C14 Eye of Treasure Appraisal!

At 9:30 AM on a bustling street in Quanzhou's East City Region, Su Hao was lost in thought among the throngs of people, pondering how to secure three hundred million yuan in funding. With the Calligraphy Pretentious Experience Card in hand, the money would have been a cinch, but he had exhausted its use the previous night. Now, without a shred of earning potential, the prospect of raising funds for the Butterfly Loving Flower Company seemed bleak.

He had made a bold promise to Bai Wenling to procure the three hundred million yuan, a vow meant more for comfort than conviction.

"Do I really need to ask the Su family for money?" Su Hao gazed skyward, a wry smile on his face. He had once sworn, upon being ousted from his family, that he would rather die of starvation or fall to his death than accept a penny from them. Yet, with the company's dire straits and his current lack of means, not turning to the Su family for help might mean he'd never raise the funds.

Amidst his quandary, the system notification chimed in his ear.

"Ding dong, congratulations to the host for a performance that has captured a beauty's heart, earning you 60 pretentious points. Your treatment of Bai Wenling's foot injury today was a masterclass in subtle showmanship. With the One Finger Zen Pushing Technique, you've significantly boosted her affection for you. Your approach was understated yet impactful, perfectly calibrated—moist, smooth, elastic, deep, and not overdone. It was neither exaggerated nor pretentious, not loud nor showy, yet it didn't lack a touch of literary flair. This is truly a top-tier display in the realm of pretense."

"Is that really considered showing off?" Su Hao was taken aback. He had no intention of showing off while treating Bai Wenling's foot injury.

To his surprise, the system had deemed it a show-off move that captured someone's heart. It appeared his understanding of pretentious behavior was far too naive.

"System Notification: You've accumulated 100 pretentious points. Would you like to proceed with the draw?"

Su Hao was momentarily taken aback, then a wave of elation washed over him.

He had been pondering how to secure the 300 million yuan. Landing a powerful ability from the draw could be his ticket to success.

Without further ado, he commanded, "Draw the lottery!"

"100 pretentious points have been deducted for the lottery draw. Host's remaining pretentious points balance is zero," announced the System Notification. As the voice echoed, a large spinning wheel materialized before Su Hao, its needle whirling rapidly.

Soon, the needle came to a halt on a card emblazoned with an eye.

"Ding dong, congratulations to the host for obtaining a Treasure Appraisal Pretentious Experience Card."

"Treasure Appraisal Pretentious Experience Card?" Su Hao froze for a second, examining the note attached to the card.

(Treasure Appraisal Pretentious Experience Card: For one hour, the user gains the Treasure Appraisal Eyes, capable of discerning any ancient artifact.)

Now fully aware of the card's capabilities, Su Hao's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

With the economy's growth, treasure appraisal had become a thriving industry. Many people, in their leisure time, would scour Antique Street or night markets for hidden gems. Discovering just one could mean a lifetime free from financial worries.

Yet, identifying a true treasure required more than luck; keen eyesight and extensive experience were crucial.

Such expertise was rare, mostly found among professional appraisers who commanded hefty fees for their services, with no guarantee of success.

Purchasing a counterfeit meant not only zero profit but also a potential financial loss.

Indeed, high returns often come with high risks, and even seasoned appraisers sometimes fail to recognize genuine treasures.

But with the Treasure Appraisal Pretentious Experience Card in hand, Su Hao could minimize that risk to almost nothing.

"I recall there's an antique market in the East City Region, with a street full of antiques. That's where I'll head," Su Hao resolved, promptly hailing a taxi to the market.

Despite the early hour, the antique market was bustling. The entire venue was dominated by a single street lined with both antique stalls and shops, teeming with collectors and enthusiasts.

Streams of people flowed between the various stalls and shops, some strolling leisurely as if admiring the scenery, while others paused to scrutinize the antiques, trying to discern the genuine from the counterfeit. The entire antique market buzzed with a lively energy.

Checking the time, Su Hao wasted no time in commanding the system to activate his Appraisal Pretentious Experience Card. In the blink of an eye, his eyes shifted from brown to a striking golden hue. The world as seen through Su Hao's eyes was transformed; every antique item was now accompanied by a clear label.

Approaching a stall, he examined a porcelain board painting. "Snow-Covered Liang Garden" by He Xuren, a counterfeit with substandard material, identifiable through heat testing, he noted mentally, moving on to inspect a ceramic piece. Wang Da Fan's "Buddha's Hand Citron Luohan," also a fake, with crude brushwork and a slack design, could be verified by wiping the inner walls with alcohol.

"Thank goodness for the Appraisal Eye, or it would indeed be tough to tell the real from the fake," Su Hao murmured to himself with a slight nod. The craftsmanship of these forgeries was nearly indistinguishable from the originals; a moment's inattention could easily lead to deception.

He paused briefly before resuming his pace, now in full sweep mode. He would stop to examine any piece of potential value, but if it lacked worth, he would simply move on. As time ticked away, fifteen minutes passed without uncovering a single authentic antique. The street was rife with fakes, genuine pieces were exceedingly rare.

With only 45 minutes remaining on the Ancient Pretentious Experience Card, Su Hao hadn't found a single valuable antique, and he grew increasingly anxious. He had boldly promised Bai Wenling that he would secure the 300 million yuan for the Butterfly Loving Flower Company. Returning empty-handed would be a humiliating blow to his own credibility.

Above all, he had failed Bai Wenling too many times in his past life. This time around, he was determined not to let disappointment shadow her face.

Inhaling deeply, Su Hao seized the last 45 minutes and embarked once more on his quest for treasure. As he passed a shop, he overheard a curly-haired man clutching a paper and ink painting negotiating with the shopkeeper.

