Chapter 197 Imitation
The Grand Cherokee slowly drove to the school gate, and the two people in the back seat got out of the car.
A gust of wind blew by, ruffling her hair. Li Zhen reached out and ruffled it, saying, "I'm troubling you again, making a special trip to deliver this!"
"It's just on the way, what's the trouble?" Lin Sicheng shook his head: "What time is your flight this afternoon? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
"At six o'clock in the afternoon, my teacher (Shang Yan) took me there!"
"That's good!"
Lin Sicheng then looked at Xiao Yuzhu, "Where's Azhu? Do you want me to drive you?"
Xiao Yuzhu tensed up: "I... my dad is here to pick me up..."
I'm giving this to you, not eating it, so why are you so nervous?
Lin Sicheng gave her a strange look: "Then be careful, see you after the New Year."
The two nodded.
Lin Sicheng released the handbrake and prepared to close the window, but Li Zhen waved again: "Goodbye, Assistant Ye!"
Ye Anning smiled and said, "Goodbye, both of you!"
The car window slowly rolled up, and the Grand Cherokee drove into the traffic.
Watching the taillights of the departing car disappear into the distance, Xiao Yuzhu exhaled heavily, looking as if she still had lingering fears.
Everything seemed normal, and the conversation was about normal topics, but she always felt that there was an extremely tense and menacing atmosphere hidden in the carriage. The slightest disturbance could escalate into a tense standoff.
It's no exaggeration to say that she didn't dare to breathe loudly the entire way. No matter what Lin Sicheng asked, she just kept replying with "uh-huh."
Lin Sicheng even thought she had done something wrong...
Xiao Yuzhu took another deep breath, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.
Li Zhen smiled and looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Xiao Yuzhu opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped: Never mind, I won't say anything more. As long as you're happy.
In any case, Lin Sicheng will definitely be the one who suffers in the end.
I'm mentally exhausted, and physically exhausted too...
She shook her head: "It's nothing, just reminding you not to be late!"
Li Zhen looked at him strangely: "The flight was at six in the afternoon, what time is it now?"
...
But during holidays, the roads are incredibly congested, as if cars from all over the country have driven into Beijing.
The cars were very close together, and if you weren't careful, a car would suddenly dart out from the side, either cutting in front of you or crashing into you with a loud bang.
In just 15 minutes, after passing three traffic lights, five or six car accidents occurred due to people cutting in line.
Lin Sicheng was completely focused, while Ye Anning stared at his profile.
They arrived at the traffic light again, and Lin Sicheng applied the brakes.
Having finally found an opening, Ye Anning pursed her lips and said, "Having Master Li as your assistant must be very satisfying, right?"
Knowing there was a hidden meaning in her words, Lin Sicheng remained calm and said, "It's alright!"
Ye Anning glanced at her sideways and said, "She's quite good at talking, and she's also quite good at taking care of your feelings."
Lin Sicheng thought about it seriously for a moment: "Really?"
Or still?
Lin Sicheng, you're reminiscing now?
Ye Anning clenched her fist and punched him.
"Stop messing around, I'm driving!"
"The line is so long, and the cars in front haven't moved an inch!"
Ye Anning gave him another tap, but not with much force; Lin Sicheng treated it like a tickle.
Just then, the red light turned green, and the traffic began to move slowly.
Lin Sicheng released the handbrake and then shifted into gear:
"After the New Year, the center will hold its first training session. After that, we will conduct regular, systematic, and continuous training for internal staff, which requires a dedicated person to be in charge. For now, it's Senior Sister Li, so she won't be an assistant for very long..."
"Huh?" Ye Anning was taken aback. "Isn't Professor Shang in charge of the training?"
"Professor Shang is only temporarily helping out; she also has to take charge of the college's porcelain research group, so she can't manage both!"
"Furthermore, Senior Sister Li has experience as a teaching assistant, which is more than enough for internal training. If we encounter more specialized experiments or repairs, she can always lend a hand..."
