Chapter 139 - It Was Actually Fake!!
“This expert is truly remarkable,” Su Ming marveled.
The counterfeit was so masterfully crafted that it managed to deceive both Boss Zhu and Lee Tiankuo!
Rumors had been circulating about a group of experts in the market who specialized in creating fakes.
These individuals had been around for over a century, blending seamlessly into society.
Resorting to fluorescence powder was the most basic trick in the book.
If a counterfeit was the work of a truly skilled expert, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to detect its falseness.
Take this Blue and White Porcelain bowl, for instance.
Without the scan, Su Ming would never have spotted the subtle signs.
The bowl's main body was authentic, but its base was a forgery. Yet, the base's origin was peculiarly unique, and it commanded a hefty price.
It seemed quite possible that the two pieces were originally one, but had separated due to some mishap. An expert had then meticulously restored the bowl, reuniting the main body with the base.
Nevertheless, if the bowl had ever been broken, its value would be significantly diminished, regardless of its original unity.
At that moment, Zhang Tao and Boss Zhu had just shaken hands, with Zhang Tao preparing to make the payment.
Su Ming blinked and interjected, “Hold on a moment.”
His words cast a hush over the room as everyone turned to look at him.
President Chen paused before inquiring, “Mr. Su…?”
Truth be told, Su Ming had no desire to entangle himself in this debacle.
But Zhang Tao was a decent man, and the stakes were high—the bowl's price tag exceeded 30 million.
“I'm relatively new to the world of antiques,” Su Ming confessed.
“I'm not particularly knowledgeable about them either. However, something about the base of this Blue and White Porcelain bowl seems off to me. Perhaps we should examine it more closely?”
He spoke with deliberate caution.
His statement left the onlookers dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered glances.
Lee Tiankuo and Zhang Tao's brows furrowed as they carefully inspected the bowl.
Boss Zhu's anxiety spiked.
Could there actually be an issue with the item?
A successful transaction would net him a profit of over ten million, not to mention a new friend. But if the deal was flawed, the money would pale in comparison to the potential damage to his reputation.
Lee Tiankuo scrutinized each bowl with a magnifying glass, examining the details with intense concentration. Despite his efforts, the problem eluded him.
Su Ming let out a sigh. “Take a look at where the base meets the bowl; there seems to be a gap,” he suggested abruptly.
Lee Tiankuo was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't noticed any issue. “Mr. Su…” President Chen was equally puzzled. He respected Su Ming as a man of reason, who wouldn't speak without cause. Yet, with Lee Tiankuo's extensive experience in the antiques trade, even he had failed to detect any flaw in the bowl. What was the explanation?
“Su Ming, there's no need to hold back. Speak your mind,” Zhang Tao urged, his smile tinged with seriousness. The gift was meant for a respected elder in the family, and it mattered greatly.
“I'll be straightforward then. I suspect that the bowl's base and sides were once broken and have been glued back together,” Su Ming declared.
Boss Zhu burst into laughter. “Brother, don't spout nonsense. I've had the bowl's authenticity verified by experts. There's no chance it's flawed. We even have signed photos and a certificate of authentication. I would never dream of deceiving President Chen with a counterfeit.”
“I was merely speculating,” Su Ming responded with a nonchalant shrug.
Boss Zhu's mood soured. Zhang Tao was on the verge of completing the transaction when Su Ming interjected his doubts, potentially jeopardizing the deal.
Zhang Tao's face grew stern. Quick-witted Zhang Tongtong chimed in, “Dad, this place is vast. How about we explore a bit?”
Gift-giving should be accompanied by auspicious signs, especially when it's for an elder's milestone 80th birthday. A smooth purchase process boded well, but any complications could be seen as a bad omen.
As Zhang Tao prepared to leave, frustration boiled within Boss Zhu. His potential sale was slipping away, along with a valuable friendship.
“President Chen, we've been acquaintances for years. You're familiar with my integrity in business. How could this possibly be a fake?”
Boss Zhu was growing impatient.
President Chen blinked, his gaze shifting from Zhang Tao to Su Ming, and finally resting on Boss Zhu. He simply shook his head, remaining silent. He was in a bind, unable to risk offending either man—one a friend of the head of the capital's central bank, the other the enigmatic and influential Mr. Su.
On the sidelines, Lee Tiankuo peered through his magnifying glass, absorbed in scrutiny. Su Ming's words had planted a seed of suspicion in his mind. No matter how he looked at it, something seemed off.
Boss Zhu, unable to contain his frustration, turned to Su Ming. “How about a wager, Boss Zhu? If this item is a counterfeit, what kind of compensation are you thinking?”
Boss Zhu's patience had reached its limit. “Prove that my item is a fake, and you can choose anything from my shop. But if it's genuine, my loss today will be substantial. How will you make it right?”
With a serene smile, Su Ming replied, “Tenfold compensation.”
With that, Su Ming tapped the bowl on the table, eliciting gasps from the onlookers as it shattered with a crisp, resonating snap. The once thought-to-be-lost ceramic bowl fragmented in an instant.
Before the crowd could voice their astonishment, they saw the bottom of the Blue and White Porcelain bowl, perfectly intact. The break revealed the hidden chemicals inside.
The room was filled with astonishment—the item was indeed a fake.
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