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

Chapter 326 Are all the people who helped this strong?
The sky was clear, the air was crisp, and a thin layer of frost covered the locust leaves.

The Passat stopped at the entrance, and Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiuxian came down the steps to greet them.

A man and a woman got off the bus. The man was around forty and the woman was around twenty-five or twenty-six. Their features were somewhat similar, but they didn't look like father and daughter; they looked more like siblings with a significant age gap.

Although it was their first time meeting, the faces seemed vaguely familiar. It wasn't until Zhao Xiuxian extended his hand and greeted them, and the man and woman opposite him smiled, that Lin Sicheng suddenly realized who they were.

He has naturally captivating eyes, exactly like the Mr. Ren I met the day before yesterday.

Guessing whether the three were siblings, cousins, or even first cousins, Zhao Xiuxian introduced them to each other.

"Mr. Yu, this is Teacher Lin!"

Instead of shaking hands, the man bowed and said, "Manager Lin, I've come from far and wide, hoping to have a cup of tea!"

This bow is quite interesting: both hands are clenched into fists, with the two thumbs nestled in the palms, like a gold ingot.

This statement is even more interesting.

Let's talk business first, let's discuss the details first!

"Boheng, prepare tea!" Lin Sicheng cupped his hands in greeting. "Please come in, gentlemen!"

Wang Qizhi stood in the lobby, watching the group head straight for the reception room: "President Zhao, what does this mean?"

"Panlongmen, also known as Zuoshanjia, is Pandao!" Zhao Xiuneng glanced at it. "Junior brother can handle it!"

of course.

Wang Qizhi had seen it all before; when Lin Sicheng started using the tricks of the trade, he was even more like a seasoned veteran than Zhao Xiuneng.

But these people are, after all, engaged in dangerous and risky activities. As the old saying goes, "Don't let porcelain touch earthenware," so it's always wise to be cautious when necessary.

"Mr. Zhao, they've gone to the meeting room. Shall we go in?"

Zhao Xiuneng shook his head: "It's not good for fellow martial arts practitioners to visit for the first time. Too many people would weaken our momentum! Besides, with Boheng and Zhongjiu here, Professor Wang doesn't need to worry!"

Wang Qizhi nodded: "Yes, and also General Manager Zhao!"

Zhao Xiuxian would immediately purse his lips at the mention of his name.

The second son is the typical type who is ambitious but incompetent, and loves to cause trouble. Not only is he bad at it and loves to play, but he also has a short attention span. He didn't even memorize the Panlongmen or the Yuanliang Seal.

He quickly thought for a moment, then pointed to the computer behind the bar: "There are cameras in the meeting room, we can just keep an eye on things!"

As they spoke, the two walked over and pulled up the surveillance footage from the tea room.

Zhao Xiuxian was self-aware enough to know that the two men were not looking for him; they had only led the way and he did not follow them inside.

In the tea room, Zhao Da brewed tea, while Zhao Er stood by the tea table, ready to receive orders at any time.

The three sat down, with Lin Sicheng at the head of the table and the siblings opposite him. No one spoke, as if they were all waiting for the other to speak.

After scalding the tea leaves twice with boiling water and rinsing them, Zhao Dagang was about to brew them when the man reached out his hand: "Brother, let me do it!"

Zhao Da didn't move. He only let go of Lin Sicheng's hand after seeing Lin Sicheng nod.

The man took the teapot, tilted it slightly, and the water flowed out in a torrent.

With a soft "whoosh," steam rose, and the tea leaves slowly unfurled, swirling in the cup.

The man put down the teapot and slowly pushed the teacup forward.

Lin Sicheng smiled, picked up the teacup, put it down again, and then laid the teapot horizontally.

The cup is still in front, and the teapot is behind, but before, the cup was facing Lin Sicheng and the teapot handle was facing the man. Now, the cup is on the left and the teapot is on the right, with the spout and handle parallel to the two men, positioned between them.

The man nodded, then took two more empty cups and placed them side by side. He then turned the teapot, keeping the spout pointing forward, and positioned it behind the two cups.

Lin Sicheng picked up the teapot, filled each cup to the brim, and pushed it forward, placing one cup in front of each man and woman. This time, the spout was no longer placed horizontally, but pointed towards himself.

Seemingly surprised, the man paused for a moment, then looked around, picked up a teaspoon, and held it horizontally in front of the cup in front of him.

