As soon as Mo Zhexuan walked out of the Agricultural Bank, he held the blue and white porcelain vase tightly with both hands, fearing that it would be knocked or bumped, which would cause a huge loss.
It is not yet known whether this porcelain is authentic, but his intuition tells him that this is one of the collections at the Sotheby's auction - a blue and white flat vase with twined lotus patterns and double animal ears.
"Brother Xuan! Is this blue and white porcelain really from the official kiln during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty?" Li Peizhen asked curiously.
"I can't confirm this, after all, I haven't done any special research, but when I touched the body and embryo of this blue and white vase, I found that the texture was very smooth. That's one thing. Secondly, look at its color. It's not very bright, but a little dull, but it looks very pure and flawless. This is obviously the result of being stored for a long time. Third, if you look closely at its carving, the blue and white patterns are lifelike, as if a real blue and white flower is floating before your eyes."
"Mr. Mo! You have a very good eye. I also think it should be an authentic piece." Li Wanhua had come into contact with some antiques at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. After observing it carefully, she nodded in agreement.
"Let's go! Let's go find an antique shop and have a box custom-made for us! You have to be really careful with this thing. If it gets bumped or scratched, it'll leave a hole."
Mo Zhexuan kept his eyes and ears open, his attention almost entirely on the blue and white porcelain in his hand, fearing any accidents might occur.
After the four of them arrived at the central area of Hongqiao Antiques, they discovered that there were fewer and fewer small vendors selling antiques on the street, but more and more antique buildings. Each one had a large golden sign, and people were coming and going into the shops.
Walking into an antique shop called Xiangyaxuan, a faint ray of sunlight shines through the old gauze window, and the air seems to be filled with the breath of history.
The store is filled with various ancient artifacts. Two apricot-yellow incense burners emit a light and elegant fragrance. Various jade artifacts are displayed in the antique cabinet, gleaming with light. On the walls hang paintings and calligraphy from unknown dynasties. The traces of time outline a different ancient landscape.
The owner was wearing a mid-length black cotton jacket and a pair of black-framed glasses. He was holding a magnifying glass and carefully examining a large bowl with a diamond-shaped rim on the counter.
After a long time, he put down the magnifying glass, took a deep breath, and said with greed in his eyes:
"I'll give you 200 RMB for this white bowl."
"Zhou Paopi, you are too evil. Don't bully me because I don't understand. This bowl is a famous crabapple bowl from the late Tang Dynasty. The bowl body is finely textured, and the shape is plump, round and smooth. It is an official product fired in the Yuezhou Kiln."
"Mr. Yi! My maximum bid is 500. I believe no one on this street can offer a higher price than Xiang Yaxuan."
“You’re adding more!”
“..............”
Mo Zhexuan held the blue and white porcelain vase in both hands and looked at the various antiques in the store, and found a familiar figure standing in front of the counter. It was the old man in the breakfast shop outside the Beijing Railway Station this morning - Yi Jian.
"Sir! Madam! What would you like to see? The antiques in our store are all authentic, and we don't cheat anyone." The owner stopped arguing and greeted the customers warmly when he saw them coming.
"Grandpa! Do you still remember us?" Li Peizhen greeted Yijian, who was wearing a military green coat, with a smile.
Yijian was completely bewildered. He felt that those people were very familiar, but he just couldn't remember where they were. Finally, he rubbed his slightly cloudy eyes and looked at them carefully for a moment. Only then did he remember that he had seen them at breakfast this morning.
"Oh! It's you! Are you here to buy antiques?"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Mo Zhexuan saw Li Peizhen was about to speak, and quickly pretended to cough twice before explaining:
"I bought a blue and white porcelain vase and wanted the owner to authenticate it to see if it's genuine."
"No problem! Then I'll help you take a look." The owner's eyes lit up. He gently took the blue and white porcelain vase and placed it on the counter. He quickly took out a flashlight and a magnifying glass and began to observe it carefully.
After Yijian carefully put aside the crabapple bowl he had brought, he also began to observe it carefully, his expression extremely focused and serious.
The two of them observed for a total of half an hour before putting down their magnifying glasses and flashlights. The shop owner quietly glared at Yi Jian, his swollen eyes gleaming with a bright and cunning light, and he said confidently:
"Sir! After my appraisal, this blue and white vase is a replica of a blue and white flat vase with a lotus pattern and double animal handles made during the Ming Dynasty. Look at the pattern and color here. It must have been there not long ago. Look here..."
"Old sir! What do you think?" Mo Zhexuan turned and looked at Yijian, wanting to see his opinion. He was eighty percent sure that this blue and white vase was a Qing Dynasty blue and white flat vase with twined lotus patterns and double animal ears.
"I...I...am not sure yet." Yi Jian's face showed hesitation, but he finally chose not to speak.
"Sir! How much did you pay for this blue and white porcelain vase?" the shopkeeper asked, rolling his eyes.
"1,000 RMB!" Mo Zhexuan calmly raised his right index finger.
"Then you've lost a lot. This celadon vase is worth no more than 100 RMB. You can choose to sell it to me and recoup your losses."
"Old sir! What do you think?" Mo Zhexuan turned around and looked at Yijian. This was also to examine his character and whether he was a decent person. This was very important.
A trace of struggle flashed across Yi Jian's face. He turned a deaf ear to the shopkeeper's repeated gestures and pointed at the blue and white porcelain vase and said:
"I believe this is indeed an official kiln from the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. It's called a blue and white flat vase with lotus patterns and double animal handles. You can say you've made a killing. According to current market prices, this genuine piece is worth at least 5,000 RMB. If you sell it to a foreigner, I believe it's possible to fetch tens of thousands of RMB."
"Mr. Yi, you must be responsible for what you say." The shop owner became angry and said ferociously.
"I have nothing to be afraid of, so don't even think about deceiving me."
"Then I won't take your Begonia bowl."
"If you don't want to accept it, then don't accept it. I believe there are people who know the value of it..."
"I'll offer one thousand RMB to buy your Begonia Bowl. What do you think?" Mo Zhexuan said calmly.
Yi Jian was overjoyed when he heard this. This price exceeded his expectations, but out of caution, he still asked:
"Are you serious?"
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