Qin Shuran frowned slightly and asked Chen Fan, "Are you sure this is a fake?"
Chen Fan retorted, "Didn't you say I was just a mascot? You don't even believe my words?"
Qin Shuran rolled her eyes at Chen Fan and had to take the Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 from Chen Fan's hand, placing it on a shelf nearby.
She then said to the middle-aged man, "Please, could you get me another piece of porcelain?"
However, the middle-aged man sneered, his previous politeness and enthusiasm completely gone. "Get another piece of porcelain? You're spreading rumors and causing trouble in our Zhenbao Pavilion, slandering this Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 as a fake in front of so many people."
"Either you give me direct evidence today that this is a fake, and you can take anything from our shop, or you buy this piece at the original price. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."
With that, a cold glint appeared on the middle-aged man's face.
Not a single person from the surrounding crowd of onlookers stepped forward to speak for Chen Fan. After all, they all knew the rules of the antique trade: you can choose not to buy, but you cannot disparage someone else's goods, or you must buy it at the original price.
"Are you planning to force a sale?" Qin Shuran's face showed displeasure.
The middle-aged man said mockingly, "This is the rule of the antique trade. You can ask around this antique street. You'll find out what happens when you talk nonsense in someone else's shop. I'm being lenient because you're young."
"You'd better apologize to Boss Xue honestly, and then buy this item. Don't bring trouble upon yourselves."
"Consider it a lesson learned. Now you know what it means to speak without thinking."
"Young people are just young people. This is the consequence of loose lips."
"Learning a bit online and coming out to appraise antiques, how ridiculous. Hurry up and buy the item and leave."
The voices of the onlookers once again echoed, all urging Chen Fan and Qin Shuran to buy the item.
Chen Fan calmly swept his gaze across the crowd. "Why should I buy a fake?"
"Fake? Kid, you dare to spout nonsense here again? Let me tell you, Zhenbao Pavilion has no fakes. We can promise to compensate ten times the price if it's fake. Moreover, if you find a fake in our shop, you can pick anything you want!" Boss Xue's face showed anger.
Chen Fan picked up the Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 again, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth. "I checked online, and the clay used for Song Dynasty Ru ware is a type of yellow earth. The fired Ru ware has balanced pores, low density, and a yellowish embryo."
Boss Xue smiled. "That's right, these are indeed characteristics of Ru ware. All of this is available online. Could it be that you can only determine that this item in our Zhenbao Pavilion is a fake based on these points? You're simply a..."
However, before Boss Xue could finish speaking, Chen Fan loosened his grip, and the Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 instantly slipped from his hand.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
Boss Xue watched the Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 fall freely, his pupils contracting, and he froze on the spot.
With a crisp "crack!"
The Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 hit the ground and shattered into pieces!
"My Ru ware!" Boss Xue cried out in anguish.
Qin Shuran was also startled and looked at Chen Fan in surprise.
Boss Xue glared at Chen Fan furiously. "Kid, you dare to smash my Ru ware! If you don't pay ten times the compensation today, I'll make you squat in here for life!"
"Twelve million? Heh, this fake, I wouldn't want it for 120 yuan." Chen Fan said mockingly.
"Still spouting nonsense? It seems I really need to show you some power today, or you'll think Zhenbao Pavilion is just for show!"
Chen Fan squatted down and picked up a shard of the Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶. "Spouting nonsense? The internet says Ru ware uses yellow earth, and the fired embryo is yellowish with small density. But the embryo of this shard is white, and the pores are coarse. I really don't know who is spouting nonsense."
Upon hearing this, a look of horror appeared in Boss Xue's eyes, and his expression immediately became tense.
The onlookers also noticed something was amiss.
"This young man is right. The clay used for Ru ware is a unique yellow earth, mixed with agate, which makes the glaze very smooth and shiny. But the embryo of this Ru ware is white, clearly not Ru ware."
"Did you notice that the pores of this Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 are coarse? It's clearly not hand-shaped, it must be machine-made."
"Could it be that this Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 is really a fake, as that kid said?"
"Is there even a need to ask? It's definitely a fake!"
"But the glazing technique is really impressive. We couldn't see any problems at all."
The crowd was astonished, and their shocked gazes turned towards Chen Fan.
"Boss Xue, what's going on? Didn't you say Zhenbao Pavilion has no fakes?"
"Exactly, you need to give us a proper explanation. How did a fake appear in your shop!"
Some old customers pointed at Boss Xue and questioned him.
Sweat beaded on Xue Changrong's forehead, and he hurriedly explained, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. Didn't you just say that even experts can make mistakes? Let alone me, the boss. I didn't know this item would be a fake."
"You didn't know? Then tell us, where did the appraisal certificate for this Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶 come from?"
Xue Changrong's face turned extremely grim, and for a moment, he didn't know how to explain.
"Boss Xue, I think I need to go back and re-examine the porcelain I bought from you."
"I need to go back and check too. If it's also a fake, Boss Xue, you must give us a perfect explanation. Otherwise, you'll face a lawsuit from me!"
Xue Changrong quickly guaranteed, "Don't worry, your items will definitely be fine. If you re-examine them and find any problems, I guarantee to compensate ten times the price!"
"And this Song Dynasty Ru ware blue-glazed gold-painted赏瓶, I acquired it from someone else. I'm also a victim."
Upon hearing Xue Changrong's promise of ten times compensation and seeing the wronged look on his face, these old customers gradually quieted down.
Chen Fan saw this scene and a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Boss Xue, I remember you said earlier that if I could prove this item was a fake, I could pick anything from your shop, right?"
Xue Changrong looked at Chen Fan, wishing he could strangle Chen Fan to death, but he still managed a smile. "Yes, yes, yes. This young man has truly discerning eyes. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known such a fake existed in my shop. I must find the scoundrel who sold it to me."
Chen Fan's face lit up, and he asked innocently, "Boss Xue, how about I find a few more fakes for you? That way, you can cut your losses in time, and I can pick a few more items to take home."
Hearing Chen Fan's words, Xue Changrong was almost spitting blood from anger.