"Are you Mr. Baseton, please?" Tang Lu asked.

When Baston saw it, a scholar-like person came to ask, was taken aback, and nodded quickly, but immediately asked cautiously, "Who are you?" ”

"Mr. Baston, I am the master of the local county government. The surname is Tang Minglu, and the current Taishi Bu Huishu is my mentor. Tang Lu said.

"I see." Baston said, and then stretched out his hand, Tang Lu looked at it, this is the meaning of friendship, equivalent to a kind of etiquette, indicating that there is no thing in the hand, no weapon, no threat to the other party.

"Dear Mr. Basston, I have come with no ill intentions, and no one has sued you, but I have come to visit you in another capacity." Tang Lu said.

"What identity? Aren't you a master? Baston asked.

"It's not that identity, I'm a master, and I'm also an amateur, what I love to do the most is to study porcelain, and I know very well about antiques. Of course, I also have a lot of antiques, I'm not afraid of your jokes, I don't have any hobbies, I like to collect, I have a unique eye for porcelain antiques, I can distinguish between authenticity and fake, and know how to distinguish between genuine and fake. If it's genuine, it's worth a lot, and if it's a fake, it's not worth much, a skill that requires long-term training to master. The master said.

"You said that you have a study of porcelain, and I also have a study, you say it, this porcelain Guanyin is true or false." Baston asked.

"What porcelain Guanyin?"

"I just bought one on Taobao in the antique market, it looks real, I'm not sure, you're an expert, see if I'm blind?" Baston asked.

"It's easy, take a look." Tang Lu said.

"Good!" As he spoke, Baston got up and went to the back room, tossed for a long time, and finally came out of the inner room, holding a wooden box in both hands, opening the wooden box, holding a porcelain Guanyin with both hands, and handing it to Master Tang.

Master Tang looks at the color, the workmanship, and then the texture, these colored glazes are really a must. When he saw it, he knew that this was the stolen porcelain Guanyin of Cheng'en Temple, but he didn't show his face, if he wanted to say the real thing, he would definitely take strict care of it, never leave an inch, and if he wanted to say that it was a fake, he thought that Tang Lu was plotting against it. That's going to be hard.

"This porcelain Guanyin is real." Master Tang said, he was silent for a while, looked at the movement, and then said: "However, this porcelain Guanyin made a pair at that time, that is to say, there is another one, and this is complete." Because the Chinese think it's good to be in pairs, they don't like singular numbers, they like double numbers, you see the stone lions at the gate, one on the left and right, one on the left and one on the left, the gate is also a pair, one on the left and right, the sedan chair should be double, two people carry, four people carry, eight people carry, all are even numbers. The house building is also an even number, the same as the left and right, symmetrically arranged, very orderly. The same is true of porcelain Guanyin. You'll only find this one at the antique market, and there's another one, and if you can find it, it's even better. ”

"Oh, that's right! No wonder some people say in the antique market that it is a pair, a pair is more valuable, it is said to be worth a fortune, I don't know if it's true or not. Baston asked.

"It's possible. Because the Chinese believe that even numbers are auspicious, generally antiques are sold, one-to-one pairs are easy to sell, only valuable, a single order, to find another is more difficult. Master Tang said.

"So, master, do you know where there is another porcelain Guanyin?" Baston asked.

"I know, it's right there for me, I didn't bring it today, come over tomorrow and bring it to you to see. What if you don't know what to do? Master Tang asked.

"Okay, master, if you have it, bring it over and take a look, if it's really a pair, I'll spend money to buy it, no matter how much it costs." Baston said.

"That's it, it's a word!" Master Tang said and left the hall where Baston was staying.

As soon as Tang Lu came out of the hall, Monk Huitong saw it, and made sure that no one was following him, so he caught up with Tang Lu and asked, "Master, have you seen it?" ”

"See."

"Porcelain Guanyin?"

"Button and Porcelain Guanyin have seen it."

"That's great, when will we invite the porcelain Guanyin away, now that Baston has taken possession, we have to find a way to get it away." Monk Huitong said that he was very anxious, worried that if he did not do well, he would be reproached by his master.

"Don't worry. We'll figure it out when we get back. Tang Lu said.

Tang Lu returned home, the so-called home, which is also a study, also has antiques, a lot of strange stones, and terracotta figurines, and he also has a kiln, making and firing all kinds of ceramics by himself. The shelves are full. One of them, the porcelain Guanyin, is placed in a corner.

When Huitong saw it, he was very surprised, and said, "Master, there is also a porcelain Guanyin here." Could it be twins? ”

"No, I did it. There are words on the base, you can see it by looking at it. Tang Lu said.

