Everyone took Chu Chen's reminder to heart and hurriedly looked toward the bottom of the large jar. Sure enough, just as Chu Chen had said, the marks had all been written backward, leaving Hong Xiaozhu and Qiao Qingtai staring at each other.
After a moment, Hong Xiaozhu said with a bitter smile, "My reputation in my later years is ruined. I actually failed to notice such an obvious mistake. If word gets out, everyone will probably laugh me to death."
Qiao Qingtai chuckled. "Old Hong, don't be discouraged. You usually focus on ceramics from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Making one mistake with the Tang Xing kiln by accident isn't a big deal. Besides, even Old Qin slipped up. It's nothing strange that you did too."
Seeing the smile on Qiao Qingtai's face, Hong Xiaozhu said, "I say, why does it look like you're taking pleasure in my misfortune?"
Qiao Qingtai looked disdainful. "There, there! You old fool really don't know how to appreciate kindness. I tried to comfort you, and somehow even that was wrong."
Hong Xiaozhu sneered. "Forget it. Don't I know what kind of person you are? Last time..."
While the two old men bickered, Chu Chen fell into deep thought. By the time he finished thinking it through, his expression had turned rather grim.
"Little Chu, what's wrong?" Qiao Qingtai noticed Chu Chen's abnormal expression and quickly asked.
Chu Chen came back to himself at his words and smiled faintly. "Nothing. I just thought of something."
Seeing that Chu Chen did not want to say more, Qiao Qingtai did not press him. He merely told Chu Chen to speak up if he ran into any difficulties, since they could at least help where they were able.
Chu Chen smiled and thanked him.
Afterward, everyone