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

Chapter 93 The Battle is About to Begin
The autumn sun slanted through the car window, and the sycamore tree was reflected in the rearview mirror. Its leaves, like golden foil, rustled and fell, spun a few times by the wind, before landing on the ignition cover.

Hao Jun gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes were empty, and his forehead slowly turned red.

Collection of the Qing Palace!

The emperor's imperial guide!

In that case, how can that calligraphy be considered an anonymous work?
And the Emperor's Imperial Treasure...

Hao Jun has been in the business for nearly twenty years, working at Rongbaozhai, a renowned Ming dynasty artisan specializing in the Four Treasures of the Study. He has seen both casual and private seals, as well as official seals.

But when have you ever seen the imperial treasure?
Thinking about the origins of the two things, Hao Jun felt that God was playing a big joke on him.

With a "pop" sound, a flame appeared in the rearview mirror. Then, a wisp of blue smoke drifted over from the back seat.

Hao Jun leaned against the chair, twisting his stiff neck to 90 degrees: "Brother, are you sure?"

Wu Jun exhaled a puff of cigarette and squinted his eyes: "Is this the first day we met?"

Hao Jun choked.

Wu Jun's statement that "my teacher is Ji Xianlin" was not a casual remark, because he was indeed Ji's disciple, and then a student of Peking University.

Why did Lin Sicheng mention that Wu Jun's eyes lit up when he studied Mr. Ji's translation of the Ramayana?

Because he and Mr. Ji translated that ancient Sanskrit epic.

With thirty years of experience and good eyesight, those two seals and that stamp were child's play for Wu Jun.

But for Hao Jun, it was like a mountain that he could not get around in his lifetime.

It feels like being blind?
Wu Jun flicked the ash from his cigarette and slowly exhaled: "Who hasn't made a mistake? Besides, didn't you say it yourself: You're not the only one who made a mistake?"

Hao Jun was stunned: "Huh!"

But you know what, I do feel a little better now.

Everyone in the industry knew that the calligraphy and seal had been in Ma Lan's hands for nearly eight years, and she had never been able to sell them. From time to time, they would be used as a negative example and repeatedly criticized.

Ma Lan is also shameless. The more you talk, the more excited she becomes. She takes out things and stuffs them into your arms, then holds you down and picks through your pockets.

So which famous and well-known expert has not seen those two things?

Before Ding Liang and Lin Changqing fell out, he had brought Ma Lan and his things to consult. Guan Xingmin, too, was annoyed by Ma Lan and ran away the moment he saw her.

But everyone was surprisingly unanimous: a Ming Dynasty imitation of the anonymous Heart Sutra, even if the outer binding was stripped off, was worth more than the entire scroll. As for the central painting, it was only worth a few hundred yuan.

The value of the seal is slightly higher, but it is also limited, only about 100,000 or 200,000 at most.

But what about the results?

The painting, worth several hundred yuan, became a treasure of the Qing court and was treasured by the emperor.

A seal that is only worth one or two hundred thousand at most has become the emperor's jade seal, the treasure of Emperor Qianlong?
So, he wasn't the only one who was blind? Even Lin Sicheng's grandfather had to be included...

Hmm, now that I think about it, I feel much better?

"Give me one too!"

Hao Jun leaned over, grabbed the cigarette and lighter, and lit them with a snap.

The smoke swirled around Mars and was dispersed by the evening breeze.

He suddenly frowned, his cigarette resting on his lips. "Brother, in your opinion, was Lin Sicheng's ability to identify those two items, especially the seal, due more to his scholarly skills or his knowledge of Sanskrit?"

"It's definitely the latter!" Wu Jun put out his cigarette, his tone extremely firm. "As long as we can translate the seal text, we don't even need to look at the material, decoration, religion, ethnicity, etc.!"

Hao Jun paused and agreed: Just like Wu Jun, could it be that he has a very high level of knowledge in stationery and cultural relics?
Of course not, but it only took him about ten minutes to identify the seal completely, thanks to his profound knowledge of Sanskrit.

If we change to Lin Sicheng, the principle is of course the same.

Suddenly, the depression disappeared and Hao Jun let out a long breath.

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

Hao Jun didn't say anything.

How could it not be: twice as old, yet inferior in everything?
He had a high opinion of himself, but every time he saw Lin Sicheng, he felt like he had lived a dog's life for the past forty years.

Although he was not as good as him, by comparison, Lin Sicheng was only slightly better at Sanskrit, not at calligraphy, so he was more acceptable.

After thinking about it, Hao Jun took out his cell phone again.

"What are you doing?"

Hao Jun laughed and said, "Share it!"

You know, in addition to the seal, there is also a piece of calligraphy, which more people have seen.

You can't let yourself suffer alone when things are so difficult? Brother Dujiba, no one else can expect to feel comfortable...

