Zhou Xuan was indeed unremarkable. Besides, there weren't many young people these days who could catch their eye. The saying "a young man with no beard is unreliable" is quite true. Nowadays, young people from wealthy families spend their fathers' money to pick up girls and do bad things. They do everything but good. As for those from poor families, they don't have the opportunity to come into contact with money and the upper class. The antique business is not something young people can handle. Even these old guys who have been in this business for decades still make mistakes. Young people are even less likely to succeed.
Ma Tingting placed a set of dark red purple clay teapots on the wooden table. The teapots were only the size of a baby's fist, and there were four small cups of the same color, each barely big enough to fit a fingertip.
Zhou Xuan thought to himself, "This cup can't even hold an ounce. It might just wet my tongue. What kind of taste would that be?"
Chen San could tell that Zhou Xuan didn't know much about tea ceremony, so he smiled and explained to him, "Little Zhou, don't underestimate the little bit of water in that glass vessel. It was transported back from the cold spring of Longshan Mountain, more than 300 miles away, in a special vessel. Tea also has its 'way'! There are many intricacies involved. Most people drink tea to quench their thirst, which is called 'guzzling.' But appreciating tea is different."
Chen Sanyan took the purple clay teapot and cup in front of him, used tongs to pick up some tea leaves from the small box that Ma Tingting had taken out, then put them into the purple clay teapot, put the lid on, and the lid had a small hole.
After doing all this, Chen Sanyan continued, "To brew a good pot of tea, it's not just about having good tea. Other things, such as the water, the teapot, and the teaware, must all be specifically designed to match the tea. In addition, the utensils and the heat for boiling water are also important. Hehe, don't underestimate the simplicity of boiling water in a cup; there are many things to consider. If you use ordinary iron or aluminum utensils to boil water, it will spoil and lose its flavor. A glass cup is best. Also, the heat is important. Using firewood will impart a smoky taste. Alcohol is the best option."
"The same applies to water. The best water for brewing tea is cold spring water. Ordinary spring water can be frozen into cold spring water in a freezer, but the water boiled after thawing has a slightly spicy taste and becomes bitter if left for a long time. So cold spring water is hard to find."
At this point, the water boiled, and Chen Sanyan added, "Don't brew tea immediately after the water boils; it's best to let it boil for another ten seconds or so."
16977.com offers daily updates of fun mini-games waiting for you to discover!
Volume One: The Lotus Buds Just Begin to Emerge, Chapter Seven: A Word That Startled the Audience
Zhou Xuan stared wide-eyed as Chen Sanyan explained the tea ceremony while demonstrating it. In his twenty-six years of life, he had never seen such detailed etiquette. If he was thirsty and there was no cold spring water or a purple clay teapot, he would not drink it.
Chen Sanyan had no idea that he had been talking to a brick wall. He lifted the glass cup off the alcohol stove and tilted it to pour some into the purple clay teapot. The tea leaves in the teapot immediately swelled up when they came into contact with the boiling water. In the rising steam, Zhou Xuan smelled a strong, refreshing fragrance, and his drowsy mind suddenly cleared up!
That makes perfect sense! Considering all the effort and resources spent brewing just one sip of tea, it would be unfair if it wasn't good. Licking his lips, Zhou Xuan inexplicably felt a surge of desire to try it. (WENxueMI.com)
Chen Sanyan put the lid on the Zisha teapot, then turned it upside down. The slightly green tea flowed out from the small hole in the lid, filling the small, pen-holder-like Zisha cup halfway. The tea was a vibrant green and had a refreshing aroma.
Zhou Xuan thought that this kind of incense must taste delicious, but then he saw Chen Sanyan pick up the cup and pour it into the large bowl that held wastewater.
Zhou Xuan exclaimed, "Oh dear! It smells so good, why did you pour it out? Isn't it supposed to be a cold spring water purple clay teapot? It's so fancy, yet it's been thrown away. What a pity!"
The four people present, as well as Ma Tingting, were all taken aback, and then each had a different expression, except for Ma Tingting who laughed out loud.
Zhou Xuan cursed inwardly, his face flushing red, realizing he had made a fool of himself again.
Chen Sanyan smiled slightly and said, "The art of tea is something that enthusiasts love. Those who don't love it don't love it, and those who don't understand it have nothing to be ashamed of. It's just a hobbyist's pursuit!"
He spoke up to cover up Zhou Xuan's shame. Although Zhou Xuan didn't understand, Chen Sanyan liked his straightforward and honest personality.
"When drinking tea, the first pot is bitter, so boiled water is used to remove the bitterness. The second pot is the proper way to drink it." Chen Sanyan poured boiling water into the purple clay teapot again, but this time he didn't stop. He put the lid on and poured the tea directly into the teacup.
This time, the tea was much less green. Chen Sanyan picked up the teacup and poured it into four small purple clay cups before saying, "Try it!"
Xu Wangcai and Wu Cheng raised their cups, touched their lips to the bottom, and drank it all, smiling slightly as they said, "Good tea, excellent craftsmanship!"
Zhou Xuan didn't know whether the two old men were praising the tea or Chen Sanyan's tea-brewing skills. He had been wanting to try the tea since he smelled its aroma, and seeing that the two old men were drinking it, he picked it up without hesitation. The cup was too small, only the size of a thumb, and the tea just moistened his tongue when he poured it into his mouth.
