Chapter 56: The Guarantee

Hetian Jade is a natural mineral; because its inherent radioactive element content is extremely low, its radiation value is relatively low and relatively stable: approximately 0.7-0.8 microsieverts.

But even if it is low, there is still a baseline; how could it possibly be four times lower than the average, even lower than a paper Ancient Painting?

This is no longer nonsense; it is fundamentally impossible.

Therefore, there is a problem with this Jade. Consequently, whether it is the preliminary appraisal or the re-appraisal, they are all problematic.

But the appraisal report was just snatched away so brazenly?

The Section Chief and the female police officer stared blankly, but Lin Sicheng looked straight ahead, fixing his eyes on Guan Xingmin.

Guidance is fine, and helping is fine, but you cannot make us take the fall... that is exactly what Lin Sicheng meant.

Of course, it was also because it hadn't been stamped, so it had no legal effect. Otherwise, let it be whatever it may.

Guan Xingmin hesitated for a moment, took the Folder from the Section Chief's hand, and likewise pulled out the second copy.

Lin Sicheng still did not move: Director Guan, be quick about it...

Guan Xingmin was caught between laughter and tears: surely no one taught him this, how did Lin Sicheng know how to do it?

He sighed helplessly and gave another look.

The Section Chief understood in a second: the re-appraisal report was in triplicate; besides the two copies held by him and Xiao Zhu (the female officer), was there not another copy with the Deputy Section Chief who was accompanying the professors?

Since they were going to destroy the evidence, shouldn't they destroy it completely?

He also sighed, walked over, whispered to the Deputy Section Chief for a moment, and pulled the third copy back as well.

Without exception, they all ended up in Lin Sicheng's pocket in the end.

Had a shady deal just been completed so quietly?

Wang Qi Zhi's eyes brightened slightly: this composure, especially this thick skin—it's a pity he isn't working in the system.

If Lin Sicheng hadn't done this today, what would have happened?

Naturally, they would have been in the same boat as the Provincial Department Appraisal Center and the Municipal Appraisal Center.

There is no need to doubt it; when the case was overturned, those two places would surely have been damnably eloquent: "Leader, look, even the Xida guidance team didn't identify it..."

It would mean the guidance team had jumped squarely into the thieves' pit, and then, Wang Qi Zhi would undoubtedly be mocked as a piece of shit: "You are the team leader; if you aren't responsible, who is?"

Therefore, Lin Sicheng was covering for Wang Qi Zhi.

Wang Qi Zhi exhaled, took the Folder from Guan Xingmin's hand again, and began to flip through it page by page.

He looked at the instrument test report first:

Raman Spectroscopy was done at the Provincial Department, and the main component of the staining was calcium carbonate... no problem.

Ultraviolet Detection Needle was used: no signs of dyeing... also no problem.

Infrared Spectroscopy was used: the degree of hydroxyl loss in the jade quality is normal.

High-power Microscope was used: the tool marks are obvious, and the cracks are caused by natural thermal expansion and contraction... also normal.

It just so happens that Thermoluminescence was not performed.

But it is normal that it wasn't done: Jade is not ceramics that require high-temperature firing; what is the use of measuring the last time it was heated?

Could it be to research the origin of Hetian Jade?

Therefore, one cannot blame the appraisal agency for negligence...

Secretly guessing, Guan Xingmin reminded him in a low voice: "Should we call Professor Yu over to take a look?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head.

Professor Yu dared to sign the re-appraisal report, so he must have absolute certainty. If you call him to look now, he will surely give the same explanation: it is real, absolutely real.

If they invite someone from the school on short notice, first, there isn't enough time, and second, it would be a laughingstock.

He thought for a moment: "Let's take a look ourselves first!"

As he spoke, Lin Sicheng reached out and pulled the Flashlight and Magnifying Glass from the pocket of Guan Xingmin's white coat.

Wang Qi Zhi and Guan Xingmin also leaned in.

At just one glance, the three of them knew why the two-level Appraisal Center had identified it as genuine, and why Professor Yu was so certain.

