"I didn't expect that the Qin Jing, which had puzzled my Bi family for years, would turn out like this..." Bi Zhengxiang sighed.
I comforted him, "Old Mr. Bi, no matter what, this matter has finally been clarified."
He nodded, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. "Although so much time has passed, I still want to find out who maliciously destroyed my Bi family back then!"
Bi Zhengxiang had always seemed approachable in my eyes, but at this moment, a killing intent flickered within the cold light he exuded.
"Young Brother Xiang, I must thank you for your help this time. Since the matter of the Qin Jing has been cleared up, according to our agreement, you can pick anything you like from my place." Bi Zhengxiang smiled faintly.
I pursed my lips and said, "Old Mr. Bi, what if I said I wanted the Qin Jing..."
At this point, I stopped and looked at him.
A trace of surprise flashed in Bi Zhengxiang's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "What do you want the Qin Jing for?"
"Such a legendary item, if I take it back to the shop, it could at least serve as a treasure to guard the establishment," I said with a smile.
Bi Zhengxiang's expression turned hesitant. After a moment, he said, "This mirror has no value to me anymore, so I don't mind giving it to you... However, before that, I hope Young Brother Xiang can do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"I've long heard of Young Brother Xiang's sharp eyesight and superb appraisal skills. Could you perhaps lend me your expert eye?"
Bi Zhengxiang wanted me to appraise something for him?
This was somewhat unexpected. I chuckled, "Old Mr. Bi, you are too kind. This is just a small matter. May I ask what item you would like me to appraise?"
"The item is on its way and will be delivered shortly. You'll know when you see it, Young Brother Xiang," Bi Zhengxiang said with a smile.
After speaking, he instructed his bodyguard, Gai Hongkuang, to take out the Qin Jing and place it directly in front of me.
Seeing his straightforwardness, I cupped my hands in thanks. "Thank you, Old Mr."
Bi Zhengxiang waved his hand. "No need for formalities, Young Brother Xiang. We are now friends despite the age gap. If you need any help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
I smiled and replied, "Thank you for your high regard, Old Mr. Bi."
I actually have a good impression of Bi Zhengxiang. After all, since I met him, he hasn't caused me any trouble.
Moreover, every time I visit him, he arranges everything perfectly for me.
Given his status, he didn't really need to treat me this way. Since he is willing to be friends with me, I certainly won't be stingy.
We chatted over tea for about an hour when Gai Hongkuang walked in and announced, "Master Bi, the item has arrived."
Bi Zhengxiang nodded. "Bring it in."
"Yes."
Soon, Gai Hongkuang had two people carry in a chair. When I saw this chair, my eyes lit up.
It was a Ming Dynasty circular-backed chair. The moment I saw it, I knew this chair was no ordinary object.
I walked over, examined it for a moment, and then leaned in to smell it. A faint, mellow fragrance entered my nostrils.
This scent was subtle and elusive, a very pure agarwood fragrance.
At that very moment, I was certain that the chair before me was made of Huanghuali wood.
Huanghuali, also known in the trade as Haihuang, or by its scientific name, Dalbergia odorifera.
Haihuang wood has many different grain patterns, such as ghost eye patterns, ghost face patterns, landscape patterns, lightning patterns, and bamboo strip patterns.
However, regardless of the pattern, they all appear somewhat indistinct, which is a characteristic of Huanghuali wood.
My father once told me that the reason ancient scholars favored Huanghuali for furniture was primarily its capacity for imagination, allowing for boundless sentiment to be expressed within a small space.
Items made of Huanghuali are very expensive. Even ordinary brush pots sell for over ten thousand yuan. A chair as naturally formed as this one, I estimate, would be at least eight to nine million yuan.
I must say, Bi Zhengxiang is truly generous.
The chair had an amber hue, making it irresistible to touch.
Few people can afford to collect antique furniture. Its price is already high, and it's rare to find undervalued furniture.
Think about it, even people who don't know much about antiques can discern something about tables and chairs.
The feel when sitting on it, the touch of its surface, makes it impossible to sell cheaply.
My grandfather used to have a Huanghuali chair. That chair was passed down from my great-grandfather. My grandfather liked to sit in it while reading whenever he had free time.
Back then, he always said that only when sitting in that chair could he focus on his reading.
I was young then and didn't understand much. It was only when I grew up that I realized that for those who appreciate antique furniture, it's not just a collectible but something that brings spiritual enjoyment.
"Young Brother Xiang, what do you think of this chair?" Bi Zhengxiang asked me with a smile.
I exclaimed, "A fine piece! My eyes have been opened today. I never expected to see a Huanghuali chair in such good condition. This chair must have quite a history, right?"
Bi Zhengxiang smiled. "Young Brother Xiang has sharp eyes. Everyone who has owned this chair has been a famous person. I managed to acquire it from someone with great effort."
"How much?" I asked.
"Ten million yuan," Bi Zhengxiang said with a smile.
He stated this figure without even blinking an eye, as if ten million yuan was nothing to him.
It's no wonder he had promised me that as long as I found out about the Qin Jing, I could pick anything from his household.
"Old Mr. Bi said that everyone who owned this chair was famous?" I inquired.
"Let me tell you someone you'd surely know," Bi Zhengxiang said. "Have you heard of the opera master Mei Lanfang?"
"Oh? I didn't expect Master Mei to be interested in antiques?" I asked with a smile.
"He naturally had no interest in antiques. This chair was a gift to him from someone else," Bi Zhengxiang chuckled.
"Given Master Mei's reputation, coupled with this superior Huanghuali wood, ten million yuan is indeed a worthwhile price," I commented.
I felt a bit puzzled. Was Bi Zhengxiang really asking me to appraise it?
Anyone with a little knowledge of antiques could tell the value of this chair.
What was his intention in doing this?
As I was racking my brain, I suddenly remembered what my father had told me.
Communication between people is a profound art. The way to interact with others hinges on three principles: sincerity, courtesy, and trust.
The better people are at interacting with others, the more you feel at ease in their company.
Thinking of this, I finally understood. Bi Zhengxiang was deliberately doing me a favor.
Although I had helped him deduce the events behind the Qin Jing, it was still a deduction, not the uncovering of the truth.
Yet, he didn't say much and instead treated it as if I had fulfilled our agreement, gifting me the Qin Jing.
This way, neither of us owed the other anything. However, by asking me to appraise something for him now, he was essentially incurring a debt of favor from me...
It seemed he was afraid I wouldn't come to him again in the future, so he chose this method to bestow a favor upon me.