Chapter 5

While he was looking, three more people walked in. Lin Feng, the store's financial manager, and the cashier came over together.

"Manager Lin!"

The financial manager, Li Xiao, was the boss's person, a woman in her forties who usually did not participate in any management of the store, only taking care of the money. However, since this batch of goods was quite valuable, both he and Lin Liang had to sign off before the money could be transferred, so he came over. This was also considered a significant purchase for the store.

"Manager Li, this batch of goods is good. Old Huang brought it, it's trustworthy. Master Zhang and Master Ye have both appraised it, we can make the payment!"

Lin Liang turned around, smiling and went to greet them. The mentioned Master Zhang and Master Ye both walked over.

"The goods are correct, we can make the payment!"

Master Ye said softly. Any valuable goods that came into the antique shop had to pass through his hands. He was also the most trusted appraiser in the store. Liu Yiyang had heard that Master Ye was a member of the National Collectors Association and had a considerable reputation locally. If not for the good relationship between the boss and him, he would not have been hired.

"It's a total of 1.8 million, Old Huang, is that the number?"

Lin Liang turned around and called out to Old Huang, who slowly walked over, his plump face full of smiles. This batch of goods had a market value of over 2 million, but he had only paid 1.4 million for it, making a net profit of 400,000. This was why he lived so comfortably.

A market value of over 2 million did not mean the antique shop was overpriced. This market value was just the general price. The antique shop would sell it at a higher price. If someone really liked it, they would buy it at an even higher price. If they were lucky, this batch of goods could even sell for 3 million or more.

Especially since these were blue and white porcelains. Even if sold at a slightly lower price, 2.5 to 2.6 million could be easily achieved, and it wouldn't take long to sell. This was also a good income for the store.

After all, the antique shop had its own fixed customer base. Xuan Ya Zhai had been in business for a long time, and customers trusted its brand.

"Alright, 1.8 million, Old Huang, the usual, bank transfer?"

With confirmation, Financial Manager Li Xiao directly said. Old Huang was not a first-time visitor, and they were already familiar with each other. Li Xiao knew his habits.

"Alright, direct transfer!"

Old Huang's plump face was all smiles. Such goods were not easy to come by for him. This time was an exception, as a family was in a hurry to sell.

If not for a few competitors and auction house people, he could have pushed the price even lower.

But he was satisfied with this price. He got the goods yesterday and sold them today, making several hundred thousand, allowing him to live comfortably for a few more days.

Li Xiao and Lin Liang quickly signed, and with their signatures, the cashier could go to the bank to handle the transfer procedures.

"Wait a moment!"

Liu Yiyang suddenly called out, his hand raised. All the attention in the room focused on him.

"Uncle Lin, these pieces are fine, but this one, we can't take it!"

Liu Yiyang pointed to the bottle that had not produced any mist, speaking softly. When the bottle did not produce mist, he had his doubts. After verifying that the other porcelains produced mist, he had a terrible suspicion.

He had already done experiments. As long as it was a genuine old item, it would produce red mist, even Qing dynasty and Republic of China items would, just with less mist.

Items that did not produce mist were mostly modern, like the glass table and some modern stone carvings he had experimented with.

If his suspicion was correct, this bottle was not a genuine old item, but possibly a modern fake.

Lin Liang and Lin Feng were both very good to him. Liu Yiyang had worked here for a considerable time and knew the rules. If Lin Liang bought a fake, it would be a significant blow to him.

Xuan Ya Zhai had grown so big because of its honest business practices. The boss placed great importance on integrity.

Regardless of the reason, he felt it necessary to speak up at this moment.

"Little Liu, you say this bottle can't be taken?"

Lin Liang walked over, his brows tightly furrowed. Masters Zhang and Ye also looked at Liu Yiyang, their eyes filled with surprise.

"Young man, tell me, why can't we take it?"

Old Huang was also angry, and before Liu Yiyang could respond, he asked first.

Lin Feng, who was preparing to register the goods, and the cashier who had not yet left, all stood there, their eyes on Liu Yiyang.

"Why can't we take this bottle?"

Liu Yiyang's mind raced. He couldn't just say that the bottle lacked spiritual energy, and that items without spiritual energy were not old, and might be modern fakes.

If he said that, Lin Liang would probably send him to a mental hospital.

Lin Liang took a step forward, gently picking up the bottle Liu Yiyang mentioned, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

This bottle was the one he had paid the most attention to, and the one the two experts favored the most. It was a Shunzhi imperial kiln bottle. Shunzhi imperial kiln porcelains are rare, and fine pieces are even rarer.

This blue and white porcelain was not as exquisite as those from the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, but it was a typical representative of the Shunzhi period. This single bottle was worth over a million, more valuable than the other ten combined.

It was also the piece the two experts had paid the most attention to.

"Little Liu, tell me, what's wrong with this bottle?"

