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"Zhang Huaiwen's meticulous brushwork painting 'The Immortal Mazu Celebrating Her Birthday', Qing Dynasty, a hanging scroll!"

"Zhang Hongtao, a white jade carving of Shou Xing by Hetian!"

Zhang Hailin held the order of service in his hand and read it aloud at the old lady's birthday banquet. When he reached his son Zhang Jinlong's name, he purposely raised his voice.

"Zhang Jinlong, Ming Yongle gilt boundless life Buddha statue, a heavy one!"

The old woman of the Zhang family was a devout Buddhist who loved to collect Buddha statues. Seeing her own grandchild give her such a thoughtful gift, she was so happy that she couldn't contain herself.

"Very good, very good! The Golden Dragon is truly thoughtful! Not bad, not bad!"

To others, this is not just thoughtful, it's practically a waste of money. This kind of Buddha statue costs hundreds of thousands, even if someone wants to give it as a gift, they might be powerless to do so.

Zhang Jinlong, overjoyed, also glanced at Zhang Yi beside him who was holding a gift box, and a strange smile hung on his lips.

"Zhang Yi is here too, his gift must be good!"

Chang Jinlong has always disliked Zhang Yi. He deliberately said that to embarrass Zhang Yi in front of his relatives. Because he had already seen that Zhang Yi was holding a very cheap-looking box.

How did he get here?

"Isn't there a rule that doesn't allow his family to step foot on Zhang's villa? He's so thick-skinned, he dares to come!"

"You have to be thick-skinned. Things aren't like they used to be."

Relatives whispered amongst themselves, all eyes fixed on Zhang Yi, their faces full of anticipation.

Of course.

They are all expecting Zhang Yi to make a lot of jokes today.

"Zhang Yi, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and take it!"

Zhang Jinlong urged, he was a bit eager.

Zhang Yi walked forward, intending to hand the gift box to the old woman. However, the old woman did not accept it. Her face was full of disdain, clearly unwilling to take the box.

Zhang Jinlong saw this scene, his heart secretly delighted.

A castaway, daring to attend a birthday feast? Don't flatter yourself about your worth.

Having no choice, Zhang Yi could only open the box himself and display the gift inside.

Seeing Zhang Yi's gift, Zhang Jinlong next to him immediately stated it in the manner of reciting a gift list.

"Zhang Yi, give me a broken bowl for begging!"

As soon as this was said, the relatives below burst into laughter.

As expected of Zhang Yi, he truly lives up to the hype.

Zhang Yi ignored those who laughed and instead took out a white porcelain bowl from the box.

"This is not a broken porcelain bowl, it's a Song dynasty Ding kiln white porcelain bowl. May your blessings be as vast as the East China Sea and your lifespan as long as Mount Nanshan!"

Hearing the name Dingyao, the old woman unconsciously glanced around.

During the Song Dynasty, Ding ware white porcelain reached its peak. Holding a white porcelain bowl in your hand, it feels smooth and warm. Although it is porcelain, it has the texture of jade. The white porcelain bowl also has subtle patterns, with peach motifs that are lifelike and truly exquisite.

Seeing the old woman examining the white porcelain bowl, Zhang Jinlong immediately became unhappy.

Can a broken porcelain bowl still be good for something?

"Look, this broken bowl is definitely fake. Don't be fooled by Zhang Yi. It's definitely cheap junk he picked up from a street stall and trying to scam you. Seriously, it's about the same as a beggar's bowl."

"Besides, the porcelain bowl is still white. You're celebrating your birthday today, and he sent something like this? A white object? What does he mean? This is so inauspicious!"

Zhang Yi did not refute.

Instead, he walked straight to the statue of the Amitabha Buddha and looked at it carefully.

"Zhang Yi! What... what are you doing? That's the Immeasurable Life Buddha I spent over a million to invite! Buddha, do you want to shorten your lifespan?"

This is a bit cutting, but actually, Zhang Jinlong was feeling a bit guilty.

Zhang Yi glanced at Zhang Jinlong and smirked disdainfully.

"To fool people with a cheap modern counterfeit, only someone like you, Zhang Jinlong, could do such a thing."

First, the surface of this copper Buddha is extremely bright and almost mirror-like. It's obvious that this isn't gold plating, but modern electroplating. The rust characteristics on the surface haven't changed; it was soaked in medicine and deliberately aged.

Second, the Ming Dynasty Buddha statue has a smooth face with fine eyebrows, long eyes, a high nose, and thin lips. The forehead is relatively large and the ears hang down. This Buddha statue's features do not conform to any standard, and its facial expression is stiff and lifeless, which are typical characteristics of modern counterfeit workshops.

Third, the base of the Buddha statue is clearly modern electric welding work. It's only been roughly sanded and aged to look old, it's obviously fake!

