Chapter 885: Appreciation of Antiques (B)
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
“Brother Huang, why did you look down on me, your elder brother? Why didn’t you tell me about the banquet?” Zhang Kentao blatantly walked into the hall of the villa, followed by two followers. One was holding a big parcel in his hand.
Huang Rongjin’s face changed slightly, and he forced out a smile. “Brother Kentao, look at what you said. I thought you are usually very busy, and since this was just an informal family banquet, I did not send you an invitation. However, based on the relations.h.i.+p between our families, you don’t need to ask for an invitation, right? Didn’t you just come directly?”
Although Huang Rongjin’s words were polite, they were neither weak nor strong, and there was sarcasm in his words.
How could Zhang Kentao not hear it? However, the two people had become accustomed to fighting each other. Besides, it was Zhang Kentao who was being sarcastic at first, so at this moment he said indifferently, “That is true. We do not have to bother with those pleasantries! I heard that Brother Huang hosted a banquet here, so I rushed here to support you.”
“Really?” Huang Rongjin looked at Zhang Kentao. Since he came, Huang Rongjin couldn’t chase him out. At least they pretended to get along well on the surface. “Please take a seat; the banquet will begin soon.”
“Before the start of the banquet, I have a rare treasure that I wanted to ask Brother Huang to help me appreciate it!” Zhang Kentao waved his hand and let the follower who carried the package behind him hand over the thing in his hand.
” Oh , then, I’ll have to appreciate it.” Huang Rongjin said with a grin. Both of them were doing business in the collection world, and they all had some fame. However, Huang Rongjin’s reputation was slightly more prominent, so Zhang Kentao often brought some tricky things to let Huang Rongjin guess what it was. This was to put shame on him, but Zhang Kentao gave an excuse saying it was appreciation.
For example, last time Zhang Kentao brought a bronze lamp from the Song Dynasty and let Huang Rongjin judge which year it was made. Fortunately, there was an expert around Huang Rongjin, and the expert got the right answer, so Zhang Kentao left disapprovingly.
This time, one was not sure what Zhang Kentao wanted to do, but one thing was certain. This guy absolutely was ill-intentioned. Zhang Kentao must have thought of a way to shame him in front of so many people.
Of course, although he knew it would be the case, his superficial charm did very well. Huang Rongjin pretended to be surprised and quickly walked to Zhang Kentao.
Most of the people present knew of the resentment between Huang Rongjin and Zhang Kentao, but people always had the intention to watch the fun. They knew that the two people were against each other, but they also approached with curiosity. They wanted to see what top grade items Zhang Kentao could get.
“This time, I bought a vase from the United Kingdom that is said to be from the Ming Dynasty. I want Brother Huang to help me verify the authenticity!” Zhang Kentao opened the parcel in his hand, then he took out a box. He opened the box and carefully took out the object inside.
This was a celadon vase with exquisite workmans.h.i.+p and very elegant shape. The people present more or less knew about antiques. When they saw such a beautiful vase, they could not help but exclaim.
Zhang Kentao proudly placed the vase on the table in the center of the villa, and then said to Huang Rongjin, “Brother Huang, I heard that you are very accomplished in the study of porcelain in the Ming Dynasty. Today, may I ask you as a master to identify the authenticity of the vase?!”
Huang Rongjin gazed coldly at Zhang Kentao. If he had to verify the authenticity of this antique, this required a lot of knowledge. Although Huang Rongjin had a lot of experience in this respect, antiques were still antiques. They were unlike anything else. They really needed some effort to verify authenticity. Not to mention that he was just using his bare eyes. Even experts had to use some high-tech tools.
However, even if this was the case, if Huang Rongjin could not reach a conclusion today, without a doubt, Zhang Kentao must have prepared a lot of words to mock him.
“How is it, Brother Huang? Is this vase good?” Zhang Kentao saw the appreciation in the eyes of Huang Rongjin and spoke smugly.
” En , it is really good.” Huang Rongjin nodded and admired the vase.
No matter from which angle, the pattern on it or the rust spots, etc. could prove that this was a vase of the Ming Dynasty, but the more it was like this, the more unreliable Huang Rongjin felt!
If Zhang Kentao brought such a vase to find him to appreciate, then he must have a plot behind it. However, what exactly did he want to do? Huang Rongjin could not guess, so he did not dare to speak.
Huang Rongjin just observed the vase carefully and looked at some of the details on the vase that would be easily overlooked.
The conflict between Yang Ming and the pink-headed fat man was interrupted when Zhang Kentao came in. The pink-headed fat man knew that he couldn’t stir up trouble for a while, so he had to give up and look at the vase on the table with everyone.
