Chapter 467: Are You Looking for Me?

The street was still bustling, with tourists swarming in and pouring toward Liwan Lake.

It was over a kilometer away, and by the time they walked there, it would be noon, so Ye Anqi suggested eating first.

Since they still had to sightsee in the afternoon, they didn't want to go to too much trouble and found a restaurant nearby with some character.

As the group walked toward the restaurant, Ye Anqi asked curiously, "Sicheng, is this Yishunlong Hall a place that researches ancient porcelain?"

"Yes, Second Brother. To be precise: it specializes in researching Guangcai. Although it doesn't have the fame of Zhaolangkui Hall, during the late Qing Dynasty, it was the most comprehensive and top-tier kiln for Guangcai porcelain."

"Then is this Huang Yishun the founder?"

"Correct!"

To be more precise: during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi eras, Huang Yishun was the top master of ceramic art for Guangcai firing techniques.

But there is one point: Yishunlong Hall only fired art porcelain, not Western-style or custom-made porcelain specifically for export.

You could say it this way: Huang Yishun represents the peak level of Guangcai's transition from export porcelain to art porcelain during the late Qing Dynasty, regardless of quality or artistic composition.

The reason it isn't famous, and why one can't even find this person in historical records, is first that Guangcai is relatively niche. Second, Guangcai was born specifically for export, and furthermore, during its transition, it couldn't immediately shed its characteristics of being "thick with color and heavy with paint" and "sturdy and practical."

To put it bluntly, it didn't quite fit the aesthetic of the gentry class, so Yishunlong Hall porcelain remained limited to the Lingnan region.

But if viewed from the perspective of history and art, the Guangcai style of Yishunlong Hall was quite distinctive: a combination of East and West, using native gold relief carving for peonies, and using focal perspective to depict Lingnan pavilions.

There is a poem that specifically records the two great skills of Huang Yishun: "Gold-ground peony is peerless, pavilion perspective is refined."

Lin Sicheng spoke briefly, and Ye Anqi looked back: "Anning, Anlan, have you two heard of this person?"

Asking Ye Anlan is about the same as asking an illiterate person: if you ask her where is fun in Guangzhou, she can name dozens of places without catching her breath.

But if you ask about history or art... sorry, this sister isn't into that.

Ye Anning knew a little, but her focus was only on things related to the Lingnan School of Painting and the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Like Huang Yishun, a historical figure who wasn't very famous, she was equally in the dark.

Seeing the two of them shake their heads in unison, Ye Anqi was lost in thought: Starting from scratch and picking up leaks worth tens of millions. From nothing to having a fortune of hundreds of millions in a year... whether these things are true or not, let's not mention it for now. But what Ye Anning said about him having a photographic memory seems to be true.

Otherwise, why would Lin Sicheng be able to speak so articulately about a historical figure that even he, a native of Guangzhou, and Ye Anning, a professional art student, didn't know?

Turning his thoughts inward, he asked another question: "Sicheng, is this Yishunlong Hall looking to cooperate with you?"

"I suppose so!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "But I don't have the time!"

In truth, there was no basis for cooperation.

During the era of Huang Yishun, although the craftsmanship of Yishunlong Hall was quite distinctive, its coverage was narrow and its representativeness was weak: ultimately, Guangcai was primarily for export, so even if one were to research it, one would certainly have to research the export porcelain of the Thirteen Hongs era.

If one wanted to research art porcelain of the same period, there was plenty in Jingdezhen.

Secondly, Guangcai appeared late and was civil porcelain, so the inheritance of its craftsmanship was very complete. Even if one were to research it, there was no need to make a special trip to Guangzhou to cooperate with a local private institution.

Whatever data one wanted to check or experiments one wanted to conduct, one could do it all in Xijing.

As for the recipe for Doucai, that was out of the question. Not to mention that it wasn't quite perfected yet, even if it were perfected and one wanted to find someone to cooperate with, it would be with Zhao Shixiong—the three of them were putting up money and effort, and running around, so one couldn't let people work for nothing, right?

Chatting as they walked, they arrived at the restaurant in no time.

The name was very ordinary: Xiangqun Restaurant, but it had a long history.

In the early eighties, just after the Reform and Opening-up, Xiangqun was still a neighborhood canteen. As the name suggests: a "fly restaurant" opened in a deep and narrow alley, serving only neighborhood business.

But the quality of the food was too good and too distinctive, so it became more and more famous, and today it has become one of the top characteristic restaurants in Xiguan. In his past life, Lin Sicheng had eaten here; the scallion oil chicken and soy sauce goose intestines were peerless. He even asked specifically: they could sell over a hundred chickens a day. Besides these two, Lin Sicheng liked Xiangqun's cold-dressed dace skin the most, followed by a bowl of boat congee and a plate of rice noodle rolls—it was exceptionally authentic. The signature dishes were basically just these few; without needing a reminder, Ye Anqi ordered them all.