Lin Sicheng smiled, picked up the tea spoon, and placed it across his teacup.

The movements were extremely fast and dazzling, taking only two minutes from start to finish.

Wang Qizhi knew the two were exchanging pleasantries, but he couldn't understand them: "President Zhao, what do you mean by all this?"

Zhao Xiuneng stared intently at the screen. "Offering tea is also called 'asking the way,' referring to the same path as the other, and is also known as 'Dragon Gate Array.' The first time, one pot and one cup, with the spout facing forward and the teacup in front of the spout, this move is called 'Immortal Asks for Directions.' The man is asking his junior brother: 'Who are you, sir?'"

"The junior brother served tea and then placed the pot and cup horizontally, meaning: We're all friends, so don't worry. We're not trying to steal your business or trip you up; we're just passing by!"

"The second time, the man took two empty cups, with the pot in the middle, signifying that the head of the household was present and that he had something to ask of him."

"Junior Brother poured a full cup of tea, pushed it forward, and pointed the spout at himself. It meant: I am not very talented, and I am just trying to make a living with my brothers. I am only serving tea to my guests. If you have any needs, please feel free to ask... I guess he had never seen such a young leader before, which is why the man was so surprised."

"Afterwards, he placed the teaspoon on the bottom of the cup, signifying that he had encountered an unexpected situation and needed help in an emergency. His junior brother took the teaspoon and placed it on his own teacup, meaning: 'Since we are like-minded, we should not shirk our duty!'"

Wang Qizhi was taken aback: "Even navigating a road is this complicated?"

"Not surprising! Professor Wang isn't in this line of work, so he might not have a deep understanding of it. But I can guarantee that the few moves my junior brother displayed at Qianjin Pavilion the day before yesterday definitely shocked that woman quite a bit. To give you an analogy: it's like a cultivator seeing a baby who's just had its pacifier removed, only to discover that it's actually a thousand-year-old demon."

Secondly, within the capital city, they are the true masters, and the junior brother is the one who crossed the river to cause trouble. It's not surprising that they would ask about his purpose in coming here. Most importantly, they need something from him, and the matter is of great importance. Both logically and emotionally, they need to probe the situation and test the waters.

"How do we investigate? We'll ask their name, where they're from, and what kind of influence they have!"

"Those in this line of work generally don't ask this. Otherwise, if the junior apprentice turned around and asked them what kind of business they were in and where they made their money, would they tell him or not?"

Zhao Xiuneng pointed at the screen: "The key is this Dragon Gate Formation, which is a hundred times more profound than any Yuanliang Seal or slang. If you're not a fellow practitioner who has passed down the art for generations, you won't even recognize it, let alone set it up! But if you can set it up and withstand the attacks, it means you're definitely a fellow practitioner in the martial arts world."

Wang Qizhi suddenly realized: He remembered that when he first met Zhao Xiuneng in Baoji last year, he and Lin Sicheng had also exchanged a few similar greetings.

Then, Old Madam Zhao gifted him imperial bowls and inkstones, giving away millions of dollars worth of things without batting an eye. She even practically forced two broken chicken cups, worth at least tens of millions, onto Lin Sicheng.

Afterwards, he was puzzled: how could they trust Lin Sicheng so much when they had never met?

Looking back now, it was all because of this long-winded story...

"Does that mean: as long as you can handle their moves, you can trust them completely?"

"If it's some kind of shady, unethical business, then there might be a chance, like me. But this kind of thing involves risking your life. If you get caught, you could end up in jail for life or even be shot. Even your parents wouldn't completely trust you, let alone a complete stranger like yourself."

Zhao Xiuneng shook his head, "They're just testing the waters first, checking the quality, before they'll weigh it. If the craftsmanship is truly excellent, then they'll try working together once. Only after seven or eight trials can they possibly establish a long-term business relationship."

But it's limited to cooperation: I pay, you fix things. Don't ask me where the parts came from, or who I'll sell them to after they're fixed; I just want to make money off you, like Qianjinlu. Of course, it's also possible that I might see my junior brother's skills are too high and decide to bring him on board.

With my junior brother's skills, if we were to rank them, he would at least be third or fourth, provided, of course, that he's willing to offer a pledge of allegiance..."

How do you pledge allegiance by killing someone?
Wang Qizhi sighed: No one knows a disciple better than his teacher. Lin Sicheng must have had that thought in mind, otherwise he wouldn't have worked so hard at Qianjinlu the day before yesterday.

