Chapter 418: Fear is Useless

Lin Sicheng picked up the brush washer again, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.

Truly, he had just been curious, curious about how much the real brush washer resembled the Japanese Imitation Ru Ware, enough to make so many appraisers from auction houses and master craftsmen from the Antique Trade lose their way.

He had never once thought that he could end up picking up a bargain, and a massive one at that?

Do not think that foreign imitation porcelain has no value or is worthless. You must first look at where it was imitated, when it was imitated, and who imitated it. Before, he felt everything was wrong, shrouded in clouds and mist, unable to grasp the thread. Now, looking at it again, it is like parting the clouds to see the sun, suddenly enlightened.

He previously suspected that the body of the brush washer was too glutinous, caused by the Fetal Clay and Porcelain Stone having slightly lower aluminum content and slightly higher calcium and silicon content. And isn't Japanese Porcelain Stone low in aluminum and high in calcium?

He also previously suspected that the reason the glaze surface of the brush washer had a rare warm tone might be to save money and reduce costs, by not using Agate in the glaze.

Looking at it now, it has absolutely nothing to do with saving money or reducing costs: when this brush washer was fired, the Japanese porcelain industry had just started, only beginning to research the basic techniques passed down from the Daimyo, so how could they have the technology to use Agate in the glaze?

That was the late Daimyo period, just the initial stage of China's scientific and technological outflow overseas. Japanese potters had only just begun systematic Research, unable to make the refractive index of the Agate crystals in the glaze approach the refractive index of air, thereby achieving the glaze effect of "transparent yet hidden" and "blue changing with light."

Japanese potters were even less capable of making the expansion coefficient of the Agate crystals produce temperature-difference cracking with the glaze matrix to form the natural crackle of cicada wings and fish scales. Let alone ancient Japan, the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties combined also failed to achieve this.

Since the technology was insufficient, what could be done?

Simple, use a crooked method: change the glaze formula and use the method of Double-Layer Glaze to achieve a visual color close to Sky Blue Glaze.

But because of this, the glaze was relatively thick, which is why the glaze surface of this brush washer looks so turbid. At the same time, it feels so greasy to the touch, far from the unique ice-bone-like-jade texture of real Ru Ware and Japanese Imitation Ru Ware.

To put it plainly, this is still a piece of Japanese Imitation Ru Ware.

At this point, Lin Sicheng could judge at least seventy or eighty percent: when this piece was imitated, what techniques were used, what characteristics the materials had, and so on and so forth.

He could even guess with high accuracy where it was imitated and who imitated it: late Japanese Warring States period (mid-to-late 16th century), Arita Town, Saga Domain (Prefecture), the Japanese Porcelain Saint Sakaiida.

The answer lies in that touch of gold color within the crackle fissures: Double-Layer Glaze, Double-Color Glaze, Stacking Gold.

In China during the same period, even slightly larger Folk Kilns knew these three techniques. But in Japan during the same period, these techniques were the secret of the Sakaiida family, historically known as the "Hidden Gold Method."

It just so happens that the latitude of this place is equivalent to Zhejiang and Jiangsu, and it just so happens to be a typical Pacific coastal climate.

What is even more coincidental is that it is by the sea.

Therefore, it was absolutely not dug up in Malaysia as Pangzi said. This thing had been buried in Saga Prefecture, Japan, from beginning to end. It was buried roughly from the end of the 16th century to the 1950s or 1960s, buried for about three hundred and fifty or sixty years.

The key lies in this time, this place, and this person.

In the mid-16th century, the Sakaiida father and son used Chinese porcelain-making techniques passed down from Joseon, then test-fired Blue and White Porcelain in Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, starting the precedent of Japanese porcelain making.

It can be said that as long as it is a kiln that ranks in ancient Japan, whether it is the three Imperial Kilns, the four feudal lord kilns, or even the Five Great Kilns exported to Europe and America, they all originated from Arita Town, Saga Prefecture.

A small portion of the technology of these kilns came from the porcelain-making techniques Sakaiida learned from Joseon potters, and the remaining majority was the large amount of Daimyo technology that flowed from China to overseas after the Manchu Qing entered the pass.

In this way, can Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, be considered the birthplace of Japanese porcelain? Can Sakaiida, who started the precedent of Japanese porcelain firing, be considered the Porcelain Saint of Japan?

