Zhang Deqi trembled all over as he walked down from the stage with a heart full of humiliation and frustration. He appeared to have aged decades in a moment, for today, the reputation of the Zhang Family was shattered by his own hands.
Below the stage, the expressions of Zhang Jia and the others were all downcast.
"Shameless scoundrel!" Zhang Jia gnashed his teeth in hatred, his eyes bloodshot. If it weren't for his classmate holding him back, he probably would have gone up on stage to hit Situ Junyan.
"It's so unfair, to let such a despicable person win."
Luo Tong also snorted, feeling indignant as he watched Situ Junyan converse smugly with the audience.
"Let the teacher go up, since he was able to create such expensive pottery, he must have a way to deal with that Situ Junyan!" Zhao Yating interjected.
Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits were lifted. Yes, there was still Hao Jian. Hao Jian had not yet made a move, and if he was willing, maybe he could win against Situ Junyan.
When Zhang Deqi, who had returned, heard this, his gloomy face couldn't help but show a glimmer of hope. If Hao Jian could dampen Situ Junyan's arrogance, that would be perfect.
"Hey, where's the teacher?" Just then, as Zhao Yating went looking for Hao Jian, she discovered he was nowhere to be found.
Shu Ya and Qin Bing also suddenly realized that Hao Jian had left without them noticing.
"The teacher wouldn't have left because he didn't want to help, would he?" At this moment, Luo Tong voiced his suspicions.
"Nonsense! That's not the kind of person the teacher is. I'm sure he just went to the restroom!"
Zhao Yating quickly scolded, and with a glare at Luo Tong, her admiration for Hao Jian bordered on reverence. Hearing Luo Tong slander Hao Jian, she erupted in anger.
The others exchanged wry smiles, finding Zhao Yating's explanation unconvincing. She thought it was just a coincidence he happened to go to the restroom when they needed his help?
At this time, Zhang Deqi and Zhang Jia also showed wry smiles. Indeed, why should someone who was neither kin nor friend stick their neck out for them?
But just then, they saw a figure ascend the stage. It was the very Hao Jian they had been so desperately seeking.
Hao Jian walked up with his head held high. Seeing this, the guests and art enthusiasts stopped talking and looked puzzled at Hao Jian on the stage.
Hao Jian, pacing slowly, walked straight to the pottery created by Situ Junyan. He glanced down at the pottery and then his lips curled into a mocking smile,
"What garbage have you fired up?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room was shocked.
At that moment, Situ Junyan's eyes blazed with anger, looking as if he wanted to devour Hao Jian alive. How dare he call his craftsmanship garbage? What did he think he was?
"I told you! The teacher is definitely not the kind of person who would flee before battle!" Zhao Yating said triumphantly, puffing up like a rooster that had won a fight.
"Alright, I admit, I judged prematurely," Luo Tong said, somewhat ashamed.
Zhang Deqi stared blankly at the stage. Was Hao Jian going to help him regain his dignity?
"Dad, the teacher will surely avenge us and protect the Zhang Family's reputation. You can rest easy!" Zhang Jia said excitedly.
"Yes!" Zhang Deqi nodded vigorously, his gaze fixed intently on Hao Jian on the stage.
But then, Hao Jian did something that surprised everyone even more. He slowly lifted his foot and then kicked towards the ceramic piece.
The ceramic shattered completely upon impact, and even though its breaking sound made everyone gasp.
"You dare smash my pottery?"
Enraged, Situ Junyan stormed onto the stage, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. Hao Jian actually dared to publicly provoke him. If he didn't do something now, wouldn't he be too cowardly?
"Security! Security! Get this troublemaker out of here!"
Tang Liya was also calling for security. After all, Situ Junyan had already defeated Zhang Deqi and gained a reputation, so they no longer needed to fear Hao Jian's threats.
"If it's trash, then there's no need to preserve it, right?" But Hao Jian spoke as if it was no big deal, casually uttering these words.
His statement was not an insult nor a provocation, it was expressed with such calmness and detachment, as if stating a fact.
So, when Situ Junyan heard these words, he was extremely annoyed, "Trash? This piece could sell for hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands! You're probably too poor to ever afford it in your life!"
"It's indeed worth that much, but it's undeniable that it's still trash."
Hao Jian shrugged and said, the value of a work of art doesn't depend on hearing the price. Does the Mona Lisa have a price? How much would France's Louvre sell it to you for?
Hao Jian acknowledged that the pottery made by Situ Junyan was valuable, but to a master like him, it was trash.
If Hao Jian had made such pottery, even if it was worth hundreds of thousands, he would have smashed it too.
Why? Because it's embarrassing!
Producing such trash was a blow to his own status; displaying it would mean degrading himself!
Situ Junyan was almost amused to anger by Hao Jian, "Do you even know what art is? Do you know anything about pottery? How is it that someone as ignorant as you is fit to judge my pottery?"
The guests below also laughed, finding Hao Jian ridiculous.
The man is a master. Who are you? On what grounds do you declare his work trash? Moreover, if a piece worth hundreds of thousands is called trash, then what price qualifies as not trash?
Situ Junyan then deliberately looked towards Zhang Deqi, "What's the matter, Zhang Deqi, can't accept defeat and decided to bring a hooligan to insult me?"
At these words, everyone's gaze shifted to Zhang Deqi, their eyes filled with disdain and indifference.
"This has nothing to do with them. It's purely my personal opinion. Your pottery is indeed trash. You dare call yourself a master with this kind of water bottle quality? If every pottery artist in Huaxia were like you, I'm afraid the pottery technique Huaxia takes pride in as world-class would decline," Hao Jian said with a sneer.
"You." Situ Junyan was immediately irate, his gaze venomously fixed on Hao Jian.
"Stop wasting words with him. Security, take him away!" Tang Liya commanded the security directly.
"Situ Junyan, I challenge you!" Just then, Hao Jian bellowed.
Everyone suddenly stopped their chatter, looking at Hao Jian on stage with surprise. Challenging Situ Junyan? Where did this guy get his confidence?
Situ Junyan also signaled the security to hold off and began to laugh himself, "Challenge me? Where's your confidence coming from?"
"Just say whether you accept or not," Hao Jian retorted with a cold laugh.
"Situ Junyan is a master-level pottery artist, and you? Even if you were a pottery artist, you would probably be third-rate at best. To have him compete with you would be a waste of his time," Tang Liya said mockingly.