149: Chapter 149 The Conscription of Cai Guoqiang

Ms. Liang's heart was like a roller coaster, constantly rising and falling.

One second she was in the icy valley, the next she was at the fiery peak.

Now, her heart was filled with wild joy, thumping as if it would leap out of her chest.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably with excitement, and the smile on her face was irrepressible.

She kept bowing to Expert Zhao Meng, “Thank you, Expert Zhao, thank you.”

Zhao Meng smiled at her, giving her time to compose herself.

The other three experts also walked onto the treasure appraisal stage, admiring this “national treasure-level cultural relic.”

They chatted loudly, full of envy.

Seeing that Ms. Liang had calmed down considerably.

Zhao Meng took a few steps towards her, getting closer, and asked with a smile, “Ms. Liang, how do you plan to handle this cultural relic?”

Ms. Liang was stunned by the question, a little bewildered.

“This belongs to my husband; of course, he will decide how to handle it.”

Zhao Meng's expression became serious. “Ms. Liang, I suggest you persuade your husband to donate this national treasure to the national Museum.”

“Only by being collected by a Museum can its historical and cultural value be better reflected, and the Museum will issue you a certificate.”

Ms. Liang's eyes narrowed, and when she looked at Zhao Meng again, she felt as if he were a jackal.

She didn't get entangled with him further, simply replied, “I will.”

Then she quickly walked to the treasure appraisal stage and meticulously wrapped the meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark with layers of yellow cloth.

She then held it tightly to her chest with both hands and left the treasure appraisal hall step by step.

The experts looked at each other, not knowing what to say, and could only awkwardly return to their seats.

...

Zhang Ying originally didn't like watching this program, but when she saw this part, she loudly complained.

“How can this expert be like this? Just by moving his lips, he wants to take away someone else's cultural relic worth hundreds of millions. It's disgusting.”

Chen Shaoping was extremely surprised; he hadn't expected a single cultural relic to be so valuable.

But then a more terrifying thought struck him: what if genuine artifacts in Museums were swapped like this and flowed into the black market or even abroad...

TheChain of Interests and the power of the people involved would be unimaginable.

At this moment, he finally understood the value of this four-star intelligence.

But he really didn't know what to do.

Call the police?

No, he wouldn't be able to explain himself no matter how many mouths he had.

Suddenly, he thought of He Qixiang, the curator of the Palace Museum.

But to be honest, Chen Shaoping didn't know him well.

If it was like a sheep entering a tiger's mouth, it would be a huge loss.

He Qixiang wouldn't work, so...

Chen Shaoping suddenly stood up, and Zhang Ying, who was leaning on him, almost fell onto the sofa.

He said with a serious expression, “Wife, go change your clothes now, wear something expensive, and put on your expensive jewelry too.”

“We're going somewhere in a bit.”

“I'll go out for a moment and come back to pick you up soon.”

Zhang Ying, who was originally displeased, became serious after seeing his expression.

“Okay, but why?”

“This is a ticket to enter certain places.”

Chen Shaoping didn't explain much, just gave Zhang Ying a meaningful look.

Then, he hurried out the door and went to House 51, Building 11, Cai Guoqiang's home.

He just didn't know if he was home.

The one who opened the door for him was Cai Guoqiang, the person Chen Shaoping was looking for.

“What, Chen Boy, coming to see this old man so late, is something wrong?”

Chen Shaoping was short on time, and he trusted Cai Guoqiang.

He spoke directly, “Old Cai, there's a big matter; I'd like your help in thinking of a solution.”

Upon hearing this, Cai Guoqiang quickly invited Chen Shaoping into the house.

Chen Shaoping glanced at the TV in the living room, which was also showing the treasure appraisal program.

He followed Cai Guoqiang to the study.

Cai Guoqiang was about to make tea but was stopped by Chen Shaoping.

“Old Cai, I don't have time for tea; I'll get straight to the point.”

“I saw you watching the treasure appraisal program. What do you think of the meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark from just now?”

Cai Guoqiang was startled, unsure what Chen Shaoping wanted to ask, and replied truthfully.

“A national treasure-level cultural relic. When Old Zhao said it was genuine, I was so excited I kept jumping up and down.”

“It caused the downstairs neighbors to complain about me in the property management group, saying I wasn't sleeping in the middle of the night and was disturbing the peace.”

Chen Shaoping's heart skipped a beat. This old man was so excited; if he heard it was a fake, wouldn't something unexpected happen?

What if he got too excited and couldn't catch his breath...

After all, he was old.

He was very conflicted, as if two voices were fiercely arguing in his mind: “To say? Or not to say?”

Cai Guoqiang saw him standing there, patted his shoulder, and said with dissatisfaction, “Didn't you say it was a big matter? Hurry up and tell me, don't interrupt my TV watching.”

Chen Shaoping chuckled, “Old Cai, if what I'm about to say will greatly stimulate you, you can handle it, right?”

He planned to give Cai Guoqiang a ‘heads-up’ first, to prepare him mentally.

“Go ahead, I'm healthy. And I've seen many storms over the years, so don't worry too much.” Cai Guoqiang was casual and didn't care at all.

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, Chen Shaoping felt relieved. “What if I told you that the meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark on tonight's treasure appraisal program is a fake? Would you believe it?”

“What did you say? Say it again.” Cai Guoqiang's voice grew much louder; he couldn't quite believe his ears.

“I said, the meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark that four experts considered a national treasure is a fake.” Chen Shaoping said each word clearly, his voice also rising.

“Chen Boy, don't talk nonsense. How could four experts be wrong? You just saw it on TV; how dare you say it's a fake?”

Cai Guoqiang didn't disbelieve Chen Shaoping, but he trusted the four experts even more.

He knew these experts, and their relationship was quite good.

He knew they were indeed very authoritative in appraising cultural relics; otherwise, they wouldn't be on the CCTV program.

“Old Cai, I'm not talking nonsense; the appraisal method is the same as for the hummingbird painting.”

“If it were just this ‘national treasure’ that was fake, it wouldn't be a big deal.”

“The real big deal is...”

Chen Shaoping spoke calmly, and seeing Cai Guoqiang's face change, he immediately stopped.

He needed to let him digest it first.

Cai Guoqiang initially didn't believe Chen Shaoping, but he had personally witnessed the hummingbird.

He didn't know how Chen Shaoping determined that the meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark was a fake, but now he believed it eighty percent.

Now Chen Shaoping said this wasn't even a big deal, making his heart even heavier.

After taking a breath, he said, “Da Ping, continue.”

“The real big deal is that such fakes also exist in some Museums, concentrated in three categories: bronzeware, paintings and calligraphy, and porcelain.”

The color instantly drained from Cai Guoqiang's face. He opened his mouth but couldn't make any sound.

It wasn't just anger or shock, but a sense of emptiness and heartbreak, like a collapse of faith.

“Mu... Museum? Are... are you sure?”

His voice was dry and hoarse, and the hand gripping Chen Shaoping's arm was so tight that his knuckles turned white.

Immediately, his pupils contracted, his body swayed, and he almost fell.

Fortunately, Chen Shaoping had been paying attention to his changes, grabbing his arm and helping him sit down.

“Old Cai, calm down, don't get agitated.”

His hands moved quickly, lightly patting his back to help him regulate his breathing, while also quickly pouring a cup of warm water and handing it over.