Chapter 583: This Painting Is A Bit Strange

After waiting for half an hour, Huang Zhi's friends arrived fashionably late.

One man and one woman; the man was steady, the woman was beautiful.

Huang Zhi introduced them from the middle: "General Manager Liu, General Manager Zhao, this is Lin Sicheng, my friend!"

The woman nodded slightly, and the man extended his hand: "General Manager Lin, nice to meet you."

Both were very reserved, carrying a faint sense of aloofness and wariness.

Lin Sicheng was baffled: he had met many people; some were skeptical, some dismissive, some enthusiastic, and some expressionless. This was the first time he had encountered people who were guarded and wary of him the moment they met.

After checking repeatedly, he was certain he did not know them.

But then, seeing that these two had the same expression when shaking hands with Huang Zhi, Lin Sicheng suddenly realized.

These two had categorized him and Huang Zhi as the same type of people: Second Generation, or privileged sons of officials.

Thinking back to when he first met Huang Zhi, didn't he have the same attitude?

Judging others by himself, combined with the expressions of these two, it was nine-to-one that they were here today against their will, forced to come due to Huang Zhi's status. He sighed and looked at Huang Zhi.

Huang Zhi looked innocent: Why are you looking at me? I found them according to your requirements, didn't I?

Big clients who are willing to spend money. Straightforward personalities, quick to pay.

They must be decent people, preferably with formal jobs. The source of their money must be clean, and they cannot be involved in anything illegal.

To be honest, Huang Zhi knew quite a few people who met these conditions. Half of the guests who came to eat at his courtyard met the requirements. But there were really very few who met these conditions, liked antiques, and had a need for collection in the near future.

These two were the most promising candidates Huang Zhi could find who had an interest in collecting and were most likely to reach a deal with Lin Sicheng.

As for the other party being guarded?

That really couldn't be blamed on Huang Zhi; the reason lay with Lin Sicheng: he was selling too urgently, unwilling to sell piece by piece, but wanting to bundle them all together, and it had to be cash.

Combined with Huang Zhi's role as the middleman, the other party couldn't help but think: Is this Young Master Lin short on money and looking for a sucker to fleece? Huang Zhi thought for a moment and pointed to the sofa nearby: "General Manager Liu, General Manager Zhao, let's sit and talk!"

"Alright!"

As they spoke, the group walked over.

Li Zhen brought over four cups of coffee.

The four of them chatted casually, and Lin Sicheng observed carefully:

The man was very talkative and knowledgeable, able to speak a little about every industry.

The woman had high emotional intelligence, was very good at adjusting the atmosphere, and worked in tacit coordination with the man.

The two were like a superior and subordinate; they must have worked together for many years and were very familiar with each other.

Looking at their speech and temperament, they carried a unique elite air.

After chatting for about ten minutes like this, Lin Sicheng had a guess about their identities.

The previous part was just a warm-up. Seeing that the timing was right, Lin Sicheng clarified his intention: "General Manager Liu, General Manager Zhao, General Manager Huang should have mentioned: I am preparing to transfer a portion of my collection. The quantity is not large, but the value is very high. A preliminary estimate is around 40 million..."

"I won't hide it from you two; because I need the money urgently, I plan to handle it as a one-time package deal. So the price is negotiable..."

General Manager Liu smiled politely: "General Manager Lin, what exactly do you have?"

"The items are quite varied: porcelain, Bronze, Calligraphy and Painting, seals, ancient books... but rest assured, they are all high-quality pieces! The items are in Beijing, and you can see them at any time!"

"General Manager Lin, what about the provenance of the items?"

"They were all purchased through formal channels, with invoices and transaction Contracts. There is even less need to worry about their authenticity..."

Lin Sicheng paused, "If you two feel it is necessary, you can hire professional appraisal institutions or Experts to verify them..."

The two looked at each other and nodded again.

At first glance, they seemed quite satisfied, but Lin Sicheng clearly captured the look they exchanged: indifferent and dismissive. These two were clearly here today just to go through the motions.

Sure enough?

The man smiled politely: "General Manager Lin, please leave your contact information. We will report to our leader after we go back. We'll see when the leader has time, and I will contact you then. We can look at the items then..."

Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: "Thank you, General Manager Liu!"

After exchanging numbers, the main business was considered finished. Lin Sicheng extended an invitation, saying he had booked a private room at a hotel for lunch.

The two politely declined, saying they had their eyes on two exhibits and asked if he wanted to take a look together.

Knowing that these two were not genuinely inviting him, Lin Sicheng politely declined.

He saw them out politely, and seeing the two enter the exhibition hall next door, Huang Zhi sighed: "The favor was wasted!"

The so-called reporting to the leader was complete nonsense.

These two didn't even ask what Lin Sicheng did for a living.

Lin Sicheng didn't really care: for a business deal worth tens of millions, it was normal for people to be cautious.

