Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 102 You Are Really Difficult
Shang Yan's face was almost broken from laughing.

What did she say to Fang Jingxian the day before yesterday about the visitor: Don’t look at his young age. If even he can’t understand it, you will never find anyone else in Xi’an who can.

This may sound a bit boastful, but Shang Yan is very sure: No one in the entire school has a better understanding of Buddhist relics, especially Tibetan Buddhist relics, than Lin Sicheng.

This is what Wang Qizhi said in person when she called him last night.

But Shang Yan didn't expect that Lin Sicheng could be so capable?
Materials, shapes, carvings, eras, religions, beliefs... and Theravada Buddhism, foreign history?

Not to mention students, not to mention foreigners, just look at the professors in the school: apart from the historical scope covered by their own research, who dares to say that they have any knowledge of the history of other dynasties?

Not to mention abroad?

What Shang Yan could not understand the most was: the palm leaf manuscripts, ancient Sanskrit, and the Four Part Vinaya!
The school has a foreign archaeology major, namely Silk Road archaeology, and its research focuses on Buddhist culture in Central Asia.

Just like Tang Sanzang traveled thousands of miles, even if it meant turning a corner, to see the Bamiyan Caves (in Afghanistan, the earliest and largest surviving Indian Buddhist architectural complex in the world), the school organizes professors to go there to study at least once a year.

The principal probably couldn’t even count how many times the Dunhuang Caves were visited and how many people had visited them in a year.

But if we ask everyone one by one with the list, which professor can recognize the content of the scriptures on it?

The same is true for Shang Yan and the three siblings.

Thinking back to what just happened, I felt that he was wandering here and there, doing things perfunctorily and carelessly.

Now think about it: precisely because I know it and I know it by heart, I can see through it at a glance.

To say that he was wrong is nonsense: if we remove the Pali, Sanskrit and Theravada Buddhist content that Lin Sicheng said, what remains is no different from what the five experts invited before said.

Look at the expressions of the boss and his wife:
The man held the paper cup in his hand, slowly clenched his palm, and the tea rose little by little, overflowing along the edge of the cup, dripping onto the floor tiles.

The woman gripped the armrest of the sofa, her fingertips digging into the dermis, her nails turning pale blue. Her neck stretched forward, her veins bulging with pale blue, and she gasped for air as if a thorn were stuck in her throat.

If Lin Sicheng had said anything wrong, they would have jumped up long ago. The reason they remained motionless, with such expressions as if they had seen a ghost, was that the couple knew everything Lin Sicheng said.

Suddenly, a surge of anger surged into Fang Jingxian's head, his face turned pale, and his eyes gradually turned red.

But inadvertently, Lin Sicheng glanced at her indifferently, as if to say: Since you are in this line of work, is this all your determination?
It was like a bucket of ice water was poured over my head, and my anger gradually dissipated. Fang Jingxian silently recited two sentences: A peaceful mind is called tranquility, and a harmonious spirit is called leisure...

After calming down a bit, she sighed again: Isn't it always like this in this line of work?
Even when you are a seller shipping goods, isn’t it the same?
If you have sharp eyes and a high level of identification, you deserve to be rich. If you have poor eyesight, a low level of identification, and are self-righteous, then sorry: if you don't lose money, even God will not tolerate it.

Compared to them, this couple was quite honest. At least they didn't pat their chests and guarantee: solid Ming Dynasty Buddhist sculptures, palace statues, royal tributes...

Fang Jingxian slowly exhaled. Just as he was about to say something, the boss suddenly stood up and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Fang. I really didn't notice so much when I collected it... It's my fault for being short-sighted..."

Fang Jingxian narrowed his eyes and said with a double meaning: "So, Mr. Zhao is blind?"

"Yes, I made a mistake!" The boss was very single. "It's okay, it didn't cost much, just 300,000!"

After a moment of shock, Fang Jingxian broke out in a cold sweat: Three hundred thousand, you dare to buy a Ming Dynasty Buddha statue?
So I guessed right: this bastard knows it all.

There was no need to guess. If I dared to ask the price, he would add a zero after 0.

But the same thing goes, it all depends on your own ability. Even if you are really fooled, you can only blame yourself for your poor eyesight.

She snorted and stood up: "Then Mr. Zhao, you are busy!"

"Mr. Fang, don't be in such a hurry to leave..." The boss smiled. "I thought this Buddha statue might not appeal to you, otherwise you wouldn't have come here six or seven times and still been undecided. So, I've prepared something for you..."

Fang Jingxian was silent: "It's not that I don't like it, but I just fell flat on my face. If I don't learn a lesson, I might as well buy a piece of tofu and kill myself."

So, she had to thank Shang Yan and his students: Really, she had thought about it a long time ago, and if Shang Yan had a look at it and there was no problem with it, she would buy it.

Fortunately...

Secretly frightened, she raised her eyelids and asked, "What is it?"

"It's a high-quality ice-crystal Guanyin statue..." Mr. Zhao raised his palm, first vertically, then horizontally, "It's so tall and so big!"

Fang Jingxian paused, his eyelids twitching slightly: "Two palms high, at least forty centimeters. One palm wide, at least ten centimeters."

The key is, is it high ice type or a Guanyin statue?

Such things are really rare and can be used as birthday gifts, no less valuable than Ming Dynasty Buddha statues.

She nodded: "Where is the thing?"

