Chapter 192: Receiving Gifts in a Baffling Way

The three siblings were invited into the reception room on the third floor, and the gold carving was placed into the exhibition hall.

The golden light was dazzling, shining brilliantly.

Instinctively, Jiang Yanfei touched the gold bracelet on her hand.

This was the only piece among the pile of junk Lin Chengzhi had given her that wasn't a fake; it weighed only thirty-some grams, yet it still cost Lin Chengzhi nearly three months' salary.

And that gold carving in the cabinet weighed nearly three kilograms; doing the math, Lin Chengzhi would have to save for thirty years without eating or drinking.

She had heard of plenty of people receiving gifts, and had even seen some: the school's logistics director, who was only investigated last year, hadn't even accumulated this much after being corrupt for half a lifetime.

So for a moment, she couldn't quite understand: they were just "ordinary friends," and he had even come uninvited, yet he gave a gift worth hundreds of thousands?

Seeing Jiang Yanfei staring straight at the gold carving, thinking she was suspicious of whether Lin Sicheng had gone down a crooked path, Dan Wangshu explained:

"That General Manager Fang is an antique dealer. According to Wang Qi Zhi, Lin Sicheng helped her look at a few items last year, saving her from losing several million... Oh right, and last week, Lin Sicheng helped again, and she likely earned over a million..."

Jiang Yanfei's mouth hung open, her face stunned: Lin Sicheng just helps others a little, and it earns them millions upon millions?

How much were the two apartments at home even worth?

In her astonishment, the receptionist pushed open the door: "Professor Wang, Teacher Lin, guests have arrived!"

Lin Sicheng stood up and looked outside: an Audi pulled into a parking space, and Guan Xingmin and Hao Jun each got out of the car carrying a box.

The group hurried out to greet them.

Thinking Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei didn't know them, Ye Anning whispered an introduction: "Uncle, Aunt, the tall one is Director Guan from the Municipal Appraisal Center, and the one next to him is Secretary-General Hao from the Folk Art Research Association... Lin Sicheng often hangs out with them..."

Hangs out with them?

Jiang Yanfei and Lin Chengzhi exchanged a glance: Guan Xingmin was an old friend of the old man, and they had a very good relationship; Lin Chengzhi had even asked him for help a few times.

Hao Jun was no stranger either, having been to their home. Both of these men were on equal footing with the old man. Lin Chengzhi wouldn't treat them as elders, but he was always very respectful when he saw them.

Yet Ye Anning said he often hangs out with Lin Sicheng?

Looking closer, both men were quite normal when shaking hands with the old man. But when it came to Lin Sicheng, they didn't even shake hands, instead shoving the boxes into his arms. Then Hao Jun punched him, and Guan Xingmin gave him a bear hug.

They said something else, and the whole group burst into loud laughter.

Were they really just draping arms over shoulders and laughing and joking?

No... when they visited the old man at home, both of these men felt quite steady?

In a flash, they welcomed the two inside, and the group didn't stand on ceremony at all, opening the boxes on the spot.

The gift Guan Xingmin brought was a bowl.

At first glance, it was quite ordinary: a purple copper body, inlaid with engraved flowers and gold-gilding copper plates; the rim and base of the bowl were set with turquoise and agate beads, and only the lion-shaped knob was cast from gold.

Regardless of the material, size, shape, or even the condition, it seemed far inferior to Fang Jingxian's gold carving. But the group was suddenly stunned.

Including Hao Jun, who had come with Guan Xingmin: he knew Guan Xingmin was bringing a bowl, but he had forgotten to ask what kind of bowl it was.

This item was something Guan Xingmin had picked up at Panjiayuan about eight or nine years ago for seventy thousand.

The two had known each other back then, and Hao Jun had found someone to look at it for him. The old master just glanced at it twice and made the final verdict: it was for a Concubine or a Prince in the Qing Dynasty palace to hold silver ingots.

During festivals, it would be placed by the master's side, filled with silver ingots. When juniors or servants came to kowtow, they would be gifted a silver ingot for each kowtow.

So, this thing had a full name, and it was ridiculously long: Gold Lion-Knobbed Gold Lotus Petal Inlaid Turquoise and Agate Copper Gold-Gilded Gathering Treasure Bowl.