If we want a long-term partnership, we definitely can't send third-rate people like today, or even that woman from the day before yesterday. We need at least a second-level leader.

To recruit someone who holds a third or fourth-ranking position, at least the big boss needs to intervene. It's like Jiang Taigong fishing – he's not afraid you won't take the bait, he's afraid you won't show yourself…

Just as he was pondering this, the man picked up his teacup and gestured to him. Lin Sicheng also picked up his, and the two of them took a sip at the same time.

"Finished?"

“Yes!” Zhao Xiuneng nodded. “Actually, this group of people don’t really doubt my junior brother’s identity. They’re just testing him a few times as a precaution.”

Wang Qizhi didn't understand: "Just because he's young?"

Zhao Xiuneng remained silent: Why is it because Lin Sicheng is young?

Standing so close, Professor Wang, can't you at least look at me first?
Seeing that he didn't speak, Wang Qizhi's mind raced, and he suddenly realized: with Zhao Xiu's help, it was like having an extra layer of guarantee.

Before meeting Lin Sicheng, Zhao Xiuneng was still engaged in the shady business of building bridges and roads and profiting from the spoils. He was truly an ally of this group.

How could Lin Sicheng be on such good terms with someone like that, and even take his two sons as his apprentices?

In the blink of an eye, the people in the tea room had already left. Zhao Xiuneng stood up: "Professor Wang, please sit down. I'll go and meet them!"

Wang Qizhi had no interest in dealing with these people. He clicked the mouse, and the camera followed the figures of several people.

"Mr. Zhao, I've heard so much about you!"

"Mr. Yu, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

With just two simple sentences, Zhao Xiu led the group to the work area.

"That was just probing the market; now, it's time to assess the quality and weigh it?"

Muttering to himself, Wang Qizhi clicked the mouse, and the studio screen appeared on the computer.

The place is quite large, about 70 or 80 square meters, with a long table in the middle and equipment on both sides.

The equipment for repairing porcelain has been removed and replaced with the equipment for repairing gold and silver.

High-tech equipment includes: laser cleaning machines, stereo microscopes, micro-manipulation robotic arms, formic acid vapor, electrolytic reduction, laser welding machines, and pneumatic dispensing.

Traditional tools include: eel anvils, sandalwood presses, willow leaf shovels, hair drills, and ox horn boards. There are also gilded wood, silkworm cocoon rubberths, and dragon-shaped chisels.

All of these items were domestically produced, yet they still cost Zhao Xiuneng over 700,000 yuan…

After a quick glance, the man's eyes narrowed when he saw a few items on the shelf: plum paste, chalk mud, tartaric acid?

The name is ordinary, but the formula is extremely complex and has many uses. These three items were essential for gold and silver ornament craftsmen in ancient palaces: the former prevented corrosion, the middle absorbed chlorine, and the latter cleaned.

But that was in ancient times. In modern times, let alone using it, very few people even know the recipe.

After a quick look, the man gestured, and the woman opened her suitcase and took out a sandalwood box.

Upon opening it again, inside was a sachet. It was made of silver, gilded, with a filigree scroll pattern on a brocade background, and decorated with plum blossom patterns inlaid with kingfisher feathers, pearls, and coral.

It has two sides. One side is intact, novel, unique, and has an interesting shape. But the other side looks like it was chewed by a dog. There's a dent on the left and a groove on the right.

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, then looked at the sachet over and over, his face full of strange expressions.

The item is quite beautiful; the pearls are bright, the silver threads are fine and even, and the structure is both three-dimensional and aesthetically pleasing, but it looks brand new at first glance.

Moreover, it's all machine work: the silk is drawn by machine, then woven by computer, the edges are sealed by machine, and the pearls are also set by machine. Even the gold beads on the trim are spun by machine, not fried.

It's fair to say that no more than 20% of this thing was made by hand.

The more crucial point lies in the black pits and black holes that follow.

If I'm not mistaken, it was probably deliberately cut off and then etched with acid, within two days.

Lin Sicheng sighed and held up the sachet: "President Yu, is it true cultivation?"

"Of course!" The man nodded, then gestured, "Fifty thousand!"

The 50,000 the man mentioned was naturally the cost of the repairs, but to be honest, 50,000 could buy at least seven or eight of these.

Are they really going all out?

Lin Sicheng nodded and put on his gloves: "Senior Brother Fang!"

