Chapter 217: This Is Called Professionalism

Since there is a precedent to follow, the guess is no longer a guess, but an inference.

A difference of two characters, a world of difference...

Thinking secretly to himself, Wang Qi Zhi let out a sharp breath: "Take some time and go to Beijing!"

The trip to Beijing that Wang Qi Zhi spoke of was, of course, to the Forbidden City.

Check the materials as needed, perform appraisals as needed, make comparisons as needed, and seek advice as needed.

If some old Expert happens to be in a good mood and stamps or writes a colophon for Lin Sicheng, that would be even better.

But Lin Sicheng still felt that the timing was not yet right. There was also no need to make a special trip for these few items...

He shook his head: "Teacher, let's wait a while, at least until the second or third inspection and study tour is over. Ideally, wait until the municipal World Heritage Application passes the preliminary review!"

Wang Qi Zhi paused.

Compared to that, the World Heritage Application project was naturally more important, and besides, Lin Sicheng wasn't exactly short on money for the time being, was he?

Even if he were short, he had his teacher, Professor Lin Zhangqing, and his Partner Zhao Xiuneng. Which of those three couldn't pull out a million or so?

And to be honest, these few pieces are closely related and can completely corroborate each other. In Wang Qi Zhi's view, it would be best not to sell a single one.

Once verified and with a solid foundation, store the real ones in a bank and put a High Imitation in the exhibition hall... Tsk, just thinking about it feels satisfying.

In a flash of thought, Wang Qi Zhi became even more urgent: "When you get back, let Ye Anning accompany you!"

Lin Sicheng was slightly stunned, then nodded vigorously: "Okay, sorry to trouble Sister Ye Anning!"

You agreed quite quickly, didn't you?

Ye Anning glared at him: "It's only three to five days round trip, a week at most, why aren't you going now?"

How could it possibly be a week?

Either don't go, but if he goes, Lin Sicheng would have to stay in Beijing for at least a year!

Secretly changing his train of thought, he smiled again: "I have to go to Shanxi in two weeks, but I need to check materials and organize files before I go, there's simply no time..."

Seeing that Ye Anning didn't believe him, he looked at Wang Qi Zhi: "If you don't believe me, ask Teacher, everything has already been arranged with the people in Shanxi!"

Seeing Wang Qi Zhi nod, Ye Anning pursed her lips again: "Then wait until you get back to go."

Anyway, if Lin Sicheng doesn't go then, she won't go either...

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal and asked Hao Jun to help contact a safe deposit box.

Having earned at least ten million, they had to celebrate. Wang Qi Zhi immediately arranged a hotel, notified Lin Zhangqing and Guan Xingmin, and didn't forget to call Dan Wangshu.

After contacting the bank, Hao Jun suddenly remembered: "What's the deal with that Daoist Jing? He seemed hesitant and evasive when talking about the third-generation patriarch."

"Senior Brother Hao, do you remember the few Medical Books, miscellaneous treatises on calligraphy and painting, and works on seal carving and epigraphy he brought out at the time?"

Hao Jun recalled it and nodded.

"Those were all family heirlooms, not relics of the sect. It's impossible for them to be so complete and numerous if he weren't a direct descendant... Therefore, Daoist Jing's third-generation patriarch should be his ancestor!"

Hao Jun was stunned: "An ancestor is an ancestor, what is there to be afraid of saying?"

"You remember that painting, the 'Penglai Immortal Mountain', right? Isn't it painted extremely well, with great spirit, close to the work of a master? Because his ancestor was too famous, especially in the art of calligraphy and painting, even more famous than Liu Iiming. Everyone knows the name as soon as it's mentioned, which is why he didn't dare to say it..."

Lin Sicheng smiled: "The reason is simple: his ancestor was considered a lay Daoist, not a Quanzhen disciple. So strictly speaking, the lineage of Fan Qinghe only lasted for three generations: Fan Qinghe, Liu Iiming, Tang Yangqian..."

After Liu Iiming passed away, Tang Yangqian returned to secular life, resumed his original name Tang Lian, and subsequently married and had children to carry on the family line... So, Daoist Jing's surname isn't Jing, it should be Tang. This 'Jing' of his is just a Daoist name assigned according to the Longmen Sect's ranking..."

Tang Lian?

Hao Jun and Zhao Xiuneng looked at each other: Tang Ruqi, Tang Jieting?

They subconsciously recalled the sentence Daoist Jing had said: Yi, medicine, calligraphy, painting, divination, Physiognomy, geomancy... the grandmaster was proficient in everything and refined in everything.

Tsk, the old Daoist really wasn't lying?

