My Best Friend Is Actually The School Diva Dressed As A Man - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Who’s Testing Who?

The copper coin that Master Zhang had taken out was inscribed with the words “Jian Yan yuanbao” written on it. Due to its age, the handwriting was not particularly legible.

Before Tang Feng could speak, Qin Yanan, who was standing at the side, spoke up. “Master Zhang, isn’t this question too difficult?”

She thought herself rather knowledgeable when it came to antiques, but upon spotting the copper coin, she was immediately stumped.

She had no clue as to what dynasty the copper coin had even belonged to.

There were many dynasties, periods, as well as emperors who had come and gone throughout the lengthy history of the Dragon Nation.

Unless one was specialized in researching ancient coins, it was impossible to know what era a coin had belonged to like the back of one’s hand.

It was an extremely difficult task!

Master Zhang picked up his teacup and took a sip from it. With a smug grin on his face, he stated, “Since he’s taking over the role of chief appraiser of Elegant Garden, it’s only natural that the question he receives would be a little more difficult.”

“Of course, I’m willing to change the question into a simpler one if he’s incapable of answering this question.”

Just as he was about to take back the copper coin…

Tang Feng suddenly stretched his hand forward and picked up the copper coin. “Let me try.”

Master Zhang glanced at him. “I’ll allow you to look it up on the internet. If you want to, you can even grab a book from that shelf over there that features ancient coins.”

Tang Feng was speechless.

Are you looking down on me? Did you actually think that I need the internet for this?

All I need is the system.

Without saying a single word, Tang Feng activated his Scanning System.

[ Scanning in progress… ]

A moment later, all the information about the copper coin was presented before him.

While the scan was taking place, Qin Yanan considerately brought over a book titled, “Research on the Ancient Coins of the Dragon Nation”.

“Little Tang, Master Zhang said that you’re allowed to look up any information you need.”

Tang Feng took a glance at the book and then shook his head with a smile. “I won’t have the right to take over the Chief Appraiser’s position if I require reference for such a simple question.”

“Ugh…” Qin Yanan did not expect her act of kindness to be shot down so brutally. She could only smile bitterly in response. Master Zhang put down the teacup in his hand and looked at him. “Since you said that this question is simple, I’ll give you half an hour to decide. The duration given should be more than enough, right?”

Tang Feng placed the copper coin back on the table. “I won’t need it. I can tell you the answer right now.”

“Oh?”

Master Zhang picked up the teacup that he had just placed down to hide his shock. “I’d like to hear your findings then.”

Tang Feng pointed at the copper coin and began his explanation. “Jian Yan is the first year of the Southern Song Dynasty. The Jian Yan period lasted for four years. During this period, three separate coins were put into use, namely, the Jian Yan tongbaos, the Jian Yan Tongzhongs, and lastly, the Jian Yan yuanbaos. Among these three coins, the Jian Yan yuanbao is especially rare, to the extent that it is ranked as one of the top 50 rarest ancient currencies…”

Qin Yanan listened to Tang Feng’s confident explanation and hurriedly turned her head to look at Master Zhang. She noticed that he was listening with his eyes closed, and was nodding from time to time.

It seemed that Tang Feng was right on the mark.

This left Qin Yanan feeling rather surprised.

In just the short span of time that he had inspected the coin, he was already able to tell the exceedingly rare coin’s origin as if it was a family heirloom that was passed down across generations.

His knowledge regarding the matter was admirable.

Master Zhang’s face also had a hint of a smile on it as he slowly nodded. “Looks like you know your stuff, kiddo.” “However, you probably aren’t satisfied with just knowing the origins of this copper coin. So now, I’ll tell you whether it’s authentic or not as well as my reasoning on the matter.”

“This copper coin is fake.” Tang Feng did not hesitate and immediately gave his judgment.

“Oh ho? What’s the reason then?” Master Zhang’s surprise was even more visible as he continued to prompt Tang Feng.

Tang Feng picked up the copper coin again and continued to regurgitate the system’s scanning results, “I have to say, this copper coin is extremely well made. Be it its coating or its font, it is truly an impeccable imitation of the real deal. Alas, there is one fatal mistake with its replication.”

“What would the mistake be?”

“Its hole!”

“Huh? Its hole? Why’s that?”

Tang Feng’s answer was clearly beyond Master Zhang’s expectations. Master Zhang hurriedly grabbed the copper coin from Tang Feng’s hand and looked at the hole in the middle, but he could not see any issues with

it.

“Sis, can you make me a cup of tea? I’m feeling a little parched.”

Tang Feng did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned his head and requested a drink from Qin Yanan with a smile.

Although Qin Yanan wanted to know the answer immediately, in the end, she resisted her curiosity and went to make a cup of tea for Tang Feng.

After taking a teacup from Qin Yanan, Tang Feng imitated Master Zhang and took a sip from it. His expression was of bliss as he did

SO.

Master Zhang had to resist the urge to smack the boy. Nevertheless, he hurriedly asked, “Keep going boy! Hurry up and tell me, what’s the problem with this hole?”

Noticing that the old man was getting anxious, and fearing that he would get a heart attack, Tang Feng continued, “Back then, copper coins were bounded together with a piece of string. These strings naturally rubbed against the coins, and as a result, signs of degradation should show along the holes of the copper coins.”

Master Zhang immediately pointed at the hole on the copper coin. “There’s no problem. The hole of this copper coin also shows signs of wear and tear.”

Tang Feng answered with a wide grin. “That’s exactly the problem.”

“What’s the problem?” Master Zhang did not quite understand what Tang Feng was getting at.

“Since this Jian Yan yuanbao was only in circulation for four years, any signs of wear and tear should be very minimal, if not absent completely. However, the hole of this copper coin is highly weathered, and it’s clear that the counterfeiter had overlooked this point when they forged this imitation.”

With this, Tang Feng then picked up his teacup and took a sip again.

A moment later, he then turned to Master Zhang and sneered, “It’s such an obvious mistake, I’m sure an expert like Master Zhang would have noticed it, right?”

“Ugh…”

Master Zhang’s face turned red, even though he had also noticed that the copper coin was fake before.

However, that was after more than a week of repeated research, and it was not because of the coin’s hole.

In contrast, Tang Feng had only needed a few glances before noticing the flaw.

This immediately made him feel ashamed.

“Even if there was no problem with the hole…” Master Zhang spoke up, not willing to be overshadowed by the newcomer.

Tang Feng interjected, “I know, I know. The hole alone is not enough to prove that it’s fake.”

“Other than the hole, there are also problems with the degree of calcification, oxidation, rust…”

He picked up the copper coin and explained the problems one by one.

Master Zhang sat at the side and listened attentively like a student in school.

Qin Yanan found the scene rather comical.

Who was testing who here?