A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Michelle Galloway stared at Seraphina Sterling with absolute confidence. Her initial shock had melted into pure scorn. ’She’s saying this Purple Clay Teapot is a fake? How is that possible!’

"Why do you say that, Galloway? I have to wonder where you get such confidence. What are you willing to stake on that guarantee?" Seraphina Sterling’s radiant eyes were full of curiosity, and her faint smile held a hint of warmth.

"I will stake the reputation of Serenity Antiques on it. This Purple Clay Teapot is definitely authentic! There’s absolutely no way it’s the high-end forgery you claim it is!" Michelle Galloway said, full of confidence, her voice dripping with contempt as she glanced at Seraphina Sterling.

"There’s a profound art to Purple Clay Teapots, you know. It’s not like brewing tea, which anyone can do casually. You have to understand their crafting techniques, their history, and the different styles of various masters across different periods. Without a master’s guidance, you could never grasp the essence of it just by fumbling around on your own, let alone determine if one is real or fake! I’ve been around antiques since the day I was born; I know infinitely more about them than you. You’d be wise not to show off what little you know! In the end, you’ll only be the one who’s embarrassed!"

At the mention of her family background, Michelle Galloway adopted a strange air of superiority. "I’ll be frank. Serenity Antiques recently paid a high price for this Purple Clay Teapot on the collector’s market. It was repeatedly examined by all of the appraisers at Serenity Antiques, and they confirmed it. It absolutely cannot be a forgery! If you’re hoping to make a scene and get some attention, well, you’ve got it. But the only outcome for you will be failure!"

"That’s not a given. There’s a saying, isn’t there? Truth is often held by the few. Besides, no one ever said Appraisers are infallible!"

Seraphina Sterling’s lips curved into a smile. "I am one hundred percent certain that this Purple Clay Teapot is not a work by Mengchen Holloway. Very few of Mengchen Holloway’s pieces still exist, but there are countless high-end forgeries. The rarity of the originals is what makes them so precious! And it’s precisely for that reason that the market is flooded with more and more forgeries, each made more and more realistically. Many connoisseurs have been burned on this very point!"

"You’re far too arrogant! The antiques trade is different from other businesses. It relies on a wealth of experience, a discerning eye, and deep scholarly knowledge! Your skill level might make you a standout among your peers, but in front of us from the older generation, you’re still quite naive! Today, I’ll personally instruct you, just this once, and give you a detailed lesson on what a Purple Clay Teapot really is!"

Miles Galloway also walked to the front, putting on the grand airs of a master! He adopted the posture of a senior instructing a junior!

"When examining a Mengchen Holloway teapot, the first thing you look at is the maker’s mark. Second, you judge the craftsmanship to determine if it aligns with the artist’s known work." As he spoke, Miles Galloway turned the Purple Clay Teapot over. The name ’Mengchen Holloway’ was clearly engraved on the base.

"There’s nothing wrong with the seal! Mr. Galloway doesn’t need to provide a detailed explanation of it!" Just as Miles Galloway was about to explain, Seraphina Sterling cut him off, leaving him with his mouth hanging open, unable to make a sound. He looked utterly ridiculous.

But Miles Galloway was an old fox of the business world; he recovered from the minor surprise with practiced ease, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Mengchen Holloway’s Purple Clay Teapots are small and exquisite, with distinctive shapes. Each one is polished to a radiant luster, with smooth, flowing lines that became the hallmark of the Meng style. Observe carefully—the spout, the knob, and the handle are all on the same horizontal line. This Purple Clay Teapot is quite old, after all, so it’s perfectly normal for there to be some scratches on its body!"

Finally, Miles Galloway gently tapped the body of the teapot. "You can listen for yourself—the sound is quite crisp. This Purple Clay Teapot, whether we’re looking at the maker’s mark, the craftsmanship, or the artistic details, perfectly matches the characteristics of Master Mengchen Holloway’s work. So, on what grounds are you claiming it’s not an authentic piece by Master Mengchen Holloway, but just a forgery?"