Zhou Xuan nodded. "Yes, I'll wait for him to come. Old Wu, just say I'm here to inspect the painting, and that's it. Don't worry about what Zhao Chengzhi thinks. I just need to take a look at the painting."
Old Wu agreed, but he still had some doubts. Although Zhou Xuan did many strange things that he couldn't figure out, he was probably not as good as him when it came to his skills and experience in appraising calligraphy and paintings. He wondered if Zhou Xuan could take another look at the painting and see if there was anything different about it.
Although he couldn't understand it, Lao Wu still put the topic aside. If all else failed, he would just pay ten million in cash. Although he wasn't extremely wealthy, ten or twenty million was more than he had saved up over the years, and it wouldn't be too difficult for him to come up with it.
Old Wu then took out a bankbook and handed it to Zhou Xuan, saying, "Little Zhou, this is the money from the sale of your other eleven miniature carvings, totaling 3.7 billion. After deducting commissions and our antique shop's 10% cut, you still have 3.16 billion left."
"3.16 billion?" Zhou Xuan was stunned when he heard the number Old Wu mentioned. It was truly unexpected. He had never taken these miniature carvings seriously. Although he knew they were valuable, he hadn't paid much attention to them before. Now, Old Wu was bringing him such a huge sum of cash, which really surprised him.
And that's after taking commissions! Damn, the commissions are so high! Luckily, 10% of the cash went directly to their own antique shop. 10% is 370 million! That almost doubled the antique shop's total assets. No one could have imagined that an antique shop could grow its total assets from just over 10 million to over 700 million in just a few months.
Volume 1, Chapter 406: The Monk Can Run Away, But the Temple Can't.
Chapter 406 You can run away, but you can't hide.
Zhao Chengzhi arrived at Zhou Zhang Antique Shop half an hour later.
He looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a fair complexion and no beard, resembling a scholar. Judging from his expression, Zhou Xuan couldn't tell whether this person was a ghost or not. It was just a pity that he didn't have Ma Shu's mind-reading ability. Although it was far less useful than his own superpower in other aspects, it was the most powerful weapon in interpersonal interactions.
After inviting Zhao Chengzhi to sit down in the inner room, Zhao Chengzhi glanced at the people present. Zhou Xuan was too young and didn't seem like the main character. But there were only two old men. One didn't look like he had any background, and the other was Old Wu, who was in charge of him. Could it be that Old Wu wanted to test him?
Although Zhao Chengzhi was muttering to himself, he took out the painting tube without saying a word, opened the lid and took out the scroll inside.
Spread out on the long table, the painting is about twelve feet wide and one and two meters high. Its style is free and unrestrained, and it looks quite good at first glance.
After Zhao Chengzhi unfolded the painting, he glanced at Old Wu, who then introduced him to Zhao Chengzhi: "Mr. Zhao, this is the appraiser we invited, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Xuan nodded slightly without speaking. He stood up and walked to the table, naturally reaching out to gently place his hand on the screen. He secretly activated his special ability, immediately sensing some images in his mind. He then examined, searched, and compared these images to see if any were useful to him.
Zhao Chengzhi was still somewhat surprised by Lao Wu's introduction of Zhou Xuan. Could this young man be someone of great importance? Judging from the expressions of Lao Wu and the others towards him, this person must have some status.
However, Zhou Xuan's attitude displeased Zhao Chengzhi. He didn't say a word, acted like he was something special, and asked, "How can you tell anything from him?"
Zhou Xuan understood, of course, that Zhao Chengzhi had already determined that this was a fake. All he wanted was to get compensation as soon as possible. As long as Lao Wu wanted to settle the matter privately and protect his reputation, that would be fine. Moreover, judging from Lao Wu's attitude these past few days, that was his intention.
After touching the painting for a while, Zhao Chengzhi and Lao Wu were both very surprised. Zhou Xuan's method of examining the painting was different from others. While others used their eyes to look at it, he mainly used his hands to touch it.
Zhou Xuan touched almost the entire scroll before withdrawing his hand. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Mr. Zhao, that's enough. I've finished appraising it."
Zhao Chengzhi was taken aback for a moment before asking, "Is it verified? Is the painting real or fake?"
"The painting is definitely a fake," Zhou Xuan answered immediately and decisively, then changed the subject, saying, "However, it will take a few more days to get a definitive examination report."
Zhao Chengzhi frowned and said, "Why do we have to wait a few more days? Didn't the artist himself come to authenticate it? Doesn't his own authentication of his own painting count?"
Zhou Xuan said calmly, "Of course not. If we're talking about accuracy, the author's personal appraisal is the most reliable. But whether the author has any connection with you or with Mr. Wu is another matter. Furthermore, Mr. Wu knows the author, Mr. Luo Baishan. Given their personal interests, the author's appraisal cannot be used as evidence. There have been precedents for this in many cases. The author's appraisal cannot be used as complete evidence."
Zhao Chengzhi was dumbfounded. If even the author's own appraisal couldn't be considered valid, when would he ever receive compensation? Fortunately, Zhou Xuan hadn't said the painting wasn't a fake, which was still beneficial to him. What he couldn't understand was why this Zhou, who was invited by Lao Wu, didn't speak up for them? Why did he directly and definitively say the painting was a fake?
Zhao Chengzhi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "So... what do you mean? Are you going to compensate or not?"