"Miraculous hands rejuvenating the spring, Saving the World for the Common People, Ink Falls Giving Birth to Myriad Phenomena, Picture Completed Seeing True Nature."

This was the evaluation of Tang Lian by Qin Weiyue, a native of Lanzhou, Censor of the Jiangnan Circuit of the Jiaqing Court of Censors, and Salt Commissioner of Hubei.

As far as Zhao Xiuneng knows, the Gansu and Lanzhou Museums both house his calligraphy and paintings.

In both Lanzhou and Nanchang, there are still monuments commemorating his benevolent deeds of providing free medical consultations and medicine.

Besides calligraphy, painting, and medicine, Tang Lian's skills in divination, Physiognomy, and geomancy were also extremely high. Qin Weiyue hired him as a staff member during his time as Censor of the Jiangnan Circuit and his two terms as Salt Commissioner.

Thinking about it now, Daoist Jing could be considered to have a scholarly family background, and he knows both fortune-telling and pulse-taking.

It's no wonder he didn't dare to speak: a Quanzhen Daoist marrying and having children, what kind of Quanzhen sect are you?

Therefore, this so-called 32nd-generation descendant of the Quanzhen Longmen Sect has absolutely nothing to do with the Quanzhen Longmen Sect.

Who knows, maybe he has several sons and daughters back home?

If people found out, his Daoist registration would be voided and his Daoist certificate would be confiscated, so of course Daoist Jing wouldn't dare to speak recklessly...

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Don't spread this!"

The two nodded in unison.

Not to mention anything else, without Daoist Jing, where would these eight items on the table have come from?

For this alone, they should all be grateful to Daoist Jing...

After chatting for a while, they packed the items and delivered them to the bank; it was already five o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Sicheng drove, taking Wang Qi Zhi and Ye Anning to pick up the little Pangzi first, then to pick up Dan Wangshu.

When they arrived at the school, just as Ye Anning was about to get out of the car, Wang Qi Zhi said his heart was racing and he would go out to catch some air and pick up Wang Youjian while he was at it.

After handing over the pickup card and closing the car door, Ye Anning rested her chin on the back of the seat: "How long are you going to Shanxi this time?"

"It's hard to say, but I estimate it won't be short, at least two or three months!"

"Why so long?"

"There are several kiln sites, I have to look at them one by one and learn from them one by one!"

"Oh~"

After replying, Ye Anning leaned forward and rested her chin between the two seats: "Zhuang Yi's hometown seems to be in Shanxi!"

Lin Sicheng paused, unconcerned: "Cousin Ye, do you know how big Shanxi is, and how low the probability of running into someone is?"

"People have legs!"

Lin Sicheng let out a "Pfft": "I'm not Renminbi; does everyone have to like me when they see me?"

Ye Anning pursed her lips: What is Renminbi worth?

Tens of millions—how high-powered would a money-printing machine have to be to print that much in a single day?

Not to mention others, even she found it unbelievable.

Appearing unintentional, as if just mentioning it in passing. Before long, Wang Qi Zhi brought Pangzi into the car.

Then they went to the Radio and Television Bureau to pick up Dan Wangshu.

Once in the car, Dan Wangshu didn't speak, staring straight at the rearview mirror.

Lin Sicheng hadn't reacted yet, but Wang Qi Zhi felt uneasy: "Can you stop staring like that? What if Lin Sicheng drives into a ditch?"

"How is that possible?"

With a "Tch," Dan Wangshu sighed again: "Lin Sicheng, tens of millions... do you know what that concept means?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Mistress, these few pieces won't be sold for the time being, so it can't be calculated that way."

Dan Wangshu couldn't help but laugh: It was only because Lin Sicheng wouldn't sell; if he did, it would be far more than tens of millions.

Wang Qi Zhi was even more adamant: If operated properly, it would be at least twenty million as a baseline.

And Lin Sicheng, he only spent two days in total?

Amidst these thoughts, they arrived at the hotel. Just as they reached the parking lot, they could see Guan Xingmin pacing in circles at the lobby entrance from afar.

As soon as the car stopped, he rushed over in two or three strides.

Lin Sicheng and Wang Qi Zhi exchanged a look: An imperial portrait, an emperor's calligraphy, an emperor's seal—if one were to see even one of these with their own eyes, it would be an eye-opening experience for a lifetime.

Let alone three?

But too many people had seen them; it couldn't be hidden even if they wanted to, and there was no need to hide it: because when the time came, even if they were High Imitations, they would still have to display one of each in the Protection Center's exhibition hall.

Just like the Chicken Cup that Zhao Xiuneng sent over.

The logic was simple: If the Cultural Relic Restoration and Protection Center doesn't display Cultural Relics, what would you display?

This is called heritage, this is called professionalism...