Ye Anning remained silent for a long time, wanting to say something, but then she thought about it and shut her mouth again.
Lin Sicheng’s uncle said more than once that he was very clear-headed: work is work, life is life, colleagues are colleagues, and friends are friends.
When it comes to matters of the heart, he will never overstep the bounds, nor will he allow anyone else to do so.
He wasn't targeting anyone in particular, but he was afraid of trouble and, even more so, of being distracted.
Therefore, whenever he sensed a problem or when necessary, Lin Sicheng would take the necessary measures.
For example, last time, he wanted to transfer Li Zhen to his office, but Li Zhen said she wanted to learn a skill, so she didn't go.
For example, this time: being in charge of the training center means that Li Zhen can learn technical skills, develop teaching and management abilities, and earn a high salary. She can't find another reason not to go, can she?
No wonder, Li Zhen seemed to have a hint of resentment when she spoke to Lin Sicheng.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be jealous.
Ye Anning glanced at Lin Sicheng, then quietly leaned back in her seat.
...
It took almost an hour to get to Rongbaozhai. Luckily, we left early, so at least we weren't late.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, business is booming. The four or five halls, plus several reception rooms, are packed with customers.
Hao Jun was extremely busy, but he still personally welcomed them to the pool preparation room and arranged for the best master craftsman in the shop to come.
Lin Sicheng took out a sheet of Xuan paper, slowly unfolded it, revealing eight strong and slender characters: "Tang Sun reports for leave, pacify my Sicheng!"
The name Lin Sicheng comes from the "Na" section of the "Shang Song" in the Book of Songs, meaning to pray for the ancestors, inherit their virtues, and achieve great things.
There is no particular method or model for his calligraphy, but the characters are written with great strength, revealing a sense of ruggedness, as well as a sense of straightforwardness and sincerity.
Below is the signature, just a name, and a date.
At first glance, it was unremarkable, but after glancing at the signature, the master craftsman was suddenly taken aback.
Then she raised her head, glanced left and right, and her gaze landed on Lin Sicheng's face: "Is the boss from Beijing?"
"No, I'm from Xijing!" Lin Sicheng smiled. "The calligraphy was a gift from an elder!"
If you don't mention that it was a gift from an elder, it's fine, but once you do, the master craftsman becomes even more cautious: "Didn't you ask his name?"
"His surname is Lin, and his given name is Lin Sicheng."
Although it's not surnamed Wang, the given name is: Tang Sun Zou Jia, Sui Wo Si Cheng!
The experienced worker didn't dare to be careless and thought for a moment, then said, "It will probably take a day. Come pick it up tomorrow!"
"Huh?" Lin Sicheng was stunned. "President Hao said it would only take one or two hours at most?"
"Whether you bring me an ordinary piece of calligraphy or a piece by a famous artist, I can definitely frame it in two hours..."
The master pointed to the characters again, "The question is, are these characters ordinary?"
Lin Sicheng was speechless after being rebuked.
Wang Qizhi had requested the calligraphy a week in advance, intending it as a congratulatory gift for the center's opening and also to give to Lin Sicheng to bolster his reputation.
But it is said that the old man was not in good condition. He wrote and discarded, then wrote again. It took him half a month to finish a painting that he was relatively satisfied with, and then a special car was sent to deliver it to him.
Wang Qizhi deeply regrets missing the unveiling ceremony, which was a week late.
But Lin Sicheng felt that the spectacle that day was already impressive enough. As the saying goes, too much of a good thing is bad, and bringing up that word again would be superfluous and overly deliberate.
Now that it's framed and hung up, it'll be just right.
Lin Sicheng nodded: "Okay, one day it is!"
The experienced craftsman paused for a moment: "Where are the materials for filling the pool?"
"Don't be too flashy, just keep it simple!"
"Yes, simpler is better!" The master craftsman raised his finger again. "The labor fee is two thousand!"
