Chapter 280: Picking Up Bargains at the Auction

Ye Anning blinked her eyes, looked at the painting, and then looked at Qin Ruozhi.

Lin Sicheng's guess was truly accurate: as long as Qin Ruozhi raised her paddle, the shills arranged by the seller would inevitably follow.

Was it not as expected?

Amidst his reflections, the image on the screen changed, continuing to the next piece.

There were Ming and Qing dynasty works, Republic of China works, and also modern and contemporary ones; the auction was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Occasionally, Qin Ruozhi would raise her paddle. Gradually, some people noticed something wrong.

Every time she raised her paddle, it was at the critical moment when the bidding had just started and the hammer was about to fall. That is, when the auctioneer was calling out "so-and-so, first time" and "so-and-so, second time."

But if someone followed behind, she rarely followed up; most of the time, she would give up.

After three or four times in a row, the faces of several sellers turned green: why the hell did it feel like a pause button was pressed the moment she followed?

Regardless of whether the painting was worth it or a loss, and how much room for price increases remained, the real collectors would simply not follow?

They didn't understand it at first, but after being messed with a few times, from then on, eight out of ten times she raised her paddle, no one would follow, basically equaling the hammer price.

Lu Meng looked astonished: "Brother, what is going on here?"

"Because every time she raises her paddle, it is when the auctioneer is calling the price, which means the item has basically reached its peak; at most, it is only worth that price, so real collectors naturally won't follow anymore."

"And as for those who suddenly increase the price, seventy or eighty percent are the seller's shills. Otherwise, why didn't you follow even once when the bidding started earlier, but you followed the moment she called? It's nothing more than seeing that she has money."

"But as soon as someone follows, she gives up, which means not only is the item stuck in the seller's hands, but they also have to pay a hefty commission. After a few times like this, which shill or seller would dare to hold the price against her?"

Lu Meng still didn't get it: "But sometimes, she will continue to follow?"

"Because those few pieces are the things she really wants to bid on?" Lu Zhen sighed, "Don't you see? The ones she bids on are either Li Keran, Huang Binhong, or Fu Baoshi and Pan Tianshou."

Lu Meng suddenly realized: are they all famous artists with red themes?

The tactic isn't considered novel; it's nothing more than one feint and one real move, but you can't be sure which pieces she really wants. More importantly: the consignors of the works she successfully bids on are mostly descendants of these famous artists; out of consideration for long-term reputation and the honor of their predecessors, they dare not ruin their own brand.

Naturally, there are no shills or behaviors like hiring people to drive up the price.

In a flash, Lu Zhen lowered his voice: "I haven't heard that she has a hobby for this, and her father is in the Ministry of Culture; she doesn't need to be so complicated if she wants these famous artists' works. Therefore, she must be bidding on behalf of someone else!"

Lin Sicheng secretly praised: regardless of his character, Young Master Lu's experience and deductive ability are quite strong.

In a flash, the auction continued; after about two and a half hours, the special session for Calligraphy and Painting finally ended.

Lin Sicheng did a rough calculation; he spent about five million, which was one million more than the previous budget.

The good thing was that not only were all fourteen pieces he expected obtained, but he also bid on two extra Orchid and Bamboo paintings by Pan Tianshou. Just these two, if kept for three years, would triple in value...

The auction house arranged a buffet; fearing to run into acquaintances, Lin Sicheng and Ye Anning did not go. By three o'clock in the afternoon, the third session began.

This session was a special session for scholar's studio items, modern famous seal carvings, and desk ornaments. There were even more guests participating than in the previous session, and many of them were Experts from various major Museums in Beijing.

Seeing familiar figures, Lin Sicheng stood up subconsciously; Ye Anning didn't understand why and turned her head to look.

Four or five people, men and women, all in their forties, stopped in the row behind.

It seemed they knew Wang Qizhi, and the group was chatting and laughing.

Subsequently, Wang Qizhi introduced them; whether it was Zhao Xiuneng, Zhao Xiuxian, or Hao Jun and Chen Yangyan, they all wore expressions of having long admired them.

After a long exchange of pleasantries, those few walked along the aisle toward the front row. Just as they passed, He Laoshi lowered his voice: "The two who just passed by, one is Director Dan of the Display Department of the Forbidden City, and one is Director Lu of the Ceramics Institute of the Forbidden City!"

Lu Zhen's eyes lit up: "Then as long as they raise their paddles for an item, can we safely follow?"

"Rest assured, they won't raise them; even if there is something they like, they will arrange for someone else."

Lu Zhen paused and sighed: "That's true!"

While talking, Ye Anning and Lin Sicheng straightened their backs and looked at each other again.

