70 I’m Taking It

Vivian was only two meters away from the painting. Fortunately, there was plenty of light, so she could still see most of it clearly.

Everyone held their breath in anticipation. After more than half an hour, the three experts finally concluded that it was a fake.

Grace looked at the seller and said regretfully, “This painting is indeed very similar in some places, but there is always a vague sense of awkwardness. When the brush is not firm enough, it seems stiff.”

The seller seemed unable to accept this result and argued, “But how do you explain that stamp? And paper, brush, and ink!”

The three experts looked at each other, but they couldn’t give an answer.

At this moment, Fred had also moved to Vivian’s side. He did not know much about calligraphy and paintings, so he asked curiously, “So all of these are real?”

As a fan of Xu Hu’s paintings, Vivian could tell something was amiss. “It’s true. That stamp is Xu Hu’s personal stamp. It’s the same type as the stamp used in ‘Begonia’s Spring House’ painting that has been passed down for a long time. This means these two paintings are from the same period. They should be paintings from the end of the 15th century. I didn’t look at the paper or brush and ink up close, but from the reactions of the Masters, they should be from that era.”

“Could it be that someone copied his work at that time?” asked Fred immediately. “That’s why the ink and paper are more than six hundred years old.”

Vivian smiled and shook her head when she heard this. “The possibility is very small. Although Xu Hu is not from a rich family, his family still has some surplus assets. He entered the government after he became famous in his youth, but he was suppressed by his superiors for political reasons. So, he began to love mountains and rivers in his middle age and painted them for his own appreciation. His paintings only came out to the market in his later years and slowly became famous. He officially started to rise in popularity in the 17th century.”

Other than Vivian, there were naturally others who knew about this. However, because the master could not answer the seller’s questions, things went back to square one. The winner of the bet could not be determined. The controversy over this painting was too great, and it was destined to be unable to sell for a good price.

The seller could only lower the price helplessly. “This painting must be real. The Emperor was famous for liking Xu Hu’s paintings. How could he let a fake be buried with him? And it was even the one that he had specially mentioned as his favorite! If it’s authentic, this painting is worth at least 10 million. I don’t expect to sell it for a high price now. 2 million, whoever wants it can take it.”

Burial objects would usually be the favorite of the tomb owner, so the seller’s words made sense.

The seller wanted to sell it quickly while people still thought it was authentic. Who knew that those who originally supported the authentic product did not bid when this price was called out?

The controversial cultural relics had basically lost room for appreciation unless there was strong evidence later.

This was equivalent to a gamble. It depended on which collector wanted to gamble, but unfortunately, everyone was in a wait-and-see state.

Seeing this, the seller had to lower the price by another hundred thousand. After two consecutive times, some people began to be tempted. Vivian saw this and stepped forward. “I’m interested, but I must look at the painting first.”

Finally, the seller naturally agreed to such a common request when someone wanted to buy it.

Vivian did not look at it in detail. She put on white gloves and touched them directly. The scalding temperature passed through the gloves to her fingers. According to the price and temperature of the Imperial Green Onyx, the temperature matched the market value that the seller had just said. After confirming that this was an authentic work, Vivian felt that the painting was even strange.

When Vivian was about to lay the painting flat on the long table for a closer look, she noticed that something was wrong. This painting was heavier than the paintings she had held before.

Vivian put the painting away and smiled at the seller. “I’m taking this painting.”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s discussion gradually became louder.

The seller was afraid that Vivian would go back on her words, so he quickly replied, “No problem, Miss. Do you want to pay with a check or something?”

Vivian took out a checkbook from her bag and wrote it to the seller. The seller took it and confirmed it with a smile.

George felt that Vivian was too straightforward and shook his head helplessly. “You’re too impulsive. That painting is too controversial. However, other than the technique being debated, there’s nothing else. If you meet a buyer you like, you can still resell it for a few hundred thousand.”

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