Then, look at this brush washer again: it uses Amakusa Pottery Stone (volcanic mica schist) from Saga Prefecture, Izumiyama Magnetic Stone (high silicon, high calcium) from Saga Prefecture, and the Hidden Gold Method unique to the Sakaiida family (derived from Chinese Wucai). And it just so happens that this brush washer was fired at the end of the 16th century?

So, if it wasn't fired by the first-generation Sakaiida, who else could it be?

At this point, it is no longer a question of whether the body of this brush washer is brittle, whether it used Agate, whether the glaze is turbid, or how well it imitates.

Rather, the thing in front of him is nine times out of ten the product of the Japanese Porcelain Saint using techniques learned from China to test-fire porcelain in the Japanese porcelain-making holy land, creating the precedent in Japanese history.

Therefore, do not care whether this thing is considered mainstream in China at the same time, what grade its craftsmanship and techniques belong to, or how poor its quality is; first, you must consider it from the standpoint and historical perspective of the Japanese.

If you must make a comparison: imagine that piece of paper made by Cai Lun?

Therefore, such a thing is no longer a question of how much it is worth...

Lin Sicheng stared intently, watching with extreme seriousness. The others remained silent, quiet and still.

After another long while, Lin Sicheng put down the brush washer and praised, "Good stuff!"

Pangzi did not dare to make a sound.

Of course it is good stuff; being able to fall into his hands was entirely a coincidence, purely picking up a massive bargain.

But unfortunately, I am afraid it cannot be kept...

While secretly pondering, Lin Sicheng picked up a wet wipe and wiped his hands: "This thing, is it Hu Shifu's?"

Of course.

Pangzi nodded.

Lin Sicheng smiled without smiling: "Then when you collected them together, did Hu Shifu also collect a few more? Are they similar to this one, but more like that piece from yesterday?"

Pangzi gave a dry laugh.

If it were before, he would definitely not have admitted it; the reason is simple: because they are swindlers.

But now, the other party had already investigated them thoroughly, and he was even willing to give it away for free, so what need was there to hide anything?

Pangzi nodded again: "I won't hide it from Lin Shifu, there are four more that are similar to the one from yesterday!"

Then adding the one sold to the Hong Kong merchant, there are a total of six of these?

After pondering for a moment, Lin Sicheng got straight to the point: "Then is Hu Shifu willing to part with them?"

Pangzi was stunned, as if he didn't understand: I am already willing to give them away for free, and you are asking me if I am willing to part with them?

Seeing what he was thinking, Lin Sicheng emphasized: "Hu Shifu, no matter what you all think, I will state one point: I do not mix in the underworld, and I am certainly not a robber, so if it is a gift, I definitely do not want it.

What I mean by parting with them refers to the market price; if you are willing, you can consider it."

After a slight pause, Lin Sicheng pushed the brush washer forward, "Of course, I am not in a hurry, waiting a few more days is fine, you can go back and discuss it!" Giving it away for free and not wanting it, but insisting on the market price, is there a hole in his brain?

Pangzi was half-believing: "Lin Shifu, do you mean you want all five?"

Lin Sicheng nodded solemnly: "Of course!"

Since he had encountered them, there was no reason to let them go.

Pangzi probed again: "If it is according to the market price, the price will not be low?"

"Rest assured, I can afford it!"

Seeing Lin Sicheng answer decisively, Pangzi's eyes lit up, but before his mouth could open, he was poked in the waist.

The woman gave a subtle look, and Pangzi realized it belatedly, his gaze dimming.

Someone offered the market price, and you actually dare to ask for the market price?

Pangzi thought for a long time, hesitantly stretched out two fingers, but before he could stretch them out properly, he retracted one.

Just as he was about to raise them, the woman glared at him again, so Pangzi simply retracted the last one as well, then steeled his heart and splayed his five fingers: "Lin Shifu, five hundred thousand, not a cent less!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned, not knowing what to say.

Big brother, what is the difference between this five hundred thousand of yours and giving it away for free?

Forget it, no point in bickering...

"Hu Shifu, I'll make an offer: eight million for the five pieces, think about it!"

Lin Sicheng tapped the table, "Of course, the premise is: these items have a clean history, do not involve any cases, whether domestic or foreign..."

Pangzi was stunned, his eyes bulging: How much did you say?

