Chapter 16: Only My Unique Method Chapter 16: Tang Linze

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Professor Lang actually held little hope for the other two fragments, but since he couldn't be certain, he only used the trade phrase "can't tell for sure." Since the porcelain's owner insisted, he also wanted to test them with instruments.

Compared to ordinary C14 and other instruments, Neutron Activation Analysis measures specific trace elements, and can even obtain information like place of origin from them; it is known as the porcelain's fingerprint for dating, and determining the age is even more straightforward.

Said and done, Professor Lang stood up with a whoosh, the flesh all over his body trembling twice, looking even more like an upgraded version of Luo Xiaoshan.

The three walked side by side to the Archaeology Department's small building, where several graduate students could still be seen working.

Professor Lang was a Ministry-level professor; without a second word, he casually pointed at two people and had them help, while he himself took a teacup, panting as he drank tea and rested.

The supposedly complicated formalities, with him personally handling them, instead became streamlined.

Because the professor hadn't revealed any information, the graduate students at the instruments became even more nervous. Whether it was the porcelain covered in cracks, or the two lines of four-character seal script "Yongzheng Nian Zhi" on the bottle bottom, both indicated the object was extraordinary. He operated the instruments with nervousness to spare but insufficient speed, and in the end, he even measured all the fragments twice.

Fortunately Professor Lang was slow-tempered; waiting through two more cups of tea, he wasn't anxious at all. Chen Yi and Luo Xiaoshan, however, sat on pins and needles, and when they saw the report, their eyes bulged wide.

"Shall we look together?" Professor Lang, flipping through the report, hehe'd a laugh, recalling his own early days in the field — wasn't he just the same?

"Look together, look together." Chen Yi and Luo Xiaoshan answered simultaneously, crowding to the professor's left and right.

The whole report was actually quite monotonous; aside from various letter-and-number codes, there was only the age determination. In a sea of 300 years, a single fragment marked 70 years stood out suspiciously.

Professor Lang was also extremely surprised, saying: "The two large and one small porcelain pieces are proven genuine. Young man, your luck isn't bad."

That said, he himself entered a contemplative state.

Chen Yi excitedly high-fived Luo Xiaoshan, thinking to himself: 800,000 in hand, going to the Saint Qiao Kingdom afterward will be smooth sailing; the Perception Scroll will have great use.

Luo Xiaoshan was even more excited, his hands trembling, repeatedly saying: "The bet was too accurate. Where did you buy this?"

He wanted to buy one too.

The two chatted and laughed, but then saw Professor Lang directing the two graduate students to bring over a large pile of books, which he flipped through on his own.

Luo Xiaoshan jumped up at once, saying: "Professor Lang, can this thing be worth 800,000?"

Cultural inheritance, in his view, obviously only had meaning after being digitized.

Professor Lang shook his head, then nodded, then shook his head again.

Now even Chen Yi was anxious, staring straight ahead, thinking: Don't tell me that pawnshop boss tricked me, and even three genuine pieces aren't worth money — that would be tragic.

Professor Lang was busy searching books, but the graduate student beside them saw the clue, and said quietly: "Don't be anxious, I'd say it's mostly good news."

"Why?"

The graduate student pursed his lips and said: "Professor Lang is looking up references. If that Wen incense burner wasn't valuable, he wouldn't bother doing this."

He also knew the Wen incense burner's vessel shape; Chen Yi couldn't help but look at him with new respect, saying: "I'm Chen Yi, this is Luo Xiaoshan. Are you Professor Lang's graduate student?"

"Not his graduate student, I left long ago. I'm Lu Fan." He said, blinking his eyes.

With Professor Lang's weight, the speed of his turning his neck might not even be as fast as a young person running; Chen Yi and Luo Xiaoshan both laughed.

Just as they were making merry, a loud "pa" sound came from the side — Professor Lang heavily slammed shut the book in his hand.

"Don't tell me he heard that?"