Back in elementary school, Ye Anning used to run around the Forbidden City behind Dan Wangshu; it was as if these people had watched her grow up, so who wouldn't know her?

Lin Sicheng had just given a lecture the day before yesterday; at that time, Director Dan and Director Lu were both there, so their impression of him could not be deeper.

But it didn't matter; the things that needed to be bid on were basically in hand, leaving only the last seal. Zhao Da and Zhao Er could both raise the paddle, so Lin Sicheng prepared to say hello.

But just as he stood up, he was pressed back down by Ye Anning.

Better safe than sorry: Lu Zhen hadn't bid on that seal yet, had he?

Before long, the auction began.

There were quite a few good things: brushes, ink, inkstones, water droppers, ink slabs, and seals.

The "Ji Xiaolan's Inkstone Gifted to Liu Yong" that Lin Sicheng had looked at started with no reserve price and sold for 520,000. It was more or less the same as his estimate: over 500,000.

Including that Ming Dynasty Shi Zhongming Begonia Inkstone, many people saw that the inkstone and the box were not a set, but in order to bid for that box with the inscription by Yu Yue, the price soared from the starting price of 40,000 to over 270,000.

There were also items worth over a million, but most of them were seals. Lin Sicheng's hands itched, and he bid on two Tianhuang Thin-Carved Seals.

One was 70,000, and one was 130,000.

By the time the auctioneer dropped the hammer, meaning these two items were already Lin Sicheng's, Lu Zhen sneered: "These are just two ordinary Field Yellow Stone ornaments, and they are machine-carved products. Spending 200,000, is there a hole in your brain?"

Seeing his gloating expression, Ye Anning was furious: "Hindsight is 20/20, what were you doing earlier?"

Lin Sicheng didn't speak and pressed Ye Anning down: the more angry you get at such a person, the more smug he becomes.

Besides, although they were modern machine-carved products, these two were not the ordinary yellow stones that Lu Zhen described.

It was only because the buyer cherished the stone material too much, not daring to use a deep knife, let alone cut or split it, that after obtaining it, they only did micro-carving based on the original shape of the stone.

If it were changed to Deep Carving, or if it were cut open along the cracks, one would discover that the central part of these two stones had already reached the level of "frozen stone."

And the price of Tianhuang frozen stone is dozens of times that of ordinary yellow stone.

Lin Sicheng planned to take them back and immediately cut out the frozen stone, then carve two seals, one for his grandfather and one for his father.

In a flash, that gold Han Dynasty "Fa Nu" seal came up. The starting price was only 8,000, but there were not many people bidding, only three or four parties.

Lu Zhen put on an act: "Lu Meng, isn't your classmate's boyfriend looking to pick up a bargain? Why doesn't he raise the paddle?"

Lu Meng glared at him, and Ye Anning let out a "ha."

Just a moment ago, she was thinking about whether to let Lu Zhen off the hook for Lu Meng's sake.

But in the blink of an eye, this dog of a person started making trouble.

Fine, just you wait for me later.

Knowing full well it was fake, Lin Sicheng naturally couldn't possibly raise his paddle, and there were basically no real collectors bidding either.

When the seller saw it couldn't be hyped up, they let the people they had arranged only call out twice before giving up, and finally, the hammer fell at twenty-eight thousand.

Subsequently, two more jade seals were auctioned, and that Turtle Knob Seal made its grand entrance.

With a "clink," Lu Zhen's eyes lit up.

During the intermission, he had specifically brought He Laoshi to take a look, and he said there was basically no problem. Therefore, he was determined to win it today.

In a flash, the auctioneer announced the price, and before he had even finished speaking, someone raised a paddle, and with one bid, it went up by seventy or eighty thousand.

With a starting price of forty thousand, it broke one hundred thousand in a single round.

Afterward, from increasing the bid by two thousand each time, it went to ten thousand, then twenty thousand, and then to "2, 5, 8, 0." In less than three minutes, it reached eight hundred thousand.

Who still needed Ye Anning to act as a shill for free?

She had a strange look on her face, staring at Lin Sicheng.

Lin Sicheng shook his head.

He also didn't understand why this seal could skyrocket so fast, but looking ahead, whether it was Director Shan or Director Lu, including those Experts from the Forbidden City who came together, they all had expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

This meant they had seen the exact same one in the Forbidden City and could also conclude that this one was fake, which was why they were so astonished.

In a flash, the price broke through one million, and Lu Zhen got his wish, finally closing the deal at one million one hundred thousand.

The moment the hammer fell, Lu Zhen felt relieved, his eyebrows dancing with joy.

Afterward, he turned his head again: "Aren't you also planning to bid? Why didn't you raise your paddle?"

