Chapter 34 Live Competition

Imitation!

Shen Sa's words were like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, immediately stirring up ripples, and all the wealthy individuals present were shocked.

"Shen Sa says this tea set is an imitation?"

"Impossible, on such an important occasion as Elder Chu's seventieth birthday, how could Miss Chu Xiang possibly give an imitation as a birthday gift."

"Perhaps Miss Chu herself didn't know."

"That's possible. Shen Sa is also a famous appraisal master in Yangcheng, he shouldn't be speaking without basis."

"..."

Chu Luan also looked regretfully at the Zisha teapot he was holding.

"Fake?"

Chu Junhao feigned surprise and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master Shen, you couldn't have made a mistake, could you? This is a carefully prepared birthday gift from my cousin to my grandfather, you can't just falsely accuse her."

"Young Master Chu, how would I dare to falsely accuse Miss Chu, but this tea set is indeed problematic."

Shen Sa walked to Chu Luan's side and extended his hand, saying, "Elder Chu, would you allow me to examine the Zisha teapot in your hand?"

Chu Luan didn't think much of it and handed the teapot to him. Shen Sa held the teapot in his left hand and pointed to the textures on the bottom with his right, saying, "Look, these textures are rough, uneven in size, and inconsistent in depth. From the manufacturing technique, it doesn't resemble a royal imperial product at all."

As he spoke, he specifically showed it to some of the closer wealthy individuals. Everyone nodded in agreement.

Chu Junhao seized the opportunity to attack, shouting sternly, "Chu Xiang, grandfather dotes on you so much, yet you actually tried to fool him with an imitation. Have you lost your conscience to a dog!"

Chu Xiang's face turned pale. She didn't know how to respond. Suddenly, Yang Chen burst into laughter, attracting everyone's attention.

Chu Junhao angrily asked, "What are you laughing at!"

"I'm laughing at this Master Shen for only knowing one thing and not the other."

Yang Chen directly took the Zisha teapot from Shen Sa's hand and said loudly, "This Zisha teapot was manufactured in the third year of Kangxi. At that time, the Qing had just entered the pass, the Southern Ming emperor was not yet established, and with Wu Sangui and Shang Kexi controlling the south, the coastal areas, Taiwan, and the Penghu Islands were all under the Zheng family's influence. It can be said that the areas south of the Yangtze River were not truly under the Qing's effective control.

At that time, the country was not yet stable, and national strength was weak. This imperial Zisha teapot was therefore produced with a short production cycle, and flaws were unavoidable.

However, on the other hand, it is precisely because of its imperfection that it has survived to this day, making it extremely precious among the surviving treasures.

Anyone who knows a little about antique collecting should know this. Imperial court productions before the twentieth year of Kangxi all had this problem.

Master Shen, even an apprentice at our Jinxiangyu Auction House would know this. You wouldn't be unaware, would you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Sa's face flushed. He retorted, "This... this is all your word against mine. Who can prove whether it's real or fake!"

"He Hongjian."

Yang Chen directly stated the name and scoffed, "This gilded tea set was personally appraised by Elder He, the president of the Antiquarian Association, at yesterday's charity auction. Do you doubt his judgment?"

"That's right."

Some of the guests present had also attended the charity auction last night and chimed in, "I was at the scene yesterday, and I can confirm that Elder He did indeed appraise this tea set as genuine without a doubt!"

This made Shen Sa's face turn even redder and then purpler. His eyes darted around. He glanced at the gilded tea tray on the stage, then at the four cups, and finally his gaze fell on the Zisha teapot. The teapot's surface was dark and greasy. A plan formed in his mind, and he sneered, "I... I admit that this gilded tea tray and these cups are indeed genuine, but this Zisha teapot is still fake!

Everyone, please look. The surface of the pot has small black spots appearing in patches, like sesame seeds. Even if the craftsmanship of early Kangxi imperial court products was rough, it shouldn't be this unbearable."

"Haha..."

As soon as he said this, Yang Chen burst into uncontrollable laughter, tears welling up in his eyes.

"You... what are you laughing at!"

