As soon as she decided to go to Panjiayuan to hunt for antiques, Gu Ming had already planned where she would sell the items if they turned out to be real.
Her initial plan was to take the more ordinary items to Jibao Shanfang. She was quite familiar with that place, and both Jin Ge and Boss Zheng gave her a sense of trust. She didn't worry about not being able to get paid for the items there.
However, the porcelain pillow was certainly valuable, and if she took it to Jibao Shanfang, people might ask too many questions.
While Jin Ge and Boss Zheng didn't know her exact level, they had some idea. Also, with Professor Wang working as a consultant there, if she was asked questions, she might accidentally slip up.
The fact that her left hand had developed special abilities was something she had long decided to keep secret. She knew very well the consequences of revealing such a secret.
She was just an ordinary person, and if others found out about this power, whether it would bring her good or bad luck was unknown. She would rather maintain the impression that she had an exceptional talent for identifying antiques and not risk exposing her secret.
Thus, Jibao Shanfang was out of the question. She would have to go elsewhere.
The place she needed wasn't just any antique shop, but one that could offer a good price and also be trustworthy. There were many such shops in the city.
The most famous ones were Boyazhai and Juyatang, both well-known and highly regarded in the antique community, with many collectors buying and selling there.
Gu Ming wasn't very familiar with either, but she'd heard that Boyazhai and Juyatang were located just two streets apart, with a bit of rivalry between them.
But such big stores were too noticeable. After thinking it over, she decided against them and opted for Guhongzhai, a place that Professor Wang had mentioned to her in casual conversation.
Guhongzhai wasn't as famous as the other two, but its items were known to be good, and the prices were considered fair, making it well-regarded in the community.
Gu Ming tidied up a bit at home, and when she thought Guhongzhai should be open by now, she took the porcelain pillow and headed there.
Guhongzhai, as its name suggested, was filled with a sense of old-fashioned charm. The store wasn't large, but it had two floors. Gu Ming didn't know what the second floor was like, but the first floor was decorated in a very classic style. Various antiques were neatly displayed on shelves, and several calligraphy and painting works hung on the right wall.
She glanced around and saw that the calligraphy and paintings on display were mostly works from contemporary artists. They weren't particularly rare, but they weren't just ordinary pieces either.
Once inside, Gu Ming immediately felt a sense of comfort. On a small table inside, a purple clay teapot sat, and the faint aroma of tea drifted from the steaming pot.
This moment gave Gu Ming a strange feeling, as if she had traveled back in time. If the man sitting by the table had changed into ancient attire, it would have looked even more fitting.
The man turned his head as if sensing someone had entered. When he saw Gu Ming, his expression shifted.
"Is it you?" Gu Ming couldn't help but exclaim when she recognized the man. Then, realizing her reaction was rude, she quickly adjusted her expression, giving him a gentle smile and greeting, "Hello."
The man sitting in the store was none other than the man in the checkered shirt she had met earlier in Jingdezhen at Wuming Studio!
"Miss Gu?" The man in the checkered shirt, named Qin Sheng, recognized her and was briefly surprised. Upon seeing the large cloth bag in her hand, he quickly masked his surprise and stood up, walking toward her.
Gu Ming felt much calmer now, realizing that Qin Sheng, just like in Jingdezhen, was composed and unruffled. She felt reassured, and it confirmed that her choice to come to Guhongzhai was correct.
A man who could evaluate and purchase a highly valuable enamelware bowl was certainly a person of influence, even if he wasn't the owner of the shop. That alone was enough to prove that the owner of Guhongzhai was someone with substantial credibility.
"I have something I'd like to sell. I'm not sure if your shop might be interested," Gu Ming said as she surveyed the store, noticing that Qin Sheng was the only one present.
Qin Sheng nodded and led Gu Ming upstairs.
At the same time, a plain-looking young woman came down the stairs, smiled at Gu Ming, and then took over watching the shop downstairs.
This confirmed for Gu Ming that Qin Sheng was someone who could make decisions.
Upstairs, the decor was similar to downstairs, but more refined.
"My name is Qin Sheng. May I ask your name?" He poured Gu Ming a cup of tea.
"My surname is Gu," Gu Ming replied, not giving her full name.
Qin Sheng didn't mind and asked, "What have you brought in, Miss Gu?"
Gu Ming carefully placed the porcelain pillow she had been carrying on the table, opened the cloth bag, and said, "What I'm looking to sell is this Song Dynasty Ding Kiln porcelain pillow."
As soon as Qin Sheng heard the words "Song Dynasty Ding Kiln," his fingers moved slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He turned his attention to the porcelain pillow on the table.
The moment his eyes met the porcelain pillow, his demeanor changed completely.
Ding Kiln porcelain from the Song Dynasty was always in high demand in the market, and the price had been steadily rising, leading to a large number of counterfeit products. Qin Sheng often encountered customers who claimed to have Song Dynasty Ding Kiln items, but in most cases, they turned out to be high-quality imitations. Even when real items were brought in, they were often not of particularly high value.
Although Qin Sheng wasn't an expert, he had learned a lot about ceramics and had a sharp eye.
As soon as he touched the porcelain pillow, he could tell its quality was exceptional. The glaze was smooth and even, and the surface had a gentle, jade-like finish with a slightly warm texture. The overall design was elegant and refined, with only minor wear on the edges. If it were genuine, it would undoubtedly be a top-tier piece.
After receiving Gu Ming's approval, Qin Sheng carefully picked up the porcelain pillow and examined it in detail, testing every feature.
Gu Ming knew that the porcelain pillow was genuine, and she wasn't nervous. She quietly watched Qin Sheng's movements, hoping he would offer her a fair price.
"Qin Sheng, come quick, there's a customer!" Just then, voices came from the stairs as two middle-aged men walked up.
The man in the lead didn't notice Gu Ming and walked straight past her toward Qin Sheng, excitedly shouting, "We've got something good here – a Song Dynasty Ding Kiln porcelain pillow!"