005, time is a cunning hand, the vast sea transforms into mulberry fields
It may sound fantastical, but this is not fiction. Each artifact, in his hands, is restored to its original appearance, as if awakening from a slumber, ready to narrate its story. The objects themselves carry the essence of time's passage, and one can truly feel it when immersed in their presence. Zhou Xiaoxian is most skilled in the restoration of porcelain; even if two very similar ancient porcelain fragments are mixed together, he can effortlessly separate them by hand, earning him the nickname "Ghost Hand"
As Zhou Xiaoxian unfurled the scroll, the holder Li Wan felt his throat dry with tension. Reason and common sense told him that the likelihood of purchasing an authentic Tang dynasty artwork for eight thousand yuan at a second-hand book stall was nearly nonexistent, yet no one could dismiss the possibility of a fortunate exception. Putting oneself in his shoes, it is a reaction that most people would have; Li Wan was already quite composed.
The expert's words were broadcast by Mike, causing an uproar of laughter in the audience, with many people laughing so hard that they were clutching their stomachs. It was only then that Li Wan sensed something was amiss; he suddenly looked up to see the large screen, and then lowered his head to look at the scroll that Zhou Xiaoxian had already unfurled in his hands, momentarily standing there in a daze.
However, Zhou Xiaoxian himself does not like this nickname, believing it to be too steeped in the atmosphere of the martial arts world. He is an academic expert, a scholar who has dedicated his life to cultural heritage preservation, and is not someone who engages in collecting or bargain hunting. Yet at this moment, when he received the scroll from Li Wanshou, he inexplicably felt a strange sensation
The painting indeed depicts the scenery of Shantang Street in Suzhou, reminiscent of the styles found in "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" or "The Prosperity of Suzhou." However, regardless of who views it, it is immediately apparent that this is certainly not an ancient painting, requiring no professional appraisal. This is clearly evident as the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and the Suzhou North Ring Elevated Bridge cross over Shantang River right in the center of the artwork.
Zhou Xiaoxian furrowed his brows and did not respond, while smiling at the calligraphy and painting expert next to the *picture* book, saying: "Does your Tang Dynasty have an elevated railway bridge in Beijing and Shanghai?"
The camera lens focused on Zhou Xiaoxian's expression, while another angle captured the painting he had unfurled in his hands. According to the director's arrangement, the program was to insert a commercial break at this point, with the identification results to be revealed after the advertisement. However, the recording on site did not pause; a large screen on the central background wall displayed the scene of Zhou Xiaoxian unrolling the painting, allowing everyone in the audience to see it clearly.
As the foremost expert in cultural relic preservation and restoration, and also the most authoritative appraiser of cultural relics, having Zhou Xiaoxian on today's program is indeed a highlight. Although Zhou Xiaoxian's primary academic focus is on the restoration of ceramics and colored sculptures, for a scholar of his caliber, the appraisal of various cultural relics is also interconnected. The two experts beside Zhou Xiaoxian have their own areas of expertise; one is proficient in the authentication of calligraphy and paintings, while the other excels in the appreciation of jade and bronze artifacts. Although Zhou Xiaoxian's primary academic focus is on the restoration of ceramics and colored sculptures, for a scholar of his caliber, the appraisal of various cultural relics is also interconnected. The two experts beside Zhou Xiaoxian have their own areas of expertise; one is proficient in the authentication of calligraphy and paintings, while the other excels in the appreciation of jade and bronze artifacts.
After enjoying a meal of affordable noodles and soup dumplings from a century-old renowned establishment, and watching a hilariously entertaining television program, Cheng Tianle felt completely satisfied. The discomfort he had felt before the meal had long since faded, and he had even forgotten the bizarre encounter in front of the raccoon statue. Upon returning to the "company dormitory," Cheng Tianle felt embarrassed to ask Yu Fei to continue carrying his bag and took the initiative to retrieve it himself. Just as Yu Fei was about to hand over the bag, he was subtly glared at by Liu Shujun, forcing him to pick the bag up again and insist on being hospitable.
