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

Chapter 58 I work hard with a hammer?

Soaking new jade in alkaline water can imitate ancient chicken bone white jade, and can it even fool scientific instruments?

Section Chief Shen, who had remained silent, expressed his doubts.

Even Wang Qizhi and Guan Xingmin were skeptical.

But the two knew Lin Sicheng: without absolute certainty, how could he say something like "one hundred percent"?
Guan Xingmin frowned: "Is there any way to confirm it?"

"Yes, and there are many!"

Lin Sicheng pointed at the paperweight and said, "Take deep samples. First, do X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. If the jade is immersed in alkaline water for a long time, the primary crystals inside will all melt away, and the secondary crystals will be absolutely intact..."

"Secondly, we'll take another sample and send it to the provincial government for Raman spectroscopy to analyze the changes in the mineral phases within the jade. If it's natural soil infiltration, there must be metal particles like Al and Fe deposited inside the jade..."

"At the same time, we can also test the surface of the jade artifact for traces of microbial activity and analyze the organic composition..."

They are all experts and will understand it as soon as they hear it.

There is no need to explain the first two points, so let’s talk about the last point: after being buried underground for a long time, there will inevitably be soil microorganisms left, which will inevitably secrete acidic substances and corrode the surface of the jade.

If this "long time" is seven or eight hundred years, how heavy would the number of microorganisms and corrosion marks be?

Secondly, is it difficult to analyze whether the oil components in the patina belong to humans, sheep or dogs?

Of course it is not difficult, the difficult part is sampling: no less, it must be several grams at a time, and holes must be drilled.

For example: If this paperweight is real, after punching three or four holes in it, it will become a broken piece.

But at this point, even if it means scrapping it, it has to be done...

Guan Xingmin gritted his teeth: "Turn on the machine and take samples!"

Section Chief Shen's eyes widened, but as soon as he opened his mouth, before he could say anything, Guan Xingmin retorted, "Don't you understand?"

With his leader's attitude like this, he dared not question it. He immediately put down the folder and picked up the paperweight: "I understand, Director, don't worry, it will take at most ten minutes!"

"Simultaneous testing and submission to the provincial department for inspection!"

"understand!"

Guan Xingmin patted Lin Sicheng's shoulder, then looked at Wang Qizhi and sighed, "Secretary Wang, excuse me!"

Wang Qizhi smiled and said, "Director Guan, you're welcome. You can get busy first!"

Guan Xingmin nodded and called most of his colleagues away, and the evidence room was suddenly empty.

Several professors were drinking tea next door, and when they heard the noise, they rushed in again.

"Huh, what about people?"

"Secretary Wang, what happened?"

"I don't know either!" Wang Qizhi said perfunctorily, and then looked at his watch. "It's almost time, let's eat first."

Assuming he genuinely didn't know, the professors didn't ask any further questions. One of the ceramics professors joked, "Lin Sicheng, you've been busy with a radiation gun all morning. Did you detect anything?"

Lin Sicheng just smiled.

Another professor pretended to have just remembered: "Hey, it seems that the only thing left to be tested is the bronzeware. Professor Wang, do you need to come back another day?"

Wang Qizhi just smiled.

At this point, how could the authentication center still care about identifying any bronze artifacts?
For example, Guan Xingmin mentioned in the academy office that the most important thing in this guided study was the imitation Xuande furnace:

No matter how important this thing is, no matter how serious the case is, it's still at the review and prosecution stage. It's nothing more than an extension, a few more appraisals. If it doesn't work out, send it to the capital. The worst that can happen is that you'll be laughed at by your peers.

The paperweight was a piece of evidence from over a year ago, meaning the case had already been decided. But suddenly, the ancient jade became an imitation jade. What does this mean?
This means that the case value of millions suddenly becomes a few thousand. So, do we have to consider whether the sentence is too heavy or whether it is a wrongful conviction?

Next, should we conduct additional interrogations, reinvestigate, or even overturn the verdict?
But is it so easy to overturn a case that has already been judged?
Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi could already imagine how busy and chaotic the Municipal Bureau would be in the future.

When the appraisal results come out, the procuratorate and the court that prosecuted and tried the case will be so shocked when they receive the news.

Anyway, I definitely can't take care of the bronzes and Xuande incense burners, including the remaining ones that haven't been appraised. I can only wait for the commotion caused by this imitation jade to subside and then make another appointment.

Just then, the deputy section chief in charge of reception came over to greet them and said that the restaurant had prepared a sumptuous lunch, and a group of people came downstairs in a hurry.

The teacher and the student fell at the back, speechless.

When they reached the restaurant entrance, Wang Qizhi stopped and a strange look appeared on his face: "You measured the radiation value before identifying jade. Did you learn this from a book?" "It's just a coincidence!"