The woman was even more at a loss, doubting if she had heard wrong: eight million, double the market price?

All three were insiders; whether it was her, Pangzi, or even Feng Laosan, they were all very clear: this Brush Washer on the table was worth five million at most. And that was only if it were at a major auction house, with the preliminary publicity work fully in place, the momentum built up, and the invited bidders being wealthy enough and having an eye for the item.

These factors were all indispensable, so a more reasonable transaction price would be roughly around four million.

If not auctioned but traded directly, the price would have to drop by another ten to twenty percent: three million to three million five hundred thousand.

As for the remaining four Ming Imitation pieces, to be honest, if one encountered an expert, like Lin Sicheng, twenty thousand per piece would be the absolute limit. Being generous, one million for the four, so how much does that add up to in total?

Five million is the ceiling.

Pangzi had indeed fantasized: if lucky, with six Brush Washers in total, perhaps he could pull in eight, nine, or ten million.

But this "ten million" referred to every piece other than the one on the table being like yesterday's, with someone willing to take the bait and someone willing to spend the money, netting two million per piece, making ten million for five.

Adding the one on the table, that's about fourteen or fifteen million; if costs could be controlled to half or less, the net profit would be about eight or nine million. What, why are the costs so high?

Come, let's do the math: for this setup against Chen Weihua, they prepared for two years. Just the airfare for traveling between Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia was four or five hundred thousand.

That's not even counting hiring local thugs to fish for information, bribing Chen Weihua's lackeys to tip them off, the expenses for the woman hired from the hospital, plus the dividends for Liu (gang member, beauty) and Gua (gang member, driver and muscle), as well as renting cars, eating, and lodging; with a cost of about one million per item, everything had to be calculated meticulously, down to the last cent.

Moreover, the setup had to be designed with enough finesse, and luck had to be good enough, without a single mishap. If any part wasn't coordinated well and a leak occurred, there were only three paths: eating prison food, losing one's life, or ending up maimed.

It's no exaggeration; if someone were willing to pay eight million, Pangzi could wake up laughing in his dreams. So, for him to be able to resist nodding right now, how much self-restraint did that require?

Just like now, Pangzi gritted his teeth, his two cheeks trembling incessantly, the muscles on his body tensed like steel bars.

The woman was slightly better, at least she wasn't shaking. But her eyes seemed unable to turn, staring straight at Lin Sicheng.

Roughly understanding the two's state of mind, Lin Sicheng smiled: "You two, I'm not joking, of course, I also know you have concerns. So, you can go back first and discuss it with Manager Feng..."

Discuss what the hell?

If Feng Laosan dared not agree, I'd smash his face in.

The three of them were terrified, risking being maimed or even losing their lives, wasn't it just to make one last haul?

Now, without having to risk a single thing, they could smoothly get clean money, why wouldn't they do it?

Although Pangzi thought this in his heart and was so excited his whole body was shaking, a shred of reason remained in his mind.

He knew that playing tricks in front of this person was simply courting death, so he spoke bluntly: "Lin Shifu, it's not worth it!"

"I say it's worth it!" Lin Sicheng pointed at the Brush Washer, without the slightest concealment, "Of course, if you all feel that there is a possibility of missing a treasure, you can consider it again!"

Missing a treasure, how could that be?

This item had passed through the hands of so many old masters and Experts, even Pangzi himself couldn't count them. It could be said that to set this trap for Chen Weihua, every major auction house and large antique company in Beijing, whether international or domestic, had been visited by Feng Laosan's family.

The result was without exception: Ming Imitation, Ming Imitation, and still Ming Imitation. The highest offer was only two million, and that was on consignment.

Therefore, even if they missed a treasure, even if the Xuande Emperor had used this thing to eat, they would accept it.

Pangzi stood up with a "thump": "Lin Shifu, shall I call Feng Laosan over?"

"Ah?" Lin Sicheng was taken aback, "Not going back to discuss it?"

"No need! Feng Laosan said, if you want to scam us, you could do it anywhere, and it would just be a matter of convenience for you!"

Pangzi shook his head, "The old saying goes well, long nights bring many dreams, I'm afraid that if we delay, you might change your mind..."

Zhao Xiuneng almost laughed out loud: Don't say, this Pangzi has quite a bit of self-awareness?

Lin Sicheng looked depressed, not knowing whether he should explain.

