Chapter 116: All National Treasures (Monthly Ticket Bonus 66)

"Clatter—bang!"

The garage's rolling shutter rose to the top, the clanking sound startling the sparrows in the grass.

With two "whoosh" sounds, two black dots passed through the tree branches, and a few caramel-colored fallen leaves were fanned down, floating onto the stone steps.

Wang Qi Zhi took out a duster to clean the car; Ye Anning wanted to help, but Wang Qi Zhi found her in the way and shooed her out.

"Ungrateful!"

Ye Anning ran out of the garage, muttering.

Dan Wangshu wore a dark trench coat, standing by the roadside, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were full of worries.

In her mind, the scene from yesterday afternoon when she returned home played out: Wang Qi Zhi, half-drunk, circling the living room like a donkey turning a millstone:

"Heh, a Prince Consort's gold filigree crown?"

"A court official's crown pearl flower?"

"You couldn't buy these even with money?"

After that, Dan Wangshu knew that Lin Sicheng had picked up a bargain again.

When Ye Anning returned, she learned a bit more: a gold crown, a piece of court official's crown pearl flower. The items were small, but they were rare finds that one could only hope to encounter by chance.

What was strange was that the three of them had gone together, and the three of them had looked at the items together. Yet, the bargain was picked up by Lin Sicheng alone?

Why?

Because the other two didn't recognize them at all.

Even when Lin Sicheng stuffed the items into Wang Qi Zhi's arms, he hadn't recognized them at first.

It was tiresome to dwell on it, but Dan Wangshu always felt: wasn't someone like Lin Sicheng many times better than those so-called well-matched suitors that the second brother-in-law talked about?

She just felt so anxious for Ye Anning...

While lost in thought, she let out a breath: "Where is Lin Sicheng? Hasn't he left yet?"

"He left early!" Ye Anning pointed her chin, "Look!"

Dan Wangshu turned her head.

Not far away, by the playground at the entrance of the Center, Lin Sicheng was standing with his arms crossed and his head lowered, as if in deep thought.

A girl was standing beside him holding a Folder, flipping through it from time to time and saying a few words.

Her features were delicate, and she stood tall and graceful.

Dan Wangshu frowned: "Li Zhen?"

Ye Anning nodded: "Li Zhen!"

Wang Qi Zhi had mentioned her twice, so Dan Wangshu knew the name. But she didn't know she was this pretty?

Wang Qi Zhi had also said that Lin Sicheng was not like the average student: youthful and restless, with a head full of hormones.

But the problem was, one doesn't fear a thief stealing, but a thief coveting.

Of course, the girl (Ye Anning) was naturally extremely smart!

Dan Wangshu turned her head back, implying something: "Has Lin Sicheng ever mentioned that calligraphy piece, the one by Dong Qichang?"

Ye Anning nodded: "He mentioned it, he said to leave it with me, but I didn't take it!"

"It doesn't matter who you leave it with, just don't sell it. You don't sell it, and don't let him sell it either!"

Ye Anning smiled: "Then what if he's short on money?"

"You're so dense, can't you lend it to him? If you don't have enough, can't you ask me to borrow it, or ask your uncle?"

Ye Anning laughed "Hahaha": "How could I be so embarrassed?"

"I am your aunt, and I raised you, what is there to be embarrassed about?"

"I'm talking about Lin Sicheng!"

Dan Wangshu was stunned for a moment, glaring at her: "Laughing? You'll be the one crying later!"

While they were joking, Lin Sicheng must have seen them, as he walked over.

"Teacher's wife!"

"Mm!" Dan Wangshu nodded with a smile, then looked toward the edge of the playground, "Girlfriend?"

Lin Sicheng didn't realize anything at all and replied offhandedly: "No, she's a tutor hired by the studio, it counts as a part-time job!"

Dan Wangshu immediately became interested: "Does she count as a Partner?"

"Not really, she gets a fixed salary, plus bonuses!"

"Oh, that must be a high income! How about Anning and I go work part-time too?"

"You are more than welcome!"

After a few jokes, Wang Qi Zhi backed the car out.

First he dropped off Ye Anning, then he dropped off Dan Wangshu at the Tourism Bureau on the way, and then after a turn, they arrived at the Provincial Museum.

