The Fortunate Demoniac Little Village Doctor
Chapter 438 - 438 413 Appraisal

438: Chapter 413: Appraisal 438: Chapter 413: Appraisal Liu Hun had no objections and nodded, “Manager Ding’s proposal is good!

I agree!”

“Alright then!” Ding Shan said as he handed the scroll to Ji Yun and then addressed the crowd around him, “I wonder if there are any shopkeepers willing to help our two establishments out?

No matter who loses or wins, I think neither of our establishments would blame you.

Instead, we would be grateful!”

Liu Hun then came forward and said, “I hope all the shopkeepers can do us this favor!”

“Fine!

I will!” The shopkeeper of He Song Pavilion was the first to stand up and say.

“I will too!”

“And me!

Me too!”

“…”

All ten shopkeepers from Old Brand Arched Street stood up, and there were quite a few others who didn’t get a turn, retreating regretfully back into the crowd of spectators.

“Manager Ding!

You go first!” Liu Hun said.

Ding Shan gestured to Ji Yun to bring over the two scrolls and then gave each of the ten shopkeepers a piece of paper, saying, “Honored shopkeepers, there are two empty boxes in front of these two scrolls.

If you think a scroll is genuine, cast the piece of paper in your hand into the box in front of that scroll.”

The ten shopkeepers began to examine the works attributable to Huang Gongwang very carefully, from front to back, left to right, discussing and scrutinizing before making their hesitant choices.

It took a long time before the ten of them cast their pieces of paper into the boxes.

“Mr.

Liu, we are finished here.

Now it’s your turn,” Ding Shan said with a smile to Liu Hun, fully confident that he would surely win.

Liu Hun, following Ding Shan’s example, slowly unfurled the two scrolls on the table, while the trouble-making Mo Lao San now dared not even look.

Upon the unveiling of Tang Bohu’s paintings, all ten shopkeepers were somewhat surprised.

“This…this seal here is clearly different!

Look, aren’t these two seals uneven?”

“Isn’t that the case?

You all look quickly, the seals in these two places definitely have differences!”

“Isn’t it blatantly obvious?

Oh!

Liu Hun and his team have really been careless!”

“…”

In front of Tang Bohu’s paintings, the ten shopkeepers did not waste too much time before quickly making their judgments.

“Next up is the moment that truly uplifts the spirit!” Ding Shan was near to bursting with laughter as he loudly announced to the surrounding crowd, “Now, our two establishments will present all the items at stake in this ‘three-challenge wager.’ The winner will take all the treasures, while the loser will not only lose their items but will also have to serve tea to the winner!

Bring them up!”

With that, Ding Shan had his men bring up his own Ru kiln porcelain and the finest jadeite raw stone, adding to the two Tang Bohu paintings, completing the wares for this three-challenge wager.

Liu Hun did the same, instructing Zhong Xiao to display his items.

When the Chicken Heart Red Jade appeared, Ding Shan watched it closely, as if afraid it would run away.

Once both parties’ items were displayed, Ding Shan said to Liu Hun, “Mr.

Liu, please announce the mark you’ve made in front of everyone present, so we can determine the genuine from the fake.”

Since the ten people crowded in front of the boxes during the vote, Liu Hun had no idea which box had more papers and which had fewer; of course, Ding Shan couldn’t know either.

Liu Hun told everyone, “Inside the scroll, there is a small silver needle hidden!”

“I’ll check!” The shopkeeper from He Song Pavilion, Wu, eagerly stepped forward, inspecting both scrolls and indeed found a small silver needle inside the rod of one of them!

“Good!

Since the genuine painting is the one on the left, the shopkeepers who cast their paper into the box on the right are the ones successfully deceived!

If that count is higher…

huh huh!

That will be interesting!

Shopkeeper Wu, we must trouble you once more to unlock the boxes and verify the votes,” Ding Shan said, letting Wu unlock the boxes.

Shopkeeper Wu, in front of everyone, took the keys from Ji Yun and opened the two boxes, loudly announcing, “Seven to three!

Seven shopkeepers mistook the fake for the genuine!

Mr.

Ji is truly remarkable!” Shopkeeper Wu expressed his admiration sincerely.

“Ah!

Luckily, it’s an anonymous vote; if it weren’t, where would I put my old face!

Ji Yun is really shrewd with age, managing to imitate Huang Gongwang’s painting so convincingly.”

“Old Li, you say that, but I also couldn’t tell the difference.

It’s clear at a glance that old Ji is a master among masters!

Now, it looks like Bi Yun Xuan might be making a comeback!”

“Now, it’s all down to those two boxes!

If Liu Hun wins, this will be a remarkable event!

With this one shot, he would make a name for himself in our Old Brand Arched Street!”

“…”

Surrounding shopkeepers and onlookers were all discussing fervently, surprised that a counterfeit could deceive seven shopkeepers, all veterans of the antique street – a surprisingly high score!

“Liu Hun!

How did it go?” Ding Shan asked, swaying his fan at Liu Hun.

“Manager Ding, could you please tell everyone which Tang Yin painting is the genuine one?” Liu Hun asked Ding Shan.

Ding Shan smiled and said, “I hid a red string in the scroll of the genuine painting!

Would Manager Wu please distinguish it for us?”

