Chapter 5: This bottle, we can't have it

  Just then, three more people walked in, Lin Feng and the store's financial manager and cashier came over together.

  "Manager Lin!"

  Financial manager Li Xiao is the boss's person, a woman in her 40s who usually doesn't participate in any management of the store, only taking care of the purse. However, this batch of goods is not cheap, and both he and Lin Liang need to sign before the money can be transferred out, so they came over. This is also one of the larger purchases made by the store.

  "Manager Li has arrived, this batch of goods is good, it was sent by Old Huang and can be trusted. Master Zhang and Master Ye have also appraised them, payment can be made!"

  Lin Liang turned around, smiled and walked up. Zhang Shifu and Ye Shifu, who were picked up by him, also came over.

  "Goods are fine, payment can be made!"

  Ye Shifu said in a low voice that all the valuable goods coming into the antique shop had to go through his hands, and he was also one of the most trusted appraisers in the store.

  Liu Yi Yang had also heard that Ye Shifu was a member of the National Collectors Association, and locally he had quite a reputation. If it weren't for the boss having a good relationship with him, they wouldn't have been able to invite him over.

  "A total of 18 million, Old Huang, is this the number?"

  Lin Liang turned his head and called out to Old Huang again. Old Huang walked over slowly, a big smile spreading across his chubby face.

  The market value of this batch of goods is over 2 million, but he only spent 1.4 million to take it over, and after a turnaround, he made a net profit of 400,000, which is why his life has been so comfortable.

  The market price is over 20 million, and it's not that antique shops are expensive.

  The market price is just a general price, antique shops will sell them at a higher price. If you meet someone who likes it, they will buy it even if the price is high. If you're lucky, this batch of goods can be sold for three million or more.

  Especially since these are Qinghua porcelain, even if they were sold at a slightly lower price, 25-60 million could be easily sold, and it wouldn't take too long, which would also be a pretty good income for the store.

  After all, antique shops have their own fixed customer base. Xuan Ya Zhai has been in business for a long time, and customers trust the sign here.

  "Alright, 18 million, Old Huang, same old rules, bank transfer?"

  It was settled that Financial Director Li Xiao said directly, Old Huang wasn't the first time coming to the store, they were familiar with each other long ago, and Li Xiao knew his habits.

  "Alright, transfer directly!"

  Lao Huang's chubby face was all scrunched up, he didn't often come across goods like this, and this time it was an unexpected surprise, just as a family happened to be in a hurry to sell.

  If it weren't for a few competitors and auction house people, he could have pushed the price even lower.

  But at this price, he is already satisfied. The goods were picked up yesterday and sold today, with hundreds of thousands in hand, and can live a comfortable life for several days.

  Li Xiao and Lin Lang quickly signed their names, took the signed note, and went to the bank to complete the transfer procedures.

  "Wait a minute!"

  Liu Yi Yang suddenly shouted and his hand was raised, everyone's attention in the room focused on him.

  "Uncle Lin, these are all fine, but this one, we can't have!"

  Liu Yi Yang pointed to the bottle that had not produced fog earlier and said in a low voice, he had been suspicious of this bottle when it did not produce fog earlier. After verifying that all other porcelain items produced fog, he had a terrible guess in his mind.

  He has done experiments and found that anything genuinely old can produce a red mist, even things from the late Qing or Republican periods, although less so.

  The fog that cannot be produced is basically modern things, such as the glass table in front of me and some modern stone carvings that have been experimented with before.

  If his guess is true, then this bottle may not be a real antique, but rather a modern fake.

  Lin Liang and Lin Feng are both quite good to him, Liu Yi Yang has been working here for a long time, knows the system here, if Lin Liang accepted the fake goods, it would be a huge blow to him.

  Xuan Ya Zhai is so big because of its honest operation. The boss attaches great importance to integrity.

  No matter what reason, at this time he has to stand up and explain.

  "Little Liu, you say this bottle can't be taken?"

  Lin Liang walked over, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, and Zhang and Ye, the two appraisers, also looked at Liu Yi Yang, their eyes filled with surprise.

  "Young man, tell me, what's wrong with it?"

  That old Huang was the same, but he was more angry. Liu Yi Yang hadn't even responded yet, and he had already asked a question first.

  Lin Feng, who was ready to register and enter the warehouse, as well as the cashier who had not left yet, were all standing there. Everyone's eyes were focused on Liu Yi Yang.

  "Why can't we have this bottle?"

  Liu Yi Yang's mind was racing quickly, he couldn't say that this bottle didn't have any spiritual energy, something without spiritual energy wasn't an antique, it was very likely to be a modern fake.

  If he really said so, Lin Liang would probably send him to a mental hospital.

  Lin Liang suddenly took a step forward and gently picked up the tube bottle that Zhang Yang had mentioned, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

  This vase was the one he paid most attention to before, and also the one that two experts valued the most. It is a Shunzhi imperial kiln vase, and very few Shunzhi official kiln ceramics have been passed down through the ages, let alone fine pieces.

  This blue and white porcelain is not as exquisite as the Qianlong porcelain behind it, but it is also a typical representative of the Shunzhi period. The value of this single vase alone exceeds 10 million, which is more valuable than the sum of the other ten pieces.

  This is also one of the two experts, the most attentive thing before.

  "Little Liu, just tell me, what's wrong with this bottle?"

  Lin Liang asked in a low voice. He didn't believe Liu Yi Yang's words, but he felt that Liu Yi Yang was usually very steady and not the kind of person who would speak randomly, so he asked a sentence.

