Inheritance of Two Trillion

Chapter 541: Chapter 541 Go ahead and ask!_1

What year is the ink from? Zhou Ping was taken aback, a bit perplexed.

He was a renowned expert in antiques appraisal, looking at paintings for their artistic conception, composition, technique, and identifying the dynasty of the rice paper; scrutinizing poems for content, brushwork, and signature—able to distinguish the masters, techniques, and styles from the Jin to Qing dynasties—his knowledge vast, truly erudite, with plenty of learning under his belt.

However, he had never really studied ink...

”Is there a difference?” Zhou Ping couldn’t help but ask.

”You really are an amateur!” Bai Xiaosheng exclaimed sincerely.

With one sentence, the whole room erupted.

Calling Zhou Ping an amateur? This kid, why does he always attract animosity!

Moreover, isn’t all ink black? After a long time, doesn’t it all look the same? Could you actually distinguish different inks with the naked eye? Do you think you are an elemental analyzer?

This was just causing trouble without reason!

”I’ve never heard that appraising paintings requires distinguishing the ink!”

”It’s utter nonsense!”

”Kid, do you even know what you’re talking about!”

The crowd was in an uproar, even the Li Family’s elders were smiling and shaking their heads, and the Bai Family members suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

Bai Minghang’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze fixed on his son.

Bai Xiaosheng sat leisurely on the sofa, never standing up from beginning to end, facing the criticism of the crowd with an unchanged expression.

Although he couldn’t do elemental analysis, Red Lotus could. From the reflection of light on the painting, it could analyze the ink’s spectrum and compare it with those from different dynasties—searching information was simply a piece of cake.

Bai Xiaosheng, calmly fishing.

”In the Ming Dynasty, there were four great ink masters, Cheng Dayue, Fang Yulu, Luo Xiaohua, and Shao Gezhi. Cheng Dayue, known for his comprehensive mastery and not confined to old methods, paid great attention to the formulation and materials. Xing Dong, one of the four great calligraphers at the end of the Ming Dynasty, praised Cheng’s ink as ’firm with brightness, dark with moisture, not gluey when licked by the brush, not blotting on paper.’ The ink used in this painting is Cheng’s ink.”

”That just proves the painting is from the Ming Dynasty!” Zhou Ping was shocked by Bai Xiaosheng’s knowledge of ink, and he suddenly sneered.

Bai Xiaosheng was being deliberately obscure, but it seemed that he was adding evidence to Zhou Ping’s appraisal.

”Exactly, you just admitted it!” Li Feitian laughed.

”Don’t rush, wait until I finish before you get excited,” Bai Xiaosheng said unhurriedly, giving Li Feitian a look and smiling.

Li Feitian grunted.

”In the Qing Dynasty, there were four ink masters: Cao Sugong, Wang Jiean, Wang Jinsheng, and Hu Kaiwen. The ink used in the poem is the proud work of Cao Sugong, the Purple Jade Ink,” Bai Xiaosheng said.

The painting was made using Ming ink, the poem using Qing ink.

The crowd looked at each other.

”Tianqing also has ink masters; if you don’t believe it, you can bring one in to see,” Bai Xiaosheng said with a smile, ”Or send it for a machine test. Since I dare to say this, I’m sure of it!”

Bai Xiaosheng laid it out clearly, unafraid of verification.

The crowd fell silent; with such a statement, they had to believe even if they were skeptical!

”Even if that’s the case, what of it? Ming Dynasty paintings being passed down to the Qing Dynasty and later inscribed with poems by someone else, that doesn’t prove there’s an issue with the painting!” Li Feitian shouted.

”That’s right!”

”Exactly!”

The crowd echoed in agreement.

Bai Xiaosheng smiled without saying a word, glancing over at Zhou Ping.

Zhou Ping stared at the painting and suddenly laughed bitterly, shaking his head at Li Feitian.

”This time, I’ve wronged you; my judgment was off,” Zhou Ping suddenly said.

He actually conceded!

Li Feitian looked incredulous, ”Mr. Zhou, what kind of talk is that? He hasn’t proven there’s anything wrong with the painting...”

Li Feitian could not continue his sentence.

Zhou Ping stretched out his hand, pointing at the painting, drawing Li Feitian’s gaze, who, after seeing it clearly, was stunned.

The poem overlapped with the painting.

The painting over the poem.

