Translator: StarveCleric Editor: StarveCleric
“Miss Shi, pardon me for asking this, but may I know how much money you have spent on the inkstone?”
This… Compared to Liang Mumu’s 300,000 RMB, the amount of money I spent on my inkstone isn’t worth a mention at all…
Shi Yao was put at a spot, but she knew that it was a virtue to be honest. So, she spoke the truth in the end, “I bought it with 200 RMB.”
“200 RMB?” Uncle Ge was stunned. He clearly didn’t believe those words. With a smile on his face, he asked once more, “Miss Shi, are you joking with me? Aren’t you leaving out at least three zeros behind there?”
Leaving out three zeros… Isn’t that 200,000 RMB?
How can that be? My monthly allowance is only 1000 RMB, so where in the world am I to raise 200,000 RMB?
Shi Yao shook her head earnestly and replied, “No, I’m not joking. Uncle Ge, I’m being serious over here. I really spent 200 RMB to buy that inkstone.”
Uncle Ge looked at Shi Yao earnestly for a moment, and it didn’t seem like the latter was joking with him. So, he spoke up once more, “Then, Miss Shi, pardon me for asking you this, but where did you buy the inkstone from?”
“Ah…” Compared to the cost of the inkstone, this question was much easier for Shi Yao to answer. “… I went to the antique market and picked it out from one of the stores.”
Antique market? Even though it is quite messy over there, it is indeed possible for experts to fish out cheap, quality goods there…
Hearing those two words, Uncle Ge seemed to have realized what was going on, and he continued asking, “Miss Shi, is it possible that you have some experience in appraising?”
Lin Jiage had waited all this while for Uncle Ge to ask those words.
This time around, before Shi Yao could answer, he had already interjected with a curious tone, “Uncle Ge, we’re dying of curiosity over here too. Why don’t you tell us directly what’s going on?”
“Little Ge, don’t keep all of us in suspense. Get straight to the point,” Grandpa Lin added.
Seeing how even Grandpa Lin had spoken too, Uncle Ge turned his attention away from Shi Yao to Grandpa Lin and began explaining, “Miss Shi’s inkstone is a rare treasure. It’s an item from the Qing Dynasty, making it an antique that has hundreds of years of history behind it.
Upon hearing those words, Shi Yao thought that she was hearing things. She blinked her eyes again and again, but the scenery around her didn’t change.
If I am not in a dream… am I hearing things then?
Shi Yao quietly rubbed her ears as she heard Grandpa Lin’s voice, “Little Ge, based on what you have said, does it mean that the inkstone Yaoyao has given me as a birthday present an authentic good?”
“Of course! It’s even more real than gold. No matter how I look at it, this inkstone is worth 200,000 RMB in the market at the very least. Old Master Lin, just look at the jade over here on the inkstone. It has a clear and vivid color, which is proof that it’s a superior good.”
“It’s worth 200,000 RMB? But Yaoyao mentioned that she spent 200 RMB to buy it…” As Lin Jiayi spoke, she turned her head over to look at Shi Yao and asked doubtfully, “… Yaoyao, you haven’t been buying the lottery behind our back, have you?”
Shi Yao was still feeling a little light-headed from the insane turn of events around her. She shook her head blankly and replied, “I didn’t. I really spent 200 RMB to buy this inkstone.”
“And that’s what that makes this entire matter incredible! The antique market is a mystical place. Veterans in the trade are able to procure priceless treasures at an extremely low price. The fact that Miss Shi was able to spend 200 RMB to fish out a treasure worth 200,000 RMB means that she has a sharp eye of treasure!”
The more Uncle Ge spoke, the more excited he became.
“I’m telling you, in our trade, experience means everything. This is the first time I’m seeing such a young person who has such discerning eyes. Amazing, truly amazing. Old Master Lin, your granddaughter-in-law is a genius!”