Volume 1 Chapter 112 So That's How It Is

  Speaking of this Qianlong-style coral red enamel auspicious magpie vase, there is a small story inside. About six years ago, an old farmer from the countryside brought this vase to Yaxuan, saying it was a family heirloom that had been passed down through generations, and he was eager to sell it due to financial difficulties.

  Wei Rongsong was delighted to receive the item, thinking it was a rare treasure that could be used as a hall treasure. However, upon closer inspection, he felt that something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

  Wei Rongsong liked to think deeply and study the knowledge of antiques. He wouldn't make a hasty judgment on something he wasn't sure about. After inquiring with the old farmer who was selling it, the old man quoted a price of 50,000 yuan. This price was actually quite reasonable, and it was a complete steal. Even if he had been cheated, it wouldn't have been a big deal. Wei Rongsong then bought the porcelain piece and later invited fellow collectors to take a closer look together.

  This has caused a stir, with some saying it's the real deal, worth over 10 million, and possibly even 30 million. Others say it's a fake, and while spending 50,000 yuan on a craft vase is a loss, it's not too much of a loss.

  Because it couldn't form an overwhelming conclusion, Wei Rusong didn't plan to let go of this porcelain, and brought along a Qianlong mark coral red enamel joyous magpie reporting good news reward vase, visiting several famous families, even national treasure level appraisal masters, but they all couldn't say anything conclusive.

  After searching for a year, he couldn't find any conclusive evidence to prove its authenticity. The vase was left in Wei Rongsong's hands and later placed on the shelf for half a year. Then, Wei Rongsong brought the Qing Dynasty Qianlong coral red glaze auspicious magpie vase to Yaxuan, hoping to find an expert who could make a final judgment on this piece of porcelain.

  Xuan Qi had once watched an antique appraisal show, where a piece of porcelain was from Panjiayuan Yaxuan. The name on the report was also Qianlong Coral Red Enamel Joyful Magpie Reporting Good News Reward Bottle. Later, dozens of experts studied it for tens of days, even using carbon-14 dating instruments to detect its age, and all confirmed that this was an antique with a heritage. However, one expert, after some thought, suddenly revealed the truth, saying that this Qianlong Coral Red Enamel Joyful Magpie Reporting Good News Reward Bottle was actually not quite right.

  The entire program seemed to rotate in Xuán Qí's mind like a slide, the bottle in his memory and the one in front of him overlapping, identical in an instant. Using the technique of Qián Qì again to observe, he confirmed that this bottle indeed contained the spiritual energy unique to ancient artifacts. Xuán Qí could already confirm that this bottle was the one that would cause controversy in later generations.

  Wei Rusong came out to see Xuan Qi, who looked like a student, and did not underestimate him because of his young age. With an old-fashioned fist bump, he said: "Friend, I heard you want to see me about this vase. Please enlighten me?"

  Xuan Qi's demeanor was very humble: "I'm ashamed to accept your teachings, it's just that seeing the things I love, I couldn't help but feel a new joy, so I specially invited the elderly to come and talk about numbers."

  Xuan Qi said, using his hand to wipe the glass cover of the Qianlong mark coral red enamel auspicious magpie reporting good news reward bottle: "What a great bottle! If there were no doubts, it would be worth at least 30 million. In a few more years, it could even break 100 million. Unfortunately, because of these doubts, its value has dropped greatly. To you, it's worth 5 million, but to me, it's only worth 1 million." Xuan Qi said, stretching out his index finger.

  "Really?" A strange light flashed in Wei Rusong's eyes: "Antiques are all about appreciation and transparency. Scholarship is also about being thorough. As long as you can point out the doubts about this vase, dispel the doubts in my mind, let alone 100,000 yuan, I'd even give it to you for free?"

  "No!" Xuan Qi insisted: "We'll pay. We're not especially familiar with everyone, how can we take advantage of your kindness."

  "Good!" Wei Rusong nodded: "Still the same sentence, speak out the doubt of this bottle, I'll sell it to you for 100,000 yuan."

  Xuan Qi used his divination technique to take a glance at Wei Ruzong and found that this old man had a clear mind, with an upright aura on his head, he was a kind-hearted gentleman who kept his promises, and would not go back on his word.

  "This vase actually doesn't have any problem, the only problem is that the name is wrong!" Xuan Qi said softly: "It should be called, Republic of China imitation Qing Qianlong coral red enamel colorful magpie reporting good news reward vase."

  "Ah!" Wei Rusong's face stiffened, his expression flickering before turning into wild joy. His eyes shone brightly as he grasped Xuán Qí's hand and said: "My young friend is truly knowledgeable, with an eye like a sharp awl! How come we didn't think of such a simple and obvious principle?! Yes! There's nothing wrong with this vase, it's just that the name is incorrect! The era is misjudged!"

  Artworks, especially antiques, not only emphasize artistic value but also the value of age. Now, Huaxia can produce Qinghua, even Ge kiln, Ru kiln, Jun kiln, and Ding kiln ceramics that were once famous for their excellence, and even the craftsmanship and artistic value are better than before, but they do not have the value of antiques, which involves the issue of dynasty and inheritance.

  During the Republic of China period, ceramic production was inferior to that of the Qing dynasty in both quantity and quality. Even worse, there emerged ceramics with pasted flowers, where flowers were stuck onto smooth ceramics. Some had alternating patterns of pasted flowers and watercolor paintings, meaning some parts were pasted with flowers while others were painted with watercolors, resulting in a significant decrease in artistic value and a major setback for craftsmanship.