"It's in the safe on the second floor below ground. Mr. Fang wants to see it. I'll go get it now!"

"Look!"

"Then wait a moment!"

Mr. Zhao called his wife, took the key and went out.

Fang Jingxian thought about it, took out her cell phone and dialed a number.

I knew they were looking for an expert, who was probably not far away and would be here soon.

Since it was a new jade artifact and had nothing to do with antiques, Lin Sicheng wanted to go back.

Shang Yan was reluctant to leave. "This half-meter-tall Jade Guanyin weighs at least ten pounds. Would you like to take a look?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "It's quite rare!"

In fact, it's just rare nowadays. In his previous life, he had seen two jade Guanyin statues weighing fifty tons. One was in Shaoguan, Guangdong, and the other in Huludao, Liaoning, but they hadn't been carved yet.

"It's rare to see you shaking your head." Shang Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What kind of magic potion did Wang give you that makes you so anxious to go back?"

Lin Sicheng smiled but didn't answer: "Then Professor Shang, take your time to look at it. I'll take a taxi back!"

How could Lin Sicheng take a taxi?

"Student Lin, please wait a moment. I'll let Jingyuan take you there!"

After giving her brother a wink, Fang Jingxian picked up her bag, took out a small notebook, and started writing a few words.

Then he gently tore it off and handed it forward: "Student Lin, please excuse me for troubling you today!"

What is this, a check?

Count again: a 3 in front, followed by... ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands.

Shang Yan's eyes widened: Fang Jingxian, are you really willing to do this?
Although they had never talked about it before, based on her understanding, Fang Jingxian would not be stingy and should have a few thousand yuan.

But thirty thousand...is enough for her annual salary plus bonus.

Lin Sicheng was also startled.

Don’t think it’s too little, because this is not a bargain, nor a transaction, but an appraisal.

According to the market price, at most 2 to 3 percent of the transaction price: for example, the imitation Xuande furnace in the appraisal center, the bronze expert who is still detained in the detention center: the copper furnace was sold for 4 million, but he only took 8,000 yuan, and that was after the transaction was successfully completed.

Generally, if the deal doesn't go through in the end, we'll just treat the customer to a meal, and if you're more particular, we'll give them some travel expenses, a maximum of one or two thousand yuan.

But thirty thousand?
Lin Sicheng narrowed his eyes: "Mr. Fang, thank you!"

Although he said thank you, Lin Sicheng didn't even extend his hand: "Master, if you have something to do, I will do the hard work for you!"

What do you mean?
The reason why he came today and was so dedicated was only because of Professor Shang, not for money.

So, just one sentence made Shang Yan feel as if she was eating honey: This kid is not only sweet-talking, but also more open in his work.

Imagine this: just stretch out your hand and you can get 30,000 yuan, who wouldn’t be tempted?

Thinking he was just making a polite refusal, Fang Jingxian smiled and said, "It's not that much, actually. If it weren't for your help today, would I have to pay several million?"

This is indeed the truth, but the account is not calculated in this way. If it was three or five thousand, Lin Sicheng would definitely accept it.

But thirty thousand?
Lin Sicheng felt that Fang Jingxian was like a drowning person, who saw everyone as a lifeline. She would hold on to anything she could get her hands on, no matter what it was.

It's not that risky, but such people are troublesome. In some ways, they are even more difficult to deal with than Ma Lan.

Lin Sicheng still smiled and nodded: "Mr. Fang, thank you!"

Fang Jingxian was stunned, and his already pale face turned even paler: So smart?
When you are desperate, you will try any possible means and see everyone as your savior... This is her truest state of mind now.

The key point is that the person in front of me really looks like a savior.

But why be so smart?

A trace of embarrassment appeared on her face. She forced a smile and put away the check: "I'm sorry to embarrass you!"

"polite!"

After replying, Lin Sicheng stood up and said, "Professor Shang, I'll be leaving first!"

"it is good!"

Fang Jingyuan took the car keys and followed behind.

After glancing at Lin Sicheng's back and then at the check on the table, Shang Yan realized belatedly: "What did you do?"

It's not about what I did, but what I wanted to do.

As a result, the idea was suppressed as soon as it came to my mind?
Fang Jingxian stared intently as Lin Sicheng left the store: "Do you have the same eyesight as him?"

"nonsense!"

of course not.

Shang Yan thought quickly, "I'm a teacher, a professional teacher, not a professional appraiser."

"Then he is still studying professionally!"

This sentence made Shang Yan choke on her breath.

Fang Jingxian sighed leisurely again, "He's only in his early twenties, but he has such a keen eye. He can easily talk about Ming history, foreign history, Southern Buddhism, Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and other knowledge. He's even proficient in Sanskrit...Isn't that something you can teach in school?"

"Even though you didn't mention it, I can guess that he must have a family background in art. Then I thought: If I could ask him or his elders to sell me one, wouldn't I have to run around aimlessly like a headless chicken?
Even if he disagrees, his vision is there. If I ask him for his opinion, even if I try randomly, won't my success rate be higher? "

"But maybe I was too impatient and acted too eager, which made him feel that I was quite troublesome, so he didn't want to stick with me at all..."

Fang Jingxian kept on chattering, but Shang Yan's eyes kept getting wider and wider: Lin Sicheng said you are difficult to deal with, and I don't believe it?
You're really difficult...

(End of this chapter)