Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 17 Unbelievable

The evening breeze blew gently, and a few locust leaves fell down.

Li Zhen reached out to catch it, twisting it gently between her fingertips, recalling her mentor's slightly excited expression:

Li Zhen, is it hasty? No.

You haven't realized what it means for a student to be able to apply for a design patent based solely on appearance.

You can't even comprehend how a few initial sketches can inspire empathy, a sense of the weight of history, the continuation of culture, and the inheritance of civilization. What does that mean?

Li Zhen acknowledged Lin Sicheng's excellence, but she really couldn't empathize with him: Based on just a few sketches, wasn't Professor Shang too sentimental?

But the tasks assigned by the instructor must be completed.

She thought about how to convey this to Lin Sicheng later without appearing too anxious.

Then, I saw Xiao Yuzhu.

The thin sunlight filtered through the leaves, elongating her pretty reflection. A loose ponytail hung over her shoulders, covering her delicate collarbone.

His neck stretched forward, his lips unconsciously opened slightly, and with a "uh" sound, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Is this... overeating?

Li Zhen looked behind her and asked, "Where's Lin Sicheng?"

"Oh, Senior Sister Li? He had something urgent to do, so Professor Lin took him away."

Xiao Yuzhu held her stomach and walked over slowly. "I ordered too many dishes, and you didn't reply to my messages. I'm almost dying of fullness!"

Li Zhen was stunned for a moment and took out her phone:

Senior sister, why haven’t you come yet? I’m almost fainting from hunger.

How about Lin Sicheng and I pay for it first?
Senior sister, please come quickly. Lin Sicheng has to go for something and I can’t finish it all by myself.

Senior sister, you’re killing me. I’m so full…

Li Zhen looked helpless.

……

A half-worn Santana was parked outside the school gate, the window was slightly open, and a few wisps of smoke were rising.

Lin Sicheng took a look and opened the back door.

"Come sit in the front!"

Ok.

He took a look obediently and sat in the passenger seat.

Lin Changqing's expression was strange, hesitant, helpless, and seemed a little embarrassed to speak.

After a long while, he sighed sadly: "Forget it!"

What do you mean, Professor Liu?
"No... It's only natural for men to be widowed and women to be widowed..."

"Pa~" Before he could finish his words, he was hit on the head.

Lin Sicheng held his head and smiled awkwardly: "I think it's quite suitable!"

"You know nothing!"

How could you not understand?

My grandfather spent the rest of his life living for two words: eldest grandson.

The key is that my family is a bit wealthy. If I give him money, I am afraid I am too young to keep it. If I don't give him money, if he has a second chance at life, troubles and disputes of one kind or another will inevitably arise later.

I'm not talking about Professor Liu, but her children.

What, for dad?

He is even less reliable than himself, that's why the old man is so hesitant.

After changing his mind, Lin Changqing started the car and turned into the main road.

"After retirement, I worked as a consultant for several companies, and today I went to one of them. I'll try to be a little sweet-talking when I get there."

"Okay grandpa!"

Lin Changqing nodded, choosing his words carefully: "If you don't want to pursue a master's degree, and you don't want to work in a company like your father, then you can still join the company after graduation. Of course, it's up to you to decide whether to join or not. Today I'm just taking you to learn more..."

Lin Sicheng paused and sighed secretly.

I was too stubborn before and things got really awkward, which made my grandfather speak to me with some caution.

"I understand, Grandpa, don't worry."

"it is good!"

Lin Changqing concentrated on driving, while Lin Sicheng looked out the window as the street scenes passed by quickly.

In fact, he made a rough plan the night he returned home:

Accumulate funds in the early stage, develop relationships and build connections at the same time, and do some light research and development in the restoration of cultural relics.

Wait until you have enough funds before deciding to do something high-tech. If you have enough energy, then consider whether to start a business.

When it comes to early stage accumulation, what could be more suitable than dealing in antiques?
of course not.

With a keen eye, sufficient experience, and accumulated expertise, you can conquer the world from all directions. There's really no need to open up new paths and make things more difficult for yourself.

He changed his mind, slowed down the car, and drove into the parking lot.

The building is not tall, only five stories high, and there is a long plaque hanging on the side of the door: Xijing Cultural Relics Co., Ltd.

Lin Sicheng was stunned: Is this the company that grandpa was talking about?

It is a company, yes, but its predecessor was the "Xijing City Cultural Relics Store", a public institution directly under the Cultural Relics Bureau.

Working here is no different from working in the Cultural Relics Bureau.

The old man is quite cunning.

The two of them walked up the stairs, and a young woman came out to greet them. She was tall, with fair skin and a smile on her face. "Hello, Professor Lin. President Bai is waiting for you in the reception room!"

"it is good!"

Lin Changqing nodded, and the girl hurried to press the elevator button. Her calves were stretched straight beneath her overalls, and her high heels made a crisp "tapping" sound as they stepped on the ground.

Going straight to the fifth floor and entering the reception room, eight or nine men and women stood up at the same time.

Mr. Bai, who was in his early fifties, came up quickly and said, "Professor Lin, I'm sorry to trouble you to come here so late! But I really can't rest assured without your approval!"

"It's my job!" Lin Changqing introduced Lin Sicheng, "This is my grandson, a senior this year. I brought him here to see the world."

Mr. Bai smiled and said, "You're quite energetic, young man!"

After a few pleasantries and introductions, Lin Sicheng realized that except for the two men in suits who were businessmen, the other six were all internal employees of the company.

It is affiliated to the purchasing department and specializes in the acquisition of antiques and cultural relics, while also providing collections to museums and other cultural institutions.

