Chapter 586: Auction

Lin Sicheng glanced at Zhou Zhilin, then stood up and left.

It was just that his expression was a bit strange.

Liang Shiya was confused: "Master Zhou, what does he mean?"

"You are right!"

"Huh?"

"I am talking about General Manager Lin; he told me: I am right!"

Zhou Zhilin finally understood why Liang Shiya bristled the moment she saw Lin Sicheng.

This person was too detestable.

He clearly hadn't said a word, but combined with his expression, it felt even more uncomfortable than being scolded.

At the same time, Zhou Zhilin could also judge that Lin Sicheng was not playing hard to get, but truly thought highly of this piece.

"Miss Liang, General Manager Lin might bid on this one!"

Liang Shiya curled her lip: "Let him bid, it would be best if it gets stuck in his hands!"

"Should we help him drive up the price?"

After looking at the valuation on the label, Liang Shiya shook her head: "Twenty-eight thousand, even if we drive it up, it won't go much higher."

That was true.

After all, it was an imitation, and the flaws were so obvious that driving it to fifty thousand would be the absolute limit.

Whether for Liang Shiya or for Lin Sicheng at his current stage, a few tens of thousands of yuan was no longer considered money.

Perhaps feeling there was nothing else of interest, Lin Sicheng walked toward the exit. Just as he reached the door, he ran into those two from Fujian Province Bank again.

The reason Liang Shiya came here was precisely because she was afraid Lin Sicheng would have too much contact with those two.

After thinking about it, she followed him, cursing Lin Sicheng as she walked.

A month ago, she was still an Executive at a global giant, and it was all because of Lin Sicheng that she had fallen to this point.

She had never imagined that one day she would be eavesdropping, tripping people up, or even playing dirty tricks.

It was all Lin Sicheng's fault—

Liu Taiqi and Zhao Yan were looking at a piece of calligraphy, while Sun Qichen stood in front of the display case, speaking eloquently.

From the paper to the ink marks, from the signature to the seal, from the brushwork to the style and artistic conception, he explained everything in a logical and convincing manner.

Liu Yiling was also there, leaning against the nearby display case, looking at a pair of couplets.

Fujian Province was a large bank; when its art fund was first established, it invited many well-known institutions and Experts in the industry, among whom were Sheng Guoan and Liu Yan.

Sheng Guoan was not interested in such activities, and Liu Yan could not get away. But since it was hard to refuse, both sent their students to attend.

At the Forbidden City, they were juniors. But once outside, Liu Yiling and Sun Qichen were top-tier Experts from authoritative institutions. Someone like Liu Taiqi, who was at the General Manager level, usually couldn't even strike up a conversation with them.

Meeting unexpectedly at the auction, the two were surprised and delighted. They hurriedly took the initiative to greet them and took the opportunity to ask for advice.

The Forbidden City had strict regulations, and furthermore, Liu Yiling had a cautious personality and rarely participated in commercial appraisals, so she only offered a polite greeting.

But Sun Qichen was different; his official position was not at the Forbidden City, so those rules did not apply to him. Furthermore, having followed Liu Yan for so long, he knew very well how generous investment institutions like banks could be.

The two sides could be said to have hit it off immediately.

The three were chatting happily when Liu Yiling suddenly called out: "Teacher Lin!"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Teacher Liu, Teacher Sun, I have to thank you today!"

He was referring to those twelve guest passes: according to the auction rules, three ordinary members had to act as guarantors to admit one new guest. But for some special members, one person could guarantee three.

For example, authoritative Experts like Liu Yiling and Sun Qichen, who came from the country's top museum institutions.

Liu Yiling said it was nothing, while Sun Qichen smiled, though his smile was slightly unnatural.

If one were to talk about prejudice, it certainly existed; after all, Lin Sicheng had made him lose a great deal of face in front of his senior uncle Sheng.

But if one were to talk about resentment, there certainly had been some before. But now, he didn't dare to have even a shred of it.

