Chapter 187: Where is the Fake?

The Mercedes-Benz stopped at the entrance of the studio, and the three siblings got out of the car.

But the moment they looked up, all three were stunned.

Before the National Day holiday, they had just been here. Although the building was still the same building, only two rooms on the first floor were open, with ordinary steel doors and windows, a small storefront, and a small square plaque hanging on the lintel: Lin Sicheng Studio.

Inside, it was even more ordinary, just casually painted, with one room used as an operating room and one as an office.

In just over three months, it had changed completely: the first floor was a panoramic exhibition hall; they didn't know what the second and third floors were like, but the exterior wall tiles and windows had been entirely replaced, as new as could be.

The square plaque had been replaced by a long plaque with black characters on a white background, and there were three of them in total. Looking closely again, those three lines of text could blind anyone:

Beilin District Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center.

Northwest University Intangible Cultural Heritage Research Center.

Northwest University Lin Sicheng Cultural Relics Protection and Restoration Research Center.

Fang Jingxian didn't quite understand what intangible cultural heritage was, but she felt the "Beilin District" on the first plaque was very eye-catching: it was directly a district-level prefix, and then it was a protection center?

This meant that this place was a proper unit under the district government.

And the one behind it, yet it had become a personal studio?

She had been to many units, but this was the first time she had seen a personal-type studio with a department-level unit prefix directly in front of it.

What did this equal? It equaled the department-level Northwest University endorsing Lin Sicheng.

Unheard of, unseen.

As if they had come to the wrong place, the three siblings stood at the entrance, looking around, hesitating to move forward.

The wide glass door was pushed open, and Shang Yan waved her hand: "Come in, what are you standing there for?"

Fang Jingxian let out a breath, stepped in her high heels, and walked up with a "clack, clack, clack."

Before she could stand still, she pointed at the three plaques: "What's the situation?"

Shang Yan said as a matter of course: "World Heritage Application Research Center, right? The district government is responsible for protection and guidance, and the school is responsible for management... But the first plaque was only hung up today, and the ribbon-cutting and unveiling will be next week. By then, the district will send people to be stationed here!"

Send people to be stationed here?

Sure enough, she hadn't guessed wrong; it was a proper government unit.

Fang Jingxian pointed at the last one again: "Then what about Lin Sicheng?"

"He is the inheritor and also the Person in Charge of the center, responsible for specific research and training!"

"No, that's not what I meant..." Fang Jingxian pointed again, looking stunned, "Why is Northwest University in front of Lin Sicheng?"

"Oh, you mean this?" Shang Yan said nonchalantly, "It's very normal!"

"Ah?"

Fang Jingxian was completely unable to understand: how was it normal?

According to her understanding, shouldn't those who could hang such plaques be the top-tier professors and scholars in a university?

And they must be in charge of a key project, having already obtained or soon to obtain a National Level award or honor.

As if guessing what she was thinking, Shang Yan smiled: "Don't be surprised. In a year at most, that Beilin District plaque will be changed to Xijing City. In three years at most, it will be changed to 'National Level'."

In this way, isn't it normal to have "Northwest University" prefixed before "Lin Sicheng"?

Of course, the school leaders really had the courage: according to Lin Sicheng's idea, at most, a secondary institution could be prefixed first, such as "Northwest University School of Cultural Heritage". But the president waved his hand: it's too much trouble to keep changing it back and forth.

Just Northwest University.

This was because the school leaders had seen the Ming Blue and White Large Jar that Lin Sicheng had repaired with their own eyes, and had personally received the inspection team that had rushed over from Tongchuan overnight...

Seeing Fang Jingxian looking stunned, Shang Yan emphasized again: "Also, be polite in the future, don't call him 'Little Lin'... call him Teacher Lin when you see him from now on!"

Fang Jingxian was stunned: "No... he hasn't graduated yet?"

"Nonsense, once he graduates, you'll have to call him Director Lin!"