He had only seen it twice that year, and hadn't seen it again for seven or eight years; Hao Jun had assumed Guan Xingmin had hidden it in a safe, preparing to pass it down to his son as a family heirloom.

But he had suddenly taken it out, and even brought it as a gift?

They were all experts, so Hao Jun didn't need to be reminded to see the extraordinary nature of this item. Not to mention, there was an expert among experts present.

Wang Qi Zhi looked at it again and again, touched it, and tapped it.

Then he pondered for a long while, half-joking and half-serious: "Director Guan, this is just a plaque unveiling for a studio, and you're giving such a heavy gift; what will you give when Lin Sicheng gets married and has kids?"

Guan Xingmin didn't care at all: "When that time comes, I'll go find something better!"

Seeing his smug look, Hao Jun's face turned green:

"No... Lao Guan, I've asked you eight hundred times, what did you say? Just a bowl, worth seventy or eighty thousand... But why the hell didn't you say that was eight or nine years ago, before you picked up the bargain, when it was just seventy or eighty thousand on a street stall?

We're brothers, damn it; you're handing over something that could be a family heirloom, worth at least a million. And I just brought a piece of trash painting?"

Being scolded head-on, Guan Xingmin didn't get angry, but instead laughed "haha": "Lao Hao, you're different from me..."

Guan Xingmin replied, looked left and right, and seeing there were no outsiders, an irrepressible smile appeared on his face, "Thanks to Lin Sicheng, it's already been decided; after the New Year, I'm going to move up, and it's ten to one that it'll be the Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch..."

The group was suddenly stunned: what the hell?

He spoke vaguely, but anyone who should understand could understand: what did it mean to "move up"?

A promotion.

The Appraisal Center was a Deputy Division Chief level, but the leadership was ranked higher. He had previously been a Deputy Director at the Deputy Division Chief level, so this promotion was at least half a grade.

He was definitely going to a high-ranking branch; it probably wouldn't be as Bureau Chief, but being Political Commissar was basically no problem.

However, only those in the know understood how difficult it was to go from a deputy position to a full position at the division level.

What was even harder was: for someone with a technical background like him to be sent down to a branch as a full-ranking official was, if not unique, then extremely rare; it could be called difficult upon difficult.

But then thinking about what he said: Thanks to Lin Sicheng...

Wang Qi Zhi and Hao Jun understood instantly:

Not even mentioning the Inverted Pot, just the earliest White Jade Lion Paperweight, the Imitation Xuande Censer in the middle, the fake jade and fake Jadeite from Yang Zhigao later on, and the earth-shattering Zhang Anshi Tomb grave-robbing case.

Every time, the credit had fallen solidly on Guan Xingmin's head, which meant this "move up" of his was something Lin Sicheng had forcefully piled up for him with merit.

So, what was a gold-inlaid treasure bowl? Even if he brought another one, Guan Xingmin would give it with a clear conscience.

Suddenly, Hao Jun felt much better: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Guan Xingmin glared at him: "I said it earlier, what would you have brought!"

"I'd have come empty-handed!"

Hao Jun retorted, and opened the scroll: "Come, Lao Guan, take a look!"

The few of them leaned forward in unison.

A piece of fine-brush heavy-color painting on paper, "Jin Shang Tian Hua Tu":

One male and one female, two golden pheasants stand between the branches; the male pheasant has a golden crown on its head, its feathers gleaming, standing proudly. The female pheasant is full of spirit, turning its head to look around. Surrounding the golden pheasants are flowers in full bloom, blossoming against the wind, gaudy purple and brilliant red, competing in beauty.

There is no need to look at the signature or colophon; just by the brushwork, composition, and coloring, one knows it is the work of a famous master.

Looking closely at the edge: Painted and inscribed by Ren Yi, styled Bonian, of Shanyin, in the third month of spring in the Yi-You year of the Guangxu reign.

Below it is a seal, "Xi Yin". Below that is another: "Deng Tuo Huan Xi".

Several people are stunned: One of the Four Rens, Ren Xi, Ren Bonian?