After that time at the Technology Park Police Station, having witnessed how Lin Sicheng appraised that painting by Zha Shibiao, Sun Qichen knew that between him and Lin Sicheng, there was at least the distance of three Liu Yilings.

So when Lin Sicheng asked him that morning if he could help guarantee him, Sun Qichen didn't offer a single word of refusal.

It was just a chance encounter; Lin Sicheng offered a greeting and prepared to go look at the porcelain.

Just as he lifted his foot, Liu Yiling called him back: "Teacher Lin, do you have a moment?"

"Teacher Liu, please speak!"

Liu Yiling didn't speak, but pointed her hand into the display case beside them.

It was a pair of running-cursive script couplets: "When the poem is finished, the spring breeze honors the grass and trees; when the calligraphy is done, the swift sword slays the flood dragon."

These two lines came from a poem written for a friend by the famous Song Dynasty writer and calligrapher Huang Tingjian, and later calligraphers often copied them to use as study couplets.

The one before them was exactly that.

Besides the poem, there was also an inscription: "For the elegant appreciation of the honorable elder Yangting."

The signature was "Late student Ji Yun," with the seals "Chunfan" and "Xiaolan."

Calligraphy by Ji Xiaolan?

Looking at the label again: Valuation 160,000—250,000.

If it were an authentic work, this price was about right. And this was also influenced by the TV series, having appreciated significantly in the last two years.

Before seven or eight years ago, before "Iron-Toothed Bronze-Fanged Ji Xiaolan" was broadcast, this piece of calligraphy would only have been worth thirty or forty thousand. If it were in the Hong Kong, Taiwan,

or East Asian regions, it would have been halved again.

The reason was simple: scholars of the Qing Dynasty generally believed that Ji Xiaolan's calligraphic achievements were mediocre, and many calligraphers even considered him unrefined.

Among them, many wrote this in their notebook-style historical materials, directly affecting the valuation and evaluation of his works by later collectors.

Setting the price aside, if one only looked at the work itself, Lin Sicheng felt it was written quite well.

After looking at it again, Lin Sicheng still didn't speak, only shook his head.

Liu Yiling understood in a second: there is a problem with this calligraphy.

She also suspected there was a problem: first, the form of address is incorrect.

"To the Honorable Magistrate Yangting," this phrase is not something one can just say casually.

The so-called "Magistrate" refers to the superior of one's own local official. It is only used as an honorific by lower-ranking officials when addressing a Governor, a member of the Provincial Administration Commission, or a Surveillance Commissioner. But regardless of who is addressing whom, both parties must be local officials.

Yet the only local official position Ji Xiaolan ever held was the Fujian Education Commissioner. But the rank of this official is parallel to that of a Governor.

Even if Ji Xiaolan were shameless, it would be impossible for him to call a colleague of equal rank "Magistrate," and even more impossible for him to refer to himself as a "junior student."

Second, the implication of the poem is wrong: these two lines were written by Huang Tingjian as self-encouragement and to cherish the memory of a friend.

If one were to translate it: The poems I write are like bathing in a spring breeze. The calligraphy I write is as sharp as a precious sword.

To put it nicely, it is self-encouragement; to put it bluntly, it is bragging. How ignorant of social conventions would Ji Xiaolan have to be to write such a poem in a congratulatory scroll for a superior?

Liu Yiling certainly knew all this; she was just curious: aside from the wording, no matter how she looked at it, it seemed like the authentic work of Ji Yun?

Including the paper, ink, seals, as well as the scroll rod and silk—

Knowing what she was confused about, Lin Sicheng said concisely: "Coffin Board!"

This is jargon, meaning a piece of work pieced together.

Liu Yiling suddenly realized: no wonder she couldn't tell?

To put it plainly, whether it was the inscription, the signature, or even the characters, they were all written by Ji Xiaolan.

But they were not from the same piece of calligraphy; they were two, or perhaps even three, pieces of calligraphy pieced together.

For example: if a painting or calligraphy was bitten by mice or soaked in water, it naturally became a fragmented piece.

