C23 Old and Disrespectful

Tucked away in the suburbs, the Bamboo Courtyard was the most unassuming of retreats, doubling as a unique private dining establishment. It boasted a menu as diverse as the creatures of the sky, land, and sea—if you could imagine it, they could create it. As such, the clientele was exclusively affluent and distinguished, with a mandatory three-day advance booking, regardless of one's social standing.

Qin Sisi was well-acquainted with the place, leading the way and urging her companion forward. "Pick up the pace. Chairman Ouyang is getting anxious!"

Lin Hao, trailing behind, rolled his eyes at her impatience. "I may be late, but at least I didn't forget the occasion, unlike some."

"Don't be so trivial and hung up on one thing. Isn't that a bit shameful?" retorted Qin Sisi, with an eye roll of her own.

The old saying goes: "It's hard to deal with petty men and women alike." Lin Hao found the adage to be spot-on.

Preferring not to engage in further squabbling, Lin Hao let the rustling bamboo in the breeze soothe his spirits as he walked the forest path.

"Hey, snap out of it, we've arrived!" Qin Sisi's voice brought him back to reality.

Lin Hao looked up to see the guide, a striking woman, standing by a riverside pavilion, with Qin Sisi waiting impatiently, her gaze tinged with frustration.

Catching up in a few brisk strides, Lin Hao shot Qin Sisi an exasperated look. "If you hadn't dawdled over your outfit and makeup, we'd have been here much sooner!"

"You..." Qin Sisi clenched her teeth. "A woman not wearing makeup is like... never mind. Talking to a guy with your attitude is exhausting!"

With that, she shot Lin Hao a withering glance and pushed through the door.

Lin Hao watched her go, his expression a mix of surprise and chagrin.

Inside, the room buzzed with lively conversation that paused as the door swung open. All eyes turned to the newcomers.

Ouyang Derong's face brightened at the sight of Lin Hao and Qin Sisi. He rose to his feet and gestured to the assembled group at the round table. "Everyone, please welcome the talented individuals I've been telling you about!"

"This gentleman here is Lin Hao. I'm sure many of you are somewhat familiar with him. He's the granddaughter of Qin Chuyang from the coastal Qin family, Qin Sisi!"

After Ouyang Derong's introduction, Lin Hao gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

He noticed the trio at the round table smirking with disdain, clearly looking down on both Lin Hao and Qin Sisi.

Lin Hao had intended to be courteous, but he wasn't one to offer warmth to a cold bench.

"The youth of today just keep declining. And such a poor sense of punctuality—it's a major faux pas in our line of work!"

"Hehe, come on, Elder Sun, are you truly clueless or just feigning ignorance? Young folks need to save face. They want to intimidate us old-timers, flex their status. It's hardly surprising!"

"Ah, well, a bit of arrogance is to be expected from the young, but in our industry, arrogance without ability is tantamount to digging one's own grave!"

"…"

Lin Hao's face twisted with frustration as he listened to the elders' banter. Qin Sisi, standing beside him, seemed ready to confront them, but Lin Hao quickly grabbed her wrist, holding her back.

He glanced at Ouyang Derong, who wore a sly smile, seemingly uninterested in stepping in and instead leaving Lin Hao to handle the situation on his own.

Lin Hao's eyes settled on the round table, covered with a blanket that displayed an ancient-looking scroll painting.

"This appears to be an early Qing Dynasty landscape by Wang Shimin, well-preserved, though the ink and brushwork are still immature—likely a piece from his younger days."

"The four kings and four monks—Wang Shimin is a standout among the kings. I recall a painting from his peak recently fetching an eight-figure sum at auction!"

"While his technique in this painting hadn't yet hit its zenith, it's still a testament to the era. The size isn't grand, so it's probably valued in the low seven figures."

Lin Hao's commentary set the room abuzz.

Ouyang Derong chuckled, "Hao, are you certain this is a Wang Shimin original?"

After a brief pause, Ouyang Derong continued, "We were just discussing that the brushwork in this painting seems too feeble. Wang Shimin was known for his ability to make the ink permeate the paper, and this piece doesn't quite match up—it doesn't look authentic!"

"Heh, Mr. President, I told you this kid is clueless, spouting off without knowing a thing. Bringing someone like him into our team doesn't seem right, does it?" Elder Sun chimed in with a sneer of ridicule.

He had adamantly claimed the painting was a forgery, and now Lin Hao was challenging his opinion by deeming it authentic. How could Elder Sun possibly react with anything but disdain?

Lin Hao simply smiled, maintaining his composure. "True or false, I'll clear it up for you shortly."

He approached and delicately lifted the scroll, saying with a smile, "You've all noticed that early Qing Dynasty paintings were typically on xuan paper, yet this one is unusually thin. Ever wonder why?"

"Please enlighten us, young friend," Ouyang Derong said with an encouraging smile.

Lin Hao met his gaze, instantly reading the understanding behind the elder's expression. Ouyang Derong had already grasped the truth but chose to remain silent.

"The old adage goes, 'In every trade, a master appears.' Back in the early Republic, some craftsmen used their exceptional skills to split a painting into two, or even three layers!"

"They would apply lard to the knife's edge to enhance its smoothness."

"If you're skeptical, just examine this painting. Based on its markings, it appears to be the bottommost layer, which would indeed make it an original. And such craftsmanship doesn't diminish the painting's value—in fact, it might add a unique kind of prestige."

No sooner had he finished than an elder unfurled the scroll and began inspecting its corners. His search ended with the discovery of lard residue in one corner.

"Just as I thought... it's indeed the paper splitting technique!" he exclaimed in astonishment.

Lin Hao was momentarily taken aback. He wasn't familiar with the term 'paper splitting technique'; he had simply relayed what the display had shown him.

Elder Sun's face registered shock. "Impossible, a paper splitting technique?" He moved forward, a mix of alarm and nervousness as he reached out for the scroll.

After scrutinizing the item for a few moments, he had an epiphany.

"Just because it involves a paper splitting technique doesn't confirm the authenticity of the painting!" Elder Sun persisted in his obstinacy.

Lin Hao offered a wry smile. "There's still so much for you to learn!"

"You..."

Elder Sun was so incensed by Lin Hao's remark that he nearly collapsed from a spike in his blood pressure.

At over sixty years of age, he wasn't considered a towering figure in the world of antiques, but he did have a respectable reputation. Being reprimanded by someone so much younger was a bitter pill to swallow.

"If you're open to learning, humble yourself. You never know... I might just take you under my wing!" Lin Hao, having polished off a cart's worth of food, gave Elder Sun a mocking smile.

The other elders nearby watched with keen interest, yet they were visibly chagrined by Lin Hao's blunt words.