My action stunned everyone, especially Sister Ying, who looked at me with disbelief.
"Sister Ying, I apologize, but this brazier is not yours."
I spoke, "I acquired this brazier a few days ago; it's not your Xuande brazier."
While everyone was still trying to figure out what was happening, I retrieved a Xuande brazier from a cardboard box in the corner.
This was the very brazier I had unearthed at the farmhouse before coming here.
My original intention in bringing it to the private room was to show it to Sister Ying after her business was concluded.
However, things had escalated to this point.
Now, I had no choice but to present it, hoping to resolve Sister Ying's urgent predicament.
As I placed the brazier on the table, Hong Yunpeng kept making eye contact with me.
I knew what he was thinking.
But once the arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back. Faced with this situation, I had to take a gamble!
"This..."
Mr. Bai stared at the Xuande brazier on the table for a moment, then a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
I said, "This is the brazier meant for the transaction with Manager Zhang. I mistakenly brought the wrong one earlier; my apologies."
Sister Ying seemed to have guessed that the brazier I presented was the previous fake, though her eyes still held a hint of uncertainty.
I gave her a reassuring look.
After scrutinizing it for a long time, the man surnamed Bai appeared hesitant.
I thought to myself, when I first saw this brazier, I could barely believe it was a fake.
If it hadn't come from my own hands, I would undoubtedly have been deceived.
When it comes to my appraisal skills, I'm not boasting when I say that no one in Guangling can match me.
After all, I've accumulated rich experience since childhood.
This experience was all passed down from my ancestors; it's almost impossible for me to be fooled!
"Mr. Bai..." Manager Zhang, seeing Mr. Bai's continued silence, couldn't help but call out softly.
The man surnamed Bai looked at the Xuande brazier before him, his expression shifting between approval and displeasure. "Boss An, this brazier..."
"What is it? Mr. Bai, do you find something wrong?" Sister Ying smiled faintly. "If there is, please point it out."
The man surnamed Bai hesitated for a moment, then instructed one of his men, "Go find some dirt and some high-grade incense."
"Yes!"
Sister Ying asked with some confusion, "What is Mr. Bai doing?"
"Boss An, no need to rush. I'm appraising the treasure, of course," the man surnamed Bai replied with a smile. "This brazier of yours is extraordinary. If I'm not mistaken, it should be a 'Yixiantian'."
"Yixiantian?" Manager Zhang interjected.
"Authentic Xuande braziers are made from Fengmo copper. Fengmo copper has a unique property that generates a magnetic field around it, causing the wind to become still when it approaches. It can only flow past the sides of the brazier."
The man surnamed Bai paused and continued to explain, "A Xuande brazier that can repel wind like this is called 'Yixiantian,' meaning that if an incense stick is placed inside and lit, even if a breeze blows, the smoke will remain undisturbed, rising in a perfectly straight line."
"That's incredible?" Manager Zhang exclaimed, looking incredulous.
The man surnamed Bai glanced at me. "I haven't seen an 'Yixiantian' Xuande brazier myself, but I have heard people describe its characteristics, which precisely match yours, Boss An."
I knew what he was saying, but honestly, I was still skeptical.
If authentic Xuande braziers were truly as he described, then...
At this thought, my heart sank, and I began to worry.
However, on the surface, I maintained my composure.
Soon, the man surnamed Bai returned with some dirt and high-grade incense.
"Boss An, you don't mind if I add some dirt to the brazier, do you?" the man surnamed Bai asked.
Sister Ying replied, "Mr. Bai, please proceed."
The man surnamed Bai added dirt to the brazier, then lit a stick of incense and inserted it.
Soon, wisps of smoke from the burning incense rose straight up, and a faint scent of mugwort filled the air.
At this moment, the man surnamed Bai picked up a tablecloth from the side, retreated a few steps, and vigorously fanned it.
Although the wind wasn't strong, it caused ripples in the tea on the table.
Even Sister Ying's hair strands by her ear were gently stirred.
But then, a miraculous sight unfolded: the incense smoke remained completely still, continuing to rise steadily, as if the smoke and the incense stick had merged into one!
Everyone present was astonished!
Even Sister Ying couldn't help but show a hint of bewilderment.
"It truly is 'Yixiantian'!" The man surnamed Bai lowered the tablecloth, a smile gracing his face. "Manager Zhang, you've made an incredible find this time!"
Manager Zhang seemed slow to react, his gaze still fixed on the incense burner.
Internally, I was experiencing a tempest.
This was supposed to be a fake, yet by employing the secret techniques passed down in my family, I had actually turned it into a "genuine article"?
This was simply unbelievable!
...
I don't remember how the transaction ended; my mind was consumed by the family's ancient text, the "Seven Stars Nine Revolutions Profound Void Secret Art."
I was still lost in thought in the corner when Manager Zhang and his party departed.
"Xiao Fei."
Sister Ying's voice broke through my reverie.
"Sister Ying."
"That brazier..."
"It's the one you gave me earlier."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. "Sure."
Sister Ying's smile bloomed, and a new warmth appeared in her gaze towards me. "Xiao Fei, thank you for this."
"Sister Ying, I..."
I was at a loss for words, my tongue suddenly tied.
Hong Yunpeng came up to me and patted my shoulder. "Well done, Xiao Fei! I never realized you had such skills! That brazier actually fooled Bai Zhujing! With this ability, you can confidently claim the title of Guangling's top treasure appraiser!"
I chuckled wryly. "Brother Hong, please don't joke. I was actually unsure myself... It was the first time I've ever faked something; all those techniques are things I heard from my dad."
Sister Ying's gaze towards me shifted subtly. She smiled and said, "I've truly found a treasure this time..."
With that, she handed me a card. "As I said before, if this transaction was successful, this is your reward."
I looked at the black card Sister Ying handed me with some confusion.
It wasn't a bank card; rather, it looked like some kind of membership card.
Hong Yunpeng took the card and tucked it into my hand. "This is a reward card from An Yuan Tang. With this card, you can collect a hundred thousand yuan from An Yuan Tang."
"An Yuan Tang?"
Sister Ying explained, "That's another antique shop I opened in Guangling. When you have the chance, I'll have Yunpeng take you there."
She then sighed. "Everything is resolved for today, and I have something else to attend to. Yunpeng, you take Xiao Fei to have lunch here, and it'll be on my tab."
"Alright! Thanks, Sister Ying!" Hong Yunpeng grinned.
After Sister Ying and Uncle Hong left, Hong Yunpeng ordered quite a few dishes. I asked him to order less, but he refused, saying this was Sister Ying treating us, and ordering sparingly would be disrespectful.
Hearing his reasoning, I couldn't help but laugh and cry.