Chapter 480: Great Minds Think Alike

After leaving the market, Ye Anqi finally remembered that the group hadn't eaten yet.

He was just about to book a place when his Fourth Uncle's call came in:

"Anqi, your Third Uncle has finally made a trip to Guangzhou, let's get together this evening..."

"I've booked it at Panxi Restaurant, it's closer to you all... everyone come over, it's livelier with more people..."

"Alright, Uncle!"

After hanging up, Ye Anqi pointed forward: "Fourth Uncle is treating us to dinner, right at Panxi."

Yao Qiming hurriedly smiled: "Section Chief Ye, we won't go..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Ye Anqi: "Chairman Yao, you've all worked hard for most of the day, come with us!"

Yao Qiming opened his mouth, but said nothing more.

To tell the truth, he certainly wanted to go; even just getting a glimpse of the Director would serve as a protective talisman in the future.

But he was afraid of forcing his way in, only to fail at flattering and end up kicking the horse's hoof instead.

Seeing Ye Anqi's firm attitude, he figured it wasn't just politeness, so he definitely had to go.

Feng Sanjiang and Ding Aqin were very perceptive; they knew their identities were somewhat sensitive and that they shouldn't randomly join such an occasion. They made an excuse about needing to pick up the porcelain plates later and declined.

Lin Sicheng, however, waved his hand: "It's fine, it's just a meal, we can just come over after picking up the plates!"

The two didn't insist further and left first to go to the porcelain kiln to retrieve the plates.

The remaining few strolled leisurely toward Panxi Restaurant.

Though called a restaurant, it was ridiculously large, covering a full twelve thousand square meters.

The establishment was built along the banks of Lihu, including eight courtyards, eleven water features, three man-made rivers, and six covered corridors, making it one of the top three garden-style restaurants in Guangzhou.

It had a long history, founded in the 1940s and operating to this day.

The dishes were also extremely distinctive, the most famous being the Pantang Five Delicacies Porridge: bamboo shoots, water caltrops, arrowhead, water chestnuts, and lotus root.

Next were its original Eight Famous Dishes and Eight Famous Snacks. Especially the latter; in terms of character, reputation, and fame, it was even better than the century-old Ronghua House and Lianxiang House.

In terms of influence, it was second only to Guangzhou Restaurant and the White Swan Hotel.

There was only one point: the consumption was relatively high.

They were close by and arrived after making a turn. Wang Qi Zhi and Ye Xingchi hadn't arrived yet, so Ye Anqi led them into the private room first.

Ye Xingchi had booked two tables, both in large private rooms for a dozen people. The two rooms were right next to each other, with identical layouts and identical standards. No one said who should sit where, but everyone had a brain.

Yao Qiming and Gao Wen consciously went to the back room; Li Zhen and Fang Jin also went to that room, and even saved seats for Feng Sanjiang and Ding Aqin. Before long, Zhao Xiuneng arrived as well; Wang Qi Zhi had specifically instructed him to bring Zhao Da and Zhao Er along. Without needing a reminder, the two brothers also went to the back room. After some introductions, it wasn't long before Wang Qi Zhi and Ye Xingchi arrived.

He was about forty years old, of medium height, with brows and eyes bearing a slight resemblance to Ye Xing'an.

He was very amiable, spoke with a smile, and went to both private rooms to shake hands with everyone one by one.

When it was Lin Sicheng's turn, Wang Qi Zhi only said he was his student, and Ye Xingchi's reaction was also normal.

At least it wasn't as obvious as Ye Anqi and Ye Anlan, who would glance at Ye Anning's face as soon as they saw Lin Sicheng.

Besides that, he also brought someone along, introducing him as the Director of the Display Department of Guangbo, a fellow collector and good friend of Ye Xingchi. He likely feared having no common topics with Wang Qi Zhi and specifically invited an expert. He must have been quite famous, as Yao Qiming and Gao Wen wore beaming smiles and bent their waists as much as they could while shaking his hand.

