Chapter 189: A Bountiful Harvest
There were seven or eight teeth of various sizes, some ready-made and some orthodontic. Lin Sicheng only chose the two largest orthodontic teeth: one top-grade African blood tooth and one second-grade pink tooth (which died naturally).
It may not seem like much, but it weighs over 140 kilograms. Crucially, the documents from customs, industry and commerce bureaus, and tax bureaus are all complete.
Lin Sicheng clapped his hands with satisfaction: "Secretary Gao, name your price!"
"Fifty thousand (per kilogram)!"
Lin Sicheng shook his head: "This price is wrong. This is the price in Europe and America. In China, it should be at least 60% off!"
So knowledgeable?
Gao Jing thought for a moment, then looked at Zhao Xiuneng, who was holding the card and turning it around in his hand. She gritted her teeth and lowered the price to the bottom: "50% off, 25,000... Teacher Lin, I can't go any lower!"
This price is acceptable, even about 20% lower than the market price.
Lin Sicheng nodded: "Mr. Zhao, swipe your card!"
Zhao Xiuneng did it without the slightest hesitation.
Fang Jingxian was somewhat confused: that was over three million, not three hundred, not three thousand. How could Zhao Xiu pay on the spot without the slightest hesitation?
What if we lose money?
After swiping his card, Zhao Xiuneng glanced at Fang Jingxian unconsciously and saw that Fang Jingxian's eyes were slightly fixed, with a hint of suspicion. Zhao Xiuneng pondered for a moment, then smiled.
He could roughly guess what the woman was suspicious of, but if she asked him how these two ivory tusks could make money, he certainly wouldn't know.
But he believed that if Lin Sicheng said he would make money, then he definitely would.
Think about it again, what does Professor Wang, Lin Sicheng's teacher, do? He might have given Lin Sicheng some hints, so why would Zhao Xiuneng hesitate?
To be honest, Mr. Zhao's wild guesses and wild speculations have come incredibly close to the truth...
Watching Gao Jing have her men pack the ivory, Lin Sicheng pointed to the remaining boxes:
"Secretary Gao, please open them and take a look!"
Gao Jing meant the same thing.
Since they have both money and discerning eyes, there's no need to squeeze them out little by little.
She nodded and pointed to the largest box. The man picked up a crowbar, and with a "creak," the lid fell off.
Suddenly, a red light came into view.
Lin Sicheng subconsciously stood up, and Zhao Xiuneng followed closely behind, his pupils involuntarily contracting.
bronze?
Or is it the bronze fu, one of the twelve sacrificial vessels?
It's no exaggeration to say that if this were something from the Shang or Zhou dynasty, he and Lin Sicheng would have been interrogated for days just for glancing at it.
But when he saw the "Confucian Temple" in the center of the bronze vessel, and the phoenix patterns on the brocade background on both sides, Zhao Xiuneng breathed a sigh of relief.
It has nothing to do with the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and probably not even with the Han and Tang dynasties. At most, it belongs to the Song, Yuan, Ming, or Qing dynasties.
It was indeed a ritual vessel used in sacrifices, but it was not a large vessel placed in the ancestral temple or the altar of the land and grain; rather, it was a literary vessel in the Confucian temple.
After looking around, Zhao Xiu could not determine which dynasty or place it belonged to, except for the decorative patterns of the "Confucian Temple".
He glanced at it twice, then quietly followed behind Lin Sicheng.
Lin Sicheng first tapped on it, then tapped on the rust: "From the Hongwu to the Xuande periods, all cast bronze artifacts were mainly made of bronze (copper-tin alloy)... The alloy composition is unstable, the hardness is low, and it is prone to corrosion..."
"After the Xuande period, brass (copper-zinc alloy) gradually became the standard, which has high hardness, bright color, and is more rust-resistant... just like this bottle!"
Lin Sicheng tapped the hammer twice more, then declared definitively, "It should have been cast around the Chenghua period!"
Then, he picked up some rust residue from the bottom of the box, rubbed it between his fingernails, and said, "Red rust (cuprous flaking), lime rust (a mixture of copper oxide and basic copper carbonate), localized erosion..."
