Chapter 101: Chewing and Consuming

Shang Yan had a bit of a headache and rubbed the space between her brows.

"When I was in university, the old professor in our department loved to say one thing: 'Observe a thousand swords and then you will know the weapon; practice a thousand melodies and then you will understand the sound...' The so-called Great Dao is simple; one who can appraise objects can also appraise people!"

"I always thought the old professor was a bit eccentric back then. But today I realized: if you appraise enough objects, can you really appraise people?"

Fang Jingxian listened, half-understanding: "What do you mean?"

Shang Yan sighed: "At the school gate, Lin Sicheng guessed that you had encountered big trouble, so he didn't really want to come!"

"How is that possible?" Fang Jingxian was stunned for a moment, "He didn't say anything, he just shook hands?"

"That's right, he just shook hands!" Shang Yan spread her hands, "Isn't it divine?"

This was more than just divine.

But thinking back just now, she had only written a check, and just written the amount a bit high, yet he could actually guess what she wanted to do?

The more Fang Jingxian thought about it, the more magical it felt: "What does his family do?"

Shang Yan was concise: "He is the grandson of Professor Lin, the one named Lin Zhangqing, you've met him!"

Fang Jingxian was stunned for a moment: "And?"

Shang Yan was instead stumped by the question: what else, did that mean it wasn't enough?

Huh... it seemed, it really wasn't quite enough?

The two women looked at each other, stunned and speechless: it definitely wasn't enough!

After a long while, Shang Yan patted Fang Jingxian's hand: "Think of another way!"

Fang Jingxian nodded, her eyes brightening again: "Are you and Professor Lin also very close?"

"You'd better stop that thought early; Professor Lin is stingier than a miser, he only takes and never gives!"

After so many years, Shang Yan had seen many good things pass through Lin Zhangqing's hands, but she had never seen him let one go.

Shaking her head cleanly and decisively, Shang Yan suddenly remembered Wang Qizhi, "If I go and beg Lin Sicheng's teacher, there might actually be a slight possibility."

"Ah, aren't you?"

"I am only his course instructor, not his advisor. As it happens, the one surnamed Wang owes me a massive favor... but don't be anxious, perhaps this Guanyin statue will catch his eye?"

That was true.

After chatting for a few sentences, the couple entered the door carrying a box. Just as they were about to open it, Fang Jingxian waved her hand: "General Manager Zhao, no rush yet!"

Understood, the appraiser hadn't arrived yet.

General Manager Zhao nodded.

Another ten minutes passed, and a man pushed the door and entered.

He was in his fifties, but very spirited, wearing an administrative jacket, looking very imposing.

His background was also significant; Fang Jingxian introduced him from the center: she said his surname was Yang, and he was the Chairman of the City Jade Association.

Shang Yan was noncommittal.

Some antique collectors also collect new jade, like Lin Zhangqing, but she did not. Apart from porcelain, Shang Yan touched nothing else, so she didn't know him, nor did she care.

She was just a bit strange: running such a large shop, how could General Manager Zhao not know him?

But she was only curious for a moment; after some brief pleasantries, the few sat down, and Fang Jingxian had General Manager Zhao take out the item.

As the lid of the box was about to be opened, voices came from outside, and the few turned their heads subconsciously.

Huh, Lin Sicheng?

Shang Yan was a bit confused: "Why did you come back?"

What else could it be for, of course, it was because he saw Yang Zhigao.

Just as he arrived at the parking lot and was preparing to get in the car, Fang Jingxian's younger brother greeted him, and only then did Lin Sicheng know that the Expert Fang Jingxian had invited was Yang Zhigao.

The old saying was right: enemies are bound to meet.

This guy had done only two things his whole life: giving gifts to become an official, and swindling to amass wealth.

The City Jade Association hadn't changed its Chairman in fifteen years; in Xi'an and even the entire province, the collectors who hadn't been swindled by him could be counted on two hands.

His methods weren't complex: he used Jade carved from Qinghai White Jade and Russian White Jade to pass off as Hetian Mutton Fat Jade to commit fraud.