He was the teacher of Wu Changshuo, and was as famous as Pu Hua and Xu Gu, known at the time as the "Four Masters of the Shanghai School". Xu Beihong claimed: After Qiu Shizhou (Qiu Ying), he is the number one painter in China.

Of course, this should be flattery among scholars; "number one in China" is a bit of an exaggeration. But to rank among the famous masters of the late Qing Dynasty, being in the top twenty or thirty is not a problem at all.

Looking at the other seal, "Deng Tuo Huan Xi", this is the collection seal of Mr. Deng Tuo, the president and editor-in-chief of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily, and president and editor-in-chief of the People's Daily.

The works created, edited, and published by Mr. Deng Tuo are too numerous to count, the most famous being the "Selected Works of ***".

So, how is this "a broken painting" as Hao Jun said?

Staring and staring again, Guan Xingmin's face also turns green: You surnamed Hao, f*** your mother.

I asked you what you were giving, and you said, just a late Qing golden pheasant painting.

Guan Xingmin thought at the time: There don't seem to be any famous masters who painted golden pheasants in the late Qing, so he didn't pay attention. But this son of a b**** didn't mention at all: besides the golden pheasants, there were flowers on the painting?

Otherwise, he would have thought of it immediately—it was either Ren Bonian or Wu Changshuo...

This painting, even if it doesn't compare to that Gathering Treasure, isn't far off.

Seeing his eyes like knives, Hao Jun is completely unconcerned: "Why don't you calculate how much I've earned?"

Guan Xingmin is suddenly stunned.

Just from the items unearthed from Lin Sicheng, Hao Jun sold seven or eight pieces to that Tibetan boss. He earned at least two or three million.

And that Song Dynasty official crown pearl flower; Hao Jun operated a bit, and with one flip, it was over a million.

Giving Lin Sicheng a painting worth five or six hundred thousand is truly appropriate.

Lin Sicheng, however, is startled.

At the current stage, the price of Ren Bonian's works is indeed not very high; in 2004, a "Jin Qi Hui Yatu" was auctioned for only 680,000.

Later, a "Peony and Golden Pheasant" was auctioned; its scale, conception, as well as brushwork and quality were on par with this one, and the transaction price was 720,000.

With Mr. Deng Tuo's seal on this one, the price should be a bit higher, eight or nine hundred thousand should be expected. If he meets an expert, a million is not impossible.

But by around 2010, the works of Shanghai School painters suddenly became very popular, and Ren Xi's paintings rose with the tide. They would easily fetch three or four million, or five or six million.

Just this piece, looking at the fine-brush coloring and the brushwork, is precisely a mature masterpiece from his later years. Taking the average, it is at least over four million.

Not to mention, he missed many opportunities in his past life, but this is truly the first time he has received such a heavy gift.

The key is that it will rise sharply in less than two years; by then, Senior Brother Hao will probably regret it enough to smash his own bowl...

Lin Sicheng looks at Hao Jun: "Senior Brother, how about you change it for another one?"

Change it?

Hao Jun's heart stirs: I came to give you a gift in good faith, and you ask me to change it; what is the meaning of this?

It is definitely not a fake, and let's not even talk about fakes; even if he brought a piece of white paper today, Lin Sicheng would happily accept it.

So, did he miss a treasure?

But miss a fart.

The painting is definitely real, but the price is just that price; how far can it go?

Hao Jun is completely unconcerned: "This is the first time I've heard that a gift given away needs to be changed? Just keep it..."

Lin Sicheng thinks for a moment and nods: That's true.

At worst, when he holds some happy event, he will pick a good one to give back...

He doesn't put it in the box, but lets Li Zhen place it in the exhibition hall.

Sitting idly in the reception room, the two stay behind, saying they are helping Lin Sicheng welcome guests.

"I didn't invite many people, that's about it." Lin Sicheng looks around, "Uncle Gu might be busy and will come later!"

Hao Jun is stunned for a moment and points outside: "Then why are you making it so grand? This etiquette, this stage, you hired a professional celebration company, right?"

Lin Sicheng nods: "The district leaders and school leaders are going to cut the ribbon together and give speeches, so of course it has to be grand!"

Hao Jun looks around: "These people are a bit few? It's not lively..."