It should have been unearthed in an alkaline desert region... well, either Yulin or Gansu... it's been unearthed no more than ten years ago, so Mr. Fang, just take a look, don't bother collecting it..."
Firstly, there are too many: every time a new emperor ascends the throne, a new batch of these coins is cast. In some relatively wealthy regions with a strong literary tradition, such as the Jiangnan area, a new batch is also cast in the third year after the imperial examination, so there are a great many surviving examples.
Furthermore, these are at most ritual objects from a prefectural-level Confucian temple, or even more likely, artifacts unearthed from the site of a county-level Confucian temple. In terms of historical and cultural value, they are actually only average.
If we were to estimate the price, this piece would cost at most around 100,000 to 200,000 yuan.
Besides, these are raw, unprocessed goods; you can't earn much, but you get punished a lot.
Therefore, Lin Sicheng succinctly stated: It's best not to buy it.
But Gao Jing couldn't bring herself to complain at all.
She couldn't even count how many experts and appraisers had examined this item. And each of them had examined it repeatedly, tapped it repeatedly, and pondered it repeatedly. It wasn't just one or two people who crammed at the last minute and consulted reference materials on-site.
Teacher Lin tapped on it and examined the rust. She then clearly pointed out the location where it was unearthed and the year it was dug.
If she had some doubts before, this bronze vessel made her completely understand: the child in front of her, who barely had any beard, was a master.
But that's secondary. The key is Fang Jingxian's attitude: when she first saw the item, her eyes lit up. She was eager and ready to try it out, almost ready to ask how much it cost and then immediately make the deal.
But when Lin Sicheng said that collecting it was out of the question, Fang Jingxian's eyes suddenly darkened.
Does that mean we're really just going to let it go like this?
No... are you stupid? Just because he says not to buy it doesn't mean you won't buy it. Besides, after he leaves, won't you secretly come back and buy it?
But no matter how much Secretary Gao tried to signal her, Fang Jingxian didn't even lift an eyelid.
If it were before, she might have changed her mind: it would be foolish not to make money, why not wait until Lin Sicheng left and then secretly come back to buy it?
But after witnessing what happened that morning, and seeing Zhao Xiuneng following behind Lin Sicheng step by step, obeying his every word, President Fang's long-dormant thoughts began to stir again.
Even Zhao Xiuneng was willing to lower himself to serve, so what is there for her, a nobody, to be reserved about?
He's definitely a powerful figure, and he's certainly not someone you can easily rely on, but how will you know you can't rely on him if you don't try?
So, even if you don't like it a lot, you shouldn't make people hate it.
The first step is to be obedient...
After a moment's thought, she got up and followed behind Lin Sicheng.
Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiuneng were discussing a broken bell. It was not large, and its material and rust color were similar to the bronze vessel they had seen before. They guessed it was a piece that had been dug out, but unfortunately only half of it remained.
After glancing at it briefly, Fang Jingxian looked to the side and saw a bronze statue that caught her eye. She picked it up instinctively.
To be honest, her entry into this industry was purely by chance, and her talent was limited. She only managed to amass some wealth through her social skills. As for her appreciation abilities, they were just average.
After looking at it for a while, and waiting for Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiuneng to stop talking, Fang Jingxian handed it forward and asked, "Teacher Lin, how about this one?"
Turning around, Lin Sicheng paused for a moment: a gilded bronze jue (a type of ancient Chinese wine vessel)?
It has a handle on one side, a wide spout, a round belly, and three conical legs at the bottom.
The entire cup is gilded, with a relief of a taotie beast face on the body. The beast has curled eyebrows, long horns in a spiral shape, and a meticulously detailed beard. The background is decorated with incised square thunder patterns.
At first glance, the vessel appears substantial, simple yet elegant, with a dignified and ancient shape. Upon closer inspection, however, the exquisite craftsmanship, clear and beautiful patterns, sharp lines, and subtle yet regal presence reveal its masterful design.
Like a Ming Dynasty carved and gilded wine vessel?
After receiving it, Lin Sicheng looked at it again, and then asked about the price: only 150,000?
