An Authentic Tang Yin?

Pengcheng, Dingsheng Auction House.

As one of the city's leading established auction houses, it welcomed wealthy businessmen and prominent collectors every day. Its lobby was lavish and imposing, with crystal chandeliers casting a cold brilliance and an air of lofty privilege permeating every corner.

Chen Hao walked in front in a plain traditional robe, his posture straight as a pine, utterly out of place amid the suits and polished shoes around him. Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing followed behind, their carefully applied makeup unable to hide their youthful innocence. The moment the three entered the lobby, several veiled, appraising glances turned their way.

The receptionist was a young woman with immaculate makeup. She glanced over the three of them, her eyes lingering on Chen Hao's old-fashioned robe, and an almost imperceptible sneer instinctively curled her lips.

Dressed like a weirdo, bringing two young girls along, and holding up a phone. Clearly some amateur with a piece of junk, hoping to get lucky and create a stunt for a livestream. I have to turn away several people like this every day.

The receptionist could not even be bothered to stand. She tapped the counter with her fingertips and said in a cold, dismissive tone, "Do you have an appointment? If not, you'll have to wait in line for a standard appraisal. Also, our auction house only accepts items worth over a hundred thousand. If yours is worth less, there's no need to waste your time."

Yang Wanqing's expression stiffened. She instinctively tugged at Chen Siyao's clothes and muttered, "What's with that attitude? Why is she looking down on us?"

Chen Siyao was uncomfortable too, but she remained patient. "We don't have an appointment. We're here to consign a piece of calligraphy for auction. Sorry for the trouble, but could you arrange an appraiser for us?"

"Calligraphy?" The receptionist scoffed, her gaze growing even more disdainful. She waved casually toward the waiting area. "Wait over there. The appraisers are busy. It'll be at least two hours. If you've brought a fake, we'll reject it outright, so don't cause a scene when that happens."

Every word implied that they had brought a forgery. Yang Wanqing was about to lose her temper on the spot, but Chen Siyao held her back.

Chen Hao remained calm throughout, as though he had not heard those barbed remarks. He merely patted the back of his sister's hand and said gently, "It's fine. We'll wait."

He had endured countless ages. This little slight was not even a speck of dust to him.

[Clear Breeze] Yaoyao, what are you doing?

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood] That receptionist is so full of herself. Yaoyao, file a complaint. I'm telling you, complaints are what receptionists like her fear most.

"We're at Dingsheng Auction House. Didn't I find my older brother yesterday? The place I'm living in is too small for us both, so he wants to auction off a piece of calligraphy and use the money to buy a home."

[The Hero Himself]: The streamer's brother has that kind of money?

[Zhang Wei652]: This scripted act even has sequels now. Hilarious.

[Lonely]: A piece of calligraphy worth enough to buy a home in Pengcheng would have to be a national treasure, right? Why bother streaming if you're that rich?

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood]: Stop talking nonsense. I believe he's really Yaoyao's brother. You can tell they're siblings just by looking at them.

[I Am Ying Zheng]: I know Dingsheng Auction House. It's not just well known in Pengcheng; it's one of the top auction houses nationwide. There really is a minimum value for auction items, and complaining won't help.

[East Gate Blowing Snow]: You're actually taking a livestream seriously? Isn't it enough to have something entertaining to watch?

Chen Siyao ignored the comments in her livestream. The three had barely sat down in the waiting area for a few minutes before the receptionist was serving coffee and chatting cheerfully with another, impeccably dressed client, treating them as though they did not exist.

As she passed, she even deliberately rolled her eyes and complained quietly to a colleague, "Another bunch after a free appraisal. Obviously some fake they picked up at a street stall. Do they even know what kind of place this is?"

Yang Wanqing clenched her fists in anger and lowered her voice. "Yaoyao, why don't we try another auction house? These people are such snobs!"