Lin Sicheng said seriously, "Professor Wang, if you were the one doing the testing and saw that the radiation level of the jade was only 0.02, would you be suspicious?"

nonsense.

The question is, who in their right mind would use a radiation gun to sweep up antiques?
Therefore, Lin Sicheng had set a precedent, twice in a row. At least in the future, provincial and municipal forensic centers would definitely add this requirement.

"So what's that about soaking jade in alkaline water to promote calcification? There are many steps involved. What is it?"

Lin Sicheng thought without hesitation: "First, maintain a constant temperature: above 40 degrees and below 50 degrees to accelerate the calcification reaction. Secondly, maintain a constant humidity: maintain at 60%-80% to promote mineral penetration..."

"Third, water immersion to simulate weathering... Fourth, mechanical assistance: low-power ultrasonic vibration to enhance solution penetration. Fifth, temperature-controlled heating and temperature-controlled freezing to form cracks..."

"Repeating this process for eight to ten weeks at most will cause the jade to calcify and naturally produce chicken bone ash. If you have a bit of patience and manually polish the patina, the whole process will not take more than three years..."

Wang Qizhi was stunned for a moment.

Even though he was a specialist in his field, he was still a professor of cultural heritage and an expert in identification. And he had never heard of the method Lin Sicheng was talking about?

The key is, is it so simple?
No acid soaking, no rust knocking, no high pressure, and no splicing required... Let me ask you, how would you identify it just by visual inspection?
Even without deep sampling, the instrument cannot detect it?
In ordinary collection transactions, how many people would take their items to professional institutions for inspection, let alone drill holes in them?

Wang Qizhi was stunned: "So, in this case, anyone can imitate it?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head. "It's not that easy. First, the lye ratio is difficult to master. Second, a specific ultrasonic frequency is required..."

Wang Qizhi was about to ask further, but after thinking for a moment, he shut his mouth again: If this method gets out, how many people will be killed?
He half-jokingly asked, "Did you learn from a book again?"

Lin Sicheng nodded vigorously: "Of course!"

Wang Qizhi sighed, and the two of them entered the restaurant.

Shortly after the meal, about an hour later, Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi were invited to the director's office.

There are several reports on the table:

1. The presence of original crystals inside the jadeware proves that the water immersion process would not exceed three years.

2. There is no metal ion deposit in the stains and cracks that is consistent with the soil composition of Yulin. Not to mention seven or eight hundred years, it has never been buried in Yulin at all.

Especially the third point: no traces of microorganisms similar to those in Yulin soil were detected. More importantly, no human tissue was detected, but a lot of dog tissue was found?

The two leaders who had left that morning returned, looked at the test report on the table, then at Lin Sicheng. They felt a mixture of emotions, not knowing what to say.

To be honest, the director just said it casually in the morning, with the mentality of having nothing to do anyway, so he might as well give it a try.

What happened? Instead of picking the dates, a bolt from the blue came first?
When they received Guan Xingmin's call, the two leaders were shocked and at a loss: Lin Sicheng was detecting radioactive sources and really found a problematic antique?
Moreover, the nature is so serious?
At this point, both leaders were still feeling a lingering fear: "Luckily, the sentence was just recently passed, so there's still hope for recovery. If we wait until the person is released from prison and then contact the news media... Haha!"
The two leaders took turns expressing their gratitude, their hearts full of words. They shook Lin Sicheng's hand and shook it repeatedly:

“Thank you for your hard work… It’s really hard work…”

"Xiao Lin, don't leave in a hurry. The director will be here later... I've asked the restaurant to make arrangements. Let's get in touch this afternoon..."

Lin Sicheng smiled and declined: "Thank you, Director, I still have a lot to do, next time is fine!"

It was really a mess, and the leader was not polite. He sighed earnestly and said: "Okay, next time!"

After a lot of thanks, the two leaders escorted Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi downstairs and into the car.

It's no exaggeration to say that the professors and teaching assistants in the car were so shocked that their eyes almost popped out of their heads...

The Coaster started moving. The deputy director smiled and waved his hand, then looked at Guan Xingmin behind him:

"Lao Guan, I heard from Lao Zhang (Director) that you're planning to recruit Xiao Lin to our forensic center?"

No...why does the director speak so quickly?
"Director, I just had that thought..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the director: "That's a good idea!"

Guan Xingmin's face turned bitter: "Leader, it's really difficult!"

"I know, but everything depends on human effort!" The leader patted Guan Xingmin on the shoulder, "The bureau fully supports us!"

Director Zhang also smiled and said, "Old Guan, try harder!"

Guan Xingmin put on a smile and said yes repeatedly, but in his heart he was saying: Am I working hard with a hammer?
Did you see the watch on his teacher's hand?

Lin Sicheng didn't get kicked in the head by a donkey. Why would he give up the golden thigh and come to the Municipal Bureau to work as a laborer?
(End of this chapter)