Wu Jun took a look and asked: "When did you become so loose-lipped?"

"Don't worry, it's just this one: he's a close friend of Lin Sicheng's grandfather, and also a close friend of Lin Sicheng. He's a policeman himself, so even if I don't tell him, Lin Sicheng will have to tell him..."

If you ask why, of course it’s because of Teacher Ma: This woman is too difficult to deal with, and we must prepare some deterrent for Lin Sicheng.

Wu Jun didn't say anything else. Hao Jun casually dialed Guan Xingmin's number and called him.

There was a hint of gloating in his tone: "Lao Guan, let me tell you something..."

……

"Hulu~Hulu..."

The fat boy had a good appetite and finished the bowl of noodles in the blink of an eye.

Wang Qizhi held his chopsticks, stirring the noodles unconsciously, occasionally picking up a piece of cucumber and putting it into his mouth.

The eyes are staring straight ahead, but without focus.

"Hey...hey...Wang Qizhi?" Shan Wangshu waved his chopsticks in front of his eyes. "Eat, why are you daydreaming?"

Wang Qizhi woke up as if from a dream, said "Oh", and ate noodles in big mouthfuls.

After the son finished eating, he washed the bowl obediently and sat on the sofa to watch TV. The couple were the only ones left in the restaurant.

Shan Wangshu frowned: "What's wrong? It's like you've lost your soul?"

Wang Qizhi was stunned for a moment, not knowing where to start.

He took a chopstick-shaped noodle and put it into his mouth, chewing it slowly. "Today, Lin Sicheng bought a calligraphy piece and an iron seal!"

"Ah?" Shan Wangshu understood immediately, "Lin Sicheng got lucky again?"

Let’s do the math. It’s been less than a month since Wang Qizhi reported to the unit. How many times has Lin Sicheng’s name appeared at home?

After Wang Qizhi finished talking, Ye Anning started talking, and then Wang Qizhi started talking again. The things they talked about the most were what Lin Sicheng bought yesterday, what Lin Sicheng bought today, and how much he earned.

Shan Wangshu was already numbed by the shock.

But listening to it again, she is still novel.

"How much can you make this time?"

Wang Qizhi calculated: "About tens of millions!"

"How many?"

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

Shan Wangshu widened his eyes.

She is beautiful, knowledgeable, and will marry even better.

But no matter how good your family is or how little you desire money, you still know what tens of millions means.

Ten million yuan can buy a small courtyard house near Shichahai in Beijing.

Calculating the time again: It felt like Lin Sicheng was making money faster than robbing a bank... As if in a trance, she muttered to herself: "Ten million, ten million?"

Wang Qizhi pushed the bowl aside and wiped his hands: "And at least!"

If it is just an imitation of Dong Qichang's work in his youth, and it is a fragment, the price would be around one million.

Adding Xiang Molin's stamp, the value is almost half that, to 1.5 million. Adding the Sutra Hall seal and Emperor Qianlong's seal, the value is at least doubled, to 3 million.

But if this calligraphy came out from the Shenyang Imperial Palace, and was leaked out together with the Qianlong imperial seal that was stamped on the calligraphy, then there is no doubt: the calligraphy alone is worth at least four million.

If he loses a penny, Wang Qizhi will call him dad.

As for the remaining seal, if Lin Sicheng is crazy enough to sell it for six million, there will definitely be a fierce fight for it.

Imagine this: the emperor's imperial treasure, what man wouldn't be dazzled by it? Being able to buy it with money is a blessing...

When she heard about the imperial seal and the royal treasure, Shan Wangshu's eyes widened: She had been working in the Forbidden City for so many years, and how many of them had she seen?

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

Buy? Can something like this be bought with money?

Thinking of the 10 million that Wang Qizhigang had mentioned, Shan Wangshu frowned: "Lin Sicheng wants to sell it?"

"I'm just using an analogy!" Wang Qizhi shook his head. "Didn't Lin Sicheng get kicked in the head by a donkey?"

Even if Lin Sicheng really gets confused one day and wants to sell the seal, Wang Qizi will give him two slaps to wake him up.

You are short of money, right? Just open your mouth and ask for it. Teacher, how can I not lend it to you?
"Yes! Call me when the time comes and I'll scold him!"

Shan Wangshu nodded vigorously, his face full of disbelief. "Where did you buy it from, Zhongshanmen?"

"Where can you find this stuff on the street?" Wang Qizhi shook his head. "Baoli!"

The chopsticks slipped and the noodles overflowed from the bowl.

I can't eat this meal today.

Shan Wangshu simply pushed the bowl aside: "Baoli, how is that possible?"

If it was before, Wang Qizhi would have thought it was impossible. But when he thought about today's experience, he wanted to sneer:
Even if it's just an office, it can't be so unprofessional?

Now, not only did he lose the rice but he also ended up shooting himself in the foot?

