CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43 IT’S ALL FAKE!

Yhan Qingwu walked over to Sui Yi, leaned down to look at the ancient jar, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, and whispered, "I didn’t expect to see you here, my deskmate..."

"Me neither. Are you interested in this sort of thing?" Sui Yi had already picked up the Western Dagger.

Half an arm in length, half an inch in width, its blade curving upwards like the tail of a scorpion, the sword sheath was inlaid with several spectacular gems...

Never mind the authenticity of the gems for now.

The craftsmanship was very delicate, cool to the touch.

Sui Yi flipped her hand, pulling the dagger from its sheath, looking at the reflective blade light...

"Hmm, I find it kind of interesting..." Yhan Qingwu didn’t engage in a long conversation with Sui Yi, and soon they were both inspecting these items on their own...

Now was not the time for small talk after all, she could tell that this competition seemed quite important to Sui Yi.

However, Yhan Qingwu’s approach was clearly more novice than Elder Tang and the others, more akin to toying with the items rather than appraising them.

As for Sui Yi...

She ran her fingers over the dagger, her interest in antiques might be limited, but she was somewhat fascinated by weapons, often researching the European and American counterparts in history books, and after a few touches, she had some ideas in mind.

Still, she used her Magnetic Sensation to feel over it for a moment.

The response was very faint...

As expected.

Sui Yi set down the dagger and looked at the Tang Knife below...

Quickly touching on the last item, her previously indifferent expression gained a bit of color, her eyes shone, looking at the broken-patterned Celadon Vase in her hand, her slender fingers gently caressing it. Through the Magnetic Sensation, she saw a beautiful wisp of pale blue mist, accompanied by a clump of milky white threads, spreading along the celadon, very pretty to the eye. A single touch brought her a refreshingly crisp sense of comfort.

This was the real deal!

The pale blue energy seemed different from the gray energy she had seen on the "Early Spring Picture" before, the latter being modern in comparison with the former’s vast difference.

With a light hook of her lips, Sui Yi flicked her finger, entwining the pale blue mist with her Magnetic Sensation, rolling it up, and absorbing it!

As the pale blue mist entered her body, Sui Yi felt as though her viscera was doused in mint ice water, her bones invigorated and her flesh bursting with vitality.

Strength flooded her limbs.

The Magnetic Sensation inside her had also grown considerably!

Clearly, the benefits of this magnetic energy were tremendous for her!

Sui Yi tentatively extended her own Magnetic Sensation, discovering that what could originally penetrate only as long as one palm, now could reach about the length of two palms!

In other words, as long as she held this celadon, she could see through most of its entirety!

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As the seconds ticked by, everyone returned to their seats, and Tang Hanyan glanced at her daughter.

Seemed to be in a good mood?

The maid had already served the second round of tea, the allure on their cheongsam was captivating, but clearly, there were few here who paid attention to them.

The focus at this moment was on those seven items, and of course, the competition!

With a stroke of his beard, Elder De chuckled, "It seems everyone has made up their minds..."

The others smiled and nodded in agreement.

After a pause, Elder De smiled and said, "Then please hand in your answers..."

Each person had written a paper slip, adding Sui Yi’s, there were eight in total.

Elder De had also invited Tang Hanyan to play along, but she refused quite straightforwardly, saying she was not proficient in this area and didn’t like guessing, so it was better not to participate.

These words amused Elder De with a playful interest.

"Such a clever woman, knowing this is related to the Classical Chinese Conference and making it clear she doesn’t wish to be involved, but is it true that she doesn’t understand this field?"

Sui Yi recalled how she had clearly noticed Tang Hanyan handling those items in a very professional manner, as if, she knew a lot about the ancient charm.

Meanwhile, Li Ling also felt doubtful. Not understand? Although she was only sent here for observation, she was aware that her boss seemed interested in this area, having heard that her office was filled with antiques...

The eight slips of paper solidified their decisions. Elder De glanced over them one by one, then looked up at everyone.

"We’ll set aside the true and false for now. I wonder, who among you would like to comment first?"

Elder Han, being the most senior, naturally wouldn’t stick his neck out first. The rest...

"I’ll go first. Anyway, I don’t understand this area very well, and can only tinker with some mechanical instruments...sooner or later, it’s the same," Yu Quan’s voice was deep and as the youngest of the seven, his remark drew everyone’s attention.

Pointing to the first item, Elder Tang’s, he said, "I think this item is a fake, and also, Old Qian, that Snuff Bottle is modern jade carving, right?"

At this, both Elder Tang and Old Qian bristled with indignation.

"Explain then, where exactly is my book supposedly fake?" Elder Tang was unruffled, not the least bit anxious.

This one, ten out of ten, is an old fox.

Yu Quan chuckled, "It’s quite simple, I just don’t trust your character! You try to fool me with fakes every day... am I not allowed to react instinctively?"

Ha, upon hearing this, everyone laughed! Elder Lin even slapped his thigh in agreement.

It seems Elder Tang is quite unpopular~~~

"Boss Yu, I’ve never tried to fool you though..." Boss Qian narrowed his eyes, a glint in his gaze.