Fang Jin quickly stepped forward: "Teacher Lin!"

"Soak in 5% saturated sodium bicarbonate solution for 30 minutes, then ultrasonically clean with pure water at 40kHz for 5 minutes... Inject 2% Paraloid B72 acetone solution into the edge of the hole using a syringe, and cover with 0.02mm thin silk paper..."

"Boheng, Zhongjiu, prepare the supplies!"

The two brothers called out "Master" and took a step forward together.

"For the filigree part, lightly rub the horsetail stem with tea oil, then use plum ointment and cotton swabs to remove the rust. Remember to test the pH: around 4.2."

Gilding process: Laser cleaning (Nd:YAG 1064nm, energy density 0.8J/cm², pulse frequency 10Hz), followed by microparticle blasting. Glass powder particle size 15μm, air pressure 0.1MPa, incident angle 45°.

The man and woman were stunned for a moment: So fast?
The two men were experts; otherwise, Ren Danhua wouldn't have sent them. Although their skills weren't top-notch, they were definitely knowledgeable: the former neutralized the residual acid, removed the reacting salts, and temporarily solidified the solution.

The latter involves zoned and layered processing to remove dirt, rust, and acid.

The procedure is correct, but the key points are the solvent ratio, time, cleaning frequency, and reinforcement method.

To give an analogy, it's like a critically injured patient being brought to the hospital emergency room. A regular doctor needs to examine the patient first and review the reports before they can determine the severity of the injury, the size of the wound, what type of blood should be transfused, and what kind of cardiac stimulant should be administered.

But a skilled doctor can give a prescription with just one look.

Secretly surprised, the younger sister took a step forward, her peach blossom eyes curving upwards: "Shopkeeper Lin, how did this sachet break?"

You broke it yourself and you don't know it?

Lin Sicheng gave the blind man a flirtatious look and prepared his tools on his own: "First poke, then cut, then drip oxalic acid... about thirty-seven or thirty-eight hours, no more than forty hours."

After a slight pause, Lin Sicheng tilted his head and looked at her hand: "You did this!"

The woman paused for a moment, her eyes bulging slightly and her lips parting slightly.

She's the one who broke it. Didn't she poke it first, then cut it, and then drip acid on it?
If you calculate the time again, it was done the night before last, so it's exactly over thirty hours?
A glint flashed in the man's eyes: He really has discerning eyes?
The day before yesterday, after my cousin went back home, she said she met a kid who had incredibly sharp eyes and a very quick mind, but they didn't believe her at all.

If it's about judging the age, age, and authenticity of an object by sight, that's somewhat plausible. But to be able to tell who repaired which item, what was repaired, what was damaged, what materials were used, what techniques were employed, and even the process clearly just by looking at it from a distance, the brother and sister felt it was highly unlikely.

Not to mention, just by looking at him, one could tell how and when Li Jiansheng's arm was broken.
But now, they at least believe most of it: just by glancing at it a few times, they know how it broke, when it broke, and even who broke it?
To be honest, even X-rays aren't this precise.

The more she thought about it, the more surprised she became. Her younger sister leaned closer and asked, "How did Manager Lin know that I was the one who broke it?"

Lin Sicheng still didn't look up: "Honey, coconut, rose, chamomile..."

The others were puzzled, but the woman seemed stunned as she slowly raised her hand.

Lin Sicheng was referring to the hand cream she was applying.

It's not surprising that he could smell her scent; what's surprising is that he could identify the components so clearly.

What exactly does this person do?

The brother and sister exchanged a glance. The younger sister nodded slightly, her captivating eyes crinkling into a smile. Then, she rolled up her sleeve, revealing her slender, delicate arms.

"Shopkeeper Lin, I've also learned some restoration techniques. I know how to use instruments, equipment, and various traditional tools. I can also source materials. Would you like me to lend a hand?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head immediately: "Thank you, but no need!"

The words were spoken politely, but the meaning was clear: stand there and don't move, don't cause trouble.

The woman wrinkled her nose, staring at Lin Sicheng's profile, her eyes sparkling.

Wang Qizhi felt increasingly uneasy: this woman was being a bit too forward.

But that's secondary. There's a feeling that there's something off about their eyes: it feels like the woman is the one in charge, and the man is just covering for her.

Subconsciously, he recalled what Zhao Xiuneng had said: "With Junior Brother Lin's skills, this group might very well try to recruit him, and they'll definitely go all out. But the prerequisite is that Junior Brother Lin is willing to offer a pledge of loyalty..."

