Return

"Qin Sheng, you're back so soon. What about that enamel-colored porcelain bowl?" As Fang Zhou heard the sound of the door opening, he hurriedly ran out of the room.

For the said enamel-colored porcelain bowl from the Kangxi era, his heart had been restless these past few days, truly wanting to see the actual item immediately.

"I didn't confiscate it." Qin Sheng closed the door and walked straight to the small refrigerator, taking out a bottle of cold water to quench his thirst.

"Why didn't you confiscate it? Isn't Wang Hao going with you? Is there a problem with the item or is the price too high? Mr. Smith is very interested in that enamel-colored porcelain bowl, and the price can be negotiated," Fang Zhou asked in surprise.

The Mr. Smith Fang Zhou mentioned was their big client they had been trying to secure. They had previously struggled to find a way to connect with him. Finally, upon hearing that Mr. Smith was interested in collecting Qing Dynasty enamel-colored porcelain, they scoured for information and learned that Jingdezhen coincidentally had an enamel-colored porcelain bowl for sale, prompting them to rush over.

"Wang Hao?" Qin Sheng gave a cold smile and said to Fang Zhou, "After you return, investigate him thoroughly."

Fang Zhou straightened his face and replied seriously, "Does he have a problem?"

"Whether he does or not, I'm not sure. But it's better to check, so you won't be unknowingly manipulated," Qin Sheng sat down on the sofa and sighed deeply. After running around for so many days, he was somewhat tired.

Wang Hao wasn't their long-term collaborating appraiser. It was only because the matter was urgent, and they didn't have someone familiar with appraising enamel-colored porcelain, that they had to hire another person from outside.

The price of enamel-colored porcelain has always been high. A few years ago, auction houses had sold pieces for over a hundred million, making it a matter of caution.

Buying a genuine piece was rare and highly profitable, but accidentally purchasing a fake could result in significant losses.

Money was a secondary concern; the most important thing was his reputation.

Antique dealers feared losing, being embarrassed, and damaging their reputation the most. Once a fake was sold as genuine, it could severely harm their reputation, sometimes even leading to business closure.

"What exactly happened today?" Fang Zhou knew that Qin Sheng had already made up his mind. As long as it was confirmed that the enamel-colored porcelain bowl was genuine, he would immediately take it back. If there was no reason, he wouldn't suddenly back out.

Qin Sheng's lips curled slightly into a smirk but didn't respond. Instead, he said, "Also keep an eye on Wuming Zhai and see who ends up with that porcelain bowl."

"What about Mr. Smith?" Qin Sheng did everything for a reason, and Fang Zhou didn't ask further. He was just worried about losing a valuable client they had finally made some connection with.

"No need to worry. If we can't find him, others probably won't either," Qin Sheng was quite confident about this.

"As long as you're sure, brother, I'm counting on you. By the way, your aunt called, telling you not to wander around outside all day and to come home when you have time," Fang Zhou laughed.

Qin Sheng rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat helpless towards his mother.

Professor Zhang had left Wuming Zhai with Gu Ming and Bai Fangfang. Seeing no one else around, he inquired about their opinions on the enamel-colored porcelain bowl they had just seen.

Bai Fangfang gave a standard, proper response, merely recounting what she had observed without being able to confirm the authenticity of the porcelain bowl.

Gu Ming initially wanted to say something to cover up her true thoughts, but facing Professor Zhang's earnest eyes, she couldn't utter her insincere words.

"From the short observation, that enamel-colored porcelain bowl does resemble the Kangxi era's enamel porcelain, but…" Gu Ming paused. Encouraged by Professor Zhang's gaze, she continued, "I just feel it's not genuine. It's too perfect, without a single flaw, which doesn't impress me much. Instead, it gives me a sense of peace."

Gu Ming didn't dare reveal the secret of her left hand and could only find a slight excuse, honestly explaining her judgment of the porcelain bowl.

"I didn't notice that," Professor Zhang frowned slightly. He had previously only focused on the bowl's rarity and exquisite preservation, never considering what Gu Ming had mentioned.

"If you're still not done browsing, go ahead, but make sure to return to the hotel on time. We have to get up early tomorrow. I have something to attend to, so I'm leaving first," Professor Zhang reminded Gu Ming and Bai Fangfang.

The two obediently nodded in agreement.

After Professor Zhang left, Gu Ming pulled Bai Fangfang back to the place they had previously explored. Following her memory, she found the high-quality imitation snuff bottle she had her eye on earlier and bargained with the seller to purchase it.

Bai Fangfang, possibly because she had seen the rare enamel-colored porcelain bowl, remained highly enthusiastic, continuously mentioning it and dragging Gu Ming around to explore. If it weren't for the need to return to the hotel within the stipulated time, Bai Fangfang might have been reluctant to leave.

Gu Ming was exhausted. After showering that evening, she collapsed onto her bed, not wanting to move at all.

She gently stroked the jade bracelet on her left hand, recalling that the man in the checkered shirt was quite clever. Whether he had a reason for backing out or not, not spending a large amount on a high-quality imitation meant he was meticulous, observant, decisive, and minimized potential losses.

Such a person must be quite formidable.

However, they had only met once, hadn't exchanged a single word, and probably wouldn't meet again in the future. Thinking too much about it was useless.

Feeling tired, Gu Ming quickly pushed aside thoughts of the man in the checkered shirt and comfortably drifted into sleep.

Due to time constraints, Gu Ming and the others woke up early the next morning to continue their Jingdezhen training under Professor Zhang's guidance. They specially visited the places where porcelain was made and gained considerable insights.

They also conducted investigations in major porcelain markets, verifying the rumors they had heard that even some certified porcelains might not be genuine Jingdezhen pieces.

On Tuesday evening, they concluded their Jingdezhen training and returned to the school. Overall, the training in Jingdezhen was fruitful. Everyone gained valuable experience and a deeper understanding of porcelain.

Perhaps because Gu Ming was no longer at school, the rumors had significantly diminished, allowing Gu Ming to breathe a sigh of relief, feeling that her efforts to stay away had paid off.

She distributed the souvenirs she brought back from Jingdezhen to some well-connected classmates and friends, planning to visit home over the weekend. She intended to give the specially bought snuff bottle to her grandfather to make him happy.

However, before she could act on it, she received a call from her second uncle, informing her that her grandfather had suddenly fallen ill and was admitted to the hospital, urging her to rush over immediately.