Lin Sicheng nodded.
Two thousand yuan, that's a month's salary for Comrade Lin. But don't think it's expensive; that's the price at Rongbaozhai...
After exchanging a few brief words, the two stood up, and Ye Anning pursed her lips again: "What about the painting I gave you? When are you going to hang it up?"
hang?
Lin Sicheng's eyelids twitched: Cousin Ye, are you kidding me?
It's just a small restoration center, not a grand hall.
Lin Sicheng was still shocked when he thought about the calligraphy, even though it had been several days since he had retrieved it. His eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
He was even more afraid of frightening his parents and grandfather, so he didn't dare mention it at all...
The inscription also reads: "Peace and tranquility throughout the land."
It comes from the Western Han Dynasty, from the "Seven Exhortations".
Its origin is not complicated; it was a gift from Ye Anning's grandfather's colleague in Beijing when Ye Anning turned one month old.
The complicated part is the person who wrote this calligraphy...
He thought for a moment and said, "Let's leave it for now!"
Ye Anning understood what Lin Sicheng was worried about, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Let's keep it as a family heirloom!"
"Yes!" Lin Sicheng nodded. "But who should we send it to?"
Ye Anning was stunned, her eyes darting away for a moment.
But then she realized: Lin Sicheng was trying to trick her again?
The fist hardened instantly, and Lin Sicheng took another blow.
Lin Sicheng just laughed: "You're jealous over trivial matters and baseless rumors. I'm going to throw a straight punch, but you can't catch it."
Whose fault is that?
Seeing him grinning with his teeth showing, Ye Anning patted him again.
The two were joking around when Lin Sicheng's phone buzzed, and he answered it without thinking.
Hao Jun's voice came from inside, sounding somewhat excited: "Junior Brother Lin, come quickly, I want to show you something good... in Reception Room Number Two!"
Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment after hanging up: "We're just across the aisle, why did Senior Brother Hao make a special trip to call?"
His voice trembled slightly, and he was in such a hurry... What amazing thing did he encounter?
Lin Sicheng put away his phone, stood up, and Ye Anning followed closely behind.
Separated only by a passageway, Hao Jun was already waiting at the door. Hearing footsteps, he opened the door for them a step ahead.
As soon as the two entered, Hao Jun slammed the door shut with lightning speed.
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: Why does it feel like I'm doing something wrong?
Turning around, I saw three people sitting on the sofa: two men and one woman. The woman was younger, quite imposing, and had a refined air. She seemed vaguely familiar.
The man was one old and one young; the old man had slightly gray hair, wore a Tang suit, and was holding two walnuts in his hands.
The young man was wearing a suit and looked rather reserved.
With just one glance, Lin Sicheng made a judgment: the woman was the seller, the elderly person accompanying her must be an expert, and the young man was either an assistant or a driver.
Looking further in, there are several boxes and a rather large wooden crate on the coffee table.
Knowing that Lin Sicheng didn't like to show off, and with Ye Anning also present, Hao Jun didn't introduce him much, only saying that he was a close friend with a high level of appreciation.
The two people opposite me introduced themselves in great detail. The woman was a well-known domestic host and actress, surnamed Wang, and the man was an expert from the city's collectors association.
Upon hearing the word "actor," Lin Sicheng remembered that this person had worked with Jiang Kun, appeared on the Spring Festival Gala, acted in Yingda's sitcoms, and hosted a popular celebrity show on a certain satellite TV channel.
But for some reason, it just wasn't popular, and that was six or seven years ago. In the last two years, it's basically disappeared from television...
Lin Sicheng greeted him and then looked him over a few more times; the person opposite him was also looking him over.
It wasn't curiosity or surprise, but rather a look that carried a hint of scrutiny.
Lin Sicheng was already used to it and didn't mind, so he just gestured.
