Before long, the two caught a ride to the Songxianqiao Antique Market. In truth, this locale was nestled perfectly between the Qingyang Palace and the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, facing the Sichuan Museum across the street.

For the past few days, however, they had been so focused on sightseeing that they had exercised remarkable restraint, resisting temptation and avoiding this place. Now, feeling unburdened like gold prospectors finally reaching the field, they plunged into the bustling, vibrant market with a touch of feverish excitement.

The entire antique market spanned over twenty thousand square meters. The main building, three stories high, was divided into five specialized zones: Antiques, Porcelain, Calligraphy and Painting, Industrial Artifacts, and Ming and Qing Furniture, housing over a thousand small shops.

As the largest antique art city in the Southwest region, Songxianqiao offered everything one could possibly imagine from the world of antiquities: jewelry and jade, the Four Treasures of the Study, bronze inscriptions and calligraphy, old books, furniture from all eras, woven art, batik prints, Zisha teapots, rare stones, and darkwood root carvings… the selection was utterly comprehensive, truly all-encompassing. It was barely past nine in the morning, yet the market was already thronged with treasure hunters.

Groups of collectors and tourists lingered before ancient artifacts, famous paintings, and countless small stalls. They were either deeply studying an item or engaging directly with a vendor in sharp negotiation.

The lively atmosphere vividly showcased the true allure of collecting antiques. Wang Guan and Yu Feibai strolled through the market, observing the gentle flow of the river winding beneath the ancient bridge, flanked by graceful, weeping willows on either bank.

The antique market, built along the water, featured roofs of red glazed tiles, rising and falling in stepped profiles, with winding covered walkways that cleverly merged modern architecture with Sichuan regional style, creating a harmony of old and new. Walking within it, Wang Guan felt momentarily dazzled, almost losing his sense of direction.

Simultaneously, the sheer volume and variety of stalls and shops overwhelmed him; he didn't know where to begin or what to focus on. After walking a short distance, Wang Guan stopped and turned back.

“You’ve been here before. Where should we go now?

You lead the way.” “Got it. Follow me.” Yu Feibai rubbed his hands together, his eyes bright.

“Let’s go.” As Wang Guan followed, he added, “By the way, Uncle De mentioned a few days ago that he has a friend who runs an antique shop here. We should drop by and pay them a visit later.” “No problem.” Yu Feibai nodded.

He fully intended to linger in this antique market for the rest of the day anyway. A moment later, seeing Yu Feibai leading him in a maze of turns through the crowded market, Wang Guan couldn't help but ask, “What exactly are you looking for?” “That antique shop that sold me a fake—the one that made me look like a fool,” Yu Feibai admitted sheepishly.

“But it’s been a while, and I don’t remember the exact location.” “Uh…” Wang Guan was speechless, not expecting this slightly vindictive side of Yu Feibai. “Yongfa, Yongfa… Found it!

It’s right here.” Suddenly, Yu Feibai exclaimed joyfully, chuckling darkly. “Back then, I bought a piece of porcelain here.

The owner swore it was Ming Dynasty. When I took it to Uncle De for appraisal, I learned it was a Republic of China imitation!

Getting duped was one thing, but being laughed at for months afterwards became a dark stain on my life.” “Was it really that serious?” Wang Guan shook his head, offering a balanced view. “Misidentifying an item or getting the era wrong happens all the time.

Besides, maybe the owner was mistaken too, genuinely unaware that it was a modern reproduction.” “I could handle being laughed at; I’ve made plenty of bad calls myself.” Yu Feibai gritted his teeth. “But because of that blunder, the old man listened to malicious gossip and cut off my funding!

I lived like a pauper for two whole years! Do you know how agonizing it is to see beautiful things dangling right in front of you, yet be utterly unable to buy them?” “I think that turned out to be a good thing,” Wang Guan smiled.

“At least your appraisal skills improved dramatically, and you learned discipline and restraint. It was a blessing in disguise.” “Hmph.” Yu Feibai cracked his knuckles.

“Regardless, today, I will absolutely redeem my honor.” Noticing the curious glances from passersby, Wang Guan quickly cautioned in a low voice, “Redeem your honor if you must, but don’t make too much noise. We don’t want people thinking we’re here seeking revenge or planning a robbery and calling the police.” “Look at their expressions—have they ever seen such handsome robbers?” Yu Feibai’s face flushed, and he quickly grabbed Wang Guan’s arm, hurrying them into the antique shop.

As soon as they entered, Wang Guan surveyed the interior. The shop was quite sizable, perhaps thirty to forty square meters, arranged with several rows of glass display cases and wooden shelves.

The shop’s inventory was fairly complete: jade, ceramics, paintings, and miscellaneous ornaments, all neatly classified and organized within the cases, making them easy to view at a glance. Wang Guan also noted that the shop occupied an excellent location right next to a crossroad, meaning most foot traffic entering the market would pass by.

Consequently, the business seemed relatively brisk. Wang Guan counted at least two or three other customers browsing besides himself and Yu Feibai.

A middle-aged man, presumably the owner, along with two young clerks, were enthusiastically attending to patrons, offering patient explanations. For the moment, they couldn't spare any attention for Wang Guan and Yu Feibai.

“Alright, how do you plan to redeem yourself now?” Wang Guan asked lightly. The shop was not small, and the owner, running a public business, likely possessed decent judgment, making it unlikely there would be many easy bargains left for the taking.

Furthermore, even setting aside Yu Feibai’s current appraisal skills, discovering a genuine overlooked gem among thousands of artifacts would require an immense investment of time and energy. Yu Feibai considered this and understood the reality of the situation, immediately hesitating.

Just then, a clerk finished assisting a customer and quickly approached them, beaming. “Welcome, gentlemen.

Have you found anything that catches your eye?” “Still looking…” Wang Guan replied casually. “Do you have a particular interest?” The clerk helpfully pointed out, “We have jade, ceramics, paintings…” “No rush, we’ll browse first,” Wang Guan said with a smile.

“Very well. Please take your time looking around.

Just call if you need anything.” The clerk said, as several more customers entered, compelling him to attend to them immediately. Wang Guan then quietly asked, “So, have you decided what you’re going to do?” “Never mind,” Yu Feibai sighed with a wry smile and shook his head.

“I realize the chances of finding a bargain big enough to wipe the slate clean are incredibly slim. Coming here was just a way to finally give up the obsession.” “Don’t sound so defeated.

Let’s take a look around together,” Wang Guan replied cheerfully. “If nothing works out, we’ll cut our losses quickly and try our luck elsewhere.

We don't have to get fixated on this one spot.” ........................... Thank you to the reader “Bored” for the tip.

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