Astonishment

Chu Chen said with emotion, "Actually, I can't quite understand it. With such superb craftsmanship, why would this person go to so much trouble to fake things? Making money through legitimate professions wouldn't be any slower."

Old Liu sighed upon hearing this, "Alas, I don't know what this person was thinking. With such skill, they use it for crooked paths. Our antique world has been ruined by many such selfish individuals."

Everyone felt a pang of discomfort hearing Old Liu's words. This phenomenon is indeed not uncommon nowadays. In recent years, antique forgery has become rampant, with many people only caring about profit and forgetting what virtue is.

"Alright, for now, we just need to do our best. Thinking too much won't change anything. Beibei, don't be sad. It's common to be fooled in the antique business. Even I have been fooled before. Being fooled isn't scary; the key is to learn from the mistakes and avoid making them again."

Seeing Li Beibei's crestfallen face, Old Liu comforted her and then smiled at Uncle Wu, saying:

"Ziping, what do you think? Chu Chen's words just now were quite good. You're just too worried and letting it cloud your judgment. Young people should be allowed to express themselves freely. You must trust them. We old folks just need to guide them at crucial moments."

"Heh, Old Liu, you're right to lecture me. I've always treated Chu Chen like my own child, so sometimes I worry too much. Now it seems this old body of mine needs to step back. He can handle things himself from now on." Uncle Wu's face showed a look of emotion after he finished speaking.

Chu Chen quickly said upon hearing this, "Uncle Wu, please don't say that. There's still so much I need to learn from you."

Old Liu waved his hand, interrupting him, "Alright, Chu Chen, excessive humility in young people is pride. In our line of work, just teaching won't lead to great achievements; the key is practice and understanding. Your performance so far has been commendable, especially since it wasn't in your primary area of expertise, which is truly rare."

Chu Chen felt a bit embarrassed by Old Liu's words.

However, Li Beibei felt very unhappy seeing this. Why did he get so much praise from Grandpa Liu when I bought the wrong item? It's infuriating!

Suddenly, she noticed the brocade box Chu Chen had brought and thought, Heh, let's see what good things you've brought. If it's nothing good, I'll make sure to scold you.

So, she said nonchalantly, "Oh, little brother Chu Chen, what's in the box you brought? Is it some particularly precious antique? How about we all take a look?"

Chu Chen understood her intentions upon hearing this, and he didn't particularly care. However, her calling him "little brother Chu Chen" sounded so strange that it sent a shiver down his spine.

Old Liu, seeing this, joked, "Chu Chen, what good thing have you brought this time? It won't be as outlandish as Beibei's, will it?"

Li Beibei pouted playfully upon hearing Old Liu's words, "Grandpa Liu, you can't tease me like that."

Her demeanor made everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed than before.

Chu Chen placed the brocade box on the wooden table and said with a smile as he opened it, "This is an item I found yesterday while stepping on a landmine. I brought it today for everyone to appraise."

Upon hearing this, Li Beibei immediately said indignantly, "Hey, how can you be so rude? You found something by stepping on a landmine and you have the nerve to bring it for us to see, calling it 'appraisal'? Have you no shame!"

"Beibei!"

Liu Qinshu chided Li Beibei, seeing that she was criticizing Chu Chen before even looking at the item, "Do you think if it were an ordinary item, Chu Chen would bring it for my father to see? Is Chu Chen that shallow?"

Old Liu also joked, "Beibei, you really need to change your personality. Always being so rash and impulsive, you might not get married in the future. Whether the item is good or not will be clear at a glance. Let's all see what good thing Chu Chen has brought."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's gaze turned to the brocade box. Old Liu was first startled, then his face filled with excitement. Uncle Wu's eyes blinked rapidly, disbelieving what he was seeing. Liu Qinshu, having been exposed to antiques since childhood, understood what was in the box and also showed a look of astonishment.

Even Li Beibei, despite her foolishness, knew that the item in the brocade box was extraordinary. She muttered softly, "What kind of luck does this person have? How can he step on a landmine and find a treasure!"

At this moment, Old Liu recovered and excitedly said to Chu Chen, "Chu Chen, may I hold it?"

"Old Liu, what are you saying? I brought it today precisely for you to authenticate. Of course, you can hold it."

Hearing Chu Chen's agreement, Old Liu solemnly put on a pair of gloves and carefully took the Ding ware plate into his hands, examining it closely piece by piece.

Ding ware is one of the Five Great Kilns of the Song Dynasty in China. It emerged as a major porcelain kiln system after the Xing ware white porcelain of the Tang Dynasty, renowned for its white porcelain. Its characteristics include fine clay, thin and lustrous body, pure white and moist glaze, with tear marks. The glaze is a white vitreous glaze, slightly powdery, hence called "powder Ding," also known as "white Ding."