Just as they were seated, Feng Sanjiang and Ding Aqin returned with the plates, and the two very consciously went to the back private room.

The dishes were started, and in the blink of an eye, the cold appetizers were on the table. Subsequently, the first hot dish was served: one of the Eight Famous Dishes of Panxi Restaurant, Jade Liquid and Qionglin. Each person had one; the name was beautiful, and the presentation was even more beautiful: a carved pumpkin tureen. Not to mention whether it tasted good, the tureen alone could be called a work of art: inside was Eight Treasures Soup, a proper state banquet dish: first created in the sixties, it established the unique flavor of "Clear and Elegant Original Flavor" under instruction. When the British Queen visited in 1986, it had been changed to a large winter melon tureen, and in 1992, when Deng Gong toured the south, it was changed back.

After the lid was lifted, the soup color was like golden tea, the bird's nest strands were distinct, and the fresh aroma was pungent.

Halfway through the soup, the second dish was served, still one of the Eight Famous Dishes of Panxi Restaurant: Roasted Suckling Pig.

The color was golden, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The third dish was Kirin Steamed Dongxing Grouper, the fourth was Ancient Method Grandfather Chicken, and the fifth was the famous Five Delicacies Soup.

Lin Sicheng was a true Northwesterner; he had loved oily and meaty food since childhood and had always been indifferent to vegetable dishes. But when this dish was served, it made him want to give a thumbs up. It felt even more flavorful than the first dish, the Eight Treasures Soup.

Halfway through the meal, Ye Xingchi proposed a toast, first to Wang Qi Zhi, then to Zhao Xiuneng.

On such an occasion, if you said you could drink but didn't usually drink, it definitely wouldn't hold up. Lin Sicheng was very proactive; before Ye Xingchi's glass was even filled, he picked up his wine glass first.

"Uncle Ye, I toast you!"

Ye Xingchi paused, looking at him with a smile: "Qi Zhi said you don't like to drink?"

The teacher even said that?

Lin Sicheng smiled: "I've accompanied him to drink plenty of times anyway!"

"Haha..." Ye Xingchi laughed, "Come, bottoms up!"

He really didn't like to drink, but one had to consider the occasion. Lin Sicheng clinked glasses with everyone, including Ye Anning.

Ye Anlan was very reserved and ladylike; she claimed she couldn't drink, and after clinking glasses with Lin Sicheng, she only took a shallow sip.

Seeing that Fourth Uncle was chatting with her uncle and not paying attention to this side, Ye Anning sneered.

Ye Anlan gave her an elbow and drank the remaining half of the glass.

The glasses weren't small, about half a tael each; after everyone went around once, four bottles were already empty.

Ye Anlan was afraid of getting in trouble when she got home, so she didn't dare drink much, while the others had about half a catty each. Tao An had the lowest tolerance and his face was flushed red. The remaining seven were all calm and composed.

Ye Anning looked curious and stared at Lin Sicheng: "You're in good form today?"

"When have I ever not been in form?"

He just didn't like to drink, but that didn't mean he couldn't.

"When you drink with my uncle, why do you push and pull?"

Lin Sicheng let out a "Heh": "If I didn't push and pull, the teacher would be asleep for three days, believe it or not?"

Hearing the two's conversation, Ye Anlan was eager to try: "Lin Sicheng, your tolerance is quite good, let's have a second half later!"

Ye Anning glanced at her sideways: "Ye Anlan, I advise you not to overreach."

Ye Anlan looked unconvinced: "Let's wait until I overreach to talk about it."

She felt that: they were in high spirits right now, and by the time it ended, Lin Sicheng would have to drink at least another half catty, meaning he would have drunk at least a catty in total. She would drink at most two or three taels, so by then, she would be waiting in comfort to strike, and she wouldn't be able to beat Lin Sicheng?

Ye Anning just smiled: When he said Lin Sicheng was in good condition, he meant he didn't refuse, and he drank every cup dry. It was not that Lin Sicheng couldn't drink.

