Chapter 57 I'm trying my best with a hammer?
Soaking new jade in alkaline water can make it look like ancient chicken-bone white jade, and even fool scientific instruments.
Section Chief Shen, who had remained silent, expressed his strong suspicion.
Even Wang Qizhi and Guan Xingmin were skeptical.
But the two understood Lin Sicheng: without absolute certainty, how could he say something like "100%"?
Guan Xingmin frowned: "Is there any way to verify this?"
Yes, and a lot of them!
Lin Sicheng pointed to the paperweight, "Deep sampling, first do X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. If it has been in an alkaline water immersion environment for a long time, the primary crystals inside the jade will all melt away, and the secondary crystals will be absolutely intact..."
"Secondly, samples were taken again and sent to the provincial department for Raman spectroscopy analysis to examine the changes in the mineral phases inside the jade artifact: if it was naturally infiltrated from the soil, there would inevitably be deposits of metallic particles such as Al and Fe inside the jade artifact..."
"At the same time, we can also test for traces of microbial activity on the surface of the jade artifact, as well as analyze the composition of organic matter..."
They're all experts; they understand immediately.
The first two points need no further explanation, but let's talk about the last one: after being buried underground for a long time, there will inevitably be soil microorganisms remaining, which will inevitably secrete acidic substances that corrode the surface of the jade.
If this "long time" is seven or eight hundred years, how heavy would the number of microorganisms and corrosion marks be?
Secondly, is it difficult to analyze whether the oily components in the patina belong to humans, sheep, or dogs?
Of course it's not difficult, the difficulty lies in sampling: too little won't do, it has to be several grams at a time, and you have to drill a hole.
To give an example: if this paperweight is real, drilling holes in it three or four times would make it a broken piece of furniture.
But at this point, even if it means scrapping it, it has to be done...
Guan Xingmin gritted his teeth: "Turn on the machine and take a sample!"
Section Chief Shen's eyes widened, but before he could even open his mouth to speak, Guan Xingmin retorted, "Can't you understand?"
With his superior's attitude, he dared not question it. He immediately put down his folder, picked up a paperweight, and said, "I understand, don't worry, Director. It will take at most ten minutes!"
"Conduct simultaneous testing and send samples to the provincial department!"
"clear!"
Guan Xingmin patted Lin Sicheng on the shoulder, then looked at Wang Qizhi and sighed, "Secretary Wang, excuse me!"
Wang Qizhi smiled and said, "Director Guan, you're too kind. Please go ahead with your work!"
Guan Xingmin nodded and called away most of his colleagues, leaving the evidence room empty.
Several professors, who were drinking tea next door, heard the commotion and swarmed in.
"Huh, where did everyone go?"
"Secretary Wang, what happened?"
"I don't know either!" Wang Qizhi replied dismissively, then glanced at his watch. "It's almost time, let's eat first."
Assuming he genuinely didn't know, the professors didn't press him. One of them, a professor specializing in ceramics, joked, "Lin Sicheng, you've been busy with that radiation gun all morning, haven't you found anything yet?"
Lin Sicheng just smiled.
Then another professor pretended to have just remembered: "Oh, it seems that only the bronze artifacts haven't been tested yet. Professor Wang, will you have to come back another day?"
Wang Qizhi just smiled.
At this point, how could the authentication center possibly care about authenticating any bronze artifacts?
As Guan Xingmin mentioned in the office, the most important item during this guidance and learning session was that replica of a Xuande incense burner:
No matter how important this document is, or how serious the case is, it's still in the review and prosecution stage. It's just a matter of postponement and multiple more examinations. If all else fails, we can send it to Beijing; at worst, we'll be laughed at by our colleagues.
The paperweight was evidence from over a year ago, meaning the case was essentially decided long ago. But suddenly, the ancient jade has become a fake. What does this mean?
This means that a case value of millions suddenly becomes a few thousand. Shouldn't we consider whether the sentencing was too harsh or whether it constitutes a wrongful conviction?
Next, should we conduct further interrogations, reopen the investigation, or even overturn the verdict?
But are cases that have already been adjudicated so easy to overturn?
Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi could already imagine how busy and chaotic the Municipal Bureau would be in the coming days.
Once the expert opinion is released, the prosecutor's office and the court that prosecuted and tried this case will be utterly shocked and disgusted.
Who cares about bronzes and Xuande incense burners?
Just then, the deputy section chief in charge of reception came over to greet them, saying that the restaurant had prepared a sumptuous lunch, and a large group of people came downstairs.
The teacher and student lagged behind, remaining silent.
Upon reaching the restaurant entrance, Wang Qizhi stopped, a strange look on his face: "You tested the radiation level first when appraising jade, did you learn that from a book?"
"It was just a coincidence!"
