153: Chapter 153 The Three Elders' Joint Operation

Coming out of the hotel.

The four went their separate ways, none having the appetite for a late-night snack.

Back at the residence, Chen Shaoping originally wanted to follow Zhang Ying to Room 61.

But Zhang Ying chased him back to Room 62.

She said she was tired from the exercise these past few days and hadn't slept well, so she needed a good rest tonight.

It was not only for his own good but also for the sake of their future life together.

Chen Shaoping had no choice but to return to his room obediently.

He did feel quite exhausted. After taking a shower and saying goodnight to Zhang Ying, he fell asleep immediately.

The next morning.

Chen Shaoping focused on driving while Zhang Ying touched up her makeup in the passenger seat, her hair a bit messy.

She was grumbling and complaining under her breath.

"All you think about every day is this. Don't you ever get enough?"

"I really woke up early only to end up being late."

Her eyes, still shimmering with the traces of passion, shot a sidelong glance at Chen Shaoping.

Thinking about the madness in the car just now, Chen Shaoping looked satisfied and smirked.

"Wifey, you can get enough of eating, but how can you ever get enough of this? It only gets more addictive."

"You..."

As Zhang Ying reached out to pinch his waist, she slowly pulled her hand back.

"Since you're driving, I'll spare you this once."

"Thank you for your mercy, wifey." Chen Shaoping made a face.

"Pfft!"

At the same time.

Cai Guoqiang had already arrived in the Capital.

Now he was standing at the doorstep of expert Zhao Meng with He Qixiang.

His face was grim, his eyes anxious, and he kept pressing the doorbell.

He wished he could fly inside immediately.

He Qixiang was also holding a long rosewood box.

Soon, a young woman with a ponytail opened the door.

"Grandpa He, Grandpa Cai, you're here to see Grandpa? Please, come in."

He Qixiang and Cai Guoqiang walked in immediately, not even having time to change their shoes.

"Grandpa, it's Grandpa He and Grandpa Cai."

Zhao Meng's voice immediately came from the kitchen, "Old He, Old Cai, take a seat first. The breakfast I'm making for my granddaughter is almost ready. You can try my cooking in a bit."

"Old Zhao, stop what you're doing and turn off the stove. I have urgent business with you." Cai Guoqiang's tone left no room for argument.

He Qixiang turned to the young woman and said, "Jiajia, we have something important to discuss with your grandfather. Why don't you go to your room for a while or head out for a stroll?"

Although Zhao Jiajia was a bit confused, she agreed with a smile, "Okay, Grandpa He. I'll head out then, just in time to go back to school."

She put on her backpack and prepared to leave. While changing her shoes, she shouted toward the kitchen, "Grandpa, I'm heading to school now. Have a good chat with the two grandpas."

Zhao Meng walked out of the kitchen just in time to hear He Qixiang's words to his granddaughter. Seeing the grim expressions on his two old friends' faces, he knew it must be something serious.

"Jiajia, be safe and buy yourself something to eat."

"I know!" By the time Zhao Jiajia finished speaking, she was already out the door.

After cautioning his granddaughter, he didn't dare delay any further. He turned back to the kitchen, turned off the stove, and took off his apron.

"Sit, sit down and tell me. What's the matter? Look at how dark both your faces are."

Among the three, Cai Guoqiang was the most impatient. As soon as he sat down, he couldn't wait to speak.

"Old Zhao, that mei bottle you appraised as a national treasure last night is a fake. We're here because we want to go take another look at that mei bottle with you."

Zhao Meng's pupils contracted sharply as he looked at Cai Guoqiang and He Qixiang with dissatisfaction.

His eyes flickered to the box beside He Qixiang. He had originally thought they were here to show him some treasure.

He didn't expect that these two would show up so early and act so urgently just to question his professional expertise.

Having appraised a national treasure-level relic, he had originally wanted to brag a bit in front of them. But before he could even speak, a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over him.

Zhao Meng was extremely confident in his own eyesight. Besides, Old Luo had been there to help evaluate it at the time, making it even more foolproof.

He suppressed his anger and said solemnly, "Old Cai, Old He. You're both getting on in years, and yet you're still playing jokes on me?"

"I can tell you responsibly that it's impossible. I examined the 'meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark' very carefully. It cannot be a fake."

"What do you two mean by this? I wouldn't dare claim expertise in other relics, but in ceramics, I am the authority."

Zhao Meng was somewhat indignant; the skepticism of his two old friends made him feel uncomfortable.

Zhao Meng's reaction was exactly what Cai Guoqiang had expected. He said calmly.

"Old He, I knew he would react like this, which is why I came to you first."

"This stubborn temper of his—once his feathers are ruffled, he's even fiercer than me."

He Qixiang didn't say a word. He simply opened the rosewood box, revealing the painting "hummingbird" inside.

After fully unrolling the painting and setting it down, he said softly.

"Old Zhao, take a look at this."

Zhao Meng was amused by their behavior. One questioned the national treasure he appraised as a fake, while the other was testing his skills in painting and calligraphy.

Although his specialty was ceramics, it didn't mean he only knew about ceramics.

His level in painting and calligraphy was also very high.

He didn't speak, but picked up his tools and began to examine it carefully.

Since it was something He Qixiang had brought out, he took an extra two looks at it to ensure nothing was overlooked.

After a moment, Zhao Meng said confidently, "This is undoubtedly an authentic piece. What do you mean? I thought you were going to bring out a fake."

He couldn't quite understand their actions today.

The purpose of Cai Guoqiang and He Qixiang was simple. Sometimes, a thousand words are not as persuasive as laying the facts out in front of someone.

"Old Zhao, this painting is a fake," He Qixiang said seriously.

Zhao Meng gave a cold snort. Wanting to see how the two would perform next, he followed along with He Qixiang's words.

"Then tell me, where is it fake?"

He Qixiang didn't answer him directly. Instead, he recounted his own experience while beginning to set up his appraisal tools.

This time he was well-prepared; he didn't need to draw blood with a knife like last time.

"When I first got this painting, I also thought it was real. I was secretly delighted, thinking I'd found a huge bargain."

"It wasn't until someone told me it was fake and showed me how to appraise it..."

"...that I finally believed it."

He placed the glass over the marked spot and handed the magnifying glass to Zhao Meng.

"Now, take another look."

Zhao Meng instinctively took the magnifying glass and looked through the glass at the spot.

With just one look, his expression changed drastically. Refusing to believe his eyes, he rubbed them, and the hand holding the magnifying glass began to tremble slightly.

"How can this be? How can this be?"

He slumped down into his seat, appearing somewhat dejected, his previous confidence completely gone.

His heart sank suddenly, as if he had plunged into an ice cellar.

He looked at Cai Guoqiang and asked, "So, was it that same person who told you the mei bottle was fake?"

"Yes."

"Using the same forgery technique as this painting?"

"Exactly."

"Let's go. Don't be upset. Let's go find the owner of the mei bottle and confirm it," He Qixiang said.

Cai Guoqiang massaged Zhao Meng's limp body for a moment before slowly helping him up.

"Cheer up, old friend."

Zhao Meng took a moment to compose himself and slowly stood steady.

"Have you already found the address of the mei bottle's owner?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go." Zhao Meng led the way.

The three of them hurriedly left Zhao Meng's house, not even bothering to put away the unrolled "hummingbird" painting.

(Thanks to "Sanmeng" for the Update Reminder Charm, and thanks to everyone for the gifts! Thank you for the support, family!)