At the proprietor Hu's invitation, the group ascended from the shop floor into the living room on the second level. The décor was remarkably refined, leaning toward a classical style that clearly bespoke the owner's discerning taste.

"Please, make yourselves at home, sit wherever you like."

Under Boss Hu's amiable urging, the three settled down, yet within moments, they rose again. It was because Boss Hu's wife and child had emerged, necessitating introductions all around.

The child was excused; being quite young and rather shy, he retreated to his room to play after only a few words. Boss Hu's wife, however, was quite poised and recognized Song Youdao, greeting them with natural warmth. Upon learning that Lu Chongming was the jade carver supplying the merchandise, she became even more deferential.

"Go prepare the meal; I can handle the guests," Boss Hu murmured softly, and his wife nodded gently before departing. This, truly, was the mark of a capable partner, someone who wouldn't let her husband lose face at a crucial juncture.

"Madam Hu, there's no need for such elaborate preparations; a few simple stir-fried dishes and some wine will suffice," Song Youdao interjected with a chuckle. "With wine, everything else is secondary; nothing else truly matters."

What sounded like a casual remark was, in fact, a gesture of sincere courtesy. Boss Hu's wife smiled in agreement, though she knew precisely how a proper host should behave.

"Don't interfere with her; she knows exactly how to handle things," Boss Hu laughed. "Come, let's move to the study to talk; it's much quieter there..."

Boss Hu's study was situated on the third floor, toward the rear of the house. While the front faced the bustling street, the back overlooked a more tranquil residential area. The study was set against a window, offering a pleasant view of a manicured green space within the complex—quite serene and elegant. The sunlight was bright, and the sound of birdsong drifted in from the garden; the atmosphere was undeniably pleasing.

Yet, despite being called a study, it housed very few books. Instead, the shelves were laden with various jade ornaments.

These jade pieces were diverse in form: some were of pure white jade, others of translucent celadon, and there were even pieces of jet-black nephrite, alongside jades of mingled colors and chalcedony. Regardless of hue, each piece, meticulously carved by a master artisan, possessed an undeniable majesty, radiating an extraordinary allure.

"Oh."

Lu Chongming exclaimed, "Boss Hu, isn't this one of my pieces from three years ago? You kept it."

Wang Guan followed his gaze and saw that Lu Chongming was pointing to a jade horse figurine. Setting aside its form—which one might compare to the famous 'Flying Gallop' of the Han Dynasty, one hoof planted firmly while three others soared in the air, brimming with lifelike tension—any connoisseur could discern the exquisite delicacy of the carving. The entire piece's center of gravity was balanced on a single point, an achievement requiring not only profound skill but also a masterful command of subtle leverage.

"The piece was too fine; I love it too much to part with it. I had to keep it for myself," Boss Hu explained, his tone earnest, offering Lu Chongming the highest possible praise.

For Boss Hu, whose livelihood depended on selling jade, hoarding an item was the antithesis of his business practice. If he didn't sell, he wouldn't eat. Yet, by keeping Lu Chongming's carving, he demonstrated his genuine affection for the work. Conversely, it proved the sheer brilliance of Lu Chongming's technique, an artistry Boss Hu could not bear to relinquish.

Lu Chongming, while outwardly composed, was inwardly delighted.

"Truly a rare treasure," Song Youdao remarked after observing it for a moment, agreeing with a smile. "Especially the sense of tension and release in the muscles when the horse is depicted galloping—it’s incredibly evocative..."

"No, no, it's far from perfect," Lu Chongming shook his head, not out of false modesty, but stating a fact. "It’s too stiff. If I were to carve it now, the focus wouldn't be on the muscles, but rather on the horse's ears, eyes, and mane, perhaps the flowing tail..."

Lu Chongming proceeded to enumerate numerous faults.

However, as the others listened, they distinctly felt that Lu Chongming had genuinely improved. Such self-reflection on past shortcomings was the clearest evidence of progress.

After reviewing his critique, Lu Chongming sighed. "A pity the piece is set; modifying it now would make it look awkward and destroy the overall spirit."

"It’s perfect as it is," Boss Hu quickly insisted. "If Brother Lu feels it's lacking, I have a piece of high-quality white jade on hand that I could give you to carve another."

The others chuckled softly; Boss Hu was clearly seizing the opportunity, his intentions as clear as day to everyone present.

"Fine."

Lu Chongming paused in thought and actually agreed. "But I'll need half a year. After six months, when my studio reopens, the first commission will be yours, Boss Hu."

"It's a deal."

Boss Hu's eyes lit up, and he swiftly sealed the arrangement. During their conversation, he had learned that Lu Chongming was currently studying under a state-level master jade carver. Setting the deadline six months out suggested Lu Chongming was confident he could surpass his current limitations and reach a new echelon within that time.

