"You mean you're an antique appraisal master yourself?" Ning Lang raised his eyebrows and retorted.
What arrogance.
An antique appraisal master's reserved seat, wasn't that putting himself on a pedestal?
It was also a way to belittle Li Chonglou.
If he didn't know Li Chonglou's skills, it would be one thing, but Ning Lang himself was willing to admit inferiority to Li Chonglou in antique appraisal.
These two stubborn, pedantic, and self-important old men dared to be so arrogant.
It wouldn't be right not to put them in their place.
However, after saying that, Ning Lang realized a problem.
Li Chonglou looked young, only twenty-three or twenty-four, and was limping slightly due to a leg injury. Bringing him to the appraisal event and seating him in this position did indeed look a bit ostentatious.
His earlier reluctance to let Li Chonglou come was for this very reason.
Everyone present today was arrogant, confident in their wealth or talent.
They all looked down on others.
Li Chonglou looked unremarkable, but his demeanor was deep and mysterious. Coupled with his presence, it was too easy for people to find fault with him.
First it was Tu Hong, and then these two old men.
In an instant, the speaking old man's face turned purple with suppressed rage.
The other person, finding the atmosphere tense, accused, "Ning Lang, you call yourself part of the antique circle, yet you don't understand respect for the old and love for the young?"
Others might fear Ning Lang's connection to the underworld, but these two old men did not.
They were already old, what more could Ning Lang, however ruthless, do to them?
This was, after all, a society governed by laws.
"Respecting the old is a virtue, but do you, who are old and disrespectful, have the audacity to demand respect?" Ning Lang sneered.
The two old men's mouths twisted in anger.
Even Li Chonglou watched, dumbfounded. He hadn't expected that the formidable Wolf Lord of Yong'an would have such a sharp tongue.
It seemed that for ordinary people, all it took was words.
He couldn't compare, he truly admired it.
"You... you are outrageous!" The first old man to speak, after finishing, slammed his hand hard on the table.
He gasped in pain, sucking in cold air.
With a face full of shame and indignation, he stood up, waved his sleeve, and left without looking back.
He left...
"Ning Lang, we were invited by Manager Zeng. You actually angered him and made him leave, so I won't stay either!" Seeing his companion leave, the other person couldn't maintain his composure. He puffed out his chest and said angrily, "You're amazing, I want to see how you'll handle this today!"
His companion had been angered away by Ning Lang before the event even began.
This scene almost made him suffocate.
The guests sitting nearby exchanged glances, all stunned.
"A half-baked talent who rattles. Better leave early, leave quickly. It'll be better if you leave," Ning Lang said nonchalantly, expressing his disdain.
How could he not know the character of the Yong'an antique circle?
Those two old men were purely propped up by money, with Old Zeng as the mastermind behind them.
The purpose was to legitimize these "national treasures" he had collected.
Ning Lang had always looked down upon Old Zeng's collection.
He dealt in authentic antiques. It was already showing him some respect that he hadn't gotten into a fight with the National Treasure Gang. If it weren't for business, he would have stopped dealing with him long ago.
Now, for that old man to actually throw a tantrum, it was truly pushing his luck.
If he didn't teach them a lesson, they wouldn't know their place.
So, he lowered his head and whispered to Li Chonglou, "Brother, do you want to show off your skills today?"
"Is it appropriate?" Li Chonglou asked in surprise.
Few of Manager Zeng's collected treasures were genuine. Asking him to show off his skills was essentially asking him to expose them.
Wasn't Ning Lang doing business with the Zeng fellow? Was it right to sabotage a partner like this?
"You don't understand. I've reminded Old Zeng about this matter many times, both directly and indirectly," Ning Lang said, of course knowing what Li Chonglou was asking. "But the closer the person speaking, the less convincing it is."
"If you can put him in his place, even if it embarrasses him, it's a good thing."
"However, it should be appropriate, not completely rip off the fig leaf."
In other words, he could do it, but with discretion.
Li Chonglou nodded in understanding.
In his previous life, he had spent his entire life immersed in antiques. What kind of people and things in this industry hadn't he encountered?
He had seen even stranger things.
On the other hand, the remaining old man's eyes were filled with a sinister glint, and his face was full of ill intentions.
It seemed he was waiting for the appraisal event to begin so that Ning Lang and Li Chonglou would be publicly embarrassed.
Soon, a middle-aged man in a tuxedo, with exquisite makeup and a greasy demeanor, walked onto the stage holding a microphone.
He announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, dear friends, thank you for gracing us with your presence at my personal collection appraisal event."
"I have been preparing for this for a long time, and I am a little excited."
"To make things clearer for everyone, I have specifically invited three guests..."
"I'm sure everyone is familiar with this Wolf Lord..."
As he introduced Ning Lang, Zeng Wang visibly paused.
Although there were three people sitting in the guest seats, they were clearly not the three he had invited.
He had never even seen the young man sitting next to Ning Lang.
And of the two teachers he had painstakingly cultivated, why was only one present?
Never mind...
There are always unexpected issues. He would adapt and muddle through for now.
"The other is Master Chen Haiqiang, a leading figure in our Yong'an antique world, who studied under the nationally renowned antique master, Mr. Lu Weishen!"
Wow...
