Chapter 129: Cheaper Than What Was Picked Up

On the stage, "Three Drops of Blood" was being performed, the Qin opera roaring to the heavens.

On the other side, the troupe leader shook out a leather puppet. On a three-foot plain screen, a young girl in a curved-hem deep robe held a konghou, the melody of "Rainbow Skirt Feather Garment" flowing from the strings.

Lin Sicheng and Ye Anning stood quietly at the entrance of the bank.

Before long, the father and son arrived together. Their mental state seemed much better than yesterday; at the very least, they were not looking miserable and dejected.

After a simple greeting, the four of them entered the bank.

The bank clerks were the same ones from yesterday. Hearing that they were going to look at paintings here again, they were quite curious and even brought over four cups of water.

Lin Sicheng got straight to the point: "Where is the painting?"

The father and son exchanged a glance, opened the long box, untied the scroll, and spread it out on the coffee table.

Just like the two from yesterday, the painting was encased in plastic film, both bright and shiny.

Looking at the illustration: the pine tree was verdant with twisting branches swaying; two red-crowned cranes had elegant postures, their feathers clearly defined. Behind the pair of cranes were clusters of flowers, a scene full of auspiciousness and vitality.

The brush and ink technique inherited from the Southern Song Academy Style, but the staccato at the start of the strokes and the forceful finish showed even greater tension in the brushwork.

Looking at the details: ink wash was used to render the branches and leaves, while cinnabar was the primary color for dotting and coloring, forming the unique effect of the Zhe School Academy Style's "Ink Bone Color Rhyme."

If one only looked at the brush intent and technique, Lin Sicheng thought it looked authentic no matter how he looked at it.

But that was not the point; the key lay in the seals. There were over a dozen in total, and every time he looked at one, Lin Sicheng's gaze would pause.

At the very top of the scroll was a square seal in red ink using Iron Wire Seal Script: "Tianlai Pavilion." Below that, in the spacer between the top margin and the start of the scroll, was another: a white-character seal in red ink using Nine Seal Script: "Xiang Yuanbian Seal."

Further down, at the tail end between the bottom margin and the painting heart, there was yet another: a round seal in red ink using Willow Leaf Seal Script: "Divine Grade."

The three-fold seal of the "Xiang Family Collection" was all gathered here. Moreover, the order and format of the seal marks were extremely correct: "Xiang Yuanbian Seal" at the lead, "Tianlai Pavilion" at the spacer, and "Divine Grade" at the tail.

Lin Sicheng had only seen this way of stamping once before: on the "Huaisu Scroll," a treasure of the Forbidden City's Calligraphy and Painting Museum.

Of course, if someone has seen it, someone will imitate it, but it could never be imitated this authentically: the last stroke of the character "Bian" in "Xiang Yuanbian Seal" did not flick upward, which was a taboo to avoid the "Southern Song Dynasty moving the capital to Bianjing."

Continuing downward: a rectangular red seal: "Precious Collection Recompiled." After that, another: "Summer Resort."

The former was a collection seal for the sequel to the "Precious Collection of the Stone Moat," intended to supplement the record of over 1,800 calligraphy and painting works that entered the palace from the late Qianlong period to the early Jiaqing period.

The latter was the Qing emperor's summer palace for escaping the heat, the Chengde Summer Resort.

These two seals represented only one meaning: Jiaqing Imperial Inspection, Qing Imperial Treasury.

Further down still: on the edge of the painting paper, there was also half of a Nine Fold Seal Script red seal: "Ritual Record Office Seal."

It was not that the seal was incomplete, but that this seal was originally a side-straddling seal, only stamped halfway. If it were the full seal, it should have been: "Ceremonial Discipline Inspection Office Seal."

This was the core collection seal of the Ming Dynasty imperial court.

Lin Sicheng drew a slight breath: Why is it that for the same master, the same period, and works of the same length and quality, the transaction price of some is twice or even more than that of others?

The reason lies right here: orderly provenance and famous collection. Therefore, just by virtue of the Xiang Family Collection and the Stone Moat record, this painting would rise in value by at least half.