Ye Anning couldn't be bothered to talk to him, and Lin Sicheng just smiled: "As long as you're happy!"

Lu Zhen nodded: The Han Dynasty seal was in his hands, and it only cost one million; who wouldn't be happy?

As these thoughts turned, another auction item came on stage.

What was displayed was still the photo from the catalog, four seals, all placed face down:

Including the notes below, which remained the same as during the preview:

Qing Dynasty Miscellaneous Idle Seals, a set of four pieces.

Seal inscriptions: Qiyun, Use it and it works.

Sizes vary.

Estimated price RMB: No reserve price.

Lin Sicheng felt a sense of relief in his heart: As long as these four seals were face down, and as long as the seal inscription notes hadn't been changed, basically no accidents would occur.

Unless, as Cousin Ye said, someone was Wash Goods.

The auctioneer made a gesture of invitation, and someone raised a paddle: One thousand.

Afterward, one after another followed.

No need to guess, most of these people were holding a playful attitude: buying four Qing Dynasty seals for a few thousand yuan, just to fill up a bookshelf.

So it didn't take long for the price to reach ten thousand, but even for play, there was a limit, so fewer and fewer buyers followed the price.

When it reached eighteen thousand, the auctioneer called out the price twice, and seeing that no one else was following, Lin Sicheng tried raising his paddle.

If no one followed, then it was safe and sound, and he could consider it a great bargain. If someone followed and chased relentlessly, it would mean someone was indeed Wash Goods, and then he could just hand it over to Li Zhen and Zhao Da and Zhao Er.

Lin Sicheng's plan was: even if it was Wash Goods, it didn't necessarily mean he couldn't win it. But he estimated that he could forget about picking up a bargain; it would at least be over three million.

But the strange thing was, still no one followed, including the person who had just bid eighteen thousand.

The auctioneer began to call the price, and just as Lin Sicheng breathed half a sigh of relief, Lu Zhen raised his paddle.

He even turned his head and gestured with his chin toward Lin Sicheng and Lu Meng.

Lu Meng was stunned for a moment, and Lin Sicheng was also stunned for a moment.

Could it be that Lu Zhen really wanted to bid for these four seals?

No, he was just deliberately driving up the price.

Ye Anning's face turned dark.

Before, Lin Sicheng had advised her: You can be angry, but don't go against money. If you bid against him, what if Lu Zhen gets stubborn, thinks you and I are poor ghosts, and after winning the bid, we can't pay the balance, and he deliberately pits you and me, wouldn't that Turtle Knob Seal be stuck in our hands?

Although one could default on the bid, the fifteen percent commission would be at least over one hundred thousand; wouldn't it be better to buy something else?

Ye Anning felt it made sense, so she didn't cause trouble. If she had known Lu Zhen had this kind of face, she should have driven that Turtle Knob Seal up to one million five hundred thousand.

Ye Anning was very certain that as long as it didn't exceed one million five hundred thousand, Lu Zhen would definitely follow.

In a flash, Lin Sicheng continued to raise, Lu Zhen chased relentlessly, and in the blink of an eye, it reached sixty-eight thousand.

Lin Sicheng raised again, Lu Zhen laughed, and put down his bidding paddle.

The auctioneer called the price, called it three times, no one followed, and then the hammer fell.

Lin Sicheng was both amused and angry.

What was amusing was that no one was Wash Goods; it was indeed a huge blunder by the organizers, mistaking an Imperial Seal for an idle seal. Buying a Qianlong Seal for seventy thousand, this bargain was as good as it gets.

What was infuriating was this Young Master Lu: he had raised it exactly to seventy thousand, not a penny more or less, five thousand more than the previous bid.

Is five thousand a lot?

For Lin Sicheng, it certainly wasn't, but if he were the poor student the siblings thought he was, five thousand would be equal to four years of tuition and living expenses for university.

Lu Zhen was clearly trying to pit him, which was why he raised the paddle at that specific number. This was what they called harming others without benefiting oneself; to have such a background and wealth but such a personality, it was no wonder Ye Anning cursed him for being like donkey dung—shiny on the outside—with his whole body reeking of pettiness and small-mindedness.

In a flash, the auction neared its end, and staff members came one after another to remind Lu Zhen and Lin Sicheng to go to the backstage to handle the procedures.

By common practice, one should be able to pay within one week to half a month after the auction ends, but if the auction item's premium exceeds twice the highest estimate, or if it is an item with no reserve price, it belongs to the independent settlement category.

To put it bluntly: they were afraid the buyer would default, so it had to be settled on the spot.

The two went one after the other; Lu Zhen finished his a bit faster, and by the time he finished and came back, it was Lin Sicheng's turn.

