"I've seen it, and there are no problems," Li Chonglou said, not looking a second time, with immense confidence.
In the appraisal business, everyone's skill level relies on knowledge and perception.
He had dedicated himself to the study of antiques and history for nearly fifty years and had it all memorized.
This dish, at first glance, indeed caused confusion.
Its glare was bright and smooth, and the inscription was unusual.
But this was only in comparison to some veteran appraisers with relatively narrow knowledge.
For him, these two points were further evidence of its authenticity.
Therefore, the petty tricks of Wu and Zhang were not worth mentioning.
"Hmph, appraisers always conduct repeated examinations and research when appraising an item. You can determine its authenticity after just a few glances? How pretentious!" Wu Tao's face changed, and feeling anxious, he began to mock him.
According to the military order, once Li Chonglou made his judgment, they would lose.
Although they could afford the million, they couldn't afford to lose face.
Especially in front of so many apprentices.
Most crucially, Li Chonglou had simply gotten lucky, like a blind cat catching a dead mouse.
He absolutely did not believe that Li Chonglou had seen through it due to his exceptional eyesight.
Let alone a young novice, even they themselves couldn't determine the origin and era of an item with just a few glances.
It required repeated observation, measurement, and testing.
He was anxious, and so was Zhang Zhiyuan.
Deep down, they knew Li Chonglou was just guessing randomly, but there was nothing they could do; he had stumbled upon the real thing.
Their only recourse was to adamantly deny it.
So, after Wu Tao finished speaking, Zhang Zhiyuan braced himself and said, "Since you were given a chance and didn't take it, you brought this upon yourself!"
"This dish is nothing but a superb replica!"
"If you lose, get out of the company."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise flashed in Wu Tao's eyes, but he immediately concealed it.
He realized that Zhang Zhiyuan's words were meant to seize the initiative.
By calling the genuine item fake, they could slap Li Chonglou in the face. As long as they got rid of this kid, no one would question whether they were right or wrong.
A clever stratagem, a very clever stratagem indeed.
Boo...
As soon as these words fell, the entire hall erupted in derisive laughter.
"As expected, that kid is ignorant and unskilled. He dared to compare his eyesight with two masters? Isn't this like carrying a lantern to the outhouse, looking for trouble?"
"The two masters gave him a chance, but he himself was useless."
"Get out of the company, hurry up and leave!"
...
The unrestrained mockery and schadenfreude were something most people enjoyed.
The jealousy, envy, and hatred they usually harbored in their hearts now seemed to be justified righteousness.
Li Chonglou ignored these voices and deliberately feigned surprise, saying, "You say it's a superb replica?"
"Of course, it's a superb replica," Wu Tao quickly chimed in. "It's you who has blind eyes, seeing everything as genuine. Where are there so many genuine items in this world? It's utterly laughable!"
At this point, they had to play along with Zhang Zhiyuan's charade.
As long as Li Chonglou was kicked out, everything would be manageable.
Otherwise, losing face and money was something he absolutely did not want to see.
"Then, since you say it's fake, tell me where it's fake," Li Chonglou said, his expression unchanged, turning the tables. "Antique appraisal has always been about identifying fakes, not genuineness."
"I think it's a clear and genuine piece, but you two both say it's a superb replica."
"It can't just be your word against mine. If you want me to be convinced, you need to provide evidence."
These two were clearly twisting facts.
They were calling the genuine item fake with the sole purpose of driving him out.
He understood their intentions perfectly.
Unfortunately, while the devil's skill is a foot high, the Dao's is a yard.
When this thousand-year-old goblin met the King of Hell, wouldn't he obediently kneel and pay his respects?
"This..." Wu Tao was suddenly dumbfounded.
How was he supposed to explain?
Knowing it was genuine, but having to point out genuine aspects as flaws – he couldn't overcome his own conscience.
He could only look to Zhang Zhiyuan for help.
It was evident that Zhang Zhiyuan was more cunning and manipulative than him.
He had already prepared himself mentally and said smugly, "You want evidence? Fine, I'll make sure you understand clearly why you're wrong!"
"This dish is fake for two reasons."
"Firstly, from the Ming Xuande period to now, it has been nearly six hundred years. I ask you, what lacquerware can remain this intact after such a long period of wear and tear?"
"Secondly, as is widely known, the character 'de' in the Xuande inscription traditionally has one less horizontal stroke at the top of the character for 'heart'. However, this dish has an extra horizontal stroke."
"Anyone with even a slight knowledge of appraisal would not consider this a genuinely authentic piece."
"Others rely on their eyes to examine things; I'd say you rely on guesswork!"
His words were sharp and left no room for mercy.
He intended to stomp Li Chonglou under his feet and trample him mercilessly in full view of everyone.
Immediately, the apprentices echoed the ridicule.
They all accused Li Chonglou of being a fake, having no skill.
Wu Tao also chimed in, "Kid, what else do you have to say?"
"Hurry up and pack your bags and leave, don't embarrass yourself any further!"
Now, if Li Chonglou couldn't refute these two points, his fate was sealed.
But refuting these two points was not something a young novice could accomplish.
It would require the eyesight of a master to turn the tide and win against all odds.
Li Chonglou stood amidst the mockery and ridicule without any trace of dejection or shame.
He maintained an elegant smile from beginning to end.
When the noise subsided slightly, he said in a clear voice, "Are you finished? If you're finished, it's my turn."