"That works too!" He nodded, "If Manager Feng is willing to come, it should be quick!"

Of course it would be quick: how could there be a reason not to pick up money that falls at one's feet?

Pangzi took out his phone: "Lin Shifu, I'll make the call now!"

"Go ahead!"

Saying this, Pangzi left the private room and walked straight out of the lobby.

The woman was stunned for a moment, hunched her waist and smiled, then followed him out.

Hearing footsteps, Pangzi turned his head: "Aqin, why did you come out?"

The woman's lips trembled: "I... I'm scared..."

Pangzi paused, sighing inwardly: actually, he was scared too.

They were just a bunch of scammers, while this person was a big shot who could command a region and call the higher-ups brothers.

For that item of theirs, others offered at most two million, and not even in cash. This person's offer was a full four times higher?

It couldn't be that he wanted to gather them all to slaughter them and squeeze them dry?

It didn't seem necessary.

Just like Feng Laosan said, if this person wanted to do something to them, it would be nothing more than moving a finger. Excluding all possibilities, only one answer remained: he sincerely wanted these items.

Then the question arose: how rare must this Brush Washer be for this person to offer such a high price? How bizarre must it be to make so many masters and Experts miss the mark?

But Pangzi didn't regret it: even if all these prerequisites were cast aside, if someone told him clearly, "These five Brush Washers of yours are all priceless treasures, but I'll only offer eight million, will you sell?"

If Pangzi hesitated for even half a second, it would be a disrespect to his own intelligence.

Traveling thousands of miles is just for wealth; one should only take what one can handle. There is no reason to leave safe money on the table and instead gamble with one's life.

Turning his thoughts, Pangzi walked out of the lobby. As the cold Wind blew, he suddenly shivered, his mind clearing up quite a bit.

Following the number keys, he dialed a number, but before the ring could sound, the other side picked up.

It was as if Feng Laosan had been holding his phone the whole time, waiting for their call?

Pangzi was stunned for a moment: "Where are you?"

"The hospital!"

That's not right, since when was it so quiet in a hospital?

While he was feeling suspicious, Pangzi was stunned again, recalling what Lin Shifu had said just as he was leaving: If Manager Feng is willing to come over, it should be very soon...

How soon is "very soon"?

Heh heh?

Heh heh!

Pangzi stood on the steps and looked around: "What kind of hospital are you at? Come on, open your eyes wide and look, where am I..."

There was a pause on the phone: "If you have something to say, say it!"

Sure enough, this son of a bitch was nearby?

No wonder he answered the phone so quickly.

Although Pangzi was cursing, he was actually quite touched: Feng Laosan must have brought people, he must have come to provide backup for them...

He let out a long breath: "Stop hiding, you've crossed paths with him before, you know how formidable he is!"

"Lin Shifu said that directly?"

"Otherwise?" Pangzi sighed, "Lin Shifu wants you to come over, then we can discuss selling all the Brush Washers to him." "Huh, you didn't give them away?"

Pangzi was stunned for a moment and cursed inwardly: Feng Laosan, fuck your mother.

You knew I would give them away for free, yet you still made me come?

He couldn't be bothered to waste his breath: "Do you know how much they offered? Listen clearly: eight million."

Feng Laosan seemed stunned, remaining silent for a long time: "How is that possible?"

Pangzi also felt it was impossible, but that was the reality.

"Why so much nonsense, are you coming or not?"

"Is it safe?"

Feng Laosan, at a time like this, you're still considering that?

"Who was it that said: if he wants to screw us over, he can do it anywhere, and it would just be a casual matter?" Pangzi sneered, "You must have seen it, an off-road vehicle left earlier, do you know who was driving? Yan Wenjing. Do you know who was in the car? Yu Guang."

"And there was another one, I'll scare you to death if I say it: his rank is even higher than Yu Guang's, his surname is Sun..."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a sharp intake of breath came from the phone: he wasn't like Pangzi and the woman, who had been dealt with by Yan Wenjing and Yu Guang, so they knew them. But Feng Laosan saw it very clearly: when those people left, they shook hands with both Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiuneng.

Lin Sicheng was very normal, just the expression one has when seeing off a friend. But Zhao Xiuneng, his face was so wrinkled from smiling that when he shook hands, his waist was almost bent at a ninety-degree angle...

So, what is there to be afraid of?

Because being afraid is useless anyway...