Chapter 91: The Battle Is About to Begin

The autumn sun cut diagonally into the car window, and the sycamore trees were reflected in the rearview mirror. Leaves like gold foil fell with a rustle, pushed by the wind to spin a few times before landing on the hood.

Hao Jun gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes vacant, his forehead slowly turning red.

A collection from the Qing Imperial Treasury!

Imperial Appraisal!

If that were the case, how could that calligraphy still be considered an anonymous work?

And, the Imperial Treasure of the Emperor...

Hao Jun had been in the industry for nearly twenty years, and at the world-famous Rongbao Zhai, which specialized in the Four Treasures of the Study. He had seen leisure seals, private seals, and had seen official seals even more.

But when had he ever seen an Imperial Treasure?

Thinking back to the provenance of those two items, Hao Jun felt that God had played a huge joke on him.

With a "pop," a flame appeared in the rearview mirror. Shortly after, a wisp of blue smoke floated over from the back seat.

Hao Jun leaned back against the seat, twisting his stiff neck until it bent at a ninety-degree angle: "Senior Brother, are you certain?"

Wu Jun exhaled a puff of smoke and squinted his eyes: "Have you only known me for a day?"

Hao Jun was choked up.

Wu Jun's remark about "my teacher Ji Xianlin" was not said casually. Because he was truly a disciple of Mr. Ji, and only then a student at Peking University.

Why did Wu Jun's eyes light up when Lin Sicheng mentioned having studied the *Ramayana* translated by Mr. Ji?

Because that ancient Sanskrit epic was the very one he had translated while following Mr. Ji.

With thirty years of experience and a discerning eye, those two seal marks and that one seal were mere child's play to Wu Jun.

But to Hao Jun, they were like a massive mountain; he would never be able to get around them in this lifetime.

Did it feel like he had gone blind?

Wu Jun flicked his cigarette ash and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke: "Who hasn't had a moment of misjudgment? Besides, didn't you say it yourself: you aren't the only one who misjudged it?"

Hao Jun was stunned: "Heh!"

But truth be told, he did feel a bit better inside.

Everyone in the trade knew that the calligraphy and the seal had been in Ma Lan's hands for nearly eight years, and she had never been able to sell them. Every now and then, they would be brought out as a negative example and repeatedly flogged.

Ma Lan was thick-skinned too; the more you talked, the more she pushed, taking the items out and shoving them into your arms, then pinning you down to pick your pockets.

So, among the experts with names and reputations, who hadn't seen those two items?

Before Ding Liang and Lin Zhangqing had their falling out, he had even specially brought Ma Lan and the items to ask for advice. Then there was Guan Xingmin, who was so annoyed by Ma Lan that he would turn and run the moment he saw that woman.

But from beginning to end, everyone's opinion was surprisingly consistent: it was an anonymous Heart Sutra from the Ming Imitation period, and even the mounting on the outside was worth more than the entire scroll. As for the painting core in the middle, it was worth at most a few hundred yuan.

The value of the seal was slightly higher, but limited; one or two hundred thousand was the absolute ceiling.

But what was the result?

The painting core worth only a few hundred yuan became a piece from the Qing Imperial Treasury, with an Imperial Appraisal.

The seal that was worth at most one or two hundred thousand became an Imperial Seal of the Emperor, Qianlong's Treasure?

So, was he the only one who was blind? Even Lin Sicheng's own grandfather had to be included...

Huh, thinking about it this way, he felt much better?

"Give me one too!"

Hao Jun leaned back, grabbed the cigarettes and the lighter, and lit one with a "pop."

The smoke swirled around the embers, only to be scattered by the evening wind blowing in.

He suddenly frowned, the cigarette filter stopping at his lips: "Senior Brother, in your view: was Lin Sicheng able to identify those two items, especially that seal, more because of his foundation in the Four Treasures of the Study, or more because of his foundation in Sanskrit?"

