Chapter 1392 A Cyan Three-Legged Plate?
"How can he be so young yet more powerful than me?"
After saying that, Tian Shijie felt he had spoken too boastfully. He scratched his head and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Chen Xuan. I didn't mean it like that."
Chen Xuan quite liked Tian Shijie's personality. He smiled and replied, "It's nothing. My appraisal skills for antiques are very average. I really need to find a master to learn from!"
Upon hearing this, Tian Shijie threw an arm around Chen Xuan's shoulder and said with a grin, "Then you've come to the right person. I'm considered a genius in my own right. I promise I can teach you things you've never learned before..."
Chen Xuan found Tian Shijie's enthusiasm and familiarity a bit overwhelming, but he couldn't refuse.
"You get like this whenever antiques are mentioned. Why don't you find an antique for a girlfriend?" Lu Ling said with a hint of melancholy from the side.
Wei Linlin blinked her big eyes and said, "Sister Ling, aren't you an antique yourself?"
Lu Ling's pretty face flushed red, and she chided, "You good-for-nothing Wei Linlin! How dare you gossip about me! Just you wait until I catch you!"
Wei Linlin turned and ran, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Lu Ling chased after her, and the air was filled with laughter.
Meanwhile, Fang Shuo smiled and slipped back into the car. He had no interest in antiques.
"Chen Xuan, when looking at a vase, you first look at the patterns, then the inscription... For example, this one. Although the inscription is from the Song Dynasty, the glaze on the patterns clearly shows modern craftsmanship. Therefore, this is a modern artifact."
Arriving at a stall, Tian Shijie picked up a vase and enthusiastically explained to Chen Xuan.
Chen Xuan nodded slightly. Tian Shijie did have some skills. Although his explanations were slightly off, they were almost entirely accurate.
"Hey, if you're not buying, don't touch my antique vase!"
Suddenly, the stall owner exclaimed angrily.
Clearly, Tian Shijie's words had disrupted the stall owner's business.
"What's wrong with touching it? It's just an artifact!" Lu Ling and Wei Linlin said indignantly.
"Forget it, forget it. According to the rules of the antique trade, it's better to see than to speak. I broke the rules."
Tian Shijie quickly said.
"Hmph, I'll let you off this time, or I'll smash your stall!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Linlin calmed down slightly, saying with a pout.
"Alright, let's stop talking. Tang Bohu's painting might have been displayed already!"
The group continued forward. As they walked, the crowds grew, and they finally arrived at a large stall. On it were displayed many antiques and jades with an ancient aura, seemingly all precious items.
"This is Kyoto's largest antique shop, Yu Fang Zhai. It truly has a deep heritage to display so many antiques and jades!"
"This is nothing. They haven't even brought out Tang Bohu's masterpiece, 'Falling Clouds and Solitary Geese'!"
"That 'Falling Clouds and Solitary Geese' painting is a masterpiece by Tang Bohu and is worth a fortune. It will undoubtedly attract countless people, and then all these antiques and jades will be swept away!"
"Let's hurry and take a look ourselves to see if there's anything good."
Chen Xuan nodded slightly upon hearing the surrounding voices, thinking that Yu Fang Zhai was quite good at business.
If this 'Falling Clouds and Solitary Geese' painting were to be auctioned, it would fetch an astronomical price. However, by doing this, it seemed like a loss but was actually a gain.
The appearance of 'Falling Clouds and Solitary Geese' would inevitably attract many wealthy individuals. Since they were here, these wealthy individuals would not leave empty-handed. Judging by the value of these items, they were clearly not cheap. The money lost could not only be recouped but also result in a significant profit!
"The 'Falling Clouds and Solitary Geese' painting probably won't be brought out until the very end. Let's see if there's anything good. Although Yu Fang Zhai's items are a bit pricier, they have fewer fakes, so we can try our luck," Tian Shijie said, acting as their guide.
"Do you think this item is good?"
Suddenly, Wei Linlin's voice rang out from the side.
Chen Xuan turned his head and saw Wei Linlin gazing intently at a plate no larger than two palms. This plate was different from ordinary plates; it had a cyan glaze and three legs.
Upon seeing the plate, Chen Xuan's pupils constricted. Could this be that thing?
At this moment, Chen Xuan also curiously leaned closer.
However, because Tian Shijie was closer, he walked over first. He glanced at the plate and also felt curious, so he said to a nearby staff member, "Take it out for me to see."
The staff member glanced at them, noticing they were all quite young, and frowned. "I'm sorry, sir. You can only look through the glass case; you cannot take it out."
Hearing this, Tian Shijie said nothing more. He directly took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over, stating indifferently, "Is it okay now?"
The staff member took the business card, and their expression changed drastically. They immediately put on a different face and said, "So you're Master Tian's grandson! I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai!"
It turned out that Tian Shijie's grandfather was a renowned antique master in Kyoto, known to everyone on Kyoto's antique street. Even Yu Fang Zhai invited Tian Shijie's grandfather to appraise antiques. However, Tian Shijie's grandfather was quite old and rarely appeared in public, but his influence still lingered.
"You know what's good for you! Can you take it out now?"
"Yes, of course!"
The staff member could actually take out the antiques for people to see. After all, since they were buying something, customers naturally needed to appraise it.
Antique masters had many methods for appraising antiques, requiring close observation of the patterns, inscriptions, and even the sound of the porcelain. It could be said that almost every antique master had different appraisal methods.
The reason she was reluctant to take it out was entirely out of concern that Tian Shijie and the others might break the antique and be unable to compensate for it. Since the person was Master Tian's grandson, she no longer had any worries.
Even if Tian Shijie were to smash this mere plate, Yu Fang Zhai would likely not seek compensation from him, as Yu Fang Zhai paid an astronomical sum to invite Master Tian for appraisals every year.
"Since you can, why aren't you doing it quickly!"
Upon hearing this, the staff member quickly took out a key, unlocked the glass cabinet, and carefully put on non-slip gloves to take the plate out of the glass cabinet.
Tian Shijie took the plate and first examined the inscription, then the patterns and textures of the plate, and then lightly tapped the plate to listen to its sound. Afterward, he showed a look of disappointment.
Wei Linlin asked expectantly, "Is it not something good?"
Tian Shijie explained, "This is a Song Dynasty cyan three-legged plate, valued at around two hundred thousand. It's priced at two hundred and twenty thousand. It's worth collecting, but if you're looking to make a profit, I'd advise against it."
When Wei Linlin heard this, the light in her eyes dimmed.
A round of applause erupted from the surrounding people, all cheering for Tian Shijie's commentary.
Just as Tian Shijie was about to put the plate back, Chen Xuan suddenly said, "Could you let me take a look?"