A wave of applause erupted from the audience.
Everyone marveled.
Lu Weishen's name was well-known throughout Huizhou Province. In the antique circle, everyone knew him.
Since Chen Haiqiang was a disciple of Lu Weishen, he indeed must have some skills.
Only Li Chonglou and Ning Lang exchanged glances, almost bursting into laughter.
Ning Lang was laughing because he knew that Lu Weishen was just a name that Zeng Wang had paid Chen Haiqiang to associate with; they were not related in any way.
Using influence for hype!
This was a common tactic for businessmen.
Li Chonglou was laughing because he dared to associate himself with Lu Weishen, whose own master didn't even take him seriously, let alone this half-aged man.
He dared to provoke him, which was truly laughable.
"And the third is a friend of Wolf Lord, who should also be an appraisal master. We'll let Wolf Lord introduce him." Zeng Wang, being a businessman, smoothly transitioned.
As he spoke, he walked over to Ning Lang and handed him the microphone.
"Old Zeng is truly giving me face," Ning Lang said as he took it, smiling. "I believe everyone has also seen my brother."
"His surname is Li, and his given name is Chonglou. The title of appraisal master is an insult to him."
"He is a master whom I, Ning Lang, admire."
"Anyone who is unconvinced can come up and test his mettle!"
Boom...
His words caused a thunderous uproar from the audience.
Many people scoffed, while others looked bewildered.
Tu Hong almost laughed his eyeballs out and pointed at Li Chonglou, shouting, "You crippled old man, you dare to call yourself a master?"
This scene caused Zeng Wang to look very awkward.
The parties involved, Li Chonglou and Ning Lang, on the other hand, appeared calm.
What he said was the truth.
As for these people, they were simply blind.
Before long, they would witness the validation of everything he had said.
"Enough said, today's appraisal event officially begins!" Seeing that the situation was difficult to control, Zeng Wang quickly took back the microphone and announced the theme.
Beautiful hostesses, hearing this, walked down in procession.
They soon reappeared on stage, each holding a tray covered with red silk.
The first beautiful hostess stepped forward.
She placed the tray on a pedestal and gently lifted the red silk.
Revealed on the tray was a colorful bracelet.
Why was it colorful? Because this bracelet had one section that was yellow, another that was red, and another that was green.
They appeared distinct, as if water and oil couldn't mix.
Upon seeing this item, Li Chonglou couldn't help but cover his forehead, cold sweat breaking out.
He suddenly realized the terrifying nature of the National Treasure Gang.
He also understood that in his previous life, his circle was different, and he hadn't encountered such excessive National Treasure Gang members. This was simply torture for the eyes.
"This bracelet belonged to Empress Dowager Cixi of the Great Qing Dynasty, a three-colored jadeite bracelet, of immeasurable value." Just then, Chen Haiqiang suddenly stood up and pointed at the bracelet, his expression agitated. "Treasures like this should be in the National Museum. To have the fortune to see it here today."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... truly a feast for the eyes!"
Clap, clap, clap...
As soon as Chen Haiqiang finished speaking, a wave of applause erupted from below.
Many people leaned forward, trying their best to get a clear look.
However, some people also showed confusion on their faces.
Li Chonglou understood perfectly what they were confused about.
Because this was a glass bracelet, and moreover, a colored glass one!
The craftsmanship was crude, and it was extremely fake.
Anyone with even a little basic knowledge of antiques could tell at a glance.
This Chen Haiqiang actually dared to call black white in front of so many people, claiming it was Qing Dynasty jadeite.
I...
Li Chonglou almost blurted out a curse.
If it were in any other field, encountering someone like Chen Haiqiang, Li Chonglou would surely remain calm and indifferent.
Because he didn't care; his heart was like a still ancient well.
But antiques were his lifelong passion, his most cherished possession.
He would not allow anyone to desecrate it in such a manner.
"Brother, try to stay calm first..." Ning Lang, sensing Li Chonglou's emotional shift, quickly comforted him. "I know you're upset. Now you understand why I didn't want to bring you here?"
"I'm also upset, but we can't start confronting people with the very first item."
"There are even more outrageous things below!"
Li Chonglou was dumbfounded.
This wasn't outrageous enough?
There were even more outrageous things?
In an instant, he regretted coming to this damned appraisal event.
This wasn't an appraisal event at all; it was clearly a convention for the blind.
"Don't be too disappointed. Old Zeng actually has a few genuine items," Ning Lang said in a low voice. "His items are intentionally chosen."
"They are meant to filter out the fools."
"You mean, he deliberately presents such fake items as genuine, and by doing so, he can filter out those who understand?" Li Chonglou's expression was odd.
"That's right," Ning Lang nodded. "If he didn't do this, wouldn't everyone he invited become an expert?"
"Then, how could he make money?"
"He's a businessman. Businessmen seek profit, not collectors who cherish antiques like their lives."
"Do you see those people with confused expressions?"
"They are players, they understand quite well, but this scene before them is likely destroying their perceptions."
"Things like this happen every year."
"Some people who understand even get brainwashed into idiots."
These words transformed Li Chonglou's initial disgust into sudden realization.
So that's how it is!
At this moment, he suddenly felt a long-lost curiosity. What exactly were the items below that could be even more fake than this?