Chapter 23 Mingyuan Pot
Chairman Ding stormed off, while the other experts reacted in various ways.
Whether he has good eyesight or not is unknown, and whether he is capable or not is also unknown, but his composure and his skill in being two-faced and cunning have already reached three-tenths of Lin Changqing's level.
Director Guan patted Lin Sicheng on the shoulder, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "Not bad, young man!"
As for which one is good, Lin Sicheng didn't know either.
After offering a few words of encouragement, Director Guan said he had to return to his unit. He also made a special trip to Hao Jun, saying that he wasn't busy that day and invited him to come to the authentication center to look at a few things.
Lin Sicheng belatedly realized: "Senior Brother Hao, are you an advisor to the Municipal Forensic Center?"
"Yes, your grandfather too, and Chairman Zheng of the Folk Art Association as well."
No wonder he knew so much about the cultural relics company's case, even though it was still under investigation.
"But you didn't mention it last time?"
How so?
Are you implying that I suspect you stole Professor Lin's collection to sell, and that you're planning to secretly tell your grandfather on it?
Hao Jun chuckled awkwardly and changed the subject: "I'm leaving."
"Aren't you going to see the exhibits anymore?"
"There's still a month left, we can look into it later. If you're not busy, come with me to Xicang to look at something."
I'm not busy, actually.
I took a week off, so I don't have to go to school, and my dad is at the hospital too.
Lin Sicheng nodded and followed Hao Jun out of the exhibition room: "What did Chairman Ding do to offend you?"
"He's offended a lot of people!"
Hao Jun smirked: "Lacking ability but boastful: you always say that academics have made their minds rigid and aren't even worthy of carrying shoes for practitioners."
The antique circle is diverse, so Lin Sicheng is not surprised.
The "academics" Hao Jun refers to should be those who graduated from university and studied cultural heritage preservation, archaeology, and connoisseurship. For example, his grandfather, Hao Jun himself, and Director Guan.
Of course, he counts too.
"So you're stirring things up?"
"I'd like to give him a piece of my mind, but ever since your grandpa taught him a lesson, that coward has learned his lesson. He'll just say sarcastic things at most, but he never confronts me directly!"
Hao Jun patted him on the shoulder, "So, I'm counting on you from now on!"
So that's how Grandpa found Yu Youren's calligraphy copybook.
...
Hao Jun had a car, a brand new Audi A4, and the two arrived at Xicang in less than half an hour.
It used to be a national warehouse, then it was converted into a military warehouse. After the military warehouse was relocated, it became the largest flower and bird market in Xijing City.
Flowers, birds, fish, insects, cats, dogs, rabbits, foxes, turtles, lizards, snakes, and frogs—you name it, they have it.
It is also the second largest used book market and antique market in Xijing, second only to Xiaodongmen, but with a longer history.
Of course, there are even more counterfeit products.
Around the early 2000s, Ma Weidu visited Chen Zhongshi in Xi'an. Old Chen showed him around the charm of Chang'an, and the first place they visited was Xicang West Alley.
As a result, they searched from morning till night, and at noon they only ate a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), but Lao Ma still couldn't find a single one.
Later, it was jokingly said that one would rather visit Panjiayuan than Xicangxi, which shows its unique characteristics.
After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng followed Hao Jun into the market.
It was Thursday, the market was open, and the place was bustling with people coming and going, with strange noises rising and falling.
The scents of flowers and the earthy smell, mixed with the chaotic odors emanating from various animal secretions, wafted into my nostrils.
Hao Jun kept sneezing, possibly because he had rhinitis. The two quickened their pace, passing through the North Alley and arriving at the West Alley, which specialized in antiques.
They walked further in until they were about halfway through the alley, where they entered a small shop.
It was very cramped, with dim yellow light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, emitting a dim yellow glow.
There was no counter; all four sides were covered with shelves, filled with bottles and jars.
