Chapter 156: Meeting Elder Pei Again

"Oh dear, this is sheer recklessness!" Elder Pei’s expression changed the moment he saw the cloth wrapping the Tang Sancai.

"This item is so delicate. How could you just grab any old cloth and wrap it up like this?"

"This fabric is so coarse; what if it scratches the glaze of the Tang Sancai?"

"Uh... Elder Pei, I really didn't know. I’ll make sure to be careful next time." Chang Yu replied cautiously, terrified of offending him.

At the same time, he wondered: if you couldn't wrap it in cloth, what were you supposed to use? You couldn't just carry it in your bare hands, could you?

"Remember, next time, use high-quality silk." Perhaps to prevent Chang Yu from wasting such a treasure again, or perhaps out of a desire to mentor the young man, Elder Pei offered this piece of advice.

"I’ll remember that, sir." Chang Yu rubbed his chin sheepishly, etching the instruction firmly into his mind.

Elder Pei’s home was decorated with great taste in a traditional Chinese style. The furnishings were antique, including several sets of bamboo tables and chairs, which highlighted the host's simple yet elegant temperament. It was a spacious three-bedroom apartment, a far cry from Chang Yu’s small one-bedroom unit.

Because it was a three-bedroom layout, Elder Pei had a dedicated study, and he led Chang Yu inside. The room looked somewhat crowded; several large, exquisitely carved wooden shelves filled almost every corner, leaving only a small space by the window for Elder Pei’s desk.

One wall was lined neatly with books, and a quick glance told Chang Yu they were all related to history and culture. The other shelves were even more impressive, with every cubby filled with various antiques and jade pieces—a dazzling, overwhelming display. There were blue-and-white porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, jade carvings, bronze statues covered in patina, ancient swords with scabbards, and even ancient currency and ingots.

In short, the collection was incredibly comprehensive, covering almost every dynasty and every conceivable purpose. If it existed, Chang Yu saw it here. Without exception, these items carried a profound sense of age and history, clearly not the mediocre imitations of later generations.

"Forgive the clutter. This old man has no other hobbies; I just enjoy tinkering with antiques." Seeing the awe in Chang Yu’s eyes as he looked at the treasures he had spent a lifetime collecting, Elder Pei was genuinely delighted. It was like a child showing off a room full of toys, filled with pride and a touch of vanity.

"Incredible!" Chang Yu gave a thumbs-up, making no attempt to hide his admiration. Looking at this room full of antiques, every single piece must be worth a fortune. In his heart, Chang Yu silently elevated his estimation of Elder Pei’s wealth and status by several notches.

Forgive Chang Yu for his vulgarity and ignorance. While others might see this room as a repository of culture, a witness to history, and the wisdom of the ancients—priceless treasures beyond monetary value—to someone as vulgar as Chang Yu... this entire room was just money. It was pure, cold cash!

Just as Chang Yu was secretly gloating over finding a buyer who wasn't strapped for cash, Elder Pei sat at his desk and began examining the Tang Sancai with a magnifying glass. He scrutinized every detail, even the spots easily overlooked. Before long, his surprise turned into sheer joy, and by the end, he couldn't hide his grin.

Seeing this, Chang Yu, who had been sweating nervously in case his manifested Tang Sancai had any flaws, finally relaxed. Judging by Elder Pei’s reaction, he clearly believed it to be genuine. The last thing Chang Yu wanted was for his creation to be dismissed as a fake.

"This is indeed a Tang Dynasty Sancai piece," Elder Pei concluded, setting down the magnifying glass. "But I’m curious—why does this piece look exactly like the one sold at the auction house a while ago, right down to the details?"

"Antiques rarely appear in identical pairs. Because they are handcrafted, there are inevitably slight differences. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a thing; it’s truly baffling."

"Er, well..." Chang Yu felt awkward facing the question. He thought to himself, *Of course it’s identical, because I manifested it based on that exact piece! How could it be any different?*

Seeing Chang Yu stammer and look uncomfortable, Elder Pei smiled magnanimously. "Forgive me, that was intrusive. I shouldn't pry into your privacy. I won't ask again."

"This piece is excellent. I want to keep it. Name your price."

In the crowded study, Elder Pei sat on a traditional armchair, his face full of anticipation.