The moment the tea touched my tongue, it had a slightly bitter taste at first, which then reached the back of my tongue. Immediately, a refreshing fragrance filled my mind, leaving me feeling clear-headed and invigorated. With a lingering sweetness on my tongue, I couldn't help but exclaim, "What a fine tea!"
Chen Sanyan smiled. Zhou Xuan's praise pleased him much more than Xu Wangcai and Wu Cheng's. Xu Wangcai and Wu Cheng were familiar with him, and they all knew this kind of thing. The praise was just a natural response. It's like going to a friend's house and his wife has cooked a big meal, but the food isn't very good. Of course, you can't say it's not good. It's the same idea.
However, Zhou Xuan's praise came from the bottom of his heart; he truly felt it was good!
Chen Sanyan brewed another pot, and this cup tasted completely different. Zhou Xuan realized that it was no wonder so many people were so engrossed in the tea ceremony; it truly had an extraordinary quality.
Chen Sanyan stopped brewing tea and smiled, saying, "Tasting tea is just about tasting; too much tea loses its flavor and becomes tasteless!" He chuckled and added, "Old Xu, Old Wu, when we get together, drinking tea is secondary. Hehe, if you have any treasures, bring them out and share them with everyone so we can all broaden our horizons!"
Xu Wangcai laughed and said, "The antique dealers in the south are very shrewd. I don't know if it's because the city is too prosperous, but even after running around for ages, I didn't see any good stuff. A few antique shops did have some signature items, but the prices were far beyond their actual value, so I lost interest in finding a bargain."
Wu Cheng shrugged and said, "My brother and I are the same. Nowadays, valuable antiques are becoming increasingly rare, and it's hard to come across a true gem."
Chen Sanyan shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Don't say that Old Xu and Old Wu are just taking a trip to the south. My two branches of Jingshizhai have been open for more than a year, and I haven't seen a single decent item."
"Alas, they say gold is for times of chaos and collecting is for times of prosperity. These days, the collecting craze has certainly reached its peak, but the same goes for..." Old Xu sighed, "the counterfeit goods have also reached their peak, and genuine treasures are becoming increasingly rare, something you can only hope to encounter by chance!"
"It's something you can only hope to encounter, something you can only hope to encounter, haha!" Chen Sanyan repeated Xu Wangcai's words twice, then pointed at Zhou Xuan and said, "Speaking of something you can only hope to encounter, that's certainly true. Little Zhou got lucky tonight, his luck is truly amazing!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Wangcai and Wu Cheng said at the same time, "What kind of lucky find did you get?" If even Chen Sanyan said it was good luck, then it couldn't be anything too bad.
Uncle Liu immediately took out the manuscript of Yuan Mei from his backpack, placed it neatly on the table, and said, "Old Xu and Old Wu, take a look."
Uncle Liu is about the same age as Xu Wangcai and Wu Cheng, and they are acquaintances, so he naturally addresses them differently than Chen Sanyan. Of course, in terms of their status and reputation in the industry, it is appropriate for him to address them this way.
Xu Wangcai took the manuscript first, carefully flipped through a few pages, and then exclaimed in surprise, "Yuan Mei's supplement? There really is such a manuscript?"
Wu Cheng took it and examined it carefully for a while, his face full of envy. He said, "It is indeed an authentic work by the owner of Suiyuan Garden. Young man, you have good luck!"
Zhou Xuan blushed. If it weren't for that inexplicable thought that flashed through his mind, this manuscript would probably have been sold to the scrap yard along with that pile of exercise books.
Xu Wangcai thought that Zhou Xuan might have just gotten lucky. At his age, he probably didn't have any solid appraisal skills. He was somewhat tempted by Zhou Xuan's manuscript and said, "Young brother, since you've found a bargain, are you willing to make a purchase?"
Zhou Xuan shook his head, pointed at Chen Sanyan and said, "Boss Chen already bought this booklet for 180,000, so it's not mine anymore!"
“180,000?” Xu Wangcai sighed and said to Chen Sanyan, “Brother Chen, we’ve known each other for many years. I’m quite fond of the manuscripts by the owner of Suiyuan. We’re both in this business, so I’ll be frank and transfer 300,000 to me.”
Chen Sanyan knew that Xu Wangcai was fond of calligraphy manuscripts by famous people. The price of 300,000 yuan was probably the highest it could go. Even if it was auctioned off and promoted later, the profit margin would not be very large. The only reasonable explanation was that he genuinely liked it.
"Mr. Xu, you clearly heard what I just said: if you really want it," Chen Sanyan said with a smile, "I'm also in business, and I've known you for over ten years. If you really want it, then I'll just take your 120,000!"
Chen Sanyan is indeed a veteran in this industry. He made money, and he made money wisely. Xu Wangcai had no objection to him, as he willingly gave up the money himself.
Therefore, people like Uncle Liu and Chen Sanyan are two different types. Uncle Liu is skilled, but he will never make a fortune, which is due to his personality.
Xu Wangcai didn't hesitate. He took the briefcase next to him, took out a check and a pen, and quickly signed a check for 300,000 yuan.
Chen Sanyan placed the manuscript in front of Xu Wangcai, took the check, and said with a smile, "Mr. Xu, then I'm really sorry!"
Xu Wangcai laughed and said, "Of course you should feel embarrassed. Do you think you should feel embarrassed?"