Lin Sicheng said seriously, "Professor Wang, if you were to test it and see that the radiation value of the jade is only 0.02, wouldn't you be suspicious?"
nonsense.
The problem is, who in their right mind would use a radiation gun to clean up antiques?
Therefore, Lin Sicheng has set a precedent, and twice in a row. At the very least, provincial and municipal forensic centers will definitely add this requirement in the future.
"What about the process of soaking jade in alkaline water to promote calcification, which involves many steps? What is it?"
Lin Sicheng replied without hesitation: "First, maintain a constant temperature: above 40 degrees Celsius and below 50 degrees Celsius to accelerate the calcification reaction. Second, maintain a constant humidity: keep it at 60%-80% to promote mineral penetration..."
"Third, water immersion simulates weathering... Fourth, mechanical assistance: low-power ultrasonic vibration enhances solution penetration. Fifth, temperature-controlled heating and freezing create cracks..."
"This process, repeated over eight to ten weeks at most, can induce calcification in the jade and naturally produce a chicken-bone white patina. With a little patience, the entire process of hand-polishing and developing a patina will not exceed three years..."
Wang Qizhi was taken aback.
Even if everyone has their own area of expertise, he is still a professor of cultural heritage preservation and an expert in authentication. And the method Lin Sicheng described—he'd never even heard of it before?
The key point is, it's that simple?
No need for acid soaking, no need for rust removal, no need for high pressure, and no need for splicing... So tell me, how can you judge it by sight alone?
Without deep sampling, even the instruments can't detect it?
In ordinary collectible transactions, how many people would take their items to a professional institution for inspection, let alone drill holes in them?
Wang Qizhi was dumbfounded: "So, does that mean anyone can copy it?"
Lin Sicheng shook his head: "It's not that easy: firstly, the ratio of alkaline solution is difficult to control, and secondly, a specific ultrasonic frequency is required..."
Wang Qizhi was about to ask more questions, but after thinking for a moment, he shut his mouth: If this method gets out, how many people will it kill?
He half-jokingly asked, "Did you learn that from a book again?"
Lin Sicheng nodded vigorously: "Of course!"
Wang Qizhi sighed, and the two entered the restaurant.
Not long after they finished eating, about an hour later, Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi were invited to the director's office.
Several reports were on the table:
First, the presence of original crystal residue inside the jade artifact proves that the water immersion process could not have exceeded three years.
Second, there are no metal ion deposits in the stains and cracks that are associated with the soil composition of Yulin, so let alone seven or eight hundred years ago, it has never been buried in Yulin at all.
Especially the third point: no traces of microorganisms similar to those in Yulin soil were detected. More importantly, no human tissue was detected, but a lot of dog tissue was detected.
The two leaders who had left that morning returned. They looked at the test report on the table, then at Lin Sicheng. A mix of emotions welled up inside them, and they didn't know what to say.
To be honest, the director just mentioned it casually in the morning, completely out of a "what the heck, might as well try it out" mentality.
Instead of reaping the rewards, a bolt from the blue struck first?
When the two leaders received Guan Xingmin's call, they were stunned and at a loss: Lin Sicheng's testing of radioactive sources had actually detected a problematic antique.
Moreover, is the nature of this matter that serious?
Even now, both leaders are still shaken: thankfully, the sentence was recent, and there's still hope for redemption. If they waited until the person was released and then approached the media… haha!
The two leaders took turns expressing their gratitude, their hearts overflowing with unspoken words. They held Lin Sicheng's hand and shook it repeatedly.
"You've worked hard...you've really worked hard..."
"Xiao Lin, don't rush off yet. The director will be here shortly... I've already arranged for the restaurant to make the arrangements. Let's have a good chat this afternoon..."
Lin Sicheng smiled and politely declined, "Thank you, Director, but I have a lot to do. Maybe next time!"
He was truly overwhelmed, and his boss, without mincing words, sighed earnestly, "Okay, then next time!"
After expressing their gratitude, the colleague escorted Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi downstairs and into their car.
It's no exaggeration to say that the professors and teaching assistants in the car were so shocked their eyes almost popped out...
The Coaster started moving, and the deputy director waved with a smile, then looked at Guan Xingmin behind him:
"Old Guan, I heard from Old Zhang (the director) that you're planning to recruit Xiao Lin to our forensic center?"
Wait... why did the director speak so quickly?
Guan Xingmin's face fell: "Director, really, it's very difficult!"
"I know, but it's all about human effort!" The leader patted Guan Xingmin on the shoulder. "The bureau will give you its full support!"
Director Zhang smiled broadly and said, "Old Guan, keep up the good work!"
Guan Xingmin smiled and said "okay" repeatedly, but in his heart he was cursing: "What am I supposed to do with a hammer?"
Did you see the watch in his teacher's hand?
Is Lin Sicheng out of his mind?
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