Fang Jingxian not only didn't understand, but felt her head was a mess.

When a government department hangs a plaque, it will inevitably provide policy and financial support. When a school hangs a plaque, it will inevitably provide academic and technical support.

But the core of this center was actually a private studio?

Although Fang Jingxian didn't understand too much, she could at least figure out that this center was built relying on Lin Sicheng.

Those three plaques were hung entirely for Lin Sicheng's sake...

It just felt so exaggerated?

While she was pondering, Shang Yan led them into the reception room, where Zhao Xiuneng was sitting on the sofa, calm and collected, twirling a Jade Bracelet.

Fang Jingxian was stunned again, looked several times, and quickly bent her waist: "General Manager Zhao!"

Zhao Xiuneng thought for a moment, felt he had no impression, first smiled, and then stood up and reached out his hand: "Hello!"

Fang Jingxian was flattered and quickly shook it.

In the Sanqin region, as long as someone was dealing in antiques, few didn't know Zhao Potou. But the person who could make him take the initiative to stand up and shake hands was definitely not someone like Fang Jingxian.

But that was secondary; she couldn't quite figure it out: a big shot in the underworld like Zhao Xiuneng, who walked on the gray edge, shouldn't be able to get mixed up with Lin Sicheng, right?

Just look at the two plaques at the door: this place had a proper, purely official background...

Fang Jingxian was dying of curiosity, but she didn't dare to ask.

Zhao Xiuneng knew what she was thinking at a glance and smiled: "My son is currently learning the craft from Teacher Lin..."

Fang Jingxian nodded subconsciously: "Little Lin... um, Teacher Lin's Appraisal level is indeed very high!"

Zhao Xiuneng frowned: The Zhao family only deals in Scavenger of Broken Pieces, who learns Appraisal?

He shook his head: "It's Artifact Restoration!"

Fang Jingxian was completely stunned: No... in the Sanqin region, who didn't know Zhao Laotai's craft, why did he have to learn from Lin Sicheng?

Zhao Xiuneng didn't explain further; to be honest, it was already quite something that he could take the initiative to stand up and shake hands and greet her.

He pointed to the sofa, let the three siblings sit down, and asked Zhao Er to pour tea.

Just as they sat down, footsteps came from outside, and a group of people came down the stairs.

A large, bustling crowd entered the exhibition hall next door.

Through the glass door, Fang Jingxian took a few careful looks.

The people in front were likely school leaders, and she recognized the person beside them—a leader from the District Cultural Bureau.

Behind them were Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng, followed by several others, all of whom were deputy officials from departments like culture, tourism, and cultural relics.

They must have been there for a visit; they had already finished looking and were preparing to leave, shaking hands one by one as they parted.

She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she felt that when the leaders shook hands with the school officials and Wang Qi Zhi, they acted quite normally, saying only polite, perfunctory words.

But when it was Lin Sicheng's turn, she felt the smiles on the leaders' faces became much more sincere, and they stopped the polite talk, instead encouraging him repeatedly not to be nervous and to relax when the time came.

It felt like the expression and tone one would use for a younger member of their own family, didn't it?

Even if Lin Sicheng had relatives among them, it couldn't be that they were all relatives, could it?

The group left the building and got into their cars, and Shang Yan whispered an explanation: "The unveiling is next week, the leaders came over early to familiarize themselves with the venue!"

Fang Jingxian was stunned and dazed for a good while: "How big is this World Heritage Application of yours?"

Big enough for a group of leaders to comfort Lin Sicheng one by one: they were all acquaintances, don't be nervous when the time comes, just relax...

Shang Yan paused.

The World Heritage Application was one aspect, but more of it was what Lin Sicheng had risked his life to exchange for.

Believe it or not, after the leaders from the Municipal Bureau arrive, they will be even more cordial and close than these few?

Many things could not be said, so Shang Yan gave an ambiguous reply: "It is quite big!"