So, the explanation Zhou Ping had given was that inscribing a poem and creating a painting was to make a ”themed” landscape painting...

Now, it seemed completely wrong.

”Poetry from the Qing Dynasty, suppressed beneath a Ming Dynasty painting—this artwork becomes valuable as it can even ’travel through time,’” Bai Xiaosheng said with all seriousness.

Bai Fei and Bai Ran snickered, unable to hold back their laughter.

The members of the Li Family present were flabbergasted.

Even several of Bai Xiaosheng’s cousins and aunts were at a loss for words, while the Bai Family Members found the whole situation amusing.

Bai Minghang’s lips curled up in a smile, feeling greatly relieved.

”In fact, both the painting and the poetry are genuine. It’s just that the original pieces were split into two parts. The creator thought it would be more valuable to combine the second set of poem and painting, so they pieced them together, resulting in unnecessary embellishment! However, it’s not bad to hang it in the main hall for guests to admire,” Bai Xiaosheng said with a smile.

”You!”

Li Feitian’s face alternated between shades of red and white with anger.

He had never imagined that Bai Xiaosheng’s expertise in antiques was so profound and his tactics so cunning, luring them step by step into a public embarrassment!

”Let’s disperse, everyone, disperse!”

The Li Family’s Great Uncle stepped in at just the right moment, dispersing the crowd and inviting the Bai Family Members to sit in another room.

With Bai Xiaosheng and the others there, who knew what other chaos might ensue in the main hall.

Bai Minghang and the others did not say much and simply walked away.

But in the eyes of the Bai Family Members, there was a hint of satisfaction.

”This Mr. Bai, it seems you have quite the insight into antiques. How about we exchange some thoughts?” Zhou Ping approached with a smile and reached out his hand to Bai Xiaosheng.

Bai Xiaosheng returned the smile faintly, stood up, shook his hand, and then made a gesture to sit. ”Sure, have a seat!”

This Mr. Zhou, Zhou Ping, had lost face in public but remained calm and composed, willing to sit down and have a chat with the person who had just slighted him.

For that alone, Bai Xiaosheng felt a measure of admiration.

It appeared that among those ”second generations,” there were indeed some remarkable individuals.

The Li Family’s Great Uncle gave Bai Xiaosheng a deep look and left with his people.

Li Feitian glowered, silently shooting a dark look at Bai Xiaosheng, and then turned to leave as well.

Bai Xiaosheng and Zhou Ping sat opposite each other, both wearing smiles on their faces.

”I’ve been fond of antiques since childhood, exploring and studying them for twenty years. I wonder how long Mr. Bai has been involved with them,” said Zhou Ping with a smile.

”Not long,” Bai Xiaosheng shrugged.

He thought to himself, if he were to say ”just now,” he wondered if that would drive Mr. Zhou crazy.

It’s not that I’m that strong, it’s that you don’t have Red Lotus helping you, Bai Xiaosheng joked to himself.

”You’re too modest, Mr. Bai. With merely a short involvement, you’ve become so well-informed? Now I really must see for myself!” Zhou Ping’s eyes flashed slightly before he smiled again. ”I have a few minor questions here myself that I’d like to consult you about.”

”Oh? Then please, ask away,” Bai Xiaosheng said with a smile.

Zhou Ping’s brow furrowed ever so slightly; he was being modest, but this same-aged Mr. Bai was not!

Well then, let’s see just how much ink you’ve got in your belly!

Zhou Ping silently snorted, though the smile remained on his face.

...

Li Feitian went to pay his respects to his grandparents and also visited Li Fengguan.

When he came out, he was stunned to see that a crowd had gathered around where Bai Xiaosheng was sitting.

What was this Mr. Bai up to now!

Li Feitian felt a surge of irritation and strode over hastily.

Li Feiyun and Li Feiyan, along with a group of people, whispered among themselves, pointing and expressing surprise in hushed tones.

It didn’t seem like they were arguing with Mr. Bai...

Li Feitian was puzzled and walked over, only to see something utterly astonishing.

Bai Xiaosheng was like a lecturer in the middle of a great lesson, eloquently discussing the methods of identifying porcelain. The younger members of the Li Family listened with rapt attention.

Zhou Ping was even more dramatic, holding his phone and typing into a notepad as he listened.

He seemed to be taking notes!

What on earth!

Li Feitian was dumbfounded.