Chapter 7644
is all fake.
Master Ming continued, "The red veins in blood jade are formed by the natural penetration and precipitation of iron elements during the formation of the jade. They penetrate deep into the texture of the jade, are naturally distributed, and have distinct layers. This is the core characteristic of blood jade!"
Xiao Chen nodded and continued, "It seems you know everything, but why do you always make such basic mistakes? I don't know if you did it on purpose or if you accidentally missed the difference between natural and artificial blood jade."
"You're talking nonsense! What did I miss? Don't make things up, just say it if you dare!" Old Ming was certain that Xiao Chen was just a young man who pretended to know everything, perhaps he had read a few books and thought he knew everything.
He had seen plenty of these clueless brats who only knew a little about antiques, so he wasn't afraid of them at all.
Xiao Chen put on his gloves, took out the ancient jade, and then spoke: "Natural blood-red jade. The red veins are formed by the natural infiltration of iron elements, so the color is mostly dark red or ochre red. The color is warm and smooth, and the distribution is uneven. Some places are dark, some places are light, and there may even be slight color differences. These are the traces formed naturally."
But look at the red color of this jade…”
He pointed to the ancient jade in his hand, gave Elder Ming a cold look, and said, "The red of this thing is bright red, and it is distributed too evenly. It is so even that the red looks exactly the same from every angle and every part, without any color difference or natural layering."
“My great expert, you’re telling me this is natural blood-red jade? Do you think something like this could possibly appear in nature? You should know that only artificial dyeing can achieve this.”
At this moment, Elder Ming had lost his previous composure and arrogance.
He started to panic when he realized that Xiao Chen wasn't just a novice; this guy really had some skills.
He had known all along that this thing was a man-made imitation, and he was also aware of its flaws, but he thought no one here would know.
He thought he could get away with it, but...
Yao Yuanlai, who was standing nearby, suddenly said, "There are always exceptions in nature. We can't just say it's man-made based on this alone."
Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Boss Yao is right. Nature also has its wonders. It looks like something made by man, but just now Elder Ming said that this thing is an object from before the Ming Dynasty, right? It's a carving from that time, right?"
"Yes, is there a problem with that?" Yao Yuanlai no longer had any doubts about Xiao Chen as before.
Because he discovered that Xiao Chen was truly capable; he was just still somewhat confused.
Xiao Chen pointed to the ancient jade: "This carving is not only problematic, but it's a very serious problem!"
He paused for a moment, then continued, “Ming Dynasty jade carvings emphasize a ‘rough and bold’ style. The carving techniques are bold and powerful, the lines are simple and smooth, and they do not concern themselves with details. Even the finest patterns carry a touch of rustic ruggedness. This is the most distinctive feature of Ming Dynasty jade carvings.”
“But look at the carving on this ancient jade. It’s too fine. Even the smallest corners are perfectly smooth. It doesn’t look like Ming Dynasty carving at all.”
"This thing is more like a modern computer carving, precise and regular, but it lacks the soul and simplicity of ancient jade carving."
Yao Yuanlai suddenly realized.
If the distribution of blood streaks is still possible.
But the carving technique is absolutely impossible.
The more I look at this thing, the more it looks like it was computer-carved. It was only because of Ming Lao's preconceived notions that he automatically ignored these things. Now, looking at it closely, the more he looks at it, the more fake it seems.
Elder Ming has completely broken through his defenses.
He was trembling all over, thinking to himself that he should have just admitted he had misjudged the situation from the beginning; things had gotten to this point, and things were getting complicated.
Who would have thought that a brat barely in his early twenties would be so knowledgeable about antiques? Every word Xiao Chen uttered hit the nail on the head; he didn't even have the right to refute it.
But that's not all.
Xiao Chen glanced at the somewhat flustered seller and smiled faintly: "You say this jade feels warm to the touch, that it's some kind of miracle, that it can nourish the body and prolong life."
"Heh, that's utter nonsense!"
At this point, no one dared to refute him anymore, letting him continue, "The reason you had that feeling is simply because this jade was soaked in a medicinal solution beforehand!"
"That kind of potion is made by mixing the root powder of African grass with several Chinese medicinal herbs. If you soak the jade in this potion for more than half a month, the jade will absorb the ingredients of the potion, thus producing a warm feeling."
"But this warmth is temporary, lasting at most three months. After three months, the ingredients of the medicine will evaporate completely, and the warmth will disappear entirely."
By this point, the seller and Elder Ming's expressions had turned extremely grim.
Xiao Chen didn't stop there. "Jade soaked in this kind of potion has a terrible side effect on people: hallucinations!"
"When a person touches this jade, the medicinal ingredients will penetrate through the skin and stimulate the nerve endings, giving people a warm and comfortable feeling, as if some kind of energy is nourishing the body."
"Actually, it's all just a deceptive trick, and in the long run, it will even harm people."
Xiao Chen's words stunned everyone present.
The courtyard instantly became incredibly quiet.
A cold glint flashed in Ming Lao's eyes. Now that things had been exposed, he had to find a way to salvage the situation. He looked at the seller and suddenly made a decision.
Better to die for your fellow Daoist than for this one!
This whole thing was a setup between him and the seller, so let the seller take the blame.
The seller stared blankly at Old Ming, looking pleading for help, as if hoping Old Ming could find a way for him to leave alive.
This is the Qin family.
He's trying to deceive the Qin family with fake goods; if things go wrong, he could really be in deep trouble.
Yao Yuanlai was somewhat embarrassed. He had originally supported Elder Ming, but now it seemed that everything Xiao Chen said was reasonable and well-founded, and that Elder Ming was the biggest liar.
This slap in the face is a bit too harsh.
On the other hand, he was also somewhat relieved. It was fortunate that Xiao Chen stood up for him; otherwise, if he had bought back this fake blood jade at a high price and it had been spotted by his sharp-eyed peers, he would have been laughed at to death.
For him, saving face is the most important thing; financial loss is secondary.
Han Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, his probing gaze intensifying as he scrutinized Xiao Chen from head to toe, his expression solemn...
This seemingly ordinary young man not only possesses unfathomable strength, but his skill in appraising treasures is also incredibly impressive; even he himself was just fooled by the illusion of fake jade.
Yet Xiao Chen could see through it at a glance and even provide such professional evidence for his assessment. His insight and knowledge were truly astonishing. (End of Chapter)