Looking closer, hmm, it does fit the characteristics of Xicang quite well.
"Oh, Secretary-General Hao, what a rare guest!"
The wind chimes rang twice, and a hoarse, slightly aged voice came from inside. A figure sat up on the recliner.
He had a thin face and bright, piercing eyes. Judging from his appearance, he was only in his forties, but his head was full of silver hair.
It looks dyed?
Haha... Even the people are fake?
Hao Jun cut to the chase: "Old Song, is the teapot still there?"
"Of course I'm here!" Old Song looked at Lin Sicheng. "Didn't you say you were going to bring an expert?"
"I told you he's an expert, do you believe me?" Hao Jun waved his hand. "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and grab the stuff!"
Good things are worth waiting for, so why are you in such a hurry?
Old Song slowly got up and went into the inner room. After a while, he came out carrying a box.
Before the person even got close, Lin Sicheng smelled a sandalwood fragrance. When Lao Song opened the box, he stared at it intently: a purple clay teapot?
The teapot is small, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, nearly three inches high, with a mouth no more than two inches wide, and the clay material is faintly visible.
The design is relatively simple, but the shape of the teapot is elegant and upright, with clever and smooth curves.
Most importantly, there are the inscriptions on the teapot: "Drink and read, but never be too full. For my fellow Daoist Yu, from afar."
There is also a seal in seal script: Chen Mingyuan.
Lin Sicheng's eyelids twitched involuntarily: Good heavens, Chen Mingyuan's incense burner?
Who is Chen Mingyuan?
A master of Zisha pottery in the early Qing Dynasty, praised by Emperor Qianlong as "the best Zisha pottery master throughout history".
Therefore, during the Qing Dynasty, a single teapot by Chen Mingyuan was extremely valuable. According to Lin Sicheng, there are no more than twenty Mingyuan teapots that are recorded in existence: one is in the National Museum of China, one is in the Shanghai Museum, one is in Taiwan, and the rest are in private collections.
After 2010, four more were auctioned, with the lowest price being 22.8 million at the 2019 Xiling Auction 15th Anniversary Ceremony.
It's definitely not that high now, but after spending tens of millions, he cut off his head.
Secretly surprised, Lin Sicheng leaned closer and asked, "Senior brother, how much is this pot?"
Hao Jun held up two fingers.
"Twenty million?"
"You're even more ruthless than Lao Song?" Hao Jun took a breath. "He only asked for two million!"
Two million to buy a Mingyuan teapot?
You can't even afford a spout.
So, if this were to happen, Lin Sicheng would be just as willing to cut off his own head.
But that's not right?
As the general manager of Rongbaozhai, how could Hao Jun not know how rare the Mingyuan teapot is and how valuable it is?
Just as he was secretly wondering, with a "hiss," Hao Jun opened the bag and shoved a magnifying glass and a high-powered flashlight into his hand.
"Take a look at this for me, be careful!"
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: "You want me to see it?"
"I originally wanted to ask your grandfather to take a look, but it just didn't come at the right time, did it?"
"No... there are so many experts in the venue today?"
Hao Jun shook his head: "You don't understand!"
Who says I don't understand?
In the antique trade, stealing and prying are common practices. For example, you invite Zhang San to take a look, and Zhang San, knowing full well it's genuine, claims it's fake. Then he turns around and sends someone to buy it.
So when you come across a good product, either keep quiet or find a knowledgeable expert to assess it.
Lin Sicheng was surprised to learn where Hao Jun's almost blind trust in him came from.
"Don't blame me if you lose money!"
"Check if it's real or fake first, then it's up to me whether you buy it or not!"
Lin Sicheng nodded and picked up the magnifying glass and flashlight.
But as soon as the light shone on him, his eyes lit up: How strange!
This pot seems to be genuine?
It's definitely not a Mingyuan teapot, but judging from its condition, it's at least from the mid-Qing Dynasty!
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