Suddenly, Lin Sicheng's gaze turned strange.
There were quite a few things brought out, including a *fu* (a type of ancient Chinese vessel), a bell, and even two bronze *zun* (another type of ancient Chinese wine vessel). Lin Sicheng was so engrossed in looking at and discussing them with Zhao Xiuneng that he didn't really notice the small *jue* (another type of ancient Chinese wine vessel).
But it's no exaggeration to say that this cup is more expensive than all the bronze artifacts he and Zhao Xiu had ever seen combined: the Imperial Marquis Cup of the Ming Dynasty.
Although neither the *Da Ming Hui Dian* nor the *Da Ming Shi Lu* explicitly record that bronze *jue* (a type of ancient Chinese wine vessel) were bestowed when granting titles in the Ming Dynasty, numerous examples of this have been unearthed.
For example, the tombs of Xu Da, Duke of Wei, and Li Wenzhong, Duke of Cao, in Nanjing; the family tombs of Mu Ying, Duke of Qian, in Yunnan; and the tomb of Lu Zhongxiang, Marquis of Ji'an.
Among them were dukes, marquises, earls, and relatives of the emperor; without exception, all of them were buried with bronze vases.
Depending on the rank of the nobleman, the size, dimensions, craftsmanship, and decorations varied. This particular cup, for example, is one foot tall and decorated with carved taotie motifs, a typical carved marquis cup from the Ming Dynasty.
The rust layer is very thick, with blue and green mixed together, most likely unearthed in the south, to be more precise: Nanjing. Therefore, it can be inferred that it was acquired unintentionally by Miao Taiyue.
The patina is extremely thick, so it must be from the period. Even without a receipt or certificate, it wouldn't be confiscated as a prohibited item.
After examining it carefully again, Lin Sicheng looked up at Fang Jingxian: "Selling it for only 250,000 means Miao Taiyue doesn't know its origin either. Judging from Fang Jingxian's expression, it's probably just a passing fancy."
Find a reliable authentication agency to issue a certificate, and then go to a large auction house; it will easily cost at least a million.
If you're lucky enough to find the source, the price can increase by at least half, or even double.
So, Mr. Fang really didn't come here for nothing today...
Unsure of Lin Sicheng's meaning, she just found his gaze rather strange. Completely bewildered, Lin Sicheng handed it forward: "President Fang, please accept this!"
As she spoke, she winked.
Fang Jingxian was first taken aback, then overjoyed: Could it be Lin Sicheng flirting with her in the blink of an eye?
She tried hard to suppress her joy and decisively took out her card.
Zhao Xiuneng leaned over for a glance, then exchanged a look with Lin Sicheng.
Having worked together for so long, the two had developed a certain understanding. Lin Sicheng nodded slightly, and he knew that this woman had gotten a bargain.
Suddenly, my hands started itching.
Regardless of whether you can understand it or not, as long as it looks good to you, pick it up and ask questions.
But when he picked up one item, Lin Sicheng shook his head; when he picked up another, Lin Sicheng shook his head again.
It's not that the items are wrong, but that their origin is wrong: each piece is less common and rarer than the last, and five or six out of ten are uncirculated or illegally sourced goods. In other words, they're all leftover stock.
But that's normal: Miao Taiyue is a big shot, after all. With his connections, those who are easy to recognize and deal with can't be kept in his hands.
Two burly men opened the boxes one after another. When they pried open two boxes of porcelain, Lin Sicheng's eyes widened: they were all export porcelain.
Although they are all small cups, saucers, and bowls, they are diverse: blue and white, wucai (five-color), plain sancai (three-color), as well as kraft (Chinese pattern in the center, decorated with European and American patterns on the outside) and Mandarin (depicting scenes of life of Qing Dynasty officials).
Official kilns were rare, and those that existed were mostly established after the Jiaqing era. The majority were private kilns, including those in Hutian (Jingdezhen), Shiwan (Guangdong), Dehua (Fujian), and Jianshui kiln in Yunnan to the south.
Just by looking at this box, you can tell that Miao Dazhuang has an extraordinary network of connections: he not only sells to outsiders, but also buys from within the region.