*Finally!* Chang Yu felt a surge of excitement. The whole reason he had gone through the trouble of recording the image and manifesting the piece was for this exact moment.

"I saw the final sale price of that auction on the internet. That piece went for 800,000."

"Since you said yourself that my piece is identical to the one auctioned, how about we set the price at 800,000?"

Chang Yu’s reasoning was sound; he wasn't taking advantage of Elder Pei, nor was he selling himself short. He expected Elder Pei to agree readily, as he could see how much the old man loved the piece. To his surprise, Elder Pei shook his head. "I can't afford that price."

Chang Yu: !!!

Was he saying the price was too high? Chang Yu panicked, unable to remain calm. "Elder Pei, that was the auction price. I’m not asking for a penny more than what it’s worth."

"I know your price is fair," Elder Pei said, adjusting his glasses and putting a pipe in his mouth. "It's not that I think the price is high, but rather..."

"Rather what?" Chang Yu asked, confused.

Elder Pei finally looked embarrassed. "I recently bought a few other antiques, and I don't have much cash left in my pockets."

"At most, I can scrape together 600,000 right now. I definitely can't come up with 800,000."

Chang Yu was stunned. It was an answer he had never considered. He stared at the room full of treasures and thought, *Does a rich man like you really run out of money? Is he trying to pull a fast one on me?* Any single item in this room could probably sell for hundreds of thousands, and there were at least a hundred pieces here! Converted to RMB, that was worth tens of millions!

"If you can only offer 600,000, then I definitely can't sell it to you," Chang Yu refused without hesitation. That was a 200,000 difference—not one or two thousand. Unless he had a hole in his head, he wasn't going to let that much profit slip away. Frankly, he and Elder Pei were mere acquaintances; why should he give the man a favor and lose 200,000 in one go? When his own interests were at stake, Chang Yu wouldn't budge.

"Xiao Yu, don't be so impatient," Elder Pei said, not offended by Chang Yu’s firm stance. "I didn't say I wouldn't give you the other 200,000. My cash flow is just tight right now. How about I pay you the rest once I have more funds available?"

"This..." Chang Yu hesitated. When all was said and done, he didn't trust Elder Pei. He feared that if he agreed, Elder Pei would simply go back on his word and never mention the remaining 200,000 again. If that happened, he would effectively have sold the Tang Sancai for only 600,000.

Seeing the hesitation, Elder Pei struggled with himself for a moment, but the allure of the Tang Sancai eventually won out. "How about this: I have a piece of calligraphy here I can give you as collateral. Once I have the 200,000, I'll buy it back."

"Don't worry about losing out. That piece is worth at least 200,000, if not more. If you don't believe me, take it to an expert. It’s absolutely genuine."

With that, Elder Pei took a scroll from the shelf and carefully handed it to Chang Yu. Although it was old, the paper had been well-preserved. It was mounted with silk and fitted with rollers, looking exceptionally elegant.

As they unrolled it, a few powerful, graceful, and profound characters appeared before Chang Yu’s eyes. It read: *Hao Ran Zheng Qi* (Noble Spirit). The signature read: *Ling Su Lao Ren*.

Though it was just four simple characters, the brushwork was spirited and brilliant, refreshing to look at. The calligraphy was strong, with every stroke—the slashes, the sweeps, and the drops—delivered with precision and vigor. It possessed a grand, masculine energy while still adhering to artistic form, making the entire piece feel alive and full of character.

Truly great art can be appreciated even by a layman. Although Chang Yu knew nothing about calligraphy, he fell in love with it at first sight. He felt the words were perfect, as if they were describing his own character. Chang Yu felt he was an upright person with integrity, so he particularly liked this piece.

Seeing Chang Yu’s interest, Elder Pei began to explain the origin of the piece:

"Ling Su Lao Ren was the self-styled name of Yang Shoujing in his later years. He was an outstanding calligrapher and epigrapher during the late Qing and early Republic periods, widely regarded as the foremost scholar of that era."

"His calligraphy has a very distinct, rustic charm. The structure of each character is varied, simple, and ancient, capturing a natural essence. The overall composition flows in one breath, full of momentum, and is highly sought after by enthusiasts."