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "I'm just giving you some advice. The author's own testimony cannot be taken as complete evidence, but there is an appraisal that is the most useful. It will just take a few days. Once the appraisal is done using that method, there won't be any problems."
Old Wu was both surprised and suspicious. He couldn't understand what Zhou Xuan meant. These words could be said to be harmful to him in every way. Why was Zhou Xuan helping Zhao Chengzhi to deal with him?
Zhao Chengzhi was also puzzled after hearing Zhou Xuan's words. He wanted to know what method Zhou Xuan was talking about, but he felt that Zhou Xuan would not tell him. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Then... what method is it?"
Zhou Xuan did not hide anything, and said calmly, "The handwriting... Old Luo's painting is a combination of painting and calligraphy. The painting technique cannot be confirmed, but the calligraphy on it can be determined through technical appraisal."
Both Zhao Chengzhi and Lao Wu suddenly realized the truth, but Zhao Chengzhi was happy while Lao Wu was worried.
Zhou Xuan's point about the handwriting was indeed crucial, which also enlightened Zhao Chengzhi. Anyone with a little knowledge understands that handwriting analysis can be used as legal evidence, while the authentication of paintings lacks a fixed standard. Moreover, this painting is modern, unlike ancient paintings with established dates. Antiques are authenticated based on the age of the paper, signs of wear, etc., but modern paintings are less reliable. If Lao Wu insists on his point, even if Zhao Chengzhi has experts authenticate it as a forgery, he won't win so easily. However, if the handwriting analysis proves it's irrefutable evidence, then it's solid proof.
That was a real eye-opener. Zhao Chengzhi chuckled, rolled up the painting, put it in the tube, and then said goodbye, "I'm leaving now, Mr. Wu. I'll come back and talk to you again after I get the handwriting analysis results."
Zhou Xuan was right. Zhao Chengzhi immediately understood why Zhou Xuan said it would take a few more days. Handwriting identification does take several days. It requires an authoritative person, such as the technical identification department of the public security organ. Asking them to help identify the handwriting can solve the problem. At that time, Lao Wu will have no choice but to obediently pay him three times the amount.
Zhao Chengzhi left in a hurry, it seemed he was in a real rush.
After Zhao Chengzhi left, Zhou Xuan immediately called out to Old Wu, "Old Wu, come with me to somewhere."
Old Wu got up somewhat sullenly, unsure of Zhou Xuan's intentions—helping an outsider instead of him.
Annoyed, Lao Wu followed Zhou Xuan out of the shop. At the roadside, Zhou Xuan hailed a taxi, pulled Lao Wu into the car, and pointed in a direction, saying, "Driver, go that way, hurry up."
After the driver started the car, Zhou Xuan smiled at Old Wu and said, "Old Wu, are you angry? Hehe, don't worry, I've found some clues. I had Zhao Chengzhi analyze the handwriting, and it seems like he's bound to win. Actually, I just need him to spend a couple more days. With those two days, we can get the result we want."
Old Wu was taken aback, then exclaimed with delight, "Really?" Although he asked the question, seeing Zhou Xuan's calm and smiling expression, he immediately understood that Zhou Xuan must have something in mind. However, he was also a little puzzled. Zhou Xuan had just heard him explain the matter and had not investigated it. He had only seen the fake painting once. What use could it be?
When Zhou Xuan's car reached the traffic light, he pointed to a car two or three meters away and said, "Driver, could you please keep up with that white Toyota in front of me?"
At the red light intersection, there were more than a dozen cars stopped. The white Toyota wasn't at the front; its license plate was even obscured by the cars behind it. However, none of the stopped vehicles were Toyotas, so they were easy to spot.
As soon as the green light turned on, the car in front started moving slowly. After crossing the intersection, the driver sped up because the Toyota in front was also driving faster.
The two cars were now only seven or eight meters apart. Looking through the rear window of the Toyota, there was only one person inside, the driver. The driver turned his head to the side at the turn, and Old Wu could see him clearly. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Isn't that... isn't that Zhao Chengzhi?"
Zhou Xuan smiled but remained silent. Old Wu paused for a moment before saying, "Little Zhou, are you trying to... trying to find a breakthrough through him?"
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "Old Wu, the first painting you bought was genuine, there was no fake in it. However, after you bought it later, the genuine painting was replaced by Jiang Yu'e, and this Zhao Chengzhi is Jiang Yu'e's husband."
"They're a couple? That...that can't be right, can it?" Old Wu was stunned for a moment, then said, "Xiao Zhou, how do you know they're a couple?"
Zhou Xuan, of course, couldn't say it aloud, but he just smiled and pointed ahead, saying, "Old Wu, don't worry, you'll understand in a little while."
Old Wu was naturally anxious, but since Zhou Xuan had said so, he could only suppress his feelings and wait. The driver followed Zhao Chengzhi's car all the way, but Zhao Chengzhi in front didn't notice at all, probably because he hadn't paid any attention to it.
Zhou Xuan obtained the information from the painting, of course. Fortunately, very few people had touched the painting. After it was sold to Lao Wu, it was sealed away and no one touched it again. Later, because of Lao Wu's recommendation, the Brilliant Auction House did not authenticate it again, which allowed the information on the painting to be preserved intact. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for Zhou Xuan to obtain the information.