While she was still dazed, they sent off the leaders. The Dean, the Deputy Director, Wang Qi Zhi, and Lin Sicheng then entered the office next door.

They didn't come out for another half hour or so.

As always, Lin Sicheng remained gentle and polite: "General Manager Fang, sorry to keep you waiting!"

Fang Jingxian hurriedly stood up: "Teacher Lin, you are too kind!"

She had been quite respectful toward Lin Sicheng before, but now she was even more respectful; she had even started using honorifics without realizing it.

Actually, it was quite normal, exactly the same as when Zhao Xiuneng first saw Lin Sicheng with his arms around Chen Peng, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

They wandered in the gray areas year-round, and upon meeting officials, they would develop an instinctive sense of awe...

Making money was the priority; after a few simple pleasantries, Lin Sicheng and Fang Jingxian headed out.

They didn't bring many people, just him, Zhao Xiuneng, Zhang Feng, and Xu Gaolan.

Even though it wasn't his first time, every time he rode in these two's car, Zhao Xiuneng couldn't help but sigh: being brothers with a bureau chief and having police officers follow him around 24/7—if he could reach this point, he could die without regrets...

Amidst his sighs, the car drove out of the campus, and after about half an hour, they arrived at Fengyeyuan.

Seeing the villas scattered like stars, Zhao Xiuneng looked left and right.

Lin Sicheng followed his gaze: "General Manager Zhao, any impressions?"

"No, I've never been here anyway!" Zhao Xiuneng shook his head, "They might have just moved here!"

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal: that wasn't impossible.

In the trade, one doesn't ask about the seller's background; this is an unwritten rule. Because Xijing is only so big, and there are only so many famous collectors, what if you bypass the middleman and engage in a Lower Out of Cage (private transaction)?

So he didn't ask, and Fang Jingxian didn't say.

But knowing yourself and the enemy means being prepared: in case the path is too wild, one can take precautions in advance.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xiuneng didn't know either.

Thinking to himself, the car stopped in front of a villa. They must have called ahead, as a man in his early thirties was waiting at the door.

He was likely the guide; Fang Jingxian didn't introduce him, and the group followed him into the villa.

Inside were two more men and a woman, also very young. Zhao Xiuneng took a few looks and shook his head slightly, meaning he didn't recognize them.

Lin Sicheng nodded: it didn't matter if he didn't recognize them, as long as the origin of the items was legitimate...

Shang Yan had given instructions beforehand, so Fang Jingxian did not introduce Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiuneng, only saying they were friends.

After a few pleasantries, they got straight to the point. Fang Jingxian held the woman's hand and whispered a few words, the woman nodded, and a man brought over a tray.

It was covered with a red cloth; he placed it on the coffee table and lifted the cloth, revealing eleven ancient coins.

The ten coins on the outer ring were of normal size, about three centimeters in diameter. The one in the middle was slightly larger, about four centimeters.

It was very thick, about three millimeters, and instead of characters like "legal tender," it featured a Lucky Word Mark. Moving clockwise, they were:

Dao Tong Feng, Er Nan Ya Hua, San Xing Gong Zhao, Si Hai Sheng Ping, Wu Gu Feng Deng, Liu Fu Kong Xiu, Qi Zheng Qi Heng, Ba Yin Ke Xie, Jiu Gong Wei Xu, Wan Guo Lai Chao.

At first glance, they looked like flower coins used for prayers or sacrifices, or perhaps temple amulets. But Lin Sicheng's eyelids twitched slightly: were these the opening-furnace coins from the Baoquan Bureau of the Guangxu era?

So-called opening-furnace coins refer to special Lucky Word Mark coins minted when a new emperor ascends the throne, requiring the mint to carve new molds and cast new currency, specifically made for the emperor's approval before the official copper coins are cast.

Every dynasty minted them, but they were minted in extremely small quantities, even fewer than mother coins.

Therefore, they were exceptionally expensive.

