his vote for Yu Feibai.

"If anyone is interested, you are welcome to come along and have a look,"

At the same time, the man with the clipped mustache smiled affably, "Since he is Mr. Zheng's friend, he must also be involved in the antiques circle. You have all likely heard of me, Old Sixth He. Everyone is welcome at my home; let's make some friends."

"Oh, hearing you say that, we really should go take a look."

As for who Old Sixth He was, Yu Feibai certainly hadn't heard of him, nor did he intend to inquire. He was merely interested in the item Old Sixth He needed Mr. Zheng to examine. At this, he turned to Wang Guan and the others, his voice brimming with excitement, "Since we have nothing else planned, how about we go over and see?"

"Whatever," Wang Guan replied indifferently. There were plenty of people around, plus Fang Mingsheng’s bodyguards were present, so he wasn't worried about anything going wrong. Or perhaps, even if an accident occurred, it would be someone else's, not theirs.

Spurred on by Yu Feibai, and with a degree of curiosity shared by the rest, the matter proceeded smoothly. Everyone immediately set aside their plans for sightseeing and followed Old Sixth He.

In fact, Old Sixth He had not lied; his house was indeed nearby, only a five or six-minute walk away. En route, while Old Sixth He wasn't paying attention, Wang Guan and the others quietly began to inquire about his background from Mr. Zheng.

"This man... how should I put it," Mr. Zheng was vague, "He also deals in antiques, but his methods are rather unconventional. He never bothers with propriety; he’s the type who walks with both the official and the underworld."

Instantly, everyone understood the implication. 'Walking with both' likely meant leaning more toward the underworld, suggesting that the items in his possession might have questionable origins. It was no wonder Mr. Zheng was reluctant to associate with him—or at least, private dealings were fine, but open association was something to be avoided to prevent getting dragged into trouble.

After all, as the owner of a legitimately run antique shop, Mr. Zheng cared about his reputation. Thus, when Old Sixth He sought him out, regardless of his inner thoughts, he had to feign hesitation in public.

Of course, the above was pure conjecture on Yu Feibai's part. Once he understood the situation, his initial enthusiasm waned considerably. He had anticipated some sort of intense confrontation, not merely an appraisal. Since it didn't meet his expectations, his interest naturally dropped. However, he didn't complain or suggest turning back, merely trailing along with an air of boredom.

Not long after, the group arrived at Old Sixth He’s residence—a fairly decent courtyard house, yet something about it felt slightly dissonant. The main features were the blue brick walls enclosing a large open area, but this open space was clearly almost one or two times the size of the actual formal residence.

If this were a luxury villa, it would be understandable. But for a standard residential house, this imbalance felt wrong. For ordinary dwellings, the house is the substance and the open ground the accessory; no matter how large the courtyard, it shouldn't surpass the building itself. Here, the reverse was true, causing a strange feeling.

"Perhaps it’s to inflate the building area, so he can earn more when the government carries out land acquisition."

Considering this possibility, which was quite common nowadays, everyone paid it little mind. Following Old Sixth He's invitation, they quickly passed through the expansive courtyard and entered the main hall of the house.

"Sixth Brother is back." Someone else was in the hall. Hearing the footsteps, they looked toward the entrance and immediately saw Wang Guan’s large entourage, causing them to freeze in surprise.

It wasn't just that person who was stunned; Wang Guan was also quite surprised. He recognized the man—he was a friend of Chief Steward Cao Xiang, the one known as "Eagle Eye" who had explored the treasure of the Mongolian Prince with him in Songyuan, a man named Guan Yang.

"Little Guan, we have guests. Please entertain them."

At this moment, Old Sixth He smiled widely, "Go to my inner room and bring out the finest Taiping Houkui..."

"...Oh."

Guan Yang snapped back to reality, gave Wang Guan a deep look, and quickly slipped into the inner rooms. Two or three minutes later, he reappeared, holding an exquisite small box. Inside was Taiping Houkui, one of China's famous teas.

Unlike other historically famous teas, Taiping Houkui was created relatively late and only established its brand recognition around 1900, when it first appeared. Initially, it held little influence until it won a gold medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, after which it became renowned both domestically and internationally.

After a century of development, although Taiping Houkui’s fame isn't as resounding as West Lake Longjing or Biluochun, its influence has steadily grown, making it one of the top ten teas unofficially recognized by the Chinese public. To earn such an honor, the quality of Taiping Houkui naturally could not be inferior, and its taste was truly extraordinary.