This announcement drowned out everyone's voices, causing them to cease their clamor.
Everyone wanted to hear how Li Chonglou would continue to quibble.
In the face of these two master appraisers, any further defense would only be self-inflicted humiliation.
"What do you want to say?" Zhang Zhiyuan asked dismissively.
"What I want to say is that the ones with blind eyes are you two!" Li Chonglou raised his finger and pointed at them, his tone extremely contemptuous.
Instantly, the faces of the two turned gloomy, their complexions flushing as if splashed with blood.
Wu Tao couldn't help but curse, "Kid, what do you mean? You lost and still won't admit it?"
"The ones who lost are you," Li Chonglou retorted. "You can't even recognize something this simple. Do you still have the nerve to be appraisers at our Xingzhi Group?"
"I have to ask how the HR department recruited you?"
"With scoundrels like you, it's a minor damage to the company's interests, and at worst, it will cause the company to suffer huge losses!"
"Mistaking the genuine for a superb replica, can you bear the responsibility for this?"
His voice boomed like thunder, leaving everyone present bewildered and unsure of what was happening.
Only Wu Tao and Zhang Zhiyuan's faces turned extremely unsightly.
Before they could speak, Li Chonglou's voice softened slightly, and he said indifferently, "For those who say Ming Xuande lacquerware cannot be preserved intact to this day, please buy a ticket to the Palace Museum and have a good look."
"The tickets aren't expensive. If necessary, I can even pay for you to improve your eyesight!"
"Lacquerware weathering requires ventilation, temperature, light, and mold as necessary conditions."
"As long as these conditions can be perfectly controlled, any lacquerware can be preserved intact for hundreds or even thousands of years."
"This carved black lacquer lotus petal dish was an imperial utensil. Before it was used, it was sealed and stored in a special vault using a unique technique."
"As long as it is not destroyed by war, what is so remarkable about its condition remaining like this until now?"
A single speech caused the complexions of Wu and Zhang to change drastically.
This...
These words were almost identical to what the master they had invited last time had said.
That master had explained a technique for preserving lacquerware, which had enlightened them.
How could this kid possibly know such secretive information?
Could it be that he wasn't a novice, but truly understood this dish?
No... absolutely impossible.
How old was he? He was young enough to be their son, let alone their senior.
The two were in an internal turmoil, their expressions filled with astonishment.
Before they could calm down, Li Chonglou dropped another bombshell: "As for the character 'de' having one less horizontal stroke at the top, I can only say that you are ignorant and uneducated!"
"The font for Xuande inscriptions was the official script of the Ming dynasty, known as Taige style, and in the Qing dynasty, it was called Guange style."
"The characters are neat and regular, with straight strokes, uniform thickness, and a significant characteristic is the absence of a horizontal stroke at the top of the 'de' character."
"This is one way of writing. Another way is to have a horizontal stroke on 'de'. Having two ways to write a character is essentially no different from a character having multiple pronunciations today."
"Yet, you charlatans use this as an appraisal technique."
"Furthermore, the 'de' character with one less horizontal stroke was a change in writing style made after the imperial palace fire during the Xuande reign."
"Throughout history, all inscriptions before this palace fire feature the normal 'de' character!"
"Not even understanding this basic historical fact, which even elementary students should know, what qualifications do you have to be appraisers?"
His words were sonorous and piercing, designed to destroy their reputation.
Li Chonglou's speech stunned everyone present.
Many immediately took out their phones to search for information about that historical fire, exclaiming in surprise.
As for Wu Tao and Zhang Zhiyuan, their eyes widened in absolute horror.
They had always believed Li Chonglou to be a mere novice. Why... why was he so well-versed in these matters?
This...
For an ordinary twenty-something person, understanding such things, even with dedicated study, would take time.
Unless they came from a family with a deep heritage in the field.
Could it be that Li Chonglou came from a family of treasure appraisal experts?
Regardless, they absolutely could not be overshadowed by him today.
They had to deliberately misinterpret, to call black white, otherwise, they would be the ones losing face.
And Li Chonglou's status in the company from then on would be firmly above theirs.
Such a situation was absolutely unacceptable.
Immediately, a fierce glint appeared in Wu Tao's eyes, and he sternly shouted, "Shut up, everything you're saying is utter nonsense!"
"In this company, what we say is the rule."
"You're trying to confuse things to cling to your job, you little bastard, you're not worthy!"
The volume of his curse was so loud it almost echoed through the entire floor.
Li Chonglou's expression gradually cooled as he asked, "Are you trying to renege?"
It was clear that Wu Tao and Zhang Zhiyuan were not playing by the rules. First, they deliberately misconstrued facts, and now, exposed, they resorted to stubborn defiance and personal attacks.
They couldn't afford to lose.
"Who would renege on someone like you, a country bumpkin? What do you think you're worth? Listen carefully, we are both veterans of the Xingzhi Group!" Zhang Zhiyuan also immediately shouted, "Even the manager has to listen to our opinions, let alone a country bumpkin novice like you."
"Get out quickly, or don't blame us for being rude."
Their words carried a naked threat. If gentle persuasion didn't work, they would resort to force.
Unfortunately, they had chosen the wrong person.
Before Li Chonglou could speak.
A voice suddenly echoed, "Who are you telling to get out?"
"It's Director Xu from the HR department... Why is he here?" Someone turned their head upon hearing the voice and recognized the speaker.