Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 597: Chapter 595: Tang Dynasty Jade Cup

Zhao Yuliang didn’t understand antiques, he just knew that antique jade artifacts were very valuable. But now that Huo Sining had pointed out a problem with the jade cup, his heart immediately leaped, and he stared at Huo Sining nervously and anxiously.

He wasn’t doubting the truth of Huo Sining’s words, he was just worried that there was some other defect with the pair of cups.

If he couldn’t sell the jade cups for the price he wanted, he would have to find another way to pay for his mother’s surgery, but his mother’s condition couldn’t bear any delay now.

A smile crept onto Huo Sining’s face, ”Although I’m not an expert in this field, I have come into contact with many such items recently. I think your Luminescent Cup is not from the Song Dynasty.”

”Not from the Song Dynasty? Could it be a fake? Impossible, my grandfather had this cup appraised back in the day, and the appraiser said it was from the Song Dynasty! It’s just unfortunate that I lost the appraisal certificate, but I’m really not lying!”

Zhao Yuliang was anxious. He was counting on this item to save a life—his mother’s surgery was not a small expense, and if the Luminescent Cup turned out to be a fake, he would truly be at a loss for what to do.

”Don’t panic, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Seeing Zhao Yuliang’s anxiety, Huo Sining hurriedly said, ”Just because it’s not from the Song Dynasty doesn’t mean it’s a counterfeit. Indeed, this item is not from the Song Dynasty, it should be from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, or even earlier—a history of at least a thousand years. If I’m not mistaken, this item is very likely from the Tang Dynasty.”

After hearing this, Zhao Yuliang stood frozen on the spot.

The impact of Huo Sining’s words hit him like a storm, causing him to stare at the pair of cups in disbelief, his gaze blank.

It took a good while before he turned to look at Huo Sining with a stuttering voice, ”Tang... from the early Tang Dynasty? Is it valuable?”

Su Qingqing, standing by, was also stunned by Huo Sining’s words, looking at the two inconspicuous jade cups in surprise and involuntarily examining them from all angles in her hands.

Huo Sining nodded, ”If you take this pair of cups to a formal antique shop outside, the market price is at least five million. If you sell them at an auction, the price can go even higher. However, auctions come with commission fees, not to mention you’ll have to sign an agreement, and you won’t get the money you want in the short term.”

”Five million?!”

Zhao Yuliang was astonished. He never imagined that the items he had initially valued at just eight hundred thousand to one million would actually be worth so much.

The price had increased five or sixfold in an instant, which made Zhao Yuliang feel like he was dreaming, and he couldn’t help swallowing before asking, ”Are you telling the truth? How sure are you?”

Upon hearing Zhao Yuliang’s words, Su Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh, ”Mr. Zhao, you’ve asked the right person. My cousin is a top student of Zhou Shitao, the Mount Tai of the antique appraisal circle. Her appraisal is absolutely trustworthy!”

Zhao Yuliang didn’t know who Zhou Shitao was, so he was somewhat skeptical of Su Qingqing’s words.

Aren’t all antique appraisers old men? Can this young girl be capable? She’s not just boasting, is she?

Perhaps sensing Zhao Yuliang’s doubt, Huo Sining laughed and said,

”I say this object is from the Tang Dynasty, and I’m at least seventy to eighty percent certain. Of course, if you don’t believe me, you can take it to an appraisal institution for another evaluation,”

In fact, with the Heavenly Eye as a cheating tool, Huo Sining’s answer was one hundred percent certain.

But she didn’t state her certainty with such finality because even if a real antique appraiser were to come, they couldn’t guarantee they wouldn’t make a mistake. If she spoke too absolutely, it would instead cause Zhao Yuliang to become suspicious and put off.

True to her expectations, when Zhao Yuliang heard Huo Sining express that she was seventy to eighty percent sure, the skepticism in his eyes diminished, particularly as he saw Huo Sining’s clear, forthright gaze, which didn’t seem deceitful at all, and he felt more confident.

With a seventy to eighty percent chance, if the object really was from the Tang Dynasty, and if he could sell it for five million yuan, they wouldn’t need to worry about his mother’s surgery costs or even the post-operative recovery expenses. For him, this was simply wonderful news.

”Miss Huo, didn’t you say before that you wanted to buy this pair of jade cups?”

Zhao Yuliang ventured cautiously.

Previously, when he said the jade cups were from the Song Dynasty and worth one million, Huo Sining was interested in purchasing them. But now that the cups appeared to be from the Tang Dynasty, worth four to five times more than Song Dynasty jade, he wasn’t sure if Huo Sining would still want them, or even have the means to afford them.

Huo Sining was startled, ”Huh?”

Seeing Huo Sining’s perplexed expression, Zhao Yuliang immediately misunderstood, thinking Huo Sining had decided not to buy them. He became anxious and quickly changed his approach,

”Miss Huo, from the tone you just used, you seem to know a lot about antiques, so you must know quite a few people in the circle of antique collectors. So, may I be so bold as to ask a favor of you?”

Huo Sining was puzzled, but she didn’t refuse and nodded, ”Go ahead.”

”I want to sell this pair of jade cups, but I don’t know anybody, so could you help me find a buyer? I don’t want much, if these cups really are Luminescent Cups from the Tang Dynasty, I’ll take four million for them, and you can keep any extra!”

Zhao Yuliang looked somewhat embarrassed as he watched Huo Sining, having already discerned from her practiced manner of appraising the cups that she definitely knew people who dealt in antiques.

He was in urgent need of money and couldn’t find a way on his own. He didn’t even trust his uncle’s friends, nor did he dare to sell the items to just any antique shop, for fear of being swindled or targeted by those with ulterior motives once they noticed his sudden wealth. Therefore, he could only ask for Huo Sining’s help now.

Upon hearing Zhao Yuliang’s words, Huo Sining was somewhat caught between laughter and tears.

From striking up a conversation with Zhao Yuliang to following him to his home, her behavior from beginning to end showed that she was very interested in the jade cups, but she had never used the word ’not’ when discussing purchasing them. Why didn’t this man believe she would buy them?

Huo Sining confirmed again, ”Do you really want to sell it? I know you need money for your mother’s surgery, but jade cups from the Tang Dynasty are hard to come by. If you keep them, they may become even more valuable over time. I estimate their price will only go higher in the future.”

Zhao Yuliang shook his head with decision, ”No need, I’ve made up my mind, sell them! I don’t understand these things, and having them is like a ticking time bomb. They could get damaged anytime, and keeping them may attract unwanted attention someday.”

At this point, Zhao Yuliang’s face showed a bitter smile, ”Don’t laugh at me, but ever since my aunt found out we had these objects, there hasn’t been a day of peace. If I don’t sell them, I fear she’ll eventually take them. Besides, I really need the money now. My mother’s surgery isn’t cheap, and there’s a long period of medication treatment after the surgery. Without money, there’s no way to get by.”