... ...
Cheng Tianle was still reluctant to return. After having eaten and drunk enough, he no longer felt tired. After all, someone was insisting on carrying the luggage, and there was a beautiful woman linking arms with him. He wanted to stroll a bit longer in the night-lit Shantang Street and the library, as it was still quite early for bed! Yu Fei then said, "Actually, we don't always have to wander around Shantang Street; the alleys on the other side of the river are also quite beautiful. Let's head back early; we still have a bit of a walk ahead."
Seeing him laugh foolishly all day long, one would certainly not expect him to run away halfway. However, discipline is discipline; even a deceptive pyramid scheme has its own rules to follow. Under the supervision of Liu Shujun, Yu Fei must carry his backpack.
In such a context, the likelihood of encountering an authentic artifact from the Tang Dynasty is exceedingly low, almost akin to a joke. No one believed that this painting could be genuine, not even the replicas from later generations, which had already exceeded the expectations of the production team.
This laughter left Li Wan bewildered, while Zhou Xiaoxian remained silent. Li Wan, at a loss, asked: "What’s wrong? What’s wrong with this painting? What are you laughing at?"
What Li Wan brought was indeed not such a painting. If it were, he would not have come to the final recording of the program to hand the scroll to Zhou Xiaoxian. Special themed programs like this are also a form of folk collection activity, attracting numerous treasure holders who come upon hearing the news. Ultimately, those who can appear at the recording site must, of course, go through the selection process of the production team.
It is already dusk, and the streetlights along the stone slab alley have been lit. Walking back along Shantang Street, we crossed the railway bridge and arrived at the tourist pedestrian street that has undergone commercial development. There are still quite a few people on the street, and the shops nearby are open. Liu Shujun said, "Turn right ahead and cross the Shantang River; our company is on the other side of the bridge"
If Li Wanyi had started with such a painting, it would have been impossible for him to pass through the selection of the program team to reach this point. Just before taking the stage today, he had just unfolded the painting and handed it to the staff for verification, and only after confirming its accuracy did he personally roll up the scroll and walk to the front stage. Throughout this process, the painting never left his or the on-site staff's sight
Moreover, this painting of Shantang Street resembles a scene captured from an aerial perspective, perfectly depicting contemporary landscapes. Even the road outside the pedestrian street, the utility poles along the roadside, and the cars driving on the street can be clearly identified. Such a painting amused all the audience present at the recording site, with laughter rising and falling.
Professor Zhou Xiaoxian is fifty-eight years old this year and currently works in the Conservation Department of the Palace Museum in Beijing. He is also an executive director of the Cultural Relics Restoration Committee of the China Cultural Relics Association and a doctoral supervisor. He is well-known in the field of cultural relics collection, earning the nickname "Ghost Hand." His skill in restoring various cultural relics, especially ancient porcelain, is truly remarkable. Over the years, he has engaged in the protection and restoration of cultural relics, having restored countless treasured items.
At the edge of a small bridge, just about to turn and cross the river, Cheng Tianle suddenly stopped, pointing to a nearby shop and saying, "Oh, that painting looks familiar, let's go in and take a look"
For the live recording of the program, this was an unexpected incident, yet it had a highly entertaining effect and an eye-catching news impact. In previous similar shows, the director would also appropriately arrange for some minor interludes to enhance the entertainment atmosphere on site and improve the broadcast effect. However, this time it was certainly not a deliberate arrangement; no one anticipated it! After editing, the outcome of this incident was indeed very good, so it was retained for the broadcast. In previous similar shows, the director would also appropriately arrange for some minor interludes to enhance the entertainment atmosphere on site and improve the broadcast effect. However, this time it was certainly not a deliberate arrangement; no one anticipated it! After editing, the outcome of this incident was indeed very good, so it was retained for the broadcast.
