1: Chapter 1 Grandmaster-Level Appraisal Technique

Quancheng, Yingxiong Mountain Antique Market.

Jiguang Zhai Antique Shop.

The summer heat was scorching, and the sun blazed high in the sky.

Yet, the heart of the shop owner, Han Jingyang, was ice cold.

He had been dumped.

Three years of passionate love had only earned him five words: "Let's break up."

Seeing that Han Jingyang's expression was off, the shop assistant Liu Jing poured a cup of warm water and placed it in front of him: "Boss, what's wrong? Did you get dumped?"

Seeing the corner of Han Jingyang's eye twitch twice, she exclaimed in shock: "You really got dumped?"

Han Jingyang did not want to pay any attention to this gossipy and talkative shop assistant.

"Alright, alright, pretend I didn't say anything," Liu Jing apologized hurriedly, but added: "But Boss, don't be too sad. In this society, breaking up and getting back together is too common. It's no big deal. I'll introduce you to a little sister of mine another day. Although she's not as pretty as your ex-girlfriend, she's definitely gentle and lovely."

"..."

"Of course, whether you can woo her or not is another matter. Although you're tall and handsome, a graduate of the Shanda University Archaeology Department, and have your own antique shop, well, you know the situation in the shop yourself. You've only made a net profit of thirty thousand yuan in over half a year of business. You're earning less than me, an employee. That just won't do."

"..."

"But running a shop is like that; you can't get fat in one bite. I'm still very optimistic about you, Boss. It's just that you need to strive for success yourself. You absolutely cannot indulge in romantic entanglements. You are already a mature businessman; you need to accept the cruelty of reality. This love is pretty much like doing business. For the same treasure, many people want it, so naturally, the highest bidder gets it, right?"

"If you know how to talk, why don't you say more?"

"Hehe, Boss, I mean well, I'm just trying to comfort you," Liu Jing chuckled: "Besides, you occupied the best three years of her life, what else is there to be dissatisfied about? Think on the bright side, she's someone else's wife now..."

Han Jingyang glared at her.

Liu Jing shrank her neck: "Although it sounds unpleasant, it's all heartfelt truth, Boss. Honestly, the next one will be better, just make sure to keep your eyes peeled. Don't find someone too pretty; the water is too deep, and you won't be able to handle it."

Han Jingyang was furious: "Liu Jing, don't you have any work to do? Keep nagging and I'll deduct your salary!"

Liu Jing picked up a rag and started wiping the coffee table, muttering as she worked: "My salary is more than what you're earning. If you don't deduct some, I'll feel guilty..."

Han Jingyang almost jumped up.

However, after being interrupted by Liu Jing, his mood actually improved quite a bit.

At this moment, Liu Jing fished out a shiny, silver-colored ring that was clearly made of plastic from under the coffee table: "Boss, how old are you to still be playing with this kind of thing?"

"What is that?"

"How would I know? But it looks like a prop from some game, right?"

"It's not mine."

"That's even better, I'll give it to you to play with. Cheer up," Liu Jing said as she grabbed Han Jingyang's right hand and, without giving him a chance to object, slipped the plastic ring onto his right index finger.

Han Jingyang was about to struggle when he felt a slight pain in his index finger, as if he had been pricked by a needle.

Before he could get angry, a virtual window popped up in front of him, with a line of small text on it.

"Congratulations, you have obtained the Grandmaster-level Appraisal Technique."

Grandmaster-level Appraisal Technique?

What kind of game skill is this?

What is it for?

Can it appraise antiques?

Han Jingyang stared at the small window in front of him, lost in thought.

Seeing Han Jingyang motionless, Liu Jing cautiously waved her hand in front of him: "Boss? Are you moved to tears? Don't be. I just want to be a happy employee. I never thought about becoming the boss's wife. This ring was just for fun."

"Go away—"

"Hehe, I knew you weren't angry, Boss. Of course, it's fine if you are. As long as you pay my salary, you can fire me."

