Granny Tao is a female antique expert and Yi An'an's mentor. She is nearing the end of her life and is preparing to leave Yanzhen. She was recently scammed out of 2,000 yuan when she bought a fake Qianlong-period cloisonné incense burner using money from selling her house. The burner was the second incense burner in her family collection as seen in old photographs, and she had hoped to reclaim it. She is disappointed and her spirit seems diminished after being deceived, though she feels comforted by having found a good student in Yi An'an during her final days. She previously discussed Qing Dynasty gilding techniques with Yi An'an and recognizes the fake's gilding is off.