  Of course, if Liu Yi Yang can't explain clearly, the previous impression will be completely gone, and maybe he won't be able to continue working here in the future. Lin Liang wouldn't keep someone who speaks carelessly around.

  Liu Yi Yang's brain was spinning rapidly, and soon a passage about the description of porcelain in the Shunzhi period appeared clearly in his mind.

  Liu Yi Yang remembered that this was a book he had read before, which mainly introduced the Qinghua porcelain of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It was described in great detail, but after reading it, he had forgotten most of it. Unexpectedly, everything came back to him, as if printed on his mind.

  "In the eighth year of Shunzhi, Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Factory began to recover, but due to the turmoil in the political situation and the destruction caused by the chaotic world, the technology of the imperial kiln factory was not fully restored until the eleventh year of Shunzhi. During this period, very few blue-and-white porcelain were fired, and their quality did not reach the peak at that time."

  Liu Yi Yang said slowly, and Lin Liang nodded slightly.

  Many people know this historical allusion, and Liu Yiyang said it without feeling surprised.

  Liu Yi Yang took a step forward, pointing to the glass table's cylindrical vase and continued: "Until after the eleventh year of Shunzhi, the imperial kiln began to burn large dragon vases, and the technology of Shunzhi official kilns gradually recovered. During this period, a large number of cylindrical vases were fired, also known as elephant leg vases, meaning like an elephant's legs. It is called a cylindrical vase because the Qing dynasty liked the homophonic 'tong', which means unification of the country!"

  This time, both Zhang Ye and the two appraisers nodded in agreement. Not only during the Shunzhi period, but also during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, many tube bottles were fired, hoping that the Great Qing dynasty would be stable and unified.

  Speaking freely, Liu Yi Yang also became much more natural, he took another step forward.

  "During the Shunzhi period, there were indeed many cylindrical bottles, mostly with dragon patterns or narrative designs. Whether it was a dragon pattern or a narrative design, they liked to add some clouds on top to cover up certain areas!"

  Liu Yi Yang slowly said, this time Lin Feng quietly nodded in agreement.

  He really knew this point, after working for so long and having the influence of his family, he had a certain understanding of things in different historical periods.

  During the Shunzhi reign, the Manchu had just entered the pass and the Han people were still in a state of grief. Even the Manchu nobles did not think they could govern the vast territory of the Han people forever.

  This ideology was also reflected in various cultural industries at that time.

  Qinghua porcelain is the same, during the Shunzhi period, Qinghua porcelain with clouds means unclear vision, which is not understood now, but at that time it was a universal idea. No one knew what the future would be like, whether it would be the great Qing dynasty for ten thousand years or quickly exit like the Mongols and Yuan dynasties, so they covered it up, this is an ideological form.

  "However, I understand some of it, so let me ask you, what is this pattern on here?"

  Old Huang hummed in his nose, stretched out a finger and quietly asked a question while pointing at the tube bottle.

  "This is a dragon scale, painted with clouds. The clouds cover the dragon's body into five segments, and there is also a saying that 'one dragon appears in five forms'!"

  Liu Yi Yang continued speaking, while others remained silent, quietly watching him.

  Lin Liang was somewhat surprised, didn't expect Liu Yi Yang to understand so much.

  One dragon with five claws, one dragon with three claws, and even one dragon with seven or nine claws are characteristics of some Qing dynasty porcelain. During that period, blue-and-white porcelain liked to use clouds to cover the body of the dragon, but no matter how it was covered, what was exposed was always an odd number.

  "You're still young, but you seem to know a lot, just be clear about it, why can't I have this bottle?"

  Lao Huang snorted again, Liu Yiyang's words were all characteristics of Shunzhi porcelain, which couldn't satisfy him.

  He has been traveling all over the country for many years, and in his early years, he suffered a lot of grievances. He also developed a personality that looked down on others and had to report any flaws. His mind had long made up its mind, Liu Yi Yang couldn't say why, but today he would definitely let this young man suffer punishment.

  "Alright, what I want to say is that the problem with this vase lies right on the fifth stroke of this dragon's claw!"

  Liu Yi Yang straightened his body, previously he was only anxious because the bottle didn't have spiritual energy so he said it couldn't be wanted in a urgent situation, but now based on comparison from memory and his own observation, he had already found the weakness of this tube bottle.

  He now has complete confidence.

  "What's wrong with this dragon? It seems fine."

  Master Zhang and Lin Liang both lowered their heads to carefully examine the Qianlong cylindrical vase, then lifted their heads together. However, Master Ye's eyebrows slowly furrowed as he supported his chin with his hand, staring at the Qinghua cylindrical vase on the glass table without saying a word.

  "I'd like to hear you talk about it, what's wrong with this dragon and five appearances!"

  Lao Huang burst out laughing, with a hint of ferocity still in his eyes.

  If it were something else, he might have some worries, but when it comes to embroidery, he has absolute confidence. He has been in this industry for nearly twenty years and would not believe that his eyesight is worse than a young newcomer's.

  He's still waiting, as long as Liu Yi Yang can't come up with a reason or one that satisfies him, he'll completely turn against them. He has a lot of connections in this circle, and if he really gets angry, Xuan Ya Zhai might even offer more money to appease him, anyway it's their own fault.

  "Manager Lin, Old Zhang, no need for Little Liu to say it, this bottle really has a problem!"

  Liu Yi Yang hadn't spoken yet, but a faint sigh had already sounded, and Ye Shifu was looking at Liu Yi Yang with a complex expression.