Chapter 281: True Seal, False Seal

Holding the seal, the two looked at each other in dismay.

On the first day of the preview, Dan Guoqiang and Lv Chenglong had already come by and toured all four exhibition halls.

Although they had no impression of it now, the two were very suspicious: when they passed by back then, had they taken a look or two?

If so, and since the seal was lying flat at the time, they very likely would have looked at the seal script.

Or what if the display label hadn't miswritten the seal script, and it wasn't some nonsensical "Qiyun," but "Congyun"—what would the result have been?

It wouldn't have been Lin Sicheng's turn at all; they would have snatched it away long ago.

If you don't believe it, go to the Forbidden City and ask: among the experts, how many don't know the famous Congyun Ge of the Qianlong Emperor?

Not to mention that the two had worked at the Forbidden City for decades.

But by a twist of fate and some strange stroke of luck, this seal was not only mixed in with three very ordinary seals, it was also placed face down. Even more bizarrely, the label had the seal script written wrong?

One look: Qiyun, what kind of nonsense is this? Naturally, they missed it...

For a moment, the two felt it was both absurd and incredible: this was the Xiling Seal Art Society, which had a history even longer than the Palace Museum.

Looking again at the "seal" character in the name: founded on gold and stone, with a heritage of over a hundred years and generations of famous masters, how could such a professional institution make such a low-level mistake?

It's no exaggeration: if word got out, it would make their peers laugh their teeth off.

After being stunned for a long while, Dan Guoqiang sighed: "Little Lin, how did you discover it?"

Lin Sicheng was concise: "Ingenuity, elegance, thinness, and antiquity!"

Dan Guoqiang was taken aback, suddenly recalling a passage his teacher Xu Bangda had once said:

Where does the Yangzhou Craft come from?

In the Jiangnan of the Ming Dynasty, scholars carved jade, incorporating calligraphy and painting into seal script, refined and expressive.

Where does the Qianlong Craft come from?

The ingenuity of the Suzhou Craft, the elegance of the Yangzhou Craft, the thinness of Henduqitan (the Mughal Empire of Northern India), and the antiquity of imitating Song and Ming gold and stone—each taking what is best.

Summarizing the jade carving style of this Vermilion Bird seal: isn't it just ingenuity, elegance, thinness, and antiquity?

Which meant Lin Sicheng had first inferred through the carving of the Vermilion Bird that this might be an Imperial Household Department Qianlong Craft, and had the staff take it out for a look. Only then did he discover the seal script was not Qiyun, but "Congyun."

So, the treasure he picked up was both incredibly clever and yet logical?

But the point wasn't that; it was the four words he had just said. If you said this was a conclusion Lin Sicheng had summarized himself, Dan Guoqiang wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death: how old was he?

The key was that it was so similar to what his teacher had summarized, almost word for word?

A strange look flashed in Dan Guoqiang's eyes: "Little Lin, I remember, you shouldn't have met the master?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "I haven't!"

"Then who taught you?"

Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: besides you, who else could have taught me?

Although he was a disciple of Master Xu, Master Xu was already ninety-nine years old when he was apprenticed, so he didn't dare disturb him much and only asked for advice occasionally when they met.

Most of the time, it was this Senior Brother who taught him on the master's behalf, meaning Lin Sicheng's entire skill in calligraphy, painting, and gold and stone was taught by Dan Guoqiang.

Including that day at the Cultural Relics Research Institute, the moment he saw Dan Guoqiang, Lin Sicheng's fingers couldn't help but tremble twice: this was because he had been beaten too much, and a conditioned reflex had long formed in his subconscious, even carrying over into this lifetime...

Sighing inwardly, Lin Sicheng had a flash of inspiration: "My master's wife taught me!"

Dan Guoqiang was stunned, then let out a "Ha": Lin Sicheng, what nonsense are you spouting?

I didn't even mention which master, how did you know I was talking about Master Xu?

And "taught by the master's wife"?

