Chapter 192 Receiving Gifts in a Bizarre Way
The three siblings were invited into the reception room on the third floor, and the golden eagle was placed in the exhibition hall.
It was dazzling with golden light and shone brightly.
Instinctively, Jiang Yanfei touched the gold bracelet on her wrist.
This was the only piece of junk that wasn't glaringly obvious among the pile of rags Lin Chengzhi had given her. It weighed only a little over thirty grams, yet it still cost Lin Chengzhi nearly three months' salary.
The gold carving in the cabinet weighs nearly three kilograms; if you calculate it, it would take Lin Chengzhi thirty years to save up for it without eating or drinking.
I've heard of many people accepting gifts, and I've even seen some: the school's logistics director was investigated just last year; he'd embezzled for half his life and this was all he got.
So for a moment, she couldn't understand: how could someone who was just an "ordinary friend," or even uninvited, give away hundreds of thousands of yuan?
Seeing Jiang Yanfei staring intently at the golden eagle, and assuming she suspected Lin Sicheng of going astray, Shan Wangshu explained:
"That Ms. Fang is an antique dealer. According to Wang Qizhi, Lin Sicheng helped her look at several items last year, saving her several million... Oh right, and last week, Lin Sicheng helped her again, and she probably made over a million..."
Jiang Yanfei stared in astonishment, mouth agape: Lin Sicheng earns millions just by helping others a little?
How much are those two houses in the family worth?
To everyone's surprise, the receptionist opened the door: "Professor Wang, Teacher Lin, we have guests!"
Lin Sicheng stood up and looked outside: the Audi parked in the parking space, and Guan Xingmin and Hao Jun got out of the car, each carrying a box.
The group hurried out to greet them.
Thinking that Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei didn't know each other, Ye Anning introduced them in a low voice: "Uncle, Aunt, the tall one is Director Guan from the Municipal Bureau's Forensic Center, and the one next to him is Secretary-General Hao from the Folk Art Research Association... Lin Sicheng often hangs out with them..."
Playing with Lin Sicheng?
Jiang Yanfei and Lin Chengzhi exchanged a glance: Guan Xingmin and the old man were old friends and had a good relationship. Lin Chengzhi had even asked him for help a few times.
Hao Jun was no stranger to them; he had visited their home before. Both of them were considered equals to the old man. Lin Chengzhi didn't treat them as elders, but he always showed them great respect whenever they met.
Ye Anning, however, said that she often played with Lin Sicheng?
Upon closer inspection, both men seemed perfectly normal when shaking hands with the old man. But when it was Lin Sicheng's turn, they stopped shaking hands and shoved the box into his arms. Then Hao Jun punched him, and Guan Xingmin gave him a bear hug.
Then, something was said that made everyone burst into laughter.
Are they really just putting their arms around each other and laughing?
No... When I visited the old man at home, both of them seemed quite composed.
In a flash, they welcomed the two in, and the group of people made no attempt to be polite, immediately opening the box.
Guan Xingmin gave him a bowl.
At first glance, it looks quite ordinary: a copper body inlaid with chased and gilded copper sheets, turquoise and agate beads on the rim and base, and the lion-shaped knob is made of gold.
Regardless of the material, size, shape, or even the condition, it seemed to be far inferior to Fang Jingxian's golden sculpture. But the group of people were suddenly taken aback.
Including Hao Jun, who came with Guan Xingmin: He knew that Guan Xingmin gave a bowl, but forgot to ask what kind of bowl it was.
This item was probably bought by Guan Xingmin for 70,000 yuan at Panjiayuan Market about eight or nine years ago.
The two knew each other back then, and Hao Jun had someone take a look at it for him. The old master only glanced at it twice before making a definitive judgment: it was either a concubine or a prince from the Qing Dynasty palace pretending to be a concubine.
During festivals and holidays, it would be placed beside the master, filled with silver ingots. When the younger generation or servants came to kowtow, they would be given a silver ingot for each kowtow.
So this thing has a full name, which is really long: Golden Lion Knob, Golden Lotus Petals, Inlaid with Turquoise and Agate, Gilded Bronze Treasure Basin.