Anyway, every time he drank with his uncle, his uncle was almost drunk, while Lin Sicheng was still perfectly fine.

If he let go, Lin Sicheng could drink at least seven or eight taels without a problem.

It is hard to persuade a damn ghost with kind words; when he vomits all over the place later, Ye Anlan will know how serious it is.

The atmosphere was indeed quite good; they were drinking happily and chatting joyfully.

The main thing was that they had common topics: Wang Qi Zhi went without saying, a Graduate Tutor at an Archaeological Institute, with top-tier theory and rich experience.

That Director Peng was the same: a Person in Charge of the Exhibition Department at a Level One Museum, his level was very high whether in appraisal or research. Zhao Xiuneng was the same; before Zhao Laotai was in good health, he had often collaborated with major museums. And he himself was a restoration artist with quite strong skills, so he could keep up with the conversation on every topic.

Ye Xingchi was slightly worse, but this "worse" was only relative. At least in terms of theoretical common sense, Ye Xingchi really knew quite a lot and spoke very persuasively. But anyone with a discerning eye could see that Director Ye definitely belonged to the Zhao Kuo type: he was very good at talking, but useless once he started doing it.

These few people didn't just focus on chatting among themselves; from time to time, they would say a few words to the juniors. As they chatted, Ye Anlan brought up the plate that Lin Sicheng had bought during the day.

At first, no one paid attention. But when they heard the rest, that Lin Sicheng had spent 100,000 yuan, Ye Xingchi could no longer stay calm.

Guangdong's economy was number one in the country, yet a civil servant's monthly salary was less than 3,000 yuan. 100,000 yuan was equivalent to working for three years without eating or drinking; it was definitely not a small amount. The key was, he bought a piece of Guangzhou porcelain?

It wasn't that Guangzhou porcelain wasn't worth that much, but there were too many in existence, the appreciation was too slow, and it wasn't cost-effective for collection.

He had heard Wang Qi Zhi say that Lin Sicheng's eye for antiques was very high, higher even than his teacher's. But Ye Xingchi was biased, feeling that because of Ye Anning, Wang Qi Zhi was definitely gilding his student.

Besides, his age was right there, a year younger than Tao An, and he hadn't even graduated yet; how was this eye for antiques, which was higher than Wang Qi Zhi's, trained? While secretly pondering, he looked at Ye Anqi: "Has Chairman Yao seen it?"

Ye Anqi nodded: "He has, Chairman Yao said that they had researched this item long ago, and 100,000 is not high!"

Ye Xingchi frowned: Since it wasn't high, why didn't they buy it?

As the thought turned, he smiled at Lin Sicheng again: "Sicheng, you brought the plate, right?"

Of course he brought it: he had been wandering in the antique market all afternoon, and after leaving the market, he came straight here, so the item was still in Fang Jin's bag. Lin Sicheng nodded: "Uncle Ye, I brought it!"

"My eye for antiques is average, at most it counts as armchair strategy, but Director Peng's eye is absolutely top-notch! If it's painting appraisal, he's in the top ten of Lingnan; if it's ceramics appraisal, at least the top three..."

Peng Yanzhi hurriedly waved his hand: "Director Ye, that's too much, too..."

If everyone at the table were laymen, he could brag if he wanted to. But having chatted for so long, he was very certain that Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng definitely belonged to the experts among experts. Especially Zhao Xiuneng: from the beginning of pottery in the Neolithic Age to modern industrial porcelain, he knew the famous kilns and famous porcelains of every dynasty like the back of his hand. The key was that he was also a restoration artist. Those who can repair definitely understand more deeply than those who can only appraise, so here, Peng Yanzhi really didn't dare to act like a big shot. Ye Xingchi also understood this logic and smiled: "Perfect, let General Manager Zhao and Director Peng check it for Sicheng and take a look!"

Hearing this, Zhao Xiuneng's eyelids couldn't stop twitching: You want me to take a look and check it for Lin Sicheng?

Director Ye, do you believe that if people who know us heard this, they would laugh their teeth out?