Lin Sicheng glanced at it briefly: "Take it out and let's take a look!"
Gao Jing nodded, and the two burly men took things out one by one.
Lin Sicheng would look at each item he picked up, but he would only glance at it once or twice before putting it aside.
Then he sighed inwardly: No wonder Miao Dazhuang didn't even bother to change the bottom line.
Anything that catches the eye is decorated with Western patterns: geometric patterns, heraldic patterns, angel patterns. Or tulips, vine patterns, eagles, lions, and shields.
The rest are either from folk kilns or from after the Daoguang period. Whether it's the body or the glaze, they are far inferior to those from the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, let alone those from the Jiaqing period.
The hall names are also a mess: well-known ones include Beiqing, Yiyou, and Guangcai (Thirteen Factories); those with English letters include Famille Rose (France) and Mandarin (England). Those that have never been seen or are fakes include "Shende", "Zhixing", and "Youxian".
Therefore, Lin Sicheng didn't even bother to ask about the price.
And so, as he disassembled and examined the artifacts, he paused slightly: How strange! A Jiaqing-Daoguang official kiln famille rose porcelain piece, with Sima Guang smashing the jar?
It wasn't that they didn't exist, but rather that they were rare: the decorative patterns of official kilns in the Qing Dynasty were mainly flowers and birds, intertwined flowers, and auspicious designs. Only in the mid-Kangxi period did blue and white porcelain and polychrome porcelain use themes from historical and theatrical stories.
Examples include "The Warriors on Horseback," "The Fisherman, the Woodcutter, the Farmer, and the Scholar," and "The Romance of the Western Chamber."
But it was extremely short-lived, lasting only about ten years. There were many in the private sector, but most of them were blue and white porcelain or sancai (three-color) porcelain.
Famille rose porcelain originated in the late Kangxi period and flourished during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods. While it did feature figures, these were mostly depictions of ladies, children at play, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, or Magu offering longevity cakes. Occasionally, one or two pieces would appear, but these were usually high-quality religious commissions, such as depictions of high lamas or even Western biblical themes; historical subjects were rarely seen.
But suddenly a piece appeared, even if it was export porcelain?
Lin Sicheng held it in his hand and examined it carefully:
The vessel is a standard Sanqiu cup, with a typical Longhou colored ground lotus outline and openwork pine enamel technique, that is, turquoise green, yellow and red glaze as the base, and landscape and figure painted inside.
The glaze is slightly uneven, with faint colored patterns, and is sometimes called "wandering glaze". For example, it deteriorated during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, but it is still beautiful.
The body is slightly thick, but still delicate, with the rim and base outlined in cobalt blue.
It is very well preserved, with a smooth and lustrous surface, and a faint glint of thief's light.
The painting is excellent, and the materials used are of the highest quality, all top-grade glazes. Aside from the fact that the body is slightly thicker and the glaze is slightly cloudy due to the decline in craftsmanship, if this bowl were placed during the Jiaqing or Daoguang period, it would definitely be considered a masterpiece among official kilns.
The items are definitely genuine. Even the export porcelain with letter markings from the Jiaqing and Daoguang imperial kilns after the Qianlong era are absolutely custom-made masterpieces.
Roughly estimated, it's worth three to four hundred thousand, no problem.
After a moment of reflection, Lin Sicheng turned the book over to look at the inscription again, and two red characters caught his eye: Zhan Jing!
Hmm... a nameplate?
But why does it feel somewhat familiar?
It's not the ordinary blue version, but a red version in regular script.
It consists of only two small characters in regular script, but they are extremely neat, with strokes of uniform thickness, and the lines of the outer inscription are as straight as a ruler.
The color is deep and dignified, even and not scattered, solid and without halo, just like it was engraved.
With a slight tilt, a golden light peeks out... a golden-red hue?
Lin Sicheng's pupils contracted slightly: This is not export porcelain at all.
It's not that red-marked porcelain didn't exist in the Qing Dynasty; many were counterfeited by the common people. Similarly, export porcelain also included pieces with gilded marks, but these were mostly high-quality, custom-made pieces.
