Dragon's Origin

An interesting person!

"Just for your words, I'll gift you a small trinket that's more fitting than this." Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng was filled with respect and smiled at Old Qian. "Please, Old Qian, don't refuse."

This Qian the pedant might seem a bit lewd, but just from this one sentence, you can tell he's a good person. Everyone has a good relationship, so they freeload meals, but he would never take the works that Master Lu and the others made for sale for free. He would rather go bankrupt buying them from Qianshengyuan than ask for them from Master Lu and Old Tie. Wang Sheng admires people with principles.

"I've long heard that Lord Changsheng is naturally generous, and it's indeed true." Old Qian laughed heartily. "I gladly accept the Duke's kindness. Knowing you are wealthy, Duke, I won't be polite."

Rose had been serving nearby, and after listening to Wang Sheng's words, she looked Old Qian up and down a few times before hurrying away.

Wang Sheng smiled and invited Old Tie and Old Qian to take a seat directly in the small courtyard where he entertained Old Tie and the others. A table was set up in the courtyard, and the three sat down. Wang Sheng personally poured wine for the two old men before inviting them to taste it.

As they drank the Wuliangye to their heart's content, Old Tie took the initiative to speak, "Duke, I heard from the madam that you're looking for an appraiser, but this old man has never heard of such a title. I wonder what this appraiser of yours actually does?"

Old Tie asked the question, but Old Qian was the one listening. Wang Sheng understood that Old Tie was afraid that Old Qian wasn't familiar enough with Wang Sheng to ask, so he was asking on Old Qian's behalf.

"Old Tie, Old Qian, actually, this appraiser is quite simple." Wang Sheng explained after taking a small cup with the two old men. "It's someone who is knowledgeable, with excellent eyesight. When presented with something, they can determine its age, explain its origins, point out its characteristics, answer questions, and ultimately determine its value. That's basically it."

Wang Sheng's explanation was general, but it conveyed the meaning accurately enough; that's basically the job. As for the details, Wang Sheng used antiques as examples while drinking, explaining them in detail to the two old men.

Not only that, Wang Sheng also used the brush rest in Old Qian's hand as an example. For example, whose craftsmanship it was, what materials were used, where it came from, what era it was from, what markings were on it, who collected and appraised it, what artistic features it had, and so on, analyzing it for Old Tie and Old Qian.

As he spoke, he shifted to calligraphy and painting. Of course, Wang Sheng didn't forget to explain why calligraphy and painting couldn't yet be called antiques, but how to identify them based on paper quality, ink, brushstrokes, techniques, and other characteristics to determine which master's work it was—this was also a type of appraisal.

The two listened carefully. After Wang Sheng finished speaking, Old Tie didn't say anything, turning his gaze to Old Qian.

Wang Sheng knew that Old Qian must have something on his mind, otherwise, he wouldn't have come with Old Tie, so he quietly waited while drinking with the two old men.

Old Qian carefully pondered Wang Sheng's words, and after a long while, he asked somewhat hesitantly, "Duke, if it's as you say, is it possible for the appraiser to become a grandmaster?"

"In every profession, you can be the best." Wang Sheng answered without hesitation, "Don't just talk about appraisers. Today, in my mansion, I'll be bold and arrogant for a moment and say that while my cultivation isn't that great, I can be sure that I am absolutely a grandmaster of food and a grandmaster of music appreciation."

"Every profession can produce a champion?" Old Qian was pondering Wang Sheng's words, seeming deeply touched.

"That's right!" Wang Sheng roughly understood the reason for Old Qian's visit and answered very seriously, "To be honest, there is more and more division of labor now, and the original classifications can no longer meet the current requirements. For example, Master Lu was originally a grandmaster of stone carving, but since he started carving inkstones and stationery, he has actually become refined to the small category of stone-carved inkstones. He is still a grandmaster."

"Take Old Tie as another example." After giving Master Lu's example, Wang Sheng immediately said about Old Tie, "In the past, Old Tie was a grandmaster of blacksmithing, but now, I estimate that there should be a subdivision. Old Tie should be a grandmaster of fine craftsmanship, not just a grandmaster of blacksmithing."

Hearing Wang Sheng mention himself, Old Tie was a little surprised, but listening to Wang Sheng's words, he felt that they made sense. In recent years, Old Tie has rarely made weapons or anything like that, completely helping Wang Sheng make precision parts and machines, such as heavy sniper crossbows, lathes, sewing machines, etc., completely unlike the old blacksmith who used to stand by the furnace and clang away.

But to say that Old Tie is not a grandmaster of blacksmithing is absolutely impossible. As Wang Sheng said, there is a reason for the industry's segmentation.

"In the past, there probably wasn't a grandmaster of musical formations, right?" Wang Sheng once again used a mature example, "Now you all know that no one dares to say that the one sitting in Yayun is more skilled than him in music-related formations. You say he isn't a grandmaster of musical formations?"

"Duke, if I want to try..." Old Qian finally didn't have any other ideas and directly asked Wang Sheng.

However, as soon as he asked this, Old Tie interrupted Old Qian, "Qian the pedant, the more I call you a pedant, the more pedantic you become. Let me say it for you. Duke, Qian the pedant wants to be this appraiser. Do you think he's qualified? Among our friends, he seems to know everything, but he's not proficient in anything. Moreover, he's read so much that he's only left with a pedantic air. If he can find a path to becoming a grandmaster in this appraiser profession, it would be his chance. What do you think, Duke?"

"Whether it works or not doesn't depend on me." Wang Sheng laughed. Old Tie's friends are really interesting. This Old Qian is indeed a bit bookish, and in the eyes of Old Tie and the others, he's just a pedant.

"Old Qian can show real talent and knowledge, explaining things clearly and logically. That's the beginning of the path to becoming a grandmaster." Wang Sheng continued, "Do you two agree?"

"Yes! Yes!" Old Tie nodded repeatedly. "Whether it works or not depends on showing real skill. Duke, why don't you let Old Qian try your things?"

"No problem!" Wang Sheng agreed without saying anything. He stood up, walked to the door, and instructed Wang the steward to prepare things.

Before Steward Wang returned, Rose, who had just left, came back holding a tray.

"Old Qian, I just asked a few masters to rush out a new robe for you. Do you think it fits?" Rose held the tray with a neatly folded new robe on it. "As soon as the masters heard that it was for you, they put down their work and rushed it out for you. Would you like to try it on first?"