Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1610: Chapter 1594: Masterful Craftsmanship

Old Mr. Zhong laughed and said, ”Brother, you’re wrong. How can there be none? Your little apprentice is quite talented. When the object is in her hands, she can perceive it with just a touch. This girl’s intuition is really quite terrifying!”

Zhou Shitao chuckled upon hearing this, ”This girl doesn’t count; she’s a prodigy. You can’t judge her by ordinary standards. I’m talking about regular appraisal experts. None can possess such a skill. Typically, even the top masters, when they touch the object in your hand, can only feel slight discrepancies, but no one would dare declare this object a forgery.”

Old Mr. Zhong smiled and, unlike the average person who might feign humility after receiving praise, accepted it with a calm demeanor.

This demeanor of Old Mr. Zhong indeed matched Zhou Shitao’s temperament. Seeing that Old Mr. Zhong showed no sign of impatience, Zhou Shitao continued to inquire without holding back:

”Brother Zhong, I’ve been researching the Sky-blue Glazed Brush Washer for years, but I still don’t understand how you did it. Firing the glaze to achieve such a color is no easy task. Have you found Suma Liqing?”

This was where Zhou Shitao felt most perplexed about the Sky-blue Glazed Brush Washer.

The so-called Suma Liqing was actually the earliest underglaze blue material used in Huaxia’s Blue and White Porcelain, with cobalt blue material as its main coloring agent.

However, since the Ming Dynasty Chenghua period, it was replaced by Huiqing. There are no historical records of Suma Liqing in Huaxia, so it has been lost since the Ming Dynasty.

No one knows the origin of Suma Liqing. For hundreds of years, Huaxia ceramic experts have been tirelessly searching for it, but have never found the answer.

And now, the Sky-blue Glazed Brush Washer in Zhou Shitao’s hand clearly resembles the Blue and White Porcelain fired with Suma Liqing that has been passed down, making Zhou Shitao suspect that Old Mr. Zhong found Suma Liqing?

Seeing Zhou Shitao’s suspicion, Old Mr. Zhong smiled and explained:

”Suma Liqing has long been lost. With my ability, where would I find it? But overcoming the technical barrier of Suma Liqing isn’t that hard. In fact, I once thought about finding this pigment but after years of searching without success, I had to give up.”

”Later, I had a sudden idea. I mixed and precipitated blue materials, applied special treatments, and after many attempts, produced a glaze that, when fired to the right temperature, surprisingly reproduced the effect of Suma Liqing.”

Although Old Mr. Zhong explained it lightly, everyone present knew that the process was far from simple. Edison tried thousands of times to find tungsten filament for his light bulb invention, and the attempts made by Old Mr. Zhong would not be simpler than Edison’s process.

At this moment, Huo Sining felt a surge of admiration from her heart for Old Mr. Zhong. She always had a complex attitude towards him, but she had to admit that the old gentleman had a peculiar obsession with studying ancient replicas. It was precisely this obsession that led him to succeed in creating things indistinguishable from the real.

Even Zhou Shitao was stunned: ”Just like that? Fired from blue material? How’s it possible? Just relying on blue materials, even replicating the crystalline spots and web effects so perfectly? It’s incredible!”

Ingenious craftsmanship!

At that moment, the only words that came to Zhou Shitao’s mind were those four.

In the field of porcelain firing, Old Mr. Zhong’s skill was likely approaching the limits of human ability. This person not only executed artistry to perfection but constantly researched and innovated without ceasing to advance.

Beside them, Huo Sining remembered a question. She recalled using Old Mr. Zhong’s set of drinkware at the Zhong Family Old Mansion, and couldn’t help but ask, ”That Cha Zi glaze color, from what did you make it?”

Before Old Mr. Zhong could answer, Zhou Shitao chimed in: ”What Cha Zi?”

Old Mr. Zhong glanced at Zhou Shitao, fell silent for a moment, and ultimately sighed, taking out the box he had earlier given Mother Zhong.

The box was tied with a silk cloth. Old Mr. Zhong untied the knot and opened the box, revealing a set of Cha Zi drinkware inside.

Seeing this set of drinkware, Huo Sining was astonished: ”You brought this out?”

Old Mr. Zhong nodded.

Seeing the understanding in Huo Sining’s eyes, Old Mr. Zhong realized her misunderstanding and hurried to explain: ”It wasn’t intended for my own use. I took it out with the intention of giving it to you.”

Huo Sining was taken aback, puzzled as she pointed at herself: ”For me?”

Old Mr. Zhong nodded and said, ”This set of drinkware is probably the most valuable item in that old mansion of mine. My sons don’t know its authenticity; they think I made it myself.”

”Back at the old mansion, I noticed you quite liked this set of drinkware. As Xiaoyao will be under your care in the future, I can’t let you spend without recompense. I’m fully aware of the expenses Xiaoyao requires, so consider this an advance payment.”

Upon hearing this, Huo Sining was shocked. She never expected the old gentleman to give her the drinkware.

Although the Cha Zi color on those high-footed cups was sufficiently realistic to deceive others, being replicas they wouldn’t fetch much if sold.

But the Zhihu jug was different. It was an authentic Chenghua Doucai piece, and what’s more, it featured the rarest Cha Zi design in Doucai ware.

A Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup can sell for over a billion; the value of a Chenghua Doucai Cha Zi grape Zhihu jug was something Huo Sining wouldn’t dare estimate easily.

Such a set of drinkware worth billions, the old man just says to give it to her?

Earlier when Old Mr. Zhong left the Zhong Family Old Mansion, Huo Sining thought he was truly carefree, and now hearing his offer, she was left speechless.

While wealth is indeed external, this old man regards money like dirt, doesn’t he?

”Is this... Let me see!”

Zhou Shitao didn’t comprehend the cryptic conversation between Old Mr. Zhong and Huo Sining, but this set of drinkware instantly captivated Zhou Shitao’s attention. His gaze fixed on the items intently, his eyes brightened.

Huo Sining and Old Mr. Zhong both looked over at Zhou Shitao. Without politeness or seeking their consent, Zhou Shitao drew the box close to him and picked up a high-footed cup with his hand.