It's not that this Senior Brother looks down on people, but let alone teaching a disciple, has Dan Wangshu even figured out these four words herself?

Dan Guoqiang didn't pursue it further, smiled meaningfully, and returned the seal: "Time is a bit tight. When we return from Xijing, come back with me. I'll take you to let the master take a look, and then we can compare..."

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Thank you, Director Dan!"

Dan Guoqiang waved his hand: "Just a small matter!"

The two exchanged questions and answers without anything unusual, but Wang Qi Zhi on the side started muttering: for just such a seal, does it really require troubling Master Xu? The old man is already ninety-seven...

In a flash, Lin Sicheng handed the seal to Ye Anning, who put it into the box.

Lu Zhen, Lu Meng, and that He Laoshi were a bit further back.

Being a bit far away, they couldn't see very clearly, but they could at least see that the seal Lin Sicheng took out was the very one Lu Zhen had deliberately driven the price up for.

Although Director Dan didn't say anything—didn't say what kind of seal it was, what its background was, or if it was a loss or a gain—they had eyes and could see Director Dan's expression: surprise, confusion, suspicion, and even a hint of disbelief.

They also had ears, and Director Dan's "Eh" was heard clearly: Congyun!

The brother and sister were inexperienced, but He Laoshi was not, and was professional enough. He knew the origin of "Congyun" even better.

Combining this with the expressions of Director Dan and Director Lv, even a fool could guess the result: this kid spent seventy thousand to win a Qianlong Seal, and at an auction of the Xiling Seal Art Society?

It's no wonder Director Dan was so surprised; who would have thought: at a Xiling Seal Art Society auction, someone would pick up a Qianlong Seal?

Believe it or not, if you said this out loud, someone would spit in your face: what kind of international joke are you telling?

But the problem was, the thing had happened right before their eyes.

Suddenly, Lu Zhen's face turned pale and then red, his heart filled with regret and annoyance.

This seal was looked at by all four of them together, right?

At the time, he had even egged him on: Brother, this is a no-reserve auction, the final price won't be high, you can definitely pick up a bargain, don't miss it...

Indeed, Lin Sicheng certainly hadn't missed it.

But why, when they were looking at it together, hadn't he taken a closer look himself?

Including when they went backstage during the intermission to look at the Han Dynasty seal, why hadn't he asked He Laoshi to help take a look?

If he had just taken one look, this seal wouldn't have fallen into Lin Sicheng's hands.

Even when it was being auctioned just now, he had raised the price: Lin Sicheng could have gotten it for twenty thousand, but it was forced up to seventy thousand by him.

It was equivalent to a multi-million treasure slipping right through his fingers?

Compared to this, what made him feel the most uncomfortable was the status of Ye Anning and Lin Sicheng.

One had a prominent background and extraordinary origins, while the other had become famous in his youth and had wide social connections. Was it just because he had been petty for a moment, harming others without benefiting himself, that he had offended them so thoroughly?

For a moment, Lu Zhen was angry, annoyed, and regretful all at once; he wished he could slap himself a few times...

Lu Meng's eyes darted back and forth, flickering: Jing Suxin, Qin Ruozhi, Ye Anning, the seal in her hand, and Lin Sicheng.

Her mind was a complete mess: if she hadn't been biased, if Lu Zhen hadn't repeatedly warned her to stay away from Ye Anning, would her relationship with Ye Anning now be as close as it was with Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi?

If yesterday and today, she had considered their classmate friendship and insisted a bit more, not letting Lu Zhen stir up trouble, would the rift between the two sides not be so deep?

She might even have been able to be friends with Lin Sicheng. At critical moments, she could have asked him for help with authentication, or perhaps asked him to introduce someone more professional?

But where are there any "ifs"?

Secretly changing her thoughts, Lu Meng bit her lip: "Anning!"

Ye Anning smiled slightly: "It's fine, you are you, and your brother is your brother!"

