Chapter 76 is finished.

Lin Sicheng blinked: "Professor Wang, I feel... this thing looks a bit like it?"

Wang Qizhi hesitated slightly: "It does look... somewhat similar!"

Upon hearing these two sentences, Guan Xingmin, who was standing next to him, felt a jolt in his heart.

What does it resemble? It does resemble the genuine article, of course.

If you reversed the order in which the two spoke, Guan Xingmin would at most be suspicious. But, the one who said this thing resembled something, was it Lin Sicheng?

It's no exaggeration to say that Guan Xingmin's heart skipped a beat in that instant.

Think of the backflow teapot at the cultural relics center, and that Hetian white jade lion paperweight from last time...

Guan Xingmin forced himself to remain calm: "Does that mean... there's a high probability it's genuine?"

“It’s quite large!” Lin Sicheng pointed to the shiny gilded layer. “At first glance, it looks like it’s about 50 or 60 percent full.”

Guan Xingmin is also a collector, so he naturally knows that the so-called "50% or 60%" plus "full of quality" is basically equivalent to a genuine article.

However, those who specialize in authentication will leave themselves some leeway and won't make absolute statements.

What does that mean? It means that the municipal and provincial appraisal departments made a mistake again.

The problem is that the branch office arrested the suspect based on the city appraisal report. The prosecutor's office is also using this report as a basis to prepare to prosecute him for "fraud, and the amount involved is particularly large."

If this were genuine, how could it be considered fraud? What's the point of filing a lawsuit?

Seeing that his expression was off, Lin Sicheng guessed pretty much what was going on: "Director Guan, are you in charge of this bronze incense burner?"

Guan Xingmin nodded vigorously: "Otherwise, why would I be in such a hurry?"

Wang Qizhi's eyelids twitched: No wonder?

The last time, the lion-shaped paperweight was even more serious, but Guan Xingmin was only slightly surprised because it wasn't his responsibility.

But he was responsible for both the first and second appraisals of this incense burner, and he was ultimately the person primarily responsible for any accountability issues that arose.

Since the incense burner is genuine, the charge of fraud is invalid, and therefore no prosecution can be initiated. However, since the person was detained for nearly three months, shouldn't compensation be awarded?

Next, will the accountability process be initiated, and will the investigators be dealt with?

Of course it needs to be dealt with.

But how long did he endure and how much did he sacrifice to get to this point?

With a loud bang, it was all over...

It's no exaggeration to say that within just two minutes, Guan Xingmin was sweating profusely.

The teacher and student exchanged a glance, their expressions slightly grave.

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment, then turned the bronze furnace over: "Director Guan, don't rush, let's take another look!"

Wang Qizhi nodded, and the two of them simultaneously took out powerful flashlights, each looking at one side.

Strictly speaking, all kinds of cultural relics, regardless of their shape, material, craftsmanship, or inscriptions, can be forged, and can even be forged to a degree of 80-90% similarity, which is often referred to as passing off fakes as genuine.

For example, the reverse-flow teapot at the cultural relics company, or the Hetian white jade lion paperweight I saw last time.

The most difficult to forge are the various age characteristics that are formed over time due to the oxidation or corrosion of the material.

For example, rust, stains, and spots. Even when using scientific and technological methods for testing, the first sample tested will definitely be these.

Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi were also looking at this.

The two first looked at the outer layer, but after a few minutes, Lin Sicheng frowned slightly.

The rust on the surface seems to be real too?

At first glance, the surface of the object seems to be covered with a layer of dirt, which cannot be wiped off.

This is actually a layer of rust formed by calcium carbonate deposits on the surface of the soil. It indicates that the artifact was buried in calcium-rich soil for a long time.

Secondly, beneath the soil rust, obvious white rust spots can be seen: this is because the artifact came into contact with microorganisms in an oxygen-rich environment, and tin selectively corroded to form tin dioxide (SnO), scientifically known as tin-rich rust layer (Type IV).

Continuing down: The rust layer is black with hints of reddish-brown: This is a composite rust layer formed by the mixture of iron oxides in the soil and the artifact in an oxygen-rich, dry environment.

