The tearoom was furnished entirely with wooden furniture, giving off a classic and antique vibe, quite fitting for an antique shop.
As Lin Wanwan entered, she saw an elderly man in his fifties or sixties wearing a modified Tang costume, along with a handsome young man in a T-shirt. Both smiled at her, neither wearing a mask.
Lin Wanwan touched her mask and took it off too. The young man's eyes were instantly filled with amazement.
The traditionally dressed girl introduced Lin Wanwan to the elder, who was Professor Cao Yong from the History Department of Yongcheng University, and also a contracted expert at the Yongcheng Museum, a renowned treasure appraiser in Hua Country.
The young man, on the other hand, was the young owner of the antique shop, Lu Shouyue, who had studied archaeology and anthropology at Harvard University Research Institute. Upon returning to the country, he became a visiting professor in the History and Archaeology departments at Yongcheng University.
In short, they were both top-notch experts.
Since they were professors, Lin Wanwan addressed both as 'teacher'.
Professor Cao Yong looked kind and scholarly, saying politely, "Please take out the six Early Tang Dynasty green porcelains and place them on the table. They looked genuine in the video, but they need to be appraised in person."
Confident in their authenticity, Lin Wanwan was naturally assured. These items had come to the modern era through the Space-Time Gate, undergoing some changes but they are undeniably authentic. Lin Wanwan purchased them personally from the Tang Dynasty, how could they be fake? If they were considered fake, then it would be an issue with the appraisal skills of these two experts.
So, Lin Wanwan confidently pulled them out from her suitcase, carefully laying them on the coffee table. In the antiques business, the rule is that items are not handed directly; they are placed on the table for the next person to pick up.
Cao Yong and Lu Shouyue both put on specially made non-slip white gloves. They stepped forward, each picking up a bottle, first inspecting the stamp at the base with the naked eye, then examining the entire body before placing it under some sort of lamp for further illumination. After examining each of the six green porcelains, they exchanged a glance and subtly nodded.
This time, Lu Shouyue spoke: "These are genuine products from Yue kiln in the Tang Dynasty, with a simple yet grand design and thin walls conveying a sense of lightness, a feat that ordinary craftsmen cannot achieve. Genuine products are burnt in a dragon kiln, showing real wood-fired tear marks and naturally accumulated glaze.
The genuine porcelain presents a verdant color with a jade-like texture. They say, 'Yue kiln opens in the autumn breeze and dew, capturing the emerald color of thousands of peaks.' From these aspects, I identify them as authentic masterpieces."
Cao Yong agreed with a smile: "Little Lu is right, in my view they are also genuine, and remarkably well-preserved."
Lin Wanwan sighed in relief after hearing this. Her only slight worry was that the six green porcelains seemed a bit too new. Despite some changes after going through the Space-Time Gate, compared to the span of a thousand years, these changes were negligible.
After placing down the porcelains, Lu Shouyue casually said, "These are genuine pieces, and they look good. Shall I offer you a price to sell them to this shop?"
Lin Wanwan was naturally eager, and promptly replied, "Sure, appraising treasures and learning a bit in the process makes me very happy. As long as your shop offers a sincere price, I'd be willing, and we can complete the transaction today."
Lu Shouyue chuckled upon hearing her response, revealing a perfect row of eight white teeth. Lin Wanwan silently critiqued him in her heart, thinking his smile seemed well-practiced, resembling the smile she used during her etiquette class.
"As for Early Tang Dynasty green porcelain, due to its limited availability and craftsmanship, it doesn't hold too much value. But this pair of slender-necked peony-patterned vases form a set, increasing their value somewhat. Our shop can offer 6.5 million to purchase these six items.
Of course, if Miss Lin wishes to directly auction them at our store, we can arrange it, though it would take more time. What does Miss Lin think?"
6.5 million was below Lin Wanwan's expectations but still within an acceptable range. After personal income tax, it would be enough to buy the small villa left by her grandparents. Besides, her online research wasn't necessarily reliable, with auction prices being variable. These antiques are only valuable if someone wants them.
If she had time, she could certainly visit multiple antique shops to compare prices, or even as Lu Shouyue suggested, exchange them for money through auction. However, auctions require hype and a release of information, which cannot be accomplished in a short time.
For Lin Wanwan now, time was too precious.
Her grandparents' house could be sold by her impatient uncle and aunt going back to the United States at any time. By then, she would be filled with regret.
After some contemplation, Lin Wanwan looked at them, showing a faint smile: "Alright, Teacher Lu, let's make the deal."
Lu Shouyue grinned broadly: "Miss Lin, you sure are straightforward, looking forward to a pleasant collaboration!"
Next came signing the contract and adding fingerprints. Lin Wanwan also signed a letter promising that the items came from a legitimate source.
One hand exchanged money, while the other exchanged goods. Lu Shouyue instructed a traditionally dressed girl to find the finance department to process the transaction, while Lin Wanwan waited in the tearoom upstairs.
With nothing much to do, she began to learn about antiques from the archaeological experts.
During the conversation, Lin Wanwan discovered that this small tearoom, used just to entertain guests, had furniture that was actually Qing Dynasty antiques! A chair costing tens of thousands!
Lu Shouyue casually placed the pair of slender-necked peony-patterned vases he acquired from Lin Wanwan on the display rack.
Curious, Lin Wanwan asked, "Teacher Lu, are all the porcelain pieces on this display rack antiques?"
Lu Shouyue casually replied, "Yes, they were mostly collected by me. Miss Lin is welcome to take a look if she likes."
Lin Wanwan gave a gentle smile and walked up to appreciate them but maintained a safe distance. This rack full of antiques, knocking or bumping them would be embarrassing. As someone who could traverse time and space, she's not afraid of losing the money, but it'd be shameful and time-wasting.
Seeing her interest, Lu Shouyue casually picked up a piece of porcelain from the rack and began explaining it to Lin Wanwan, broadening her perspective and allowing her to learn a lot.
Soon, the payment process was completed. Lin Wanwan's phone buzzed, and she saw the bank's payment notification, smiling slightly.
With money and goods exchanged, Lin Wanwan promptly took her leave.
"Miss Lin, leave a contact number, will you? If we have good items in the future, please consider our store again," Lu Shouyue proposed adding each other as WeChat friends, which Lin Wanwan gladly accepted.
In the future, she would undoubtedly have good items, and surely needed to interact with this young antique store owner. Besides, Lu Shouyue had clear eyes, a witty conversation style, was tall and handsome, making Lin Wanwan keen to trade with him again. If given a choice, who wouldn't prefer pleasant looking partners?
Putting on her mask upon leaving, Lin Wanwan immediately dialed her uncle's number, only to find it unreachable. Had she been blocked? Then she called the real estate agency to ask about the property, only to be directly told it had been sold.
Sold?
Lin Wanwan's mind filled with blood at once. How could it be so soon, less than two months?
No way, unwilling!
Lin Wanwan put away her phone and headed straight to the Eastern Real Estate Agency handling the property's sale.