What I'm worried about is my brother...

Lu Meng's face turned pale. Just as she was about to say something, Ye Anning pointed forward: "Let's talk after Lin Sicheng finishes what he's doing!"

Why wait for Lin Sicheng to finish?

While suspicious, Lu Meng turned her head: Lin Sicheng took out his phone and opened an image.

Then he handed it forward: "Director Dan, would you take another look at this?"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself: Lin Sicheng is something else, seizing every opportunity and climbing up the pole as soon as he sees a chance.

No matter what, Dan Guoqiang is an Expert who has been famous for many years, the same age as your grandfather. You, on the other hand, are so impolite that you don't even say the word "please"?

Dan Guoqiang, however, didn't mind at all.

He didn't know if it was an illusion: he felt this kid was particularly pleasing to the eye, and he could also feel the sense of intimacy that Lin Sicheng faintly exuded.

But they had clearly only met for the second time?

While pondering, Lin Sicheng zoomed in on the image to the maximum. Dan Guoqiang took a look and subconsciously squinted his eyes.

It was half of a side seal, or to be precise: a seal spanning the seam.

But Dan Guoqiang had seen this half-seal before, and Lv Chenglong had seen it too.

It could be said that among the Cultural Relics in the Forbidden City, at least two or three thousand pieces had this half-seal stamped on them: "Guardian".

The full seal read: "Cultural Relics Guardian". This was the seal stamp specifically used by the famous painter, epigrapher, and authenticator Mr. Wu Hufan when he served on the Shanghai Cultural Relics Authentication and Acquisition Committee to allocate Cultural Relics for the government.

To put it simply: as long as it was a Cultural Relic transferred from Shanghai to provincial Cultural Relics institutions, it would inevitably have this side seal or seal spanning the seam on it.

Conversely: if this seal appeared on any Cultural Relic outside, then one hundred percent: the item had flowed out from an official institution.

In any case, having done authentication for so many years, neither Dan Guoqiang nor Lv Chenglong had ever seen one outside.

In surprise, Lin Sicheng shrunk the image a little and pointed to a small, inconspicuous mark on the squirrel's back: "There is another seal here: 'Jingtang Heart Appreciation'!"

Dan Guoqiang looked carefully: "Is there a Forbidden City seal?"

"No!"

That's good.

As long as it didn't flow out from the Forbidden City, it was fine.

Both of them felt relieved, but then felt something was wrong: on the first day of the preview, the main thing they focused on was the Calligraphy and Painting and seal carving exhibition hall; they didn't seem to have seen this painting?

Xu Gu was not some unknown person, and furthermore, it was his most proficient subject, the squirrel; if they had seen it, they would definitely have an impression...

"Sister Anning asked, it should have been sent over the day before the auction started!" Lin Sicheng lowered his voice, "This piece failed to sell last year, also at Xiling!"

The two suddenly realized: a surprise attack?

"How much did you pay for it?"

Lin Sicheng gestured: "Eighty thousand!"

Dan Guoqiang sighed: just based on this half of the seal spanning the seam, this Squirrel Painting was worth at least seven or eight hundred thousand.

After looking at it carefully for a few more moments, he also understood: why did the main auction house secretly slip this painting in?

At first glance: the paper didn't look right, the ink didn't look right, it looked fake no matter how you looked at it.

In fact, everything was correct. Therefore, it was Lin Sicheng's luck to pick up a bargain...

While sighing with emotion, Lin Sicheng blinked his eyes: "Director Dan, if I visit the old gentleman and ask him to appraise this painting, would it be appropriate?"

Asking a teacher to appraise it, why would that be necessary?

Wait, no!

In fact, even the seal from just now didn't need the teacher to appraise it at all.

It was just that Wang Qi Zhi was too good at bragging, Lin Sicheng's ability was too great, and the few old gentlemen were too curious, constantly muttering that if there was a chance, they must meet him.

Director Dan just wanted to curry favor in front of the teacher.