When Old Sixth He had boiled water and steeped the tea, the liquor was an even, pale green; the veins of the leaves showed red hints within the green, faintly visible in the water. The infusion was clear and bright, and wisps of refreshing fragrance drifted out, soothing the soul.

The fact that Old Sixth He kept this tea stored in his inner room indicated a high grade—either top-tier or Grade One quality. The flavor was intensely fresh and mellow, with a lingering sweetness and a slightly peculiar tea aroma, the so-called "monkey rhyme."

However, since everyone was preoccupied with drinking the tea, the atmosphere in the hall naturally became subdued. Or rather, the group was harboring different thoughts, and nobody wished to speak first, preferring to observe the situation.

For a time, the hall grew quiet. Everyone raised their cups to sip the tea delicately, some narrowing their eyes in contemplation, others nodding their heads as if completely immersed in the flavor of the Taiping Houkui.

Old Sixth He was not discouraged by this; he remained very patient, a smile fixed on his face. After taking another sip, he finally spoke, "You gentlemen look unfamiliar; you must not be locals."

The term "unfamiliar" was merely an excuse, a weak justification. After all, Luoyang had millions of residents; Old Sixth He was no deity who could know everyone. The main reason he knew Wang Guan and the others weren't local was due to their accents.

China is vast, divided by north and south. Forget different provincial accents; even neighboring villages can develop distinct speech patterns. Even when speaking Mandarin, the tones vary. Old Sixth He, being well-traveled and experienced, could easily discern this.

Yu Feibai responded to Old Sixth He's probing, but he didn't answer directly. He just raised his cup, blew gently on the tea, and said casually, "Are you trying to ascertain our background? So you know exactly where to strike?"

"My dear brother is joking," Old Sixth He paused, then shook his head, "I merely wish to be friends with you all. More friends mean more paths; we can look out for each other in the future."

"Forget looking out for each other," Yu Feibai said offhandedly. "Didn't you say there was something Mr. Zheng needed to appraise? You can bring it out now. After we examine it, we plan to visit Du Fu's Mausoleum."

"Certainly, certainly. I won't delay your important business."

A sophisticated man like Old Sixth He could certainly sense the "nobility" radiating from Yu Feibai. Simply put, this "nobility" was an almost arrogant demeanor, not an arrogance born of looking down on everyone, but rather an attitude filled with self-assurance.

This concept might be hard to grasp, but one must understand that absolute fairness doesn't exist in the world. Some people are truly born with a silver spoon; they never worry about material possessions from childhood. If their parents spoil them excessively, they become no different from the profligate rich kids seen on television.

Of course, due to General Yu's strict upbringing, Yu Feibai didn't exhibit glaring flaws. However, his starting line was so far ahead that a sense of superiority, minor or otherwise, was inevitable. Usually hidden, it could be detected upon close attention to his speech habits. He was either a second-generation official or a second-generation wealthy heir—definitely someone with significant backing.

Old Sixth He mused internally, his peripheral vision glancing toward Fang Mingsheng. This man was always accompanied by two or three burly bodyguards wherever he went, sporting the bearing of a major boss, and possessing an undeniable personal aura. Unless one was blind, their significant status would be obvious.

Moreover, Old Sixth He knew Mr. Zheng's standing—he was, after all, a relatively well-known figure in the circle, meaning he was financially prominent. Yet now, he trailed Tang Qinghua closely, almost like an employee catering to his boss, which offered further clues.

In short, these people were major patrons, great financiers.

Realizing this, a glint of delight appeared in Old Sixth He’s eyes. However, his outward demeanor remained calm. He smiled faintly, stood up, and went out to fetch the item.

"Brother Guan."

At the same time, Wang Guan smiled, "Long time no see. Meeting an old acquaintance in this distant place is a surprise and a delight."

"I feel the opposite—a surprise, but no delight," Guan Yang grumbled inwardly, though he maintained a polite smile on his face. "Why has Eastowner Wang left the prosperity of the capital to come to Luoyang?"

"Luoyang, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, is famous across the world. As I had some free time, I came to experience the rich historical and cultural atmosphere here," Wang Guan sighed lightly. "Only after arriving did I realize it truly lives up to its reputation."

"Lying with your eyes open..." Guan Yang rolled his eyes internally. With his experience, he would never believe such a colorless fabrication. But he had no intention of exposing it either, merely nodding and smiling, "Yes, that’s right. Luoyang is a wonderful place; one can never tire of touring it..."