Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang inwardly scoffed.
That's easier said than done.
He glanced at the jade seal indifferently, his tone carrying a hint of sympathy: "Is that so? Then Mr. Du's patriotism is indeed commendable! It's just a pity... your 'sacrifice' will probably be greatly diminished."
He paused, then turned his gaze to the jade seal that Du Zhe hadn't had time to hide, his expression resolute.
"This so-called 'Imperial Jade Seal of Emperor Qianlong' is a completely modern craft. Although the technique of aging new jade is passable, it is a far cry from 'Imperial'. It's not worth a hundred million, not even a fraction of that."
"What?!"
Du Minghua frowned, but he simply didn't believe it.
"Impossible. This has been authenticated by Sotheby's experts. What do you, a mere kid, know?"
Du Minghua's tone was laced with disdain, "You haven't even seen the actual item, how can you have the expertise to authenticate it? Don't try to fool my son!"
"Dad! If you don't trust my master's judgment, then you're at a loss!"
Du Zhe yelled at Du Minghua, "Sotheby's experts are nothing! If my master says it's fake, then it's fake!"
He believed that Zhou Yang came from a family even more powerful than the Du family. After all, aside from Zhou Yang's cooking skills, his background was mysterious, and he could also pick flowers and leaves and appraise treasures.
He is definitely a super genius nurtured by a hidden, powerful family!
Therefore, Du Zhe had no doubt about Zhou Yang's judgment.
He said confidently, "Dad, how about we make a bet? You get someone to authenticate it right now! If it's real, I won't take a single penny of my allowance this year! If it's fake..."
Du Zhe's eyes darted around, and he made an outrageous demand, "Transfer me fifty million! Consider it compensation for emotional distress!"
"You...you unfilial son!"
Du Minghua was so angry that he trembled all over and raised his hand to slap Du Zhe.
Fifty million? This kid's got a death wish!
But for some reason, his heart skipped a beat.
Zhou Yang's resolute expression, Du Zhe's do-or-die attitude...
Could it be that there's really something wrong with this jade seal?
More than 100 million!
If it's true, then Du Minghua will have completely lost face!
In the end, a trace of doubt prevailed over anger.
Du Minghua gritted his teeth, glared fiercely at Du Zhe, and then suddenly pulled out his phone.
"Fine! I'll make you admit defeat right now! I'll call my men over immediately!"
The call was quickly connected, and Du Minghua gave a few instructions in a deep voice on the other end.
The waiting time always seems exceptionally long.
The atmosphere in the study was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
About half an hour later, footsteps were heard again.
Three people came in this time.
The two leading figures were actually acquainted with Zhou Yang and his two companions; they were Gu Zhongchen, a bigwig in the antique world, and his granddaughter, Gu Huaiyue.
Following behind them was an elderly man with white hair and beard, but who was vigorous and had sharp eyes.
When Gu Zhongchen and Gu Huaiyue saw that Zhou Yang and Xu Yao were also present, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.
"Old Gu! Old Jin! You've finally arrived!"
Upon seeing them, Du Minghua immediately rushed forward as if grasping at a lifeline.
"Quick! Help me take a look! Tell me if this jade seal is real or fake!"
Gu Zhongchen nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the jade seal in the brocade box, and his expression became solemn.
The old man known as "Master Jin" is named Jin Buhuan, and he is a leading figure in the field of antique appraisal.
The three men didn't say much. They put on white gloves, took turns stepping forward, and carefully examined the jade seal.
Sometimes I would get closer to examine it closely, sometimes I would use a magnifying glass to observe the texture, and sometimes I would gently tap it with my fingertips to listen to the sound.
Gu Zhongchen and Jin Buhuan exchanged a few words in hushed tones, their brows sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing.
Du Minghua's heart was in his throat, and his palms were sweaty.
Du Zhe wore a smug expression that said, "Let's see how you get out of this," and occasionally winked at Zhou Yang.
After a good ten minutes, Gu Zhongchen and Jin Buhuan exchanged a glance, and then Gu Zhongchen spoke first.
He put down the jade seal, looked at Du Minghua, and sighed softly, "Mr. Du, this thing..."
Jin Buhuan took over the conversation, his voice strong and powerful, yet tinged with regret.
"It's too new! The jade quality is acceptable, but the patina is too rough and the fiery quality hasn't faded. The carving looks exquisite, but it's more about craftsmanship than spirit. The seal script is also unsophisticated."
"In my humble opinion... this is indeed a modern replica. The aging technique is quite deceptive, and its value is around a million!"
"boom--!"
Du Minghua felt a buzzing in his head, as if all his strength had been drained, and he slumped down onto the mahogany sofa behind him.
His face was ashen, his eyes vacant, and he muttered to himself, "It's fake...it really is fake...my 180 million..."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Upon seeing this, Du Zhe suddenly burst into deafening laughter.
He rushed to Du Minghua in three strides, holding out his palm, "Dad! Give me the money! Fifty million! Hand it over!"
"I'll let you take it! I'll let you take it!"
Du Minghua was already seething with anger, and Du Zhe's words provoked him so much that he instantly exploded, leaping up from the sofa and chasing after Du Zhe to beat him up.
"Ouch! Dad! A gentleman uses words, not fists!"
Du Zhe screamed in fright, nimbly dodging around the study while continuing to provoke him.
"You have to accept the consequences of your bet! You can't cheat!"
"I'll beat you to death, you little bastard!"
Du Minghua was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared at Du Minghua, and chased after him even more urgently.
Seeing that he was about to be caught, Du Zhe had a sudden inspiration. He quickly hid behind Zhou Yang and poked half his head out to ask for help.
"Master! Master, save me! My dad can't take a loss, he's going to beat me up!"
Zhou Yang looked at the two lovable father and son, feeling both amused and exasperated.
He reached out and gently pressed down on Du Minghua's arm as he chased after him, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force.
"Mr. Du, calm down. The child is just a child and doesn't know any better. Don't take it too seriously. Money is just an external thing. It's not worth getting sick from getting angry."
Strangely enough, when Zhou Yang blocked Du Minghua's path, a strange sense of intimidation washed over him, and he actually stopped in his tracks. The raging fire in his chest seemed to have been doused with cold water, and it was extinguished considerably.
He stared blankly at Zhou Yang, momentarily forgetting to lash out.
Zhou Yang's hand, which held down Du Minghua's arm, seemed casual, but it was like an iron clamp, preventing Du Minghua from breaking free.
His tone remained calm, yet tinged with a hint of mockery: "Mr. Du, please calm down. Your son is indeed outspoken, but there's one thing he said that isn't entirely wrong."
Du Minghua was taken aback. His anger was stirred by a hint of curiosity in his voice, which temporarily suppressed his rage: "He... what he said was right?"
Zhou Yang released his grip, glanced around the luxuriously furnished study, his gaze lingering on a few pieces of furniture for a moment, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
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