He held the seal in his hands, his face full of irrepressible joy. But happy as he was, he still kept a wary eye and let He Laoshi take a look for him.

Xiling is a large company after all, so it wouldn't stoop to a scandal like swapping items; therefore, no accidents occurred, and the seal remained the same seal.

Ye Anning glanced over from afar, and a scene of Lu Zhen stamping his feet and beating his chest in regret one day flashed through her mind.

Just as she was daydreaming, Lu Meng let out an "Eh?": "Brother, look!"

Lu Zhen turned his head back.

Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi were holding hands, smiles on their faces. Their eyes were looking this way, and they were walking this way, too.

It was obvious they were coming to find them.

Lu Zhen was even a bit suspicious: although they had met at a friend's birthday party, they hadn't sat at the same table, and they hadn't even spoken a word. In fact, these two probably didn't even know his surname.

In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at their side; Lu Zhen piled a smile onto his face and was just about to greet them when Qin Ruozhi waved her hand: "Anning!"

Instantly, the smile froze on Lu Zhen's face.

The brother and sister had the exact same expression: they whipped their heads around, their faces full of surprise and suspicion.

Qin Ruozhi looked proud, holding up the bidding paddles: "Anning, am I amazing? I didn't miss a single one that Cousin Lin instructed, and I even bought two extra!"

That was because Lin Sicheng had a good eye, calculated accurately, and made good arrangements.

Ye Anning pursed her lips and pointed to the seat beside her: "You two sit down first, wait a moment!"

The two sat down and looked around: "Where is your Cousin Lin?"

"What 'my' cousin, speak properly!" Ye Anning glared at her, "He bid on an item with no reserve price and went to settle the transaction!"

"Ha, no reserve price... did he pick up a bargain?"

Ye Anning nodded: "Don't shout!"

The two girls were very excited, chattering away, while the brother and sister beside them were both bewildered and shocked.

Anyone with eyes could see: the relationship between these three was extremely good.

But wasn't Ye Anning an orphan? Where did she get friends like Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi?

The key was: judging by what they said, were those dozen or so paintings Qin Ruozhi bid on all things Lin Sicheng asked her to bid on for him?

And calculating again: nearly five million—where would a poor student get so much money?

While they were still suspicious, Lin Sicheng walked over carrying a box, and the two girls restrained themselves slightly.

Still wearing smiles on their faces: "Cousin Lin, you have to treat us!"

"Treat you, of course I will!" Lin Sicheng smiled and handed the box to Ye Anning, "You sit for a while, there are a few acquaintances, I'm going to go say hello!"

He had pretended not to see them before, but now that the bidding was over, both in terms of emotion and reason, he had to go over and greet Director Shan and Director Lu.

Ye Anning held up the bidding paddles for those dozen or so paintings: "What about these?"

"You hold onto them for now!"

After replying, Lin Sicheng turned around, then paused.

Just seven or eight steps away, Bai Wan stood with a smile, looking at Qin Ruozhi, then at the bidding paddles in Ye Anning's hand.

"Just now I was wondering: who is acting so generously, bidding at the highest estimated price for everything? Now I know: Anning, those paintings were bid on by you... no, they were bid on by Teacher Lin?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Teacher Bai, there is a reason for this, please don't mind!"

"You paid with real money, what is there to mind?"

Making a joke, Bai Wan introduced: "Teacher Lin, this is my husband, and this is Professor Yu from the Fine Arts Research Institute!"

"Professor Zhang, Professor Yu, I've long admired your names!" Lin Sicheng extended his hand, "I have read both of your works!"

It wasn't that Lin Sicheng was flattering them, but that he had truly read them: besides being responsible for the collection and exhibition work at the Gongwang Mansion Museum, Zhang Jindong was also an expert in Ming and Qing ancient architecture.

Yu Zhiyuan was even more famous: he was an authority in the country on ancient murals and grotto tomb sculpture art; those who studied Cultural Relics Protection and archaeology rarely didn't know him.

The two reached out and shook hands; Zhang Jindong mentioned the Greasy White Bowl acquired last year, and Yu Zhiyuan subconsciously took a few extra looks at him.

The China Fine Arts Research Institute was right at the Gongwang Mansion, and he had also seen the bowl Zhang Jindong mentioned; at the time, he heard it had been repaired by a college student who hadn't graduated yet, and he had even been skeptical.

Bai Wan was even calling him "Teacher" at every turn, praising him to the heavens: saying that if she sent a few photos to his computer, he could identify the object with 80 or 90 percent accuracy after just a glance. His restoration technique was even more masterful, capable of repairing even Blue and White Porcelain and Enamel.