Manager Wu carefully examined the scrolls of the two paintings in front of everyone and found a tiny red string in the scroll of the painting on the left.

It was indeed as thin as a silver needle, very difficult to detect.

“Manager Wu!

The trouble of opening the box now falls to you,” said Liu Hun as he took the key from Zhong Xiao and handed it to Manager Wu.

When Manager Wu took the key, he glanced at Liu Hun and then began to unlock the box with the key.

“Clack!

Clack!” After two clicks of the lock, Manager Wu unlocked the two boxes.

Then, he opened the doors of both boxes neatly and uniformly in front of everyone.

Empty…

empty!

One of the boxes was empty!

Not a single manager had voted.

How foolish of Liu Hun and his team to deceive none at all!” A baffled youngster immediately blurted out.

“Ah!

They’re just too young!

Liu Hun, you still need more practice!

Learn from your mistakes!”

“Biyunxuan is going to make a fortune now!

With so many great items, it’s enough to last a lifetime!

Liu Hun has truly become a scatterer of wealth!”

“…”

“Hahaha…” Ding Shan laughed heartily at the surrounding discussions, “Liu Hun!

You really are a fool!

To choose such a person to do…”

“Hold on!”

Suddenly, Manager Wu raised his hand and shouted loudly, interrupting everyone’s discussions.

Then, he slapped the youngster who had spoken first on the head, “Niu Er!

How could you blurt out such nonsense without looking carefully?!

The scroll on the left doesn’t have a single sheet of paper in it!

All the managers made the wrong choice!

They were all deceived!”

The exasperated voice of Manager Wu was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Niu Er, rubbing his head, said, “I’m just a hand, I don’t understand these things, but…

you’re really foolish, all of you were deceived!” After saying that, Niu Er quickly burrowed into the crowd and ran away.

Silence!

Shock and disbelief!

Just a moment ago, everyone was holding their breath, eager to see the truth.

When Niu Er blurted out his comments, no one took a closer look, instinctively believing the first voice they heard, only for Manager Wu’s words to completely turn the situation around by one hundred and eighty degrees.

Everyone…

was deceived!

Ten managers!

Ten!

All had been fooled!

It’s unbelievable!”

“Didn’t you see for yourself?

Look at the box with the genuine painting, isn’t it completely empty?

They were all deceived!”

“Ding Shan was just now laughing uproariously, but now with Liu Hun winning two out of three rounds, Ding Shan is completely finished.

With this, Biyunxuan’s reputation has been utterly overshadowed by Liu Hun!”

“…”

“Impossible!

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!” Ding Shan, muttering to himself, rushed toward the two boxes.

A careful examination and a comparison with the painting above sent a chill through his heart!

He felt like an airless ball that had suddenly deflated, wilting on the spot.

“Zhong Xiao, gather our things and what Biyunxuan has sent us!” ordered Liu Hun to Zhong Xiao.

“Yes!” Zhong Xiao immediately called people over to collect all the antiques from the scene and bring them back to the store.

Liu Hun spoke to Ji Yun, “Mr.

Ji, please help your manager back to rest.

I shall pay him a visit another day.”

The winner takes all; Ji Yun didn’t say another word, helping Ding Shan leave right away.

Although he had won, Liu Hun knew that Biyunxuan had been rooted on Old Brand Street for many years.

If he wasn’t careful, he could become a target for everyone, so he said to the people around him with clasped hands, “Fellow neighbors, although we won today, it doesn’t mean that Biyunxuan is incompetent, it’s just that I, Liu Hun, was a bit luckier today.

I hereby announce that all of the first quarter’s earnings of Qingqing Zi Jin will be used to refurbish the entire Old Brand Street, maintaining its original style, and improving the living and business environment for our neighbors!”

“Good!

Mr.

Liu truly has the demeanor of a great leader!

Modest in victory!

I admire that!” Manager Wu was the first to applaud for Liu Hun.

As a victor, Liu Hun hadn’t been arrogant or oppressive, which moved him deeply.

Following Manager Wu’s lead, all the people around began to clap, praising Liu Hun’s grace.

“Master Liu, Mo Lao San has passed out!” Zhong Xiao whispered to Liu Hun.

“Passed out?

What happened?” Liu Hun asked worriedly.

This was their future manager; what if something went wrong?

“He was just too excited and fainted after a few shouts of joy.

I’ve already sent him to the hospital with Monkey.

It shouldn’t be serious,” Zhong Xiao assured Liu Hun.

“Well, that’s good then,” Liu Hun nodded.

“Master Liu, there’s another issue!

Our cash flow is already tight, and if we don’t have any income this quarter, I fear the store will struggle to sustain itself,” Zhong Xiao said to Liu Hun.

He had helped sell the string of precious East Pearls on the black market, and although they had taken a significant loss on the price, it had provided them some respite.

They had managed to buy the store and these items, but hearing Liu Hun’s words had made him nervous.

“Don’t worry!

This ‘three-round wager’ is the best advertising we could hope for.

Within three days, people will surely come to buy the excellent items presented today!

We won’t be short on money,” Liu Hun confidently stated.

He had just staged a grand spectacle on the most eye-catching antique street in the city, which was bound to draw the attention of interested parties.