Chapter 98: Second Day of Opening, Reputation Collapses

"That's great!" Zhang Yang nodded in surprise.

Before, he had always been worried that his fake antiques were too realistic and might be used by criminals, affecting archaeology.
Even if it was finally detected by the machine, the manpower and material resources wasted before would make him, a former museum employee, feel a little guilty.

But if I could take a photo to record it...

"Professor Li, can you upload this photo to the national archaeological system?"

"What do you mean?"

Professor Li blinked. He looked at Zhang Yang's expression and suddenly seemed to realize something big.

He said in a panic:
"You haven't buried these things in the ground yet?"

"No, no, don't be too nervous, Professor. I've only been in this line of work for a short time."

"I'm afraid someone will do this in the future. Do you understand?"

Hearing Zhang Yang's words, Professor Li breathed a sigh of relief.

He said somewhat helplessly:

“There’s no system like what you think.”

"Otherwise, I don't have to take photos myself. I can just ask every inheritor of intangible cultural heritage to upload their works to the system, right?"

"Then will it be useful for me to leave the mark?" Zhang Yang asked.

"It's not very useful. Many of the staff on site don't actually understand cultural relics. They are just responsible for handing over everything they dig out of the soil..."

Professor Li introduced Zhang Yang to the current situation of their archaeological team.

Most of the excavation personnel on site were migrant workers who were directly trained and put on the job.

Even if we take photos like this, in the end only the regular archaeological team will be able to screen them.

Staffing is also limited.

People on site will still dig it out, clean it and record it.

"About this matter... I don't think there's anything I can do about it." Zhang Yang said apologetically.

"It's okay, it's okay. If you don't mind me taking pictures of your things, you're already supporting our work."

As Professor Li and Zhang Yang chatted, they gradually forgot the purpose of their coming here.

As he was about to leave with his crutches, he saw the bronze chimes in the display case and suddenly remembered:

That’s not right. The chime bells are just a set of things.

It is equivalent to a complete bronze ware.

With Boss Zhang's skills, how could this be all he had?

He turned his head a little embarrassedly:
"Zhang Yang, I have another request."

"You say."

"Do you have any other particularly lifelike bronze artifacts like this? Can you take a photo for me?"

"Sure, we have it in the warehouse." Zhang Yang said without any concern.

He brought Professor Li and Grandpa Lu to the temporary warehouse behind his shop.

Although it is only 30 square meters, all the equipment was purchased according to the museum's requirements.

There are all kinds of bronze mirrors, bronze tripods, bronze swords...

Zhang Yang didn't want to sell it cheaply, so he just left it here so that Lao Hu could try to sell it when he had time.

But he seemed to have forgotten one thing:

That is, the cultural relics left by Mr. Cai are also in the warehouse.

And because the mural occupies a large area, it is immediately noticed.

"Zhang Yang, can you also imitate murals?"

"Yes, but because it is a bit sensitive, it will not be exhibited to the public."

"I see! You are a conscientious craftsman."

Professor Li even wanted to applaud Zhang Yang.

"My wife is an expert in mural painting. Can I bring her over next time to see your craft?"

"You know, she's also afraid of being fooled by a high-quality imitation of the mural! If every piece is sent for inspection, it will be time-consuming and costly..."

"Sure, you're welcome to visit anytime."

Zhang Yang's words were originally just a polite remark.

But he greatly underestimated Professor Li and his wife's focus on academic research.

The next morning, Lao Hu called Zhang Yang and told him that the expert group from Qingzhou University's archaeological team had arrived.

Now the other party wanted to go into the warehouse to have a look and asked if they could be let in. Upon hearing that the entire archaeological team of experts had come, Zhang quickly asked Lao Hu to calm them down and drove over to receive them.

There are real cultural relics in there, so don't let anything go wrong.

When he arrived at the store entrance, Zhang Yang suspected that he had taken the wrong path.

Why are there so many people gathered?

The sidewalk was originally one car wide, but now it is difficult to even walk through.

The onlookers were talking a lot:
"What's going on? Didn't this store just open yesterday? Someone is causing trouble now?"

"I don't know. The people who went in were all old men and women. I guess they got cheated."

"What nonsense are you talking about? They are an archaeological team, an archaeological team from Qingzhou University." Zhang Yang couldn't help but speak out to defend his own reputation.

"Dude, do you know anyone from the archaeological team?"

"You're just listening to his nonsense. Why would an archaeological team come to a shop selling fake goods when they're not out doing archaeological excavations?"

"It's not a fake, it's an antique craft."

Zhang Yang knew that if he didn’t go in, the store’s reputation would be ruined on the second day of its opening.

He quickly pretended to be a delivery man and squeezed in.

When Lao Hu saw that it was him, he quickly came over to help open the door:
"You are finally here. The experts are here."

Looking in the direction of Lao Hu's finger, I saw five gray-haired old men sitting quietly around the table.

Some of them lowered their heads, as if taking a nap.

Seeing Zhang Yang come in, an old lady pushed Professor Li who was dozing off next to her.

The latter woke up, saw Zhang Yang, and immediately stood up:

"Zhang Yang, you're here."

"Let me introduce to you..."

"No need to introduce, experts, please take a look and leave as soon as possible, otherwise the reputation of my store will be ruined."

Zhang Yang pointed at the people watching outside and said.

"Ah? Do you want me to go out and explain it to you?"

"It's okay, let's take a look first."

Zhang Yang simply felt that it was a waste of time to greet every expert.

The old lady who just reminded Professor Li should be his wife.

He is also Zhang Yang's main target of defense.

After entering the warehouse, the old lady walked directly to the mural.

Then he took out a notebook from his pocket with a serious expression.

While watching, I was recording something.

After a while, she slowly walked to Zhang Yang and whispered:

"Boss Zhang, excuse me, are you sure you copied these murals?"

"Ok?"

Zhang Yang looked at the old lady in surprise:
"What do you mean? I don't quite understand. Can it be true?"

"No, no, no, I just think that if your imitation of murals is this level, why do you want to study bronze artifacts?"

"You are completely wasting your talent!" The old lady looked at Zhang Yang and said with great sorrow.

"It's not that exaggerated, is it?"

Zhang Yang smiled sheepishly.

Why do all archaeological teams like to praise people like this?

Professor Li has said something similar before.

“It’s absolutely not an exaggeration.”

The old lady said solemnly:

"Let me put it this way. Judging from the level of your murals, the ones that have been restored in Dunhuang are not as good as yours."

"Are you free? I want to take you and your paintings to the Dunhuang Research Institute tomorrow!"

"what?"

Zhang Yang didn't expect that the old lady was so important.

But he changed his mind and thought, this... seemed like an opportunity?
(End of this chapter)