"I'm laughing at your ignorance."

Yang Chen directly went over, opened the lid of the teapot, and pointed to the dark interior of the pot, saying, "Are you going to say that the color inside is also wrong?"

"It... it's not right in the first place!"

"Utter nonsense!"

Yang Chen mocked, "You don't even understand the tea mountain, yet you call yourself an expert."

Tea mountain?

Most of the younger people present were confused and filled with doubt. However, some of the older ones understood the meaning and explained, "We often use Zisha teapots to brew kung fu tea and not porcelain teapots because of the porosity of Zisha teapots. This allows the tea aroma to emerge without becoming stale. But because of this characteristic of Zisha teapots, with frequent use over time, the tea liquid seeps through the pores and slowly accumulates. This is why there are small black spots like sesame seeds on the surface;

As for the dark interior of the teapot, it's the same reason. The organic matter in the tea leaves adheres to the inner wall of the pot, and over time, a layer of tea scale, commonly known as the tea mountain, will accumulate.

What we in the tea ceremony world call 'nurturing the pot' is actually nurturing this layer of tea mountain. From the look of the tea mountain inside this Zisha teapot, it would take at least three generations to cultivate such a thick tea mountain.

Never mind whether this Zisha teapot is an imperial Kangxi product. Just this layer of tea mountain alone makes it a fine piece among teapots.

If it weren't for Elder Chu's seventieth birthday today, I would have offered a million to buy it!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was astonished. Several young people couldn't help but say, "Tea mountain? Isn't that just not washed clean?"

"You young people are ignorant."

At this moment, having proven that the gilded tea set was indeed genuine, Chu Luan was in a great mood and scolded the young people with a smile, "Tea mountain is accumulated over time and through experience. It's the same principle as the patina developed from playing with jade. You actually call it not being washed clean.

I'll show you the benefit of tea mountain today. Someone, bring me a pot of hot water!"

Steward Lao Niu quickly brought over a pot of freshly boiled hot water. Chu Luan poured the hot water into the Zisha teapot. Although there were no tea leaves inside, a rich tea aroma filled the air.

"Smell it, this is the scent of the tea mountain!"

Chu Luan proudly paraded the Zisha teapot in front of everyone. Everyone showed expressions of admiration, and the more he did, the happier he became.

"Xiangxiang, this is the birthday gift Grandpa likes the most. You've put in a lot of thought!"

The more satisfied Chu Luan was with the Zisha teapot in his hand, the more he doted on his beloved granddaughter.

"Such a good item must not be cheap. Tell me the cost later, and Grandpa will reimburse you."

"Grandpa, how can your granddaughter's birthday gift be paid for with your money."

Chu Xiang stepped forward and affectionately held Chu Luan's arm, smiling and saying, "Besides, this tea set was a great bargain Yang Chen helped me find—it only cost a hundred thousand! Your granddaughter can afford it."

Such a good item only cost a hundred thousand?!

Chu Luan, like all the guests, showed surprise.

"Come... come, Xiangxiang, quickly tell Grandpa, how did you manage to get such a bargain?"

Then, Chu Xiang vividly recounted what happened at the charity auction yesterday. Everyone cast looks of admiration towards Yang Chen.

"Young Brother Yang, truly skilled!"

"Elder Chu, I was just lucky..."

"Exactly, I think he was just lucky, not necessarily truly skilled!"

Yang Chen had only been being modest, but Chu Junhao seized on his words and said, "Speaking of true skill, Master Shen Sa has over twenty years of professional experience. For instance, he helped me find Tang Bohu's painting 'Guyu' in Hong Kong, which was very impressive..."

"Yes, Master Shen is indeed impressive."

Chu Xiang directly interrupted him and mocked, "He doesn't even recognize a tea mountain. Master Shen is truly skilled!"

"I... I admit, I don't know much about tea ceremonies, but when it comes to appraising treasures, I am second to none."

Shen Sa's face turned red, and he stared at Yang Chen, saying, "Do you dare to compete with me on the spot and see whose appraisal skills are more impressive!"