Chu Chen carefully explained the process of removing the patina, then said, "However, if you plan to clean a mirror made of mercury ancient bronze, you must think twice. For a thin layer of patina, treatment can continue until wiping it with vinegar; for heavy patina, stop once it has been 'cleaned off.' Otherwise, damaging the mercury ancient bronze would be very difficult to undo."
Qi Baofu and Fang Jinbo nodded repeatedly, indicating that they understood.
Qi Baofu then smiled and said, "Hearing you speak is better than reading books for ten years. But I'm a rough fellow. I can learn about removing patina, but I can't actually do it."
"I think you can neither learn it nor do it."
At that moment, Qi Baofu's wife came over carrying a basin of fruit. She warmly invited Chu Chen and Fang Jinbo to eat, then pointed at Qi Baofu and said, "Just look at yourself. Ever since you started collecting antiques, let's not even talk about making money. Look at how much you've lost!"
Qi Baofu gave an awkward smile. "When you're learning about antiques, you're bound to make mistakes and pay tuition at the beginning. If you don't believe me, ask Teacher Chu. Isn't that right?"
"Don't think I don't understand anything." Mrs. Qi snorted. "Paying tuition is normal, but let me ask you: after paying so much tuition, how much have you improved? How much money have you made?"
"This..." Qi Baofu stammered, unable to answer.
"Well? Nothing to say now, right? I think you should honestly do some business and stop fooling around with antiques!"
Mrs. Qi gave a cold laugh. Although Qi Baofu could make money and his wasteful spending on antiques had not reduced the family's quality of life, spending several hundred yuan on a pile