Similar institutions exist across the country, at the provincial and national levels. Their mission is simple: salvage and acquire important cultural relics to prevent the loss of precious cultural heritage.

Today, the old man came to appraise two cultural relics that the purchasing department had purchased from other places. In fact, all the necessary tests had been done, and relevant experts had appraised them. The old man was just checking the last step.

This also shows its importance, this consultant is worthy of the name.

The old man got straight to the point: "Boss Bai, where is the thing?"

Mr. Bai pointed, and two people took out two boxes.

Standard capsule box, a storage and transportation device specially manufactured for designated cultural relics, is shockproof, dropproof, moisture-proof and dustproof.

When the box was opened, one of the boxes contained a celadon pot and the other contained a porcelain enamel bowl.

Lin Changqing put on gloves and took out the enamel bowl first: "Look carefully!"

Lin Sicheng responded, and just as he raised his eyes, he was pricked by the words "Made by Emperor Kangxi" written in red regular script on the bottom of the bowl.

Looking at the pattern again, he took a deep breath:
The outer wall is painted with palace pink, surrounded by flowers, the interior is decorated with blooming flowers, and in between are painted chrysanthemums, with branches and vines running through, and lush flowers and leaves... Isn't this the "Fragrant Flowers Offering Auspiciousness" bowl with palace pink porcelain enamel made by Emperor Kangxi?

As far as he knows: there is one in the Palace Museum, one in Taiwan, and one in Zhonghan Auction in 22 for 1150 million yuan.

Then, in 24 years, Artron.com put another one up for sale with a starting price of 1500 million.

So which one is this, or is it the fifth one?

He was so shocked that he opened his eyes wide and looked around twice, then Lin Sicheng breathed a sigh of relief: It’s a replica.

Although the body is fine and uniform, it is a little thick, and the exposed parts are slightly darker in white and slightly yellowish.

The composition is quite bright and the colors are rich, but the glaze is too shiny and does not have the "warm" glassy feel of the real thing.

To put it bluntly: the time is too recent and the thieves haven't gone all the way.

The artistry is excellent, but the linework is a little overly complex and lacks the fluidity and liveliness of the original. The colors are heavy, somewhat dull, and lack depth.

The patina is quite old, but the sheen is still there, making it a bit dazzling. It is definitely not as old as the "Kangxi" one. Lin Sicheng estimated that it is only about a hundred years old at most.

After looking around, Lin Sicheng made a rough judgment and said nothing more.

The old man looked very carefully, and it was almost ten minutes later that he raised his head.

"How about it?"

Lin Sicheng said succinctly: "Imitation!"

Lin Changqing paused slightly, then smiled and nodded: "How did you judge it?"

"The body is too thick and the whiteness is slightly low. The composition is too complicated, the color is too heavy, and it lacks flexibility. The glaze is too bright and the inscription is superficial!"

"Tell me the conclusion!"

"A replica of an imperial kiln from the Guangxu period!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a light flashed in Lin Changqing's eyes, and the two people beside Mr. Bai raised their heads.

They bought the items and ran them through the machine, so of course they knew whether they were imitations, from which era they were imitated, and where they were imitated from.

Before his retirement, Lin Changqing was the director of the Xida Ceramic Research Center and a leading authority on ceramic identification in the province. He had both the experience and the discernment to identify a piece of antique.

But what did his grandson base his judgment on?
Mr. Bai looked surprised. "Even if it's a replica, why can't it be from the Tongzhi, Xianfeng, or even Daoguang period?"

"Because enamels were not fired during these three periods."

Mr. Bai became even more interested: "I really don't know this, can you tell me in detail?"

"The main reason was that enamel materials had to be imported, and the prices were too high. Therefore, after the Jiaqing period, enamelware production in the palace was rare. This was especially true after the Opium War: the Qing government had to pay reparations to foreign powers and suppress the Taiping Rebellion at home, and it could only tighten its belt to make ends meet.

It was not until the Guangxu period that enamelware experienced a brief period of revival, when the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Kiln Factory resumed firing enamelware at the strong request of Empress Dowager Cixi.

However, due to the interruption of inheritance and lack of technology, the level of craftsmanship has declined seriously, resulting in the embarrassing situation that even imitations cannot look like the originals.

But even if it's a replica, it's still from the Imperial Kiln, and it was made by Empress Dowager Cixi for her birthday, using funds embezzled from the Beiyang Navy. So, just based on the First Sino-Japanese War, this bowl is also of great historical value and commemorative significance!

Mr. Bai’s eyes lit up: Why buy this bowl? Isn’t it because of its historical value and commemorative significance?

Now, there is one more, and it is extremely meaningful?

He looked at Lin Changqing: "Professor Lin?"

The old man nodded: "It's basically correct, the last paragraph can also be included."

Mr. Bai nodded, and the secretary quickly picked up the pen, added a sentence to the document, and finally handed it to Lin Changqing.

The old man signed his name with a flourish. Lin Sicheng took a look and saw the purchase price: 450,000.

It’s not high, but not low either, just average.

The old man was signing and reading the appraisal report, and he didn't notice the other eight people and sixteen eyes that kept circling around the grandfather and grandson.

In just ten minutes or so, he was able to determine that this was a replica and accurately analyze the difference between it and the real thing, and even explain the reasoning with reason and evidence?
If it was Professor Lin, they wouldn't be surprised. But if it was his grandson...it was truly unbelievable.

It's impossible that he had seen the appraisal certificate in advance?
That's nonsense, Professor Lin hasn't even seen it...

(End of this chapter)