As Chen Yi suspected, Professor Lang swept in like a gale descending a mountain, shouting loudly: "You two brats struck it big."

"Worth 800,000?" Luo Xiaoshan jumped up like he was chanting scriptures.

"800,000? Hmph hmph." Professor Lang held out three fingers: "At least 3 million."

3 million!

The other several people were all stunned dumb.

Chen Yi found it even more inconceivable. Could the Perception Scroll have judged wrong? All four fragments are genuine?

Thinking again, that wasn't right either; clearly one fragment was fired 70 years ago. On the other hand, if three fragments are genuine and worth 3 million, that pawnshop boss surely wouldn't deliberately lowball the figure.

In an instant, he thought of countless possibilities, his facial expression shifting, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Professor Lang, by contrast, said with a touch of pride: "Originally I thought this porcelain was restored in recent years, but unexpectedly, that fake piece among them turned out to be from 70 years ago. So I thought: 70 years ago, that was the Republic of China era. With the technology of that time, who had the skill to restore this kind of porcelain? And it went undiscovered for 70 years before someone spotted a clue. The result actually let me think of it."

"This forger has a connection to the 3 million?" Luo Xiaoshan still remembered the key point.

Professor Lang hmphed and said: "Don't underestimate Republic of China fakes. People like Wang Dacang back then, though they imitated antiques, were never considered forgers; they were equally exquisite as artworks. Like Zhang Daqian's middle-period copies of famous paintings and calligraphy — sometimes the prices were even higher than the originals..."

Luo Xiaoshan learned not a single lesson, saying: "This porcelain was made by Zhang Daqian?"

Now it was Chen Yi's turn to be unable to hold back; he knocked him once, saying: "Zhang Daqian is a painter."

"A steamed bun shop also sells mantou." Luo Xiaoshan stubbornly argued back.

Professor Lang let out a long sigh, looking regretfully at Luo Xiaoshan's fat, so like his own, and said: "Good thing the object isn't in your hands."

Speaking, he then said to Chen Yi: "This imitation should be by Tang Linze. He can be called an eccentric in the Republic of China collecting world. He made many Song and Yuan antiques. Not only could people of that time not tell them apart, even now they are simply sold as genuine. His technique for making ancient paper is known as 'unparalleled under heaven,' and his porcelain-making methods are no less impressive. I checked his correspondence records after he entered the Gugong Bowuyuan — it's definitely him. This porcelain was made by Tang An."

The old man spoke while panting: "A pity it's not a painting or calligraphy; otherwise the price could go even higher. With Tang Linze's name, if it really went to auction, the price being higher than the original would be normal. Especially since this porcelain is made so well — placed 30 years ago, the glaze color on this would absolutely be indistinguishable."

Chen Yi and the fatty listened with dumbfounded stares. So some people forge so gloriously; compared to the ancestors, today's Chinese forgers still need more accumulation and still need to work hard!

Outside the window the moon was bright and stars sparse. Professor Lang waved his hand somewhat wearily: "You keep the thing safe. If you want to collect it yourself that's fine. If someday you don't want it, come find me again. Don't just send it to an auction house or such places, wasting a good thing."

Chen Yi's artistic cultivation was still at the salted-meat stage, far from the refined type. He immediately asked without hesitation: "Then in your view, how much would be appropriate to sell this for?"

"3 million is still not expensive." Professor Lang's small fat hand stroked the bottle again.

He smiled embarrassedly: "Then I'll have to trouble you to see who's interested. At 3 million it goes to him."

Professor Lang's eyes lit up listening to this. He excitedly waved his hand, laughing: "What trouble. A Yongzheng imperial porcelain, a half-real-half-fake bottle modified by Tang Linze — whoever I introduce it to will have to thank me. Pity I'm a poor teacher. Selling today?"

"Sell." Chen Yi gritted his teeth. With no more income, in two weeks he'd be a pauper.

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Author's note: New book's first week, hoping for good performance. Seeking countless recommendation tickets! If you like it, remember to collect.

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