Seeing that Mr. Leng was unmoved by reason, the monkey couldn't wait any longer and stepped forward: "Mr. Leng, we have urgent business with Song Laosan. If you are willing to be lenient, we can offer compensation. If that's not possible, we'll give you more money!"

"I don't lack money."

Mr. Leng tapped the table lightly with his fingers, the jade ring gleaming. He said to me, "I called you here not to discuss compensation, but because I'm curious why Song Laosan would bring in such an unknown nobody like you. I believe you can save his life."

Seeing that Mr. Leng had no interest in compensation, I thought for a moment and said, "What Song Laosan gave you is fake, but I can give you something real to settle Song Laosan's debts."

In the antique trade, "pawning" is also called "fighting." "Pawn" means equal, so pawning is exchanging goods for goods, an equal transaction.

Since Mr. Leng doesn't want money now, I can only exchange the fake for a genuine artifact equivalent to the Yuan bronze incense burner. Only then can this matter be settled.

"That's interesting. You do know the rules." Mr. Leng's lips curled slightly. "Where's the stuff?"

“Not yet.” I shook my head. “I came in a hurry, and it was to save someone. As long as you hand over Song Laosan to me, I guarantee I can bring back something that will satisfy you.”

"I've been around the antique world for a while now, and you're the first person I've ever met who dared to try and figure me out with just empty words."

Mr. Leng picked up his teacup: "Old Mao, see the guest out."

Uncle Mao stepped forward.

Liu Shusheng, who was clearly afraid of Uncle Mao, hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said, "Mr. Leng, I am willing to vouch for him."

Mr. Leng's gaze suddenly sharpened: "Do you think you have that kind of face?"

Liu Shusheng's face turned pale under Mr. Leng's gaze: "I... Song Laosan is my friend after all, I can't just stand by and watch him die."

"You're a coward who's afraid of death and always backs down when things get tough. It's quite a surprise that you're willing to step forward today."

Seeing that Liu Shusheng dared to talk back to him, Mr. Leng looked at me and said, "Song Laosan's life is worthless. I have no use for him. If you want to take him away, that's not impossible. But Liu Shusheng's guarantee alone is not enough. If you want to exchange goods for people, you have to make me believe that you have the ability."

When I heard Mr. Leng agree, I was overjoyed: "Mr. Leng, whatever you need me to do, I will do as you please!"

Mr. Leng gave Uncle Mao a look: "Bring me the items I acquired yesterday, let him take a look, and while you're at it, invite Master Hongfu over."

Upon hearing this, I gently clenched my fist.

Mr. Leng seems to be looking for someone to argue with me.

...

Less than three minutes after Uncle Mao left, he returned to the room carrying a tray covered with red silk.

Behind him followed a fat, big-eared monk.

The monk was carrying an exceptionally large gourd, which, roughly estimated, was at least 1.5 meters tall.

Besides the gourd, this person also wore a string of skull prayer beads around his neck.

At first glance, I thought the Buddhist beads around his neck were baby skulls, but upon closer inspection, the skulls had low nasal bones and protruding faces, so they should be monkey skulls.

After the monk entered, he made a Buddha's hand gesture and said, "Mr. Leng, you want to see me?"

Mr. Leng pointed at me: "Master Hongfu, this friend wants to share a precious item with me, but I don't quite trust him, so I'd like you to help me test his judgment."

Hongfu glanced at me, seemingly feeling that I was too young, and skipped the formalities, gesturing with his hand towards the tray that Uncle Mao had placed on the table: "Please take a look."

Seeing that the monk was impolite, I didn't greet him but walked to the table and lifted the red silk.

The things on this table really caught my eye.

On the tray are three identical sunflower-petal-shaped cups, their bodies crystal clear and decorated with dragon patterns.

Judging from its appearance, it seems to be a legendary wood-fired kiln.

The book "Shiwu Ganzhu" praises Chai ware as the best among all kilns and the foremost of the five major official kilns.

The value of this type of porcelain was so high that in ancient times there was a saying that "a single tile could be worth a thousand pieces of gold."

The Chai kiln was only produced for a total of ten years, and none of its kilns survive today.

There is no record of the identification of this item in the Judge's Records. My memory of it comes from what I saw when I was looking through other materials.

This is the first time in my life I've ever seen a real wood-fired kiln.

When I lifted the red silk, the monk Hongfu said, "After the fall of the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period began. Chai ware was the imperial kiln of Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Chai Rong. Wen Zhenheng of the Ming Dynasty recorded in his book 'Treatise on Superfluous Things': Chai ware is the most precious and rarely seen in the world. Its craftsmanship is described as blue as the sky, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and resonant as a chime. These four qualities are the key to identifying Chai ware."

Not to be outdone, I said: "The 'Gegu Yaolun' written by Cao Zhao during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and supplemented by Wang Zuo in the mid-Ming Dynasty records: 'The Chai kiln comes from the north. It is said that it was fired during the reign of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty, hence the name Chai kiln. It is sky blue in color, moist and delicate with fine lines, and has a rough yellow clay foot. It is rarely seen in recent times.'"

Mr. Leng sent this monk over so that we could have a verbal duel.

The word "斗口" is literal; it simply means to argue or debate, comparing the knowledge reserves of both parties.

The attacker presents a fake antique and asks the defender to point out its flaws. If the defender cannot identify the flaws, the attacker wins and the defender loses. Moreover, these contests usually involve a prize.

Mr. Leng's meaning was very clear: if I won, the prize would be the condition he had promised me—that I could take Song Laosan away.

If I lose, everything will be lost, and Song Laosan's life or death will no longer be my concern.

Seeing that I had taken the bait, Monk Hongfu continued, “Of these three Chai ware pieces, one was used by Emperor Shizong of the Tang Dynasty, and the other two are eggs. According to research, a palace maid took them out of the palace after Chai Rong’s death, and two of them were later imitated by skilled craftsmen. It is said that these three Chai ware pieces were unearthed in 1928 when Sun Dianying looted the tomb of Empress Dowager Cixi. They were buried together because no one could distinguish the real from the fake.”

Upon hearing what Monk Hongfu said, I realized the seriousness of the matter.

He didn't give me a chance to think and continued, "These porcelain pieces have been appraised by several famous ancient ceramic experts, but even these gentlemen couldn't tell the difference between genuine and fake. I'm too poor to see anything wrong with them. Please take a look, young man."

After hearing Hongfu's words, I cursed him inwardly as a shameless monk.

His move was too underhanded. He put himself in an unverifiable position right from the start, clearly admitting defeat and leaving me to play by myself, without even giving me a chance to communicate.

He can afford to lose, but I can't, because I have something to gain.

I put on the gloves provided on the tray, picked up one of the porcelain pieces, and examined it against the light.

The glaze is bright and does not crack, the walls are as thin as an eggshell, and it is crystal clear.

The fingers tap lightly, producing a melodious and continuous sound, like a wind chime.

The feel, glaze, sound, and texture all match the "four characteristics" of Chai ware.

Check the other one; it feels the same.

By the time I finished reading, I had already frowned.

Mr. Leng's scheme was too ruthless!