Originally worth one hundred thousand, now it might not even be worth five thousand.

In order to minimize losses, most collectors will sell the fragments to a Scavenger of Broken Pieces (for Artifact Restoration).

If the Scavenger of Broken Pieces has ready-made parts on hand, they will piece them into a new work. If not, they will specifically collect fragments from the same author, and sooner or later, they can piece together a new one.

This phenomenon was not common in ancient times because it extremely tested the skills of the restorer. Out of ten pieces pieced together, nine would have very obvious flaws.

If caught, the penalty would be paying money at best, or having one's hand broken at worst.

In modern society, it is even rarer: for someone who can put in this painstaking effort and reach the level of passing the fake off as genuine, what else could they do that wouldn't be more profitable than this?

Because she had seen so few, Liu Yiling didn't react for a moment, falling victim to the "darkness under the lamp" effect.

It must also be said that this piece of calligraphy was pieced together very well. Even now, Liu Yiling still hadn't discovered where the flaws were.

This was due to the display case and the lighting; if Liu Yiling could handle it, she would likely be able to discover them.

If she used instruments, it would be even more obvious at a glance.

Of course, that is after it has been auctioned. Regardless of which auction house it is, domestic or foreign, there is no such thing as using instruments for appraisal before a transaction.

Therefore, for over ninety percent of collectors, so-called auctions are no different from opening a blind box—

Liu Yiling subconsciously let out a sigh of relief: if it weren't for Lin Sicheng, she would have had to pay over a hundred thousand.

"Thank you, Teacher Lin!"

"Teacher Liu, it was just a small effort!"

Lin Sicheng said politely and walked out of the Calligraphy and Painting exhibition hall.

Liu Taiqi looked at his back: "Professor Liu, Professor Sun, do you know General Manager Lin?"

"Yes, we know him!"

Fearing that the big client in his grasp would run away, Sun Qichen intentionally misled him: "General Manager Liu, Teacher Lin has cooperative projects with the Ceramics Research Institute!"

Liu Taiqi knew that the Ceramics Research Institute Sun Qichen mentioned must be the Ancient Ceramics Research Institute of the Palace Museum.

He was stunned for a moment: "Cooperating on what, appraisal?"

Of course not, the Palace Museum doesn't do that.

"It's research on ancient ceramic protection technology and craftsmanship!"

"General Manager Lin is responsible for the investment?"

Sun Qichen was ambiguous: "Something like that!"

Liu Yiling curled her lips in disdain: Sun Qichen is really something, isn't he?

Just a manager of a bank's investment department can make you this nervous. If you met the director, or even the bank president, would you have to bow?

She was too lazy to expose him and went back to looking at the paintings on her own.

As she passed by, Liang Shiya took a look.

But it was only subconscious, because she didn't understand what a "Coffin Board" was.

This included the two from the bank, as well as Zhou Zhilin, who didn't understand either.

What Zhou Zhilin was curious about was what Sun Qichen said after Lin Sicheng left: "Miss Liang, does General Manager Lin have cooperative projects with the Forbidden City?"

"He does. Besides the Forbidden City, there is also the Cultural Heritage Research Institute under the Cultural Relics Bureau. The former researches ancient ceramic craftsmanship, and the latter researches metal Cultural Relics protection technology!"

"And Lin Sicheng himself is a current graduate student majoring in Cultural Relics Protection at Northwest University, with his research direction being ancient ceramics!"

Zhou Zhilin didn't speak.

He had spent half his life in appraisal and knew very well how big the difference was between ancient ceramics and metal Cultural Relics. There is a mountain between the two.

What he was more curious about was, since Lin Sicheng hadn't even graduated yet, how did he reach cooperation with institutions like the Forbidden City and the Cultural Heritage Research Institute?

Seeing what he was thinking, Liang Shiya explained patiently, "Before his grandfather retired, he was the Deputy Director of the Xida Cultural Heritage Protection College, and his research direction was also ancient ceramic protection. Besides that, his graduate supervisor's research direction is metal Cultural Relics protection—"

Liang Shiya paused slightly and pointed to the ceiling, "This person has an even bigger background: a direct descendant of a Red Family!"