What if it also had the "Ceremonial Discipline Inspection Office Seal"? With Ming and Qing imperial treasury provenance, it would rise by another half.

So, how could this painting be worth only six million?

But this father and son only wanted two million...

Looking closely again: although there were signs of age, the painting silk was slightly yellow, the ink and colors were clear, and the red seals were vibrant.

The mounting was the same; although it was a typical Ming Dynasty style, the signs of aging were very shallow. If relying only on the eye, it was definitely not more than a hundred years old.

The key was that on the edge of the painting paper, there were seven or eight dense holes; how many times had it been tested?

The reason for doing it so many times was only one: every time it was appraised as fake, they had to change places and do it again.

But no matter how it was tested, the conclusion was two words: counterfeit. So, if this painting could be sold as an authentic Dai Jin, it would be a miracle...

Lin Sicheng let out a breath, raised his head, and pointed to those small holes.

The expressions of the father and son changed. Just as the young man was about to say something, the old man waved his hand violently, his face showing a trace of impatience: "One point five million at the lowest. If you want to buy it, buy it; if not, we're leaving!"

One point five million?

For the two of them, Lin Sicheng's heart still skipped a beat: this painting was definitely the biggest bargain he had found since his rebirth, one that even the Blue Sand Pot and Dong Qichang's calligraphy plus a piece of jade couldn't compare to. In terms of price alone, it was higher than the value of the Qianlong Iron Seal.

If you ask why: a painting by Dai Jin, with two generations of imperial collection, plus a lost "ancient imperial calligraphy and painting preservation technique"—if he sold it to a provincial museum, they wouldn't even frown at an asking price of eight or nine million.

"I'll buy it!"

Lin Sicheng nodded slightly and took out a card.

Ye Anning glanced at it and curled her lips.

She had been keeping track; after buying those two paintings yesterday, Lin Sicheng was completely out of money.

So when they were eating last night, she had hinted at it. As a result, Lin Sicheng said his grandfather had money...

Transfer, sign, sign the contract.

Fearing that Lin Sicheng would go back on his word, the two of them were well-prepared with a standard "cultural relic and antique" contract. To put it bluntly, it was four words: no refunds after purchase.

When the final fingerprint was pressed, all three felt a collective sense of relief.

Including the father and son, and including Lin Sicheng.

Ye Anning handed over a tissue. Lin Sicheng wiped his fingers and said, seemingly casually: "Old master, forgive me for asking: where did you get the idea for this plastic film?"

"An old friend surnamed Pu taught me. He said: if you want calligraphy and painting to be preserved for a long time, it's two words: vacuum... These three paintings were also bought from him, but the person is long gone!"

Lin Sicheng's heart stirred: it was eight or nine parts likely to be Aisin Gioro.

"All three of them?"

The old man nodded: "Yes!"

"What did you use before the plastic film?"

"Camphor wood boxes with cinnabar lacquer, so they have always been well preserved."

The old man looked dejected and sighed mournfully, "But damn it, just because I kept them well, they turned into fakes? For seventeen whole years, how much humiliation have I suffered?"

As expected?

But he couldn't ask any more.

Lin Sicheng nodded and smiled again.

Just like yesterday, the father and son were so afraid he would go back on his word that they hurried away.

Lin Sicheng unhurriedly rolled up the scroll and left the bank.

The sun was just three poles high, and the sugar dregs on the bluestone slabs shattered into stardust.

The old man dipped the skewered hawthorns into the sugar basin, coating and rolling them, and the scorched yellow sugar syrup pulled out golden threads.

Five or six children and a dozen adults formed three or four circles around him.

"Sister Anning, candied hawthorns, do you want to eat one?"

Ye Anning had a strange look on her face: Lin Sicheng, are you still in the mood to eat?

If that calligraphy wasn't an authentic work by Dai Jin, it would be like throwing over a million down the drain; wouldn't that buy over a dozen truckloads of candied hawthorns?

If it were authentic, based on those Seal Marks alone, the value of this painting would be at least seven or eight million. Ten million wouldn't be impossible; you could treat the entire city of Xijing to candied hawthorns for a year.

But Lin Sicheng's expression remained as calm as ever.

She lowered her voice: "Authentic?"

