Everyone followed Ye Junwei into the room next door. The first things that caught their eyes were an old Eight Immortals table and four benches, which together made a complete set.
Wen Haoyang stepped forward to examine the table and benches, then asked curiously, "What kind of wood are this furniture made from? I don't think I've ever seen it before."
Ye Junwei spread his hands and said, "My father-in-law gave me this Eight Immortals table and the benches a few years ago. I heard they're local furniture from Zilang, Su Province. It was called something like Zuo-something wood, but I can't quite remember."
"Zuo Zhen wood," Chu Chen reminded him.
"Right, Zuo Zhen wood furniture." Ye Junwei suddenly understood and gave Chu Chen a thumbs-up with a smile. "As expected of an expert. You really are knowledgeable."
Chu Chen smiled modestly, and Wen Haoyang asked, "Teacher Chu, what kind of wood is Zuo Zhen wood?"
Chu Chen replied, "Simply put, Zuo Zhen wood is actually Zhe wood, a plant of the mulberry family."
"Zhe wood?" Ye Junwei was rather surprised. "It seems to grow in many provinces across our country. So how did it become local furniture from Zilang, Su Province?"
Chu Chen explained with a smile, "Zhe wood is indeed produced in many parts of our country, but not all Zhe wood is called Zuo Zhen wood. Only Zhe wood produced on the Yangtze River alluvial plain is called Zuo Zhen wood. Because of the soil and water there, its quality is superior and exceptional."
"So that's how it is." Wen Haoyang nodded in understanding. "Teacher Chu, how is the quality of this wood?"
Chu Chen said with a smile, "This wood has the reputation of being 'Huaxia Rosewood.' What do you think? Besides, like rosewood, Zuo Zhen