"Definitely the latter!" Wu Jun stubbed out his cigarette, his tone exceptionally firm, "As long as one can translate the seal script, things like material, patterns, religion, ethnicity, etc., don't need to be looked at at all!"

Hao Jun paused, deeply agreeing: just like Wu Jun, did he have a high foundation in the Four Treasures of the Study?

Of course not, but he had identified that seal in about ten minutes from start to finish, relying solely on his profound foundation in Sanskrit.

For Lin Sicheng, the logic was naturally the same.

Suddenly, the gloom vanished, and Hao Jun let out a long breath.

Wu Jun couldn't help but laugh: "Are you really going that far?"

Hao Jun didn't speak.

How could he not: twice the age, yet inferior in every way?

He considered himself to have high self-regard, but every time he met Lin Sicheng, he felt as if his first forty years had been lived in vain.

Inferiority was one thing, but by comparison, it was easier to accept that Lin Sicheng was just better at Sanskrit than him, rather than having a better foundation in the Four Treasures of the Study.

After thinking for a moment, Hao Jun took out his phone again.

"What are you doing?"

Hao Jun gave a "hehe" laugh: "Sharing!"

You have to know, besides that seal, there was also that piece of calligraphy, which even more people had seen.

Such a miserable thing, he couldn't be the only one suffering, right? They were all brothers, so no one should be allowed to feel comfortable...

Wu Jun glanced at him: "When did your mouth become so loose?"

"Don't worry, just this one person: he is a close friend of Lin Sicheng's grandfather, and also a close friend of Lin Sicheng. Since he is a Police officer himself, even if I don't tell him, Lin Sicheng will have to..."

If you ask why, it was of course because of that Teacher Ma: that woman was too difficult to deal with, and Lin Sicheng had to be provided with some deterrent power.

Wu Jun didn't say anything more, and Hao Jun casually swiped through his contacts, found Guan Xingmin's number, and dialed it.

His tone was filled with a hint of schadenfreude: "Old Guan, let me tell you something..."

"Slurp~ slurp..."

Pangzi had a great appetite; in the blink of an eye, the bowl of noodles with soybean paste was empty.

Wang Qizhi held his chopsticks, stirring his noodles absentmindedly. Occasionally, he would pick up a strand of shredded cucumber and put it into his mouth.

His eyes were fixed straight ahead, but they lacked focus.

"Hey... hey... Wang Qizhi?" Dan Wangshu held up her chopsticks and waved them in front of his eyes. "Eat your food, what are you spacing out for?"

Wang Qizhi woke up as if from a dream, let out an "oh," and began to eat his noodles in large mouthfuls.

After their son finished eating, he obediently washed his bowl and sat on the sofa to watch television, leaving only the couple in the dining room.

Dan Wangshu frowned: "What's wrong? You look like you've lost your soul."

Wang Qizhi paused, not knowing where to begin.

He wound a mouthful of noodles onto his chopsticks and put them in his mouth, chewing slowly: "Today, Lin Sicheng bought a piece of calligraphy, and also bought an Iron Seal!"

"Ah?" Dan Wangshu understood as soon as she heard it, "Lin Sicheng found a bargain again?"

Let's calculate: it hasn't even been a month since Wang Qizhi reported to his unit, so how many times has Lin Sicheng's name appeared in their home?

After Wang Qizhi finished rambling, Ye Anning would ramble, and after Ye Anning finished, it would be Wang Qizhi's turn again; what they talked about most was what Lin Sicheng bought yesterday, what Lin Sicheng added today, and how much he earned.

Dan Wangshu had long been numbed by the shock.

But hearing it again, she still found it novel.

"How much can he earn this time?"

Wang Qizhi calculated: "Probably around ten million!"

"How much?"

The chopsticks plunged into the bottom of the bowl, splashing a few drops of sauce.

Dan Wangshu widened her eyes.

She was born well, had broad horizons, and married even better.

But no matter how good the family was, and no matter how little she craved money, she still knew what "ten million" meant.