Its scientific name is oxide rust layer (Type II), and its main components are red copper (CuO) and black copper (CuO).

Based on these three points alone, one can deduce the burial environment: oxygen-rich, dry, calcium-rich, and with active microorganisms... This indicates that the northern loess tombs have been damaged and have formed a long-term oxygen-rich environment.

Whether it was unearthed in Shaanxi is unknown, but it was definitely north of the Yellow River.

The key point is that, from bottom to top, the rust layer has a multi-layered structure of "black → brown → soil", and it is progressively layered. It would take two or three hundred years for the rust to form.

Counterfeits cannot be made.

Is Guan Xingmin really finished now?

Instinctively, Lin Sicheng frowned even more. Suddenly, with a "clang," the bronze furnace shook.

Wang Qizhi tapped the edge of the furnace with a magnifying glass and his face lit up with joy: "Lin Sicheng, come and take a look, this rust looks like it's been pasted on."

impossible……

Three words flashed through Lin Sicheng's mind instinctively, and he simply bypassed the desk and went to Wang Qizhi's side.

But after just one glance, his eyelids started twitching uncontrollably: with just a light tap, some green powder fell off the bronze furnace.

Not many, just a few stars.

But it's not a matter of more or less: the rust that has formed over hundreds of years of corrosion is so thick that you might not even be able to scrape it off with a knife, yet it comes off with just a light tap?

Surprised, Lin Sicheng picked up a bit and rubbed it between his fingers: the rust was real.

Looking at the surface of the artifact through a magnifying glass, there is a layer of black glossy film at the very bottom of the rust layer, between the black copper oxide and the bronze furnace.

It is extremely thin and very well hidden; unless you have a high magnification magnifying glass, you might not be able to see it.

This is a lacquer film, also known as raw lacquer, the most commonly used and strongest adhesive in ancient times. Therefore, there is no doubt that the rust layer was applied on top.

Why is the rust on the other half so real?

It can't be that this bronze censer is half real and half fake, can it?

Absolutely impossible: There are no traces of splicing throughout the entire piece, and the casting marks are seamless. Not to mention the Qing Dynasty, it would be impossible to create such a piece even in eight hundred years.

Just as he was wondering, he saw Guan Xingmin breathe a sigh of relief and even laugh.

Lin Sicheng promptly poured cold water on the situation: "Director Guan, stop laughing!"

As he spoke, he turned the bronze stove around.

Wang Qizhi was confused, so Lin Sicheng gestured again, meaning that he should take a look first.

Wang Qizhi instinctively raised the magnifying glass, and as soon as he glanced at it, his pupils contracted sharply.

Black rust (copper oxide) → brown rust (copper red) → soil rust (calcium carbonate), with white tin dioxide mixed in under the soil rust.

Oxidized rust layer formed in an oxygen-rich, dry, calcium-rich environment?

On the other side: copper oxide → basic copper sulfate → basic copper carbonate... hydrated rust layer (Type III) formed in an oxygen-deficient, humid, low-chlorine environment.

But what nonsense are you talking about?

Because the two types of rust formation environments are completely opposite.

To illustrate: one is in the permafrost of the Arctic, the other in the equatorial region. Therefore, these two types of rust could never appear on the same object...

The key point is that, even after going back and forth four or five times, Wang Qizhi found no trace of transplantation or pasting on the dry side of the object.

Furthermore, after nearly twenty years of research, how could he not tell whether these rust layers were naturally formed?

Therefore, this half is the real one.

He thought for a moment, then turned the stove around, reversed the magnifying glass, and vigorously rubbed the piece he had just examined.

A rub and a piece of rust falls off; another rub and another piece of rust falls off.

Gradually, the gilded layer was revealed, as well as the oxide rust layer, a mixture of soil rust and dark brown rust, exactly the same as the one Lin Sicheng had examined.

Wang Qizhi was stunned for a long time before raising his head in astonishment and staring intently at Lin Sicheng. The word "genuine" came to his lips.

Guan Xingmin is finished!