Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Appraisal Event Slap in the Face (4) Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Appraisal Event Slap in the Face (4) As Deng Hui pondered, he picked up another jade artifact and, feeling its smooth and lustrous touch, he paused slightly. It was indeed a rare find and seemed to be an item from the era of Zhu Qiyu during the Ming Dynasty.

Looking at the other items, Deng Hui suddenly didn’t dare to make hasty judgments. The things Jiang Zhe had purchased, aside from that blue and white porcelain vase, seemed to be quite good, indeed items of some age.

He inquired about the prices Jiang Zhe had paid for them, and Jiang Zhe answered them one by one.

Deng Hui estimated that if all these items were genuine, then the prices Jiang Zhe had offered were quite fair, and neither party was at a loss.

Although it is said that antiques and paintings don’t have a fixed price, what they can fetch depends largely on the market.

But industry insiders always have their own standards in mind.

Jiang Zhe, on this basis, hadn’t swindled those people by deliberately lowering the prices; his character seemed quite honorable.

However, whether all these items were genuine or not, Deng Hui still needed further verification.

But after looking them over for a while, Deng Hui could not help but respect Jiang Zhe.

He was even relieved that he hadn’t directly offered to give her his own notes.

Ding Xuexue didn’t believe that all these items were genuine, pointing at a jade artifact and saying, “This one obviously has flaws; it must be a modern imitation, right? And this calligraphy, it lacks strength, it can’t possibly be the work of a master. I think more than half of these things you bought are losses. However, there are two pieces that are pretty good; these two are not bad.”

With so many items, although she couldn’t directly authenticate all of them on the spot, based on her previous experience and that blue and white porcelain, she dared to make this decision.

Jiang Zhe said carelessly, “If they’re fake, they’re fake; money can’t buy happiness.”

Thinking of Jiang Zhe spending money so carelessly, Ding Xuexue said sternly, “That’s not how you should spend money.”

“Is it your money?” Jiang Zhe asked, holding a recently acquired plaything walnut in his hand.

With no retort available, Ding Xuexue’s face immediately flushed red.

In front of Qin Jingchen, she did not want to engage in a verbal quarrel, so she just said, “I’m just advising you, if you don’t want to listen then never mind.”

While they were talking, a down-and-out middle-aged man brought out a painting and asked, “Excuse me, is this where I can get an ancient painting appraised?”

“Of course,” said Ding Xuexue, whose forte was in ancient paintings and was just looking for an opportunity to showcase her skills, “What kind of painting do you have?”

“Tang Bohu’s ‘Tiger Picture’,” the shabbily dressed man said, “This was originally given to my father by a friend, and I wouldn’t bear to bring it out if not for my family’s company going bankrupt.”

The mention of this name was significant.

Everyone knew the value of Tang Bohu’s paintings was incomparable; a genuine one was priceless and hard to come by.

Most people who bring out antique paintings and calligraphy tend to make up similar stories, and Ding Xuexue, having heard many, had become indifferent.

Jiang Zhe, however, looked towards the man’s hand and saw a glimpse of aged and elegant paper, which piqued her interest.

Ding Xuexue remembered that the genuine ‘Tiger Picture’ by Tang Bohu was currently in Teacher Deng’s possession.

With this thought, she was somewhat eager to trick Jiang Zhe.

But since Deng Hui was standing there, and he was known for his rigid integrity, Ding Xuexue didn’t dare to trick Jiang Zhe in front of him and had to say, “This is definitely fake, no need to check.”

“This is genuine! You haven’t even looked at it, how can you know it’s fake?” the down-and-out man argued fiercely.

“The genuine one is in my teacher’s possession, so how can yours possibly be real?” Ding Xuexue countered.

The down-and-out man refused to believe it.

Deng Hui spoke up, “Xuexue is right, the authentic painting is with me. It was Xuexue who identified the painting with her keen eye. After further research and verification by more experts, that painting was indeed confirmed to be genuine, the paper is also the kind that would have only existed during the Ming Dynasty. Thus, sir, we can determine that your painting is fake without needing to see it.”

The man was extremely embarrassed but found nothing to argue back with.

Ding Xuexue, wanting to make a demonstration, said, “Then take it out, and I’ll point out exactly where your painting is a forgery.”

The painting was carefully unfurled by the man, as if it were a treasure.

Ding Xuexue was very confident. Since the real one was hanging in her teacher’s home, this one couldn’t possibly be authentic.

Thus, she boldly pointed out the incorrect details, “Look at this position of the tiger, the brushwork is too light, clearly the work of a powerless imitation. The color is also off; the tiger’s fur should be golden yellow, but here it appears somewhat grayish white. It can’t possibly be the careful color and brushwork of Tang Bohu, an artist of such genius. He would never make such a mistake. Your painting must be a later imitation, a copy that does truthfully resemble the original. However, a copy is still a copy and can never stand equal to the genuine article. Nevertheless, this one is indeed a very good imitation, the essence is quite on point, it’s just that between the genuine piece and a forgery, there is always an insurmountable chasm.”

As she said these words, her gaze involuntarily flicked towards Qin Jingchen, curious to see his reaction.

Qin Jingchen’s expression was mild and gentle, yet carried an inexplicable distance. He had maintained such an expression ever since she had entered, giving the impression that he was incapable of any other.

Ding Xuexue had said so much, yet he hadn’t shown any change in expression, and she couldn’t help feeling a bit defeated in her heart.

Deng Hui thought her points were indeed very valid.

And since the genuine piece had already been acquired, whatever was left could not possibly be the real deal.

“So, how about this? If you are really in need of money, given that your imitation is passably done, I’ll offer you two hundred thousand for it,” Ding Xuexue continued.

She figured it was likely an imitation done by a late Qing Dynasty painter, not particularly valuable, but still with some market appeal.

Especially for those studying the astonishing authenticity of Tang Bohu’s real works, imitations did have a certain value.

“This…” The down-and-out man hesitated.

Then, feeling that she was deliberately undervaluing it, he said, “Forget it, I won’t have it appraised, nor will I sell it.”

“Then you can find someone else,” Ding Xuexue said sincerely, “Anyway, I’m telling the absolute truth. The painting in my teacher’s house is the genuine one, I’m not deceiving you.”

Upon hearing this, the man’s face turned ashen, and he started to leave with the painting.

“Wait a moment.” Jiang Zhe stopped him.

He looked at Jiang Zhe, who said in a gentle voice, “I’ll give you ten million for it, sell it to me.”

Ding Xuexue couldn’t help saying, “Jiang Zhe, did you not hear what I just said? The genuine ‘Tiger Picture’ is in Teacher Deng’s possession!”

“I’m not deaf, of course I heard. Ten million, do you want to sell it?”

Ding Xuexue felt this was a provocation from Jiang Zhe!