"My goodness, it really is it! I've heard it was bought by a mysterious buyer for ten million yuan, so that mysterious buyer was Mr. Wang!"
"Ten million? The richest man is indeed wealthy!"
"Oh my god, this must be the most expensive gift at the entire event!"
Instantly, everyone's gaze shifted to the Mingye Pearl.
Wang Lin's eyes were filled with smugness. He glanced at Er Zhu again, as if he had already won.
Er Zhu stood with his arms crossed. He slowly spoke,
"This Mingye Pearl is a fake!"
Boom!
The moment the words were spoken, the entire venue fell silent. All eyes turned back to Er Zhu.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I have an appraisal certificate. What would a bumpkin like you know?"
"Young man, even if Mr. Wang doesn't think highly of you, you don't have to take revenge like this."
"Exactly! Mr. Wang is also an expert from the antique street. He wouldn't possibly be mistaken!"
...
As soon as Wang Lin finished speaking, several guests angrily shouted at Er Zhu.
Upon hearing this, the guests who hadn't yet recovered their senses suddenly understood, looking at Er Zhu as if he were an idiot.
This guy dared to retaliate? Did he have a death wish?
Facing everyone's accusations, Er Zhu remained silent. Although Old Mrs. Wang and Wang Xiaomei were angry, they dared not speak up for Er Zhu at this moment.
After all, how could a country bumpkin understand antiques?
Besides, looking at the smooth and radiant Mingye Pearl, Old Mrs. Wang also believed it was genuine.
"Alright, everyone, stop arguing. Let me take a look."
Just as the argument grew more heated, a voice suddenly cut through the air, and a familiar face appeared before Er Zhu.
Chen Qinghe, Old Chen!
If he guessed correctly, this Old Chen was the Grandpa Chen that Wang Xiaomei had mentioned!
They truly were fated to meet!
Er Zhu stopped in his tracks and smiled, nodding at Old Chen.
"Old Chen, this bumpkin claims this is fake. You must do me justice today!"
Before Old Chen could even return the greeting, Wang Lin grabbed his hand and pointed at Er Zhu indignantly.
"Yes, Old Chen, please appraise it now. That way, someone won't spout nonsense!"
"Exactly! He should at least look at himself in a puddle before speaking. If someone as poor as him could understand antiques, I'd change my surname!"
...
Several guests taunted Er Zhu with sarcastic remarks, their voices so loud that Old Chen felt his eardrums were about to burst.
"Enough, are you going to let me see or not?"
Old Chen impatiently shook off the guests beside him and picked up the Mingye Pearl to examine it carefully.
He hadn't intended to attend the banquet, but he rushed over upon hearing about the Mingye Pearl. He hadn't expected to run into Er Zhu!
The scene at the Treasure Appraisal Hall seemed to replay before his eyes. Old Chen examined the Mingye Pearl with even greater scrutiny.
Others might not believe the young man, but he did!
Because he knew that this young man was the true connoisseur!
Everyone craned their necks, watching the Mingye Pearl and Old Chen, as if awaiting a verdict.
Only Er Zhu stood calmly, looking confident.
"Mr. Wang, your Mingye Pearl is a fake!"
After an unknown amount of time, Old Chen took off his reading glasses and said with regret.
"What? Old Chen, you must be mistaken. Please examine it carefully again!"
Wang Lin's face instantly fell. He picked up the Mingye Pearl again, eager for Old Chen to re-appraise it.
"No need. It's definitely a fake!"
"The luminescence of this night-shining pearl is too brilliant, and its surface is too smooth. With the technology of the ancient Loulan Kingdom, such perfection was impossible!"
Wang Lin was about to retort, but after hearing Old Chen's explanation, he was stunned into silence.
The other guests were also taken aback, a flicker of shock in their eyes.
It was indeed a fake!
Could it be that this bumpkin actually knew about antiques!
And he could tell real from fake after just a few glances!
My god, were those human eyes?
"Impossible, you're all lying to me, it's real!"
As everyone was in shock, Wang Lin roared madly, clutching the Mingye Pearl.
He had spent a fortune to buy it, how could it be fake!
"Mr. Wang, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Just consider it a lesson learned from spending money."
Seeing Wang Lin's frantic state, Old Chen couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
After all, he and Wang Lin were old acquaintances.
"Easy for you to say. Who would spend a tenth of their assets for a lesson? Would you?"
Wang Lin had completely lost his reason by now. He forcefully shook off Old Chen's hand, his eyes red.
Hearing Wang Lin's words, Old Chen sighed helplessly.
"Liars, all of you are liars! My night-shining pearl is real!"
Wang Lin hugged his night-shining pearl, muttering to himself as he stumbled towards the exit.
Seeing Wang Lin's deranged state, the guests all cast sympathetic glances.
Er Zhu shrugged helplessly, unsure of what to say.
"Er Zhu, your eyesight is getting better and better. You can discern authenticity after just a few glances."
Old Chen withdrew his gaze, smiling as he clasped Er Zhu's hand. His benevolent expression further shocked the guests.
Old Chen actually knew this bumpkin!
Heavens, this bumpkin is truly astonishing!
"That Mingye Pearl simply had too many flaws."
Er Zhu smiled slightly and helped Old Chen to a nearby chair.
Too many flaws?
So many flaws that it fooled Wang Lin, who had been studying antiques for ten years!
This guy was truly arrogant!
The crowd felt a surge of anger, but more than that, they were filled with shock and admiration.
After all, in this vast small town, there were very few people with such discernment!
Without exaggeration, Er Zhu's judgment was even better than Old Chen's!
"Er Zhu, what gift did you prepare for A Zhi?"
Just as Old Chen was about to exchange pleasantries, he suddenly saw Old Mrs. Wang at the head of the table and immediately changed the subject.
"That ancient painting, the Fuchun Mountain View!"
Er Zhu said, retrieving a scroll from a nearby table.
As the scroll was slowly unrolled, a landscape painting with a strong sense of texture appeared before everyone.
"The last surviving work of Huang Gong from the Yuan Dynasty!"
Er Zhu looked at the astonished expressions of the crowd and continued his introduction.
As soon as Er Zhu finished speaking, everyone froze, their faces blank with disbelief.
A surviving work from Huang Gong of the Yuan Dynasty!
It actually appeared in this small town!
Everyone was immensely shocked. Old Mrs. Wang even stood up in astonishment!
"I happened to learn about it. I'm glad Grandma likes it."
Er Zhu nodded slightly, saying it casually.
"A Zhi, this painting is genuine, I can see it clearly!"
Seeing someone about to speak, Old Chen quickly interjected.
Upon hearing this, the crowd looked at Er Zhu with even greater incredulity.
This young man was not only capable but also incredibly lucky!
It was simply enviable!
"Good, good, good. Grandma likes it, Grandma likes it!"
Old Mrs. Wang, having recovered from her shock, walked to Er Zhu with a smile and tightly held his hand.