Yu Zhiyuan didn't believe a word of it: with that kind of eye and that kind of restoration ability, he could still be holed up in Xijing?

The Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, the Gongwang Mansion—which museum wouldn't be fighting to have him?

Of course, he was still a bit suspicious now, but what he was focused on wasn't that, but Qin Ruozhi.

Just a moment ago, it was this girl who had bid on all the dozen or so works by famous Red artists that the institute had planned to bid on. Combining this with Bai Wan's remark, the answer was obvious: were those sixteen paintings all bid on by this young man in front of him?

He didn't quite understand: why would someone who does identification and porcelain restoration spend such a high price to bid on so many contemporary paintings?

That was one thing, but mainly, he always felt the name "Lin Sicheng" sounded a bit familiar.

The two families worked in the same courtyard and often hung out together; seeing what he was thinking, Zhang Jindong gave a reminder: "Xijing, Zhang Anshi!"

Once Zhang Anshi was mentioned, Yu Zhiyuan suddenly realized: in April of this year, the rescue excavation of the Zhang Anshi Tomb took place, and the Shaanxi Museum invited him to provide guidance. After going there, Yu Zhiyuan learned that if the police hadn't discovered it quickly, the Zhang Anshi Tomb complex would have been emptied long ago.

At that time, he had a very deep impression of the name Lin Sicheng, thinking that the young people of today were extraordinary: having courage and insight, bravery and strategy, an eye for things, and even more ability.

Not to mention anything else: just the fact that Lin Sicheng didn't shirk or fear the difficulty, helping the police take down a grave-robbing gang that had been entrenched in the Northwest for many years, and even protecting the Western Han marquis tomb, made him worthy of being held in high regard.

To put it somewhat inappropriately: one's life is one's own, right?

However, several months had passed, and he was a bit dazed, unable to recall it for a moment.

Suddenly, Yu Zhiyuan's eyes lit up, and he extended his hand again: "Teacher Lin!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: "Professor Yu, you are a senior, please don't call me that!"

"Why can't I call you that?" Yu Zhiyuan smiled, "In learning, there is no distinction between first and last; the one who has attained is the teacher!"

If one wasn't a professional researcher of Han history and Han tombs, they wouldn't even recognize what Zhang Anshi's legacy was if it were placed in front of them. Let alone infer that Zhang Anshi's tomb had been robbed?

It was evident that the eye and ability of the young man in front of him were by no means inferior to professional appraisers and archaeological experts.

Just for this point, calling him "Teacher" was well-deserved...

Both sides were laughing and chatting, exchanging pleasantries for quite a while; Zhang Jindong and Yu Zhiyuan even invited Lin Sicheng to the Gongwang Mansion to exchange ideas.

Qin Ruozhi looked amazed: she didn't know Bai Wan, but she had an impression of both Zhang Jindong and Yu Zhiyuan; these two were authoritative experts from institutions directly under the Ministry of Culture.

Occasionally seeing them, one would feel they were so serious, always wearing an expression of being unsmiling and unapproachable. But standing here with Lin Sicheng, it was as if they had changed into different people, indescribably approachable.

The key was the attitude of these two: in every word, they carried appreciation.

Lu Zhen and Lu Meng truly did not know these two, but He Laoshi did, yet he remained quiet the whole time, listening intently.

Not until both sides said their goodbyes and those few had walked a bit further away did he introduce them to the siblings: "The thin one is Department Chief Zhang of the Gongwang Mansion Exhibition Department, and the tall one is Director Yu of the Ancient Artifacts Group at the Fine Arts Research Institute of the Academy of Arts..."

The siblings widened their eyes.

The full name of the Gongwang Mansion is the "Ministry of Culture Gongwang Mansion Museum," which is on the same level as the National Museum of China and the Forbidden City, only with different characteristics and focuses:

The National Museum of China centers on showcasing the national historical narrative, the Forbidden City focuses on the imperial palace architectural complex + imperial collections, while the Gongwang Mansion focuses on analyzing the social ecology of the aristocracy.

It is just that due to publicity needs, its fame is not as great as the first two. But Lu Zhen at least knew what the concept of a person in charge of exhibition and collection work at a Level One national museum meant: let alone him, even his father couldn't get a word in.

Not looking at He Laoshi, he is at least a Consultant for the Jinghua Seal Society (a social organization under the Beijing HD District Federation of Literary and Art Circles) and a famous epigraphy expert in Beijing; yet just now, standing next to those two, he looked like a primary school student?

As for the latter, one could tell just by the name: state-level.

Therefore, Lu Zhen was exceptionally unable to understand: why, upon hearing Lin Sicheng's name, did these two instantly change their demeanor, to the point that Director Yu, to show his apology, even specially shook hands with Lin Sicheng again and addressed him as "Teacher Lin"?