Ding ware is representative of Song Dynasty porcelain, deeply admired by society and later generations. Liu Qi of the Yuan Dynasty once praised it in his Guiqian Zhi with a poem: "Dingzhou flower porcelain bowls, their color is white all over the world." Cao Zhao in his Gegu Yaolun in the early Ming Dynasty also stated: "Ancient Ding ware is prized for its fine clay body and white, lustrous color."

Chu Chen's Ding ware molded plate has a simple shape and elegant form. The body is fine, light, and thin, with an ivory-like texture, timeless and understated. The plate has an open mouth, a flat bottom, curved walls, and a ring foot. The rim where the glaze is absent is inlaid with a copper edge.

The entire piece is coated with a white glaze, which is yellowish-white. The outer wall clearly shows the wheel-throwing marks and the "tear marks" of dripping glaze from dipping. Zhang Yingwen of the Ming Dynasty said in his Qingmi Cang: "Ding ware has two types: plain and relief-molded flowers, with white being the standard. Those with a white body and glaze like tear marks are superior."

Therefore, from Zhang Yingwen's words, this Ding ware plate can be considered a masterpiece among Song Dynasty Ding ware.

Next, looking at the inner wall of the plate near the rim, there are three molded string patterns, below which are molded scrolling peony patterns. In the center of the plate, there is a molded openwork meander pattern, enclosing a design of twin fish amidst waves. The twin fish appear to be leaping between sea and sky, their forms stretched out, bringing joy at first sight.

These molded floral patterns of broken branches of peonies on the inner wall have flowing, graceful lines, like willows swaying in the spring breeze, full of poetic charm. The enclosed meander pattern's outlines greatly enhance the three-dimensionality of the decoration.

It can be said that the body, glaze, shape, and decoration of this Ding ware molded plate are all exquisite, simple yet elegant, luxurious yet understated, and can be confidently identified as a representative work of Song Dynasty Ding ware.

What's even more rare is that after nearly a thousand years, this plate is still remarkably well-preserved, with almost no flaws, which is truly rare and further increases its artistic appreciation and collection value.

While Old Liu was admiring it, the others were a bit idle. However, Uncle Wu suddenly thought of something and said grumpily to Chu Chen, "You brat, since you got such a treasure yesterday, why didn't you bring it to me to admire? I've truly doted on you for nothing."

Chu Chen quickly explained, "Uncle Wu, I really didn't do it on purpose. I got drunk with Brother Zhou and the others yesterday, so I couldn't make it to your place. You know, I haven't even bought a safe yet. If I hadn't been drunk, how would I dare to keep such a precious item at home overnight?"

Uncle Wu thought about it and agreed, but he still admonished him, "You, don't drink so much next time. Drinking leads to trouble. If you accidentally damage the item, you'll have nowhere to cry."

Chu Chen nodded repeatedly in agreement. Li Beibei, seeing him being lectured by Uncle Wu, felt a surge of secret delight, thinking, Serves you right for being so smug!

After a long while, Old Liu put down his magnifying glass and carefully placed the Ding ware plate back into the brocade box. Seeing this, Uncle Wu eagerly and cautiously began to examine it.

Old Liu let out a long sigh, "It is indeed a genuine piece, and not just genuine, but an excellent piece. All its characteristics conform to the expected features of that era, and they can be verified one by one with what ancient people have said."

"What makes it even rarer is that this item is as good as new, with virtually no flaws. I don't know how it has been preserved for a thousand years. Overall, this is an uncommon and rare treasure. Chu Chen, I'm now curious how you acquired it."

There was nothing to hide about this matter, so Chu Chen briefly recounted what happened yesterday. After finishing, he even laughed, "Thinking back, I still find it unbelievable."

Everyone listened to Chu Chen's experience yesterday and exchanged glances, feeling that the person who "stepped on a landmine" was truly pitiful, entering a treasure mountain only to return empty-handed.

Old Liu laughed, "I think it's people's fixed mindset at play. Whether it was the person who sold it to the swindler or the swindler himself, they all thought the item was too real, too good, too perfect. None of them believed it was a genuine piece, which is why it so cheaply benefited you, Chu Chen."

At this moment, Uncle Wu had also finished his examination. He smiled and said, "I think it's like the old saying, 'Treasures go to the virtuous.' Since the person who 'stepped on a landmine' lacked virtue, it's understandable that he had the fortune to find it but not the fortune to enjoy it."

Everyone thought this reasoning made sense and burst into laughter.

Old Liu said with a smile, "Actually, I think it's your good attitude, Chu Chen, and your seriousness in dealing with things. If it were any of you, encountering such a 'landmine' situation, besides being cheated, would you really take the time to carefully observe the characteristics of the item?"

Uncle Wu and the others thought about it and, in unison, shook their heads.