chapter 22 There are many tricks in the world, you deserve to be cheated

"Don't be a bridesmaid for Joan Su anymore. With a relative like her, it’s better not to be involved at all." "After all, she’s my relative, and she asked for my help. I couldn’t really say no." Stanley Du and Dinah Yang were chatting while walking around. Suddenly, Stanley Du said, "I gave you such an expensive necklace. Don’t I get a reward?" "What kind of reward do you want?" "Maybe a kiss in the street?" "Then I’ll just give the necklace back to you, I don’t want it." "No, no, no, I was just joking. I would never force you." Stanley Du’s attempt to flirt with his fiancée didn’t go as planned, so he backed off for now. Just then, Dinah Yang’s phone rang. It was her mother-in-law calling. As soon as she answered, her mother-in-law, Elen Zeng, screamed, "Dinah, I have been tricked. Come to Painting and Calligraphy Street with Stanley Du quickly to back me up!" Painting and Calligraphy Street was near the antique market, not too far from where Stanley Du was. When they reached Painting and Calligraphy Street, they found Elen Zeng in front of a calligraphy and painting shop. "Mom, what happened?" "Half a year ago, I bought a 'Crow on a Tall Branch' painting by Shen Zhou here. The shop owner told me it was an original, and even my teacher thought it was real. Today I came back and saw another 'Crow on a Tall Branch' painting here!" "You think you were conned." Stanley Du said, "So the owner sold you a fake and kept the real one in the shop for sale?" "That’s what I mean." Shen Zhou was as famous as Tang Bohu. For an artist like Shen Zhou, it was unlikely he would paint the same work twice. If there were two or more 'Crow on a Tall Branch' paintings on the market, then only one could be the original. The rest would be imitations by others. Stanley Du smiled and said to the shop owner, "Boss, dare you compare your 'Crow on a Tall Branch' painting with my mother-in-law’s to see which one is real?" "Oh, so you want to do a live authentication." The shop owner, Mr. Li, a hefty man, looked Stanley Du over and said dismissively, "You look young. Authenticating paintings is a skillful job. I doubt you’re up to it." "Heh, why don’t you let me try and see if I know about painting authentication?" "Fine, let’s see what this young man is capable of." Then, the two 'Crow on a Tall Branch' paintings were spread out on two large tables. The one on the left belonged to the shop owner, and the one on the right to Elen Zeng. Stanley Du examined them closely. The two paintings looked identical, making it hard to tell the real from the fake. "So, young man, which painting do you think is the real Shen Zhou?" the shop owner asked with a smile. Stanley Du didn’t respond directly but asked Elen Zeng, "Mother-in-law, how much did you pay for this painting?" "100,000." "You were conned. Your painting is fake." Upon hearing this, Elen Zeng shouted at the shop owner, Mr. Li, "You swindler, you did trick me with a fake painting! I want compensation!" "Compensate? For what?" Mr. Li sneered, "In the antique business, there’s no fraud in selling paintings. If you bought a fake, it’s because you lack the skill and eye for it. Isn’t that the old rule of this trade? Don’t you know that?" Elen Zeng was left speechless and on the verge of tears. At that moment, Stanley Du added, "Mr. Li, your painting is also a fake." This statement caused a huge stir among the onlookers, who started chatting excitedly. "What's going on? Both paintings are fakes?" "Mr. Li is supposed to be an expert in calligraphy and painting. He shouldn't have misjudged, right?" "Hmph, maybe all the paintings in Fatty Li's shop are fake. But he treats the fakes as if they're real and sells them." "No way, if he really does that, then he's too crooked." Hearing these comments, Fatty Li couldn't keep his cool anymore. He mocked Stanley Du, "You don't know anything, kid. What makes you say my paintings are fakes too?" "You have the original 'Crow on a Tall Branch.' You use laser printing to copy it onto rice paper. Then you age the rice paper, mixing fake with real, specifically to trick those who only know a little bit. If a real expert figures out your trick, you bring out the real 'Crow on a Tall Branch' to impress them." Stanley Du spoke confidently. Having seen a lot of this kind of trickery, using fakes to deceive and real pieces to impress experts, when traveling the world with the Bouldering Taoist Priest, Stanley Du wasn't surprised. Elen Zeng and the onlookers only now realized what was happening. Fatty Li was even more shocked. He didn't expect that Stanley Du would know so much about the tricks in the antique world. "This young man really knows his stuff." Fatty Li gave Stanley Du a bow, "You're right, I do like using fake paintings to trick those who only know a bit!" "You!" Elen Zeng was gritting her teeth in anger. She was one of those half-learners whom Fatty Li had tricked. "Don't blame me. I'm not breaking any of the old rules of the antique world. If you want to find a bargain without the skill, it's your own fault if you get tricked." Hearing this, Elen Zeng was so angry she almost choked. Just then, Stanley Du pointed to a painting in the shop and said, "This 'Five Horses' by Li Gonglin is also a fake. But I really like this one. Name your price." "How do you know this 'Five Horses' is a fake too?" A man in his fifties, a little old man, asked Stanley Du. "Oh? It's Master Flora Han from Vintage Grace Antiques, the expert in spotting fakes. You're here to find a bargain too!" Someone recognized the little old man. Suddenly, everyone started crowding around Master Han, flattering him. Elen Zeng was also very excited. She always wanted to meet an antique appraisal master like Flora Han. But to someone like Elen Zeng, a half-learner, Flora Han wouldn't give the time of day. Stanley Du gave a bow to Flora Han, "Then let me, a junior, say a few words in front of Master Han." "Don't be polite, just speak." "Li Gonglin was known as the best painter of the Northern Song. Song paintings were done on hemp paper or silk. But this 'Five Horses' by Li Gonglin is on rice paper. That's why I'm sure it's a fake." "You have a good eye and broad knowledge. You're much better at identifying paintings and calligraphy than your mother-in-law," said Flora Han honestly. Stanley Du sweated and sneakily glanced at his mother-in-law, Elen Zeng, whose face had turned green. At that moment, Fatty Li said, "Young man, you know your stuff. I can't cheat you too much. How about I sell you this 'Five Horses' for ten thousand yuan?" "What? You dare to sell a fake for ten thousand yuan? Are you robbing people? Whoever buys it is a fool!" After snapping at Fatty Li, Elen Zeng turned to Stanley Du, "Don't buy this fake. You might as well give me the ten thousand yuan to cut my losses."