chapter 9 fatal flaw

Marico smiled, and everyone burst into laughter.
Gina was so embarrassed that she pulled Ashburn to prevent him from continuing. The more he spoke, the less people esteem him.
But Ashburn remained calm and composed. After everyone had laughed enough, he slowly spoke, "In the 32nd year of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, Recluse Baishi named the house he renovated under Sunset Glow Peak ‘Jiping Tang’, and the nickname must come out later than that time. The time on the signature of this painting is the year is 30th year of Emperor Guangxu. There was no Jiping Tang in this year, let alone existed the Senior Jiping Tang ?"
Marico’s face gradually solidified, and his expression was as twisted as he just swallowed a fly.
In the beginning, he did tell the counterfeiter to write the date as early as possible. Art had added value, and the earlier the work, the higher the value is.
But unexpectedly, it became a flaw, and it was fatal, making him impossible to refute.
"You...you're talking nonsense!" Marico frowned, showing his final stubbornness.
Ashburn smiled softly, "This information can probably be found online. If you don't believe it, you can check it out."
Several people at the scene actually began to search for information. It was worth twenty million, and everyone still wanted to know whether the painting was true or false.
Even Katrina took out her mobile phone.
Beads of sweat broke out from Marico’s forehead. He was thinking about how to straighten out contradictions in his lie, but Katrina slapped him on the cheek of a sudden.
"Marico, you bastard, how dare you use a fake painting to deceive my dad!" Katrina just wanted to bring her boyfriend back to show off in front of relatives and friends, instead of being teased! Her eyes turned red, hiding her face, and ran out.
"Kathy, listen to me! I can explain it! I was also deceived by my friend." Marico hurriedly chased her out. When he reached the door, he turned around and glared at Ashburn bitterly.
"Where are you going?" Hebe shouted.
The scene became extremely embarrassing. Hyman, who had just been so proud of receiving a twenty million-worthy painting, now had an angry face in front of so many people. He was very embarrassed!
"Dad, this is my gift to you. May I wish you many happy returns of the day." Ashburn handed the folding fan to him.
Hyman said in a low mood, "Oh, I appreciate it." In his opinion, what Ashburn gave was not genuine either, because Ashburn was poor.
Hebe suddenly rushed in and asked, "What's going on with Marico and Kathy?"
Gina sighed, "Mom, the painting Marico just sent is fake."
"Twenty million... fake?"
"Yes, Ashburn proved it just now."
"He did the appraisal?" Hebe pointed at Ashburn in disbelief, "He knows nothing!"
Katrina also couldn't understand Ashburn. Didn't he study water conservancy engineering in college? When did he know how to appraise works of art? If he saved Frederic’s life through luck before, what about this time?
"Is this your gift?" Hebe picked up the folding fan and trembled with anger, "You said Marico's painting is fake, then you mean yours is real?"
"Mom, it's true, it was Mr. Ta..."
"What a fart!" Hebe immediately tore the folding fan in half.
Ashburn stopped talking for a moment. He knew that Hebe had always looked down upon him, but he didn't expect that she would be so partial.
After all, he had been in Willow's family for two years and had been working hard without complaint. Even a dog should be seen as a family member, but he was never as good as Marico, who just met Katrina.
Hebe tore the folding fan into pieces and smashed it directly on Ashburn’s face, "Marico's family is engaged in big business. Have you ever heard of the York family in East State? He would send a fake painting? Let me tell you, if you sow discord between Kathy and Marico, I'll teach you a lesson!”
"Mom, this painting is really fake. The time and signature don't match up." Gina came out to defend Ashburn.
However, Hebe scolded Gina together, "Gina, what's the matter with you? You're contradicting for this loser! If your grandma hadn't been so stupid and insisted on you marrying this loser, I would never have nodded to this marriage!”
"Mom, let's get one thing straight first, this painting..."
"Nevermind, Gina." Ashburn sighed weakly. It was his father-in-law's birthday and there were many guests present, so he didn't want to make things too embarrassing.
What's more, he had another purpose for coming today. He took out the amulet from his pocket and said, " I got this amulet for you. You must wear it."
" Oh, I thought there'd be some rare treasures! You have been married to Gina for two years. What present have you given to her? An amulet! You don’t feel disgraced?" Hebe snatched the amulet and threw it directly out of the window.
Then she pointed at Ashburn, "Get out of here! Don't embarrass us here!"
Since it was so, Ashburn also had dignity, he turned around and left.
Gina wanted to chase after him, but today was her father's birthday and Katrina had already left. She could not leave again, otherwise, her father would celebrate his birthday without any of his children around, and it would not be good for the Willow family’s reputation.
Not long after Ashburn left, a middle-aged man wearing a black Chinese tunic suit came in.
Hebe put on a smile and greeted him, "Jerome, welcome."
Jerome Lowe smiled and cupped his hands to Hyman, "Mr. Willow, congratulations!"
Hyman stood up to greet him, holding his hand very intimately, "Just a birthday, it's an honor for me that you came in person."
"You are my old friends for many years, that’s what I should do." Jerome said, his eyes falling on the "Picture of Longevity Peach" from Marico on the table.
He was an expert in antique appraisal, especially calligraphy and painting appraisal. He could tell whether a painting was authentic or fake with just one glance. He couldn't help but reveal a playful smile, expecting that a certain guest might have given Hyman a congratulatory gift, and it was not convenient to reveal it in person.
When Hebe saw his smile, she misunderstood it and said with a complacent smile, " Jerome, you are an expert in this field. Come and take a look at this painting." Although Gina told her that this was a fake painting, she didn't give up. How could that young man of the York family in East State send a fake painting?
Jerome just waved his hand and refused to comment, but suddenly he stepped on something. When he raised his foot, he saw it was a torn folding fan.
His expression suddenly became solemn, he squatted down, picked up the fragments, and at the same time took out a magnifying glass for treasure appraisal from his pocket.
Hebe smiled and said, " Jerome, it seems like your occupational diseases appear again. What's there to see in a broken fan? It only costs ten yuan to buy it on the street. Come on, everyone is almost here, the dinner is about to begin.”
"This is the authentic work of Recluse Baishi!!" Looking at the fragments on the ground, Jerome was heartbroken, "Who ruined this treasure ruthlessly? Authentic works of Recluse Baishi are rare on the market now. As one is destroyed, there's even less left! Alas!"
"Really...authentic?"
"Yes, if this folding fan were put up for auction, it would fetch at least thirty to forty million yuan."
Hebe felt as if a knife had been stabbed into her heart, thirty to forty million... She had just destroyed thirty to forty million with her own hands.
Covering her left chest with her hands, she suddenly fell.
On her side, Gina was startled, "Mom, what's happened!"