Lin Liang asked softly. He didn't believe Liu Yiyang, but he felt that Liu Yiyang was usually steady and not one to speak rashly, so he asked.

Of course, if Liu Yiyang couldn't explain clearly, his previous impression would be completely erased, and he might not be able to continue working here. Lin Liang wouldn't keep someone who spoke carelessly.

Liu Yiyang's mind raced, and soon, a clear description of Shunzhi period porcelains appeared in his mind.

Liu Yiyang remembered a book he had read before, which mainly introduced blue and white porcelains from the late Ming and early Qing periods, in great detail. He had mostly forgotten it, but now it all came back, as if imprinted in his mind.

"In the eighth year of Shunzhi, the imperial kiln in Jingdezhen began to recover, but due to political turmoil and the destruction of the war, the kiln's technology did not fully recover until the eleventh year of Shunzhi. During this period, very few blue and white porcelains were produced, and the quality did not reach its peak!"

Liu Yiyang spoke slowly, and Lin Liang nodded slightly.

This historical fact was known to many, and Lin Liang was not surprised by Liu Yiyang's statement.

Liu Yiyang took a step forward, pointing to the bottle on the glass table and continued, "After the eleventh year of Shunzhi, the imperial kiln began to produce large dragon vases, and the technology of the Shunzhi imperial kiln gradually recovered. During this period, a large number of cylinder bottles were produced. Cylinder bottles are also called elephant leg bottles, meaning they resemble an elephant's leg. They are called cylinder bottles because the Qing dynasty liked the homophone 'cylinder,' which means 'unified empire.'"

This time, even Masters Zhang and Ye nodded. Not only during the Shunzhi period, but also during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, many cylinder bottles were produced, hoping for a stable and unified empire.

Feeling more confident, Liu Yiyang took another step forward.

"Cylinder bottles were indeed numerous during the Shunzhi period, and many had dragon or story patterns. Whether dragon or story patterns, they often included clouds, obscuring some parts."

Liu Yiyang spoke slowly, and this time, Lin Feng nodded silently.

He knew this. Having worked here for so long and with family influence, he had a good understanding of the history of various periods.

During the Shunzhi period, the Manchu Qing had just entered the pass, and the Han people were still in mourning. Even the Manchu nobles did not believe they could rule the vast Han territory.

This ideology was reflected in various cultural industries of the time.

Blue and white porcelains were no exception. The addition of clouds to Shunzhi period blue and white porcelains meant that things were unclear. This might not be understood now, but it was a common thought at the time. No one knew what the future would hold, whether the Qing dynasty would last for thousands of years or quickly disappear like the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Thus, they were cautious, a reflection of their ideology.

"You seem to know a bit. Tell me, what pattern is on this bottle?"

Old Huang snorted and pointed to the bottle, asking softly.

"It's a dragon pattern, with clouds. The clouds obscure the dragon's body in five segments, known as 'one dragon, five appearances.'"

Liu Yiyang continued, and the others remained silent, watching him.

Lin Liang was somewhat surprised, not expecting Liu Yiyang to know so much.

"One dragon, five appearances," "one dragon, three appearances," "one dragon, seven appearances," and "one dragon, nine appearances" were characteristics of Shunzhi period porcelains. Clouds were used to obscure the dragon's body, but the exposed parts were always odd numbers.

"Young man, you know quite a bit. Still, tell me clearly why this bottle can't be taken!"

Old Huang snorted again. Liu Yiyang's statements were characteristics of Shunzhi porcelains, but this did not satisfy him.

Having traveled extensively, he had endured much hardship in his early years, which made him look down on others and seek revenge for any slight. He had already decided that if Liu Yiyang couldn't provide a reason, he would make this young man suffer today.

"Alright, what I want to say is that the problem with this cylinder bottle lies in the 'one dragon, five appearances.'"

Liu Yiyang stood straight. Initially, he had only said the bottle couldn't be taken because it lacked spiritual energy. Now, based on his memory and observation, he had found the flaw in the bottle.

He was now completely confident.

"What's wrong with the 'one dragon, five appearances'?"

Master Zhang and Lin Liang both examined the Shunzhi cylinder bottle closely, then looked up. Master Ye, however, frowned, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at the bottle on the glass table, saying nothing.

"I want to hear what's wrong with the 'one dragon, five appearances.'"

Old Huang laughed, his eyes showing a hint of cruelty.

If it were something else, he might have been a bit worried, but when it came to patterns, he was absolutely confident. He had been in the business for nearly twenty years and did not believe his eye was worse than a young novice's.

He was waiting. As long as Liu Yiyang couldn't provide a reason or a satisfactory one, he would turn his back on him. With his extensive connections in the industry, Xuan Ya Zhai might even pay extra to appease his anger, as this was their own fault.

"Manager Lin, Old Zhang, there's no need for Little Liu to say it. This bottle indeed has a problem!"

Before Liu Yiyang could speak, a deep sigh echoed, and Master Ye looked at Liu Yiyang with a complex expression.