But this one is definitely not; it is a genuine imperial kiln tribute porcelain.
Red-marked porcelain was exclusively for the imperial court. Gold and red enamel porcelain was either made for the emperor or empress, or for imperial concubines.
The key is this "tranquil"...
After a moment's thought, a light seemed to flash through my mind: Zhanjingzhai in the Yuanmingyuan?
Historical records state that after Emperor Daoguang ascended the throne, he "favored Consort Quan above all others," and built a sleeping quarters for Consort Quan in the outer palace, namely the Zhanjingzhai in the Yuanmingyuan Garden.
In the eleventh year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, Consort Quan gave birth to Yizhu (Emperor Xianfeng). She was later made Empress Quan, and the palace became the only outer palace empress's sleeping quarters in the Qing Dynasty.
All the utensils used were not the "Made in the Daoguang Year" items commonly seen in imperial collections, but rather items bearing the hall name "Zhanjing".
However, in 1860, the Eight-Nation Alliance destroyed everything in a fire. Even in the Palace Museum, only a few pieces survived, a total of six: a yellow-glazed bowl, a blue-and-white powder box with lotus scroll design, and four famille rose cups with floral and butterfly designs and poems.
If it weren't for the gold-painted and red-colored inscription on the bottom, Lin Sicheng wouldn't have remembered it.
Without making a sound, he put the item aside and casually picked up two more pieces: a plain sancai (three-color glazed) gourd-shaped vase and a blue-and-white phoenix-patterned bowl.
They are all from folk kilns, and the quality of the products is not particularly good, but they all have red fake workshop marks.
With a casual gesture, Lin Sicheng pointed and asked, "Secretary Gao, how much?"
Gao Jing glanced at it, seemingly not remembering it quite well, then took out her phone and scrolled through: "Gourd-shaped vase, 30,000; Phoenix-patterned bowl, 50,000; Three Autumns Cup, 140,000..."
Sure enough, I overlooked it: even though I could tell that this cup was in the best condition, I would only have assumed it was an ordinary famille rose export porcelain.
However, the famille rose porcelain was made in the imperial kilns of the Yuanmingyuan, and was used by the empress, so the plot holes are numerous.
So, even though it's smaller than a goose egg, this cup is worth two million, and Lin Sicheng is willing to eat it...
He reached out and took the card from Zhao Xiuneng's hand, then handed it forward: "Swipe!"
After swiping his card and quickly wrapping it up, Lin Sicheng casually placed it next to the Jizhou-style vase he had just used.
It happened so naturally, without leaving a trace, that even Zhao Xiuneng didn't notice or suspect anything.
He thought that Lin Sicheng would buy it as research material.
Nobody paid any attention and kept reading.
Afterwards, Zhao Xiuneng bought a sunflower-shaped plate by Zhou Longsong, a famous Qing Dynasty artist, while Fang Jingxian also bought a jade ritual object from the late Qing Dynasty.
They gained something from everything and were quite satisfied.
After reviewing the document once, and with noon approaching, Lin Sicheng felt it was about time and politely declined Gao Jing's invitation to dinner.
The three subordinates began packing their things, and the secretary brewed tea again. The group sat down and rested for a while.
Practice makes perfect. Regardless of Miao Taiyue's identity or whether he broke the law, he certainly had a lot of good stuff, and who knows, he might come back someday.
Lin Sicheng didn't rush to leave and prepared to exchange a few polite words.
But just as I picked up the teacup and brought it to my lips, there was a loud "clatter" next to me.
Perhaps because his subordinates weren't paying attention, a box slid off the tea table, scattering more than a dozen beaded items—long and short, black and brown—all over the floor.
Fortunately, they were all made of wood, strung together very securely, and not too far apart, so they wouldn't break if they fell.
Gao Jing glared at her subordinate, while Lin Sicheng merely glanced at her casually.
He had already turned around when he subconsciously paused, then turned his neck again: his subordinates were picking items into the box one by one, and they had already picked half of it.
Lin Sicheng stared at the man's feet, narrowing his eyes: That string of things looks a bit like Qinan.
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