Chapter 29: Installed Again

Zhou Zhongdang replied with a smile: "That's right!"

"Ancient lotus seeds are dark black with a hard shell, so it is difficult to identify their specific dynasty."

"Mr. Lin was able to identify such a difficult item as ancient lotus seeds from the Song Dynasty. This shows that Mr. Lin's ability in identifying treasures is outstanding among young appraisers!" Zhou Zhongdang praised.

Zhuang Jingxue couldn't help but praise: "In that case, Mr. Lin is really young and promising!"

Lin Lang replied modestly: "Aunt Xue, you are too kind!"

"I have just entered the antique business and know only a little about treasure appraisal. It is like showing off one's skills in front of Lu Ban, a master of treasure appraisal like Uncle Zhou."

After hearing this, Zhuang Jingxue smiled and said, "Mr. Lin is a man of talent and virtue, humble and polite, wealthy but low-key, very outstanding and rare!"

Lin Lang smiled politely.

Zhou Mengyao couldn't help but ask curiously, "Lin Lang, how did you know that these seven black ancient lotus seeds are from the Song Dynasty?"

Lin Lang naturally couldn't answer. He found it through the [Universal Item Prompt System], so he lied and said, "Using plant physiology methods, the lifespan of ancient lotus seeds can be inferred from the growth patterns of the palisade-like cells on the outer skin of the lotus seeds."

Zhou Mengyao asked, "Is it like observing the growth rings of a tree?"

Lin Lang replied: "Basically the same."

Zhuang Jingxue was skeptical after hearing this, thinking, "The research on ancient lotus seeds is very unpopular. Could it be that Lin Lang, a college student majoring in finance, could have made achievements in plant biology?!"

Zhou Mengyao exclaimed: "My old classmate, you are amazing! I didn't expect you to study ancient lotus seeds."

Lin Lang continued, "Among these seven ancient lotus seeds from the Song Dynasty, at least three or four can be regenerated. First, break the shell, soak the seeds, and then germinate and plant them. Remember these steps, and flowering will not be a problem."

Zhou Mengyao was surprised when she heard this: "No way?"

"Ancient lotus seeds from hundreds of years ago can still be planted and germinated now. Isn't this a fantasy?"

Lin Lang smiled and replied: "Many things are like this, far beyond our cognition."

"Mengyao, you don't know that according to the Archaeological Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the lifespan of ancient lotus seeds is about 830 to 1250 years, making them the longest-lived seeds in the world."

Zhou Mengyao was very shocked after hearing this. She looked at her father Zhou Zhongdang and asked, "Dad, is what Lin Lang said right?"

Zhou Zhongdang replied: "Mr. Lin is right. It is a miracle that the ancient lotus seed can come back to life after sleeping for a thousand years."

Zhou Mengyao was puzzled and asked, "It's amazing. How is it possible?"

Lin Lang patiently replied: "There is a small air chamber inside the ancient lotus seed, which stores 0.2 mg of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Although the amount is small, it is of decisive significance to maintaining the life of the ancient lotus seed."

"Plus, the water content in ancient lotus seeds is extremely low, only 12%."

"In a dry, low-temperature, closed environment, the ancient lotus seeds do not have the conditions to take root and sprout. They live a leisurely dormant life, with their metabolism almost stopped, but they are able to maintain vitality."

"Mengyao, I have explained so much to you, do you understand now?"

Zhou Mengyao smiled sweetly and replied: "Lin Lang, what you said was very professional and easy to understand. You are really knowledgeable and talented!"

Zhuang Jingxue was surprised to hear Lin Lang talk about so much highly professional biological knowledge on ancient lotus seeds at once. She couldn't help but dispel her doubts about Lin Lang and even looked at him differently.

The more Zhou Zhongdang looked at the junior Lin Lang, the more he liked him from the bottom of his heart. He cherished and loved talents very much, and his eyes could not hide the idea of ​​wanting to take Lin Lang as his disciple.

Zhuang Jingxue, who was standing nearby, saw at a glance that her husband Zhou Zhongdang wanted to take Lin Lang as his apprentice.

Zhou Zhongdang said: "Antique appraisal professionals must not only master various antique expertise, but also have a deep knowledge of ancient history and art. They also need to master relevant chemistry and physics expertise. Without hard work and long-term practice, it is difficult to reach a certain level."

Zhou Mengyao laughed at herself and said, "Yes!"

"Because learning antique appraisal requires too much knowledge, even as the daughter of a treasure appraiser, I dare not get involved in the antique business. It is too difficult to become an excellent treasure appraiser."

"It is necessary to have a deep understanding of the characteristics, schools, styles and heritage of various antiques."

