"My eyesight is failing me. I can only tell that this is a fake, but I can't find any flaws in it, nor can I tell which master craftsman it is. I am fortunate to have your expertise today, young brother. I would be grateful if you could analyze it for me."
However, the old man did not answer Hu Yuan's question. Instead, he laughed even more heartily and casually passed the question back to Hu Yuan.
To be honest, Hu Yuan could also tell who made it.
To be honest, if you only rely on your expertise in identifying antiques, probably no one could tell the difference.
After all, these jade elephants were made so well, and the carving skills were so exquisite that there was not a single flaw to be found.
More importantly, this carving technique only reveals the superb skill, but it doesn't show any distinctive features.
That's precisely what makes it the hardest to guess.
But Hu Yuan had lived two lives, and in his previous life he had experienced far too much, so he was never wrong when it came to judging people.
"If I am not mistaken, this pair of jade elephants must be the work of yours, senior. But judging from their appearance, they are not new. They are probably your masterpiece from when you were over twenty years old."
Hu Yuan stared intently at the old man before him and said earnestly.
These words shocked many people present, and almost everyone looked on incredulously.
"How could that be? How could Old Master Zhong fabricate something?"
"That's right. Although Grandpa Zhong is a big shot in the antique world, I've never heard of him being skilled in carving."
"That's right, this guy must be talking nonsense. He actually dared to tarnish Old Master Zhong's character. He's really despicable."
"Haha, that's not surprising. This guy can't figure out the origin of the jade elephant, so he can only talk nonsense."
"…………"
People around them were gossiping, but when Grandpa Zhong actually faced Hu Yuan, he was dumbfounded.
Having rarely experienced emotional fluctuations in decades, he now appears expressionless, but his inner world is in turmoil.
“Young brother, you have a discerning eye. These jade elephants are indeed my work from when I was young. At the time, I thought they were enough to pass for the real thing, and I was very proud of them. But later I realized that in the eyes of a true expert, they are actually fake in every way.”
"But when I made these jade elephants, it was indeed the highlight of my carving skills. Later, I could no longer carve such exquisite pieces, so I had to put these fakes here. On the one hand, it is to remind myself to be more steady in my work, and on the other hand, it is also to reminisce about my youth."
"In the past twenty-five years, only a dozen or so people have seen through the problem with this jade elephant. Among them, only five or six can explain the key details. And among all those who can tell that this was made by me, only you, my little brother, can do it."
Mr. Zhong was clearly an open and magnanimous person, and he did not hide the truth for fear of losing face.
However, after he said this, no one's focus was on the fact that Old Master Zhong had forged antiques.
Instead, they were all shocked by the young man Hu Yuan's insight.
It is truly rare to receive such praise from Mr. Zhong.
"You flatter me, sir. I only guessed it by chance."
Hu Yuan smiled slightly. This was simply a result of his careful observation. He noticed the hint of pride that Zhong Laoye unconsciously showed on his face when he was explaining the jade elephant.
“Strength is strength, there’s no need to be modest and say it was just luck. I have another request, young brother, please don’t refuse. If you help me with this great favor, I will surely repay you handsomely in the future.”
To Hu Yuan's utter surprise, Old Master Zhong suddenly uttered such a sentence.
Asking for my help in public and promising a generous reward?
This is a rare opportunity; something many people wouldn't even dare to dream of.
Old Master Zhong is of high status, and his wealth is beyond anyone's knowledge. To receive such a generous reward from him would probably guarantee a life free from financial worries.
"Please remember my words, sir. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse in the slightest."
Hu Yuan was naturally happy to have such an opportunity.
Regardless of how much money Old Master Zhong will give me, even just gaining this favor is not bad.
Who knows, one day I might need someone to lend me a hand.
"This matter is of great importance. I would like to ask you to speak with me privately."
Grandpa Zhong immediately stepped aside and gestured for Hu Yuan to come into the inner room to talk.
"Young brother, I recently acquired a blue and white porcelain vase, but I really can't tell if it's real or fake. If you could help me take a look, I'd be willing to pay you 100,000 for your trouble."
Upon entering the inner room, Old Master Zhong immediately spoke.
Even someone like Hu Yuan, with his mindset, was taken aback.
A reward of 100,000 yuan for just looking at something, that thing must be incredibly valuable.
"This junior will certainly do my best."
Hu Yuan nodded immediately.
After hearing Hu Yuan's agreement, Grandpa Zhong immediately led Hu Yuan to the backyard.
The backyard of this pavilion is a small garden, surrounded by corridors.
Following the corridor, Hu Yuan was led to the innermost part of the pavilion, where a stone door stood before him.
The stone door looked heavy, but it was actually quite light. The old man pushed it open easily.
Upon entering the stone chamber, one is greeted by a collection of antiques of great value.
Just by looking at this stone chamber, you can tell just how wealthy Old Master Zhong is.
The most important item in the stone chamber is a large blue-and-white porcelain vase.
This porcelain vase is at least three meters tall; it would probably take two large men to encircle it.
At first glance, it is truly shocking and can stun the eyes.
Blue and white porcelain vases have always been among the most difficult antiques to preserve. They are also rare and beautiful in appearance, making them one of the most valuable antiques.
Even a simple Ming Dynasty folk kiln blue and white porcelain vase can be worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.
A blue-and-white porcelain vase as large as the one in front of us has never been unearthed before.
If this were true, it would be priceless.
“Young man, according to the seller, this was moved from the tomb of a high-ranking official from the Ming Dynasty. I have studied it for half a month and although I can’t see anything wrong with it, I still feel a little uneasy. Why don’t you take a look?”
"Old Master Zhong said with a solemn expression."
Hu Yuan simply nodded slightly, without saying a word, and then slowly circled the large blue-and-white porcelain vase, carefully observing every detail.
“Mr. Zhong, this porcelain vase should be fine in terms of glaze, workmanship, and material. It is very much in line with the style of Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain. However, there is indeed a small problem that you may not have noticed.”
After carefully reading it through, Hu Yuan returned to Grandpa Zhong's side, looking regretful.
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