Chapter 50: Listening to the Qi of the Physician

The people in the room found this logic a bit strange. Even Xu Fatty, who had been sitting there drinking tea, went over to take a look, wanting to know what secret this piece of calligraphy held.

Only Mr. Chen's face looked somewhat unnatural. His mouth opened, but he did not speak.

Cui Shiyi asked, "Doctor Zeng, could you explain the reason? Let us all gain some insight into why this piece of calligraphy is fake." Cui Shiyi was very puzzled. Based on his years of experience in calligraphy authentication, this piece was definitely genuine.

"Speaking of this, it might be hard for you to accept, but it is the truth!" Zeng Yi pointed to the calligraphy. "I don't understand calligraphy, but I observe from a medical perspective. According to my observation, the person who wrote this calligraphy had already lost his vital energy. After writing this, he would certainly die within seven days, and no medicine could save him. Dong Qichang, however, was a famous long-lived calligraphy master. If this were his early work, it would contradict the common sense of medical practitioners."

Ancient people said: In calligraphy, there is vital energy running through it, so one can see the fortune and longevity of the calligrapher from it. If the brush style is smooth and flowing, the person must be worldly and smooth, like the great calligrapher Zhao Mengfu, who abandoned the Zhao dynasty to serve the Yuan. If the brush style is strong and profound, the person must be loyal and unyielding, like Yan Zhenqing.

When looking at calligraphy, one must not only look at the characters and their shapes but also at the strength and integrity of the characters.

Old Zuo, a passionate lover of calligraphy, believed that characters had a spirit. Hearing Zeng Yi's words, he went up to examine the calligraphy again, and finally shook his head, saying, "I can't tell, this piece of calligraphy is really hard to judge."

After speaking, he sat back down, took a sip of tea, and said, "I once read a story in a Qing dynasty book called 'Oupi Yuhua.' It tells of the great calligrapher and physician Fu Qingzhu. Once, Fu Qingzhu got drunk and wrote a piece of wild cursive script, then went to sleep. The next day, when he woke up and saw it again, he suddenly felt melancholy, saying that his life would not be long. His son asked him why, and he said he could see from the calligraphy that his vital energy was gone, and his life would soon end. Fu Qingzhu's son then admitted that the calligraphy was not written by his father but by him after his father fell asleep. Fu Qingzhu was even more saddened, saying that if that was the case, his son's life would also not be long. Soon after, Fu Qingzhu's son died, which was a great blow to Fu Qingzhu."

Putting down his teacup, Old Zuo sighed, "I didn't expect that Doctor Zeng and Fu Qingzhu were both experts in observing qi. Unfortunately, the authenticity of this piece of calligraphy is still uncertain."

Dong Hongfeng then looked at Mr. Chen and said, "Old Chen, since you obtained this piece, could you tell us its origin?"

Mr. Chen's face looked somewhat disappointed. He waved his hand and said irritably, "I just bought it, what's there to tell?"

Old Zuo's brows furrowed. This was not the usual behavior of Mr. Chen. Normally, when there was a dispute over authenticity, he would be the first to argue and defend his opinion. Why was he so unenthusiastic today?

After careful consideration, Old Zuo suddenly understood. Damn it, this Mr. Chen must have known all along that this piece was fake. Today, the items he brought were all identified as fakes, which made him lose face. So he took out this piece to test everyone's expertise. Unfortunately, he deceived all the experts but was seen through by Doctor Zeng, a physician.

In the world of antiques, nine out of ten items are fake, and it is very difficult to gain a reputation. Therefore, the more famous an expert, the more they cherish their reputation. It was already rare for three experts to provide free authentication for two outsiders, but someone was deliberately trying to trip them up and make them fall.

Old Zuo was very angry. He slammed his teacup on the table. Mr. Chen, you are too mean. If your eyesight was not good enough to buy a fake, how could you blame everyone else? No one put a knife to your neck and forced you to buy those things.

Cui Shiyi, a scholar, did not understand Mr. Chen's ulterior motives. He looked at Zeng Yi and said, "Doctor Zeng, your reasoning does make some sense, but from the perspective of calligraphy authentication, it is hard to stand. Do you have any other reasons for judging this piece as fake?"

Zeng Yi shook his head and smiled, "I already said, I don't understand calligraphy. I just shared my thoughts from a medical perspective."

Zeng Yi was modest in his words but did not say that his opinion might be wrong, showing his confidence in his judgment. "You are all experts in the field of collections. You can take this piece to the circle and inquire. Perhaps there is another copy of this piece."

When others authenticate calligraphy, they look at the style. Zeng Yi, however, looked at the qi and bone of the characters. It's like recognizing a person by their appearance and height, while Zeng Yi recognized a person by their pulse. He remembered a person's pulse and could identify them.