"Sure enough, it reads: Imitation of the Ming and Tang Laws." Huitong said after taking a closer look at the base.

"Tang Lu is the master, and Da Ming is now. This skill is really high, no one can beat the master! Huitong said.

"It's just fun. I have known for a long time that there is a porcelain Guanyin in Cheng'en Temple, but I heard about it, but I didn't see it in person, so I fired one according to the picture on the ancient book, and I didn't expect it to come in handy today. It may not work today, but tomorrow. I have promised him to show him this porcelain Guanyin tomorrow. Then look for opportunities to make your triumphant return. The master said.

When Huitong heard this, he was overjoyed, and he was really victorious. It's amazing to be able to come home in a win.

The next day, Tang Lu brought porcelain Guanyin, and when he arrived at the hall, Baston was very happy when he saw it! It turns out that the master is really true to his word, and he does what he says, and he is really a gentleman. He said: "Master really keeps his word, I also believe what you said, there are only two statues in the country, and today I really brought another one, then, I have two porcelain Guanyin, which is really priceless!" ”

Without saying a word, Tang Lu took out the porcelain Guanyin and carefully handed it to Baston. Baston took the porcelain Guanyin, and when he saw it, he was startled, his mouth couldn't close, he was very surprised, and thought: "How can this porcelain Guanyin be exactly the same as mine, it is not the same, it is like a twin." ”

He took out his porcelain Guanyin again, compared it carefully, and sure enough, it was the same, this one made him gasp.

"Mr. Baston, this Guanyin is a rare porcelain in the Tang Dynasty, there are only two in the country, I will send it to you today, make a pair, just let the porcelain Guanyin appreciate. You see, a real pair, not bad at all! The master said.

Baston was very happy, this time it was a big bargain, it was worth the trip, and hurriedly asked: "How much?" ”

Master Tang put the real porcelain Guanyin and the fake porcelain Guanyin together, pretended to appreciate it carefully, and looked at it for a while before saying: "This is the cheapest for you, one thousand taels of gold, no more, no less, if you give it to others, I will ask for at least one thousand two hundred taels of gold." ”

When Baston heard this, he panicked and said again and again: "It's so expensive! It's too expensive, it's too expensive! ”

Baston wanted it very much, secretly wondering if it was worth it, and calculating how much money he had.

Master Tang took advantage of his inattention, switched the positions of the two porcelain Guanyin, and then stared at Baston, Baston was hesitating, and when he met Master Tang's eyes, Master Tang immediately said: "Don't forget it, don't say whether it's expensive or not." If you don't want it, I'll go find another buyer, and a porcelain Guanyin can be sold for a good price. If you don't believe me, we'll see. ”

As soon as the master's voice fell, he got up, picked up the porcelain Guanyin, put it in the wooden box, picked up the wooden box and left.

Baston watched him get up and leave, and forgot to get up to see him off, still in a daze, carefully calculating whether he wanted a pair or one, a pair is valuable, but it is too expensive to buy now, and a price is discounted, and it is estimated that it is not easy to sell, because Chinese people like even numbers, and not necessarily foreigners also like double numbers.

Baston suddenly wanted to, felt that something was wrong, how could he talk about business like this? What does it mean to come and go in a hurry, like a gust of wind, and to leave in a hurry before we can have a deep conversation? Could it be that there is a problem with porcelain Guanyin, I will take a look at it. When doing business bargaining, he always has to get it for half a day, and it's not normal for him to do this.

So, Baston carefully looked at the porcelain Guanyin left behind with a magnifying glass.

Everything else is fine, the workmanship is very exquisite, the color is also very warm, and it looks very gorgeous. He was not at ease, but he still searched carefully, and finally looked at some small characters in an inconspicuous place, and looked at it with a magnifying glass, which read: "Imitation of the Ming and Tang Laws".

As soon as he saw it, he was in a hurry, and immediately stood up to chase Tang Lu, but he didn't expect that as soon as he got together, his hand slipped, and he only heard a "bang-" sound, and the fake porcelain Guanyin fell to the ground and shattered.

This time it's completely over. His hatred for Tang Lu grew by leaps and bounds, and now that it was completely cool, he immediately swept the broken porcelain pieces, collected them, and put them in the wooden box.

Get up and chase after you, where do you see Tang Lu's figure?

Tang Lu had already handed over the porcelain Guanyin to the monk Huitong, and asked him to hurry back to Cheng'en Temple, without making mistakes, and be careful all the way.

"Got the real porcelain Guanyin?"

"Yes, you go quickly, hire a horse, rush back to Cheng'en Temple, and return the horse later. Remember, I'm here to figure it out. Tang Lu said.