Going all out... but what exactly constitutes going all out? Does it include human resources?

The more Wang Qizhi thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He got up and went into the studio.

Hearing the noise, Lin Sicheng turned around and looked: "Teacher!"

"Get back to your work!"

Without any introduction, Wang Qizhi looked at the brother and sister and nodded again.

Ren Danhua once said that a man in his thirties who looked carefree and irresponsible was the child's teacher. He used to be a researcher at the Institute of Literature and is now a university teacher.

Although both are related to cultural relics, the gap between researchers and tomb raiders isn't a mountain, but a galaxy. They basically have no interaction, and the siblings have no intention of getting to know each other.

He simply nodded once more, then focused his gaze back on Lin Sicheng.

He gave Zhao Xiuneng a wink, indicating that something was off about the couple and that he should keep an eye on them. Wang Qizhi glanced around and put on his gloves.

Lin Sicheng is using a diamond mold to draw silver wire, which is an ancient method. The next step is to weave the wire and then weld it.

Wang Qizhi isn't an expert in this field, but he studied metal conservation and teaches metal conservation, so there's a lot he's good at here.

Looking around, he pulled out a piece of silver, and then picked up the deer antler hammer and the dragon-shaped chisel.

Then, "Clang, clang..."

At first, no one paid attention; everyone was focused on Lin Sicheng. But the noise was so loud that it was hard not to be disturbed.

Subconsciously, the man frowned slightly.

He knew what Wang Qizhi was doing: micro-forging patching.

Just like sewing clothes, Lin Sicheng would mend the holes in the sachets, and then weld them back together with the original broken pieces.

However, because the silver wire is too thin, it is easy to break when it is first soldered, so it needs to be wrapped with silver sheets on both sides. After it cools and solidifies, it can be removed.

Wang Qizhi was chiseling a silver plate that needed to be used as a patch.

They were genuinely trying to help, but the noise was too loud, and the man glanced over instinctively. But that one glance made him freeze for a moment.

Seven or eight pieces of silver foil, each the size of a grain of rice, were knocked off; they were all different shapes and sizes.

Extremely thin, at most 0.1 millimeters; extremely flat, with basically the same thickness.

The key is the shape: the shape of the seven or eight silver pieces on the table is the same as the shape of the holes on the silver pouch.

Same size, same shape...

Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up in the man's heart: With just these few moves, how come this person's skills seem to be a little better than Li Jiansheng's?
Then look at the people next to them:

Zhao Xiuneng was skilled at preparing the gilding materials: gold amalgam, roasted yellow pigment, soapberry water, and alum water. His movements were not only exceptionally skilled but also incredibly fast.

The three young people were cleaning and removing rust.

The former is easier to handle: a person who has been famous for many years, a genuine descendant of a court craftsman. Although he specializes in porcelain, he is also versatile and can easily handle tasks such as preparing materials and assisting with other work.

The key is the group behind them: they are methodical, unhurried, and while their speed is not very fast, their efficiency is extremely high.

He is definitely not as good as Li Jiansheng, but he is much better than his apprentices.

Then look at Lin Sicheng, with a diamond mold in one hand and willow-leaf tweezers in the other, with a "snip" sound, a silver thread, with another "snip" sound, another silver thread.

Not only is it meticulous, but it's also incredibly even. To be honest, even with a machine, let alone using traditional methods, Yu Jichuan couldn't achieve this level of quality.

It seems my cousin really found the right place...

Zhao Xiuneng was able to multitask, secretly observing the two siblings.

The woman's eyes were alluring, her gaze constantly shifting, never leaving Lin Sicheng. It seemed Professor Wang was right; this woman was indeed acting strangely.

As for the man, he should be an expert. I don't know how skilled he is, but he certainly knows a lot.

Because I understand, I feel it more deeply: how could just a few assistants be so strong?
Zhao Da and Zhao Er were a bit better off, as they were already skilled when they joined the master's school, so they had some basic skills. After following Lin Sicheng for over a year, under such intense conditions and with Lin Sicheng's dedicated teaching, they finally mastered the skills.

Fang Jin, however, had only been there for about a year. Before coming, he knew nothing and his comprehension was only average. It was as if Lin Sicheng had been feeding him everything, little by little, until he had learned everything.

If men knew this, their eyes would probably pop out of their sockets...

(End of this chapter)