It's already 2026, how can we still talk about having many children and having many blessings?

What the hell!

QR codes... 3.5 million?

How could it be hidden inside porcelain in such a wonderful way?

What incredible skill!

He put the flashlight away.

"Mr. Chen, how about this one?"

Chen Mo turned his head and looked at him.

A line of text floated above Zhao Mingyuan's head.

[Are you stunned? This level of masterpiece is practically impossible to find on the market. He's a self-taught artist; he probably doesn't even know the intricacies of Qianlong famille rose porcelain.]

[This kind of unorthodox approach to getting close to Qingyao is overestimating itself.]

Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then said, "I didn't realize that I had so little experience with this level of weaponry."

He doesn't intend to say it now.

Even a fool could see that this was a major internal problem for Shengheng.

If he were to reveal this, the forces behind Zhao Mingyuan would definitely hate him to death.

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents; he couldn't bear such a deep grudge.

I'll find another opportunity to talk to Gu Qingyao later.

Zhao Mingyuan nodded, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

He reached out and patted Chen Mo's shoulder twice, his tone as kind as if he were comforting a younger person.

"Mr. Chen, there's no need to be upset. Even my father studied this item for a whole month before he dared to draw a conclusion."

"It's normal that you can't see the intricacies since it's your first time seeing it. After all, cursive script and porcelain are two completely different categories, and it's like being in a completely different world."

Chen Mo nodded. "Teacher Zhao is right."

Gu Qingyao stood to the side, without saying a word.

She had been observing Chen Mo the whole time.

I noticed some subtle changes in Chen Mo's expression.

She felt that Chen Mo wasn't oblivious; he had noticed something but chose not to say it.

"Alright, Mr. Chen, that's enough for today. Let's go, I'll treat you to dinner."

Zhao Mingyuan immediately replied, "Qingyao, let me treat you. There's a nice private restaurant nearby."

"No need, I'll have Mr. Chen invited alone today."

Zhao Mingyuan opened his mouth, his smile unchanged, but the hand behind his back clenched into a fist.

"Alright, then you can go." He turned around. "Mr. Chen, next time you have the chance, take a look at more books about porcelain."

"You're lucky to have found a bargain with Gao Xian, but you can't rely on luck alone in the appraisal business."

He left after he finished speaking, his back view was very upright.

Gu Qingyao led Chen Mo out of the museum and into the car.

We turned into a quiet alley behind Cuihu Road and stopped in front of a private restaurant.

The private room has been booked. Outside the window is a bamboo forest, and on the table are four dishes and a soup, all home-style dishes.

Chen Mo picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Gu Qingyao looked at him.

"Mr. Chen, have you noticed something?"

Chen Mo finished chewing the food in his mouth.

"Chairman Gu, tell me first, do you have any doubts about the collection in your museum?"

Gu Qingyao was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"That day, I invited several groups of buyers to come and see the ball-shaped pins, but no deal was made. Every time we talked, the other party would say 'I'll think about it some more' at the end."

"Their expressions weren't about complaining about the price; they were hesitant, as if they had figured something out, but no one said anything."

"I can't be sure, after all, it was Teacher Zhao who personally approved the acquisition of this item, and he handled all the procedures."

"If I'm wrong about my suspicions, I'll offend the entire Shengheng Culture appraisal team. If I'm right about my suspicions, the loss won't be money, but the reputation of Shengheng Culture's investments."

Chen Mo took a pen out of his pocket and wrote a series of numbers on a napkin.

He pushed the napkin over.

"After you get back, check the corresponding collections according to these numbers. Don't make a fuss while you're checking. Find a few people you trust and have them scan the bottom with a portable X-ray machine, focusing on the casting mold lines, paper bleach residue, and the distribution of air bubbles."

"As for that celestial sphere bottle..." Chen Mo picked up a piece of fish, speaking casually, "If you trust me, then smash it."

Gu Qingyao suddenly stood up. "What did you say? 3.5 million? You've smashed it? Are you crazy?"