  This is not to say that the Republic of China people can't imitate Qing dynasty porcelain, there was a period of time when some people imitated porcelain from various dynasties after Qianlong, but the quantity wasn't too much, and mainly focused on imitating early Qing dynasty porcelain. Occasionally, there were imitations of Qianlong period and before, and passed down, just like this imitation Qing dynasty coral red glaze auspicious magpie vase reporting good news.

  One thought clears, a hundred reasons become clear. The doubts that had troubled Wei Rushan for many years were suddenly dispelled. The suspicious points on the bottle were instantly washed away, which is why, although they are both antiques, there was still room for doubt, because it was a Republic of China imitation of Qianlong, with a difference of several hundred years in between, and although the material was the same, it could not be completely consistent.

  Wei Rusong had his assistant take out a brocade box and put the porcelain bottle in it, then picked up his pen and wrote on the invoice: "Republic of China imitation Qing Dynasty Qianlong coral red enamel auspicious magpie reporting good news reward bottle".

  Su Mengxue swiped the card and took this bottle to give as a gift, which was quite fitting. Although it's a replica from the Republic of China era, it's still a rare and precious item.

  Wei Rusong handed over a business card with both hands to Xuan Qi: "Young friend, if you have time in the future, you are welcome to come to Ya Xuan often. The ancients said that among three people walking together, there must be one who is my teacher, and it is indeed true that I am sincere and not deceitful."

  Xuan Qi took the business card with both hands, bowed to Wei Ru Song: "Old master, I just read some miscellaneous books and thought of it unintentionally, don't praise me like that."

  "Right! Right!" Wei Rusong casually asked, "Looking at your young age, you should still be studying, whose disciple are you under?" Wei Rusong misunderstood and took Xuan Qi as a disciple of some antique master.

  "My name is Xuan Qi, I just got into Beiqing University this year and I'm majoring in Computer Science." Xuan Qi was straightforward, but when facing an experienced old fox, being too direct made him seem inferior.

  "Computers!" Wei Rusong was surprised again: "With such good theoretical knowledge and such a broad vision, not learning national studies or ancient artifacts transmission is really a pity!"

  "All roads lead to Rome, I hope my short life can be colorful and exciting, no matter what I learn, as long as I'm happy." Xuan Qi has also lived two lifetimes, so he has a broad-mindedness that others don't have.

  Farewell to Wei Ruxiang, the three of them walked out. Su Mengxue hugged the bottle and looked at Xuan Qi walking in front, his tall back suddenly became majestic. She really liked his confident appearance when talking. If her illness got better, she must become his girlfriend. Su Mengxue's face turned red with excitement.

  Put the jade and porcelain bought on the car, it's almost noon, three people decided to find a place to eat. Xuan Qi still thought that the rush mat had not been bought, and after buying the rush mat, they would leave Panjia Garden.

  The bustling Panjiayuan, with the gradual prosperity of the antique market, its affiliated industries have also developed rapidly. On the outskirts of Panjiayuan, there is a row of snack stalls, because most of the tourists who come to Panjiayuan are from China and some international friends, so the main products sold here are characteristic snacks.

  They chose a relatively clean restaurant, Xuan Qi ordered a bowl of sour plum soup, then ordered three bowls of fried noodles with sauce, and also asked for a plate of minced meat pancakes. Afraid that it was not enough to eat, they also ordered a portion of donkey rolling. The three of them had been strolling around for half a day, experiencing joy, sorrow, and anger, unknowingly becoming hungry. Plus the local snacks here were delicious, the three people couldn't help but have a big appetite.

  Don't underestimate the beauty with a big appetite, transforming into a foodie goddess, eating like a whirlwind. Xuan Qi's body seems to have a special medium that makes people around him unconsciously approach him and let their guard down. Like an old friend, showing his most sincere side.

  Su Mengxue, who was in a good mood, had a big appetite. Normally, she would only eat a little for one meal, but today she not only finished a bowl of fried noodles, but also ate two meat-filled pancakes and a donkey roll. And there was still some unfinished business.

  Hong Qin is a straightforward and unpretentious person, she has always believed that good physique comes from eating well, like a tomboy, with a bold and unrestrained demeanor, chewing loudly, not only not looking bad, but also revealing a unique charm in her boldness.

  One serving of donkey rolls wasn't enough, so they ordered another. Three people patted their swollen bellies, and only then did they consider it a good meal. Hong Qin suddenly remembered that she was a goddess, not a tomboy, picked up the sour plum soup, and took small sips.

  Su Mengxue also returned to her usual self, holding a napkin and wiping the corner of her mouth, then asked Xuan Qi: "Where are we going next?"

  "Let's go buy some more buns, if you guys don't have anywhere to play, we'll head back to school." Xuan Qi also wiped the corners of his mouth clean, unexpectedly these two young women had such big appetites, and looking at Hong Chen's high and proud chest, Xuan Qi believed that good figures were achieved through eating.

  After drinking the sour plum soup to smooth out her breath, the little beauty took out a small mirror from her bag and began to make herself even more beautiful, transforming into a completely different person from the one who was blown away by the wind like a withered cloud just now. Only after confirming that there were no flaws did she satisfactorily put away the small mirror, carrying herself with the elegance of a goddess, walking with the gentle steps of a lady, and floating back to the Pan family garden.