But it seemed that Lin Sicheng also wanted to curry favor?

Because Mr. Wu Hufan was Mr. Xu's mentor; although there were many Cultural Relics with this seal in the Forbidden City, there were none outside the palace, and the teacher hadn't seen one for many years.

"Good, bring it along then!" Dan Guoqiang nodded, slightly suspicious, "And then?"

And then?

There was definitely an "and then," but he couldn't tell him.

Turning the thought over, Lin Sicheng smiled: "I admire the old gentleman very much, so I just thought about paying him a visit!"

Just paying a visit?

Dan Guoqiang suspected that this kid wasn't telling the truth.

While suspicious, Lin Sicheng swiped his phone: "Director Dan, there's also this!"

Dan Guoqiang took a look: A seven-character regulated verse by Zheng Banqiao?

The calligraphy was fine, and the signature and Seal Mark were also fine.

The paper is also fine.

At first glance, it seems quite old, but this is precisely the characteristic of Yangzhou curtain-pattern paper: the longer it is preserved, the grayer the paper color appears.

Looking further, the ink also seems a bit new, but it is likewise fine: this is ink created by Zheng Banqiao himself, made from soot scraped off old chimney walls; it has extremely high oil content, is neither damp nor prone to fading, and ages slowly.

But the problem is, Dan Guoqiang also has no impression of this painting.

Recalling carefully, he suddenly remembered: that day, he and Lv Chenglong went to the Calligraphy and Painting hall and ran into a group of reporters conducting interviews; they were talking about Zheng Banqiao's works.

But that piece was a painting, not calligraphy, and furthermore, he had seen the item before and it indeed had problems, so he didn't pay much attention to it at the time.

Then where did this one come from?

He had a strange look on his face: "Was this also sent for auction at the last minute?"

"No!" Lin Sicheng shook his head, "But it was placed together with that Orchid and Bamboo painting!"

Dan Guoqiang was stunned: The Orchid and Bamboo painting, wasn't that the one the reporters were interviewing about?

That meant that when he and old Lv were browsing, this painting happened to be blocked, so the two of them didn't see it.

For a moment, Dan Guoqiang didn't know what to say.

He graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in the sixties, later apprenticed under top-tier masters, and spent half his life researching calligraphy, painting, and epigraphy at the Forbidden City; could this entire set of skills be just hot air?

If he had just been allowed a glance, how could this piece of calligraphy have fallen into Lin Sicheng's hands?

So, setting aside eye for detail, experience, and ability, just looking at this kid's luck...

Subconsciously, Dan Guoqiang and Lv Chenglong exchanged a look: that place, the Forbidden City, is a bit eerie, so they actually believed in this...

Right as they were exchanging glances, Lin Sicheng zoomed in on the photo: "Director Dan, take another look at this; should we bring this piece of calligraphy along too?"

What is this now?

Huh, another steel seal?

Taking a close look, Dan Guoqiang's eyelids couldn't stop twitching: a flower-window seal.

If given to other Appraisers, they would feel baffled: what on earth is this?

For instance, Lv Chenglong.

Only a student of Xu Bangda would know what this seal is at a single glance, and furthermore, know its origin and meaning.

In the fifties of the last century, when Mr. Wu Hufan served at the Shanghai Cultural Relics Appraisal and Acquisition Committee, he simultaneously held the position of Consultant to the Suzhou Cultural Relics Appraisal and Preservation Committee.

Because he could not be in two places at once, the Suzhou side could only periodically send cultural relics to Shanghai, or periodically invite him to Suzhou for appraisal.

Mr. Wu carved two flower-window steel seals at the time; one with no flower in the window, representing top grade, and one with a flower signature in the window, representing second grade. Every time he finished an appraisal, he would stamp the steel seal onto it.

