Picking up the hare's fur cup, Elder Qian examined it carefully. His expression was placid, betraying neither pleasure nor displeasure, making it difficult to gauge his true opinion of the Tuhazhan (Hare's Fur Cup) from his face.

After a moment, Elder Qian set the Jian ware cup down, not rushing to offer an evaluation. Instead, perhaps afraid of neglecting Wang Guan, he called directly to him: "Young man, take a look yourself, and tell us your thoughts."

"This... I don't know much about Jian ware," Wang Guan hesitated, trying to demur.

"Don't worry, look boldly," Elder Qian said gently. "It doesn't matter if you say something wrong. Sometimes, mistakes are just a form of accumulation. If you're right, you might forget it, but if you're wrong, you'll remember it for a lifetime."

"Alright!"

Having reached this point, Wang Guan could no longer politely refuse. He immediately picked up a Jian kiln piece and began to observe it closely.

The so-called Jian ware, or Jianzhan, was actually black-glazed porcelain fired in Jianyang County, Fujian. Its famous varieties included Tuhao (Hare's Fur), Zhegubang (Partridge Spot), Yao Bian (Iridescence), Wujin (Jet Black), and Shise (Persimmon Color). The Jian kiln originated in the late Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Song, and declined in the Yuan. It mainly produced celadon, black-glazed ware, and white-and-blue porcelain, with the black-glazed porcelain being the most renowned globally.

Generally speaking, the ancients did not greatly appreciate black objects. Thus, the white and celadon wares fired during the Tang Dynasty instantly became popular upon creation.

However, during the Song Dynasty, when the tea-whisking competition (Dou Cha) became highly fashionable, it was the black-glazed porcelain that won widespread affection. After all, the best vessel for Dou Cha was black-glazed porcelain; the white tea foam churning against the dark cup created a unique aesthetic beauty.

From then on, the Jian ware from Fujian became famous both at home and abroad.

Its cultural influence even spread to Japan, where it became the most prized tea utensil in the Japanese tea ceremony. Conversely, in China itself, after the Song Dynasty, the status of black-glazed porcelain gradually declined due to shifting aesthetic preferences.

Of course, Song Dynasty Jian ware has recently experienced a resurgence as a collectible item, drawing significant attention from connoisseurs. This collector interest naturally implies soaring prices and the mass production of imitations.

As soon as the Tuhazhan was in his hands, Wang Guan felt no unusual reaction, immediately knowing this piece was suspect.

Naturally, Wang Guan would not voice his conclusion immediately. Instead, he examined it even more seriously. If the item was counterfeit, mere words were unsubstantiated; he needed to find reasons that would convince others.

As Wang Guan scrutinized the piece repeatedly, Yu Feibai walked over to Gao Dequan and whispered, "Uncle De, who is this? I haven't seen him before."

"His name is Wang Guan. He works at Jigu Zhai; Elder Qian introduced him," Gao Dequan replied.

"Since Elder Qian introduced him, his skill level must be quite high," Yu Feibai smiled. "Elder Qian is considerate of you; with someone helping, your work should become much easier, Uncle De."

"Whether it's easier or not, I don't mind. I just hope we don't fail Elder Qian's trust," Gao Dequan chuckled. "As for Wang Guan's skill, I don't have a firm grasp yet. But he is certainly better than you."

"Hmph..."

Yu Feibai glared. "Uncle De, I'm an amateur enthusiast; don't compare me with professionals like you."

"Who starts out as a professional? One only becomes one through slow, dedicated learning," Gao Dequan encouraged him. "Feibai, as long as you put your mind to it, you will surely achieve something."

"Thank you, Uncle De. I will work hard," Yu Feibai nodded.

Just then, Wang Guan finished his inspection and set the Tuhazhan down. Simultaneously, before Elder Qian could speak, Yu Feibai eagerly interjected, "Brother, what do you think?"

"I don't think it's good," Wang Guan hesitated, deciding to speak the truth. "Not thinking it's good" was actually a humble phrase, implying the object was not genuine—it was fake.

"How could you say it's not good?"

Yu Feibai immediately grew agitated upon hearing this and argued back, "Look at the body. The clay body of this cup is thick and dense, the color purplish-black, and the glaze dark and lustrous... every technique conforms to the characteristics of Jian ware. What could be wrong?"

"Feibai, don't rush. Let him speak slowly," Elder Qian frowned. "I've warned you many times: you must remain calm when facing things. Especially during authentication, composure is paramount. Look how easily your mind was unsettled by just a few words from him—that won't do."

"That's right. The key to appreciating antiques is focus. To borrow from Fan Zhongyan, it is to be unmoved by possessions and not saddened by setbacks. Only then can one avoid interference from external matters," Gao Dequan said, picking up a cup himself and beginning a serious observation.

"Brother, I apologize. That's just the way I am; a bit impatient..."

Yu Feibai, recognizing his fault, immediately apologized.

"It's nothing." Wang Guan smiled and waved his hand. He felt a pang of envy for Yu Feibai, who had two elders offering instruction and guidance; how could one fail to mature under such tutelage?

"Wang Guan, don't be constrained."

Elder Qian was old, but his eyesight was still sharp. Noticing Wang Guan’s unease, he spoke kindly, "Tell us, what is incorrect about this cup?"

Wang Guan was indeed feeling somewhat awkward. Just a few days ago, he was an ordinary citizen. Now, suddenly appearing in such a magnificent setting, facing figures with deep backgrounds, anyone’s emotions would likely be a little unsettled.

However, Wang Guan possessed good mental fortitude and quickly adjusted his mindset.

In the past, when facing such wealthy and noble figures, he might have felt envy, jealousy, or resentment. But having acquired extraordinary abilities, his self-confidence had swelled exponentially; there was no reason to feel intimidated.

This transformation occurred in an instant.

Thus, Elder Qian and the others suddenly saw Wang Guan's demeanor shift dramatically as he began to speak fluently and confidently: "This Jian ware cup certainly appears exquisitely made and perfectly preserved. However, to my knowledge, the clay body of Song and Yuan Dynasty Jian ware had a high iron content, and under the influence of carbon monoxide in the kiln, the clay color would present as black or reddish-brown. This piece's color is rather pale."

"Furthermore, due to the limitations of the era, the surface of Song and Yuan Jian ware clay bodies was rough, containing sand impurities. One can see the wheel marks left from manual throwing and trimming beneath the glaze—regular yet natural, fluent yet disciplined."

Wang Guan picked up another piece of Jian ware, indicating it, "But this one, if you observe, has very few impurities in its body, and the surface is smooth and fine. I suspect it was made using an electric potter's wheel. Consequently, the overall shape appears somewhat rigid."

In truth, Wang Guan was merely performing a retrospective analysis, deducing the flaws only after being certain of the cup’s authenticity status. But Elder Qian and the others were unaware of this; naturally, they assumed Wang Guan had arrived at these conclusions through his own independent appraisal.

After this series of critical points, Yu Feibai was utterly bewildered.

Yet, Elder Qian and Gao Dequan’s eyes shone brightly, revealing a hint of pleasant surprise.

After a long pause, Yu Feibai was the first to react and sought help: "Uncle De, is what he saying correct?"

"Completely correct," Gao Dequan nodded. He glanced at Wang Guan, revising his initial impression, and sighed inwardly—today's young people were truly remarkable.

Sighing internally, Gao Dequan nevertheless explained seriously, "What Wang Guan just said touches upon something very important: the limitations of an era. Every age possesses its own distinct characteristics..."

............... New week, requesting collections and recommendations. Please offer much support.