Summary
Highlights
Zhao Xuan, carrying a jade pendant linked to his real parents, arrives in the city. He has been living as a 'mute' for two years, following his master's instructions. He searches for a job and encounters Mr. Liu, a renowned antique master, and other vendors in the market. Zhao Xuan showcases his exceptional appraisal skills by correctly identifying a fake antique, impressing Mr. Liu and drawing the attention of Mr. Wu.
Zhao Xuan secures a probationary position at Mr. Liu's antique shop, Zungu Zhai. He swiftly identifies the value and authenticity of various items, even correcting Mr. Liu's nephew, Liu Yi, and friend, Wang Hui, on their estimations. Zhao Xuan's keen eye leads him to purchase a unique gold coin for a mere 200 dollars, which is later appraised by Mr. Liu and Mr. Gu to be worth over 100,000 dollars.
Mr. Gu, impressed by Zhao Xuan's skills, deduces that he is also a talented carver. Zhao Xuan reluctantly agrees to carve a piece from walnut wood. His exceptional carving, completed without prior drawing and with remarkable speed and precision, earns him high praise and a generous offer for the finished piece, further solidifying his reputation.
Zhao Xuan gets involved in a dispute at a neighboring antique shop, Yazhouju, where a customer is returning a painting. Despite others believing it to be a fake, Zhao Xuan recognizes its unique characteristics and convinces Liu Yi and Wang Hui to collectively purchase it. The painting, an extraordinary piece with multiple artistic styles, is later appraised by Mr. Wu and Mr. Gu as a priceless work, selling for 1.6 million dollars, bringing significant wealth to Zhao Xuan and his friends.
Zhao Xuan continues to identify genuine and fake antiques, demonstrating his expertise to more people, including 'Fourth Brother' who brings a supposedly ancient ivory piece that Zhao Xuan quickly dates to recent times. Later, at a jade gambling site, Zhao Xuan reluctantly helps his friends Cao and Guo, who have lost significant money. Using his unique abilities, he selects a stone that yields a high-quality jade, sold for 18.5 million dollars, turning their losses into immense profits.
Zhao Xuan reveals to Mr. Wu that he was once blind and learned his skills from a master who taught him porcelain mending, a forbidden art. He admits to making the 'fake' porcelain pieces Mr. Wu had presented earlier. They learn that his master is Huang Qi, whose older brother, Huang Ke, has been searching for him. Mr. Wu helps Zhao Xuan acquire a courtyard house, recognizing his growing influence and potential.
On a trip to the grassland, Zhao Xuan and his friends visit a local market. Here, he once again leverages his unique abilities to identify valuable items. He buys a seemingly ordinary stone for a low price, which turns out to contain extremely valuable jade, leading to another massive profit of 87 million dollars, split amongst him and his friends. He also acquires an ancient bronze mirror and a rare Hainan Huanghuali box with a Wen Zhengming inscription.
Mr. Wu and Mr. Shen investigate Zhao Xuan's past, contacting Director Yang of the orphanage where he grew up. They discover he was abandoned with a unique jade pendant and embroidered clothing bearing the 'Zhao' character. This information, combined with his striking resemblance to the Li family, leads them to suspect a connection to a prominent family in the capital. They arrange a discreet DNA test by inviting Zhao Xuan for a medical check-up.
The DNA test confirms that Zhao Xuan is the son of Li Rui Mo and Zhao Mengyi. With the truth revealed, Zhao Xuan is reunited with his biological parents and his aunt, Zhao Junnan. He learns the story of his past, including his blindness as a child and how he was secretly taken away. Zhao Xuan introduces his girlfriend, Zhu Xiaoxiao, to his newfound family and receives their blessing for his proposal. The story concludes with a joyful celebration, as Zhao Xuan embraces his complete life, filled with love, family, and extraordinary talents.