Lu Chongming was already a provincial master craftsman; reaching the next level meant he would, at minimum, be infinitely close to a national-level master. His work then would surpass what he had created previously. This was an opportunity Boss Hu certainly wouldn't miss, as, by all accounts, he stood to gain everything.

"It’s settled then. I’ll call you when the time comes, or you can come find me in Taicang," Lu Chongming smiled. He could have graduated now, but he felt his foundation wasn't solid enough, hence the desire for six more months of refinement. Lu Chongming now deeply understood the importance of a strong foundation, and the rush to earn money had subsided.

"Just knowing that is enough. I will certainly pay you a personal visit then..." Boss Hu, beaming, ushered them toward some nearby seating and began heating water for tea.

Near the tea table lay a few books, their creased spines suggesting frequent handling. Wang Guan's gaze paused there, and he casually glanced at the titles, noting they were all texts on jade. However, these were not modern textbooks but ancient compilations concerning jade craftsmanship.

It was true that ancient knowledge of jade often carried a subjective flavor, interwoven with numerous legends. But reading them was certainly more engaging and flavorful than dry, modern instruction manuals.

"Old Hu, your taste has improved considerably," Song Youdao commented, picking up one of the books and flipping through it. "What got you stimulated recently, starting to chew on classical Chinese texts?"

Strictly speaking, Song Youdao's description was an exaggeration; these ancient tomes weren't quite at the level of pure classical prose, but their writing style certainly presented a reading barrier for a modern person. Normally, without a specific motivation, most people would opt for vernacular or translated versions, rarely tackling unadulterated ancient texts.

But Song Youdao could clearly see that these were genuine antiques, not reproductions, and certainly lacked any modern translation. Even he, with his background from the Xiling Seal Society, found the text somewhat obscure and difficult. He understood Boss Hu’s general level; while Hu might have a knack for jade appraisal based on practical experience, his theoretical knowledge was lacking. Had he recognized this deficiency and diligently sought to remedy it? If so, it was commendable.

"You're making fun of me again," Boss Hu said, slightly embarrassed, but he explained, "You guessed right; I was indeed stimulated. Didn't you come to view the treasure exhibition? Quite a few of those treasures involve items from legends."

"Before, I thought legends were unreliable, but now I realize they often hold some truth. So, I hunted down these old books to study, lest I encounter something significant and dismiss it out of ignorance."

Boss Hu looked quite moved as he spoke. "And honestly, after reading these old texts, I realized the abilities of our ancestors weren't exaggerated at all—ingenuity, skill, unique craftsmanship... It's a pity that so much knowledge has been lost, preventing others from appreciating its subtlety."

"Yes, that makes perfect sense," Song Youdao praised. "Truly, 'a scholar who has been away for three days should be regarded with new eyes.' These books were not wasted reading."

"Just a bit of showing off, showing off," Boss Hu deflected, then called out, "Come, everyone, have some tea."

"Thank you..."

Song Youdao took a sip of the clear tea and casually opened the ancient book nearest him, flipping until he landed on a passage introducing the Sage of Jade, Lu Zigang.

After a brief look, Song Youdao became thoughtful, curiosity piqued. "Brother Lu, the book says the patriarch of jade carving, Lu Zigang, was from Taicang. You are also from Taicang; could you perhaps be related?"

"Haha, you didn't know that?" Boss Hu laughed immediately. "Brother Lu here is a direct descendant of Lu Zigang. He is inheriting the ancestral trade and is destined to surpass the master."

"Boss Hu, please don't elevate me too highly," Lu Chongming quickly waved his hands. "It was my ignorance before that insisted on drawing a connection to the Patriarch. In reality, whether we belong to the same lineage is hard to verify."

"Same surname, same clan, same hometown—five hundred years ago, you were certainly family," Boss Hu reasoned, and there was logic to it. Ancient people rarely changed surnames casually, and clans often lived clustered together; even if not immediate family, they belonged to the same extended clan.

"Exactly," Wang Guan chimed in with a smile beside him. "You haven't disgraced your ancestors; why be afraid to claim the connection?"

"Alright, alright, we'll just say we're family then," Lu Chongming conceded with a wry smile. He added casually, "And it's not exactly baseless boasting, because at the foot of the mountain behind our village, there is indeed a Dragon Stele, rumored to be something left behind by the Patriarch..."

"A Dragon Stele!"

Instantly, the other three were intrigued. "What is that?"

"It's nothing much, just a slab of stone shaped like a monument," Lu Chongming explained with a slight smile. "The stone is carved with simple dragon patterns, but they are incomplete. The villagers say that was the Patriarch’s preliminary sketch..."