"Authentic!"

Ye Anning's eyes shone: "Then how can you still eat?"

"My mouth just feels a bit bland..." Lin Sicheng smiled again, "Forget it, let's go, to the Shijian Center!"

Ye Anning nodded: "Should we call Section Chief Guan?"

"No need, I basically know everyone at Shijian; we can get it done as soon as we go!"

But there was no doubt, no matter how they did it, it would be fake.

It was easy to imagine what kind of expression Guan Xingmin would have.

But after a few years pass, whenever he recalls this scene, he will probably regret it until his guts turn green.

They are friends after all, so it's better not to make him feel too bad...

With this thought, the two got into the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But just as they closed the car doors, Hao Jun's call came in: "Are you at the bank outside the Museum?"

Lin Sicheng was taken aback and glanced outside: "How did you know?"

"How could I not know: those two, the father and son who sold you the painting yesterday, bought two express tickets, and as soon as they got inside, they flipped Ding Liang's desk over without a word.

Then they pointed at Ding Liang's nose and cursed: 'You're not even as good as a half-grown kid, what kind of Chairman are you...' As soon as I heard 'half-grown kid,' I knew it was you!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: Are they that hot-tempered?

While he was still stunned, Ye Anning pointed outside, and Lin Sicheng focused his gaze: Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin were standing at the gate, craning their necks and looking around.

"Aren't you two doing appraisals?"

"How could we be in the mood... Junior Brother, a full 1.5 million, how can you not feel the pinch: what if it's fake?"

Lin Sicheng laughed, stuck his head out the window, and honked the horn again.

The two rushed over hurriedly, and without any wasted words, they sat directly in the back seat.

Then, four eyes blinked rapidly. The depths of their eyes revealed a bit of annoyance and suspicion.

500,000 for one is of course no big deal to Lin Sicheng, but what about four?

Two million could buy a three-bedroom apartment of eighty or ninety square meters at the foot of the Imperial City in Beijing, or at least a 400-square-meter villa in Tiantongyuan, Changping.

So, if they had known this would happen today, they would have tried to persuade him no matter what.

But thinking about Lin Sicheng's personality: if he didn't have eighty or ninety percent certainty, he would never be this anxious.

No matter how they thought about it, it felt like that "once this village is gone, there won't be another shop" kind of feeling.

The two looked at each other, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Lin Sicheng turned the car key, "To the Shijian Center!"

Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin both nodded in unison: "Right, to the Shijian Center!"

The journey was very quiet; Lin Sicheng drove with full concentration, while Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin sat in the back seat, exchanging glances from time to time.

Having sent a text message in advance, Guan Xingmin had his colleagues open a backup testing room, and all kinds of machines were warmed up.

Having helped out so many times, Lin Sicheng didn't stand on ceremony; he exchanged simple pleasantries with Section Chief Shen and handed the three paintings to him:

"First, perform dating on the silk material; look at the craftsmanship first, and the degree of aging second..."

"Secondly, ink analysis: look at the ink crack patterns first, the degree of penetration second, test the graphite crystal structure third, and test the auxiliary components fourth..."

"Third, pigment appraisal: specific composition and degree of oxidation... Fourth, perform an identification of touch-ups and Artifact Restoration; use Infrared Reflection Imaging first, then microscopic observation..."

"Fifth, Raman Spectroscopy... Sixth, multispectral imaging... Seventh, carbon-13 correction..."

Lin Sicheng was methodical; Section Chief Shen was startled, and Guan Xingmin was also startled.

They only knew before that Lin Sicheng's visual appraisal was formidable; they didn't know he was also so familiar with instrument testing: without extremely rich operational experience, one could not arrange it in such detail.

But they were only curious, and the speed was not slow at all.

Most were real-time tests; after sampling, it only took a few minutes for the first report to be freshly released.

Section Chief Shen handed it to Lin Sicheng, and Guan Xingmin and Hao Jun couldn't hold back and crowded over too.

Silk weaving craftsmanship characteristics: all three were double-silk weaves; the first two had a denser texture, consistent with the characteristics of Southern Song Dynasty painting silk. The last one had a looser texture, consistent with Ming Dynasty characteristics.

