The Real Heiress Has an Appraisal System

Zhao Dehai had initially assumed Gu Shengsheng would slack off, perhaps giving the arrangement a cursory glance. He even had two people on standby, ready to fix things if her placement was messy.

However, for the entire remaining time, Gu Shengsheng worked with remarkable efficiency.

Zhao Dehai found it strange. ’Isn’t this girl just supposed to be moving artifacts? She hasn’t said a word. Don’t tell me she’s been appraising them this whole time?’

’If she’s really appraising them, that’s just absurd. No one can appraise so many things at once!’

’Well, I’ll see when the time comes. I’ll just have to play it by ear.’

Just as the time was up and a video invitation arrived from the other party, Gu Shengsheng finished her arrangement, committing the numbers to memory.

She said to Zhao Dehai, "I’m ready. You can accept it."

Zhao Dehai’s heart pounded with anxiety. ’What am I going to do in a bit?’

The representative from Japan appeared on screen. The man participating in the negotiation with Huaxia held the same rank as Zhao Dehai: a director of a cultural heritage bureau.

The two were no strangers, so they exchanged some pleasantries after connecting.

"Hello, Mr. Zhao. I am Beiyuan Cang of Japan’s National Cultural Heritage Department. This is the director of the Tokyo Museum, and beside him are the directors of the other museums whose artifacts are involved."

"I’m Zhao Dehai, so I won’t waste time on introductions. Beside me is Gu Shengsheng, the owner of the disputed artifacts. She is also one of Huaxia’s most outstanding young Treasure Appraisers, with a limitless future ahead of her."

Zhao Dehai couldn’t resist a smug little flourish as he spoke.

Beiyuan Cang smiled. ’How could I not recognize her?’

When she had furiously called out the Eagle Country Museum, a reporter from Japan had gotten caught in the crossfire. He was lambasted for a long time after returning to Japan.

’This Gu Shengsheng... she really does have some skill.’

After that, the participants on both ends of the video call put on their translation earpieces.

The man on the other side was still sizing up Gu Shengsheng. He was the first to speak, a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips.

"Miss Gu, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. After hearing you speak with such righteous indignation, I thought you were a uniquely outspoken person on the world stage."

"Unfortunately, you’ve privately and illegally purchased a pile of fakes to create a publicity stunt, and this affair now affects Japan. We can ignore your minor antics, but... since this involves a matter of such importance to Japan, we can no longer stand aside."

Listening to this long-winded attempt at a threat, Gu Shengsheng started to feel sleepy.

She didn’t bother to hide it, letting out a broad yawn.

She said, "I agree, you should investigate. It might stop you from always stealing our things, refusing to return them, and then claiming they’re yours."

Beiyuan Cang frowned. "Miss Gu, I get the feeling your words have more than just their literal meaning."

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "Huaxia’s culture is vast and profound; it’s beyond your understanding. As for the meaning, that’s up to your own interpretation. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

With that, Gu Shengsheng said, "Enough with the pointless formalities. Let’s get everything out and see what we’re dealing with."

"I’ve brought the artifacts I collected from the street stalls, too." With that, Gu Shengsheng retrieved a large woven sack from the floor.

She heaved it onto her shoulder and carefully placed it on the table, giving no one a chance to help.

Zhao Dehai, who had been bustling about to help, was left empty-handed. ’...’ ’I was going to help with the sack, but all I grabbed was a handful of air.’

Then, Zhao Dehai asked, "It’s almost time to start the livestream. Are you ready?"

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "Go ahead."

Zhao Dehai then went to set up the livestream equipment.

Gu Shengsheng focused on the screen and said to the other party, "You, too. Bring out the artifacts."

The people on the other end were clearly taken aback.

Gu Shengsheng continued, "Do you remember how many artifacts were reported? A little over twenty items in total. There was a Glazed Cup, a Chicken Blood Vine Cup, a Tang Dynasty Wine Cup, kiln-fired Porcelain..."

Gu Shengsheng listed them off, ticking them off on her fingers.

The team from Japan frantically started checking their own list, verifying the items.

In that moment, Gu Shengsheng had already seized the initiative.

In any negotiation, taking the initiative is paramount. More importantly, the fact that Gu Shengsheng had shown up at all meant she was certain of a flawless victory.

’Right.’ Thinking this, she rolled her neck and glanced again at the row of artifacts behind her. Just sitting there, she seemed utterly unflustered.

The livestream had just gone live. Netizens had noticed various museums were doing a joint broadcast but hadn’t paid it much mind, assuming it was some documentary they couldn’t be bothered to watch.

But the moment they saw Gu Shengsheng’s account was also participating, a massive crowd, eager for drama, rushed to the scene.

Some of them were genuine treasure appraisal enthusiasts. But a far larger portion was just there for the show. After all, you could always count on some major drama in Gu Shengsheng’s streams.

Besides, this Sister Gu was completely unfiltered. She did whatever she wanted, and people had long since become her devoted fans for it.

Even hordes of clickbait marketing accounts tuned in, and none of them could bring themselves to say a single bad thing about her.

In fact, the more they watched, the more they liked her.

The netizens commented:

"What’s Sister Gu doing? Is she representing us in talks with Japan?"

"Those guys from Japan have nothing better to do. If it were me, I’d take all their shit and leave them helpless. It really grinds my gears."

"The main thing is, they’re a disgrace to the sakura blossoms. They’ve insulted the very name ’sakura’."

"The whole nuclear wastewater thing... I really want to dissect what kind of shit those dumbasses are made of..."

"Host, don’t let us feel frustrated! We can’t stand to see our side get wronged in any way over this."

Then, a more rational netizen offered their analysis:

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Not necessarily. This could be a very tricky situation for our side. After all, the artifacts in Japan have been officially notarized. If our items turn out to be fakes..."

"We’ll be the ones to lose face. So this is a tough fight. Japan is cunning and full of tricks. You guys have to give it your all!"

"!!! Go for it! Crush them!"

Normally, these netizens would just be arguing amongst themselves online, going wild at each other. But when it came to Japan, they always presented a united front.

It became a competition of who could sling the nastiest insults!

Gu Shengsheng, feeling that victory was already in her grasp, watched as the other party brought out their items.

Gu Shengsheng asked, "Mr. Beiyuan Cang, may I ask who you hired to conduct the appraisal?"

Since Beiyuan Cang had proposed the appraisal himself, he certainly wasn’t going to let himself lose face. With a global livestream running, he couldn’t let anyone accuse them of being biased.

So Beiyuan Cang said with a smile, "Miss Gu, we’ve brought in people from the International Treasure Appraisal Association. If the royal expert from Eagle Country was untrustworthy, surely the people from the International Treasure Appraisal Association are credible enough!"

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "Yes, that’s acceptable."

As soon as she finished speaking, a person wearing a sterile white lab coat entered the room. On the Japanese side, a similarly dressed person entered their room as well.

They wore masks, obscuring their faces.

Gu Shengsheng smiled. "Let’s begin."