159: Chapter 159 Second Appraisal

However, the three experts had no mood for pleasantries at the moment. Zhao Meng practically sprang from his seat, his gaze eagerly searching Xu Ting, as if the mei bottle was tucked in his arms.

After the four of them shook hands one by one, Zhao Meng impatiently said, “Mr. Xu, I apologize for our abrupt visit.”

“We just want to take a closer look at that mei bottle again.”

Xu Ting clasped Zhao Meng's hand tightly and said happily, “Expert Zhao, thank you. Ever since I spent a fortune on a few antiques, my wife has been giving me the cold shoulder.”

“Thank you for vindicating me last night.”

He was truly excited. Last night, after his wife Liang Hong returned and told him the appraisal results,

she even affectionately called him 'husband,' which made him feel as if he had returned to twenty years ago.

Back then, Liang Hong used to call him that, but as they grew older,

‘husband’ had turned into ‘old man.’ While still intimate, it lacked the sweetness of love.

He wasn't lustful or greedy in this life; he just loved collecting cultural relics.

Originally, with insufficient funds, he could only dabble, and his wife Liang Hong didn't interfere, letting him do as he pleased.

Now that they had money, the relics he bought became more and more expensive, and his wife started to nag.

However, with this experience of having his treasure appraised on TV, his wife would definitely not complain about him anymore.

“Of course, you can look. I have many other collections, and I'd like to ask the three experts to help me appraise them.”

“However, how about we eat something first and then take our time looking?”

“Mr. Xu, we won't eat. Let's look at the items first; we are truly anxious.” This time, Cai Guoqiang spoke first.

“That's right, let's look first.” He Qixiang and Zhao Meng echoed in unison.

Seeing the three insist, Xu Ting thought it was fine to eat after the appraisal.

“Alright then, please follow me.”

Xu Ting led the way, and the three followed behind him.

Liang Hong, after giving instructions to the kitchen, happened to see them and followed along.

Xu Ting's collection room was not very large, but not small either.

There were two rooms in total, each about 5 square meters.

“Three experts, the mei bottle is in this room.”

Xu Ting's face was full of excitement. After an eye scan, he opened the password lock on the door.

When decorating the house, Xu Ting had specifically upgraded the anti-theft level of these two rooms by several grades.

Zhao Meng and the other two walked in, their shock impossible to conceal.

The cultural relics in the room were neatly arranged and well-ordered.

Mainly, there were two categories: porcelain and bronze ware.

As for other types of cultural relics, they were few and negligible compared to the porcelain and bronze ware.

“Mr. Xu, your collection is truly extensive.”

Zhao Meng exclaimed sincerely, his eyes simultaneously drawn to the meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark placed in the center.

Xu Ting quietly observed the expressions of the three experts, feeling greatly satisfied.

Perhaps he hadn't seen as many antiques as the three experts, but he definitely owned more antiques than them.

Even if all three of them combined their collections, it might not be as much as his.

It was not in vain that he had borrowed some funds to buy antiques.

“Mr. Xu, could you please get it?”

“Okay, please wait a moment.”

Xu Ting took the mei bottle from the shelf.

There was a dedicated appraisal table in the room, with all the necessary appraisal tools.

He placed the mei bottle on the appraisal table, stepped back a few paces, and said, “Three experts, please proceed.”

Zhao Meng and the other two didn't use Xu Ting's appraisal tools but their own.

The tools they brought were all the same: a high-powered magnifying glass and a piece of glass with bloodstains.

And they simultaneously inspected the mei bottle.

Such unprofessional behavior appearing from three professional experts

was truly rare.

Mr. and Ms. Xu watched them silently, frowning.

Zhao Meng and the other two examined it carefully, but found nothing after a full round.

This made Zhao Meng's heart stir again. Could it be that the person who said this mei bottle was a fake was mistaken?

If that were true, it would be wonderful.

He Qixiang's thoughts were similar to Zhao Meng's, and he also hoped it was a genuine article.

Only Cai Guoqiang deeply believed Chen Shaoping's words.

Because Chen Shaoping had no reason to lie; it wouldn't benefit him at all.

Now that the bottle body was confirmed to have no issues, the 'mark' must be on the bottom of the bottle.

“Old He, Old Zhao, I'll hold the bottle, and you two examine it.”

After Cai Guoqiang spoke, he carefully picked up the mei bottle, revealing its bottom.

He Qixiang and Zhao Meng squeezed their heads together, examining the reign mark at the bottom of the bottle.

After only three seconds, Zhao Meng's face turned ashen, and he slumped directly to the ground.

He Qixiang also discovered the mark left by the forger, right on the right hook of the character 'Hua' in 'Chenghua'.

His face was a little better than Zhao Meng's, and he thought more deeply.

How arrogant was this forger? If he hadn't left this mark,

the three of them would never have discovered that this mei bottle was a fake.

Could it be that this forger's skill could already rival that of the ancients?

Had he completely mastered every essence of the ancients' firing process?

...

He Qixiang dared not think further. If it were truly as he imagined,

how much harm would such a perfectly deceptive fake cause if it entered the antique market?

Even...

“Old He, you hold the mei bottle; I want to see it.”

Cai Guoqiang's words interrupted He Qixiang's contemplation, and he mechanically took the mei bottle.

“Old Zhao, it's come to this; sadness, grief, and self-blame are useless. Stand up and face it bravely.”

Cai Guoqiang helped Zhao Meng up, then began his own inspection.

After all three had finished looking, their hearts felt hollow, as if they had been severely ill, extremely uncomfortable.

Although they had mentally prepared themselves before coming, when the result truly came out, they still found it hard to accept.

Xu Ting looked at the three's condition. Although he didn't know the exact situation, something must have happened.

He was about to step forward and ask.

Zhao Meng, with a pale and defeated expression, walked up to Xu Ting, took a deep breath, and then, with endless shame, bent his body ninety degrees.

“Mr. Xu, Ms. Liang... I'm sorry. This mei bottle... is a fake. Last night, I, Zhao Meng... misjudged.”

His voice was dry and hoarse, the last word almost inaudible.

“No... no, what is... what is the meaning of this?”

“Didn't you say it was real last night? Didn't Expert Luo also say it was real?”

Liang Hong was shocked, and it took her a long time to recover.

She couldn't understand why this expert could change his statement so casually.

What he said last night in front of a national audience was completely different from what he was saying now. Just his change of words could turn their family's national treasure, worth hundreds of millions, into something worthless.

This...

No one would believe this, no matter who encountered it!

Xu Ting gave the three a cold glance. His business instinct made him calculate rapidly.

Three highly respected experts came together, spending time and effort, just to overturn their own appraisal from yesterday and tell him that this 'national treasure' was fake?

Although the three acted with immense sorrow and sincerity, he still believed this was a conspiracy against him.

No.

It should be aimed at the mei bottle.