While parking, Lin Sicheng asked: "Teacher, has that General Manager Sun called again?"

"No, he probably got scared off. But I asked around, and this person's background is relatively clean. So let's check the Information first; if we can't find anything, we'll see if we need to contact him."

Then this person is still acceptable: he only does Imitating the Ancients, and doesn't sell "genuine" items.

He likely has significant influence, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to find out information about Wang Qi Zhi in just the time it takes to eat a meal.

And he is extremely shrewd, and also extremely smart. For example, the phone call yesterday—Boss Sun buying things was a pretense, showing his sincerity was the truth: Professor Wang, your eye is sharp, that is your ability; I missed the treasure, that is my bad luck, and I will absolutely not seek revenge later.

That is why Lin Sicheng and Wang Qi Zhi said he was very formidable.

Wang Qi Zhi again had an astonished look: "You don't say, this guy really has some skills: those two items were both unearthed by him: the gold crown was from Xiaodongmen, the pearl flower was from Xicang..."

Lin Sicheng couldn't help but be stunned: impressive.

Not to mention yesterday, Professor Wang held the gold crown and looked at it for quite a while before seeing any clues?

Let alone that this Boss Sun found gold in the dung?

With a sigh, the two got out of the car, and three people came down the steps of the main entrance.

Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng hurried to greet them.

These three were all department Persons in Charge from the Provincial Museum's Cultural Relics Protection and Restoration Laboratory.

At first glance, it was just a laboratory?

But the scale of this laboratory was twice that of the Experimental Center of the Heritage College at Xijing Da Xue, consisting of two six-story buildings connected by three corridors.

The number of Researchers within it was even greater than the number of professors in the Cultural Heritage Conservation Department at Xida.

To rank the four major Museums in the country: it is hard to say whether the first place is the Forbidden City or the National Museum of China, and it is also hard to say whether the last place is Nan Bo (Nanjing), Shanghai, or Henan, but the third place is definitely Shaanxi History Museum.

The reason is simple: because of the Great Qin, because of the Han Dynasty, because of the Great Tang, because of Chang'an...

Two men and one woman; one man was younger, about forty-something, and was the deputy director of the Experimental Center. The remaining two, the man was older, about fifty-something, and was the Section Chief of the Metal Cultural Relics Restoration Section, while the lady was the Group Leader of the Gold and Silver Ware Restoration Group.

They didn't know each other, but everyone was quite enthusiastic; after introducing themselves, the group of five entered the experimental building.

The deputy director gave a few more instructions, and Section Chief Yao and Group Leader Chen took the two to the data center.

Wang Qi Zhi had contacted them as soon as work started yesterday afternoon, so they were well prepared: a data room the same size as the lobby, with bookshelves that seemed to have no end. In the middle were seven or eight long tables, covered with file bags and dossiers.

Six Data Clerks were standing by in full array.

Glancing at it, Lin Sicheng secretly clicked his tongue.

Lin Sicheng did not know what would happen if the Dean came. But if the Dean came, he certainly wouldn't receive this treatment, because they did not belong to the same system.

But if Professor Wang came, it would definitely be different...

Amidst his thoughts, Wang Qi Zhi communicated with the two Persons in Charge, then stretched out his hand: "Sicheng, where is the catalog?"

Lin Sicheng had been prepared for a long time and took the Folder out of his bag.

It was actually just one sheet of paper, but to show respect, he had put it in a folder.

Wang Qi Zhi took it smoothly and handed it over with both hands: "Group Leader Chen, sorry for the trouble!"

"Professor Wang, you are too polite!"

The female Group Leader received it and flipped it open. She took one look and was immediately stunned.

Then she raised her head and looked at Wang Qi Zhi with a slightly strange expression.

At first, Wang Qi Zhi was confused, but he glanced at it upside down and gasped.

Lin Sicheng, you really dare to ask for these?

Tang Dynasty · Filigree Floral Pattern Gold Cup.

Tang Dynasty · Engraving Flowers Gold Ewer.

Tang Dynasty · Mandarin Duck and Lotus Petal Pattern Gold Bowl.

They were all national treasures.