Isn't that... Professor Wang is already unable to hold back his laughter.

It's also Professor Wang's fault for not introducing them clearly during the introduction.

But it really wasn't Wang Qi Zhi's fault: there were ten people who came this time, and Ye Xingchi didn't know eight of them. Except for Zhao Xiuneng and Lin Sicheng, the remaining six were all Lin Sicheng's subordinates.

He couldn't just keep bragging about Lin Sicheng alone, could he?

Secretly changing his thoughts, seeing Zhao Xiuneng's lips move as if he wanted to say something, Wang Qi Zhi waved his hand:

"Fourth Brother, I forgot to mention just now, General Manager Zhao and Lin Sicheng are fellow disciples!"

Ye Xingchi had a strange look on his face, glancing at Zhao Xiuneng, then at Lin Sicheng, and finally at Wang Qi Zhi.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, his expression made it very clear: General Manager Zhao is over sixty, right, and he's still your student?

Seeing at a glance that he had misunderstood, Wang Qi Zhi explained with a smile: "When we were at the teahouse, didn't I mention it? Lin Sicheng established an Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, mainly researching ancient ceramic restoration and restoring lost ancient porcelain-making techniques..."

"But to research intangible cultural heritage, there must be a clear lineage of inheritance. It just so happened that, through a twist of fate, I met General Manager Zhao."

What's more coincidental is that General Manager Zhao's grandfather was the chief Jue Craftsman of the Qing Dynasty Palace Internal Affairs Office, General Manager Zhao's father and mother were the second generation of successors, and General Manager Zhao is the third generation... In order to establish the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, Lin Sicheng became an apprentice under General Manager Zhao's mother..."

Ye Xingchi felt even stranger, looking Zhao Xiuneng up and down: If General Manager Zhao is sixty, then his mother must be over eighty. At such an old age, how much energy could she have to teach an apprentice?

The more he thought, the stranger he felt: "Why didn't Sicheng apprentice under General Manager Zhao?"

Wang Qi Zhi smiled: "It's just for the sake of a name, of course the higher the seniority, the better!"

"Mainly because I can't teach him!" Zhao Xiuneng followed up, "I'm not afraid of Director Ye laughing, my two sons are both currently learning their craft under my Junior Brother..." Hearing the first part of what Wang Qi Zhi said, Ye Xingchi suddenly realized: it meant that Lin Sicheng's skills were very high and didn't need teaching.

Hearing the second part of what Zhao Xiuneng said, he intuitively felt something was wrong and pondered it carefully.

Zhao Xiuneng couldn't teach him, which meant his skills were not as good as Lin Sicheng's. But if he wasn't as good, what about his mother?

Looking at General Manager Zhao's two sons, they must be over thirty. Zhao Laotai probably couldn't teach anymore now, and didn't have the energy to teach, but what about before? Her own grandsons, at their teens when their minds were most active and their memories best, why didn't she teach them? Why wait until the two grandsons were over thirty and she was too old to teach, only to take on a twenty-something-year-old kid as a student?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong: it couldn't be that Lin Sicheng's skills were higher than those of the successor of the palace craftsmen, could it?

While he was suspicious, Peng Yanzhi next to him stood up, holding a glass of wine: "General Manager Zhao, I would like to ask for advice; if there is any disrespect, please forgive me!" "Director Peng, you are being too polite!"

Zhao Xiuneng also stood up and picked up his glass. He could guess what Peng Yanzhi wanted to ask and said bluntly, "I won't hide it from you, Director Peng, after my ancestor went to the folk, he once had a nickname called Zhao Polan... Now, it has been passed down to me."

Peng Yanzhi's eyelids twitched.

Having heard from Wang Qi Zhi earlier that Zhao Xiuneng's grandfather was the last chief Jue Craftsman of the Qing Internal Affairs Office, and then associating it with the surname Zhao, he immediately guessed a few things. Hearing the three words "Zhao Polan" meant everything matched up.