"Including the Researchers from the studio and the students helping out, there are more than thirty people in total, which is not few..."

Several people sit on the sofa chatting, while Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei look at each other.

They were just thinking: A casual friend who came uninvited gave a gold carving worth three or four hundred thousand; what should a close friend give after arriving?

Now it's fine, they've seen it: one is a painting worth eight or nine hundred thousand, and one is a Gathering Treasure basin worth over a million.

Compared to the gold carving, it has tripled, and the implication is better: it's not a craft, but a genuine antique, a Cultural Relic.

But this is secondary; what shocks the couple is the few sentences the group whispered together: Director Guan is going to be promoted, but it's thanks to Lin Sicheng?

It definitely has nothing to do with Professor Wang, otherwise he should thank Wang Qi Zhi, but Lin Sicheng, what help could he provide?

This is not arranging a student in the school's student union, but going from a deputy division level to a full division level, from a technical position to a Supervisor leader.

Ask Lin Chengzhi, how much effort and energy did the old man spend for him to go from a deputy section level to a full section level?

Looking again, Lin Sicheng seems to be explaining to the old man, who is frowning and squinting, as if saying: Lin Sicheng, I don't believe your nonsense.

The others, like Guan Xingmin, Hao Jun, and Wang Qi Zhi, seem to be chatting, but are actually pricking up their ears. Listening, they look at each other and then smile strangely.

Lin Chengzhi can even guess the subtext in their eyes: Lin Sicheng's mouth is really capable of spouting nonsense...

Just as he is secretly guessing, the receptionist pushes the door open again: "Teacher Lin, a guest is here!"

Several people turn their heads in unison: Eh, Gu Ming... why is he coming to join the fun?

The people who came today are either leaders or elders; besides Lin Sicheng, the only young person left is Ye Anning, who is afraid that Gu Ming will lead Lin Sicheng astray and puts pressure on Gu Ming whenever she sees him.

Without company, Gu Ming felt uncomfortable staying there; wouldn't coming here be the same as suffering?

Lin Sicheng had indeed mentioned it, but he hadn't asked him to come; he had said to find some time before the year ended and have Gu Ming call Li Xinfang to go out and sit together.

Yet Gu Ming not only came, he brought three people: the woman was Li Xinfang, and there were two middle-aged men around fifty years old beside her?

After taking a careful look, Lin Sicheng's expression gradually turned strange, and he turned his head to look at Guan Xingmin.

"Is this... that General Manager Li and his Partner?"

Guan Xingmin nodded: "Yes, but don't look at me; I haven't seen him for a long time!"

That meant Gu Ming had a loose tongue.

In a flash, Lin Sicheng went out to greet them. The others also stood up, and Guan Xingmin waved his hand: "You all stay seated; Old Hao and I will just go with Lin Sicheng!"

The two were classmates; Guan Xingmin introduced them, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then accompanied Li Guojun to the Reception Room.

Gu Ming brought Li Xinfang to meet the people, his mouth very sweet, calling them one by one: Godfather, Godfather, Godmother...

Taking advantage of when Li Xinfang wasn't paying attention, Lin Sicheng punched him. Gu Ming grimaced in pain, yet still had to force a smile.

After greeting everyone, they also went to the Reception Room, and Jiang Yanfei glared at Lin Sicheng: "Everything was fine, why did you punch him?"

"The one giving the gift is the partner of Gu Ming's girlfriend's father; I'm only meeting him for the first time, yet he sent a Republic of China era bronze sculpture ornament."

Lin Sicheng sighed: "It's worth over a million."

How much?

Even though she was almost numb from the shock, Jiang Yanfei still widened her eyes: "Over a million... why did he send such a heavy gift?"

Of course, it was still because of that Imitation Xuande Censer. If it weren't for Lin Sicheng, this person would have been in for at least seven years.

But the logic didn't hold: Lin Sicheng had helped the Public Security Bureau, and at most, he had helped Guan Xingmin; this General Manager Jin had just happened to be there and avoided a disaster.

The problem was that General Manager Jin, Li Guojun, and even Li Xinfang and Gu Ming all mistakenly believed that Lin Sicheng had pulled some strings through Guan Xingmin out of face for Gu Ming. No matter how Lin Sicheng explained it, none of them believed him.