"You also need to be able to distinguish the authenticity, age, historical background and collection value of antiques. If you are not careful and buy a fake, the loss will be tens of millions, or even tens of millions or hundreds of millions of Chinese yuan."

Lin Lang smiled and said, "Everyone is good at and likes different majors, so it's not difficult for some people to do it, and it's not difficult for those who know it."

"Mengyao, you are the number one female racer in Xia Country. You are the best in the field of women's motorcycle racing, so it doesn't matter if you don't learn antique appraisal."

Zhou Mengyao asked: "Old classmate, don't you think it's difficult to learn antique appraisal?"

"I don't think it's that difficult?!" Lin Lang shrugged.

Zhou Mengyao praised: "Antique appraisal is not something that can be done overnight, nor is it something that everyone can do. It seems that you, Lin Lang, are gifted and have the potential to become an expert in treasure appraisal~"

Lin Lang jokingly said: "Mengyao, you said I have the potential to become an expert in treasure appraisal. Could it be the brick of the brick?"

"Hehe..." Zhou Mengyao smiled sweetly.

Then, Zhou Zhongdang unfolded a scroll and spread it on the table, asking, "Mr. Lin, please take a look at this painting in my collection."

Lin Lang looked at the treasure appraisal prompt information through the system screen and replied without hesitation: "This ancient painting looks like a common painting of "Lotus Pond" from the Republic of China period, and the signature is not a famous artist."

"But this humble painting from the Republic of China, 'The Pleasure of the Lotus Pond', actually contains a mystery. It is a 'painting within a painting', and it must contain a priceless painting by a famous artist."

Zhou Zhongdang was shocked and said, "Mr. Lin has an extraordinary vision!"

"You just took a quick look at 'The Pleasure of the Lotus Pond' and discovered that this painting from the Republic of China period is a 'painting within a painting' that contains a hidden meaning?"

"Uh... Uncle Zhou, is it difficult to authenticate this painting?"

Zhou Zhongdang was surprised and asked, "Mr. Lin, do you think this is very simple and not difficult at all?"

Lin Lang replied: "It is a 'painting within a painting' that can be seen at a glance. It is not difficult for me to identify it with my own eyes!

After hearing this, Zhou Zhongdang wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. He was so shocked by Lin Lang's talent and vision in identifying antique calligraphy and paintings that his pupils dilated and his face was full of disbelief.

Zhou Mengyao looked at the ordinary "Lotus Pond" and asked in confusion: "Lin Lang, what is the hidden mystery of the 'picture within the picture'?"

Lin Lang patiently replied: "The so-called 'painting within a painting' is done by some painting lovers to conceal their valuable paintings and calligraphy from being robbed or stolen. They ask skilled painting mounters to attach their worthless works to the valuable paintings."

"It is very wise to pass down valuable calligraphy and paintings through the method of 'painting within a painting'."

"Not only will the paintings and calligraphy not be stolen or robbed because they are too valuable, but also because the humble works attached to the precious paintings and calligraphy have some collection value, so the precious paintings and calligraphy hidden in them will not be destroyed."

After hearing this, Zhou Mengyao exclaimed: "Lin Lang, you are so amazing!"

"I can't tell that there is a precious painting hidden underneath this painting, 'The Pleasure of the Lotus Pond'. This is really unheard of. I didn't expect there would be such a magical operation."

Zhuang Jingxue, who was standing nearby, asked, "Honey, this painting of 'Lotus Pond' from the Republic of China period, does it really have a hidden meaning? Is there a painting within the painting?"

Zhou Zhongdang laughed loudly and said, "That's right!"

"This painting of 'Lotus Pond' from the Republic of China period contains a very precious painting of 'Fish in the Pond', which is a famous painting by Bada Shanren. The current collection price is no less than 80 million Chinese yuan."

"You can see this at a glance, Mr. Lin really has a good eye!"

Lin Lang smiled but said nothing.

Zhuang Jingxue asked tentatively, "Husband, is it difficult for an ordinary treasure appraiser to discover the hidden secrets in this painting?"

Zhou Zhongdang replied with an exaggerated expression: "It is impossible for an appraiser without more than 30 years of experience in appraising treasures to see that this painting contains mysteries and there is a painting within the painting!"

"Oh..."

Zhuang Jingxue exclaimed: "In this case, Mr. Lin's appraisal skills of antiques, calligraphy and paintings are really rare and not simple!"

"Dad, if I remember correctly, wasn't this painting of 'The Beautiful Lotus Pond' from the Republic of China period passed down by grandpa before he died?" Zhou Mengyao asked.