Chapter 88

The two discussed the comfort of Song Dynasty sneakers and soon took a turn around.

The items brought by everyone were not many. Cao Yuande wanted Yang Bo to bring the Japanese lacquer box with the wet women, mostly out of curiosity, to show everyone. However, Yang Bo had forgotten to bring it.

When the two saw Cao Yuande, he was still talking about this matter. Seeing Yang Bo come over, he laughed and said, "If you had brought the lacquer box, I guarantee that more than eighty percent of the people in this hall wouldn't be able to authenticate it!"

Yang Bo shook his head, "There are many items in this hall that I can't authenticate either."

"By the way, did you bring the fish-patterned colored pottery jar?"

Yang Bo looked over and saw the person speaking standing next to Cao Yuande. He was not tall but spoke with authority. It was Professor Chang from earlier.

Cao Yuende suddenly laughed, "Didn't you hear? This is Director Chang!"

Yang Bo was slightly stunned and suddenly remembered the call he received a few days ago. Indeed, someone claiming to be Director Chang had called. That person was the director of the National Museum, and Yang Bo never expected to meet him here.

Yang Bo smiled awkwardly, "Hello, Teacher Chang!"

Director Chang laughed, "I'm not doing so well. You keep delaying and making up all sorts of excuses. We all know you're not willing to donate it. No one is forcing you, so why are you hiding?"

Yang Bo smiled sheepishly, "I just feel embarrassed."

Director Chang waved his hand, "It's nothing, but I'm curious. Did you really not bring anything this time?"

"He brought a small metal ball!"

Luo Yaohua blurted out. He was also curious. Yang Bo had been saying he would reveal something yesterday, but nothing had happened yet. He guessed Yang Bo wanted to show it at this exchange meeting, and Director Chang's question gave him the chance.

"Metal ball?" Everyone looked over curiously.

Yang Bo took out the incense ball and explained, "It's just an incense ball."

"This is a bed incense burner!" Director Chang, who was well-informed, recognized it at a glance. "It should be used to hold incense to fumigate bedding."

Yang Bo smiled and opened the incense ball. Everyone saw a concentric ring in the middle of the incense ball, with incense inside. As Yang Bo shook it, the concentric ring also moved, always maintaining a balanced state.

However, everyone present was well-informed and had seen many incense balls. They understood the principle of the concentric ring maintaining balance. After a while, Liu Fatso couldn't help but ask, "This incense ball is quite ordinary. What's so special about it?"

Yang Bo smiled, "Don't be impatient, wait a moment."

He then said to Luo Yaohua, "Give me a lighter."

Luo Yaohua handed it over. Yang Bo weighed the metal lighter in his hand. The incense in the bed incense burner was prepared by him. He took a stick of incense, lit it with the lighter, and placed it in the ring. He then closed the incense burner and said to everyone, "Wait a moment!"

He placed the incense ball on the table.

Everyone was very curious, not knowing what Yang Bo was up to.

Liu Fatso, seeing the light smoke seep out from the gaps, couldn't help but say, "Your incense is just average."

Yang Bo shook his head, "The key is not in the incense."

"Is it the smoke?" Director Chang guessed, but quickly denied it, "Impossible, this isn't a Boshan incense burner, and from the external appearance, it shouldn't be able to form any shape."

Yang Bo didn't explain further because the incense ball was already filled with smoke. This incense was specially prepared to produce a large amount of smoke in a short time.

The smoke grew more and more, rising from the holes in the incense ball. The smoke rose in thin streams, gradually fading and dispersing at a certain height.

Just as everyone thought it was nothing special, the smoke gradually gathered, forming mountains and water, becoming clearer and clearer.

Then, pavilions and terraces formed on the mountains, from the bottom up, becoming clearer and then gradually fading and dispersing. The lower part of the pavilions and terraces was clear, while the upper part was blurry.

Everyone was stunned!

Only when the smoke dissipated did everyone come to their senses. By then, a crowd had gathered around.

"How is this possible!" Liu Fatso asked in disbelief.

"Truly ingenious, truly incredible!" Cao Yuende sighed.

"This, what a loss!" Luo Yaohua, after watching, hung his head and stomped his feet. Yesterday, they were given gifts together, but why was there such a huge difference in value!

Director Chang stepped forward, "If the fish-patterned colored pottery jar can't be negotiated, can this one be?"

Yang Bo quickly shook his head, "Director Chang, don't joke around."

"Is this still an incense burner?" A spectator couldn't help but ask.

Yang Bo opened the incense ball again. The ring inside was already covered in ashes and was a bit warm. He tilted it, and the ring turned with the ball, but the ashes didn't fall out.

Yang Bo, helpless, picked up the other half of the ball and showed the inside to everyone.

When Yang Bo lit the incense earlier, he only showed the half with the ring. This time, showing the other half, everyone finally discovered the secret. The other half was uneven, full of holes, and the lengths of the holes varied. This alone could create the spectacle of pavilions and terraces, which still amazed everyone.

"Truly a remarkable item, why isn't it recorded in history books?" Director Chang said.

"You can't read every book. Maybe it's recorded in some book somewhere!" Cao Yuende laughed, "But Boshan incense burners are all about smoke and mist, and none of them can create such a spectacle!"

Director Chang sighed, "Yang, I regret it. Can I keep this for two days to study?"

Liu Fatso said, "Don't give it to him. Be careful he doesn't sign a lease with you and put it in the National Museum. If you really go to get it, you'll be cursed by the whole country."

"So, give the incense ball to me to handle. Take it to Hong Kong, and it will definitely sell for a high price!"

Cao Yuende patted Liu Fatso's shoulder and scolded, "You're criticizing Old Chang, but your method is even worse. Won't you be cursed to death?"

Yang Bo quickly waved his hands, "Thank you all for your kindness, but I plan to keep this incense ball as a family treasure. I won't lend or sell it."

Yang Bo spent a good while getting rid of everyone's纠缠, and the exchange meeting stopped because of the incense ball Yang Bo brought.

Driving out of the club, Luo Yaohua placed his hands on the steering wheel and looked at Yang Bo, "Do you think it would be a good idea if I beat you up now and keep the incense ball for myself?"

Yang Bo looked up at him, "Not good, because it's too late."