"Okay, thank you master!" Huitong said.

"You're welcome! Let's go! Baston was going to catch up, and we split up. The master said.

"That's good! Master, there will be a period later. Hui Tong said, saying goodbye.

Sure enough, after Baston chased him out, he didn't see anyone, so he had to return to the hall with a stomach full of anger, thinking about it, he felt that it was wrong, and he couldn't swallow this breath, so he went to the county government with the broken porcelain pieces of the wooden box, beat the drum and complained about the grievances.

Li Lisheng tried the case.

Baston said: "I am a foreigner, I came to Xiangyang County to play, and I spent 100 taels of gold to buy a porcelain Guanyin in the antique market. I didn't expect to be deceived by a scammer. ”

"Who's the liar?" Li Li asked.

"Tang Lu." Baston said, pausing as if remembering something, and continued, "He said he was the master of the county government. ”

As soon as Li Li heard it, he felt that there was a play.

"Tang Lu's official knows that he is the master of this county, but he travels everywhere, and it is difficult for this official to find him, why did he deceive you?" Li Li asked.

"He said that he had a porcelain Guanyin, just a pair, said that a comparison with a good sale, a value is not as high as the value of a pair, I believed him, he brought his porcelain Guanyin the next day, I looked, it is really exactly the same, it is a pair I believed, but he asked for a thousand taels of gold, I am too expensive, he said to sell to others is 1,200 taels of gold, why sell? The purpose is to make a pair and make the porcelain Guanyin appreciate. He asked for a thousand, I think it's too expensive, when deciding whether to buy or not, he secretly dropped the bag, and changed his porcelain Guanyin and mine in a different position, I didn't notice it, he ran away, while running, while saying that it's too expensive, don't buy it, you don't buy it and I won't sell it. As a result, as soon as he ran, I was nervous, and I saw clearly the words written on the fake Ming and Tang Dynasty laws to imitate. I was so angry and anxious that when I was about to come out to chase him, the porcelain Guanyin fell to the ground and broke into pieces, and later, I put the porcelain pieces in the box and brought a complaint as physical evidence. Baston said.

"Can you find a porcelain tile with those words written on it?" Li Li asked.

"If you can find it, you need to turn over the pieces again." Baston said.

Li Li thought to himself, if you want to be fair, you must openly compete and compete, what to compete?

He suddenly thought of trying to drink to see who could drink, and those who could drink would win and those who could not lose out.

This one looks a little funny, but it's useful. Li Li considered that Baston was from the Western Regions and could drink, so he took this opportunity to let Tang Lu know that he was powerful, and he also restrained his arrogant heart and became more humble.

When Tang Lu heard the news, he felt that it was a piece of cake.

Li Li knew that Tang Lu had a very good way to let outsiders see the excitement, and felt that Li Li was more fair. Let the people of the Western Regions give full play to their strengths, let Baston drink and have a good time, if Baston wins the drinking competition, he will naturally get porcelain Guanyin. However, nine times out of ten, he will lose, and if Baston wins by drinking, he will not necessarily get the porcelain Guanyin. Because this is a Ming thing, it is a national treasure, and it cannot flow abroad.

This is the principle, and Baston is busy with this scene, and he may not expect that it will end up empty.

The show can't be stopped.

The news of the wine competition for porcelain Guanyin spread far and wide, and the whole Xiangyang County spread in an uproar.

The rules of the competition are: whoever drinks more will get the porcelain Guanyin.

The rule is very simple, that is, let the masses supervise and make judgments in person.

Li Li knows very well that Baston is very good at drinking and can pretend to be wine, Tang Lu is a little bookish, and the competition for wine really makes people sweat.

On the day of the wine competition, the entire Xiangyang Tens of Thousands of empty alleys went to Zhongxuanlou to watch the game and drink.

The front of Zhongxuan Building is crowded with people.

A high platform was erected in front of the building, and tables and stools were set up on the platform.

Lawyer Tang brought a king-sized wine jug, "Bang-" The wine jug was on the table, shaking the wine cup and tea cup, in order to sober up the wine, you need to prepare some tea.

The two began to drink under the referee's order.

After the order was given, no longer took it back, and the two soon drank a dozen bowls each, and a large pot of wine soon bottomed out, I don't know how long I hadn't drunk, and Batton saw the wine like a life-saver, and drank desperately, as if drinking could bring good luck.

When the wine is finished, you need to go to the drink again. Lawyer Tang arranged for his apprentice to go to Zhongxuanlou to drink, and after a while, a full pot of wine was brought over by the master's apprentice.