Had he not just graduated from university? Where did this title of "Teacher" come from?

Just as he was shocked beyond belief, Lin Sicheng stepped out of the aisle and walked forward two steps to greet them.

Looking further ahead, a group of people was walking along the aisle, looking like they were preparing to leave the venue.

But upon seeing Lin Sicheng, the two in the lead paused for a moment, and then, surprisingly, shook hands with Lin Sicheng.

Lu Zhen leaned back sharply: earlier, He Laoshi had specifically mentioned that these two were the person in charge of the Forbidden City's exhibition department and the director of the Palace Museum Ceramics Research Institute.

Compared to them, whether in terms of fame or social influence, they were higher than the previous two.

Yet they were also laughing and chatting with Lin Sicheng?

They were indeed laughing and chatting, and it was hard to tell if it was an illusion: although they had only met once during the lecture, whether it was Director Shan or Director Lv, both felt this child was exceptionally kind.

Holding Lin Sicheng's hand, Lv Chenglong joked: "I saw your teacher just now and asked him if you had come. He said you had come, but that I definitely wouldn't be able to find you. I thought to myself at the time, were you hiding in some corner, preparing to sneakily photograph something? It seems you succeeded?"

As he spoke, he pointed behind him: "This is Director Shan, whom you met last time when you gave a lecture at the Cultural Heritage Research Institute. Let me reintroduce him to you: he is your teacher's wife's former superior, and even more so, your teacher's wife's Senior Brother. Both are high-level disciples of Mr. Xu Bangda (a famous contemporary painter and authority on calligraphy and painting appraisal; a disciple of the modern famous painter and Appraisal Master Wu Hufan). Your teacher has to call him Senior Brother when they meet..."

After a slight pause, looking at Ye Anning who was acting shy in the back, Lv Chenglong smiled: "Maybe before long, you'll have to call him Senior Uncle!"

Suddenly, bits and pieces of his previous life surfaced in his mind.

Lin Sicheng suppressed the urge to bow and called out, "Director Shan."

In his previous life, what he had called him was "Senior Brother Shan."

Not as an honorific, but as a proper Senior Brother: both had set up incense tables, both had offered wine to Mr. Xu Bangda, and both had kowtowed. But Director Shan was more than forty years senior to Lin Sicheng, having become a disciple in '66.

By the time Lin Sicheng became a disciple, Mr. Xu was already ninety-nine years old, so most of the time, it was Dan Guoqiang who taught on behalf of the master.

Over three years, Lin Sicheng's hands had been rapped by Dan Guoqiang no fewer than fifty times. The two were both teacher and friend; seeing each other again, he felt incomparably close...

Secretly reminiscing, the two shook hands, and Dan Guoqiang smiled:

"Last time your teacher brought a Chenghua Large Jar to the Forbidden City, saying you had repaired it; I didn't believe it at first. After watching the recording, the teacher and Junior Uncle Geng (Geng Baochang) laughed and scolded: saying Qi Zhi had hit the jackpot... So this time when old Lv goes to Xijing, I will go too; I must see your Artifact Research Center and laboratory to broaden my horizons..."

Lin Sicheng hurriedly smiled: "You are too kind!"

"I am not being too kind!" Dan Guoqiang's expression was very solemn, "If you don't believe me, ask old Lv!"

Lv Chenglong nodded with a smile.

There are many in the Forbidden City who can repair a Blue and White Large Jar, but those who can repair it so quickly and so well can be counted on one hand.

The key is that Lin Sicheng's technique is inherited in a direct line from the Forbidden City. And then the question arises: no one taught him, so where did he learn it?

Therefore, it was more than just ordinary curiosity.

Subsequently, Ye Anning also came over to greet them, her mouth very sweet: "Uncle Shan, Uncle Lv..."

The two laughed and scolded, saying Ye Anning was an ungrateful wretch: they had doted on her so much when she was little, yet she pretended not to know them when she saw them?

On the side, Lu Zhen and Lu Meng's brains were turned into mush: Lin Sicheng has his own Artifact Research Center and laboratory?

Moreover, he had even given a lecture at the Cultural Heritage Research Institute, and counting across Beijing, how many "Cultural Heritage Research Institutes" are there?

But that was not the point; what they couldn't understand most was Ye Anning: she went to the Forbidden City when she was very young, and went for over ten years, and these two had even taught her?

The problem is, whose orphan treats the Forbidden City like home, entering whenever they want?

The siblings instinctively turned their heads to look at Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi, and a flash of light crossed their minds: whose orphan could be as close as sisters with people of such backgrounds?

