The words fell.
The entire audience was shocked and gasped.
What did Qi Yi just say?
He said that this person had such a discerning eye that he could tell the painting was fake, just like him.
Does that mean the painting is fake?
Just as Jiang Nian said before, is this "Autumn River Retreat" painting really a fake?!
Ji Yuwei was completely dumbfounded, unable to believe it for a moment: "What did you say?"
“I told you to give me his WeChat,” Qi Yi said patiently. “A high school student is much more capable than these quack gurus in the circle. I definitely want to get to know him.”
Madam Si couldn't hear what Qi Yi was saying at all; her mind was filled with his words from earlier.
I almost shouted out, "You just said you could tell this painting was fake at a glance?"
"How is this possible?! I spent a full twenty million to buy this painting!"
Qi Yi, however, seemed used to this kind of reaction and remained calm and unperturbed.
"Nothing is impossible. It's precisely because of this high price that you're more convinced it's an authentic piece."
"Furthermore, the forgery technique is indeed superb; the average person simply cannot distinguish it from the real thing. That's why the experts you consulted earlier said it was genuine."
"But a fake is a fake, and no matter how well it's imitated, it will still leave traces. Since you called me here to take a look, I'll explain it to you properly."
As he spoke, Qi Yi pointed to the painting in front of him.
"I saw the original of Qian Rui's 'Autumn River Retreat' a few years ago with my senior sister. Just now, when I glanced at it, I noticed that the whole painting is a shade brighter than the original."
"Of course, a color that is one shade brighter does not necessarily prove that it is a fake. To appreciate an ancient painting, one should generally look at it from four aspects."
"First, observe the structure, brushwork, spirit, and harmony of the painting. Second, observe whether the tone is artificial or natural, genuine or contrived. Third, examine the work's antiquity, transmission, and origin. Fourth, distinguish its collection, printing ink, paper color, and silk."
"The painting 'Autumn River Retreat' depicts the secluded paradise that the Yuan people longed for amidst the turmoil of the world. The painting features mountains and rivers as the main elements, with overlapping peaks, verdant trees, waterfalls, streams, thatched pavilions, and a beautiful autumn mountain forest scene."
"The original painting has a complex composition, but the layers are well-ordered. The waterfall and mountain path guide the viewer's eye to go deeper and deeper, making the painting flow smoothly and not cramped."
“But look at this painting in front of you. The shapes and elements are exactly the same, but the layering and structure are far inferior. The mountain path and the rushing waterfall are flat and rigid, failing to show the visual change from near to far.”
"The original painting uses only ink to depict the mountains and rocks, combining rubbing, dotting, and dyeing techniques, with varying degrees of dryness, wetness, and lightness, resulting in meticulous outlines. The trees, figures, and buildings are painted with ochre, gamboge, and indigo, creating a deep and rich color scheme that is full of ancient charm."
"The biggest problem with this painting is that the colors are not harmonious and come together in one go; there are traces of copying."
"Now let's go back to why this painting is one shade brighter than the original. The reason lies in the silk paper it uses. The silk paper used in the Yuan Dynasty that has survived to this day has long lost its shine. The fuzz on the silk has also long since faded away."
"Forgers use new silk, and no matter what method they use to age the texture, the surface sheen and the fuzz on the silk can never be completely removed, and the colors will also be different inside and out. If you don't believe me, you can grind a corner off this painting and see if it's as I said."
What is professionalism?
That's what you call professional!
If some people had doubts about Qi Yi before because of his age...
After hearing his words, I had no choice but to be convinced.
As the saying goes, experts see the details, while laymen just watch the spectacle.
When they first saw the painting, they simply thought it was a masterpiece, truly excellent.
Now, following Qi Yi's line of thought, looking at the painting again, I realize that it is indeed as he said, lacking a certain harmony and charm.
Madam Si's expression at that moment was as if the sky had fallen.
Twenty million! That's twenty million!
She was actually scammed and spent 20 million to buy a fake painting!
Losing money is a minor issue; the main problem is that she made a huge fuss, having the old man invite so many people over to admire her, just to show off.
Now that the painting has been publicly pointed out as a fake, she's completely lost face!
"How could this be? How could it be real or fake..."
Ji Yuwei was stunned, as if struck by lightning.
She brought Qi Yi here to embarrass Jiang Nian, but now she's the one who got embarrassed?!
How could this be?
Ji Yuwei just couldn't understand it.
Even if the painting is fake, and even those experts can't tell the difference, how did Jiang Nian figure it out?
"You still haven't told me, is the person here who, like me, recognized it as a fake?"
Just as Ji Yuwei was dumbfounded, Qi Yi patiently started talking to her.
But unexpectedly, the next second, a familiar voice rang out from not far away—
"Qi Yi, it seems you've put in a lot of effort these past few years; your eyesight has indeed improved."
Upon hearing this voice, the previously nonchalant boy suddenly stopped, his body trembling.
It's almost unbelievable.
Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw a girl in a white dress standing outside the crowd.
Her features were even more refined and aloof than I remembered, and she exuded an otherworldly aura, making her absolutely stunning under the lights.
"—Senior Sister?!"
Qi Yi gasped, his voice trembling, whether from excitement or elation.
"Senior sister, what are you doing here?"
The next second, the boy lost his previous lazy and casual attitude, and disregarded everyone's gaze, he went over and hugged Jiang Nian tightly.
The dog's wet eyes reddened, and its voice choked with sobs and grievance: "Senior sister, you're actually in Jiangcheng... Why didn't you contact me? Do you know how much I want to see you?"
Everyone was shocked by this scene.
But what shocked them even more was the title "senior sister".
Everyone already knows that Qi Yi is Yan Mingxue's apprentice.
He called Jiang Nian "senior sister".
Doesn't this mean that Jiang Nian is Yan Lao's other disciple who has never shown his face?
How is that possible?
Old Master Ji's granddaughter, whom he recently found and who grew up in the countryside, is actually a disciple of a master appraiser?!
While everyone was still stunned, Qi Yi had already recovered from his excitement.
He looked at the group of people with an expression of incomprehension.
"So, my senior sister is the one who told you this painting is a fake?"
"Then why did you ask me to come here?"
"Not to mention that my senior sister's appraisal skills are superior to mine, just take this painting 'Autumn River Retreat' for example, the genuine article is with my senior sister."
"She told you it was a lie, but you still don't believe her?"
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