Currently, nearly half of the calligraphy, paintings, and ancient books treasured by the Suzhou Museum have these two seals on them. If one were to compare, the probability of seeing this seal mark outside is far lower than that of the "Cultural Relics Guardian" cross-page seal from just a moment ago.

Even more crucially, back then Mr. Wu's home was raided and emptied, with no heirlooms left behind. Even if there were any, they are all in major museums.

There wasn't even a grave; it wasn't until the nineties that his descendants and several disciples, including Mr. Xu, erected a cenotaph for him in Suzhou.

Therefore, even if it were just two seal marks, it would be enough for Mr. Xu to cherish the memory of his mentor and have no more regrets.

After looking for a long time, Dan Guoqiang raised his head, looking suspicious: the problem is, apart from Mr. Wu's grand-disciples, like himself, no one else knows the origin of this seal, let alone where it is or what it is used for.

Then how did Lin Sicheng know?

Lin Sicheng smiled: "I have read Mr. Wu's 'Wu Family Calligraphy and Painting Records' and 'Bao Dong Room Seal Selection'; both books contain records of these two seals!"

Dan Guoqiang suddenly understood: these two monographs were catalogs of the collections accumulated by the Wu family over generations and his own works, which Mr. Wu compiled during the investigation period around '57; one recorded calligraphy and paintings, the other recorded seals.

But they were roughly just ledgers; who would read that for fun?

Furthermore, just knowing the source of these two seals is far from enough; without sufficient research and hard work, how could one determine authenticity, and how could one judge who carved them?

If it were given to Dan Guoqiang, his first instinct would definitely be to suspect: was this a later imitation, stamped onto this piece of calligraphy?

Knowing what he was suspicious about, Lin Sicheng smiled: "Director Dan, if I said I have read many calligraphy, painting, and epigraphy catalogs, you would definitely laugh at me for bragging!"

Heh heh... no matter how much you can brag, can you out-brag Wang Qi Zhi?

Dan Guoqiang waved his hand: "It's fine, go ahead!"

"Alright, Director Dan, I have read the 'Sixteen Golden Talisman Studio Seal Collection', 'Records of Auspicious Metals Seen and Collected by Hengxuan', 'Qianxi Studio Ancient Seal Selection', 'Seal Script Analects', 'Supplement to Shuowen Ancient Seal Script', 'Ancient Jade Illustration Examination', 'Examination of Weights and Measures', 'Ke Studio Collection of Ancient Records', 'Ke Studio Poetry and Prose Collection', and 'Ancient Character Explanations' compiled by Mr. Wu Dacheng..."

"And the 'Han Stone Classic Chamber Collection Catalog' and 'Han Stone Classic Chamber Postscripts' compiled by Mr. Shen Shu Yong, as well as the 'Sequel to Universal Stele Visiting Records' co-edited with Zhao Zhiqian. And Mr. Pan Zuyin's 'Pang Gu Lou Yi Qi Tu Shi', 'Pang Xi Studio Collection', 'Gong Shun Tang Collection', etc..."

With every book mentioned, Dan Guoqiang's heart skipped a beat: this kid is impressive.

Wu Dacheng was Mr. Wu Hufan's grandfather, as well as a late Qing Dynasty master of calligraphy and painting, epigraphy master, ancient paleographer, appraiser, collector, and even a national hero.

In the tenth year of the Guangxu reign, during the Gapsin Coup in Joseon, Wu Dacheng went to Jilin with the rank of Third-Rank Official to survey the border with the Russian envoy, re-erecting the 'Tu' character stele and winning back the occupied Hunchun Heidingzi land and navigation rights at the mouth of the Tumen River.

In the twelfth year of the Guangxu reign, he was promoted to Guangdong Governor, opposing the transfer of Macau to Portuguese jurisdiction. In the eighteenth year of the Guangxu reign (1892), he was appointed Hunan Governor. During the First Sino-Japanese War, he requested to lead the Xiang Army out of Shanhai Pass to resist the enemy; he was defeated, dismissed from office, and never employed again.

