Chapter 2: Fake Painting

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

A single stone caused a thousand ripples.

The noisy reception hall instantly fell silent.

Then, everyone burst into laughter.

“No way, a piece of trash like you knows how to differentiate paintings?”

“What happened to the Xu family’s son-in-law today? Why did he suddenly put on an act?”

“If this useless son-in-law can identify antiques, I’ll eat this painting while doing a headstand.”

“Ye Feng, don’t talk nonsense.”

Xu Yaqing quickly stopped Ye Feng, because Ye Feng’s words and actions also affected her. In the end, she was the only one who would lose face.

“Xu Yaqing, is it because you couldn’t afford such a gift that you deliberately let this piece of trash come over and say this?”

“I didn’t!”

“If you can’t afford it, so be it. No one will say anything about you. It’s not good for you to slander Cousin Xu Tian like this.” Xu Yanyan mocked.

“His painting is indeed fake,” Ye Feng said helplessly as he watched more and more people target him and Xu Yaqing.

“Trust me, I’m confident about this. This painting is definitely fake.” Ye Feng stopped Xu Yaqing, who was about to say something.

“Don’t embarrass me with you.”

Seeing Ye Feng’s determined gaze, Xu Yaqing suddenly decided to go with his flow.

“He seems a little different from usual,” Xu Yaqing thought as she looked at Ye Feng.

“Ye Feng, then tell me, how is this painting fake? If you don’t say anything, this matter will not end.”

“Sure. This painting should be the Clear Water Hibiscus Painting. It should be in the hands of the clan leader of a clan in the capital.”

Ye Feng was not an expert at identifying antiques, but he had seen this painting in his father’s room.

As the head of the Ye family in the capital, he could not possibly put up a fake painting to brag.

“Ye Feng, are you kidding me? Do you know any big families in the capital? You sure know how to make things up. If I say that my grandfather is a government official, would you believe me?”

Xu Tian was also cautious, because the painting was indeed fake. He had bought it from an antique dealer who specialized in counterfeiting, and it was only worth a few thousand yuan.

“It’s just a useless son-in-law who claims to know someone from a large clan in the capital.”

“That clan leader is a big shot in the capital and yet he claims to know this big shot in the capital! Then why is he here as a son-in-law?”

“This son-in-law of the Xu family is indeed as rumored.”

The people who had gathered around pointed at Ye Feng and discussed him.

“Alright, then let’s not talk about where the real painting is. There’s something wrong with the ink and paper.”

“This ink isn’t something that was used a thousand years ago. This paper is also a type of parchment paper that can be bought in shops nowadays. Normally, the kind of paper used back then was thinner.”

Ye Feng spoke confidently.

“Could this painting actually be fake?”

“To think that the son-in-law of the Xu family would have such knowledge. Seems like he’s not ordinary.”

“I didn’t expect Ye Feng to know these things, but why didn’t he say so earlier?”

The onlookers also felt that what Ye Feng said made sense, and they immediately switched to Ye Feng’s side.

“If you say it’s fake, then it’s fake? You’re just a piece of trash. Do you even understand art?”

“I might not, but I’m sure Grandpa can tell if it’s real or not.”

In his later years, Old Master Xu rarely cared about business. Only some expensive paintings and calligraphy could interest him. No one could say for sure, but Old Master Xu would definitely be able to see through such an obvious forgery.

Xu Tian panicked when he heard that. If even Ye Feng could tell, how could his grandfather not?

“Ahem, what’s going on? Why are you making so much noise?”

At this moment, the protagonist of the birthday banquet, the current leader of the Xu family, Xu Wanghai, walked down from upstairs.

“Grandpa, that trash Ye Feng said that the painting that cousin wanted to give you is fake. How dare a piece of trash say that he knows how to judge paintings?”

At this moment, Xu Yanyan walked out and pointed at Ye Feng. She wanted Ye Feng to embarrass himself in public.

Xu Tian wished he could kill Xu Yanyan right now.

Xu Wanghai looked up at Ye Feng, his eyes filled with disgust. He really didn’t know what his father was thinking, bringing shame to the entire Xu Family because of one person.

“Oh? Really? Let me take a look.”

Xu Tian broke out in a cold sweat, but he still handed the painting to Xu Wanghai.

Xu Wanghai slowly unrolled the painting and looked at it carefully.

Xu Tian was thinking about how he should explain this to his grandfather.

His father, Xu Yaqing’s uncle, walked over and asked Xu Tian in a low voice, “Is this painting really fake?”

Xu Tian dared not to speak.

“I’ll deal with you after the party.”

A father knows his son best. How could he not see through his son’s behavior?

The two of them had no choice but to hope that the old man would handle them gently.

After looking at it for a while, Xu Wanghai lifted his head and asked Ye Feng, “You said this painting is fake?”

“Yes, grandfather.”

“I think this painting is real. You’re saying it’s fake?” Xu Wanghai questioned Ye Feng.

“If you say it’s real, then it’s real. You’re researching these everyday, so you know better than me,” Ye Feng said indifferently.

Xu Wanghai could tell that the painting was fake, but Xu Tian was his grandson after all, and he couldn’t possibly tell others that it was a fake painting.

After all, the Xu family could not lose face on such an occasion.

“You mean I’m framing you?”

“How would I dare, Grandfather?”

Ye Feng emphasized the word ‘Grandfather’. He knew that Xu Wanghai wouldn’t bear to scold his grandson outside, so he could only take the blame himself.

“Xu Yaqing, how have you been disciplining your man? He doesn’t know anything yet he dares to spout nonsense and frame Xu Tian. Do you think that I can’t tell if the painting is real or not because I’m old and blind?”

“I’m sorry, Grandfather. It’s all my fault. Ye Feng was spouting nonsense just now. I hope Grandfather won’t be angry.”

“Hurry up and apologize to Cousin Xu Tian!”

Xu Yaqing quickly stood up. She was afraid that the matter would blow up again.

Xu Yaqing was also filled with disappointment towards Ye Feng. Why did she believe him just now?

Xu Yaqing was filled with regret.

Ye Feng looked at the remorseful Xu Yaqing. How could he not know what she was thinking? If he continued to explain it to Xu Wanghai, who was a patriarchal patriarch, he was afraid that Xu Wanghai would make use of this opportunity to make things difficult for him and Xu Yaqing.

Moreover, this old man was pretending to be blind.

Ye Feng had no choice but to walk towards Xu Tian, who had a smug look on his face.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hahaha, it’s fine. My good brother-in-law, I’m a magnanimous person. Why would I bother with you?”

Xu Tian then whispered to Ye Feng, “He’s my grandfather, how could he not side with me?”

“So this Ye Feng doesn’t know anything. He’s pretending to know when he doesn’t.”

“It turns out that trash is still trash. I thought that there would be a situation where the male protagonist counterattacked.”

The surrounding guests started murmuring again.

It was just a small interlude. Xu Wanghai quickly invited everyone to sit down and begin the birthday celebration.

“Old Master, there’s a group of people outside who say they’re from the Ye family in the capital. They’re here to celebrate Old Master’s birthday.”