However, the key was the "however": the silk in the first two was slightly yellow, the silk protein crystals were complete, and it had been no more than thirty years since they were woven.

The last one was light yellow, the silk protein was slightly cracked, and it had been preserved for no more than one hundred years.

Then came the second report, microscopic testing: the ink in the first two had not formed ink crack patterns, and the ink in the Dai Jin piece had only slightly penetrated; the oxidation process was no more than one hundred years.

Third report, pigment analysis: all three pieces of Calligraphy and Painting contained lead white. But this stuff has a characteristic: it appears white when painted, but turns black after natural oxidation. The longer the time, the darker the painting color.

But it was all the same: the lead white in the first two showed no signs of turning black, and while the last one did, it was extremely slight, definitely no more than a hundred years.

Guan Xingmin and Hao Jun felt that there was no need to look at the preceding or following reports; based on this one alone, a death sentence could be passed:

The two pieces by Ma Lin were new imitations, and they were poorly imitated at that. The piece by Dai Jin could at most be considered a Republic of China imitation.

But Lin Sicheng remained as calm as ever, not even knitting his brows.

Involuntarily, Guan Xingmin began to doubt again: it couldn't be that some new technique for Wash Goods had emerged among the public, could it, just like that Imitation Xuande Censer?

But thinking about it, that was impossible: even if it could fool a machine, at most it would fool one or two, it was impossible for all eight or nine machines to be fooled, right?

While he was suspicious, reports were delivered one after another; Lin Sicheng read and took notes, and half of the white paper in front of him was already filled.

He finished reading the last report, put down his pen, and let out a soft breath:

The painting silk used a sizing process, meaning it was brushed with a compound of Ming Alum and animal glue after being woven. It has many functions, but the reason Lin Sicheng noted it on paper was for one key point: water resistance and oxygen prevention.

The iron tannic acid content in the ink and pigments is extremely high; it still has many functions, but the key point remains the same: water resistance and oxygen prevention.

Besides this, the ink also contains a very high component of alum glue, which is to prevent the ink marks from bleeding excessively while facilitating shading. It was pioneered in the Southern Song Dynasty, which is why the "Silver Hook Iron Line" painting technique exists.

At the same time, it resists water and protects against oxygen.

But these are secondary; the key lies in the mercury sulfide and beeswax residues on the surface of the painting silk: it shows the old man did not lie; before being plastic-wrapped, these three paintings were always preserved using the method of "camphor wood box + a mixture of beeswax, cinnabar, and lacquer mud to seal the gaps."

In plain language: vacuum, taken out when viewed, and sealed up after viewing.

Combining these factors, let alone eight or nine hundred years, even if left for another thousand years, these three paintings would still look exactly like this.

The key is that with existing scientific instruments, or even visual appraisal, it is fundamentally impossible to detect.

Then why is Lin Sicheng so certain?

Because this is not an isolated case: in 2005, the tomb of the "Southern Song Dynasty official Xu Weili" in Wuyi County was Grave-robbing, and the seventeen scrolls of the Xu Weili Documents unearthed were sold by the Grave-robbing perpetrators for a full six years, yet they could not sell them no matter what.

The price dropped from two million to two hundred thousand, then down to twenty thousand. They were even forced to sell them separately: one thousand per scroll, but they still couldn't sell them.

The reason is exactly the same as these three items: they looked new at first glance, and tested as fake no matter how they were examined.

It was not until 2011, when relevant technology had a breakthrough, that they were identified as a First-Class Cultural Relic.

Then, the Grave-robbing perpetrators were caught, and the Cultural Relics were valued at: two billion... a full ten-thousand-fold difference.

And the technology used for the Xu Weili Documents, and these three paintings, especially the first two, is almost exactly the same:

The "alum glue oxygen prevention, vacuum wax sealing, and cinnabar anti-corrosion" technique, which originated in the Southern Song Dynasty, has no record in historical materials, and logically should have been lost long ago.

Therefore, these three items are authentic beyond any doubt.

Plus an item of "ancient Calligraphy and Painting preservation technology" that has been lost, and it's only two million?

It's cheaper than picking it up for free...