[Huaisang snorts, very inelegantly for man of his social standing, but good god, Xichen. This is a public store.

He takes this set and this time, pops the package right open, to wiggle one of the sticks out and hold it in his palm.]

Hands-on investigation, Xichen-ge. [obviously.] And practice. As er-ge can properly see now, this one lacks any cracks or imperfections, unlike the last set. If the shopkeeper wants us to purchase his goods, he'll have to let us look.

[See? Completely innocent conversation.]