Lu Zhen's face turned pale, and he glared at Lu Meng. Lu Meng mumbled her lips, not knowing how to explain.

They said they were university classmates, but the two had only studied in the same department for two years before Lu Meng went abroad. At school, Ye Anning never mentioned her family, never talked about things outside of school, and never brought outside friends to school.

Over time, everyone assumed her family situation was not very good. Somehow, it spread that "Ye Anning" was an orphan. The key is that Ye Anning never explained...

Just as they were suspicious, Wang Qizhi and his party also walked over, and both sides exchanged greetings again.

Subsequently, Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi respectfully bowed and called out "Uncle."

Lu Meng was both shocked and suspicious: she really hadn't misidentified him; this was indeed Ye Anning's uncle.

But if it were just that Ye Anning had a good relationship with them, why would these two aristocratic young ladies pretend to be so well-behaved when seeing Ye Anning's uncle?

Lu Zhen stole a glance at Ye Anning, his lips trembling: It's over.

What orphan, this damn girl is a Princess.

And those few in the back, that General Manager Zhao and Chairman Hao, both addressed Lin Sicheng as Junior Brother, while General Manager Zhao and that General Manager Chen addressed him as "Teacher Lin."

Especially General Manager Chen, who had a net worth of hundreds of millions, yet it felt like every expression and tone of his was filled with obsequiousness.

It's no exaggeration; it's only because Lin Sicheng is too young, otherwise General Manager Chen could be even more obsequious: the Zhang Anshi Tomb incident could be called a coincidence, but what about this time?

Thinking of the scene where he sent a fake painting as a grand gift and was later discovered by the other party, Chen Yangyan's eyelids twitched...

After some small talk, seeing the box in Ye Anning's hands, Wang Qizhi's eyes lit up: if Lin Sicheng hadn't misjudged it, then this thing would sooner or later have to be taken to the Forbidden City for appraisal.

With this thought, he pretended to check his watch: "Senior Brother Shan, Director Lv, a chance meeting is better than a planned one; let's sit together tonight, the three of us. Let Ye Anning serve the dishes, and let Lin Sicheng pour the wine!"

"You don't even know how you became this teacher, yet you're so capable, putting on airs?" Dan Guoqiang joked, "I'm leaving next week, and many things haven't been arranged yet. Once you get to Xijing, you won't be able to avoid arranging it."

"Is that so? That's fine then." Wang Qizhi reached out his hand, "Then let Senior Uncle Shan take a look at it first, otherwise I, as the teacher, will have to shamelessly enter the Forbidden City!"

Looking at the box Ye Anning handed over, Dan Guoqiang was stunned for a moment, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry: "Old Fourth Wang, are you for real? Getting a meal out of you is like going on a pilgrimage to the West..."

As he spoke, he took the box into his hands.

At first, Dan Guoqiang didn't pay much attention, thinking that with his eye for antiques, there was really no need to find a special place to look; he could just take a glance or two while passing by to make a clear judgment.

But when he opened the box, he was startled: wasn't this the set of four Qing Dynasty leisure seals that were auctioned off near the end?

He hadn't seen the items in person, only the photos on the screen, back when Lin Sicheng and Lu Zhen were bidding against each other. At the time, he had even discussed it with Lv Chenglong: if one looked at the material and provenance, these four leisure seals were certainly not worth seventy thousand.

However, the engraving on that agate seal was quite good, a bit like the Suzhou Craft of the Qing Dynasty.

There were too many people in the venue at the time, and they were far away, so the two of them had only mentioned it in passing. They didn't know that one of the bidders was Lin Sicheng, and they had only glanced at the photos on the screen in passing.

Looking at them now: the other three were still average—average material, average engraving.

Especially that agate seal: it felt like there were so few engraving marks, and it was engraved so sloppily.

But only an insider could see the trick to it.

The so-called "a heavy sword needs no edge, great skill does not require craftsmanship" is nothing more than this: it only takes a few sparse strokes to make the bird vivid and lifelike, reaching a state of divine perfection.

This was clearly the pinnacle of Suzhou Craft, the handiwork of a Suzhou Craftsman from the Imperial Household Department Jade Workshop.

Confirming he was correct, Dan Guoqiang flipped the seal over. As soon as the seal script entered his eyes, he subconsciously froze, and then, his pupils suddenly constricted.

Authentic Qianlong Craft.

But that was secondary; the key was the seal script: Congyun?

He recalled carefully: that's right, during the auction, the notes on the seal script in the photos were indeed "Qiyun" and "Take it and use it."

But once the item was in hand, how did it become "Congyun"?