All sounds at the scene vanished, and everyone was left speechless, their eyes fixed intently on the large screen. However, this strange silence lasted only a few seconds, followed by a burst of uproarious laughter, with many even laughing to the point of tears
Although the experts have not yet provided a conclusion regarding the authentication and the book, does it still require authentication
When Li Wan handed over the painting, the calligraphy and painting expert sitting to the left of Zhou Xiaoxian frowned. The reason was simple: the scroll and mounting were too new, almost as if they had just been purchased from a craft store! Many audience members shared the same doubt, but considering it might have just been newly mounted, they would need to open it to authenticate.
Although the scroll had not been unfurled, it exuded a profound sense of the passage of time in his hands. Zhou Xiaoxian was puzzled; this feeling could not be feigned, nor could it be achieved by any aging technique. Yet, this scroll bore no signs of artificial aging! Could it truly be an authentic piece from the Tang Dynasty? ... He regained his composure and eagerly began to unroll the scroll ...
Zhou Xiaoxian received the scroll with a confident smile, yet his expression momentarily froze in surprise, his actions pausing there for a few seconds. It is difficult for an ordinary person to comprehend his feelings at that moment. Throughout his life, Zhou Xiaoxian has restored countless cultural relics, a task that requires an unimaginable level of seriousness, focus, and dedication. As he entered middle age, he gradually developed a sensation as if the fragments of those relics possessed their own life; he could even strangely sense their breathing as they lay in slumber.
The selection and screening by the program team is not an authoritative appraisal; it merely serves as a filter to choose items that appear to have the most newsworthy impact, while also eliminating those clearly unreliable "collectibles." For instance, one cannot allow someone to come on stage with an iPad to seek authentication from Zhou Xiaoxian
Li Wan did not look at the painting; he had seen that piece countless times before, and there was nothing new to discern from it. Instead, he fixated intently on Zhou Xiaoxian's expression, as if trying to glean some insight from the expert's demeanor. Zhou Xiaoxian's expression upon unveiling the painting was quite peculiar, and the scene fell into a moment of complete silence before erupting into a burst of hearty laughter.
The luggage of Cheng Tianle was quite heavy, and after finally catching his breath, Yu Fei really did not want to continue carrying it for him. Although it was said that the "company dormitory" was nearby, in reality, it was quite a distance away. In the pyramid scheme, when "welcoming new friends," the introducer must help the new friends with their luggage; this is a rule of the group. On one hand, it is to make the new friends feel the "care and warmth of a big family," and on the other hand, it is to prevent the new friends from realizing something is amiss and finding an excuse to slip away midway.
Amidst the laughter, a sudden roar erupted. Li Wan, with a flushed face, snatched the painting from Zhou Xiaoxian's hands and shouted, "No, the painting I brought is not this one; it must have been swapped! Where is my painting?"
When the scroll unfurled, its surface seemed to ripple like water, as if something intangible was dissipating. Others could not see it clearly, but the one holding the scroll, Zhou Xiaoxian, felt it inexplicably. In the next moment, his expression suddenly became extremely peculiar
However, when this painting was opened again by Zhou Xiaoxian, the image had unexpectedly changed, transforming from a Tang Dynasty landscape into a contemporary scene of Suzhou's Shantang Street. Li Wan was completely bewildered; his first reaction was to suspect that the painting had been swapped by the staff on site. Amidst the laughter of the audience, he couldn't help but lose his temper. Anyone encountering such a situation would likely react in anger. Li Wan's psychological resilience was relatively good; had it been someone else, they might have collapsed and lost consciousness.
The program broadcasted by the television station underwent editing, stopping at the moment when the calligraphy expert asked a question and the scene erupted in laughter. Later, the segment featuring Li Wanfa's outburst was cut. How did Li Wanfa negotiate with the production team, and how did the staff handle the situation? A week later, the viewers in front of their televisions remained unaware of the details; they were simply amused and laughed heartily.