Chapter 168: Chapter 145 He's Totally Trustworthy! (Please Subscribe)
The curtains were gently drawn aside, allowing the afternoon sunlight to slant in and cast an ancient and simple aura of years on the 'Taotie Pattern Wine Vessel'.
Lin Chuan sat on the sofa to one side, quietly waiting for the results of the examination report.
The experts were doing the same.
The atmosphere on site, however, was subtly charged.
The chief expert from the museum seemed to be resting with eyes closed, but the corner of his mouth drooped and his complexion revealed slight irritation; clearly, he harbored some resentment.
A chief expert has the pride of a chief expert.
Old Bai's mentor, Cheng Qing, would occasionally exchange a few words with Lin Chuan, showing some belief in Lin Chuan's words.
Half an hour passed.
Chen Hui returned with the examination report.
"Officer Chen, how is it?" one of the experts in the room stood up and asked eagerly.
The rest of the people present also stood up, casting their gazes in unison.
The authenticity of this piece of 'Taotie Pattern Wine Vessel' bronze ware not only involved whether Old Bai was suspected of illegal trade in cultural relics but also related to the reputations of the few people present.
Chen Hui took a deep breath.
First, he glanced at Lin Chuan, then turned to look at Gao Qinglin with a somewhat odd expression before he began to speak:
"According to the appraisal by our police station's Material Identification Division, the submitted materials contain basic copper carbonate, epoxy resin, acrylate, triterpene saponins, glycosides, flavonoid compounds, and copper ore fine powder as main components, and the tests also detected..."
The police comrade to one side, hearing all these chemical terms, felt somewhat baffled.
But for the several treasure appraisal experts present, these terms were all too familiar. Chemistry is a fundamental part of a treasure appraiser's work, and even some of the older experts were well-versed in the chemical knowledge necessary for appraisal.
For instance, basic copper carbonate is a main component of patina, epoxy resin and acrylate are major components of adhesives, and the latter three are main components of Bletilla Striata Paste.
As Chen Hui announced the detection report, the faces of several appraisers led by the museum's chief expert Gao Qinglin changed.
Especially Gao Qinglin.
A look of surprise appeared on his face, and after giving Lin Chuan an indifferent glance, he snorted through his nose and walked straight out.
Lin Chuan just smiled, not paying much attention.
Old Bai's forgery of bronze ware, and expert Gao Qinglin being deceived, was no one's fault but the result of their own inadequacy or the opponent's strong capabilities.
Those who frequently walk by the river, how can they not get their shoes wet?
Even Lin Chuan, a grandmaster-level figure in the realm of antique forgery in the virtual world, had his missteps.
"Officer Chen, can you let my reader go now?"
Lin Chuan looked towards Chen Hui, a smile on his face.
"He's already outside waiting for you," Chen Hui said with a smile.
"Thank you, Officer Chen."
Lin Chuan's eyebrows rose, thinking that was quite efficient.
Afterward, Lin Chuan walked out.
Youyou had also been waiting outside for quite some time.
The people present left one after another.
Chen Hui watched Lin Chuan's departing figure, and his colleague was also looking at Lin Chuan, murmuring, "This Comrade Lin Chuan, so young, a web novel writer, and yet he turns out to be a master at appraising in the antiques circle."
"Indeed, a master. He just flew in from Anling and immediately identified the bronze ware as fake, accurately naming the materials used for the forgery, even leaving Gao Qinglin discredited," Chen Hui exclaimed.
"Do you think it's possible that he's connected to the antique forgery crime syndicate we're tracking?" his colleague speculated boldly, half-joking.
Chen Hui laughed, replying, "Lately, your mind's been full of that forgery syndicate, but the guy just flew in from Anling and we stopped him right at the airport, when would he have had the time to forge anything?"
"I must be paranoid," the colleague chuckled.
Pausing for a moment, Chen Hui laughed, "But his keen eye is truly remarkable. If we come across any leads on forged antiques, we might ask for his help in assessing them."
Of course, Chen Hui intended to find out more about Lin Chuan.
The colleague nodded in agreement, then added, "The repatriation of overseas cultural relics is tomorrow, connecting with the museum; it's a grand event in the antiques circle, with many experts attending. That forgery syndicate wouldn't miss the chance to get a close look at important relics and will likely be there, we should take the opportunity to inspect the situation."
"Okay," Chen Hui nodded.
He then stepped aside, took out his mobile phone, and brought up a number he had marked with a star a long time ago.
In fact, getting to know Lin Chuan was just an excuse for Chen Hui, who mainly wanted to make a call to a classmate far away in Anling.
——Shen Qianqian.
Ring, ring, ring.
"Hello, who is this?"
Shen Qianqian's polite voice came through the phone.
"It's me, Chen Hui." Chen Hui's mouth twitched, his face suddenly turning awkward.
Shen Qianqian's voice was still sweet, but her words "Hello, who is this?" sent a chill down Chen Hui's spine—she hadn't even saved his number, which was too impersonal.
"Chen Hui?"
Shen Qianqian sounded surprised, but that was all.
Chen Hui asked, "Qianqian, are you busy right now?"
"Still dealing with documents. Do you need something?" Shen Qianqian replied.
"Actually, it's not much. I just wanted to ask about someone. He's from Anling City," Chen Hui said, taking a breath.
"Who is it?"
"A web novel writer, knows how to appraise antiques, his name is..."
"Lin Chuan?"
On the other end of the line, Shen Qianqian directly mentioned 'Lin Chuan,' her voice tinged with a bit of surprise.