Hao Jun understood immediately. He opened the wooden box, and whether he was proud or joking, he said, "Come on, Junior Brother Lin, let me show you: Have you ever seen Taihu stones before?"
Lin Sicheng was suddenly stunned: What the heck?
Are they oddly shaped rocks, or from Taihu Lake?
Hao Jun pointed again: "Don't look at me, look at the stone!"
Do you think I don't know how to look at stones?
Lin Sicheng glanced at Hao Jun, then lowered his head again.
It's quite peculiar: several large holes and small openings, winding and rounded. It's also been waxed, making it shiny and smooth.
The material is very ordinary, just common limestone. It was formed by the erosion of the lake water over many years.
It can be considered a scholar's object, and it is indeed a treasure of the scholar's studio. During the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, this item was included in the tribute of flowers and stones sent from various places.
What Lin Sicheng found strange was that this thing was completely a matter of personal taste; if you liked it, you treasured it, and if you didn't, you considered it trash.
There are no concepts of "materials," "era," or artistic merit; the main focus is on whether it's unusual or not. If you really asked him to appraise it, Lin Sicheng honestly wouldn't know how.
Seeing him squinting and looking around without saying a word, Hao Jun gave a strange smile: "Guess how much it costs?"
After a slight pause, Hao Jun gestured with his fingers again: "The original price was eight million, but Miss Wang is offering it for three million now... Do you want it?"
Who in their right mind would want this?
Ye Anning paused abruptly, somewhat incredulous. Lin Sicheng, however, remained unmoved and slowly sat up straight.
Hao Jun, on the contrary, was not calm: "No...aren't you surprised?"
Lin Sicheng slowly picked up his teacup: What's eight million? I've seen eight hundred million before. Am I surprised?
Even people all over the country have seen it:
Isn't it too much of a coincidence that both of them are celebrities?
But if a comparison must be made, Li Mingxing is much more famous than the host Wang opposite him. He became a household name across the country in 2000 and has remained so ever since.
Firstly, he has many film and television works, several every year; secondly, his wife is a superstar, so the topic of conversation is almost never-ending.
What's even more coincidental is that they are all unique stones from Taihu Lake?
But I must say, in Lin Sicheng's personal opinion, the part about host Wang is more unusual than the part about celebrity Li.
At least it's not like what netizens said: Li Mingxing's piece is so hard that even pickled vegetables would find it unpleasant to pickle...
After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng looked up at the host and asked, "Ms. Wang, when you acquired this property, did you intend to use it for investment?"
The woman paused, then nodded.
"Was it an expert you met at the dinner table who admired Miss Wang and got a bargain by giving her a half-price deal?"
The woman paused, a hint of surprise in her eyes, as if asking: How did you know?
Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: Actually, she wasn't being deceived. This Miss Wang was probably just there for company, and she unwittingly fell into the trap.
This technique is called "Rolling Beads." It sounds complicated, but it's actually quite simple. Consider the globally sensational case of the jade burial suit:
The person who set up the scheme is real; they might even be a leader of an association, a member of an antique collecting association, or, more likely, the head of a cultural heritage institution.
The person who was set up was probably a bank manager, who may have even known it was a trap, but gladly accepted the invitation and willingly fell for it...
So, celebrities like Ms. Wang are simply taking the bait willingly. They're just there to keep someone company, yet they're so greedy: how can such a strange-looking rock be worth tens of millions, even enough to be used as collateral for a bank loan?
Upon further inquiry, she discovered that the expert had only offered her a million, or even a few hundred thousand... At most, she would just spend a couple more days with the expert and snag a great bargain!
Upon further inquiry, it turned out that quite a few people were buying this item, including well-known business owners and household names. Indeed, one piece is worth tens of millions.
Then, willingly and happily, she pulled out her wallet. Whatever trading contract the expert gave her, she signed it. How many days she was asked to stay, she stayed for those days without the slightest hesitation… So, not only did she lose money, she also had to pay for that other thing. Wasn't this just asking to be scammed?
