Step up or Not?

Stepping into the Rare Treasures Pavilion felt like traveling back to another dynasty. Everything in sight had an antique style.

The space was vast, with clearly defined sections.

It was divided into three areas: the appraisal area, the auction area, and the treasure competition area.

At a glance, the appraisal area was especially crowded. Some event seemed to be underway, with people gathered in ring after ring. Besides students from the relevant major, students from other departments had come to join the fun.

"Make some room, everyone, and quiet down! If you want to watch, line up as instructed, or none of you will be able to see! It's not often that Elder Tong visits the Rare Treasures Pavilion. Show him how well-mannered you are, and don't leave him with a bad impression!"

Hearing Elder Tong's name seemed to excite the students even more, but they restrained themselves and lined up properly as the organizer directed.

Jiang Ze followed the crowd and stood in a corner.

"Make way! Shen Yun, over here! This spot has a great view!"

Jiang Ze felt the crowd beside him being forcibly parted. Hearing the familiar name, he couldn't help looking up.

Holy crap, System, don't tell me a major plot point is happening today? I only just got here!

He had actually spotted Shen Yun here, which meant an opportunity for the protagonist would most likely arise. Jiang Ze felt that these plot points always came much earlier than they had in the story he had read.

The system remained silent. Knowing it had let him down at another critical moment, Jiang Ze could only watch as several people escorted Shen Yun through the crowd to the very front.

"Quiet down, everyone. It's an honor for our department to have Elder Tong here today to appraise antiques. If you have any antiques or other old objects you'd like appraised, you can bring them up for him to examine."

As soon as the organizer spoke, the entire room instinctively fell quiet. Everyone could barely contain their excitement.

Only then did Jiang Ze notice that many people were holding various objects. Yet now that they had been invited forward, no one moved.

"I'm sure everyone knows Elder Tong's rules, but since some students from other departments may have come after hearing about him, let me offer a reminder. Whatever leaves Elder Tong's hands will be genuine. Any fakes that reach him will be smashed! If you can't bear to part with what you're holding, don't come forward!"

The students exchanged glances, but most remained silent, clearly already familiar with this rule. Only a few let out quiet gasps and withdrew the feet they had eagerly stepped forward with.

Jiang Ze thought Elder Tong certainly had character, along with great confidence in his abilities. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared establish such a rule.

He squeezed a little farther forward.

Only then did he see a traditional wooden armchair in front of the stone counter in the appraisal area. An elderly man over sixty sat in it, dressed in a long robe and a mandarin jacket. His eyes were closed, and he remained unmoved by all the noise around him, giving off the air of a highly respected elder.

Although most people hesitated, quite a few had genuinely come for Elder Tong. Several antiques were brought forward for appraisal, one after another, but without exception, Elder Tong smashed them with the hammer in his hand.

In the end, no one dared step forward.

"All right. If there's nothing else, let's end it here."

Elder Tong was about to rise when a loud voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait! Elder Tong, I have something here that's definitely genuine. Please take a look at it!"

A middle-aged man seemed to have just hurried over, holding a box in his hands.

"Isn't that Teacher Deng? I remember he's the biggest antique enthusiast in our department. I was just wondering how he could possibly miss Elder Tong's visit today!"

"Sorry I'm late, Elder Tong. I rushed as fast as I could to fetch this! Thankfully, you haven't left yet!"

Elder Tong looked at the box in his hands. The two seemed to know each other, and he knew Teacher Deng had his own insights into antiques. Something the man treasured so much piqued his interest.

"It's all right. I still have a little time. What treasure have you acquired this time, Teacher Deng?"

Teacher Deng sported a small mustache, which twitched twice as he carefully opened the box.

Everyone craned their necks to look. Jiang Ze peered over curiously as well.

When the box opened, it revealed a small blue-and-white porcelain vase.

The vase was evenly shaped, its blue coloring rich and vivid. Blooming arabesque lotuses adorned its surface, with traditional vine patterns between the blossoms lending the design a sense of endless continuity.

Elder Tong looked it over, stroked the long white beard on his chin, and nodded. Then he glanced at the many archaeology students present and suddenly made a suggestion.

"Since Teacher Deng is here, and so are quite a few students from the department, this is a good chance for them to broaden their knowledge. You wouldn't mind letting them examine it too, would you?"

Teacher Deng was puzzled, unsure what Elder Tong intended, but he didn't dare refuse. He turned to look at the students.

He cleared his throat and spoke loudly.

"Since Elder Tong wants to broaden your knowledge, our department's students can't shrink back. I only recently acquired this vase, and even I haven't fully figured it out. If you have any insights, feel free to share them."

"Let's do this: three places, first come, first served. This is also a chance to make a good impression on Elder Tong, so show some spirit!"

Teacher Deng's words were full of hints. First, he had made it clear that even he couldn't fully assess the vase, so anyone without real ability shouldn't step out and embarrass themselves. Second, even if their appraisal wasn't entirely accurate, catching Elder Tong's attention would still be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Some students were eager to try. Almost all were from the department, while those from other majors were mostly just there to watch.

"I'll go first!"

A scholarly-looking young man wearing glasses stepped forward. He seemed well acquainted with appraising antiques, even pulling out a pair of white gloves he had brought along.

Elder Tong looked at him and nodded. "He must be one of your department's outstanding students."

"That's right. This is Dong Jiansheng. Like me, he has a particular passion for these things. He's well known in our department, and his grades have always been among the best."

Teacher Deng was pleased to see Dong Jiansheng step forward. He could help bring credit to their department.

Wearing his gloves, Dong Jiansheng carefully inspected the entire vase, handling it gingerly and repeatedly murmuring in admiration.

"This is definitely genuine! It should be a Qing Dynasty vase, though my knowledge is too limited to identify its precise origins."

"Excellent! You have a keen eye, Dong Jiansheng. I've examined it for several days myself and confirmed that it is indeed from the Qing Dynasty."

A flash of smugness appeared in Dong Jiansheng's eyes, but he didn't dare act presumptuously in front of Elder Tong and offered a few modest words.

Elder Tong merely nodded mildly beside him, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Jiang Ze was also watching the vase. Then he glanced at Shen Yun nearby, sensing that he would probably be next.

Sure enough, no sooner had the thought occurred to him than Shen Yun stepped forward and addressed Elder Tong with great respect.

"Elder Tong, although I'm not from this department, I've always greatly admired you, and I have a few insights of my own."

Seeing his modesty and courtesy, Elder Tong nodded with a warm expression.

A glint of absolute confidence flashed through Shen Yun's eyes. He spoke fluently and at length, offering an even more thorough analysis than Dong Jiansheng had.

"Elder Tong, this vase is unquestionably genuine!"

Elder Tong looked at him in surprise. He hadn't expected someone outside the department to have studied the subject so deeply. The young man had truly impressed him.

The students present broke into an uproar, and some even began to applaud.

"Would anyone else like to share their thoughts?"

As Teacher Deng looked at Shen Yun, however, he felt rather displeased. This had been meant as a chance for their archaeology students to show their abilities. Who knew which department this fellow belonged to? Had he come to steal their thunder?

No one answered for a long while. Just as Teacher Deng was about to smooth things over, Shen Yun suddenly spoke from beside him.

"Elder Tong, I know an archaeology student who's here today. He also has a unique eye for antiques. Why don't we let him take a look?"

Jiang Ze raised an eyebrow in the crowd and looked toward Shen Yun. Sure enough, Shen Yun was watching him with ill intent, though his words sounded utterly sincere.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were close friends, and that he was securing a chance for his friend to show off his abilities.