Then he asked Tao An to go buy Lingji's rice noodles, as well as the three treasures of the house from Wu Kanji: Zhuangyuan Jidi Porridge, salted pancakes, and Dechang Salted Water Dumpling. They were all on Longjin Road, just a few steps away. But these snack shops were even more famous than Xiangqun and had a longer history: they were already renowned in Guangzhou during the Republic of China. Since there was a lot to buy and one person couldn't carry it all, Fang Jin volunteered to help.

Just as the two of them went out, Feng Sanjiang and Ding Aqin arrived together.

Lin Sicheng asked Li Zhen to take out the plates and handed them over: "On a whim, I painted three colored plates. Please, Boss Feng, find an old kiln to fire them; it's best to find an old master to watch the fire."

"You are too polite, Lin Shifu!" Feng Sanjiang nodded in agreement, opened the lids, and took a look.

First was that West Chamber Character Plate.

Feng Sanjiang was an Appraiser of ancient porcelain; if his eye wasn't sharp enough, he couldn't be a swindler, he could only be swindled.

Ding Aqin was even more comprehensive; although he hadn't seen her craftsmanship yet, Lin Sicheng judged that it shouldn't be worse than Zhao Shixiong's.

Of course, the two of them recognized what kind of porcelain this was painted on.

At first glance, it looked like Guangcai, only it didn't use heavy colors, nor did it have gold stacking or jade inlay, making it more elegant than traditional Guangcai.

But if one looked closely, one could see: in the overall composition, only the edge of the plate used some Guangcai techniques, while the remaining ninety-nine percent used various techniques of the "boneless" method.

Compared to that, what was even more astonishing was the composition: there were an extreme number of objects, full to the point of being unable to be any fuller, yet it gave one a sense of being orderly and interesting. To be honest, even if placed in the Qing Dynasty, to be able to paint porcelain to this extent, one would at least have to be called a "Master."

Subconsciously, the two of them looked at each other: they hadn't expected that Lin Shifu not only had a sharp eye and was good at picking up leaks, but his skill in painting porcelain was also this good? Sighing inwardly, Feng Sanjiang opened the second box.

At just one glance, the two of them were stunned in unison: why was it a semi-finished product?

Huh, no... what is this, Blue and White?

It only used Cobalt Material to outline the contours, and there was nothing else inside: the characters had no faces, the armor had no patterns, and even the mountains, rivers, trees, grass, horses, and swords only had shapes, without any internal textures.

But precisely because of this, the two were surprised: this clearly looked like it was meant to be filled with color.

Both of them were insiders, and one look told them this was prepared for Blue and White with Five-Colored decoration. To put it another way: Doucai.

But was this something one could just paint?

If you ask if Doucai is easy to paint: it's hard if you say it's hard, and easy if you say it's easy, but the prerequisite is that you must know how to mix the colored materials.

They hadn't not spent time in Beijing; go ask those so-called "Masters," how many know how to mix Doucai materials and dare to mix them? You could say it this way: absolutely no more than two handfuls, and all of them are within those top institutions headed by the Forbidden City.

Of course, Jingdezhen has them too, more than Beijing, but likewise, they are all in the Porcelain Research Institute and the Porcelain Research Academy.

Those so-called Doucai masters in the private sector all use substitute materials: they replace Cobalt Material with cobalt-aluminum Spinel, and add catalysts and fluxes; it doesn't need thirteen hundred degrees, eight hundred degrees is enough to develop the color, and nine hundred degrees is enough to glaze it.

But as for the "jewel blue luster" and "tin luster" unique to Blue and White Porcelain, that's not even worth thinking about.

The colored materials are all replaced with chemical synthetic materials; they don't need eight hundred degrees, four hundred is enough.

There's even less need to worry about expansion coefficients, glaze cracking, or line and color pressing problems. But after firing, don't even mention "Dou" color; it doesn't even reach the most basic color saturation.

To a professional, such things are like a joke, at most fooling the National Treasure Gang.

Then how should this one painted by Lin Sicheng be counted?

The key is, what kind of material did he use?

It definitely isn't the kind you find at a street stall; otherwise, he would have just filled in the colors directly, with no need to specifically fire it with Cobalt Blue first.

Subconsciously, the two of them looked at the plastic bag in front of Li Zhen, their pupils constricting: Was this material something Lin Sicheng had newly formulated?

It must be a new formula; otherwise, there would be no need to specifically bring it back. Avoiding the trouble of having to formulate it a second time was secondary; the point was that the formula must not be leaked.

So, where did Lin Sicheng learn this formula?

Guessing incessantly in their hearts, the two were curious to death, but they both knew their place.

After looking at it again to confirm there were no errors, Feng Sanjiang closed the lid: "Lin Shifu, after this plate is fired, is it to be filled with colors?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Yes!"

See, wasn't that just as expected?

Feng Sanjiang's heart tightened, and he didn't dare ask another word.

Then, he opened the third box.

Huh, why is it empty?

No, it's not empty: the base for the Transparent Shaping had been drawn with a pencil, a white base material had been applied, and the hemp pattern had been incised.

But nothing else had been painted on it?