Therefore, Li Guojun had brought it up several times and even specifically gave Gu Ming a card.

However, Lin Sicheng scolded him and made Gu Ming return it. But now that it had reached this point, he couldn't just kick the people and the gifts out, could he?

It was hard to explain in a few words, so Lin Sicheng only said there were some business dealings.

Jiang Yanfei subconsciously curled her lip: Your father and I don't really manage you, but we have eyes...

Just as she was secretly pondering, the receptionist pushed open the door again.

The group looked out in unison: a Toyota off-road vehicle was parked in a space, and a man and a woman stepped out.

The man was slightly older, about thirty, and the woman was younger, twenty-six or twenty-seven.

An Assistant followed behind, holding a box.

Lin Sicheng took a look, then took another look, and was stunned for a moment: that pair of siblings from Qujiang Mansion?

It was the time Hao Jun took him there; Lin Sicheng had appraised a Western Han Dynasty Qingbai Mirror and the coffin lid of Zhang Anshi and his wife for that General Manager Chen Yangyan...

However, he had only met them once; they had left a phone number, but he had never called it.

So, there was absolutely no friendship; how did these two find their way here?

Lin Sicheng suddenly turned his head and looked at Hao Jun.

Hao Jun was even more surprised than him, his bean-like eyes widening as he stared: "Old Chen has such a nose? I only mentioned it once on the phone... but since they're already here?"

They were here, that was true; anyone who comes to the door is a guest.

However, he couldn't just accept gifts from anyone.

Lin Sicheng stared at him: "Senior Brother, should I accept this gift or not?"

"Nonsense!" Hao Jun said as if it were only natural, "You can accept a gift from Old Guan's classmate, why wouldn't you accept one from Old Chen?"

Lin Sicheng was stunned, speechless.

If one could say that General Manager Jin was just a coincidence, Lin Sicheng had genuinely helped this General Manager Chen avert a massive disaster.

If it weren't for Lin Sicheng, he would have been the "boot" in Yu Dahai's "inverted boot removal" trick, definitely taking a huge hit.

Whether he would have gone inside or not was unknown, but he would have lost tens of millions at the very least. It was even questionable whether he could have kept those mines of his in Yulin...

Amidst these thoughts, the people were welcomed into the Reception Room.

Seeing the gold carving hanging with Red Silk and the Gold-gilding Bronze Basin with congratulatory calligraphy, Chen Daoqing opened the box.

Lin Sicheng took one look, and his eyelids jumped "thump, thump, thump."

Hao Jun was even worse, his eyes wide and mouth agape, looking like someone who had never seen the world.

What is this?

A Qing Dynasty Painted Enamel Porcelain and Jade Magnolia Bonsai...

The basin was Painted Enamel Porcelain, definitely from the Qing Dynasty Imperial Kiln.

The trunk and branches were bronze carvings, absolutely from the Bronze Workshop, one of the thirty-six workshops of the Imperial Household Department's Zaozuochang.

The leaves and petals were all carved from jade and meticulously polished; there was no other place that could create them besides the Imperial Household Department's Gold and Jade Workshop.

And the rockery—that wasn't stone, but a copper-bodied enamel ornament fired by the Enamel Workshop.

Therefore, just this one bonsai included at least four pieces of Qing Dynasty imperial Cultural Relics. If one had to estimate a price, it might be worth more than the previous four pieces combined.

But he and General Manager Chen had only met once...

Lin Sicheng pondered for a moment, the words of polite refusal on the tip of his tongue, when Hao Jun made the final decision: "Accept it!"

He was so unyielding, and without the slightest concealment, he said directly in front of the two siblings: "Compared to Old Chen's mines, this basin doesn't even count as a single hair off nine cows..."

Lin Sicheng widened his eyes, just about to say something, when Chen Daoqing breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Uncle Hao, my father said the same thing!"

As he spoke, he turned around and bowed slightly: "Teacher Lin, my father happened to be going abroad, so he asked us siblings to offer his congratulations on his behalf... please don't take offense."

No... something worth millions, what was there to take offense at?

But it just felt like this gift was accepted in a very inexplicable way.