Ten million could buy a small courtyard house around Shichahai in Beijing.

Calculating the time again: she felt that Lin Sicheng's speed of making money was faster than robbing a bank...

As if dazed, she muttered to herself: "Ten million, ten million?"

Wang Qizhi pushed the bowl to the side and wiped his hands: "And that's at least!"

If it were just a copy from Dong Qichang's youth, and a fragmented piece at that, the price would only be around one million.

Adding the seal of Xiang Molin, it would rise by about half, to 1.5 million. Adding the seal of the Scripture Hall and the Qianlong Imperial Treasure, it would at least double, which is three million.

But if this calligraphy flowed out from the Shenyang Forbidden City, and flowed out together with the Qianlong Imperial Treasure that was stamped on the calligraphy, then there is no need to doubt: the calligraphy alone is at least four million.

If it's a cent less, Wang Qizhi will call him "Daddy."

As for the remaining seal, if Lin Sicheng were muddle-headed enough to sell it for six million, people would definitely fight tooth and nail for it.

Imagine: an Imperial Treasure of the Emperor—which man wouldn't have eyes glowing upon seeing it? Being able to buy it with money is like burning incense for eight lifetimes...

Hearing "Imperial Seal" and "Imperial Treasure," Dan Wangshu's eyes went straight: she had worked at the Forbidden City for so many years, how many had she even seen?

Suddenly, Wang Qizhi told her: his student had just bought one.

Bought? Such things could actually be bought with money?

Thinking back to the ten million Wang Qizhi just mentioned, Dan Wangshu frowned: "Does Lin Sicheng want to sell it?"

"I was just giving an example!" Wang Qizhi shook his head, "Lin Sicheng's brain hasn't been kicked by a donkey, has it?"

Even if Lin Sicheng really went senile one day and wanted to sell the seal, Wang Qizhi would go up and slap him twice, guaranteed to slap some sense into his dog brain.

Short on money, right? Just open your mouth; can't your teacher lend it to you?

"Right! Call me when that happens, I'll scold him!"

Dan Wangshu nodded vigorously, looking incredulous, "Where did he buy it, Zhongshan Gate?"

"How could there be such things at a street stall?" Wang Qizhi shook his head, "Poly!"

The chopsticks slipped, and noodles spilled out of the bowl.

The meal couldn't be finished today.

Dan Wangshu simply pushed the bowl aside: "Poly, how is that possible?"

If it were before, Wang Qizhi would also think it impossible. But recalling today's experience, he wanted to sneer:

Even if it's just an office, could they be this unprofessional?

Now it's a fine mess: trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet?

He gave a rough account, and Dan Wangshu was left dumbfounded.

For a company as big as Poly to do these things, isn't it too unbelievable?

And then there's Ye Anning, who used to be so obedient, suddenly... suddenly... she "suddenly-ed" for a long time, and Dan Wangshu couldn't find a suitable adjective?

Anyway, the feeling it gave her was even harder to accept than Lin Sicheng spending 700,000 to buy an Imperial Seal: a person's personality, could it really change just like that?

"No... I've raised her for so many years, the girl was stupidly obedient when she was little... how could she suddenly become this smart?"

Heh, Ye Anning was stupidly obedient?

That's because you, the aunt, like "stupidly obedient," so she acted stupidly obedient.

Wang Qizhi sneered: "You don't even look at who gave birth to her?"

At the thought of his sister-in-law, Dan Wangshu shut her mouth.

In the words of Grandpa (Wang Qizhi's grandfather): if you tied the brains of the three boys (Wang Qizhi and his two brothers) together, they wouldn't be as sharp as the tip of the girl's hair while she was sleeping.

Look at the names Grandpa gave the grandchildren: the three brothers are Qi Hua, Qi Ming, and Qi Zhi; when it came to the sister-in-law, it became Qi Guang.

What does that mean? The sun and moon in the sky—Zhao!

