Appraising Treasures? No, I’m Cheating My Way to Fortune in the Flea Market

Xia Houxiang never imagined that a “broken bottle” would change his fate.

That day, a stallholder grabbed him at the antiques market. “Hey, handsome! A Yongle-era blue-and-white plum vase from the Ming Dynasty. I’ve had it tucked away for ten years. One million, firm!”

The System went quiet for three seconds, then displayed two lines:

“Fake Republic-era porcelain vase. Worth less than a cent.”

“An authentic Night-Shining White painting is hidden inside. A rare national treasure, priceless.”

Xia Houxiang: “…Boss, it says ‘Republic-era’ right on the bottom.”

The stallholder’s face turned green. In the end, he let it go for just 800 yuan.

Carrying the vase, Xia Houxiang walked into Tianbao Pavilion. The appraiser didn’t even look up. “Fake. Plastic replica. I wouldn’t touch it for 30 yuan.”

Xia Houxiang didn’t waste words. He picked up the vase

“Crash!”

Shards of porcelain scattered across the floor. He pulled a roll of oil paper from inside.

The appraiser’s legs gave out. “A painting… hidden inside the vase?!”

With ten inscriptions and seventeen red seals, the elderly Mr. Zhan Guokun trembled as he examined it. “It’s real! The Night-Shining White that was thought to have been lost in that fire!”

Two big shots fought over the painting, bidding from 80 million to 90 million.

Xia Houxiang glanced at his phone. His balance had gone from 250 yuan to 1,000,000,000.

That morning, he’d still been eating instant noodles in his rental. That evening, he was staying in Presidential Suite 999.

His landlady’s daughter tearfully told him her father owed 43 million. He casually transferred 100 million. “I’ll take all these buildings.”

System alert: “The land is about to be included in the core subway route. Estimated increase in value: 3 billion.”

Xia Houxiang: “…Is this really a bargain I stumbled across? I’ve basically stumbled onto a fortune!”