For something like this, it's worth over a million? I wouldn't even take a hundred bucks for it!

Zhang Yi's father runs an antique shop, so he was exposed to antiques from a young age. Although he is not an expert, he could still tell that this was a blatant and poor imitation.

As soon as he said that, the entire hall erupted in chaos.

Zhang Jinlong's face turned pale with anger, wishing he could rush over and shut Zhang Yi up.

"Zhang Yi, you... you don't understand anything, what are you talking about?"

"What's fake is always fake, it can never be real!"

"Your broken bowl is fake! What kiln-fired white porcelain? It's just a beggar's bowl. Take it and go beg for food instead of bringing it here as a gift. Do you want to make everyone else beg for food too?"

"Uncultured!"

"You..."

"Alright, stop arguing! The Zhang family is also a prestigious collecting family. Determining the authenticity of antiques isn't something you little kids can decide!"

Then, he turned to an elderly man with glasses beside him and said, "Professor Bei, why don't you take a look at this!"

"Good."

Master Pei is an antique appraisal expert, and when someone is called an "expert," they carry a lot of authority. Distinguishing between these two items would be no problem for him.

The old woman's suggestion made Zhang Jinlong's heart sink.

The old lady used to receive a lot of birthday presents every year, which were mostly stored in the warehouse and rarely looked at. Because there were simply too many, Zhang Jinlong dared to fool her with a fake one.

Now that's a problem. If the old woman found out I had fooled her with a fake, she would be furious! I wonder if it will affect the inheritance?

Thinking of this, Zhang Jinlong was anxious.

Now even experts have started to acknowledge that it's too late.

It's all Zhang Yi's fault!

Zhang Jinlong glared at Zhang Yi, his eyes unkind.

"Zhang Yi, this isn't over between us!"

After the expert had finished examining the two items, he walked over to the old woman and whispered the results in her ear.

The relatives below all fell silent, waiting for the old woman to announce the result.

The old woman stood up.

Chang Jinhong was trembling with fear. He could barely bear to listen, as if the next words from the old woman were his final judgment.

But, the old woman stood up, without a word, and threw the white porcelain bowl to the ground.

With a whoosh.

The white porcelain bowl was broken into pieces.

Everyone present was taken aback.

Zhang Yi was stunned.

What's going on?

"The expert has taken a look, the Ming Yongle gilt Buddha of Infinite Life given by Jinlong is an authentic piece from the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty!"

"The Song Ding kiln white porcelain bowl Zhang Yi sent was a modern imitation!"

The old woman looked at Zhang Yi, glaring at him, as if she was so angry that her whole body trembled.

"Zhang Yi! You think you can fool me with this useless bowl? Don't you think I can see through your tricks? You say that the things from Jinlong are fake? I think you're just like your father, without any manners!"

The old woman said these words, and even Pei, the expert sitting next to her, was stunned.

This Ding kiln white porcelain bowl, how could it possibly be a fake? It's the real deal, priceless! On the other hand, that gilded bronze Buddha, as Zhang Yi said, is a modern low-quality imitation, worth nothing.

But Pei, the expert, was not a member of Zhang's family. He wouldn't say much about this.

"...the white porcelain bowl is really..."

"Shut your mouth! You slander Jinlong and dare to argue, immediately kneel down and apologize to him!"

The old woman banged on the table and roared, not a single relative below dared to speak.

“I think I’d better not. Having him kneel down and apologize in front of everyone would be too embarrassing for him, don’t you think?”

Zhang Jinlong was secretly smiling, but on the surface he seemed to be advising the old woman. In reality, he knew that once the old woman had spoken, her words would never be easily taken back.

I won't apologize, the white porcelain bowl is real!

Zhang Yi clenched his fist, he hadn't expected this outcome. Could Expert Pei be wrong? No! Could the Ding kiln white porcelain bowl be fake? Impossible!

Actually, the essence of the matter is not about truth or falsehood.

If one is guilty, there is no need to worry about finding excuses.

"He can stand, but with that attitude, I will never forgive him!"

Zhang Jinlong was insistent.

"Jinlong, you go over there and sit down first!"

After the old woman finished speaking, she took a deep breath and looked at Zhang Yi again.

Zhang Yi, since you don't want to apologize, that's fine. Anyway, there's an important announcement today. Your dad can't come, so just listen carefully!

Could it be, that the main event is about to begin? The important thing, is to announce the heir to the family?

Zhang Jinlong was extremely moved.

If it really was the case, Zhang Jinlong felt that it must have been him, without a doubt.

With a spring in his step, Zhang Jinlong looked at the old woman. However, the old woman once again turned her gaze to Zhang Yi.

What's going on?

Announcing this, the old lady looks at Zhang Yi and wonders what he's doing?

What does he have to do with it?