Suddenly, his wine glass lowered a bit, and with a "clink," they touched: "General Manager Zhao, I have long admired your name!"

What he had long admired was not the nickname that had been passed down for three generations, but Zhao Laotai's skills: in the world of Cultural Relics, as long as restoration is mentioned, few haven't heard of the old lady's name.

The so-called Internal Affairs Office Jue Craft was not just about repairing porcelain, but copper, wood, horn, ivory, jade, and even furniture—they repaired everything.

Especially towards the late Qing Dynasty, the Treasury was so clean that mice could run through it; with no money to replace things with new ones, they could only repair and patch them up to make do. Over time, the Jue Craftsman's skills improved by leaps and bounds.

The reason Zhao Xiuneng could only repair porcelain was that his comprehension was too poor and he had no talent. But Zhao Laotai had completely inherited her father-in-law's mantle; she could do everything and was proficient in everything.

There were fewer from the south, but in the Northwest and North China, larger museums had all invited Zhao Laotai to repair Cultural Relics, and her fame in the world of Cultural Relics was not ordinary.

After clinking glasses, Peng Yanzhi poured another one: "Is Teacher Zhao still in good health?"

Zhao Xiuneng hurriedly filled it: "Thank you, Director Peng, she eats well and sleeps soundly..."

The two were being polite to each other, and Ye Xingchi could see: he didn't know how high this General Manager Zhao's skills were, but his mother's skills were definitely high enough. Otherwise, Peng Yanzhi wouldn't need to be so polite, nor would he need to be so respectful.

Besides, Guangzhou to Xijing is thousands of kilometers away; for Zhao Laotai's fame to spread so far, her skills can be imagined.

Then what about Lin Sicheng?

Subconsciously, he glanced at Wang Qi Zhi.

Wang Qi Zhi understood in a second, nodded, and looked at Zhao Xiuneng. The meaning was: higher than me, and also higher than Zhao Xiuneng.

Ye Xingchi didn't believe it before, but now he already believed it seven or eight parts.

But the problem arose again: how old is Lin Sicheng, and where did he learn it?

Wang Qi Zhi spat out four words: "Self-taught without a master!"

Ye Xingchi's eyes bulged slightly: what the hell?

Self-taught without a master, a self-made talent?

Even if it is self-taught, doesn't it still require time?

Suddenly, Ye Xingchi remembered when they were at the teahouse, Wang Qi Zhi had talked about Lin Sicheng's family situation: his grandfather was also a professor at the Xida Cultural Relics and Museology College, and was a Deputy Director.

It seemed his foundation in Ceramics Appraisal was also exceptionally good.

Since that was the case, why couldn't it be a family heritage?

He asked in a low voice, but Wang Qi Zhi shook his head: Lin Zhangqing's eye for antiques, as well as his Artifact Restoration ability, were on par with Zhao Xiuneng. If he were in Xijing, or Shaanxi Province, or even the few provinces in the Northwest, that would naturally be top-tier.

But if he were in Beijing, or compared to the Forbidden City or Jingdezhen, he wouldn't even count as second-rate; at most, he would be third-rate.

Just as Zhao Xiuneng said: he couldn't teach him, and Lin Zhangqing naturally couldn't teach him either, so Lin Sicheng was of course self-taught without a master...

Knowing Ye Xingchi didn't believe him, Wang Qi Zhi gestured: "Ye Anning, go get the plate!"

Whether it's a mule or a horse, you'll know once you take it out for a walk.

If the item Lin Sicheng dared to spend 100,000 on didn't double or triple in value, Wang Qi Zhi would dare to gnaw on it and eat it.

"Wait until you see the item in a moment, Fourth Brother, and you'll know!"

The two men's voices were not loud, and besides, Zhao Xiuneng and Peng Yanzhi were still busy flattering each other, so no one noticed them.

Opposite them, Ye Anlan sat in Ye Anning's seat, looking excited: "Ye Anning said that plate can earn a lot of money, Lin Sicheng, how much can it earn?" Lin Sicheng didn't speak.