"..."

Han Jingyang ignored this chatterbox and took off the plastic ring from his index finger.

The virtual window was still there.

He stood up, looked around, and picked up a blue and white porcelain plate.

The moment he touched the blue and white porcelain plate, another virtual window popped up in front of him.

"Ding: Discoverable item found, do you want to appraise it?"

"Yes/No."

Han Jingyang suppressed his excitement and mentally clicked "Yes."

The next second.

The virtual window refreshed, displaying a few lines of small text.

Name: Qing Daoguang Blue and White Plate with Hundred Children Pattern.

Grade: Rank 7.

Attribute: Fertility +1.

Skill: None.

Seeing this appraisal result, Han Jingyang narrowed his eyes.

The style of this appraisal result... is a bit off.

The name is fine.

The grade is also understandable.

But what is going on with this attribute and skill?

A folk kiln blue and white plate from the Daoguang era, how does it have attributes?

And this attribute is so strange.

Fertility +1?

Is it the fertility from "many children, many blessings"?

Could it be that this plate has usurped the authority of the Child-Sending Guanyin?

If placed at home, can it make you have more children?

Looking at the plate again, it was still the same plate, but its surface was emitting a faint white light that couldn't be seen without close inspection.

Han Jingyang's head was full of question marks. After pondering for a long time without success, he set his gaze on a real Child-Sending Guanyin.

That was a Republic of China era rosewood Child-Sending Guanyin ornament he had acquired for eight thousand yuan.

He took the ornament in his hand and gently rubbed it, but there was no reaction.

Did the skill fail?

Or does this wood carving not have any appraisal value?

Change.

Han Jingyang switched several items in a row, and finally, when he touched a jade pendant, he triggered the newly acquired Grandmaster-level Appraisal Technique.

"Ding: Discoverable item found, do you want to appraise it?"

"Yes/No."

"Yes."

"Name: Republic of China Hetian White Jade Carved Lotus Flower Fairy Pendant."

"Grade: Rank 6."

"Attribute: Auspiciousness +4."

"Skill: Turning Misfortune into Blessing."

This, this...

Is this an Appraisal Technique from a Chinese-style game?

Why are the appraisal results so... down-to-earth?

They even came up with skills.

Turning Misfortune into Blessing.

Could it be that this jade pendant can release a skill like a game prop, allowing the owner to use Turning Misfortune into Blessing?

If it's true, he's going to make a fortune.

Han Jingyang took a deep breath and continued to appraise.

However, out of the hundreds of antiques in the room, only twenty-two could be appraised, twenty-one of which were Rank 7, which should be the lowest grade.

The remaining one was Rank 5, but it had no skills.

"Name: 'Daiyu Visits the Garden' New Year Painting by Wu Shaoyun."

"Grade: Rank 6."

"Attribute: Serenity +5."

"Skill: None."

This New Year painting was something Han Jingyang bought at a street stall for three hundred yuan.

The painting itself is not a rare item; it was created in '64 and belongs to a relatively niche collection in the market. It doesn't even count as an antique, only as a folk item.

The reason Han Jingyang was willing to buy it was because the workmanship of this New Year painting was very good, the colors were full and bright, the brushwork was delicate and realistic, and the painting style represented the aesthetics of that era.

Although folk works like New Year paintings are rarely considered high art, it doesn't mean they are of poor quality. In that era, many, many art masters were reduced to creating New Year paintings and comic books just to make a living.

Because of this, the content of many New Year paintings or comic books is very exquisite, and many can even sell for high prices of hundreds of thousands or even millions.

He wasn't thinking about making big money, just hoping to run into someone who knew their stuff and sell it for three or five thousand.

As a result, it had been hanging in the shop for over half a year.

He didn't expect it to actually be a treasure.

He made a killing.

It's just that until now, it's still unclear what the attributes and skills of these items are for.

Maybe, find someone to test it on?

Han Jingyang's gaze slowly shifted to Liu Jing.