After giving a brief account of the matter, Dan Wangshu was stunned.

For a company as big as Baoli, it’s not too surprising that it does these things, right?
And Ye Anning, who was so well-behaved before, suddenly became... just... just... just... After a long while, Dan Wangshu was actually the right adjective for her?
Anyway, the feeling she got was even more unbearable than when Lin Sicheng spent 700,000 to buy an imperial seal: How could a person's character change so suddenly?
"No... I've been taking care of her for so many years. She was always so smart when she was little... How come she suddenly became so smart?"

Haha, Ye Anning is stupid and obedient?

That's because your aunt likes silly and naughty girls, that's why she is silly and naughty.

Wang Qizhi sneered: "Don't you even care who gave birth to the child?"

When he thought of his sister-in-law, Shan Wangshu shut his mouth.

In the words of my grandfather (Wang Qizhi's grandfather): Even if the heads of the three boys (Wang Qizhi's three brothers) were tied together, they would still not be as smart as the tips of a girl's hair when she is asleep.

Let’s look at the names grandpa gave to his grandchildren: the three brothers are Qi Hua, Qi Ming, and Qi Zhi, and when it comes to the eldest sister-in-law, she becomes Qi Guang.

What does it mean? The sun and the moon are in the sky, Zhao!

Turning his thoughts, Shan Wangshu sighed again: "Lin Sicheng is not bad either!"

Difference?
Wang Qizhi smiled but said nothing.

When Wang Qizhi thought about how Teacher Ma was led around by Lin Sicheng from beginning to end today, not only didn't he realize anything was wrong, but was complacent and smug, he wanted to cheer.

It felt like Lin Sicheng had taken the two sentences, "You sell people, and he still helps you count the money," and "You bury people alive, and he still thanks you," to the extreme and demonstrated them to him again.

Because of Lin Sicheng's guidance, Teacher Ma firmly believed from beginning to end that she had vision and wisdom far beyond that of ordinary people.

It's magical, silent and leaves no trace.

Just like the spring rain at night, warm and silent.

In comparison, Ye Anning was actually a little inferior.

Sighing secretly, he suddenly remembered: "Remember to go to the bank tomorrow and transfer 400,000 to Lin Sicheng!"

Shan Wangshu was confused: "He wants to borrow money? Why 400,000?"

"It's not a loan, it's the money to buy the calligraphy. Lin Sicheng said: He and Ye Anning will each pay half of the calligraphy! Ye Anning doesn't even have to pay, it's just the information fee for the seal. I said it's not necessary, but after talking for a long time, I still couldn't convince him, so in the end I just let Ye Anning pay half..."

"Ah?" Shan Wangshu was stunned. "What era's rules were those? Why is he still concerned about this?"

It used to be called "huohuo": one provided information, the other was responsible for judging, and the two would split the profits equally after the items were sold.

But who still cares about this rule these days? Not poaching your people or cutting off your beard is already a good thing.

But on the other hand, half of that calligraphy is worth at least two million, so Lin Sicheng is really willing to spend it.

"How about you tell me I'm pretty good at judging people?" Wang Qizhi boasted, then picked up his phone and said, "I'll tell Ye Anning."

……

The setting sun cast an amber glow, and the evening breeze lifted the gauze curtains.

Ye Anning stood in front of the window, her pretty face reflected in the pale brown glass. Her phone was slightly hot, leaving a faint red mark on her palm.

My uncle’s words echoed in my mind: Lin Sicheng said, half and half.

Does that mean I made two million for no apparent reason?

Ye Anning smiled, thought about it, and found Lin Sicheng's phone number.

After two rings, the phone was connected, and the voice was gentle and clear: "Sister An Ning!"

Ye Anning hummed, her voice very soft: "Lin Sicheng, I'm not doing this for money!"

"I know!"

If Ye Anning was after money, she would have asked someone to buy the calligraphy long ago instead of asking herself to authenticate it again.

But Lin Sicheng has his own understanding: although some rules are conservative, they have existed for so many years, so there must be a reason for them to exist.

Even if we put this aside, let's talk about the most realistic and simple truth: if there is one, then there can be two. If it weren't for Ye Anning, where would Teacher Ma come from, and where would the Qianlong imperial treasure come from?

Only thin water can flow long.

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

"Lin Sicheng, no matter what, I still want to thank you today!"

"Sister An Ning, you really don't have to be so polite. You should think of it this way: rounding it off, it's like I picked up an imperial seal for free. Did I say thank you?"

Ye Anning laughed again: "Okay, I'll treat you to a meal some other day!"

"it is good!"

The call was brief and crisp.

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

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

I just thought, he's so smart. And this feeling is quite strange.

As he was sighing, he heard the sound of a door being pushed open in the hallway, and a colleague poked his head out: "Ye Anning, the meeting has started!"

"it is good!"

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

(End of this chapter)