Turning the thought over, Dan Wangshu sighed again: "Lin Sicheng isn't bad either!"

Bad?

Wang Qizhi smiled and said nothing.

Thinking of how that Teacher Ma today had been led by the nose by Lin Sicheng from start to finish, not only failing to notice anything amiss but instead feeling smug and triumphant, Wang Qizhi wanted to cheer.

It felt as if Lin Sicheng had perfectly embodied the two sayings, "sell someone out and have them help you count the money" and "bury someone alive and have them thank you for it," and demonstrated them to him once more.

Because of Lin Sicheng's guidance, Teacher Ma had firmly believed from start to finish that she possessed insight and wisdom far exceeding that of an ordinary person.

It was magical, silent, and left no trace.

Just like spring Rain entering the night, moist and silent.

Compared to this, Ye Anning had fallen a notch behind.

Secretly sighing with emotion, he suddenly remembered: "Remember to go to the bank tomorrow and transfer 400,000 to Lin Sicheng!"

Dan Wangshu was confused: "Does he need to borrow money? Why 400,000?"

"It's not a loan, it's money for that piece of calligraphy. Lin Sicheng said: for that piece, he and Ye Anning get half each! He didn't even need Ye Anning to pay, counting it as the Information Detachment fee for that seal. I said it wasn't necessary, but after talking for a long time I couldn't convince him, so in the end, I just had Ye Anning pay half the money too..."

"Ah?" Dan Wangshu was stunned, "What era's rules are those? He still insists on this?"

It used to be called "partnering on goods": one provides the Information Detachment, one is responsible for the appraisal, and after the item is sold, the two split it equally.

But nowadays, who still follows this rule? It's good enough if they don't undercut you or snatch your deal.

But looking at it the other way: half of that calligraphy is worth at least two million; Lin Sicheng is truly generous.

"Otherwise, how could you say I have a good eye for people?" Wang Qizhi boasted, then picked up his phone: "I'll tell Ye Anning."

The setting sun cast an Amber glow, and the evening Wind lifted the gauze curtains.

Ye Anning stood before the window, her pretty face reflected in the tea-colored glass. Her phone was slightly hot, leaving a faint red mark on her palm.

Her uncle's words echoed in her mind: what Lin Sicheng said, half each.

Does that mean she earned two million for no reason?

Ye Anning smiled, thought for a moment, and found Lin Sicheng's number.

It rang twice, the call was connected, and a gentle, clear voice came through: "Sister Anning!"

Ye Anning hummed, her voice very soft: "Lin Sicheng, I didn't do it for the money!"

"I know!"

If Ye Anning were doing it for money, she would have found someone to buy that calligraphy long ago, instead of asking her to appraise it again.

But Lin Sicheng had his own understanding: some rules, though old-fashioned, have existed for so many years for a reason.

Even setting that aside, to state the most realistic and simple logic: there is no second without the first. If not for Ye Anning, where would Teacher Ma come from, and where would the Qianlong Imperial Treasure come from?

Only a thin stream can flow for a long time.

Lin Sicheng spoke unhurriedly, Ye Anning listened attentively, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.

"Lin Sicheng, regardless of anything else, I still want to thank you for today!"

"Sister Anning, you really don't need to be so polite. You should think of it this way: rounding it up, it's equivalent to me picking up an Imperial Seal for free; did I say thank you to you?"

Ye Anning laughed again: "Alright, I'll treat you to a meal another day!"

"Okay!"

The call was very brief and very straightforward.

But Ye Anning could perceive that there seemed to be an invisible tacit understanding between the two of them.

Just like today, she only needed one look, and Lin Sicheng could accurately judge what she wanted to express, what kind of actions she would take, and even her ultimate intention.

She just felt that he was so smart. And this feeling was quite wonderful.

While lost in thought, the sound of a door being pushed open came from the hallway, and a colleague poked their head in: "Ye Anning, meeting time!"

"Okay!"

She nodded, put away her phone, and took a deep breath: the battle was about to begin!