175: Chapter 175 You're overthinking it; Old Master Qin was just being polite.

After he finished speaking, he paused and added, "Of course, the final conclusion must be based on professional testing. This is just my personal preliminary judgment and may not be accurate."

Elder Qin listened quietly. He didn't speak immediately but narrowed his eyes slightly and looked Hu Tian up and down.

A moment later, he nodded slowly and said, "Little Hu, what you just said is almost word-for-word the same as the analysis given to me by an old friend at Forbidden City back then."

Professor Ma Yunhe slapped his thigh on the side and exclaimed, "This kid is truly a monster. A Ru Kiln bowl, identified as genuine at a glance; a Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Prunus Vase, and he can give such detailed appraisal grounds after just one look. This isn't just being gifted; it's clearly heaven bestowing a meal upon him!"

Prof. Lin Ru couldn't help but laugh, "Professor Ma, the way you put it makes me feel like those of us who have studied ancient porcelain for decades are just showing off before Little Hu."

Elder Qin waved his hand, his expression becoming a bit more serious than before. He said, "Old Ma, Prof. Lin Ru, I don't think he's a monster. This young man has real talent. Ancient porcelain appraisal ultimately relies on a keen eye and accumulation. Some people study books their whole lives and end up just reciting words from them. Others have a natural feel for artifacts, and after gaining experience, they can integrate their knowledge and draw inferences. Little Hu belongs to the latter, and his comprehension is extremely high."

He paused and looked at Hu Tian, his tone carrying undisguised appreciation, "Little Hu, the Ru Kiln bowl you brought out today certainly made me look at you with new eyes. But your judgment of this Blue and White Prunus Vase is what truly showed me your foundation. The Ru Kiln bowl is your own item; you had studied it beforehand and came prepared, which is not surprising. But this Prunus Vase was the first time you saw it, the first time you laid eyes on it, and yet you could provide such appraisal grounds—that is the real skill."

Hearing these words from Elder Qin, Hu Tian felt a little ashamed, because he knew that while his judgment of the Prunus Vase was supported by a certain amount of keen eye, it relied more on the real-time feedback from the Treasure Hunting Radar.

He looked up and said calmly, "Elder Qin, you flatter me. I just said what I saw. As for real foundation, compared to you, I still have a long way to go."

Elder Qin shook his head, offering no more modest remarks. He simply stood up, walked to the Blue and White Prunus Vase, and tapped the countertop beside the display case lightly. He said, "I plan to send this vase to participate in an academic exhibition at Forbidden City in a while. I hope to officially confirm its status then. A genuine Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Prunus Vase sitting in a collection room with a 'Qing Dynasty imitation' label is truly doing it an injustice."

Professor Ma Yunhe nodded and smiled, "That is as it should be. Items of this level should be seen by more people."

Elder Qin turned around, looked at everyone, and said, "Alright, it's getting late. Today, we encountered two treasures and also met a talent like Little Hu. It can be considered a double blessing."

After he finished speaking, his gaze rested on Hu Tian for a moment, and he said meaningfully, "Little Hu, what are your plans for the future?"

Hu Tian was slightly taken aback, then immediately said, "I don't have any particularly specific plans at the moment. I just want to travel more, see more, and accumulate some experience."

Elder Qin nodded and did not press further, simply saying calmly, "If you are on the right path, don't rush. Take it slow. In the antique business, you cannot be impatient or chaotic. Your heart must be calm, your eyes sharp, and your steps steady. Remember this; it is more useful than any secret technique."

Hu Tian took these words to heart seriously and nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Qin. I have noted it."

By the time they left the collection room, it was already past nine in the evening. Elder Qin's housekeeper had already prepared the car to take the guests back.

Hu Tian followed the others to thank Elder Qin and say goodbye. Elder Qin stood at the door, holding Hu Tian's hand for a moment longer, and said, "Little Hu, you can come often if you have the chance. For this old bag of bones, the happiest thing is to chat about these treasures with someone who truly understands the trade."

Hu Tian felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, "Definitely. Take care of your health, Elder Qin."

Sitting in the car on the way back, the night wind crept in through the slightly opened window, carrying a hint of coolness. Hu Tian leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes, and sorted through everything that happened today in his mind.

The Ru Kiln bowl. The Blue and White Prunus Vase. There was naturally no problem with Elder Qin; the old man had long known they were genuine.

As for himself, today he had officially made his debut in the Beijing antique circle. Elder Qin, Professor Ma Yunhe, and Prof. Lin Ru—three heavyweights in the circle—had all personally witnessed his keen eye. This recognition was more useful than any business card.

He took a deep breath, feeling the chill of the night wind, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Zhou Waner leaned on Hu Tian's shoulder, turned her face to look at the faint smile on the corner of his mouth, and couldn't help but gently nudge his ribs with her elbow, lowering her voice to say, "Oh, you really showed your face today, Master Hu."

Hu Tian opened his eyes and glanced at her sideways, "What do you mean by that?" "What do I mean?"

Zhou Waner let out a soft huff, her mouth curling up slightly, "I mean, someone of Elder Qin's level holding your hand and not letting go, and even telling you to come often—I estimate even Professor Ma hasn't enjoyed this kind of treatment, right?"