Hao Jun had only seen it twice that year, and hadn't seen it again for the next seven or eight years. He thought Guan Xingmin was hiding a safe and was planning to pass it down to his son as a family heirloom.
But suddenly he took it out and even used it as a gift?
They were all experts; even without Hao Jun's reminder, they could see the extraordinary nature of this item. Moreover, there was an expert among experts.
Wang Qizhi looked at it again and again, touched it again and again, and knocked on it again and again.
Then, after thinking for a while, he said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Director Guan, you're giving such a generous gift just for the studio's unveiling ceremony. What will you give Lin Sicheng when he gets married and has a baby?"
Guan Xingmin didn't care at all: "I'll look for a better one when that time comes!"
Hao Jun's face turned green upon seeing his arrogant demeanor.
"No... Lao Guan, I've asked you eight hundred times, what did you say? It's just a bowl, worth only seventy or eighty thousand... But why don't you say that it was seventy or eighty thousand eight or nine years ago, before you started picking up bargains, when you were selling it on the street?"
"Send them all, bro. You're making things that could be family heirlooms, worth at least a million. And I'm just offering a piece of junk?"
Instead of getting angry after being scolded, Guan Xingmin laughed heartily: "Old Hao, you're not like me..."
Guan Xingmin replied, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and couldn't suppress a smile. "Thanks to Lin Sicheng, it's all settled. There will be some changes after the New Year, most likely to be at the branch office..."
A group of people were suddenly stunned: What the heck?
His words were ambiguous, but those who needed to understand could grasp what he meant by "moving a little".
He was promoted.
The forensic center is at the deputy division level, but its leadership is high-ranking. He was previously a deputy director at the deputy division level, so this promotion is at least half a level higher.
They'll definitely be going to a high-ranking branch office. It's unlikely they'll be the bureau chief, but the political commissar should be fine.
However, only those who know the situation truly understand how difficult it is to hurdle from deputy division chief to full division chief.
What's even more difficult is that, as someone with a technical background, being able to be transferred to a branch office as a full-fledged position is, if not unprecedented, extremely rare, and can be described as incredibly difficult.
But then I think about what he said: "Thanks to Lin Sicheng..."
Wang Qizhi and Hao Jun instantly understood:
They didn't even mention the reverse-flow teapot, but only talked about the earliest Hetian white jade lion paperweight, the imitation Xuande incense burner in the middle, the fake jade and fake jadeite by Yang Zhigao later, and the earth-shattering Zhang Anshi tomb robbery case.
Each time, the credit fell squarely on Guan Xingmin's head, meaning that his "move" was something Lin Sicheng had painstakingly built up for him with his own merits.
So what's a gold-inlaid bowl? Guan Xingmin would give it away without a care in the world.
Suddenly, Hao Jun felt much better: "You should have said so earlier?"
Guan Xingmin glared at him: "I already told you, what are you going to give me!"
"I'm empty-handed!"
Hao Jun retorted, unrolling the scroll: "Come on, Lao Guan, take a look!"
The group of people all moved forward together.
A meticulously painted scroll on paper, titled "Adding Flowers to Brocade":
Two golden pheasants, one male and one female, stood on a branch. The rooster, with its golden crest and gleaming feathers, stood proudly. The hen, full of spirit, looked back at them. Around the pheasants, flowers bloomed in profusion, bursting forth in the wind, a riot of colors vying for attention.
You don't even need to look at the inscription or postscript; just by the brushwork, composition, and coloring, you can tell it's a work by a famous artist.
Looking closer, it reads: Painted by Ren Yibonian of Shanyin in the third month of spring in the year Yiyou of the Guangxu reign.
The next seal reads "Xi Yin". The next seal after that reads "Deng Tuo Huan Xi".
The group of people were stunned: Ren Xi, one of the four, Ren Bonian?
He was Wu Changshuo's teacher and was as famous as Pu Hua and Xu Gu, collectively known as the "Four Masters of the Shanghai School." Xu Beihong said: "After Qiu Shizhou (Qiu Ying), he is the foremost Chinese painter."