Yes, it did sell for tens of millions, and the buyers were indeed big bosses and celebrities, but they were playing a financial game:
My company made 50 million this year, and I spent 40 million on a Taihu stone. When I apply for a bank loan next year, I can use this as collateral and get at least 60-70% of the 40 million loan, which is over 20 million.
If the company goes bankrupt the year after next, this stone will be a fixed asset worth 40 million. Even if it's auctioned off for 400 yuan and nobody wants it, it will still be worth at least 20 million yuan as collateral during liquidation.
Of course, it doesn't necessarily have to be a rare stone; it could be a root carving made from a rotten tree stump, an unknown antique vase, or even a self-made jade burial suit...
Therefore, Li Mingxing is not as foolish as netizens claim, even more foolish than Guo Jing, falling for such an obvious trap. People shouldn't be too clever: if he didn't play the game this way, he'd never be able to pay off his billions in bad debts in three lifetimes.
Unfortunately, the divorce happened too early, and there was too much negative news. The beads didn't roll out of the plate and ended up stuck in his own hands.
The woman across from me, Ms. Wang, does indeed look somewhat like her.
But don't be surprised, Ms. Wang isn't the only celebrity who fell for the same trick. However, the contracts were too restrictive, making it impossible to win a lawsuit. Furthermore, the reputation of being a hostess is too tarnished; if it gets out, her career is over. Of course, she can only accept her bad luck…
Senior Brother Hao must know this trick, but you're so busy, why did you call me here just to make a fool of yourself?
Lin Sicheng glanced at him, stood up, and Hao Jun's expression turned serious; he dared not laugh anymore.
"Junior brother, don't go. This is just to show you something interesting, there's really something good inside..."
As she spoke, she reached out and pressed him down: "Miss Wang has three more paintings and calligraphies, so she asked you to come over because she really wants you to help look after them!"
Hao Jun pointed to the three long boxes on the coffee table, turned his back slightly, and winked slightly: "These are the three!"
Lin Sicheng was taken aback.
The meaning behind this blink is: the item is indeed a good item, and it looks genuine, which is why Lin Sicheng was asked to come and take a look.
But even Senior Brother Hao couldn't make a good judgment?
With a hint of doubt, Hao Jun opened the first long box.
As the scroll slowly unfurled, Lin Sicheng and Ye Anning simultaneously narrowed their eyes:
Cha Shibiao, late Ming and early Qing dynasty, "Cloud and Mountain Landscape"?
At first glance, he may seem unknown, but during the reigns of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong emperors, he was a renowned painter, calligrapher, and poet comparable to Dong Qichang.
The Cha family had served as officials for generations and were a prominent family in Xiuning, Anhui. They were exceptionally wealthy and possessed a large collection of books, bronze vessels, and ancient paintings and calligraphy.
Cha Shibiao was a typical example of someone in the Cha family who did not pursue a proper career: after passing the imperial examination, he abandoned his official career to study painting. He was known as one of the "Four Masters of Xin'an" along with calligraphers and painters such as Sun Yi, Wang Zhirui, and Hong Ren.
In addition, his appraisal skills were even more famous, ranking alongside Xiang Yuanbian, the greatest antique dealer, collector and appraiser of the Ming Dynasty, and they were known as "Xiang in the East and Cha in the West".
During the Qing Dynasty, his artistic achievements reached their peak, and Emperor Kangxi praised him as: "Before him was Xuanzai (Dong Qichang's courtesy name), and after him were Erzhan (Cha Shibiao's courtesy name)."
Therefore, the Qing court had a large collection of Cha Shibiao's calligraphy and paintings. In the "Sanxitang" alone, which was used by Chaolong to collect authentic works by famous artists of all dynasties, there were more than ten pieces of Cha Shibiao's calligraphy and paintings.
There are even more works, nearly a hundred of which have been included in the "Shiqu Baoji" (a catalog of paintings in the Qing Dynasty's imperial collection).