"Boss, this is a replica of Tang Bohu's 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture.' It's hardly fair for you to snap it up for just a thousand yuan!"

"Imitation painting?" The owner, draped in a loose overcoat, scoffed at the suggestion. "Young man, honesty is the best policy. I can overlook you trying to sell a forgery, but claiming it's a copy of Tang Bohu's 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture' and asking for three hundred thousand? Are you even remotely aware of the quality of this piece?"

Customers with keen eyes glanced over, and upon inspecting the paper and ink painting in the curly-haired man's grasp, they couldn't help but chuckle.

Tang Bohu's 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture' was a masterpiece of water ink figure painting, featuring a courtyard with a lake and rocks, where a lady with a silk fan stood, her gaze infused with a touch of melancholic longing.

A true copy would at least boast vibrant lines and fresh, flowing colors.

Yet the painting this man held was marred by overly simplistic lines, as though they were haphazardly scribbled on.

It was unmistakably a fake, and a particularly poor one at that.

In the background, Su Hao's attention was captured by the man's painting, his figure jolting with realization.

The original 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture' by Tang Bohu was a rare gem, with its innovative theme, clever design, and exquisite brushwork. The painting's surface and glaze were veiled by a special gauze, removable with a solvent.

Upon recognizing the painting's authenticity, Su Hao's excitement surged.

Tang Bohu's works were beyond valuation, seldom appearing even at international auctions.

He dimly recalled the Su family once bidding on a genuine 'Spring Tree and Autumn Frost' by Tang Bohu, which reportedly fetched four hundred million.

If he could secure this original 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture', it would easily cover the three hundred million needed for the Butterfly Loving Flower Company.

With that thought, Su Hao made his way through the crowd to stand behind the curly-haired man.

At that point, the shop owner had lost all patience, dismissing the offer with a wave of his hand. "I'll give you a thousand yuan, not a yuan more. The forgery in your painting is painfully obvious. If it weren't for the somewhat decent frame, I wouldn't take it off your hands for a hundred. If you think I'm wrong, feel free to ask around. Anyone offering more than a thousand yuan can use my head for soccer practice."

Seeing the boss stand his ground with such firmness, the curly-haired man couldn't help but squirm in discomfort.

The ink and paper sketch he clutched was a gift from a friend addicted to gambling—a definite forgery. Strapped for cash recently, he had hoped to pawn it off on some unsuspecting fools.

But he had sorely miscalculated the boss's discernment and wit.

"A thousand's alright. It was a gift, and a fake at that. No harm done," the curly-haired man thought, rolling his eyes as he prepared to accept the offer.

"Hold on a second!"

Just then, a voice unexpectedly rose from behind him.

Startled, the curly-haired man turned to see who it was.

He was met with the gaze of a man whose skin was smooth and pale, his features sharp and distinct. The man looked at him with an interest that seemed to center on the sketch in his hands.

"May I take a look at that ink and paper sketch you're holding?" Su Hao asked, pointing and smiling.

Without hesitation, the curly-haired man brightened up and handed the sketch over to Su Hao.

He figured that selling the counterfeit for a thousand yuan wasn't a loss, but it certainly wasn't a win either.

Yet, the man before him appeared genuinely intrigued by the sketch. If he could sell it for more, wouldn't that be a sweet deal?

The nearby boss, noticing Su Hao's examination of the sketch, offered a friendly caution, "Young man, that's a fake. Don't let yourself be duped."

"Bro, ignore his blabber. This 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture' is a top-notch imitation, the work of a renowned artist—priceless and rare. Miss this chance, and you won't find another like it," the curly-haired man shot the boss a dirty look and hastily spun a tale.

The onlookers showed their disdain.

Such shoddy brushwork, and he claims it's an imitation?

Frankly, this sketch might fool a novice, but anyone with a smidge of knowledge in appraising treasures would likely give the curly-haired man a disdainful glare on the spot.

Clearly, he had pegged Su Hao as a young, inexperienced mark ripe for deception—a truly shameless move.

Expecting Su Hao to see through the charade, everyone was taken aback when he simply smiled and said, "Regardless of whether it's a fake, I find myself quite taken with it. What's your price? I'll take it!"

The curly-haired man's face lit up with glee.

"Emma, I've truly hit the jackpot with this fool," he thought.

He proudly held up five fingers. "I want this much!"

The onlookers couldn't help but snicker.

Selling a counterfeit for five thousand?

That's a bigger rip-off than outright theft!

They all figured that if Su Hao had any sense, he'd never agree.

But, to everyone's surprise, Su Hao nodded. "Fifty thousand, is it? Sure, let me have your Alipay details."

With a hundred thousand yuan on him, purchasing the painting was no issue at all.

"Shrimp?" The words barely left his mouth when the curly-haired man's eyes bulged, seemingly unable to trust his ears.

He wasn't alone in his shock; the shop owner and customers were equally dumbfounded.

A blatant fake, a total rip-off at five thousand, and here he was offering fifty thousand? What a character!

They had thought the curly-haired man was bizarre for peddling a fake, but Su Hao was on another level. It seemed like fools were a dime a dozen this year.

Watching the man freeze in place, Su Hao felt a knot in his stomach.

Was this guy having second thoughts about selling?

Just as Su Hao was about to up his offer, the man gulped, looking at him with a mix of gratitude and poorly hidden excitement. "Brother, you've got an eye for art. I'm sure this painting will truly come alive in your hands."

He rattled off his Alipay account number, clearly worried Su Hao might change his mind.

Su Hao, equally concerned the man might back out, quickly whipped out his phone, pulled up Alipay, and prepared to transfer the fifty thousand.

But just then, a voice of disbelief rang out from the entrance.

"Su Hao, what are you doing here?"