Calligraphy can be faked, but the style and bone are hard to fake. Zeng Yi had seen Dong Qichang's calligraphy before and was confident that this piece was not an original but a high-level imitation. Since it was an imitation, there must be an original. If he asked around in the circle, he might find out if anyone else had such a piece, and then the truth would be clear.

Mr. Chen's hand holding the teacup trembled, and a look of panic flashed across his face. He forced a smile and said, "Do you all have any other opinions on this piece?"

Cui Shiyi shook his head and said, "Currently, I, Old Zuo, and Old Dong have identified it as genuine. Doctor Zeng, however, has a unique perspective from a medical angle, considering it fake. It seems the opinions on authenticity are not consistent. Mr. Chen, you should find someone else to help authenticate it."

Cui Shiyi smiled, giving Zeng Yi some face and not directly saying that Zeng Yi was wrong.

Mr. Chen stood up and said, "Since there are no other opinions, I will tell you the origin of this piece!"

Dong Hongfeng was so angry that his nose was twisted. "Old Chen, you are too manipulative. It would have been better to tell us earlier. You waited until we finished the authentication to speak, testing our expertise."

"Speaking earlier would have made it less interesting," Cui Shiyi smiled. "Old Chen, tell us, let us gain some insight."

"This piece is indeed an imitation!" Old Chen smiled, his facial muscles twitching. He had no choice. If these experts went to the circle to inquire, he would lose face today, and no one would dare to deal with him in the antique world in the future. He not only knew that this piece was fake but also knew where the original was and who had made the fake.

"An imitation?"

Dong Hongfeng reacted strongly. He took out a magnifying glass and immediately examined the scroll again. Was there something he had missed? Impossible, how could I be wrong? This is clearly the genuine work of my ancestor.

Cui Shiyi was also surprised. He walked over with a puzzled look, examining the scroll again. For three experts to be fooled by the same piece, this calligraphy was not simple.

"The three of you didn't see the subtleties today, which is not unfair. If I tell you who made this imitation, you will understand." Mr. Chen's face showed a hint of satisfaction. "This piece is the work of Mr. He Changzhi. I have a connection with him, and he gifted this piece to me. The original is currently in the possession of his eldest son."

"Ah, so that's it!"

Cui Shiyi nodded frequently, showing a look of "reasonable but unexpected." He Changzhi was a contemporary calligraphy master, most skilled in Dong Qichang's style, capable of creating fakes that could pass as genuine. If this piece was written by him, it was not embarrassing that he did not recognize it. Many people more skilled than him had also been fooled by He Changzhi.

Dong Hongfeng held the magnifying glass, his face showing a strange expression. "I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it, unbelievable!"

Mr. Chen spoke with a melancholy tone, "This piece can be considered Mr. He's last work. Three days after writing it, Mr. He passed away."

Old Zuo stared at Mr. Chen. Indeed, I guessed right. You had no good intentions today. If it weren't for Doctor Zeng, the whole circle would have known that we three were fooled.

Thinking of this, Old Zuo was shocked. The records about Fu Qingzhu in the books were true. There really were people who could judge the authenticity of calligraphy and even predict life and death through observing qi.

Zeng Yi's status in Old Zuo's mind immediately rose. Previously, Old Zuo did not take the prescription Zeng Yi gave him seriously, but now he dared not have any doubts. Zeng Yi, though young, was already a master comparable to great medical practitioners.

Cui Shiyi looked at the calligraphy, sighing, "Mr. He's passing away is likely related to this piece. To achieve such a level of realism, he must have poured a lot of effort into it, exhausting his spirit and life."

Dong Hongfeng also felt a sense of loss. "Old Chen, take good care of this piece. Its value is no less than that of a genuine Dong Qichang."

After speaking, he sat down, paused for a moment, and said, "Today, I, Old Dong, have broadened my horizons. Seeing such a realistic piece and witnessing Doctor Zeng's incredible skills, it was worth the trip. I will treat everyone to tea today!"

Old Zuo immediately raised his eyebrows. "Today, I will pay for everything, as a payment for Doctor Zeng's consultation!"

"Ha! You can even say that!" Dong Hongfeng glared. "If it's Doctor Zeng's consultation fee, then Doctor Zeng should treat us. Why are you being so generous? I see through you, you are a complete miser, taking advantage of others!"

Old Zuo, used to being teased by his old friends, was not angry. "Whoever treats us, as long as I pay, that's fine."

Zeng Yi smiled. "You are all seniors. Today, it should be my treat, both in terms of courtesy and reason."

Cui Shiyi waved his hand.