Of course, this is likely just flattery among scholars; calling him the number one in China is a bit of an exaggeration. But if we were to rank him among the famous figures of the late Qing Dynasty, he would undoubtedly be in the top twenty or thirty.
Looking at another seal, "Deng Tuo Huanxi," this is the collector's seal of Mr. Deng Tuo, the president and editor-in-chief of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily and the president and editor-in-chief of the People's Daily.
Mr. Deng Tuo has created, edited, and published countless works, the most famous of which is "Selected Works of ***".
So, this is not what Hao Jun called "a broken painting" at all.
After looking at him again and again, Guan Xingmin's face turned green: "You surnamed Hao, you Russian traitor!"
I asked you what you were giving as a gift, and you said, "Just a painting of a golden pheasant from the late Qing Dynasty."
Guan Xingmin thought to himself: "There don't seem to be any famous painters who painted golden pheasants in the late Qing Dynasty, so I didn't pay much attention." But this bastard didn't mention at all: "Besides the golden pheasant, are there any flowers in the painting?"
Otherwise, the first person he would think of would be either Ren Bonian or Wu Changshuo...
This painting, while not quite as good as that baby, isn't far off.
Seeing his piercing gaze, Hao Jun didn't care at all: "Why don't you calculate how much I earned?"
Guan Xingmin was stunned.
Hao Jun sold seven or eight items he bought from Lin Sicheng to that Tibetan boss. He must have made at least two or three million yuan.
There was also that Song Dynasty official crown beaded flower; Hao Jun manipulated things, and it sold for over a million yuan in one go.
Giving Lin Sicheng a painting worth five or six hundred thousand yuan is perfectly appropriate.
Lin Sicheng was startled.
At present, Ren Bonian's works are indeed not very expensive. In 2004, his painting "Autumn Flowers and Returning Crows" was auctioned for only 680,000 yuan.
Afterwards, I photographed a painting titled "Peony and Golden Pheasant," which was comparable to this one in terms of length, concept, brushwork, and quality, and sold for 720,000.
With the addition of Mr. Deng Tuo's seal, the price would be around 800,000 to 900,000. If an expert were to acquire it, it might even fetch a million.
But around 2010, the works of Shanghai School painters suddenly became very popular, and Ren Xi's paintings skyrocketed in price, often fetching three or four million, or even five or six million.
Judging from the meticulous brushwork and color application, this one painting is a masterpiece from his mature later years. Even if we only consider this one, it would be worth at least four million.
I must say, I've missed out on quite a few gifts in my past life, but this is truly the first time I've received such an expensive gift.
The key point is that it will surge in less than two years. At that time, Brother Hao will probably regret it so much that he'll smash his wallet...
Lin Sicheng looked at Hao Jun: "Senior brother, why don't you change into something else?"
Change?
Hao Jun's heart skipped a beat: I came here to give you a gift, and you want me to change it? What do you mean by that?
It's definitely not a fake. In fact, even if he brought a blank sheet of paper today, Lin Sicheng would happily accept it.
So, we missed out?
But what a load of crap.
The painting is definitely real, but that's the price it'll fetch. How far can it go?
Hao Jun didn't care at all: "This is the first time I've heard of a gift that has been given out being exchanged? Just keep it..."
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and nodded: That's right.
At worst, I'll wait until he has some kind of happy occasion and then pick out a nice gift for him...
Instead of putting it in the box, Li Zhen put it in the exhibition hall.
They sat idly in the reception room, and the two stayed behind, saying they would help Lin Sicheng greet the guests.
"We didn't invite many people, that's about it." Lin Sicheng looked around. "Uncle Gu is probably busy, he'll be here later!"
Hao Jun paused for a moment, then pointed outside: "You went to such lengths? This ceremony, this stage, you must have hired a professional event planning company, right?"
Lin Sicheng nodded: "The district leaders and school leaders will be cutting the ribbon together and giving speeches, so of course we have to make it a grand affair!"
Hao Jun looked around and said, "There aren't enough people here. It's not lively..."
