Pick up a princess to be your wife

Li Mu remained standing, but he noticed that Zhou Wanfu's expression was not quite right.

Although the fat man was unassuming, Li Mu had seen all sorts of demons and monsters in his previous life, and he could see through Zhou Wanfu's cunning at a glance.

Master Zhang began to examine the painting, which was placed in front of him. He examined it for a long time.

"The Spring River Full Moon Painting is an authentic work by the Sage of Painting. It is over 570 years old and worth 6,000 taels of silver."

After examining the first antique, Master Zhang began to examine the second antique.

He took out a blue and white porcelain bowl from a small brocade box and immediately showed an incredulous expression.

After examining it for a long time, Master Zhang finally said, "This blue and white porcelain dragon painting is extraordinary. It was a personal item used by the founding emperor of the Qin Dynasty. The pattern, the color, and the state of its preservation are all exceptional! It is worth at least 20,000 taels of silver!"

As Master Zhang spoke, he admired the blue and white porcelain bowl with the same look he would give a beautiful woman.

The Qin Dynasty he was referring to was not the same dynasty as the Qin Dynasty in Li Mu's original world.

The blue and white porcelain of the Qin Dynasty was extremely famous, but it is now more than a thousand years old, and very few pieces have survived, making them exceptionally precious.

Next, Master Zhang began to examine the third antique.

This is a bronze incense burner about the size of a palm and half a foot tall.

The small incense burner is covered with simple yet unique patterns and green patina, giving it a strong sense of age.

"This should be an incense burner from ancient times. During the tribal civilization period, there was a strict hierarchy, and only tribal leaders could use bronze utensils."

This incense burner is over five thousand years old, and the symbols on it are likely written in a script predating oracle bone script. If deciphered, it might offer insights into the history of an ancient civilization.

This is truly a treasure rarely seen in the world. No wonder it's Master Zhou; he managed to acquire such a treasure.

Master Zhang spoke in an extremely exaggerated tone.

"How much is it worth?" Zhou Wanfu asked.

"Well, fifty thousand taels of silver, I'm afraid it'll be no less," Master Zhang said after thinking for a long time.

These three antiques are the highlight of the evening; the other antiques are not as valuable.

After an hour of appraisal, the total price had exceeded 90,000 taels.

“Master Zhou, the price that Master Zhang just estimated is the price of a prosperous and peaceful era,” He Xianzhi said.

“I know that, Manager He. Just name your price and take it if it’s right,” Zhou Wanfu said with a smile.

Zhou Wanfu estimated that, based on current antique buyback prices, this batch of antiques would be worth at least ten thousand taels of silver.

“Before I make an offer, I need Mr. Li to take another look,” He Xianzhi said calmly.

It was only then that Zhou Wanfu noticed that the young man standing next to He Xianzhi was actually Li Mu.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhang immediately became displeased.

"Miss, do you not trust my judgment?" Master Zhang's face turned cold.

“Master Zhang has been with Jubaoge for twenty years, and his expertise is evident to all. How could I not trust him? It’s just that I can’t invite any other appraisers for the time being, so I invited Young Master Li instead,” He Xianzhi said politely.

Master Zhang glanced at Li Mu and said, "I think he's just a young man in his early twenties. Even if he knows about antiques, how could he possibly understand these rare treasures? Why don't you take a look yourself, Miss?"

He Xianzhi is knowledgeable in the field, but his knowledge is not deep.

She could tell the difference between ordinary antiques and those that were more complex, but she had no confidence in dealing with them.

Her forte is business acumen, not antique appraisal.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have invited Li Mu.

Although Master Zhang was a member of Jubaoge, he was not one of He Xianzhi's confidants.

Having experienced the chaos in the capital, she had long understood the meaning of the unpredictability of human nature.

Defenses can not do without.

“If I had any sense, I wouldn’t have invited Young Master Li. Please, go ahead,” He Xianzhi said with a smile.

“Since Miss insists on having an outsider take the look, then let’s have him. I don’t believe that a mere kid like him can figure anything out,” Master Zhang said dismissively.

Li Mu's gaze fell on the landscape painting, and subtitles appeared in his mind.

[A copy of the painting "Spring River Full Moon," by an anonymous artist, dating back six months, valued at two hundred coins.]

Then Li Mu looked at the blue and white porcelain bowl.

[A high-quality replica of a Qin Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain piece depicting a dragon swimming in the dark sea, dating back one year. Hand-painted with exquisite craftsmanship, valued at one tael (approximately 30 grams).]

Then Li Mu looked at the bronze incense burner.

[A common bronze incense burner, of average workmanship, worth five taels.]

Next, Li Mu scanned the other antique items, and the system's appraisal result showed that none of them were genuine.

Master Zhang appraised the antique as having a total value of 90,000 taels, but the total value of the antique was less than 100 taels.

Li Muben had always suspected that Zhou Wanfu was no good; he must have bribed Master Zhang to fleece He Xianzhi.

Li Mu's announcement of the results will surely offend Zhou Wanfu.

He Xianzhi may not be afraid of him, but he will definitely come to cause trouble for Li Mu.

However, since Li Mu had accepted He Xianzhi's money and promised to appraise a thousand treasures for him, he could not break his contract.

That fat bastard Zhou Wanfu was a scoundrel to begin with. He ate a thousand taels of his money and still wouldn't let him go. How can we let him get away with this from He Xianzhi now?

“All the antiques are fakes,” Li Mu said calmly.

These words shocked everyone present.

"You little thief, look closely!" Zhou Wanfu's face turned cold as he stared fiercely at Li Mu, his eyes filled with threat.

"Look closely, they're all fakes, with a total value of no more than one hundred taels," Li Mu said calmly.

"What do you know, you peasant?"

Master Zhang was immediately enraged. He stood up, pointed at Li Mu, and scolded, "You greenhorn, how dare you say that all the antiques I appraise are fake? Are you doubting my abilities?"

“I don’t doubt your abilities, but I question your character. To present a lie as the truth shows a problem with your character,” Li Mu said.

"you!"

Master Zhang was furious, and his face turned ashen.

Suddenly, Mr. Zhang was both angry and amused.

“Miss, look at him! He actually questions my character; he’s just spouting nonsense. It took me an hour to barely appraise all these antiques. And he just glanced at them and said they were all fake. Do you think that’s normal, Miss?” Master Zhang said to He Xianzhi.

He Xianzhi also felt it was a bit outrageous; how could one look at dozens of antiques at a glance?

But she immediately remembered that when Li Mu appraised that piece of amber before, he only glanced at it before making a judgment.

Maybe Li Mu really is a genius?

If He Xianzhi had to choose one person to trust, she would definitely choose to believe Li Mu.

There have been countless instances of betrayal within Jubaoge, and it's not uncommon for her to be involved in such incidents.

That's why she took precautions and brought Li Mu over.

Moreover, Li Mu had absolutely no reason to lie to her.