These two characters were originally the plaque title inscribed by Qianlong after his ascension for the Immortal Tower in the West Warm Chamber of the Yangxin Hall (a small room where Qianlong read memorials and held secret talks with ministers):

"General Collection of Archives of the Imperial Household Department Zaozuochang": On the sixth day of the tenth month of the first year of Qianlong, the head Xia An came to say that the Palace Superintendent Su Peisheng had handed over: one plaque with the imperial brush 'Changchun Shuwu' and one plaque with 'Congyun' for the Immortal Tower in the West Warm Chamber of the Yangxin Hall...

Later, Qianlong often stayed at the Old Summer Palace, and this plaque was also moved there, hung in the West Warm Chamber of the Baohe Taihe Hall at the Old Summer Palace.

After that, Qianlong issued an imperial decree to carve a "Congyun" agate Vermilion Bird seal:

On the sixth day of the fourth month of the third year of Qianlong, the Treasury official Liu Shanjiu and the supervisor Bai Shixiu conveyed the decree: use the fancy-colored twisted-thread agate stone to make a new seal; on the outer layer, carve 'Only refined, only one' on the top circle, and 'Treasure only the virtuous' on the bottom. On the second layer, carve 'Qianlong Imperial Seal' on the top circle, and 'Gathering Clouds' on the bottom.

Besides this, in the works collected in the first, second, and third editions of the "Shiqu Baoji" alone, there were over eighty pieces that had been stamped with this small seal. As for those not collected but which had this seal on them, Dan Guoqiang had seen at least a hundred such pieces in the Forbidden City.

Among them were Qianlong's imperial inscriptions and imperial brush works: the poem inscribed on Li Shizhuo's "Gaotu Jingshe Tu," the poem inscribed on "Composed during a visit to Gaotu Jingshe at Yuhua Temple on the fifth day of the late spring of the Dingmao year," the third painting "Layered Rocks Flying Green" and the eleventh painting "Sword Dance Terrace" from the "Dong Bangda Tianpan Scenery Album," "Imitating Li Di's Chicks Waiting to be Fed," "Imperial Copy of Wang Xizhi's 'Luo Shen Fu' Thirteen Lines and Painting"...

There were even more seal marks left after Qianlong appraised works by famous masters: such as the world-famous "Wang Xizhi Shenlong Version of the Lanting Preface," Gu Kaizhi's "Luo Shen Fu Tu" scroll, and so on and so forth.

Dan Guoqiang had studied under a master of Calligraphy and Painting and had worked in the Forbidden City for over forty years; could he really not recognize whether this seal was real or fake, or whether the ones stamped on those imperial-appraised calligraphy and painting works in the Forbidden City were this one?

This seal was exactly the one recorded in the Qing Palace Archives, the one stamped on the collections that Qianlong had inscribed and appraised...

Seventy thousand, how about fifty times seventy thousand?

After looking for a long while, he raised his head, his expression complex and inexplicable.

For the sake of letting him see this seal, Wang Qizhi had treated him to a meal and used words to goad him; could it really be that Lin Sicheng had just guessed blindly and happened to buy it?

It meant that before the auction, he already knew what this was...

Thinking back to the tall tales Wang Qizhi would tell the moment he arrived at the Forbidden City: "It's just that my student doesn't want to come; otherwise, based on his eye for antiques and knowledge base, he would be more than qualified to be a Deputy Researcher at the Forbidden City..."

At the time, everyone laughed and scolded Wang Qizhi, saying he was bragging without even drafting it.

But thinking about it now: how many times had Wang Qizhi taken the "leaks" Lin Sicheng had picked up to the Forbidden City for Artifact Research?

Southern Song Apricot Cup, Ming Dynasty Red Cloud Cup (Rhino Horn Cup), Qianlong Iron Seal, Dong Qichang's Heart Sutra, Shen Du Calligraphy Book, Jiaqing Official Kiln Famille Rose porcelain vase made by Imperial Kiln Workers, Jiaqing Zhanjing Studio style Sima Guang smashing the vat Famille Rose cup.

From beginning to end, how many pieces had he picked up?

Now, another one had to be added: the Qianlong Congyun Seal...

Thinking about it again: no matter how much money is spent, no matter which dynasty it is from, being able to obtain one imperial seal is like the ancestral grave smoking with good fortune, a blessing from eight lifetimes of burning incense.

But for Lin Sicheng, this was already the second Qianlong seal; how much of a connection must he have with Qianlong?

And every time he spent very little money: the Qianlong Iron Seal was a bit more, about three hundred thousand. This one was even better, seventy thousand?

The key was the places where he bought these two seals: the first time was at Poly, and the second time was even more incredible—at an auction at Xiling?

Picking up a leak at an auction?

Heh heh...

(End of chapter)