Ye Chen's expression stiffened for a moment, his gaze fixed on the crack that Qin Xiao had pointed out, a barely perceptible hint of panic flashing deep in his eyes.
He forced his neck straight, trying to maintain his precarious posture, but his voice unconsciously lowered a few decibels.
"Hmph, so what if there's a crack?"
"This is imperial green, the quality speaks for itself."
"Even with some flaws, it's worth at least 300 million."
Ye Chen forced himself to stay calm and looked at Qin Xiao again, his fierceness almost overflowing in his eyes.
"Stop talking nonsense. Three hundred million, plus the previous bets, that makes a total of three billion."
"Give me the money now, immediately, right now."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Qin Xiao seemed to completely ignore his threat, remaining in a half-squatting position, the brass magnifying glass in his hand steady.
He chuckled softly, his tone carrying a mixture of pure curiosity and amusement.
"Don't be in such a hurry, Mr. Ye."
"I haven't finished reading it yet."
The faint light of the [Listening Spring Treasure Appraisal System] quietly flowed in Qin Xiao's eyes, revealing the world under the magnifying glass with every detail exposed.
He brought the magnifying glass closer to the so-called "Imperial Green" again, moving it slowly as if admiring a work of art.
"Huh?"
Qin Xiao feigned surprise and raised his eyelids, as if he had discovered a new continent.
"Mr. Ye, come and take a look. This jade is so shiny, and it seems to have a lot of small air bubbles inside."
Through the lens, he gently touched a few tiny reflective points inside the jade, his movements extremely meticulous.
"This...this process, could it be the legendary glue injection?"
Ye Chen's heart sank, and the color drained from his face, making him look rather unwell.
Qin Xiao gave him no time to react or argue, and the magnifying glass continued to move slowly, finally stopping in an extremely hidden corner that was almost blending into the color of the stone.
"Oh dear, Mr. Ye, come quick! There seem to be a few letters here?"
He even enthusiastically handed the magnifying glass slightly towards Ye Chen, but remained as steady as a mountain, showing no intention of getting up.
"Let me take a closer look... P...U...T...I...A...N..."
Qin Xiao drawled out each letter clearly, his voice not loud, but like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.
"Putian?"
Someone in the crowd couldn't help but gasp, and their gazes toward Ye Chen instantly became subtle, filled with probing and a hint of barely perceptible mockery.
Qin Xiao seemed completely absorbed in his "appraisal," ignoring the reactions around him, and continued to observe "seriously."
"Tsk tsk, Mr. Ye, look over here, and over here too, the colors don't seem quite right either."
"Why is there a grayish-white tinge next to this green color? It looks dirty, like a used rag."
With each "flaw" he pointed out, Ye Chen's expression grew increasingly grim, as if he had been stripped naked in public, and shame and anger surged into his heart like a tidal wave.
Qin Xiao held the cheap brass magnifying glass and circled the "Imperial Green" piece that Ye Chen had once praised to the skies, muttering to himself, just like a customer picking out cheap goods on the street.
"The water flow here is incorrect."
"The luster there is dull."
"The cut edges have tiny burrs; the workmanship is too rough."
He pointed out dozens of "flaws" that would be laughable to professionals, but every word was like a needle, precisely piercing Ye Chen's proud and arrogant heart, causing him pain that almost suffocated him.
The onlookers had long since shifted from initial shock to amusement, their whispers growing louder and louder, filled with undisguised mockery and ridicule.
Finally, Qin Xiao straightened up, carefully picked up the problematic "Imperial Green" piece, and walked straight to the old craftsman who had remained silent, as if he were detached from the matter.
This master craftsman has been working at Jubaoge for decades, and has seen mountains of jadeite rough stones. His discerning eye is renowned throughout the entire Beijing antique circle.
"Master, you are a true expert. Please help me take a look."
Qin Xiao respectfully handed the jade to the master craftsman, his tone humble and polite, a stark contrast to his earlier mocking manner towards Ye Chen.
"How much do you think this piece of material is worth?"
The master craftsman took the jade, and his previously cloudy old eyes instantly became as sharp as a hawk's.
He picked up his tools and meticulously tapped and hammered at them, then examined them repeatedly under the light, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper, as if he were facing an extremely difficult problem.
After a moment, he put down the jade, slowly shook his head, his voice carrying a hint of regret, but more so disdain and contempt.
"Sigh, at first glance, it's so bright green it's dazzling, it really is intimidating."
"It's a pity that there are too many and too complicated cracks, the inside is full of air bubbles, the color is also mixed and impure, and the worst thing is that the traces of artificial treatment are too obvious."
The old master gave Ye Chen, who was ashen-faced and stiff-bodied, a meaningful glance, and said decisively.
"Based on my thirty years of experience, this thing..."
He paused, then held up three fingers, his withered fingers trembling slightly in the air.
"It's worth at most thirty yuan, no more than that. It's too cheap to even use as a paperweight."
Thirty yuan.
These three words exploded like thunder in the silent shop, and like a resounding slap in the face, shattering Ye Chen's last shred of dignity.
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