Chapter 280: Admitting that one's eyesight isn't good, is it really that difficult?_1

Tang Feng initially speculated that the buyer had secretly switched the snuff bottle themselves to extort money.

If that was the case, they merely needed to release the surveillance footage to the public to easily resolve the matter.

But now, after hearing from his master Zhang Jicheng, who had already reviewed the surveillance and hadn’t detected any sign of the switch, the picture changed.

That meant, the counterfeit had indeed originated from their store.

The problem suddenly became much more serious.

If not handled properly, not only would his personal reputation be shattered, but Ya Garden could also be implicated and become the laughing stock of the entire antiques community.

“How are you going to handle this? What is the solution to this matter?” the host urged again.

Tang Feng glanced back at him, “Rest assured, I will give you a satisfactory explanation.”

He then approached the shop employees, “Who was responsible for looking after this snuff bottle before?”

Each Ya Garden employee was in charge of specific categories of items.

Some specialized in calligraphy and paintings, some in ceramics, and others in these small artifacts.

Before leaving work, the employees would lock their counters.

After asking around, no one came forward.

He had to stress his question and ask again.

Finally, a female employee stepped forward timidly, “Mr. Tang, it’s… it was my responsibility.”

Tang Feng remembered her somewhat; she was a rather introverted girl who seemed diligent and unlikely to commit such an act of theft against her own watch.

However, a familiar face may still hide a stranger’s heart; he wouldn’t rule out her suspicion based on her usual demeanor.

“Since it was your responsibility, tell me then, how did a genuine item turn into a fake?” asked Tang Feng, while staring into her eyes.

A person’s mouth can lie, but their eyes often don’t.

Hearing his question, the female employee’s face turned pale, and she shook her hands frantically, “Mr. Tang, I… I really don’t know.”

“I always check over all the items carefully before I leave work and then lock the cabinet. I really don’t know why it turned into a fake…”

As Tang Feng stared at her for a long while, seeing that she didn’t seem to be lying, he averted his gaze.

He figured that the girl likely wasn’t foolish enough to tamper with goods on her watch; once there was an issue, she’d be the first to get caught.

For now, he let the girl off the hook and turned back to the other employees, “Who was it that tampered with the item? Step forward now, and I might be lenient.”

“But if I find out myself, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

The employees all claimed ignorance one after another.

“Mr. Tang, I’m responsible for the jade; I rarely go over to her side, so there’s no chance I could have tampered with it…”

“It wasn’t me either, Mr. Tang, I’ve been here for over three years and never made a mistake…”

“Nor was it me, I have been on leave these last few days, only just came back today…”

Although everyone was explaining themselves to Tang Feng, there was an inevitable murmuring of displeasure.

Many of them felt that Tang Feng was shifting the blame.

Even though they had once greatly admired Tang Feng for his ability to identify antiques at such a young age and had recognized his skill throughout Antique Street, turning him into an idol, they now scorned him for his low character.

Seeing that everyone was defending themselves with nobody willing to confess, Tang Feng couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

Did they think they were playing Werewolf?

There were nine people in Ya Garden altogether.

As the owner, Qin Yanan was the first to be excluded from suspicion; she wouldn’t sabotage her own business’s reputation.

Zhang Jicheng, next, had been in the shop for many years and, now retired, had a reputation for integrity—plus, he was Tang Feng’s master.

And Tang Feng himself, needless to say.

So, within the remaining six individuals, there had to be a “wolf” hiding.

As he pondered with a frown, the crowd in the store, there for the spectacle, had grown impatient.

“How are you going to resolve this issue? Can you give a definite answer?”

“Indeed, since you sold someone a fake, you ought to compensate for losses and apologize. What kind of situation is this?”

“You must give everyone a satisfactory explanation; otherwise, don’t expect to keep this antiques shop open.”

“Stop the act, just give us a straight answer…”

The crowd felt that Tang Feng was deliberately stalling and began to scoff openly.

At that moment, the host approached Tang Feng again, smiling slyly, “Alright, stop troubling them; it was clearly your mistake in judgement, yet you want to pass the buck to others. Is it that hard to admit your limited expertise?”

To Tang Feng, that mocking smile on the host’s face seemed particularly punchable.

But he had to contain himself, not giving his opponents any leverage; otherwise, he truly risked losing everything.

“Give me five more minutes, and I will have a satisfactory answer for you.”

“Five minutes, is it? Fine, I’ll time you. In five minutes, I expect your answer,” said the host, tapping his digital watch then seated himself back down.

After staving off the host, Tang Feng turned his attention back to the employees, “I’m giving you one last chance to come forward. If I have to call you out myself, I assure you, I will have you jailed.”

The employees looked at each other but still, none of them stepped forward.

Tang Feng laughed out of sheer rage, “Alright, very well then.”

“Think I can’t find out just because you won’t speak up? Well, I’m about to get hands-on.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

With that, he stood up and walked over to Ge Hui, “Look into my eyes.”

“Heh, Mr. Tang, it really wasn’t me, you know me…” Ge Hui initially tried to joke, but Tang Feng cut him off.

“I’m not joking; look into my eyes,” Tang Feng insisted.

Ge Hui and Tang Feng, who knew each other well, had initially treated the situation lightly, but Ge Hui sobered up at Tang Feng’s stern words.

The two locked gazes without a word.

Everyone else watched, confused by Tang Feng’s actions.

Meanwhile, Tang Feng quietly activated his scanning system and, using his Physiognomy Mastery, began to probe Ge Hui.

Suddenly, a torrent of information flooded his mind.