Tang Chen walked over to take a look, and it turned out to be in a corner of the shelf, with several boxes of "Eight Treasures Seal Clay" neatly stacked. Looking at the exquisite appearance of this packaging, Tang Chen knew that it was not an ordinary product.

Thinking about it, if it were ordinary goods, would Zeng Lao introduce himself to him?

However, Tang Chen still had to test it himself. I saw him pick up a box of "Eight Treasures Seal Clay" with "Julu Brand" written on it, and gently uncover the lid. As soon as he opened it, there was a fragrant smell coming to his nose, and Tang Chen was a little surprised. "How could this be?" Tang Chen felt strange in his heart, it was not that he had never seen the ink clay, but he had never seen this kind of ink clay with its own fragrant smell. Ordinary ink clay, no matter how good, has a relatively unpleasant smell, as if it lingers.

What surprised Tang Chen the most was that this kind of ink clay should be vermilion, red and a little dazzling, and even a little golden.

"Master Tang, you can see clearly, this is not a Xibei goods, what 'new scientific methods are combined with traditional craftsmanship, carefully developed' 'new Babao Seal Clay', but the real Julu brand 'Eight Treasure Seal Clay', the old 'Eight Treasure Seal Clay'! Zeng Lao said seriously, "Na, there is also a 'New Eight Treasures Seal Clay' here, can you take a look?"

It turned out that on the shelf, there was a "New Eight Treasures Seal Clay" not far away, Zeng Lao took a box and handed it to Tang Chen. Tang Chen took a look at it, although the smell difference was not too big, there was an indescribable pungent smell. The ink itself is not soft enough, and even the greasy feeling is gone. The color is quite bright, but I don't know why, Tang Chen always feels that this kind of ink is not up to grade, and there is a big gap compared to the real "Eight Treasures Ink Clay".

"This should be the latest production of first-class tribute, saying that it is a first-class tribute, in fact...... You also know, where is there anyone who uses such precious raw materials to make ink clay now?" Zeng Lao smiled bitterly, "I once asked about the price of this box of ink clay, and Lao Guo said that this is not for sale, so I will die......"

Tang Chen also seemed to see some clues: the "Eight Treasures Seal Clay" of this "first-class tribute" seems to be relatively short in it, I don't know if it is the low-grade moxa wool used, or the moxa velvet has rotted and deteriorated over time? In short, there seems to be a lot of moxa, Tang Chen can expect that if the seal is used, it is not uncommon for these moxa velvet to stick to the printing surface.

"This is the so-called 'Eight Treasures Seal Clay'?

Tang Chen couldn't help but be disdainful, even if he came to adjust it, it wouldn't be like this?

Zeng Lao sighed: "This is the so-called 'new scientific method combined with traditional craftsmanship' to make the 'Eight Treasures Seal Clay', in the eyes of connoisseurs, this is a joke." To be honest, the current 'Eight Treasures Seal Mud' is not half a star worse than the West Cold Seal Mud. Anyone who knows how to do it will not buy the 'Eight Treasures Seal Clay' anymore, unless it is the 'Eight Treasures Seal Clay' made by the old method, but this is a sky-high price......"

Tang Chen was stunned: "What kind of ink is coming from Hangzhou (hang)?"

"Hangzhou (hang) Prefecture Xileng Printing Mud!" Zeng Laoqi said, "Master Tang, haven't you heard of the Hangzhou Xileng Printing Society?"

Tang Chen's face was a little dull, and he said curtly: "It's a little familiar, but I don't know what it does......

"Xiling Seal Society, is founded in the Qing Dynasty Guangxu period of a famous gold and stone seal carving research academic society, with the purpose of 'preserving gold and stone, studying seals, and calligraphy and painting', is the oldest history at home and abroad to study gold and stone seal carving, the highest achievement, the most influential international research on seals, calligraphy and painting of folk art groups, has the reputation of 'the world's first society'.

Since it is a society that studies gold and stone seal carving, the ink is naturally indispensable. It is said that the sirloin ink clay was created by their founder, and it seems that it was developed by several people. Now there are Zhu Qi ink mud, red-crowned cinnabar ink mud and so on, these sirloin ink mud color is ancient, delicate texture, rich and calm characteristics, summer does not seep oil, winter does not solidify, does not fade, the seal out of the text is clear and expressive. Sirloin ink clay is made of the finest natural cinnabar, mugwort and vegetable oil, which has been combined through countless processes. The selection of materials is strict, the materials are excellent, the production method is exquisite, all are handmade, where is like the 'Eight Treasures Seal Clay', which has now been ruined to the point that it is not the same......"

At this time, a voice came from behind him: "That's also something that can't be helped......"

As soon as Tang Chen turned around, the boss named "Lao Guo" just now also came over and interjected. Tang Chen noticed that it was already past six o'clock in the afternoon, and the customers in the store were gradually dispersed, and now he and Zeng Lao were left.

“...... If you think about it, pearls, agate, musk, amber, coral, monkey dates, borneol, and mugwort, which are not expensive things? Who is so rich and rich when used to make ink? This amber musk is quite easy to make, but coral, agate, and agate cannot be obtained with money, let alone mass production. So I can only compromise and find something to replace it. However, the method passed down by the ancestors has been tempered a lot, which is the substitute that can be found for a while? Therefore, the quality of the 'Eight Treasure Seal Clay' in recent years has become worse and worse, and this is the reason. ”

After listening to Lao Guo's words, Tang Chen suddenly realized: "So that's the case!"

Zeng Lao said: "Lao Guo, you are not honest! Others don't know, I don't know? Every year, a batch of 'Eight Treasure Seal Clay' made by the old method is baked, and others have no way to find it, your face is big, there must be a number of roads! Don't tell me, you don't have it in your hands!"

"Well, of course there is, isn't that the box in this little brother's hand?"

Lao Guo smiled, "Ah Jiu, you are not honest, who was too expensive in the first place?"

"Of course it's too expensive, you dare to sell this small box of things for 80,000 yuan, I can't bear it!" Zeng Lao said eloquently.

Lao Guo spread his hands indifferently and continued to smile: "That's your problem...... At the beginning, I said that I would not sell it for 80,000 yuan, but this is still a friendly price. If it were someone else, I would have to ask for 150,000 yuan! You also know the materials used for this 'Eight Treasures Seal Clay', which is extremely expensive and the cost is terrifying. If you want to settle for the next best, then this 'first-class tribute' will only be 500 yuan. ”

Tang Chen was stunned: "Why is there so much difference in price?"

Lao Guo sighed: "Little brother, I see that you are also an understanding person? This is the principle of 'you get what you pay for', good things are always expensive! If you don't want to spend too much money, you can only choose the secondary." After a pause, this Lao Guo continued, "You Ah Jiu is also a joker, and you say that you are playing antiques, and you are not willing to pay for a box of tens of thousands of yuan of 'Eight Treasure Seal Clay'! If it is an antique, you are willing to do as much as you want, aren't you?"

Zeng Lao said with a smile: "I am reluctant, but I use sirloin ink clay, the top is only a few thousand yuan, which is not inferior to the old method's 'Eight Treasure Seal Clay', the key is to buy it, so that it will not be mass-produced!"

(End of chapter)