Chapter 16 Unbelievable
A gentle evening breeze stirred, and a few locust leaves drifted down.
Li Zhen reached out and caught it, gently twirling it between her fingertips, recalling her mentor's slightly excited expression:
Li Zhen, was it rushed? No.
You don't yet realize what it means for a student to apply for a design patent based solely on the appearance of the product.
You can't even begin to understand what it means that just a few initial sketches can evoke empathy, allowing people to feel the weight of history, the continuity of culture, and the inheritance of civilization...
Li Zhen acknowledged Lin Sicheng's excellence, but couldn't truly empathize: Was Professor Shang being too sentimental based on just a few sketches?
But I must complete the tasks assigned by my supervisor.
She thought for a moment about how to relay this to Lin Sicheng later, without making Professor Shang seem too eager.
Then, I saw Xiao Yuzhu.
The thin sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting long, delicate shadows. A loose ponytail draped over her shoulders, partially obscuring her fair collarbone.
He stretched his neck forward, his lips unconsciously parted slightly, and with a soft "uh," a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Is this... because I ate too much?
Li Zhen looked behind her: "Where's Lin Sicheng?"
"Oh, Senior Sister Li? He had something come up and was picked up by Professor Lin."
Xiao Yuzhu, supporting her stomach, slowly walked over. "I ordered too much food, and you didn't reply to my messages. I'm so full I could burst!"
Li Zhen was stunned for a moment, then took out her phone:
Senior sister, why aren't you here yet? I'm starving.
How about Lin Sicheng and I eat some first?
Senior sister, come quickly! Lin Sicheng has to leave. I can't finish this meal by myself.
Senior sister, you've really killed me, I'm so full...
Li Zhen looked helpless.
...
A slightly worn Santana was parked outside the school gate, with a crack in the window and wisps of smoke drifting out.
Lin Sicheng glanced at it and opened the back door.
"Come sit in the front!"
All right.
He obediently peeked out and got into the passenger seat.
Lin Changqing's expression was strange, somewhat hesitant, somewhat helpless, and seemingly reluctant to speak.
After a long while, he sighed and said, "Never mind!"
What do you mean, "forget it," Professor Liu?
"No... It's only natural for men to be widowed and women to be widowed. Besides, you're not even sixty yet..."
"Smack!" Before he could finish speaking, he was hit on the head.
Lin Sicheng chuckled sheepishly, holding his head in his hands: "I think it's quite suitable!"
"You don't know anything!"
How could I not understand?
Grandpa spent the rest of his life living for just two words: his eldest grandson.
The key issue is that he has a relatively substantial financial foundation. If he gives it to him, he's afraid he's too young to protect it. If he doesn't give it to him, and he experiences a career resurgence, various troubles and disputes are inevitable.
I'm not referring to Professor Liu, but to her children.
What, for Dad?
He's even less reliable than himself, which is why the old man is so hesitant.
After a moment's thought, Lin Changqing started the car and turned onto the main road.
"After retiring, I worked as a consultant for several companies, and today I went to one of them. I had to be a little sweet-talking when I got there."
"Okay, Grandpa!"
Lin Changqing nodded, carefully choosing his words: "If you don't want to pursue a master's degree or work in a company like your father, you can still join a company after graduation. Of course, it's up to you whether you join or not; today is just to show you around..."
Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then sighed inwardly.
She was too stubborn before, and things got too tense, which made her grandfather speak to her with some caution.
"I understand, Grandpa, don't worry."
"good!"
Lin Changqing focused on driving, while Lin Sicheng looked out the window as the street scenes flashed by.
Actually, he made a rough plan the night he got home:
In the early stages, we accumulated funds, simultaneously developed relationships and built up a network of contacts, and also conducted some light research and development in the area of antique and collectible restoration.
Once we have enough funds, we'll decide what high-tech ventures to pursue. If we have plenty of energy, we'll consider starting our own business.
In terms of early-stage accumulation, what could be more suitable than dealing in antiques?
Of course not.
With keen insight, ample experience, and unparalleled expertise, there's really no need for him to embark on a new path and increase the difficulty for himself.
He quickly changed his mind, slowed down, and drove into the parking lot.
The building is not tall, only five stories, and a long plaque hangs on the side of the door: Xijing City Cultural Relics Co., Ltd.
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: Is this the company that Grandpa was talking about?
It is indeed a company, 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 for the Cultural Relics Bureau.
The old man is quite shrewd.
The two went up the steps, and a young girl came out to greet them. She was tall, had fair skin, and a smiling face.
"Professor Lin, Mr. Bai is waiting for you in the reception room!"
"good!"
Lin Changqing nodded, and the girl quickly went to press the elevator button. Her calves were taut beneath her work pants, and her high heels clicked crisply on the floor.
Upon reaching the fifth floor and entering the reception room, eight or nine men and women stood up simultaneously.
Mr. Bai, who was in his early fifties, quickly came up to greet him: "Professor Lin, I'm sorry to trouble you to come all this way so late! But I really can't rest easy without your expertise!"
"It's my duty!" Lin Changqing then introduced Lin Sicheng, "This is my grandson, a senior in college this year. I brought him here to broaden his horizons."
Mr. Bai smiled and said, "You look quite energetic, young man!"
After a few pleasantries and introductions, Lin Sicheng learned that apart from the two men in suits who were businessmen, the other six were all company employees.