Afterwards, due to wars, some were stolen by eunuchs and palace maids, and others were sold by various warlords. In the end, only a dozen or so paintings remained in the Forbidden City.
The rest were scattered to various places. Today, there are about a dozen museums across the country that hold the original Cha Shibiao, including the Shanghai Museum, Tianjin Museum, Liaoning Museum, Anhui Museum, Hubei Museum, and so on.
If a comparison must be made, his works, while not quite as valuable as Dong Qichang's, are not far behind. They are at least more expensive than the Taihu stone Hao Jun joked about: over three million.
Therefore, the two of them watched very carefully.
When examining a painting, first look at the material: the scroll is made of old rosewood, with plain grain and no decoration, and the unique interlaced grain of rosewood is clearly visible on the surface.
With a slight tilt, the axial surface subtly exhibits a fluorescent sheen.
The shaft end is slightly worn, with a warm patina and a restrained luster; in some areas, it has gradually changed from yellowish-brown to dark brown.
The shaft is fine. Now let's look at the paper: it's delicate and supple, with subtle patterns of green sandalwood and sand rice grains. This is genuine Xuande paper.
Looking at the seals: the two square seals in red ink on the upper left, one is "Eryan" and the other is "Shibiao". The former is the courtesy name and the latter is the given name. The seal lines are smooth, the red ink is rich and full, the aging is natural, and the seals are calm and not glaring.
Below that are three more seals, which should be collector's seals. Two of them are already blurred and illegible, and only one can be barely identified.
Lin Sicheng stared at it for a long time: Bijiang Jushi?
Huh, Su Er?
This was a famous scholar and calligrapher during the Qianlong era, indicating that if this painting is genuine, it is likely a private collection.
Continuing on, the inscription is a self-composed poem: "Idle clouds have no seasons, scattering across this valley. Fortunately, they lack the grace of rain, so how can they please this secluded place?"
In the fourth month of summer in the year Gengzi, Shi Biao...
This is an imitation of Dong Qichang's style, with simple and gentle brushstrokes and unrestrained and vigorous strokes. It has both the elegance and unrestrained style of Mi Fu and the bold and unconventional brushstrokes, as well as the refined and distant style of Dong Qichang.
Seeing this, Ye Anning raised her head and stepped back slightly.
The painting depicts the mountain ranges of Pingjiang, where a scholar stands alone on a plank bridge, gazing into the distance. High above, mist and clouds surge, and waterfalls cascade down. Below, sparse forests and tranquil waters create a desolate and barren landscape.
The artwork features sparse white space and a clear contrast between thick and thin lines. The scenery is well-balanced in terms of density and layering.
The brushstrokes are clean and crisp, the characters are depicted in detail, and although the ink is not used much, the artistic conception is clear and profound.
As the poem describes: "Idle clouds drift aimlessly, where is there solitude?"
At first glance, everything seemed perfect, undoubtedly an authentic work. But Ye Anning always felt that within the elegant, refined, and leisurely atmosphere, there was a hint of stiffness and disharmony.
I glanced at it again, and the feeling grew stronger. I subconsciously turned around and saw Lin Sicheng leisurely sipping tea.
She looked on in astonishment: "When did you finish watching it?"
"Just now!"
More nonsense? Half a cup of tea is already gone…
Muttering to herself, Ye Anning pointed at the painting: "Why do I feel that the brushstrokes are a bit uncoordinated, as if... a little stiff?"
Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then gave a thumbs up: "Cousin Ye really didn't waste those ten years at the Palace Museum's calligraphy and painting gallery with Master Shan."
He nodded: "No matter how closely or realistically a copy is made, or how artistically it is imitated, sometimes a bit of stiffness will show in the brushstrokes."
Imitation?
Ye Anning was stunned: "Who copied it?"
Lin Sicheng put down his teacup: "Li Yu of the Qing Dynasty!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com