While Sister Ying and the elder remained silent, contemplating something, the young man beside me asked, "What is the lost-wax casting method?"
I replied, "The lost-wax casting method, also known as investment casting, originated in the late Warring States period and was specifically used for making bronze and metal artifacts. The process involves using beeswax to create a model of the cast, then filling the core with fire-resistant material. After heating and baking, the wax model melts and drains away, leaving the entire casting mold as a hollow shell."
I paused, then continued, "However, this lost-wax casting method is extremely complex to operate, and any slight mistake can lead to complete failure. And nowadays, the only ones who understand this ancient method are..."
At this point, Sister Ying interrupted me, uttering three words: "Chi Lei Fang!"
I nodded, "Indeed, Chi Lei Fang."
"What is Chi Lei Fang?" the young man asked again.
Sister Ying stroked her chin and said, "A family specializing in making imitation bronze ware. It's said that Chi Lei Fang has a rich collection, but they never sell anything, using it all as models to create fakes."
"So, the person who sold us the stove must be from Chi Lei Fang?" the young man said.
Sister Ying pondered for a moment before saying, "Things might not be that simple... We had barely accepted this stove, and someone showed up afterward, signing a 'Non-Repudiation Agreement.' This matter, it's likely..."
"The eldest daughter means that the Bai family is behind this scheme?" the elder interjected.
Sister Ying shook her head, "It's not clear yet... How about this, Uncle Hong, you stabilize the buyer's side first and delay the delivery date a bit. Pengyun, you send more people to investigate what's really going on."
The elder and the young man nodded in agreement.
After Sister Ying left with me, as we sat in the car, I couldn't help but ask, "Sister Ying, who were those two people just now?"
"Uncle Hong used to be my family's butler, and now he's my partner. The other one is his son, Hong Pengyun."
I nodded.
After a long while, Sister Ying asked me, "Xiao Fei, who did you learn these things from?"
"My father was a 'ground scraper' in the antique trade. He liked researching antiques in his spare time, and I learned from him," I said.
The term "ground scraper" in the antique business refers to those who travel around, looking for hidden gems, and is a general term for people at the lower end of the antique trade.
Sister Ying nodded and didn't ask further.
Seeing that she still seemed troubled by the matter of the stove, I inexplicably said, "Sister Ying, I actually have a way to make that stove appear flawless..."
As soon as I finished speaking, the car suddenly slowed and stopped by the roadside. Sister Ying looked at me with disbelief and asked, "Xiao Fei, what did you just say?"
"I said, I can make that stove indistinguishable from the real thing," I said, feeling a little apprehensive.
This wasn't because I was bragging, but rather because I didn't know what the consequences of my actions might be. After all, my grandfather's and father's words had always reminded me that I must hide my true abilities.
Sister Ying took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. She was wearing a low-cut shirt today, and her chest heaved as if the buttons were about to pop open. I dared not look further and quickly averted my gaze.
"Xiao Fei, if... I say if, you truly have a way, after this deal is done, I can give you a share. But I hope you have a hundred percent certainty. Because once this matter..."
Before she could finish, I continued, "I understand. You signed a 'Non-Repudiation Agreement' with the other party. If they discover that this item is fake, you'll have to fulfill the contract. Although I don't know what you're betting on with them, I believe that as long as I step in, the other party will absolutely not be able to tell that the item is fake."
Seeing my confidence, Sister Ying also seemed hesitant. She took out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes from her small purse, lit one, and slowly took a puff. Soon, a chocolate aroma filled the car.
"I don't know why you're so confident, but if this stove is a trap set by my competitor, even if you can truly make it indistinguishable from the real thing, it might be..."
"Sister Ying," I interrupted her, "you might have misunderstood my meaning."
"Hmm?" Sister Ying looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"What I mean by indistinguishable from the real thing isn't making it *look* real, but directly *making it* real," I said.
I had been studying my family's inherited "Seven Stars Nine Arts Profound Sky Secret Technique" for some time. Although my father hadn't taught me many things from it, the foundation he had laid for me enabled me to learn on my own. As the saying goes, theoretical knowledge is not as good as practical application. The reason I was helping Sister Ying was also to get a chance for practical experience. With my current financial status, let alone a real Xuande stove, I couldn't even afford a fake one. Most importantly, the Xuande stove that Sister Ying showed me today was a top-tier fake that was a rare find. For others, a fake has no value. But for me, it was the best opportunity to prove whether the operations in the "Seven Stars Nine Arts Profound Sky Secret Technique" were feasible.
After hearing my words, Sister Ying even forgot to smoke. She stared at me intently, then finally smiled faintly, "Alright, I'll trust you this once..."
With that, she threw the half-smoked cigarette out the car window, started the car, and said, "Xiao Fei, I hope you won't disappoint me."
The car drove back to the farmhouse. The elder and the young man had already left. Sister Ying found the owner of the farmhouse. The owner's surname was Xu, and his name was Xu Dashan. It was evident that Sister Ying was the major shareholder of this farmhouse, and Xu Dashan was working for her.
"Old Xu, arrange a room for Xiao Fei. He'll be staying here for the next few days," Sister Ying said to Xu Dashan.
"Yes, President An," Xu Dashan replied.
Then, Sister Ying turned to me, "The stove is entrusted to you. I have other matters to attend to these days. Tell Old Xu if you need anything."
"Okay, Sister Ying," I said.
After Sister Ying left, Xu Dashan arranged a room for me. This farmhouse occupied a considerable area, featuring not only a fish pond but also over a dozen rooms. Many people came here daily to dine and relax.
After settling in, I began to work on the Xuande stove. Although this stove was a fake made using the lost-wax casting method, it was crafted during the Republic of China era. In a sense, it could be considered an antique. Now, the only task was to enhance its age, a process known as "aging."
Following the "Seven Stars Nine Arts Profound Sky Secret Technique," as I began my first practical attempt, I couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and unease. Whether it would succeed, only trying would tell!