Inside, a smooth, ring-shaped jade pendant lay, carved with a dragon and a phoenix. The craftsmanship was exquisite, lifelike.
Refracted by the sunlight, the jade pendant indeed resembled mutton-fat jade, fine and smooth, possessing excellent jade quality.
Upon seeing the jade pendant, Tang Xinyu's face lit up with surprise!
"What a fine piece of Song Dynasty ancient mutton-fat jade. This jade is exceptionally lustrous, with a dense structure and abundant moisture. It is truly a rare and beautiful jade," Tang Xinyu praised.
"Miss Tang is correct. This jade is also the finest quality treasure jade I have ever seen. If Miss Tang fancies it, I can part with it for you," the owner, Xu Zhongding, said with a smile.
"How much is this jade?" Tang Xinyu asked curiously.
"Miss Tang is a regular customer at my shop. For anyone else, I wouldn't sell it for less than ten million, but for Miss Tang, eight million will suffice," Xu Zhongding continued.
"Alright, please wait a moment, Boss Xu."
Tang Xinyu agreed softly, then turned to Li Yang and casually asked, "Li Yang, what do you think of this jade?"
"Miss Tang might as well look at something else. This jade is not suitable for you," Li Yang said.
"Not suitable?"
Tang Xinyu's delicate eyebrows furrowed. From Li Yang's words, she seemed to sense something. Could it be that this jade was not worth eight million?
"Where do you think you are, beggar? How dare you say my item is unsuitable?"
Xu Zhongding glared angrily at Li Yang beside Tang Xinyu and questioned him.
"This jade is not Song Dynasty ancient mutton-fat jade, but merely a replica."
Seeing Xu Zhongding's persistent questioning, Li Yang had no choice but to reveal the truth.
Whoosh!
The moment he spoke, the surrounding customers browsing in the shop all turned their gazes towards him, their expressions filled with disdain!
"Little beggar, how dare you accuse Boss Xu of having fakes here."
"Han Bao Zhai is the most reputable place in the entire Jiangcheng city. No one in the Jiangcheng antique circle dares to question Boss Xu, yet you speak so recklessly. Truly arrogant!"
"Hmph, ignorant fool. If Boss Xu has fakes, then you won't find any genuine items in Jiangcheng."
Instantly, everyone gathered around, accusing Li Yang incessantly.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
Xu Zhongding signaled for the onlookers to stop speaking, then revealed a condescending smile and asked coldly, "Little beggar, I'd be eager to hear how you concluded that my jade pendant is a replica?"
"I, Xu, have been running an antique shop for decades and have never sold fakes. This is the first time I've been questioned today."
"Boss Xu, I am merely speaking the truth, not with any malice."
Li Yang explained earnestly, then his gaze swept over the jade pendant and he continued, "Although your mutton-fat jade appears clean and lustrous, resembling genuine mutton-fat jade, a fake can never become real."
"Heh heh, you, a beggar, have never seen such fine jade in your life. If you continue to spout nonsense, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Today, you must give Boss Xu an explanation. If you cannot explain why this jade is fake and convince us, you, boy, won't be leaving this place."
"That's right, hurry up and explain. Are you sent by an enemy to slander Boss Xu?"
The crowd erupted again!
Even Tang Xinyu looked nervous and hurriedly said to Li Yang, "Li Yang, quickly apologize to everyone. Boss Xu is my friend, he wouldn't sell me fake antiques. You must have misjudged."
"Miss Tang, didn't you ask me to help you appraise treasures?"
Li Yang smiled slightly and turned to Tang Xinyu, asking.
"I..."
Tang Xinyu's face instantly flushed, and she glanced around guiltily. She actually wanted Li Yang to help her negotiate the price but had never doubted Xu Zhongding's antiques.
Before she could explain, Li Yang continued, "I can be one hundred percent sure that this jade pendant is fake."
"Moreover, the actual value of this jade pendant does not exceed five thousand yuan."
"Hmph, utter nonsense!"
This time, Xu Zhongding could no longer hold back. He glared coldly at Li Yang and said, "I thought you, boy, had some great appraisal skills, but it turns out you're just spouting nonsense here."
"My jade pendant is genuine ancient mutton-fat jade. Whether it's the appearance, the jade quality, or the structural density, it all conforms to the characteristics of ancient mutton-fat jade."
"You claim this jade is worth no more than five thousand? Are you questioning my, Xu's, capabilities?"
"Boss Xu, I sincerely apologize. My friend is too blunt and has offended you. I apologize on his behalf."
Tang Xinyu quickly apologized for Li Yang first, then looked coldly at Li Yang and said, "Li Yang, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and apologize. If you continue to make trouble, neither of us will be able to leave today."
"Miss Tang, don't worry. Since I say it's fake, I naturally have a way to prove it."
Li Yang remained calm and unhurried, turning to face the hostile crowd and smiling, "Everyone, please calm down. I will now reveal the secret of this fake jade pendant for everyone."
With that, he pointed to the carvings on the jade pendant and said seriously, "The biggest problem with this jade pendant lies in the crevices of the carvings."
"Perhaps Boss Xu hasn't noticed carefully, but the jade texture within the carving crevices of this jade pendant has a very subtle difference from the exterior. It's difficult to discover without a magnifying glass for close examination."
"This jade pendant achieves its lustrous and smooth feel because it has undergone slight polishing and oiling, followed by low-temperature baking to allow the oil to adhere deeply."
"Once the adhered oil is completely dry, the surface appears perfect. Both its luster and feel are eight to nine parts similar to mutton-fat jade. However, due to the difficulty of polishing the crevices, the adhesion effect is not perfect."
Li Yang, without reservation, laid bare the jade's issues on the spot!
As his words fell, many onlookers showed confusion!
This kid was speaking so convincingly. Could it be that he genuinely understood antiques and wasn't just talking nonsense?
At this moment, Xu Zhongding incredulously took back the antique and examined it closely with a magnifying glass. This time, he also faintly discovered that the jade texture in the details did indeed have a slight discrepancy from the exterior.
Suddenly, his heart pounded. Could it be that he had truly misjudged?
He continued his appraisal with even greater care. After having his subordinate bring cotton cloth and alcohol to carefully wipe it down, a hint of joy appeared on his face, and he smiled calmly, "Boy, the crevices are filled with dust, plus years of adherence and oxidation, not due to incomplete polishing as you claim."
"Is that so?"
Li Yang's expression remained calm, and he continued, "Then perhaps Boss Xu could try spraying it with an oxidation-reduction agent. If it can be wiped off, then my appraisal is mistaken."
"But if it cannot be wiped off, and instead melts the surface oil, then it is a problem with Boss Xu's appraisal skills."