The pink-headed fat man couldn’t see anything. He just thought it was just a vase, but Yang Ming was aware of what happened in the t.i.t-for-tat conversation between Huang Rongjin and Zhang Kentao.
“Lele, who is Zhang Kentao?” Yang Ming walked in front of Huang Lele and asked in a low voice.
“He is a friend of my second brother, but he always likes to mock my second brother. This time it should be like this. If my second brother can’t tell the authenticity of this vase, he may say something harsh.” Huang Lele hated this Zhang Kentao, but she also understood the relations.h.i.+p between their families. Since her second brother had no way to deal with it, Huang Lele naturally had no way.
Yang Ming nodded after listening. He probably understood the relations.h.i.+p between the two people. It seemed that this Zhang Kentao had ill-intentions.
Without understanding the purpose of Zhang Kentao, Huang Rongjin would not speak easily, but Zhang Kentao was somewhat impatient. “How about it, Brother Huang? You are an expert in this area. Is this vase really authentic?”
This vase was really authentic no matter how it looked! But it was because it was too authentic, Huang Rongjin could not easily conclude it! Because the current technology was so developed, and the counterfeit technology was very powerful, It was not rare to forge a fake to fool others.
Zhang Kentao took such an authentic vase to test him. Could he have good intentions? If the vase was really counterfeit, then after saying that the vase was authentic, Zhang Kentao would definitely take the opportunity to make fun of him.
But such a simple and easy-to-understand reason, how would Zhang Kentao not understand? Such an authentic vase could be counterfeit. If Zhang Kentao brought an ambiguous and ugly thing for Huang Rongjin to a.s.sess, then it would be tough for Huang Rongjin to identify it. Instead, Zhang Kentao brought such an authentic piece for him to verify, how could he not be suspicious?
However, from another angle, if this was just a plot, Zhang Kentao could deliberately bring an authentic vase to confuse Huang Rongjin to let him mistakenly think that it was a counterfeit. This was not impossible!
As a result, Huang Rongjin had no way to back down.
Zhang Kentao seemed to know the mind of Huang Rongjin. He shook his head calmly and stood by the side. “I say, expert, aren’t you a bit slow? Even if you can’t observe in detail, then at least give some preliminary comment?”
Huang Rongjin was a little angry. If I say the preliminary comment, you will definitely mock me, right? But he had to say it, there were so many people looking at him. Huang Rongjin really needed to give a conclusion today.
Well, even if he said that the vase was fake, and if Zhang Kentao insisted that the vessel were genuine, then Huang Rongjin had no way at all. It was better to say that it was real, and he could still gamble on it.
At least if the vase were fake, you have to say why it was fake, right? There must be a flaw, right? At least Huang Rongjin could not see any flaws.
Therefore, Huang Rongjin nodded and took a deep breath and said, “After my preliminary judgment, it seems that this vase is authentic…”
Before Huang Rongjin finished his sentence, he was interrupted by Yang Ming. Yang Ming tapped Huang Rongjin’s shoulder, and then he intervened, “It looks like this vase is really authentic! But it is still a counterfeit. Brother Huang, you mean this, right?”
After hearing Yang Ming’s words, Huang Rongjin was obviously stunned. Although he did not understand why Yang Ming said that the vase was a counterfeit, Huang Rongjin knew that Yang Ming had his way. He must have his reason to say it!
Instead of guessing it himself, it would be better to listen to Yang Ming this time and gamble on it. Anyway, he was also unsure of it. At most he would be mocked by Zhang Kentao only. It was no big deal.
“Is it counterfeit or authentic?” Zhang Kentao looked at Yang Ming with some dissatisfaction. Who is this guy? Why is he intervening?
” Hehe , what Yang Ming said is what I mean!” Huang Rongjin nodded with certainty.
Zhang Kentao’s face changed instantly but returned to normal immediately. If it was not being observed carefully, no one could notice it. He could conceal it from the others, but he could not conceal it from Yang Ming’s eyes.
” Hehe ,” Zhang Kentao regained his former smug expression. “Brother Huang, I am afraid this time you guessed it wrong, right? How can this vase be fake? I bought this vase in the UK for three million pounds!”
Huang Rongjin was stunned. He didn’t know how to answer it. However, out of trust in Yang Ming, he turned his eyes to Yang Ming. Sure enough, Yang Ming did not disappoint him.
“Really?” Yang Ming looked at Zhang Kentao with a smile. “Are you sure this vase is authentic?”
“I… I am sure, of course! The vase is mine, and I have found an expert to identify it. It must be authentic!” Zhang Kentao nodded with certainty. However, his heart was uncomfortable with this person in front of him. Why is it related to him?
“So, what if I insist that it is a counterfeit?” Yang Ming looked at the vase, then looked at Zhang Kentao and asked.