Shen Shu Yong was Wu Dacheng's father-in-law and Wu Hufan's maternal grandfather, serving as a Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. He was also a famous epigrapher and book collector in the late Qing period.

Pan Zuyin was Wu Hufan's maternal uncle-in-law, serving successively as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Works from the Xianfeng to Guangxu reigns. He presided over the palace examinations several times and was in the Southern Study for nearly forty years. He was likewise an epigrapher, calligrapher, and book collector.

The Wu family could have tens of thousands of treasures, and Wu Hufan could be called the "Number One Collector and Appraiser of Shanghai," not just because of his own efforts, but because of generations of accumulation and cultivation.

But conversely: if one were to say Lin Sicheng had read them all, if he flipped through each book for a page or two, does that count as having read them?

Dan Guoqiang did not doubt Lin Sicheng's appraisal ability: without some foundation and some eye for detail, it would be impossible to pick up leaks at such a large auction, and to pick up three items at that.

If one said he had thoroughly researched all these works, that would be impossible. Because of his age...

That is one thing; the second thing: is it just for a first meeting that he is giving the teacher such a heavy gift?

How does that saying go?

"What about after you see the teacher?" He looked suspicious: "What are you planning to do?"

What to do?

If I said I wanted to be your junior fellow apprentice, would I get beaten up?

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Just to pay a visit and listen to the old gentleman's teachings!"

Impossible!

This kid is not being honest.

Dan Guoqiang thought for a moment: "Are you trying to get your teacher to pass on some secret techniques to you?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head.

What could be taught, Director Dan had already taught him in his previous life; what remained was sedimentation and accumulation. Lin Sicheng simply wanted to pay a visit.

It wasn't just Mr. Xu, but also Old Madam Wang, Mr. Geng (Geng Baochang, a titan of porcelain appraisal and Artifact Restoration), Mr. Li (Li Jiufang, former Director of the Display Department of the Forbidden City, an expert in jade, lacquer, Enamel, and miscellaneous items)... and so on and so forth.

Without the painstaking guidance of these old seniors in his previous life, and without these Senior Brothers like Director Dan teaching him everything they knew, how would it be his turn to show off and act cocky in front of others here?

"I really don't!" Thinking to himself, Lin Sicheng smiled again, "You have inherited the full mantle of Mr. Xu; if I want to learn anything, I would definitely ask you first!"

Tsk, I love hearing that.

"Fine, bring them. Also bring a few of those cups you just restored, let Uncle-Master Geng and Uncle-Master Wang take a look. Oh right, and that Dog Basin of your teacher's, Uncle-Master Li keeps mentioning it..."

Dan Guoqiang gave instructions one by one: "Even if you force them to take it, they won't want it, but it's good if you can let them have a bit of fun and be happy!"

"Okay!"

Afterward, Dan Guoqiang took out his phone: "Come, let's exchange numbers; call me anytime if you need anything."

Lin Sicheng nodded and also took out his phone.

Wang Qi Zhi found it more and more strange the more he watched.

Dan Guoqiang was notoriously cold-faced and extremely traditional. His whole life, he had believed in the set of "if you don't scold them, they won't remember; if you don't beat them, they won't become talented." Whether it was his subordinates or his students, they would feel a jolt in their hearts upon seeing him.

But why could he be so amiable when seeing Lin Sicheng?

And Lin Sicheng, Dan Wangshu always said: this child is good at everything, he is just too polite. Including the year he spent with him as his teacher, he never lacked in respect when it was due.

Why could he be so casual when seeing Dan Guoqiang?

It just felt like these two had known each other for a long time, without a shred of unfamiliarity...

In the blink of an eye, the two finished saving the numbers and bid each other farewell.

But just as they turned around, a figure darted over from the corridor.

Lu Zhen held a box, his face full of smiles: "Director Dan, excuse me, could you please take a look for me?"