Zhou Zhilin suddenly realized: so that's how it is?

In a flash, the group arrived at the porcelain exhibition hall, and Zhou Zhilin looked around: "Miss Liang, if we are looking at porcelain, it would be best to invite Master He over!"

As the saying goes, different trades are like different mountains.

Just like Zhou Zhilin and He Jian, these two have a very wide range of knowledge and can basically handle common antiques, but it is limited to just handling them.

Zhou Zhilin specializes in Calligraphy and Painting, followed by metal and stone artifacts, and then study room curios. He Jian specializes in ceramics, followed by Jade and glassware. Lacquerware and gold and silver wares come after that.

The two of them can appraise the rest as well, but they only count as knowledgeable, not proficient. Most of the time, they would not rashly draw conclusions.

Especially in an occasion like a large-scale auction, which is full of items that make Experts misjudge.

Liang Shiya nodded, but in her heart she was thinking: Zhou Zhilin and He Jian studied under famous masters and have specialized in appraisal for thirty years, with reputations across Hong Kong, Taiwan,

and East Asia.

Even they dare not claim to be proficient in everything; Lin Sicheng is only in his early twenties, so how did he manage to pick up those bargains?

In a flash, He Jian entered the exhibition hall, followed by his Assistant.

Although she said she wanted to keep a close eye on Lin Sicheng, Liang Shiya also cared about her reputation. This time she did not follow, but instead instructed He Jian and the Assistant to try their best to record the items Lin Sicheng had looked at.

This time it took a little longer, nearly two hours, before Lin Sicheng came out.

Before leaving, Lin Sicheng specifically found Liang Shiya to say that he would not be coming this afternoon or tomorrow.

Whether he comes for the auction the day after tomorrow is uncertain; if he does come, he will definitely notify Director Liang.

Liang Shiya had been burned before, so she did not believe a single word Lin Sicheng said.

Declining Lin Sicheng's invitation to dine together, Liang Shiya returned to the hotel and gathered everyone for a meeting.

The goal was clear: if Lin Sicheng raises his paddle, how to disrupt him and how to help drive up the price for him.

Seeing the list handed over by the Assistant, Liang Shiya frowned: Why are there so many?

There are only two pieces of Calligraphy and Painting, but there are over thirty pieces of ceramics.

Seeing her not speaking, He Jian explained: "Miss Liang, over ninety percent of these auction lots will have no one raising a paddle for them."

To put it bluntly, they all have problems.

Although the remaining ones have no problems, their prices are not low, so there is not much room for manipulation.

He thought for a moment: "What I am worried about is that the items Mr. Lin buys are not among these!"

Liang Shiya was calm and composed: "Rest assured!"

Calculating the time, Lin Sicheng will submit his Financial Plan tomorrow. If he wants to rely on "picking up bargains" at the auction to raise funds, he must write it clearly in the plan.

If he didn't write it, but he picked up a bargain and made money, it could be regarded as suspicious funds.

Liang Shiya did not think Lin Sicheng would make such a stupid mistake.

What she worried about was, if she arranged for someone to drive up the price, and after just one bid, Lin Sicheng stopped bidding, what then?

Liang Shiya thought for a moment: "Master Zhou, Master He, if one reneges on a bid, what are the consequences?"

"Under normal circumstances, the deposit will be forfeited, and one might be sued for malicious price manipulation. But these won't—"

He Jian pointed to the list, "Miss Liang, I can guarantee: if one reneges on these ceramics, there is no need to bear any responsibility—"

Because there is a clause in the Auction Law: if the announcement is seriously inaccurate, causing the buyer to have a misunderstanding, the auction can be revoked according to the law.

For He Jian, these twenty-plus pieces of ceramics all meet this criterion.

"That's good," Liang Shiya made the final decision, "Bid!"

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