"Including the researchers in the studio and the classmates who helped out, there were more than thirty people in total, which is quite a lot..."
Several people sat on the sofa chatting, while Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei looked at each other in bewilderment.
I was just thinking: if an uninvited friend brings a golden eagle worth three or four hundred thousand yuan, what should I give as a gift when a close friend comes?
Well, now we've finally met: one has a painting worth eight or nine hundred thousand, and the other has a treasure bowl worth over a million.
Compared to the gold carving, it's three times more expensive, and the meaning is even better: it's not a handicraft, but a genuine antique or cultural relic.
But that was secondary. What shocked the couple was what they heard when the group huddled together and whispered: "Director Guan's promotion is thanks to Lin Sicheng."
It definitely has nothing to do with Professor Wang, otherwise he should thank Wang Qizhi, but what help can Lin Sicheng offer?
This isn't like assigning a student to a position in a school's student union; it's about progressing from deputy director to director, from a technical position to a supervisory leader.
Ask Lin Chengzhi how much effort and energy the old man put into getting him promoted from deputy section chief to section chief.
Looking again, Lin Sicheng seemed to be explaining to the old man, who was frowning and looking sideways, as if to say: Lin Sicheng, I never believed you.
The others, like Guan Xingmin, Hao Jun, and Wang Qizhi, seemed to be chatting idly, but were actually eavesdropping. They would exchange glances and then give a strange smile.
Lin Chengzhi could even guess the unspoken meaning in their eyes: Lin Sicheng's mouth is really good at spouting nonsense...
Just as she was pondering this, the receptionist pushed open the door again: "Teacher Lin, we have a guest!"
The group turned around in unison: Hey, Gu Ming... what's he doing here?
Today's guests are either leaders or elders. Apart from Lin Sicheng, the only young person is Ye Anning, who is afraid that Gu Ming will lead Lin Sicheng astray and therefore puts a lot of pressure on him whenever she sees Gu Ming.
Without anyone to keep him company, Gu Ming felt uncomfortable. Coming here was just a form of torture.
Lin Sicheng did mention it, but didn't invite him. He said he would take some time before the New Year to have Gu Ming invite Li Xinfang to go out for a chat.
Gu Ming not only came, but also brought three others with him: the woman was Li Xinfang, and there were two middle-aged men around fifty years old with her.
After taking a closer look, Lin Sicheng's expression gradually became strange. He then turned his head and looked at Guan Xingmin.
"This is... Mr. Li, and his partner?"
Guan Xingmin nodded: "Yes, but don't look at me, I haven't seen him for a long time!"
That's because Gu Mingwa is loose-lipped.
In a flash, Lin Sicheng went out to greet them. The others also stood up, but Guan Xingmin waved his hand, saying, "Please sit down, Lao Hao and I will go with Lin Sicheng!"
The two were classmates. Guan Xingmin introduced them at the residence, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then accompanied Li Guojun to the reception room.
Gu Ming brought Li Xinfang to introduce them to everyone, speaking very sweetly and calling them godfather, godmother, etc.
Taking advantage of Li Xinfang's inattention, Lin Sicheng shoved him with a hammer. Gu Mingwa winced in pain but had to force a smile.
After greeting everyone and going to the reception room, Jiang Yanfei glared at Lin Sicheng: "Why did you hit him for no reason?"
"The gift was given by Gu Mingwa's girlfriend's father's business partner. It was my first time meeting him, but he gave me a bronze sculpture from the Republic of China era."
Lin Sicheng sighed: "It will cost over a million."
How many?
Even though she was almost numb from the shock, Jiang Yanfei's eyes still widened: "More than a million... why would he give such an expensive gift?"
Of course, it was still because of that imitation Xuande incense burner. If it weren't for Lin Sicheng, it would have taken at least seven years.
But that's not the point: Lin Sicheng helped the Public Security Bureau, and at most he helped Guan Xingmin. This General Manager Jin just happened to be there and was spared a disaster.
The problem is that this General Jin, Li Guojun, Li Xinfang, and Gu Ming all mistakenly believed that Lin Sicheng, out of respect for Gu Ming, had used Guan Xingmin to pull some strings. No matter how Lin Sicheng explained, none of them believed him.