Dan Guoqiang was suspicious for a moment: this person had been standing behind them the whole time, and he had previously thought he was Lin Sicheng's friend.

But seeing the Turtle Knob Seal in the box, he was stunned for a moment, then remembered.

The bidding paddle that won this seal seemed to have competed with Lin Sicheng for that Vermilion Bird seal... wait, no, if it was just an auction, why did he stop bidding after reaching seventy thousand?

Dan Guoqiang suddenly realized: this person was purely trying to drive up the price to disgust people, so, what kind of friend?

Instantly, his face turned cold: "I can't look at it!"

Lu Zhen was relentless: "Director Dan, please help me, name your price!"

Dan Guoqiang let out a "Heh": if he wanted to make money, by virtue of his status as the Person in Charge of the Forbidden City Display Department and an expert in calligraphy, painting, and epigraphy, he could earn a million a day.

Yet, was he not still penniless?

He waved his hand: "Move aside!"

Lu Zhen's expression stiffened, and he hesitantly cleared the way.

Just as the group was about to leave, Ye Anning tugged at Lin Sicheng's arm: "Lin Sicheng, why don't you take a look!"

Suddenly, everyone stopped in their tracks.

Sure enough, Cousin Ye is still that same Cousin Ye, taking revenge without delay.

In a flash, Lin Sicheng looked at the several experts from the Forbidden City: "Director Dan, during the preview, did one of the teachers look at this seal?"

Dan Guoqiang was taken aback: "Yes, Old Lu and I looked at it!"

"Director Dan, did you and Director Lv say something like, 'The Forbidden City also has one like this'?"

Dan Guoqiang and Lv Chenglong exchanged a glance: Huh, can this kid tell fortunes?

Seeing the expressions of these two, Lin Sicheng secretly said "as expected."

He had been wondering why this seal, which had no provenance, could skyrocket all the way to over a million?

Now the case was solved: these two were recognized while looking at the seal, and even their whispered comments were overheard by someone.

As a result, a huge misunderstanding occurred...

While thinking to himself, Ye Anning poked him with her fingertip again: "Lu Meng is my classmate, please help take a look!"

Lin Sicheng: Hehehe...

Cousin Ye, you won't be satisfied unless you see Young Master Lu stomping his feet and beating his chest in regret until his intestines turn green, right?

He sighed, looked at the seal, then looked at the three people, his gaze falling on the face of that He Laoshi: "What is your honorable surname, Teacher?"

He Laoshi was stunned for a moment: "I dare not be honored, my surname is He!"

"He Laoshi is an expert, you should know that for metal seals, the difficulty lies not in looking, but in judging!"

If you don't look, how can you judge?

He Laoshi didn't understand for a moment: "How to judge?"

"Like this, He Laoshi, take a silk thread, pass it through the nose knob, and hang it!"

He Laoshi's heart skipped a beat; in the dark, he had a bad premonition: what does this mean, is this seal wrong?

But using a silk thread to hang it, what kind of method is this?

He Laoshi was confused, and the others were more or less the same, including Zhao Xiuneng, Hao Jun, and Zhao Xiuxian.

Dan Guoqiang and Wang Qi Zhi's eyes lit up, and they secretly praised him: no wonder Lin Sicheng could pick up so many leaks?

It wasn't hard to think of this method; Dan Guoqiang and Wang Qi Zhi could both think of it, but what was rare was this quick thinking.

Lv Chenglong followed closely behind and clapped his hands: "This method is good, it's much more convenient than any instrument."

It would have been better if he hadn't clapped; once he did, He Laoshi was even more bewildered.

The method had been given, there was no need to waste any more time, and the group filed out.

He Laoshi frowned, looking completely unable to figure it out.

He truly could not understand why using a silk thread to hang it could determine whether this seal was authentic or not.

After a long while, Lu Zhen whispered a reminder: "He Laoshi, why not try it first?"

"That's right!"

Whether it works or not, try it and see.