Feng Sanjiang didn't dare be careless, feeling it was better to ask clearly: "Lin Shifu, how should this one be fired?"

"Low-temperature sintering will do!" Lin Sicheng reminded him, "This is Glass White!"

What the hell?

Feng Sanjiang straightened his back abruptly.

Ding Aqin was even more exaggerated, as if she had been punched in the face; her head snapped back involuntarily, her eyes bulging as if they wanted to pop out and land on Lin Sicheng's face.

Glass White... Famille Rose?

Is this something an ordinary person can paint?

There is a poem from ancient times: "A hair's breadth determines life and death, a single stroke dyes destiny..." That refers precisely to Famille Rose.

Without ten or twenty years of skill in porcelain painting, who would dare touch this stuff?

For this reason, a specific school even branched off, creating a new type of porcelain: Shajiang Color!

Commonly known as New Famille Rose, also called porcelain painting.

Those capable of painting this are all masters of Landscape Pattern and flower-and-bird painting: Cheng Men, Jin Pinqing, Wang Shaowei, Yu Ziming, Wang Pan...

And looking at Lin Sicheng... A master in his early twenties?

The two stood there as if stunned, motionless, silent.

Roughly guessing what they were thinking, Lin Sicheng tapped the table: "Feng Shifu, Ding Shifu, let's eat first; we'll go deliver it after eating!" The two woke up as if from a dream, suddenly jolting.

How could they still have the heart to eat?

Before, they had only thought they had encountered a boss with extremely high discernment, extremely high skills in Artifact Restoration, and a background so deep it was unfathomable. They had never imagined Lin Sicheng possessed such craftsmanship?

Capable of formulating Doucai, knowing how to paint Famille Rose... With these two skills alone, it would be hard for Lin Sicheng not to become famous.

If he just loosened his fingers a little and let some soup leak through, it would be enough for them to eat until they were stuffed.

They had to calm their nerves first, and then carefully ponder how to cling even tighter to this golden thigh.

The two hurriedly shook their heads: "Thank you, Lin Shifu, we already ate when we first arrived!"

They had only had morning tea at nine o'clock, and it was barely eleven now; what kind of meal had they eaten?

Of course they hadn't eaten, but the two knew their place and knew that these friends of Lin Sicheng had extraordinary identities.

Lin Sicheng knew it clearly, but he didn't point it out:

"There is one more thing: this afternoon, we might want to stroll around Xiguan Old Street (the antique market). If Feng Shifu and Ding Shifu are not busy, could you act as our guides?"

Of course they weren't busy: they were staying in Guangzhou specifically to go to Malaysia and Japan with Lin Sicheng. The reason they hadn't set off yet was because Hu Pangzi hadn't arrived yet. Feng Sanjiang calculated the time: "Lin Shifu, I will deliver the plates, give some instructions, and be back in about two hours."

In two hours, they would have barely finished their meal.

"No need to rush, going a bit later is fine too!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "Thank you for your hard work, you two!"

"You are too polite, Lin Shifu!"

After replying, the two picked up the boxes and carefully left the restaurant.

Through the window, watching the two get into the car, a flash of curiosity crossed Ye Anqi's eyes: Wang Sanshu had introduced them before, saying they were friends in the Antique Trade, so he hadn't paid them any mind.

Looking at it now, he felt it was quite strange: when these two saw Lin Sicheng, it was as if ancient servants seeing their master—indescribably humble, indescribably attentive.

But looking at Lin Sicheng, he was very normal; he treated these two no differently than he treated him, Ye Anlan, or Tao An.

The more he thought about it, the stranger it felt. Ye Anqi turned his head: "Sicheng, what do these two do?"

"When I met them, they were con artists!" Lin Sicheng said bluntly, "Basically setting traps in the Antique Trade, passing off inferior goods as quality, and fakes as genuine."

What the hell, con artists?

The three siblings were stunned for a moment and looked out in unison: Feng Sanjiang and Ding Aqin had already gotten into the car and driven out of the street entrance.

Ye Anlan looked curious: "Did you fall for their scam?"

"Not at all!" Lin Sicheng shook his head, "I just happened to run into them while they were scamming someone else!"

"Oh, you caught them in the act!" Ye Anlan assumed, "That's why they're so afraid of you?"

They were indeed a bit afraid, but what they were likely afraid of was his status.

More than that, they wanted to seize this opportunity to go straight and wash their reputations clean.

"Not exactly afraid; at most, it's an employment relationship!" Lin Sicheng explained simply, "They are locals of Guangzhou and know many collectors in the antique and porcelain circles. I plan to have them introduce me to some..."

"Introduce you to collectors?" Ye Anlan pointed at her nose: "Then ask me!"

Ye Anning squinted: "You know them!"

Ye Anlan argued confidently: "Of course I don't know them, but my dad does..."

Ye Anning pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Fourth Uncle certainly knew them, but the people Lin Sicheng was looking for were not some ordinary collectors, but those involved in Grave Robbing and the trafficking of Cultural Relics.