Chapter 138 - Is It Fake??
But that was the price a decade ago. Nowadays, inflation has driven costs up.
“Boss Zhu, how did you come by this item?”
“Don't worry, I acquired it from a friend. He had borrowed money from me, but due to his company's troubles, he couldn't repay it. So, he sold it to me. I paid 20 million yuan for it.”
Boss Zhu certainly wouldn't be so candid with just anyone.
Yet, those in the antiques trade place great importance on an item's provenance.
A treasure once used by royalty and handed down commands a premium.
Conversely, antiques of dubious or stolen origin fetch far less.
And the potential for appreciation in value for antiques is significant.
“This piece is exceptional, and it's Chenghua porcelain.”
“Its craftsmanship is highly refined. It's clear that the creator was a master. The most remarkable aspect is how well this precious item has been preserved. It's flawless: truly miraculous.”
“The motif appears to be ‘All Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,' likely an artifact intended for royal use, possibly even for the empress.”
“It seems there was a minor issue during production, which has left the red color somewhat less vibrant.”
Lee Tiankuo is usually a man of few words, but in situations like this, he can't stop talking.
Su Ming, sitting to the side, struggles to grasp his full meaning.
But Lee Tiankuo's insights are sound, and his observations factual.
“Mr. Lee, you're clearly a connoisseur. You're spot on,” Boss Zhu acknowledged with a nod.
“Perhaps we could discuss the price now?” interjected President Chen.
“President Chen, my asking price is steep. Frankly, for anyone else, I'd inflate it tenfold. But for you, a friend, I've quoted a fair figure.”
Boss Zhu then opened a folder, revealing it was brimming with photographs: snapshots of industry experts posing with antiques.
The items Boss Zhu had prepared were indeed impressive.
With such photos, the price could only go up, never down.
Zhang Tao was quite content.
The elder in his family adored Blue and White Porcelain. Securing this gem would surely delight him.
For Zhang Tao, a few tens of millions of yuan was a trifle.
“If I can, I'll just buy this piece outright.”
Zhang Tao said with a grin, “Boss Zhu, give me your rock-bottom price.”
After a moment's consideration, Boss Zhu replied, “35 million yuan.”
Boss Zhu had his reasons for the price drop.
Firstly, President Chen was the head of the largest local bank. A successful deal would ensure that he'd be the first person President Chen thought of for future business, potentially yielding profits well beyond five million yuan.
He could see that Zhang Tao was no ordinary man—there were plenty of wealthy individuals in the capital.
He also noticed the old man of Zhang's family had a penchant for antiques. So, while he earned less on this deal, he viewed it as an investment in his future.
He was acquainted with a heavyweight in the capital, which could lead to more clients from that area.
Zhang Tao considered the price to be quite a bargain.
They weren't rushing to close the deal; instead, they struck up a conversation.
Su Ming and Zhang Tongtong were engaged in lively chatter. Being close in age, Su Ming saw no reason to decline a conversation with a beautiful woman.
At that moment, Zhang Tongtong examined the item with a magnifying glass. After a long inspection, finding nothing, she passed it to Su Ming.
Su Ming hadn't intended to speak up today.
But when Zhang Tongtong handed over the item, he couldn't resist activating the scan.
Blue and White Porcelain, the base of the cup is a forgery, valued at 500,000 yuan.
Su Ming was dumbfounded by the result.
He blinked, struggling to believe his eyes.
Staring intently, he scrutinized the piece for a good while.
The System was infallible.
This meant the so-called 35-million-yuan treasure was a counterfeit.
Su Ming looked up at the group, still deep in jovial conversation, then took the magnifying glass and gave the Blue and White Porcelain another close examination.
Indeed, he discovered several minuscule cracks at the base.
Lee Tiankuo had been specifically brought in by Zhang Tao.
President Chen had described Su Ming as a formidable figure in the field.
Even Lee Tiankuo had not detected the fake.
Su Ming glanced at Boss Zhu again, who remained unfazed.
Could Boss Zhu also be in the dark about this?
Considering that even Lee Tiankuo failed to notice, it wouldn't be surprising if Boss Zhu missed it too.
Or could it be that Lee Tiankuo and Boss Zhu are in league with each other, conspiring to fool everyone?
That seems highly improbable, given that Lee Tiankuo hails from the capital and likely hasn't visited this place before.
Moreover, their visit was prompted by President Chen.
Su Ming carefully took the object and examined it closely.
He activated the scanning system again, and this time, the system revealed a crack to Su Ming.
The base of the cup was a counterfeit!
Su Ming blinked, coming to terms with the reality before him.
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