Chapter 43

"Wow, are these the antique display stands? Are they all filled with antiques?" Li Ting followed Li Yi into the exhibition hall, her heart filled with excitement.

"Yep." Li Yi nodded, "Do you want to take a look?"

The exhibition hadn't started yet, and only a few staff members and collectors were around, making the venue quite spacious. However, most of the exhibits were already in place, making it the perfect time for a visit.

"Sure, sure!" Li Ting was as excited as a little swallow in spring, spinning around each display cabinet and carefully reading the expert appraisals next to the antiques, occasionally letting out a gasp of amazement.

After a while, a hint of worry flashed in Li Ting's eyes: "Hey, big bro, can your fakes really be sold alongside these treasures?"

"My stuff is genuine, no doubt about it!" Li Yi said.

"Cut it out!" Li Ting rolled her eyes at her brother, "Where's your booth, in some corner?"

"Why would my booth be in a corner?"

"Your stuff is fake, of course it can't be displayed with the real things!" Li Ting said confidently, then suddenly remembered something and shouted, "Almost forgot, this exhibition has Ru porcelain, a genuine copy of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, and the Imperial Seal! Do you know where they are? Let's go see them quickly!"

"Of course I know, they're right at my booth!" Li Yi smiled.

"Don't brag!" Li Ting glared at her brother, then looked around the venue, "Oh, I know, they must be over there!"

The central exhibition area was the most eye-catching part of the venue. At the very center, the display cabinets were tall and bright, with colorful lights and a ring of flags, creating a stunning and beautiful scene.

"Let's go over there quickly!" Li Ting jumped up excitedly.

"What's the rush? You've seen them at home before." Li Yi smiled.

"Don't compare your junk from the art market with these genuine treasures!" Li Ting grabbed Li Yi's hand and ran to the central exhibition area, then stopped abruptly in front of a display stand.

"Hey, Auntie?"

"Xiao Ting, you're here?" Lin Ruxue smiled and waved at Li Ting.

"Why are you in this booth?" Li Ting was puzzled.

"I'm helping your brother watch the stand!" Lin Ruxue shrugged.

Li Ting couldn't help but lean in to observe the nearest porcelain, which looked incredibly familiar. But the expert appraisal next to it made her jaw drop.

Ru porcelain, sky-blue, tea bowl, a rare treasure from the Northern Song imperial court...

"Bro, is this the Ru porcelain they talk about on TV?"

"TV? Oh, some reporters came to film a segment earlier." Li Yi nodded.

"This can't be true!" Li Ting immediately circled the booth and soon saw a piece of calligraphy that looked even more familiar. The expert appraisal next to it read: "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion," Eastern Jin Dynasty, genuine copy by Wang Xizhi...

"Bro, is this the one you wrote yesterday?"

"I told you it was written by Wang Xizhi."

"God, I don't believe experts anymore!" Li Ting covered her face.

At that moment, she felt like she had followed a treasure map through great hardship only to find a box containing a pair of her own worn-out socks. The disappointment was immense.

If she had known she was just going to see the same old junk from home, why did she even bother taking the bus for so long? Experts are really misleading!

However, seeing her brother's junk causing such a stir made her both amused and exasperated. This was the very center of the exhibition, and everything else was just a backdrop!

"Bro, you've really gone too far this time. Are you going to jail?" Li Ting asked, somewhat worried.

"It's not my fault. I never said my stuff was genuine, but the experts are convinced it is. What can I do?" Li Yi shrugged.

"I give up on you!" Li Ting sighed.

"Come in and sit down!" Lin Ruxue opened the small door between the display cabinets and invited Li Ting inside. Since she was there, she naturally wanted to help her brother.

As soon as Li Ting sat down, Li Yi grabbed her hand, "Xiao Ting, I have something very important to tell you."

"What is it?" Li Ting asked.

"Later, my aunt's classmate might come to visit the exhibition. In front of her, you can't call me 'bro.'"

"Why?" Li Ting blinked.

Li Yi lowered his voice, "For various reasons, you have to call me 'uncle,' don't mess up the generations."

Li Ting was puzzled, "If I call you 'uncle,' won't that mess up the generations even more?"

"Auntie, you tell her." Li Yi glanced at Lin Ruxue.

Lin Ruxue, a bit embarrassed, said, "At noon, your aunt went to a class reunion and had your brother pretend to be my husband..."

"God, that's possible?" Li Ting fell back on the sofa, "And people believed it?"

"They're already convinced, just don't mess it up!" Li Yi whispered.

Li Ting was silent for a moment, then said to Lin Ruxue, "Auntie, look at him, how can I call him 'uncle'!"

Lin Ruxue said, "Xiao Ting, don't mess it up, just help your aunt!"

Li Ting pouted, "No, I really can't call him that. How about I call you 'sister-in-law' instead, that way it won't mess up anything!"

"Sister-in-law? So you want to take advantage of me after your brother did?" Lin Ruxue was speechless.

"You already had my brother pretend to be your husband, so aren't you my sister-in-law?"

"No, no way, no disrespect!" Lin Ruxue frowned.

Lin Ruxue still had authority over the siblings. Li Ting, helpless, leaned in and whispered to Li Yi, "I'll call you 'uncle' a few times, but when we get home, you have to call me 'aunt,' we'll be even!"

Li Yi laughed, "Aunt, we should at least have an uncle first!"

"Get lost!"

Outside the exhibition hall, as time passed, more and more people gathered. With the appearance of the Imperial Seal and a genuine copy of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy in Tangshui City, who wouldn't want to come and see?

"Xinli, you're here so early?" The chubby Chen Kai, still with his young starlet, smiled and shook hands with Xinli.

"Haha, I heard about the Imperial Seal and Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, so I got a bit anxious and came early. We can't afford these treasures, but at least we can feast our eyes!" Xinli laughed.

"Right, I feel the same. Too bad the exhibition doesn't allow early entry!" Chen Kai shook his head helplessly.

"Chen Kai! Xinli!" Su Wen Yue appeared at the entrance, accompanied by her chubby husband.

"Su Wen Yue, you're here too?" Chen Kai was surprised.

"Yep, I didn't really want to come, the tickets are a bit expensive, and my husband and I don't know much about antiques, but we heard about the imperial treasures and decided to come for the fun!" Su Wen Yue smiled.

"By the way, isn't Lin Ruxue's husband selling something at the exhibition? Chen Kai, why don't you call and see if he's here?" Xinli asked.

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