"General Manager Huang, do these two work at a bank?"

Huang Zhi was stunned: "You didn't know?"

Lin Sicheng looked strange: "If you don't introduce them, where would I know from?"

Huang Zhi slapped his forehead.

This was his fault: his mind was full of the glorious deeds of Lin Sicheng scamming foreign businessmen, and he forgot to tell Lin Sicheng about the background of these two.

"These two are managers in the investment department of Fujian Province Bank. I know them, but not very well. I originally made an appointment with their superior. But unfortunately, the director is on a business trip."

"But you are selling too urgently and couldn't wait for the director to return. I mentioned it, and the director said to let the subordinates in charge of this area come over to talk first." After a pause, Huang Zhi sighed: "The problem is that I urged them too urgently. It made people misunderstand... these two took you for a Second Generation." It's not that there are no good people among the Second Generation; on the contrary, most of them are very law-abiding. For example, Huang Zhi, for example, Wang Qi Zhi, and even more so, Tang Nanjin and Tang Nanyu.

But there are also many who do not follow the rules, relying on their status and power to act almost like they are robbing in broad daylight.

Lin Sicheng had truly suffered such losses in his previous life.

"Why did you arrange it here?"

"Because these two are also busy; they are either running to auctions or to art companies, and they only have time in the evening. I thought about discussing things over a dinner table, but it felt a bit lacking. Since they were coming to the auction, I just arranged it while they were here."

"Along the way, it would also let them learn more. I didn't expect them not to give us a chance?"

Huang Zhi smiled self-deprecatingly, "But it doesn't matter, I will help you contact others. If Fujian Province doesn't work out, there is still Tairui!"

The nature of Tairui is similar to Fujian Province Art; it is led by Huaxia Bank and primarily invests in art funds.

But Lin Sicheng is not very optimistic about it.

Fujian Province and Huaxia are private banks, and the funds they issue are securities-type funds, subject to dual regulation by the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, making their regulations and policies even stricter. Art investment is a newly established investment project, so the level of caution is evident.

The key is that bank procedures are too numerous, and with less than a month left, the approval process alone is not enough.

But he must accept this favor.

"Thank you, General Manager Huang!"

"Let's go, since we're here, let's take a look around!"

"Which one would you like to see, General Manager Huang?"

"Let's look at the Calligraphy and Painting; my sister loves this, I'll call her."

"Okay!"

The two stood up and entered the exhibition hall.

Not far away, a woman poked her head out to take a look, then stood up as well.

But she did not follow them, instead walking in the opposite direction.

Entering the porcelain exhibition hall, she made an OK gesture, and Guo Yongxin understood, walking toward that General Manager Liu and General Manager Zhao.

Such exhibitions inherently have a social nature; seeing someone hand over a business card, the two accepted it.

Upon seeing it, it was actually an Executive from a foreign firm, and they immediately became interested.

After chatting for a few sentences, Guo Yongxin fished out the identities of the two.

It took only five or six minutes, and the two sides parted ways. Guo Yongxin left the exhibition hall and met up with Liang Shiya.

She looked self-satisfied: "Diwen, I wasn't wrong, those two really are bank Executives."

"Those two are both senior managers of the Art Investment Fund at the Fujian Province Bank investment department."

Regarding the former point, Liang Shiya was not surprised: Guo Yongxin is a Financial Officer and deals with various banks the most, so it is not strange that she could discern the background of these two.

What she found strange was: is there actually an investment-type art fund in the country?

Because banks in China are different from those abroad; although they have the design and leadership rights for various investment projects and fund types, they require approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission and are further regulated by the Financial Regulatory Administration.

For a new, pioneering fund project like art, it should be very, very difficult to get approved.

"It is said that they tentatively launched the first generation of products the year before last, but the returns were quite good, with an annualized rate reaching twelve percent. So this year they launched the second generation fund... the operation method is not complicated: buy low and sell high, earning the price difference in between..."

"What is Lin Sicheng looking for them for? Is he preparing to operate something?"

"No!" Guo Yongxin shook her head, "Diwen, you might not believe me when I say it: Lin Sicheng is preparing to bundle and dump all the collections under his name!" Liang Shiya was stunned for a moment.

She truly had not expected this.

She had guessed that Lin Sicheng might look for a bank loan, or might look for private borrowing, or even use financial means to raise funds.

But she never expected that he would bundle and dump them?

"Did it succeed?"

"No!" Guo Yongxin shook her head, "Afraid that the other party would be suspicious, I only probed them with a couple of sentences, and they didn't say too much either. But I can judge that those two are very guarded."

Liang Shiya was stunned: "Haha..."

Come to think of it, were those two afraid that Lin Sicheng would scam them?

But it is not strange, because Lin Sicheng is selling too urgently.