The siblings untied the silk ribbon used to bind the Seal Box, took out a strand of silk thread, and tied it to the seal knob.

Lifting it up, the Bronze seal swayed and wobbled a few times.

Lu Zhen watched carefully, but to be honest, with his experience and appraisal ability, he could not see anything.

At first, He Laoshi did not feel anything was wrong either. Until the bronze knob slowly came to a stop, motionless.

Looking at the bronze knob hanging in mid-air, perfectly square, neither leaning nor tilting, He Laoshi was stunned, and a flash of light crossed his mind.

Subsequently, his complexion changed.

No matter how slow-witted Lu Zhen was, he knew what this expression meant, and his heart panicked: "He... He Laoshi?"

He Laoshi did not speak; he re-tied it and hung it again.

But it was useless; he hung it two or three times in a row, and no matter how he hung it, the small seal remained perfectly square, neither leaning nor tilting.

As if unable to believe it, He Laoshi stared straight at the Bronze seal.

After a long while, he let out a mournful sigh: "The seal is fake... this is... a machine-cast product!"

"Impossible!" Lu Zhen was stunned, "He Laoshi, you saw it too; so many people were competing with me, and several of them are experts in the Beijing epigraphy circle!"

He Laoshi sighed, as if lost in a trance: "Recall what that Lin Sicheng said just now..."

Lin Sicheng, what did he say?

He remembered: Director Shan, when you were looking at this seal, didn't you say "The Forbidden City also has one like this"...

Suddenly, Lu Zhen's face turned livid, and his features twisted into a ball.

The more he thought, the angrier he became, and the more he regretted it; he gritted his teeth and kicked out: "My one million..."

With a "Boom—" sound, a chair flew away in response.

Hearing the commotion inside, Ye Anning felt as refreshed as eating an ice cream under the sun of the dog days of summer.

She raised her finger again and poked Lin Sicheng: "Why use a silk thread to hang it?"

"Because it's fast; otherwise, you'd have to use a machine, and if the machine's power is too low, it won't work!"

Ye Anning thought for a moment, but still did not understand.

Lin Sicheng was concise: "Authentic seals have air bubbles, so they will tilt!"

Any ancient Bronze ware inevitably has air bubbles inside, which leads to a shift in the center of gravity; no matter what angle you hang it from, the seal will tilt.

But if it is a modern machine-cast product, it must be solid, and whether it is the proportions or the weight, both sides must be exactly the same.

Therefore, as long as you hang it with a silk thread, you can see at a glance whether it is real or fake.

The group of people suddenly realized: It's that simple?

Wang Qi Zhi sighed inwardly: It is just like a layer of window paper; once said, everyone thinks it is simple.

But if you don't understand it, what separates you is not paper, but an iron wall.

Amidst his emotions, Chen Yangyan walked over: "Lin Laoshi, can you part with that Vermilion Bird seal? You name the price!"

This seal definitely had to be sold, because most of the six million spent today was borrowed.

But not right now.

"General Manager Chen, can you wait a few months?" Lin Sicheng pointed at Ye Anning, "During the Poly spring auction, Cousin Ye helped me, so I didn't complete my task. I plan to give this seal to her first, so she can fulfill her quota at the autumn auction..."

Huh, Lin Sicheng hadn't said that?

Ye Anning was stunned for a moment, then grinned.

You just tagged along, what help did you provide?

And you have the nerve to smile?

Wang Qi Zhi glared at her, then lowered his voice:

"General Manager Chen, you want to give a gift to XXX during the Double Tenth, right? This is simple: let Lin Sicheng help you look for one; it just needs to be expensive, authentic, and easy to sell... If he can't find one, let Lin Sicheng spare one for you, or General Manager Zhao can spare one too..."

Right, the item must be authentic, expensive, and even easier to sell...

Thinking of the items he had seen in Lin Sicheng's Center showroom, Chen Yangyan felt relieved: "Thank you, Professor Wang!"

(End of chapter)