"Okay, when you're smashing it, call your entire team of experts over to observe, but don't tell them what you're going to do yet."

"They'd say it was a routine inspection, have everyone present, and then find an excuse for someone to 'accidentally' bump into something and fall."

"With so many people watching, no one can tamper with anything. You'll be able to tell at a glance which expert's expression changes and which expert's forehead is sweating."

Gu Qingyao's expression was solemn.

"Are you serious?"

"That thing is worth 3.5 million. If you don't smash it, they will always say it's real, but it will never sell. If you smash it, the truth will come out on its own."

He put down his chopsticks. "Don't say it was me who said that, I don't want to offend anyone."

Gu Qingyao looked at Chen Mo without saying a word for a long time.

She controlled her facial expressions well, but her eyes were already glazed over.

If what Chen Mo said is true, losing hundreds of millions is one thing, but more fatal is that it means there is a problem with the entire Shengheng Culture's authentication system.

Those capable of manipulating things at this level are not outsiders, but insiders, and are at an extremely high level.

Chen Mo told her to smash it in public, not to humiliate anyone, but to expose the truth so that everyone could see it and the person who did it would have no chance to cover it up.

She folded the napkins and put them into the inner bag.

"I understand. This meal doesn't count. I'll treat you to something nice another day."

"Alright, if Chairman Gu really finds out there's a problem, could you invite me to a family dinner?"

"OK."

After finishing their meal, Chen Mo went to get his car and followed Gu Qingyao's car.

Huh? Gu Qingyao didn't go to the villa where Gu Wanqing was.

Aren't we family?

Continuing on, we arrived at an older district in the east of the city.

It's considered old because this area used to be a densely populated residential area for government offices.

The residential area here looks old; the trees are very large, giving it a sense of history and cultural heritage.

He didn't follow any further, but went straight back to Jubaozhai and continued shopping.

……

At this moment, Gu Qingyao entered the old residential area and came to a detached old house.

"Huh? Qingyao, it's not the weekend, what brings you here?"

The speaker was Gu Chengyuan, Gu Qingyao's father. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, but he was very energetic and was reading an old book.

Gu Qingyao sat down and recounted the events of the day from beginning to end.

Finally, I took out the tissue.

Gu Chengyuan frowned after listening.

"Who is this Chen Mo?"

"I didn't check. When we first met, I thought he was very ordinary, but now I think he's very mysterious. What he said should be true."

Gu Chengyuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Have you confirmed the authentication?"

"Not yet, let me discuss it with you first."

"Confirm first," Gu Chengyuan said. "Check those seven numbered items tonight. Don't alert anyone. Use portable equipment and keep an eye on them yourself. We'll decide on the next step after the results are in."

"Dad, if...it turns out to be true...do we really have to smash that celestial globe bottle? What if..."

Gu Chengyuan looked at the branches and leaves of the large tree above him and sighed.

"Qingyao, you're in charge of Shengheng now. Don't worry about me. What you should be thinking about are Shengheng's employees and Shengheng's future."

"Dad, I know what to do."

That evening, a secret inspection was carried out quietly in the museum.

At 2 a.m., the first report came out.

The bronze zun with taotie pattern from the Shang Dynasty has a base cast using modern electrolytic casting, not the block mold method of the Shang Dynasty.

At 3 a.m., the second report stated that Zhang Daqian's splashed-ink landscape painting contained chemical bleach residue in the paper fibers, a component not found in the paper Zhang Daqian used in the 1940s.

At 4 a.m., the third report stated that the Qianlong enamel lotus scroll vase had air bubbles characteristic of gas kiln firing, indicating it was not a product of wood-fired kiln firing.

By 6 a.m., all seven numbered items had been checked.

All seven items are high-quality fakes, and the methods used are extremely sophisticated.

Gu Qingyao sat in the office of the museum, her face full of shock.

"What he said is true. His skills are unparalleled. Zhao Mingyuan is just a clown in front of him."

A deep chill flashed in her bloodshot eyes.