Chapter 55: Chapter 55: A Fake?
Granny Li glared fiercely at Su Huiyue and then turned to Ning Yichu, “Chu Chu, you say this is a fake, what is your basis?”
“Granny, ancient blue and white porcelain contained many impurities in its body, and due to limited crushing conditions, nurous air pores could be seen, presenting as small iron-brown dots. After an aging process, the final product appeared extrely delicate. However, with modern technology being so advanced, the finished products almost have no air pores and don’t undergo aging, resulting in an overall dryness and a lack of plasticity…”
Li Lingyang and Granny Li both had so research in antiques and naturally knew that Ning Yichu was telling the truth.
Granny Li pondered, then ordered soone to bring over the broken porcelain fragnts to check.
Shen Jiangqing’s heart tightened, and she began her tearful accusation, “Lady Ning, do you think you understand antiques better than the experts? This blue and white porcelain was purchased for over five million from an auction house in Zurich! The invoice and certificates are complete, and it has also been verified by experts. If this is a counterfeit, then what is real?”
As soon as all materials were provided, everyone initially inclined to think it was a counterfeit imdiately reversed their thinking.
...
Indeed, if the experts had certified it as genuine, could Ning Yichu really know better than the experts?
Ning Yichu also frowned, unsure of what the problem might be, but she trusted her own judgnt.
“Anything made by humans can be counterfeited, and what’s more, from transporting it back from Zurich—that long distance—who knows if the people from the shipping company got greedy?”
After all, she had often heard news of courier companies embezzling and then pretending to have lost valuable items, only to compensate a few hundred yuan in the end.
Those so-called valuable items were only worth a few thousand or ten thousand yuan, yet people were willing to take risks. What about an antique worth over five million?
But Shen Jiangqing didn’t believe it, she thought Ning Yichu was just being obstinate and trying to escape responsibility!
She looked at Li Lingyang with a pitiful gaze, hoping that Li Lingyang would decide for her.
Li Lingyang spoke directly, “Since you all have your opinions, let’s invite another expert to appraise it. Elder Cheng Yuanzhong has a lifelong passion for blue and white porcelain and is the vice-president of the Porcelain Association. With his experience, he ought to be able to discern the authenticity.”
Elder Cheng and Granny Li were already friends, and he had also sent his grandson over to congratulate her today.
Granny Li regretted, “How could I forget him, good, let’s ask him to co over.”
Shen Jiangqing also believed she hadn’t made a mistake and spoke firmly, “I respect your decision. This will also satisfy Lady Ning.”
“What if it is fake?” Ning Yichu countered.
Shen Jiangqing hadn’t even considered the possibility of it being fake and said directly, “Whatever you say, we will do.”
“Fine, as long as you don’t go back on your word.”
Li Lingyang’s profound gaze flickered across Ning Yichu’s face; she was confident and composed, utterly serene, without the slightest worry about the upcoming verification. The light fell as if casting a faint halo around her.
Before long, soone sent by Li Lingyang brought back Old Sir Cheng.
Li Lingyang got straight to the point, “Elder Cheng, I believe Mr. Cheng has already inford you of the purpose of calling you here. Now we’d like you to determine whether this blue and white porcelain is authentic or not.”
Elder Cheng, wearing reading glasses and close to eighty years old, said, “Let see the fragnts.”
As he spoke, a servant passed the clean porcelain shards to him.
At first, Elder Cheng looked both interested and regretful, but after carefully examining the pieces, he took off his glasses and shook his head helplessly, “These are high-quality forgeries, and the craftsmanship is pretty diocre. What’s this I hear from my grandson? It’s supposed to be a birthday gift for Old Madam Li?”
As the words fell, the room went silent for two seconds, so disappointed, others eager to watch the drama unfold.
Shen Jiangqing couldn’t believe it and pressed him, “Elder Cheng, please look again! This was purchased for over five million from the auction house. How could it be a fake?”
“Five million?” Elder Cheng sighed repeatedly, “If you don’t understand blue and white porcelain, then you shouldn’t bid recklessly. Not everything from major auction houses is genuine!”
In her words, she seed quite dismissive.
Shen Jiangqing felt people around her discussing her, and she imdiately panicked. She had bought it specially at a high price, aiming to please Granny Li and to show off how favored she now was.
But as a result… not only did she fail to beco the center of attention, she ended up making Ning Yichu shine even brighter.
“Jiangqing, you really botched this one,” even Su Huimiao couldn’t help but scold her. “Didn’t you think to have a few experts appraise it when you received it?”
What if it had been fifty million tomorrow instead of just five million today? Would she have been swindled all the sa?
“Mom, I’m sorry, I really had no idea, I didn’t expect such a big auction house to do sothing like this…”
“I don’t even know what to say to you!”
Facing her mother’s reproach, Shen Jiangqing was close to tears, stamring as she looked at Li Lingyang, “Aling, you have to believe , I truly didn’t know it was a fake.”
“Inform the lawyer, contact the auction house and the shipping company, and seek compensation for the loss,” Li Lingyang ordered the servants indifferently, with neither much bla nor any consolation.
His indifferent deanor, where was the fiancé in that?
He was almost like just a casual friend.
In a flash, Shen Jiangqing’s figure grew even more distressed, afraid of Ning Yichu kicking her while she was down, she quickly said, “I’m going to make a call too,” and hurried out of the hall.
And after she left, Li Jingtian also disappeared from the crowd without a trace.
In fact, Shen Jiangqing was overthinking it.
Ning Yichu was not soone to nitpick so much.
“Granny, I’m sorry, it seems I’ve ssed up the event again,” Ning Yichu said to Granny Li awkwardly, because after all, exposing the gift soone gave her as a fake did show a lack of respect to her.
Granny Li burst into hearty laughter, “Well done!”
After laughing for a bit, she whispered, “The truth is, I didn’t want it when that woman brought it, but I couldn’t disregard her in front of Aling and the two children. It was perfect that you smashed it. So satisfying!”
Ning Yichu felt awkward, “I really didn’t an to smash it, soone bumped into .”
“Li Jingtian?”
“He probably didn’t an it either.”
Granny Li mused for a while, feeling both sympathy and antipathy towards her young grandson, but in the end could only sum it up with, “It’s all because of the sins his father committed when he was young. To be honest, he has had it rough over the years.”
“Let’s not talk about these unhappy things anymore, Granny. Today is your birthday…”
At that mont, Aunt Tong ca over with a cheerful smile, watching the joy on the old lady’s face, and joked, “Lady Ning, it’s because of you she is so happy. It’s been a long while since I’ve seen the old madam in such good spirits.”
“Today is Granny’s birthday, with so many people here to celebrate with her, how can all the credit go to ?”
Aunt Tong covered her mouth and laughed, then reminded Granny Li, “The ho doctor is here, it’s ti to check your blood pressure and take your dicine.”
Granny Li was old, and she had a ho doctor coming for a check-up every morning and evening.
Ning Yichu watched Granny Li go up the stairs.
Granny Li took the opportunity to ask Ning Yichu to play with Doudou and Ningning together.
Reviews
All reviews (0)