It belongs 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 everywhere, at the provincial level, and even at the national level. Their work is simple: to rescue and acquire important cultural relics in order to prevent the loss of precious cultural heritage.
The two cultural relics that we had the old man appraise today were purchased by the purchasing department from out of town. In fact, all the necessary tests had been done, and they had been appraised by relevant experts. The old man was just doing the final check.
This demonstrates his importance; the advisor truly deserves the title.
The old man cut to the chase: "Mr. Bai, where is the stuff?"
Mr. Bai pointed, and two people took out two boxes.
The standard case is a storage and transportation device specially manufactured for designated cultural relics. It is shockproof, dropproof, moistureproof, and dustproof.
The box was opened, revealing a celadon teapot in one compartment and an enamel bowl in the other.
Lin Changqing put on gloves and first took out the enamel bowl: "Look closely!"
Lin Sicheng responded, but as soon as he looked up, he was startled by the words "Made by Imperial Order of Emperor Kangxi" written in red ink on the bottom of the bowl.
Looking at the pattern again, he gasped:
The exterior is painted with a palace pink background, surrounded by floral medallions, while the interior is decorated with blooming flowers and interspersed with chrysanthemums, with interwoven branches and lush foliage... Isn't this the Kangxi Emperor's porcelain enamel "Auspicious Flowers" bowl with a palace pink background?
To his knowledge, the National Palace Museum has one, and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan also has one. One was auctioned by Chung Han Auction in 2022 for NT$11.5 million.
Then, in 2024, Artron.net listed another one, with a starting price of 15 million.
Which one is this, or perhaps the fifth?
Terrified, Lin Sicheng looked around twice with wide eyes, then breathed a sigh of relief: It was a replica.
Although the clay is fine and uniform, it is slightly thick, and the exposed areas are less white with a slight yellowish tinge.
The composition is quite vibrant and the colors are rich, but the glaze is too bright and lacks the "warm and smooth" glassy feel of the genuine article.
To put it bluntly: the era is too recent, and the thieves haven't finished investigating.
The painting technique is excellent, but the lines are a bit too complex and lack flexibility, failing to capture the vividness and naturalness of the original. The coloring is somewhat heavy, appearing a bit stiff and lacking depth.
The patina is quite old, but the gleam is still there, a bit too bright, and it's definitely not as old as the "Kangxi" era. Lin Sicheng estimated it to be at most around a hundred years old.
After looking around and making a general judgment, Lin Sicheng remained silent.
The old man looked very carefully, and it took him about ten minutes before he finally looked up.
"How about it?"
Lin Sicheng's words were succinct and shocking: "A counterfeit!"
Lin Changqing paused slightly, then smiled and nodded: "How did you determine that?"
"The body is too thick and the whiteness is slightly low. The composition is too complicated, the coloring is too heavy, and it lacks flexibility. The glaze is too bright, and the mark is superficial!"
"State your conclusion!"
"Imitations of imperial kiln wares from the Guangxu period!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a glint flashed in Lin Changqing's eyes, and the two people next to President Bai looked up abruptly.
They bought the items, and after examining them through the machine, they naturally knew whether they were counterfeit, what era they were from, and where they were copied from.
Before retiring, Lin Changqing was the head of the Xida Ceramics Research Center and an authority on ceramics appraisal in the province. He has both experience and a keen eye; he can definitely distinguish them.
But what was the basis for his grandson's judgment?
Mr. Bai looked surprised: "Even if it's a fake, why can't it be from the Tongzhi or Xianfeng period, or even the Daoguang period?"
"Because enamelware was not fired during any of these three periods."
Mr. Bai became even more interested: "I really don't know that, please tell me in detail!"
"The main problem was that the enamel materials were all imported, and the price was too high. Therefore, after the Jiaqing period, there was very little production of enamelware in the palace. Especially after the Opium War: the Qing government had to pay reparations to foreign powers and suppress the Taiping Rebellion, so it had to tighten its belt and make ends meet."
It was not until the Guangxu era, at the strong request of Empress Dowager Cixi, that the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Kiln Factory resumed firing enamelware, which brought about a brief period of revival.
However, due to the interruption of inheritance and the lack of technology, the level of craftsmanship has declined significantly, resulting in the embarrassing situation where even imitations of the original products cannot be replicated properly.
Even if it's a replica, it was still produced by the imperial kiln, and specifically, it was made using funds diverted from the Beiyang Navy's budget to celebrate Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday. Therefore, considering only the First Sino-Japanese War, this bowl also holds significant 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's another one, and it's extremely significant?
He looked at Lin Changqing: "Professor Lin?"
The old man nodded: "Mostly correct, this last paragraph can also be included."
President Bai nodded, and the secretary quickly picked up a pen, added a sentence to the document, and then handed it to Lin Changqing.
The old man signed his name with a flourish. Lin Sicheng glanced at it; the purchase price was 450,000.
It's not particularly high, but it's not low either; it's just average.
The old man was signing documents and reviewing the report, unaware that the other eight people, with their sixteen eyes constantly darting between him and his grandson.
In just over ten minutes, he was able to identify the product as a counterfeit, accurately analyze the differences between it and the genuine product, and explain the reasons in a logical and well-founded manner.
If it were Professor Lin, they wouldn't be surprised. But if it were his grandson... it's truly unbelievable.
Surely he couldn't have seen the certificate beforehand?
That's nonsense, Professor Lin hasn't even seen it...
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