Chapter 10: Difficulties

Luo Tianding gazed at the ancient painting, and five seconds later, the entire painting emitted a blinding red light. To his surprise, this time was different from the past; there was also a black light appearing. The location of the black light was above the border. In a flash, four numbers faintly appeared. Luo Tian focused his gaze, and there it was—1968! 1968? Luo Tian seemed to have grasped the key point.

Luo Tianxun humbly said: "I dare not, I dare not; I must learn a great deal from both teachers."

Liu Dachuan said straightforwardly: "So, do you have a conclusion?"

At this moment, Luo Tian also had a slight sense of understanding regarding Xie Ming's thoughts. He had a premonition that entering this appraisal department smoothly would likely require some effort, as dealing with those two appraisal consultants would certainly be challenging

"Lao Chen, Lao Liu, please set aside your work for the time being." Xie Ming called out loudly, prompting the two men to look up. Both were wearing glasses and instinctively adjusted them as they gazed at Luo Tian, who stood behind Xie Ming. They silently wondered, Is this the appraiser who was admitted through special approval yesterday? At the same time, they scrutinized him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

Old Liu, unaware of human feelings, young man, welcome to join us, I am counting on you to become our fresh force

Liu Dachuan was now intrigued, looking at the young man with newfound respect: "Although it is said that everyone is an expert."

Luo Tianxing came to his senses: "It's nothing, I was just a bit absorbed in it."

Old Chen looked somewhat awkward, shaking his head repeatedly, seemingly uncertain about Liu Dachuan's behavior of adding jokes. Liu Dachuan spread out the ancient painting and said, "Take a look."

Xie Ming's decision to personally accompany Luo Tian to report to the department is not without reason. First, Luo Tian's situation is akin to that of a parachute recruit; according to standard recruitment procedures, he should have passed the approval of the head of the appraisal department. The individuals in the appraisal department are seasoned veterans, and they may harbor some resentment. Second, Luo Tian lacks prior experience in corporate work, and Xie Ming is concerned about his capabilities in personnel management. This deficiency could potentially hinder his ability to perform effectively. Therefore, it is necessary for Xie Ming to provide support for both him and the library, allowing Luo Tian the space to demonstrate his abilities.

Seeing Luo Tian's calm demeanor, Xie Ming was unsure whether the annual salary of 100,000 he unilaterally offered aligned with his intentions. Since it had not been brought up, it was said to be accepted. In reality, Xie Ming specifically instructed the Human Resources Department not to publicize this, as Luo Tian had virtually no qualifications and could not gain public approval.

Xie Ming asked, "So do you think this is a genuine work by Shi Tao?"

Luo Tian followed Xie Ming to the second floor. The Xie Auction Company is divided into four levels. The first floor lobby is primarily responsible for reception, as well as an exhibition hall displaying information on past remarkable auction items. The second floor serves as the main office for the appraisal department, which occupies the largest area, adjacent to the operations department. Xie Ming's office is also located on the second floor, while the third floor houses the human resources and finance departments.

Upon entering the appraisal department, Luo Tian was taken aback; the office space here was quite spacious, even larger than Xie Ming's general manager office, which clearly indicated Xie Ming's emphasis on the appraisal department. Aside from two appraisal consultants who were absent, there were only two middle-aged men in their forties seated inside. One of them was engrossed in studying an ancient painting, completely oblivious to the arrival of others.

The authentication of ancient paintings requires first determining their age, followed by an examination of individual styles, making the process relatively challenging. For experts in ancient painting authentication, a high level of comprehensive knowledge is required in areas such as history, literature, aesthetics, ancient architecture, clothing, posthumous titles, and official systems, making the authentication process not so straightforward

I have a humble opinion. Luo Tian pointed at the painting and said: "This painting, judging by its style, should be a work of Shi Tao. Shi Tao referred to himself as the Bitter Melon Monk and was adept at the '截取法' (method of capturing) to convey profound realms through close-up scenes. Shi Tao also emphasized momentum. His brushwork is unrestrained, free-flowing, and does not concern itself with minor flaws. The works possess a bold and vigorous momentum, showcasing a sense of exuberance."

Xie Ming was not particularly satisfied with Luo Tian's performance, but it was evident that Luo Tian was quite cautious and meticulous in personnel matters, which put him at ease. Just as he was about to leave, Liu Dachuan suddenly spoke up: "It's better to come at the right time than just to come; we are somewhat uncertain about these two paintings. Why don't you give us your opinion?"

"Yes, esteemed teachers, I look forward to your guidance in the future." Luo Tian approached respectfully, shaking hands with both and presenting a book, striving to make a good impression

Old Chen was doing well, but Old Liu's expression was clearly displeased. In his view, the auction house had no need to hire newcomers. He simply could not fathom Xie Ming's intentions, especially since the person being hired was a novice with no work experience. What scheme was Xie Ming concocting in his mind? Liu Dachuan perfunctorily shook hands and returned to his seat in silence, studying the ancient painting from earlier.

It seems that this is the result of the fusion with the fragments last night. Although the process was somewhat brutal, my extraordinary abilities have finally advanced to another level.

This is the new colleague, Luo Tian, who is young. You all need to take good care of him in the future. " Xie Ming pointed to the two and introduced, "This is Lao Chen, Chen Fei, who has the most expertise in jade artifacts, and this is Lao Liu, Liu Dachuan, who specializes in ancient paintings. However, both of them are versatile talents, so you should learn well from them in the future.

As soon as Luo Tian's conclusion was presented, the other three displayed a keen interest and immediately picked up magnifying glasses to study it closely, with Liu Dachuan completely forgetting his initial intention of challenging Luo Tian.

In fact, Xie Ming's concerns are somewhat unnecessary. Considering Luo Tian's growth experience, his ability to read people's expressions and the thoroughness with which he considers matters far exceeds what Xie Ming estimates. After all, to navigate life, one cannot do without perceptiveness.

"Luo Tian, what is wrong with you?" Xie Ming looked at Luo Tian, who suddenly appeared as if he were in deep meditation.

"Not quite," Luo Tian pointed to the edge line where the black light had just been: "Look here, the edge of this mountain is relatively smooth, which does not align with Shi Tao's bold and unrestrained style. However, when viewing the entire painting, the brushwork and painting style are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. If it weren't for this slight deficiency, it could easily be mistaken for an authentic piece. I have a bold idea; let us see if it can be established."

I suspect that this painting is a replica by the modern artist Zhang Daqian. Zhang Daqian once meticulously studied the brushwork and style of Shi Tao's paintings, and his imitations of Shi Tao's works are often indistinguishable from the originals. Many of these replicas have circulated in the market. If this is indeed one of them, although it may not fetch an astronomical price like an authentic Shi Tao piece, if it is a work by Zhang Daqian, its value would still be considerable. Luo Tian did not dare to speak too definitively. Firstly, he does not fully understand his current abilities, and secondly, the three individuals before him are all seniors. He was concerned that speaking too assertively might leave an impression of arrogance.

Here it comes! Luo Tian anticipated this development, and his attitude remained calm: "That is acceptable."