Hu Tian laughed despite himself and shook his head, "You're thinking too much. Elder Qin was just being polite."

"Just being polite?" Zhou Waner pouted, "Do you believe that yourself? That old man stood at the door, holding your hand—the look in his eyes, his expression—anyone with eyes could see he was genuinely inviting you to stay. If it were someone else, he would have just nodded or waved and sent them away long ago."

Hu Tian didn't respond, just gently took her hand and squeezed it.

Feeling the warmth from his palm, Zhou Waner's tone softened unconsciously, but she still refused to yield, "Fine, I'm just a little jealous, so what? I was a transparent person on the side today, revolving around you the whole time, and yet you were the one stealing the spotlight. Tell me, shouldn't you compensate me properly?"

"Compensate?" Hu Tian turned his head, looked at her, and asked slowly, "What kind of compensation do you want?"

Zhou Waner leaned her head back on his shoulder and said softly, "Keep it as a debt for now. Wait until I've thought about it."

The car fell silent for a while, with only the night wind whistling softly through the gaps in the window. The night in Beijing flowed slowly past the car window, the lights stretching on endlessly, prosperous and quiet.

Zhou Waner looked at the night scenery outside the window and said softly, "Actually, that sentence Elder Qin said today was quite good." "Which one?" "The one—if you are on the right path, don't rush. Take it slow."

Her voice carried a hint of seriousness, "Your current state is quite good. You're not impetuous, not flashy. Brother Hu Tian, I feel like you are different from before."

Hu Tian was silent for a moment and said softly, "How am I different?"

"Before, you were a bit reticent, looking three steps ahead for every one step. But this time, now I can clearly feel that you have a direction in your heart and know where you are going."

As she spoke, Zhou Waner smiled again, "But don't get carried away just because I said something nice. If you get carried away, I will prick you."

Hu Tian lowered his head and gently touched the top of her hair, "Understood."

Before long, the car drove back to the five-star hotel near the University City. The night was already very deep, the city's bustle gradually receding, leaving only the warm and bright lights of the hotel lobby.

The two entered the room. Tonight, there were no extra words. Occasionally, the sound of cars came from far away outside the window, but inside, it was peaceful and quiet, as inseparable as glue and lacquer, filled with tender affection until late into the night.

The next morning at ten o'clock, sunlight had leaked in through the gaps in the curtains, laying a thin golden line on the carpet.

Hu Tian slowly woke up. He turned his head and saw Zhou Waner still buried in the pillow, her hair disheveled, her sleeping face quiet, the corners of her mouth slightly curved, as if she had had a good dream.

He didn't move, just watched her quietly for a while, feeling that this moment in time was lazy yet grounded.

After about ten minutes, Zhou Waner moved and slowly opened her eyes, looking at him dizzily. It took a long time for her to speak, her voice still husky, "What time is it?" "Past ten." "Oh."

She buried her face back in the pillow and said vaguely, "Sleep a little longer."

Hu Tian smiled and didn't speak, reaching out to pull the quilt up for her.

Another half hour passed before Zhou Waner actually climbed up. She sat by the bed rubbing her eyes, her hair still a bit messy, and let out a slow yawn, "I'm going to wash up."

Hu Tian leaned against the head of the bed and responded casually.

Dawdling, the two changed clothes and tidied up. It was already nearly twelve noon. Zhou Waner came out of the bathroom holding her stomach, looking innocent, and said, "I'm hungry."

Hu Tian grabbed his jacket and put it on, looking up at her, "If I had known, we should have slept a little less."

"Who told you to let me sleep so late last night?" Zhou Waner glared at him righteously. After finishing, she laughed first, turned to grab her bag, and urged, "Go, go, go, let's go eat first. My brain isn't even turning anymore."

The two left the hotel. The midday sun of the capital spread out brightly, carrying a hint of heat. Pedestrians came and went on the streets, traffic flowed endlessly, and the city was at its busiest time of the day.

Zhou Waner stood at the hotel entrance, squinting, looked around, and pulled Hu Tian's hand, "First, check if there's anything good to eat nearby? I don't want to go too far; let's fill our stomachs first."

The two wandered around the neighborhood according to the navigation and finally ducked into a Beijing-style restaurant converted from a courtyard house. Two large locust trees were planted in the courtyard, their shade covering more than half the sky. Several wooden tables and chairs were placed in the yard, possessing quite a bit of the leisurely charm of old Beijing.

Hu Tian ordered roast duck, Zhajiang noodles, and mustard greens, and also asked for a pot of jasmine tea. Zhou Waner looked at the menu and added a portion of Lu Zhu. After being glanced at by Hu Tian, she said nonchalantly, "I just want to eat it, so what?"

When the roast duck slices arrived, Zhou Waner rolled one herself, took a bite, and immediately narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, "Mm, the skin is crispy; this place is not bad."

Hu Tian held his tea and drank slowly, watching her eat earnestly, his mood feeling relaxed.

After they finished eating, they left the restaurant. The sun was still hanging high, and the afternoon sunlight was lazily baking the stone path.

Zhou Waner held Hu Tian's hand and walked slowly along the street, saying, "Where are we going this afternoon?" Hu Tian thought for a moment, "Where do you want to go?"