196: donation

When Chen Yue looked up and saw Lei Jun, she was instantly stunned, her pen pausing on the registration book.

This girl is too beautiful, isn't she?

Chen Yue exclaimed in her heart.

Her silver-white hair cascaded casually over her shoulders, her skin was dazzlingly fair, and she wore a simple white shirt and black trousers, yet she exuded an inherent cool and noble aura, standing in the bustling hall as if under her own spotlight.

She had seen many beautiful girls, even some celebrities who came to visit, but none had made such a strong impression as the one before her.

"Hello, how may I help you?" Chen Yue composed herself, trying to keep her tone steady.

"I'm here to donate cultural relics," Lei Jun said indifferently.

"Donate cultural relics?" Chen Yue was stunned again.

This was the first time she had seen such a young donor.

And from her appearance, she didn't look like an elderly person with a family heirloom to donate, nor like a merchant specializing in antique collecting.

She was curious, but still followed the procedure and asked, "What cultural relic are you donating? Do you have any relevant proof?"

Lei Jun nodded, signaling Lei Ying to place the case he was carrying on the table.

The case was specially made, shockproof and fall-resistant.

Lei Ying opened the case, revealing soft cushioning inside, with the celadon glazed string pattern vase resting securely in the center.

The moment the vase was revealed, Chen Yue's eyes went wide.

Although she wasn't a cultural relic appraisal expert, she had worked at the National Museum for two years and possessed basic appreciation skills.

The vase was a warm celadon green all over, its glaze as smooth as jade, and the string patterns were perfectly regular, circle after circle. Under the light, it emitted a soft glow, clearly no ordinary object.

This... this looks like something from the southern song dynasty official kiln!

Chen Yue's heart pounded wildly.

She knew all too well how precious porcelain from the southern song dynasty official kiln was.

Back then, it was exclusively for the imperial family, with complex firing techniques, and naturally, a small existing quantity, let alone one so complete and in such excellent condition.

Moreover, she remembered that many precious items from the southern song dynasty official kiln had long since been lost overseas, with very few remaining in domestic museums.

This girl could actually bring out such a treasure to donate?

She dared not be negligent, nor did she bother to ask anything else, and quickly said, "Please wait a moment. This cultural relic of yours looks too precious. I must immediately notify our Director and experts to come over!"

As Chen Yue spoke, her hands trembled slightly. She quickly picked up the phone on the desk and dialed the Director's office number.

"Director Zhang, hello, a lady has come to donate a cultural relic. It looks like a southern song dynasty official kiln celadon string pattern vase, and its condition is exceptionally good. Please come and take a look!"

Director Zhang on the other end of the phone was discussing plans for a new exhibition with several experts. Hearing this, he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.

"What did you say? A southern song dynasty official kiln celadon string pattern vase?" Director Zhang's voice immediately rose an octave, filled with incredulous excitement. "Are you sure you didn't see it wrong? Is it a replica?"

"It doesn't look like a replica. The glaze color and shape are exceptionally authentic, and the donating lady doesn't seem like someone who would try to fool people with a replica!" Chen Yue quickly replied.

"Good, I'll be right there! You entertain that lady well first, and make sure she doesn't leave!"

Director Zhang hung up the phone and immediately stood up to tell the experts beside him.

"Quick, a major discovery! Someone has donated a southern song dynasty official kiln celadon string pattern vase. Let's go take a look!"

The experts were also startled upon hearing this.

"What? From the southern song dynasty official kiln?" Old Professor Li, over seventy, pushed up his glasses, his eyes instantly brightening. "This is a national treasure-level item. How could someone suddenly donate it?"

"Could it be the one lost overseas? I remember it appeared once at a private collection exhibition in Tokyo a few years ago, and then there was no news!" Expert Wang, another ancient ceramics researcher, said excitedly.

"Stop guessing, we'll know once we go and see!"

Director Zhang urged, and several people hurried towards the service desk.

The news spread like wildfire within the museum.

Many staff members quietly ran to the vicinity of the main hall, wanting to catch a glimpse of the mysterious lady who donated the national treasure and the legendary celadon glazed string pattern vase.

Within minutes, Director Zhang arrived with Old Professor Li, Expert Wang, and Expert Liu, who was responsible for cultural relic appraisal, among others.

Director Zhang, over sixty with graying hair but vigorous spirit, immediately saw Lei Jun by the service desk and the celadon glazed string pattern vase on the table.

He was first taken aback, not expecting such a young and beautiful girl to be donating such a precious cultural relic.

But he quickly shifted his attention to the vase and walked over quickly.

Chen Yue quickly introduced, "Director Zhang, this is Ms. Lei Jun, the donor."

"Ms. Lei, this is Director Zhang of our National Museum; next to him is Old Professor Li, an authority specializing in Song dynasty porcelain; this is Expert Wang, a doyen in ancient ceramic appraisal; and Expert Liu, who is responsible for authenticating cultural relics."

Lei Jun nodded to them.

After some conversation, they learned that this was a national treasure Lei Jun had bought back from Japan.

Director Zhang and the experts didn't bother with much small talk with Lei Jun; their gazes were all glued to the celadon glazed string pattern vase, their eyes filled with fascination and excitement.

"Slowly, handle with care."

Director Zhang instructed, and Expert Liu carefully took the vase out of the case and placed it on a prepared soft pad.

The experts immediately gathered around. Old Professor Li took out his portable magnifying glass and carefully examined the glaze on the vase body.

"Look at this glaze color, warm and jade-like, with the 'butter luster' unique to the southern song dynasty official kiln, without any harshness. It's typical southern song dynasty official kiln style."

Expert Wang stared at the string patterns on the vase: "These string patterns are regular and uniform, with consistent spacing and fine carving, without any sloppiness, meeting the craftsmanship standards for imperial porcelain of the southern song dynasty official kiln."

Expert Liu gently touched the bottom of the vase with his finger.

"The body is fine and dark gray, which is a characteristic of the southern song dynasty official kiln's 'purple mouth iron foot,' no mistake. And look at these crackles, natural and fluid, formed by the passage of time, not artificially created replicas."

The few of them spoke one after another, observing and discussing, their excitement growing more and more evident on their faces.

They had been engaged in cultural relic appraisal for decades, seen countless treasures, but this was the first time they had personally touched a southern song dynasty official kiln celadon string pattern vase so complete and in such excellent condition.

The more Director Zhang looked, the more reassured and excited he became.

Throughout his many years in museum work, his greatest wish was to see more national treasures lost overseas return home.

He had heard of this celadon glazed string pattern vase long ago, knowing it was a treasure lost overseas, and never expected to see it with his own eyes one day, let alone have it donated to the National Museum.

"It's real, absolutely an authentic southern song dynasty official kiln piece! And it's a masterpiece among masterpieces!" Expert Liu put down his magnifying glass, his tone firm, his face beaming with ecstasy.

"Its condition definitely ranks among the top three of all existing southern song dynasty official kiln porcelain!"