Liu Zhongyi said coldly into the phone, "I can agree to let you hold the treasure-hunting competition! But you must release Wang Qi's family!"
Shinichi Kameda sneered disdainfully: "Old man, don't try to bargain with me. Just announce the treasure-hunting tournament and I'll release them immediately!"
"All right!"
Helpless, Liu Zhongyi had no choice but to instruct Liu Siyun to release the news of the treasure competition.
Given the Liu family's status in the Guanzhong antique world, the news spread rapidly throughout the industry as soon as it was released!
It caused a huge sensation in the Guanzhong antique community.
Doubao, also known as 'Doukou'!
This term has disappeared from the world of antiques for decades.
In the antique trade, the so-called "fighting mouth" actually means disrupting someone's business.
The rules of the game are very simple: the challenger presents an item, and the challenged party has to identify whether it is real or fake.
However, it's important to note that the object presented by the challenger must be fake; otherwise, it violates the rules.
The challenged party must explain exactly what makes the object fake; if they cannot, they lose!
The Doukou is equivalent to a life-or-death arena in the martial arts world!
The losing party will be permanently barred from working in the antique industry!
This approach was too radical, so it disappeared decades ago!
Liu Zhongyi is widely recognized as the most authoritative appraiser in the antique world! In all his years in the industry, no one has dared to question his authority, but now someone has actually challenged it.
Moreover, the Liu family actually agreed!
Given Liu Zhongyi's position as the association president, his word is law!
Upon receiving the news, Shinichi Kameda readily released Wang Qi's wife and children.
Upon receiving the news that his wife and children were safe, Wang Qi was so moved that he burst into tears and kept kowtowing to Liu Zhongyi.
Liu Zhongyi turned his back and waved his hand, "Wang Qi, you can leave now. Our master-servant relationship is over. From now on, you have nothing to do with my Wang family!"
A country has its laws, and a family has its rules!
If Wang Qi is not punished, wouldn't everyone be able to follow suit?
Therefore, we must make an example of them!
At the same time, warn others that betrayal, for whatever reason, can never be forgiven!
"Thank you, sir!"
Wang Qi, tears streaming down his face, banged his head heavily on the ground and left in a daze.
Now that he has been kicked out of the Liu family, he will have no place in the antique world from now on, and no one will hire him anymore.
Even after Wang Qi left, Liu Zhongyi remained unable to calm down for a long time.
Liu Siyun comforted him, "Grandpa, it's all over now, don't be angry anymore!"
Liu Zhongyi nodded and said, "This verbal dispute is no small matter. It concerns the honor of my Liu family and the dignity of my Mingmu faction! If Kameda wins, not only will my Liu family lose face, but even our ancestor will lose face!"
"Moreover, if Kameda were to control the antique industry, and counterfeit goods were allowed to run rampant, the entire industry would be in turmoil!" Liu Zhongyi's face showed deep concern.
Lin Yu asked from the side, "Old Liu, what exactly are the rules of this 'battle'?"
Liu Zhongyi nodded and slowly said, "Before the Qing Dynasty, the competition was usually a best-of-five series, with the five categories being ceramics, calligraphy and painting, ancient coins, bronzes, and precious stones! However, by the time of the Republic of China, two categories were removed, and the best-of-three series was usually adopted, leaving only ceramics, calligraphy and painting, and precious stones!"
"The challenger presents three categories of items for the challenged to authenticate! Only one person is allowed per round, and no one else may interfere! The challenged must explain exactly why the item is fake; if they cannot, the challenger wins!"
Liu Zhongyi sighed, "With the appraisal skills of my Liu family, I am quite confident. However, the Fish Eye School is not to be underestimated. In the past, the two schools had many verbal battles. Although my Bright Eye School won most of the time, there were times when we stumbled. Back then, several ancestors of the Bright Eye School were forced to withdraw from the antique world because of their defeat in verbal battles. They not only lost all their family property, but some even committed suicide due to depression!"
Lin Yu understood. To put it bluntly, this duel was just like a life-or-death contest in the martial arts world, where one's life and fortune were also at stake.
Liu Siyun gritted her teeth and said, "Let's fight! Grandpa, let's fight together, are we afraid of that turtle field? A fish eye is still a fish eye, it will never become a pearl!"
Liu Zhongyi shook his head. "The Fish-Eye School disappeared many years ago, and we have no idea how far it has developed since then. It's better to be cautious! My Liu family has always been most skilled in calligraphy and painting appraisal. I'm confident I can win in this area! But even I, your grandfather, wouldn't dare say I'm sure about jade and porcelain! Let alone you..."
Liu Siyun pursed her lips and said, "Grandpa, don't underestimate me! In the past few years, I have been studying jade and I think I have some expertise. Why don't you leave this jade game to me!"
Liu Zhongyi nodded, "Alright! My granddaughter has guts, these two rounds are settled! But there's still one more round, the porcelain..."
As Liu Zhongyi spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu could easily see through the old man's thoughts, so he nodded and said, "Old Liu, I also don't like those Japanese. Leave this porcelain round to me!"
"good!"
Liu Zhongyi stood up, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Then I will have to entrust this to you, young friend Lin! This verbal duel concerns the future of my Liu family, and even more so the development of the entire antique industry. On behalf of my ancestors, I thank you, young friend Lin!"
"You're too kind, sir. I'll do my best!" Lin Yu waved his hand.
Time is of the essence; the duel is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and the three of them must go into seclusion for intensive study and make up for lost time.
Liu Zhongyi returned to his study, took out some documents, books, and antique paintings and calligraphy, and began to study them with a magnifying glass.
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