Chen Siyao felt hurt too, but seeing the certainty on her brother's face, she bit her lip. "Let's wait a little longer. Trust him."

After nearly a full hour, an appraiser in a work uniform finally ambled over, impatience written all over his face. "Who wanted a calligraphy appraisal? Take it out and let me see. Hurry up. I've got work to do."

Chen Hao slowly rose and gently placed the brocade box containing Wandering Ink Traces on the table. His voice was perfectly calm. "Sorry for the trouble. Please appraise this."

The appraiser casually opened the brocade box and glanced over the calligraphy. At first, he still looked thoroughly impatient, but when his gaze landed on the signature, the seal, and the spirit of the brushwork, his eyes abruptly sharpened. His formerly casual posture froze!

The strokes alternated between dry and richly inked, the brushwork powerful yet free-flowing. The two characters of the signature, "Tang Yin," possessed an extraordinary elegance, while the vermilion seal carried an ancient, weighty dignity that no imitation on the market could match!

More striking still, the age of the paper and the way the ink had seeped into it bore every hallmark of an authentic work!

The appraiser's breathing suddenly quickened, and his fingers began to tremble. No longer daring to show the slightest carelessness, he cradled the calligraphy and said urgently, "One moment! Please wait here! I... I'll get the chief appraiser!"

With that, he practically ran into the back rooms. His frantic urgency left the previously scornful receptionist staring in stunned disbelief.

Only a moment passed.

Hurried footsteps sounded from the back rooms, and an elderly man with graying hair rushed out in a Zhongshan suit, followed by the auction house's general manager. Both were almost jogging, their faces brimming with excitement.

"Where's the original? Where's the authentic Wandering Ink Traces by Tang Yin?"

The elderly man was none other than Elder Zhou, Dingsheng Auction House's respected chief appraiser. He was renowned in collecting circles and had never made a mistake in appraising an antique.

The first appraiser hurriedly handed over the calligraphy. With trembling hands, Elder Zhou put on his reading glasses and bent over the table to examine it meticulously, his fingers brushing lightly over the paper. The longer he looked, the brighter his eyes became and the faster he breathed. Finally, he slammed a hand onto the table, his voice shaking with excitement:

"It's genuine! A truly authentic Wandering Ink Traces by Tang Yin! A peerless treasure!"

The moment those words rang out!

The entire room fell deathly silent!

The receptionist who had treated them so coldly turned deathly pale. Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed onto the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief.

An authentic Tang Bohu? And a celebrated masterpiece like Wandering Ink Traces?

I actually treated someone this important so dismissively?!

"Hahaha! It's real! It's real! Yaoyao, you won't have to live in a Handshake Building anymore! You'll have a big home!"

Yang Wanqing shook Chen Siyao's arm with delight. "Hmph! Who was the blind snob just now?"

The manager's expression changed dramatically as well. He hurried over to Chen Hao and bowed almost ninety degrees, his face plastered with a smile that was both ingratiating and terrified.

His tone could not have been more respectful. "Sir! We're terribly sorry! We failed to recognize who we were dealing with and neglected you! Please be generous and forgive us!"

"Xiao Huang, come apologize to this gentleman and these two ladies right away."

Flushing with embarrassment, the receptionist, Xiao Huang, bowed. "I'm sorry." When no response came, she did not dare straighten up.

"That's enough, Qingqing. Don't hold it against her. You can stand up. Just treat your clients with more care from now on."

Chen Siyao stepped forward and pulled Yang Wanqing back into her seat.

Elder Zhou also raised his head, looking at Chen Hao with awe and curiosity. A young man who could produce a national-treasure-level work of this caliber could not possibly be an ordinary person!

"Sir, this Wandering Ink Traces represents the pinnacle of Tang Yin's work. It's the only surviving piece of its kind, and its value is beyond measure! Rest assured, Dingsheng Auction House will arrange a premier dedicated auction for you and ensure it fetches the highest possible price!"