Therefore, Li Guojun mentioned it several times, and even gave Gu Ming a card specifically.
However, Lin Sicheng scolded him and made Gu Ming return the gift. But given how heated things had gotten, they couldn't very well kick him out along with the gift, could they?
It couldn't be explained in a few words; Lin Sicheng only said that there were some business dealings.
Jiang Yanfei subconsciously pursed her lips: Your dad and I don't really care about you, but we have eyes...
Just as I was pondering this, the receptionist opened the door again.
A group of people looked out: a Toyota SUV was parked in the parking space, and a man and a woman got out.
The man was slightly older, around thirty years old, while the woman was younger, around twenty-six or twenty-seven.
His assistant followed behind, carrying a box.
Lin Sicheng glanced at it, then glanced at it again, and was stunned for a moment: the brother and sister from Qujiang Mansion?
On the occasion when Hao Jun took him, Lin Sicheng helped that Mr. Chen Yangyan, the CEO, to authenticate the Qingbai Mirror from the Western Han Dynasty and the coffin lid of Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Anshi...
However, we only met once, and although we exchanged phone numbers, we never actually talked.
So, they had absolutely no connection, so how did these two end up contacting them?
Lin Sicheng suddenly turned around and looked at Hao Jun.
Hao Jun was even more surprised than him, staring intently with his beady eyes: "Old Chen's nose? I only mentioned it briefly on the phone... but we're already here?"
Yes, you've come. We welcome all guests.
However, you can't accept gifts from just anyone.
Lin Sicheng stared at him: "Senior brother, should I accept that gift or not?"
"Nonsense!" Hao Jun said matter-of-factly. "You can accept gifts from Lao Guan's classmates, so why can't you accept Lao Chen's?"
Lin Sicheng was stunned and speechless.
If Mr. Jin was just an afterthought, then Mr. Chen was someone Lin Sicheng genuinely helped avert a major disaster for him.
If it weren't for Lin Sicheng, he would have been the one whose boot was "taken off by Yu Dahai," a real landmine.
Whether he'll be imprisoned is uncertain, but at least tens of millions will be lost. Even the fate of his mines in Yulin is questionable…
Amidst these reflections, the person was ushered into the reception room.
Upon seeing the golden sculpture draped with red silk and the gilded bronze basin inscribed with congratulatory words, Chen Daoqing opened the box.
Lin Sicheng glanced at it, and his eyelids twitched rapidly.
Hao Jun was even worse off, staring wide-eyed and mouth agape, looking like he'd never seen anything like it before.
What is this?
Qing Dynasty porcelain enamel painted jade magnolia bonsai...
The basin is made of porcelain with painted enamel, and it is from the imperial kiln of the Qing Dynasty.
The tree trunk and flower branches are bronze sculptures, definitely from one of the thirty-six workshops of the Imperial Household Department.
The leaves and petals are all carved from jade and meticulously crafted; no other place besides the Imperial Household Department's Jade Workshop could produce them.
There are also artificial mountains, which are not made of stone, but rather enamelware made by firing enamel on a copper body.
Therefore, this bonsai alone contains at least four Qing Dynasty imperial artifacts. If one were to estimate its value, it would likely be more than the four pieces acquired previously combined.
But he and President Chen only met once...
Lin Sicheng hesitated for a moment, and the words of polite refusal were on the tip of his tongue when Hao Jun made the final decision: "Return!"
Without hesitation or any attempt to hide anything, he said directly to the two siblings, "Compared to Old Chen's mines, this pot isn't even worth a single hair from nine oxen..."
Lin Sicheng's eyes widened, and he was about to say something when Chen Daoqing breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Uncle Hao. That's what my dad said too!"
He then turned around and bent over, saying, "Teacher Lin, my father just happened to be going abroad, so he asked my siblings and me to congratulate him on his behalf... Please don't take offense."
It's not... something worth millions, why are you making a fuss about it?
But I just feel like I accepted this gift for no reason.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
