"I wouldn't stoop to argue with a junior," Master Qi said lightly, waving his hand. "But I'm curious—what does he see that we don't? Are we all amateurs here, and only he knows how to authenticate art?"
Though Master Qi maintained a calm exterior, he was fuming inside. In all his years in the field, no one had ever embarrassed him so publicly. He decided to seize this opportunity to humiliate Jiang Chen in return.
"Let him explain himself!"
"This is a sacred place for antiques—he can't just spout nonsense!"
Everyone was looking at Jiang Chen as if he were a stray dog who'd barged into a banquet looking for scraps.
Xu Peng was livid. He was just about to secure a forty-million-yuan deal, and Jiang Chen's comment had derailed everything.
"Jiang Chen!" Xu Peng barked, his face ablaze with fury. "I sent you to prison once—I can do it again!"
More than a threat, his words were meant to alert Master Qi: I've put this guy behind bars before. Of course he holds a grudge. He just wants to ruin my business. Don't believe a word he says.
"An ex-con?" Master Qi muttered slowly, a glimmer of disdain flickering in his eyes.
But Jiang Chen remained unfazed. "You've said your piece. Now it's my turn."
"Go on then!" Master Qi said impatiently, handing him the scroll. He kept a firm tone, but deep down, unease had begun to creep in.
"This painting is a high-quality imitation," Jiang Chen said. "It was created less than a year ago."
"Evidence?" Master Qi's heart trembled.
"I'll need Master Xu's permission for that," Jiang Chen replied.
"What for?" Xu Peng snapped.
"I need to unmount a corner of the painting," Jiang Chen said with a faint smile.
"You're crazy! This is a national treasure!" Xu Peng sneered.
Jiang Chen chuckled. "If you won't let me verify it, I'll assume it's real. Go ahead and pay him, Master Qi."
The ball was now back in Master Qi's court.
His expression turned complicated. Unmount it? Could there really be a problem?
He quietly put his pen away and cleared his throat. "Master Xu, what do you think...?"
The implication was clear: If you won't allow the check, I won't pay.
Xu Peng barked, "If he damages it, can he even afford to pay?"
"If it's genuine, I can't," Jiang Chen said calmly. "But if it's a fake—I absolutely can."
Master Qi now turned serious. "And how exactly will you inspect it?"
"I won't damage the painting," Jiang Chen said. "Just lift a small corner of the mounting in a blank area."
Master Qi nodded.
Xu Peng's heart sank. If he refused now, it would be an admission of guilt.
"Fine," he said, "but we'll wager on it."
"What kind of wager?" Jiang Chen asked.
"If it's a fake, I'll eat it," Xu Peng declared.
"Quite the appetite," Jiang Chen laughed.
"If it's real, you pay me twenty million."
Jiang Chen laughed again. "Twenty million? Sure."
"It's a deal then," Xu Peng growled.
Master Qi nodded. "If both parties agree, I'm all for it."
Jiang Chen agreed and walked to the restroom. He used a damp tissue to moisten the edge, then gently lifted a small portion of the mounting with a scalpel.
Everyone craned their necks.
Revealed beneath the mounting was a faint line of text:"Copied by Master Hongzhu Studio, 20XX."
The painting was barely six months old!
Jiang Chen pointed again. "Notice the color of the paper."
The exposed areas were snow-white, while the open parts of the painting had been artificially yellowed—obviously fumed to mimic age.
A forgery, without question!
The room fell silent.
Everyone inhaled sharply. This "masterpiece" turned out to be a fake.
Hongzhu Studio was a renowned reproduction workshop. All of their works were clearly marked with dates to prevent deception.
Master Qi's face darkened.In his fifty years in the industry, this was his first public misjudgment.
He felt humiliated—but strangely grateful. Jiang Chen had just saved him from a massive loss.
As for Xu Peng, he looked like he'd been slapped across the face. His prized painting, now just a roll of wastepaper.
He stared blankly at the damning inscription.
Jiang Chen patted him on the shoulder. "Stay strong, old classmate."
Xu Peng shook off his hand and turned to leave.
"Hey! What about our bet?" Jiang Chen called after him. He grabbed Xu Peng and spun him around like a rag doll. "Pay up—eat the painting!"
Xu Peng, seething with rage, signaled to his two bodyguards.
Both men, ex-provincial martial arts champions, moved in to flank Jiang Chen.
But Jiang Chen didn't strike first. "Two logs like you want to take me on?"
Xu Peng gave a nod.
The two charged simultaneously, grabbing Jiang Chen's arms.
"Break his arm!" Xu Peng shouted.
Jiang Chen smiled calmly, twisted his arms, and flipped both men over with ease.
"Ahhhh!"
He clapped his hands together. "Bow to your bride!"
BAM!The two guards' heads slammed into each other and they collapsed, unconscious.
Jiang Chen nudged them with his foot. "That's the best you've got? Pathetic."
Then he grabbed Xu Peng's wrist. "Relax, I won't hit you. But if you don't eat this painting, you're not leaving."
Xu Peng, drenched in cold sweat, realized he was completely finished.