"Well, I can’t very well claim that everything else is real, so I had to pick one and say it was fake! Unfortunately for you, it was your item that I chose."

Yu Quan was extremely composed.

With that remark, even Yhan Qingwu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Speaking of which, Yu Quan, even though you’re wealthy, you shouldn’t be misleading us like this~~~"

After all, Yu Quan was indeed the wealthiest person here. Elder Han and Elder Tang were antique collectors, and in this business, without keen eyesight and great fortune, one generally wouldn’t make a killing—it wasn’t so much a trade as it was a hobby.

But Yu Quan and Boss Qian were different; one started by founding a company, the other sold jewelry. Both could make skyrocketing profits, naturally resulting in a rolling tide of wealth and substantial capital accumulation.

To Yu Quan, a million wasn’t a lot, and this Classical Chinese Conference had the least impact on him.

That’s why he could take audacious and daring approaches—make bold moves!

Amused by Yu Quan’s reply, Elder Han held a mouthful of tea and said, "I think that earthen jar, I’m somewhat unsure about it~~"

That was already putting it politely, meaning that he thought the item was fake, but typically, those in this field wouldn’t be so blunt.

After all, one needs to save face in the Jianghu!

The one being pointed out didn’t get angry but just smiled, and following that, several others also said that the items of others were fake!

However, they were just amateurs from a small town, not serious experts, so they absolutely couldn’t cite classical references like experts on TV shows.

They didn’t have the leisure or the eye for it, they could only guess based on their own experience... occasionally sharing some opinions.

Essentially, only Elder Han specifically pointed out that the soil of the jar wasn’t right—it wasn’t from the Ming Dynasty period but should be an imitation from the Republic of China era~~

He was quite certain, and everyone else nodded in agreement.

Hearing everyone showing off their ’divine skills’, Sui Yi and Yhan Qingwu, among others, found it rather interesting...

A moment later, an abrupt voice appeared, "I think, since Sui Yi is Elder Tang’s successor and is also favored by Elder De, he must be quite impressive. Why don’t you share your views so we don’t think you’re just guessing blindly."

These words were rather impolite.

Qian Shuangyu seemed to harbor a distinct hostility toward Sui Yi.

This sudden hostility caught Sui Yi off guard, who had intended to stay out of the fray, and suddenly found himself thrust into the eye of the storm.

Boss Qian, of course, stood by his daughter and said with a smile, "Then let’s ask Miss Sui Yi to evaluate."

Elder Tang, although a bit of a scoundrel, was quite protective of his own, and he sneered, "Well, I’ve heard that your daughter is quite learned. She seems very interested, so why not let her go first..."

Quite learned—the words were somewhat provocative. Everyone knew that the heiress of Fuquan Jewelry was a poor student, who dropped out of a degree mill halfway through her studies~~later having no choice but to rely on her family’s support and wishing to take over the family business.

Poor Boss Qian was quite shrewd, after working hard for most of his life, but he didn’t have a son, only two daughters. With no other choice, he welcomed a son-in-law into the family~~

The result, however, was that they ended up with a daughter yet again, and after many years, still no second child... The eldest daughter was so brash and clueless she would quarrel on the streets with others, not at all suitable for business.

With no other options, he had to rely on his second daughter...

Even though she was a poor student!

However, it must be said, Qian Shuangyu was good-looking and somewhat shrewd, didn’t say bad things in people’s faces, was always full of praise, and somehow, selling jewelry suited her.

In this context, with high self-regard and an arrogant nature, Qian Shuangyu felt annoyed by Elder Tang’s comment and responded directly, "Since Elder Tang has spoken, I won’t hold back..."

And she truly didn’t hold back! Not even Boss Qian could intervene in time.

They listened as she said, "I think Elder Tang’s book is a fake. If I remember correctly, he mentioned it’s Nalan Xingde’s ’Hat Tilt Collection’, which means it’s from the Ming Dynasty. How could it possibly be so well-preserved until now? Besides, I can smell the scent of modern paper..."

How to put it—the moment those words were said, everyone’s expressions varied, with both Sui Yi and Yhan Qingwu curving their lips into a slight smile.

"What, you think it’s incorrect?" Qian Shuangyu glared at Sui Yi, quite hostile while Boss Qian’s expression turned a bit sullen as he exhaled.

Following the logic laid out earlier, since Qian Shuangyu had spoken, now it was Sui Yi’s turn to say something, right?

Elder De smiled and looked toward Sui Yi.

Sui Yi glanced at Qian Shuangyu, her expression calm, and said, "Whether Miss Qian is right or wrong should not be judged by me. As for my feelings about these items... apart from Elder Tang’s ’Hat Tilt Collection’, all other objects are not genuine."

She paused briefly, then added, "And moreover, Nalan Xingde was from the Qing Dynasty."

The room erupted into an uproar!

Even Elder Tang raised his eyebrows. All fake?

Quan Ling’s eyes darkened upon hearing Sui Yi’s words, and he laughed, "It just so happens that my conclusion is the opposite of yours, Sui Yi. I think Elder Tang’s item is the only fake one!"