Chapter 101 Chewing it

Shang Yan had a headache and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"When I was in college, the old professor in my department liked to say a saying: 'Observe a thousand swords before you can recognize their quality, play a thousand tunes before you can understand music...' The great way is simple, and one who can judge a weapon can also judge a person!"

"I always thought the old professor was a bit eccentric. But today I realized: with enough experience in judging objects, one can actually judge people?"

Fang Jingxian only half understood: "What do you mean?"

Shang Yan sighed: "When we were at the school gate, Lin Sicheng guessed that you were in big trouble, so he didn't really want to come!"

"How is that possible?" Fang Jingxian was taken aback. "They didn't say anything, they just shook hands?"

"Yeah, we just shook hands!" Shang Yan shrugged. "Isn't that amazing?"

This is more than just a god.

But thinking back to what just happened, all I did was write a check, and the amount was a little too much, yet he was able to guess what I was trying to do.

Fang Jingxian found it increasingly incredible: "What does his family do?"

Shang Yan said succinctly: "He is Professor Lin's grandson, Lin Changqing, you've met him!"

Fang Jingxian paused for a moment: "Anything else?"

Shang Yan was stumped by the question: What else? Does that mean this isn't enough?

Hmm... it seems like it's not quite enough?

The two women exchanged a glance, speechless with astonishment: It's definitely not enough!

After a long while, Shang Yan patted Fang Jingxian's hand: "Let's think of another way!"

Fang Jingxian nodded, her eyes brightening again: "You and Professor Lin are quite familiar with each other?"

"You'd better stop now. Professor Lin is even more stingy than a miser; he only takes and never gives back!"

Over the years, Shang Yan has seen Lin Changqing acquire many good items, but she has never seen him sell a single one.

With a clean shake of her head, Shang Yan suddenly thought of Wang Qizhi, "If I ask Lin Sicheng's teacher for help, there might be a chance."

"Ah, aren't you one?"

"I'm just his teacher, not his mentor. And coincidentally, that guy surnamed Wang owes me a huge favor... But don't worry, maybe this Guanyin statue catches your eye?"

That's true.

After exchanging a few words, the couple entered carrying a box. Just as they were about to open it, Fang Jingxian waved her hand, "Mr. Zhao, no rush!"

I understand, the appraiser hasn't arrived yet.

Mr. Zhao nodded.

About ten minutes later, a man pushed the door open and entered.

He was in his fifties, but very energetic, wearing an executive jacket and exuding a sophisticated air.

He's quite influential, Fang Jingxian introduced: "His surname is Yang, and he's the president of the city's jade association."

Shang Yan remained noncommittal.

Some antique collectors also collect new jade, like Lin Changqing, but she doesn't. Aside from porcelain, Shang Yan doesn't touch anything else, so she doesn't recognize it and doesn't care.

She found it a bit strange: how could Mr. Zhao not recognize such a large store?

But it was just out of curiosity. After a few pleasantries, the group sat down, and Fang Jingxian asked General Manager Zhao to take out the items.

As the box was about to be opened, voices came from outside, and the group instinctively turned around.

Huh, Lin Sicheng?

Shang Yan was a little confused: "Why are you back?"

Why else could it be? Of course, it's because they saw Yang Zhigao.

Just as he arrived at the parking lot and was about to get into the car, Fang Jingxian's younger brother greeted him, and Lin Sicheng learned that the expert Fang Jingxian had invited was Yang Zhigao.

The old saying is true: enemies are destined to meet.

This guy only did two things in his life: bribe his way into office and swindle money.

The city's jade association has not changed its president for fifteen years. In Xi'an and even the entire province, you can count the number of collectors who haven't been cheated on on two hands.

The method is not complicated: jade artifacts carved from Qinghai white jade and Russian white jade are used to impersonate Hetian mutton fat jade artifacts for fraud.

The complicated part is that these three types of jade are actually the same thing, namely nephrite minerals with tremolite as the main component, and their composition, structure and texture are basically the same.

Especially for high-quality Qinghai jade and Russian jade, without testing in a high-precision laboratory, it's impossible to distinguish them from Hetian jade. However, the former is measured in grams, while the latter in tons.

The key point is that Yang Zhigao is also the chairman. Who would have thought that he would also commit fraud? That's why he succeeded time and time again.

Where did the enmity come from?

The old man's safe, the same one where Lin Sicheng kept the Qianlong jade seal and Dong Qichang's authentic calligraphy, also contains a white jade tea table and a landscape ornament.

That's outrageous! The two items cost my grandfather over 2.4 million yuan, and he still doesn't know they're fake.

It wasn't until 2011 that Yang Zhigao, in a moment of folly, swindled a leader out of four million yuan. The leader was brought down the following year, and only then was Yang Zhigao exposed.

After that, the old man became depressed, and the following year, he was diagnosed with cancer.

So, if we were to rank our enemies: those two fake Hong Kongers who sold the reverse-flow kettles would be number one, and Yang Zhigao would definitely be number two.

We finally ran into each other?

He glanced at it twice, then sat down without making a sound.

"I'm asking you," Shang Yan asked curiously. "Weren't you going back to school? Why are you back again?"

"Oh, Professor Wang said there's not much going on at school. I figured I might as well broaden my horizons since I'm just killing time!"

Shang Yan felt that Lin Sicheng wasn't telling the truth, but she didn't care.

Fang Jing smiled warmly and asked her sister to give up her seat for Lin Sicheng.

But nobody cared.

Yang Zhigao was not a familiar face, and General Manager Zhao was a little suspicious, but not too concerned.

As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise; it's impossible for one person to be knowledgeable in everything.

He glanced at it, then opened the box and took out the Guanyin statue.

At the same time, he raised his flashlight and shone it behind Guanyin. Instantly, a faint green light came into view:

Suddenly, whether they understood or not, their eyes lit up.

A jade Guanyin statue, about half an arm's length tall, stands quietly on the coffee table, its eyes lowered and a smile on its face, its countenance compassionate.

The delicate, thread-like patterns are faintly visible within the deep blue jade, like folds in a garment. A flashlight, like a ray of sunlight, falls upon the jade, revealing a deep, cold blue hue.

Fang Jingxian narrowed her eyes, her heart pounding, and a soft sound like the wind rustling through leaves escaped her lips.

It's so beautiful.

The seed is clear and bright in color... she could tell at a glance that it was a Yang Lü Gao Bing variety without even needing to identify it.

The key point is, it's so big?

As if involuntarily, she slowly stood up, her fingertips brushing against the jade statue, feeling the unique coolness of high-quality jadeite.

The word "bid" was on her lips when she suddenly heard a "tap tap" sound, and she instinctively turned around.

Lin Sicheng stared intently at Guanyin. Perhaps he was too absorbed, for his fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table.

Without any apparent reason, Fang Jingxian felt a sudden calm and exhaled, "President Yang, thank you for your help!"

"Of course!"

Yang Zhigao readily agreed, rolling up his sleeves. Then he opened his bag and took out the tools one by one.

It has a very stylish and imposing presence.

Mr. Zhao stepped back slightly and exchanged a glance with Yang Zhigao, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Extremely fast and barely perceptible, yet Lin Sicheng caught him red-handed: Sure enough, a leopard can't change its spots.

If this Guanyin statue were real, Lin Sicheng would dare to chew it up and eat it.