Chapter 479 - 507 Antique
Chapter 479: Chapter 507 Antique
The antique shop owner felt regretful at this moment; if he had known this kid had so much money, he would have asked for more than a million.
Moreover, he’s not worried about the boy’s parents coming to argue later or accusing him of fraud, especially since his brother-in-law is here.
If Lin Xi knew what he was thinking, he would certainly feel innocent, bearing the blame unjustly.
"Aren’t you going to unveil it quickly and take a look?" Shangguan Hong said smugly, seeing the surprise on the antique shop owner’s face.
"Alright, alright!"
The antique shop owner bent down and unveiled the red cloth with a flattering expression, revealing a large bowl with blue floral patterns under everyone’s expectant gazes.
Yes, this wasn’t a chalice, but a bowl, several times the size of a normal bowl, like the giant bowls some noodle shops use now.
However, the patterns on it looked extremely complex, making it dizzying at first glance.
"Just this?" Shangguan Hong was stunned for a moment; he had completely not expected it to be just a bowl.
To him, could this be called a treasure?
A treasure should be something that looks impressive at first glance.
The other three people, including Lin Xi, also felt greatly disappointed; clearly, it hadn’t met their expectations.
But the antique shop owner looked very cautious, placing the wooden tray on a nearby table before saying,
"This is a treasure!"
"Just a bowl, what’s so special about it?" Shangguan Hong said disdainfully, "If this is the centerpiece treasure, then I might as well go to another shop."
As he said this, he prepared to leave the shop.
Seeing this, the antique shop owner wasn’t anxious at all; he slowly said,
"Young Master Hong, I just heard you say you’re buying a gift for your grandfather’s seventieth birthday."
"Then I must say, this bowl is one of the best gifts you could give!"
Sure enough, Shangguan Hong was intrigued by this and stopped in his tracks, even Lin Xi wanted to hear what he had to say.
At this moment, the antique shop owner became very serious, saying to Shangguan Hong, "Young Master Hong, surely you know Xin Qiji!"
Shangguan Hong nodded, as the great poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, he was certainly familiar with him from books, knowing that he was a remarkable figure, famous for centuries.
Then the antique shop owner briefly introduced him, mentioning his influence, but it was the last sentence that truly moved Shangguan Hong.
This sentence was: Known together as "Su Xin" with Su Shi, and as "Two Treasures of Jinan" with Li Qingzhao.
Perhaps those who aren’t fond of poetry don’t know much about Xin Qiji, but almost everyone in China knows about Su Shi and Li Qingzhao; they’re both incredibly famous.
So someone who is mentioned alongside them must undoubtedly be extraordinary.
"So are you saying this bowl was used by Xin Qiji?" Shangguan Hong asked in shock.
"That’s right, not only was it used, but for several years," the antique shop owner said, very seriously, "The most crucial thing is, it was given to him personally by the emperor."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xi found it amusing, thinking that if it were true, a million wouldn’t be enough to buy it; at least ten million would be needed to compete.
Shangguan Hong wasn’t foolish either; rather, he was very astute, "If what you say is true, then surely it’s worth more than a million!"
"You guessed right, if I could be one hundred percent sure, the price would be at least fifteen million!"
"And Young Master Hong wouldn’t have the chance he has now."
The antique shop owner’s words surprised everyone; they hadn’t expected him to be so honest.
However, they heard him say further, "Though I can’t be one hundred percent sure, there’s at least a seventy percent chance."
"For instance, from the complexity of these patterns, only the peak craftsmanship of the Song Dynasty could achieve this, plus look at the rim of the bowl, there’s clearly tooth marks left, and I heard Xin Qiji liked to bite!"
"Also, look at the bottom of the bowl under the light, the transparency and color clearly indicate the Song Dynasty."
"Wait a moment, I have a record in an unofficial history book with information on this bowl..."
...
The antique shop owner said a bunch of things, all proving the authenticity of the bowl, claiming it was absolutely worth buying, and a huge profit could be made.
Of course, he finally reassured Shangguan Hong that even if it’s fake, it’s still worth at least fifty thousand, and if it’s real, then it’s worth over ten million.
What’s more, it’s over seventy percent likely to be genuine, and he kept telling Young Master Hong that he wasn’t short of money, so it was worth gambling on!
Encouraged by him, Shangguan Hong gradually lost his initial displeasure towards the bowl and instead became interested.
After all, he knew that his grandfather liked these kinds of famous figures and items.
At this moment, he glanced at Lin Xi and noticed Lin Xi seemed no longer interested in their conversation but was deeply engrossed in observing other things nearby.
PS: Thanks to everyone for your support, thank you for the monthly tickets and recommendations, I’ll keep working hard!