If it were a single coin, it would be at least five or six hundred thousand; if a complete set were collected, the price would at least triple or quadruple.

Even though it was only 2008, the price of this set was at least in the tens of millions.

Looking closer, Lin Sicheng's expression turned strange: he had thought they might be fake, but he hadn't expected a mix of real and fake?

The "Zheng Da Guang Ming" Guangxu prayer coin in the middle was real. Of the remaining ten opening-furnace coins, only the San Xing Gong Zhao and Qi Hai Sheng Ping on the sides were real. The remaining eight were all imitations.

But they were cast extremely realistically: the dimensions were identical, the edges were smooth without burrs, and there wasn't a single sand hole on the entire body.

The color was perfect, yellow with a hint of red. It carried traces of a handed-down Black Lacquer Ancient (a type of Copper Oxide patina).

When picked up and tapped, the sound was extremely crisp, with no signs of repair, forging, or acid soaking.

Even the material was indistinguishable; at first glance, there really wasn't much difference between the three real coins and the eight fake ones.

But there was no doubt that these were definitely cast using molds made from real coins, melting down ancient coins from the same period, and then sand-casting them.

The method of making them look old was extremely simple, yet incredibly effective: first roast, then fry, then bury them in semi-dry, semi-wet medicinal sand to "stew."

However, it was extremely time-consuming, taking at least three to five years, and if the temperature or humidity was off by even one degree, or if the medicine was weighed wrong by a single qian, the coins would be ruined.

But as long as it is covered up well, it is guaranteed to fool an expert of Fang Jingxian's middling level.

Watching Zhao Xiuneng, he looked, then scraped, scraped and then tapped, tapped and then weighed...

He probably didn't see through it, otherwise he wouldn't be so serious, but he is definitely suspicious, and he absolutely won't buy it.

Because for an old hand like him, the more peculiar the item, the more he will keep eight hundred precautions: how could a treasure that an outsider can recognize at a glance remain until now and fall into his own hands?

As he watched, Zhao Xiuneng suddenly asked: "What is the price for this set?"

The woman sitting with Fang Jingxian smiled: "Not expensive, six million!"

Isn't that just like giving a discount down to the hip bone?

If this were real, it would be a ghost of a chance...

Thinking secretly, Zhao Xiuneng curled his lip slightly and looked at Lin Sicheng again.

Lin Sicheng smiled: "It's still worth over a million!"

Zhao Xiuneng suddenly understood: just as he thought, how could such an item ever come to his and Lin Sicheng's turn to see?

He put the money down and leaned back, and only then did Fang Jingxian realize belatedly: there is a problem with the item!

But Lin Sicheng said again: it's still worth about a million?

After a moment of thought, she suddenly realized: half-true and half-false?

Even the woman who was holding hands with her and acting like a close sister understood. Her brows couldn't help but furrow, and she stared fixedly at Lin Sicheng.

See, he really is in the know.

Having worked for so many years, she still had some composure, so Fang Jingxian smiled: "Secretary Gao, there are a few more pieces, bring them all out at once!"

Knowing that Fang Jingxian had invited an expert, the woman nodded: "Okay!"

As she spoke, she brought out a few more trays. Lifting the red cloth to look, this time they were porcelains.

One plain-bottomed black-flower sea-wave pattern Plum Vase, and one Qing Famille Rose Figure Vase.

After taking a careful look, Zhao Xiuneng nearly gasped.

He only glanced at the first one and basically didn't pay attention, but the second one... if he hadn't misidentified it, this should be a Jiaqing Pastel Kiln Worker Porcelain Bottle.

But as far as he knew, there was only one in the whole world, currently housed in the Shanxi Museum. So where did this one come from?

More importantly, he had spent most of his life studying porcelain. He had even held the only genuine piece in his arms to study for a month or two. But at this moment, he couldn't for the life of him tell, if this thing were fake, where the fakeness lay?

Subconsciously turning his head back, Lin Sicheng was frowning tightly...