Chapter 61: [61] My apprentice was ready to graduate as soon as he became a disciple_1
By the time the two arrived at Ya Garden, Zhang Jicheng was already waiting inside the hall.

Tang Feng took the initiative to greet him.

At that moment, Qin Yanan spoke up, “From now on, Mr. Zhang will teach you the rules of the antique trade. According to the customs of the trade, the person who introduces you to it becomes your mentor. If you cause any trouble in the future, your master can also be implicated…”

As she said this, her expression suddenly became serious, “Mr. Zhang told me yesterday that he is willing to take you as his apprentice and pass on all his knowledge about antiques to you. Are you willing?”

Tang Feng was taken aback for a moment. Become an apprentice?

Why had no one told him about this before?

Zhang Jicheng, who had been looking at him with hopeful eyes, saw his hesitation and thought he was unwilling, and he felt a bit disappointed, “It’s okay, if you don’t want to become an apprentice, I won’t insist…”

Seeing that he had misunderstood, Tang Feng hastily waved his hands, “That’s not what I meant; it was just unexpected. I am willing to become your apprentice.”

He had a good impression of Zhang Jicheng.

During the test yesterday, he had behaved with modesty and without throwing any tantrums.

Anyway, he didn’t have such deep-seated traditional views about “Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Kin, Teacher,” so he didn’t take the formalities of apprenticeship too seriously.

Qin Yanan clearly had everything prepared and immediately fetched a tea tray from the back hall, “The rites of apprenticeship can be simplified, but cannot be omitted.”

The traditional rites of apprenticeship were very complicated.

Because ancient people held the master-apprentice relationship in high regard, second only to that of parents and children.

Therefore, it was customary first for the master to lead in paying respects to the ancestors of their craft.

Then the apprentice had to perform three kneelings and nine bows, present the six gifts of a ceremonial wallet, as well as red envelopes and tea offerings, to the master.

After the master drank the tea, he would then announce the door rules and bestow a new name, and so on.

Going through all these procedures would probably take up a whole morning.

Fortunately, Mr. Zhang wasn’t so rigid. He just sat in the Taishi Chair and deemed it sufficient for him to be served tea, even sparing him the need to kowtow.

This also made Tang Feng breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, he was born and raised in Xinlong Country under the Red Flag, a youth of the new era who had only bowed at graves during ancestral ceremonies and never kowtowed before a living person.

Now that his master was skipping that part, he couldn’t be happier.

After Zhang Jicheng had drunk the tea he offered, a smile immediately appeared on his face, “Rise quickly, my student. You are my closed-door disciple, and since I no longer plan to take on any other disciples, I will surely pass on to you all I know.”

“Thank you, Master.” Tang Feng quickly adapted to the role, promptly changing his way of addressing him.

“Hmm, I don’t have anything particularly good to give you. I’ve had this jade cicada for many years. It’s not worth much, but consider it a meeting gift.” As he spoke, Zhang Jicheng took out a green jade cicada from his pocket.

This jade cicada was only the size of a thumb, carved vividly and lifelike.

Tang Feng immediately took it with both hands and activated his scanning system.

“Item Name: Jade Cicada

Material: Hetian Jade

Creator: Jiang Haochen

Era: Qing Dynasty Shunzhi Period

Value: 500,000

Provenance…”

He took just one glance and drew a sharp breath.

His master was indeed generous, giving away a jade piece worth half a million as a gift.

It seemed he had chosen the right master.

Zhang Jicheng had been watching him closely, and upon seeing his changing expressions, immediately asked, “Don’t you like it?”

Tang Feng quickly shook his head, “No, it just seems a bit too precious.”

Zhang Jicheng was a bit surprised, “Can you discern the significance of this jade cicada? Tell me what you think.”

Tang Feng cleared his throat, “Well, I’ll just take a guess. If I’m wrong, please don’t blame me, Master.”

Zhang Jicheng immediately waved his hand, “You’ve just begun your journey and haven’t gone through formal instruction, so even if you say something incorrect, I won’t take issue with it.”

Qin Yanan also found a chair to sit down, supporting her chin with her delicate hand, very curious to see the level of appraisal skills her newly recruited appraiser possessed.

Running his finger over the back of the jade cicada, Tang Feng immediately felt a trace of smoothness, “This jade cicada was made by Jiang Haochen, a master jade carver at the turn from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty.”

“Hmm?” Zhang Jicheng’s eyes immediately lit up.

There were no signatures on the jade cicada to identify the artist; being able to discern the craftsman purely from the workmanship was indeed impressive.

At least at Tang Feng’s age, Zhang Jicheng would have definitely been unable to do so.

No matter what else he said, this alone proved that he hadn’t chosen the wrong apprentice.

“Judging from the craftsmanship of this jade cicada, it should be a work from the later years of Master Jiang, already reaching the level of divine artisanship…”

Tang Feng repeated all the information given to him by the system.

Zhang Jicheng grew more and more astonished as he listened. Although he knew it was a work from Jiang Haochen’s later years, he had established that only after consulting countless records.

Yet Tang Feng had discerned so much just by taking one look, which was truly breathtaking.

“Now, give an appraisal of this jade cicada,” Zhang Jicheng was containing his shock, maintaining an outward calm.

“Five hundred thousand.” Tang Feng immediately stated a price.

Qin Yanan wasn’t sure if he was correct, and quickly turned to look at Zhang Jicheng.

Zhang Jicheng gave her a wry smile, “My disciple can graduate as soon as he’s been accepted.”

Qin Yanan was immediately taken aback. She knew very well how skilled Zhang Jicheng was, and his praise for Tang Feng meant that all he had said must be accurate.

“How… how do you know so much?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Cough cough, I don’t have many strengths, but I love to study,” Tang Feng suddenly realized he might have overplayed his hand and had to resort once again to this overused excuse.

“No, just this level of eye for detail can’t be achieved by simply reading books,” Zhang Jicheng’s eyes were very shrewd, and he immediately saw through the lie.

Tang Feng’s heart drummed anxiously, wondering if he was about to be exposed.

Just then, the master continued, “You are a prodigy, indeed. For this old man to have taken on such a gifted disciple before I retire, I would have no regrets when I pass, haha…”

Eh, that’s another one gone crazy.