People are just like that; the more something is delivered to their door, the more suspicious they are.

Just as she was pondering, the Assistant walked over: "Diwen, those two bank Executives went to the Calligraphy and Painting exhibition hall, and General Manager Lin is also over there!"

Liang Shiya thought for a moment: "Two masters, let's go over and take a look!"

Today is the last day of the preview, but perhaps because the publicity was not done well, there are not many people.

They are sparse, scattered everywhere.

There are quite a few exhibits, from the Ming Dynasty to modern famous calligraphy and painting, totaling more than three hundred pieces.

Just as he entered the exhibition hall, Liu Taiqi saw Lin Sicheng, and Lin Sicheng also saw him.

Although he did not want to deal with them, turning around and leaving would not be appropriate. Liu Taiqi gave his deputy a look, and they walked over together.

"General Manager Huang, General Manager Lin, you are also looking at calligraphy and painting!"

"My sister likes it more, so I'm taking a look while I'm at it."

After replying, Huang Zhi blinked slightly: Lin Sicheng, let them see for themselves whether you are a hollow reed.

But Lin Sicheng had little interest.

Institutions like banks all have a common trait: the more you push, the less they value you.

Just like loans: those who are most in need of money are often the ones who cannot borrow it.

He just nodded politely.

After a brief greeting, the two sides parted. After the two walked a bit further away, Lin Sicheng explained: "General Manager Huang, bank procedures are numerous and approvals are troublesome; I estimate there isn't enough time."

Huang Zhi suddenly realized: no wonder Lin Sicheng wasn't very proactive?

If it were a few million, he could still pull some strings, use connections, and have the bank expedite it. But for an amount of tens of millions, unless the director doesn't want to keep their job, it's useless no matter who says it.

Because this is art investment; setting aside whether the items are real or fake and whether they are worth that much, if the origin of even one or two pieces has problems, the relevant Person in Charge would be in a tight spot.

"Then what should we do? Sell them one by one?" Huang Zhi was worried for him, "How long would that take to sell?"

The things in Lin Sicheng's hands are all good, so logically, they should definitely not be hard to sell.

The key lies in the origin of the buyer and the source of the funds. For example, identities like Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng are definitely not okay. What Lin Sicheng fears is that if he is negligent and any one of them goes wrong, he will be caught by the United Association.

Rather than that, it would be better not to sell.

The best way is to find a big collector who does legitimate business, or a large institution with investment intentions, and handle it all at once.

"In that case, putting them up for auction would definitely be too late..." Huang Zhi had a sudden thought, "Wouldn't it work to sell them to an antique company or an art company?" "Of course it would, but for forty million worth of goods, I'd get at most half..."

That is true.

Because of Huang Lan, Huang Zhi also understands a little. He has also experienced just how dark antique companies can be.

"I'll help you ask about another one..." After saying this, Huang Zhi looked left and right, "No wonder I didn't see Professor Wang?"

Lin Sicheng nodded noncommittally.

The reason his teacher did not come was not because he went to find a buyer for him, but because he had been invited by the relevant departments to discuss countermeasures.

Lin Sicheng actually wanted to go, but Liang Shiya was like glue stuck to him; she might as well have put a bed in his office to watch him twenty-four hours a day. Look, they had only been apart for a short while, and this woman had followed him again?

Lin Sicheng smiled: "General Manager Huang, although I am in a rush, I am actually not that anxious!"

Huang Zhi was dumbfounded: Lin Sicheng, are you speaking human language? Why can't I understand you?

Lin Sicheng gestured with his chin, and Huang Zhi subconsciously turned his head and saw Liang Shiya.

He realized belatedly: The reason Lin Sicheng was acting anxious was to put on a show for this woman.

"You said before that you wanted to scrape together over one hundred million within a month?"

"That's right, one month, scrape together one hundred and fifty million!" Lin Sicheng lowered his voice, "But I have a way!"

Huang Zhi became increasingly curious.

He really wanted to ask what method Lin Sicheng had.

But unfortunately, Liang Shiya had arrived.

Lin Sicheng reined in his smile, his tone as flat as possible: "Does Director Liang have any instructions?"

"I wouldn't dare give instructions, I'm just afraid General Manager Lin might misjudge something." Liang Shiya said, half-teasing and half-sarcastic, as she pointed to Zhou Zhilin beside her, "I specially invited an Expert to help you; if General Manager Lin has any needs, feel free to order them at any time!"

She paused: "Free of charge!"

Lin Sicheng sighed: I didn't provoke you, yet you come to provoke me instead?

Just as he was about to speak, Ye Anning's voice came from the side: "Lin Sicheng, can you come over and take a look? This painting is a bit strange." In reality, it was not strange at all; Ye Anning was worried he would clash with Liang Shiya.

Lin Sicheng smiled: "General Manager Liang, excuse me!"