What was complex was: these three types of jade were actually the same kind of thing, namely Tremolite-based nephrite ore, with basically the same composition, structure, and texture.

Especially the higher-grade Qinghai Jade and Russian Jade; unless you took them to a high-end laboratory for testing, don't even think about distinguishing the difference between Hetian Jade and these two types. But the former was sold by the gram, the latter by the ton.

The key was that Yang Zhigao was also the Chairman; who could have imagined he would also forge? Thus, he succeeded repeatedly.

If you ask where the grudge came from?

In the old man's safe, in the same place where Lin Sicheng kept the Qianlong Imperial Seal and the Dong Qichang Authentic Work, there was also a White Jade Tea Table and a Landscape Ornament locked away.

They were huge; the two items cost his grandfather over 2.4 million, and even now, he still didn't know they were fake.

It wasn't until 2011 that Yang Zhigao lost his mind and swindled a certain leader out of 4 million. The following year, the leader fell from power, and only then was he dug out.

After that, the old man was depressed, and the following year, he was diagnosed with cancer.

Therefore, if one were to rank the enemies: the two fake people from Hong Kong who sold the Inverted Pot ranked first, and Yang Zhigao definitely ranked second.

So he had finally run into him?

He glanced twice and sat down calmly.

"I'm asking you?" Shang Yan was a bit curious, "Weren't you going back to school, why did you come back?"

"Oh, Professor Wang said there wasn't much going on at school, and I thought since I was idle anyway, I might as well broaden my knowledge!"

Shang Yan felt that Lin Sicheng wasn't telling the truth, but it didn't matter.

Fang Jingxian smiled very warmly and had her younger brother give up a seat for Lin Sicheng.

But no one cared.

Yang Zhigao didn't recognize him, and General Manager Zhao was a bit suspicious, but didn't care too much.

The so-called specialization in a trade meant it was impossible for one person to understand every field.

With just a glance, he lifted the box lid and took out the Guanyin Statue.

At the same time, he raised the Flashlight and shone it behind the Guanyin. Instantly, a streak of faint, bright green light entered their vision:

Suddenly, whether they understood it or not, everyone's eyes lit up with a "zing."

A half-arm-tall Jade Guanyin stood quietly on the coffee table, eyes lowered in a smile, its divine appearance compassionate.

Wispy marks like gossamer threads appeared and disappeared within the congealed emerald-colored jade material, like the folds of fluttering robes; the Flashlight, like a streak of daylight, fell upon the jade, revealing a pale blue like a cold pool.

Fang Jingxian narrowed her eyes, her heart palpitating in waves, and a soft sound like wind blowing through leaves escaped her lips.

It was too beautiful.

The texture and clarity were transparent, the color bright and fresh... she dared to confirm at a single glance, even without appraisal, that this was Yang Green High Ice Variety.

The key was, it was also this large?

As if involuntarily, she slowly stood up, her fingertips grazing the jade statue, feeling the refreshing coolness unique to high-quality Jadeite.

The words "make an offer" surged to her lips, but suddenly a "tap-tap" sound reached her ears, and she turned her head instinctively.

Lin Sicheng was staring at the Guanyin, watching it very intently. Perhaps he was too absorbed, as his fingers were unconsciously tapping lightly on the tabletop.

For no reason at all, her heart suddenly calmed, and Fang Jingxian let out a breath: "Chairman Yang, I'll have to trouble you!"

"It's only right!"

Yang Zhigao did not decline, rolling up his sleeves. Then he opened his bag and took out his tools one by one.

He had a very imposing manner, and his posture was quite sufficient.

General Manager Zhao leaned back slightly, exchanged a look with Yang Zhigao, and a flash of sharp light crossed the depths of his eyes.

It was extremely fast and infinitesimal, yet Lin Sicheng caught it dead on: as expected, a dog cannot change its habit of eating dung?

If this Guanyin were real, Lin Sicheng would dare to chew it up and eat it.