It is a typical Hetian Mutton Fat Jade boulder, and a typical Chicken Bone White: as the name suggests, the jade nature is slightly dry, the overall jade quality is white, reflecting a luster like chicken bone.

This is because the Jade was buried for a long time in an alkaline-rich water-soaked environment, causing minerals to dissolve and the jade quality to undergo calcification.

Looking at the patina: the jade surface is oily and moist, with natural and dense orange-peel texture; this was caused by the accelerated disintegration of the jade quality in a constant environment of thermal expansion and contraction.

Looking at the carving: it is rough and vigorous; in areas where hair structures like the lion's head and back are concentrated and the lines are dense, the chisel marks are one after another, seemingly broken yet not broken, seemingly connected yet not connected. This shows that after it was carved, it was not polished at all.

But the decorative layers are distinct, with techniques like openwork, Relief Carving, and high-relief integrated into one; it is coarse yet refined, combining hardness with softness. It happens to fit the era characteristics of the Mongol-Yuan period, where nomadic culture combined with Central Plains traditional culture.

In plain language: this Jade was buried long enough, the excavation site is far enough north, the summers are hot enough, the winters are cold enough, and the local soil alkalinity is heavy enough... it just so happens to fit the climate and soil environment of Yulin.

This means the age is fine, the excavation site is fine, and the craftsmanship characteristics are even finer?

Including the instrument tests, it seems that except for the radiation value being too low, everything else is fine?

Wang Qi Zhi and Guan Xingmin looked at each other: was Professor Yu's report pulled too early?

Of course not.

Because the radiation value of Hetian Jade is very stable, with a fluctuation range of at most 0.1 microsieverts. How did it end up being a full 0.5 lower for this piece?

Of course, it was burned away.

If you ask why it was burned: because High Imitation ancient jade must be treated with high temperature to imitate the deep cracks of ancient jade.

Besides that, there is a secret trick for imitating Chicken Bone White ancient jade: "warming" to imitate the spots.

The general method is to coat the Jade with lime, bury it in sawdust, and seal it for 2 days; after burning, the Jade will show a Chicken Bone White quality and irregular grayish-white spots, while simultaneously producing dense fire-cracks.

But there is a flaw: the jade surface is too dry, without a hint of oiliness, and it feels rough to the touch.

However, this is not hard to solve: implant the Jade into the fat layer of a living sheep, dog, or even a living cow. In as long as a year, or as short as five or six months, the resulting patina is even more authentic than one polished by human hands for ten years.

At the same time, the fire-cracks will present a concave-convex texture similar to orange-peel texture... this piece of Jade was likely treated this way.

But the problem arises again: no matter how realistic the imitation is, this Jade is still a fake; how did it deceive the Raman, Infrared Spectroscopy, and the High-power Microscope inspection?

Subconsciously, Guan Xingmin raised his head and stared straight at Lin Sicheng: "How did you do it?"

Lin Sicheng blinked: "How would I know?"

"You don't know, yet you dared to pull the re-appraisal report?"

It was the same logic as last time: he wasn't sure if the Inverted Pot contained radioactive elements, so how could he dare to send two "Hong Kong businessmen" to the hospital?

It couldn't be that Lin Sicheng wanted to eat prison food, could it?

Guan Xingmin urged in a low voice: "Be quick about it, I really have no bottom in my heart!"

Helping Lin Sicheng destroy evidence in front of his colleagues meant he was a definite traitor to the Municipal Bureau. If he didn't give his superiors a satisfactory answer, would the leaders spare him?

Lin Sicheng sighed: "Soaked it in lye!"

Guan Xingmin was stunned: "It's that simple?"

"It really isn't simple, because there are many steps in between, but I can guarantee that it was just soaked in water..."

After a slight pause, Lin Sicheng pointed to the Paperweight: "Absolutely one hundred percent!"

Guan Xingmin's spirits lifted: having known him for so long, when had he ever seen Lin Sicheng make such a full guarantee?