It wasn't that he couldn't say, but the suspicion of bragging was too great: just being a Kangxi Lang Kiln, it would be at least over a million.

Moreover, the history of this plate was very convoluted, involving many famous historical figures; if each could be verified, it could at least double again. Spending 100,000 to earn two million, if this isn't bragging, what is?

He shook his head: "It's hard to estimate!"

Ye Anlan was half-doubting: it's not that it's hard to estimate, but that you don't dare to say it, right?

Ye Anqi knew a bit more, because Lin Sicheng had told her: that was a Kangxi Lang Kiln.

Things fired in an Imperial Kiln, how low could they possibly be?

She gestured with one finger: "Is it this much?"

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal: "About that!"

Ye Anlan's eyes went straight: One million?

How much does a house in the center of Guangzhou cost?

Just as she was shocked beyond belief, Ye Anning walked in carrying the box and placed it on the coffee table in the reception area.

Lin Sicheng helped, unwrapped it in a few quick movements, and the others left the dining table and all gathered around.

Ye Xingchi had self-awareness: if you let him talk, he would certainly be eloquent. But if you let him look, he was just a hack.

Wang Qi Zhi was not skilled at Ceramics Appraisal, and besides, with Peng Yanzhi and Zhao Xiuneng there, he naturally had to hide his clumsiness, so he didn't crowd in.

Zhao Xiuneng and Peng Yanzhi stood on the left and right, and Peng Yanzhi gestured: "General Manager Zhao, please!"

"Director Peng, let's do it together!"

"Very well!"

As the two spoke, they gathered all their focus.

Ye Anning made another trip, retrieving the tools Lin Sicheng often used from Fang Jin. The two of them, one holding a Magnifying Glass and the other a High-intensity Flashlight, examined it almost inch by inch.

After looking at the base, they looked at the body, then the mark, then the glaze, and finally the brushwork, decorative patterns, and the rim of the plate.

The more the two looked, the more amazed they became, and they exchanged thoughts from time to time.

"General Manager Zhao, how does this plate not look like mid-Qing? The Clam Light is too bright, and the oxidation level of the glaze molecules is too light..."

"It really does feel a bit strange, as if the Fire Qi hasn't even faded yet."

Never mind mid-Qing, just based on this glaze color, even if you said it was late Qing, people would believe it. But looking at the vessel shape, and then the workmanship, it was 100% Qianlong period, or even a style from earlier.

The two looked at each other and roughly had a judgment: for a very long period, this item had been stored in a sealed, light-proof environment. Without light exposure, without the wear and tear caused by moving and wiping, and without a sufficient oxidation atmosphere, even if it were left for 500 years, it would be like new. If they had to date it as accurately as possible: before Qianlong, at least it was the Yongzheng period.

It was even harder to say, Kangxi...

However, the point was not this, but the craftsmanship characteristics and artistic style: it was definitely not Guangzhou enamel, but 100% Gold-traced Five-colored Porcelain. But to be honest: the glaze-painting craftsmanship of Folk Kiln five-colored porcelain was definitely not this refined. The glaze-bonding technology of Folk Kiln five-colored porcelain was also definitely not this superb. As they watched, the two looked at each other again. It was a meeting of minds; with just one glance, both knew what the other was suspicious of. "General Manager Zhao, why do I feel that this painting method, this glaze bonding, looks like an Official Kiln?"

"Yes!" Zhao Xiuneng nodded vigorously, "Director Peng, I feel it looks a bit like a Lang Kiln..."

Peng Yanzhi was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands hard: "Clap!"

What do you call this?

Great minds think alike.

He also felt it looked a bit like one, but it was just a feeling, not a certainty, so he hadn't said it.

Actually, Zhao Xiuneng was much the same as Peng Yanzhi, having a vague impression, with perhaps less than 10% certainty. The reason he dared to speak was because of one point: this item was something Lin Sicheng had hunted down.

Having known him for so long, and having seen how many bargains he had picked up, when had Lin Sicheng ever misjudged?