Chapter 130: Whose Surname is the Pot?

Lin Sicheng remained silent, quietly looking at the three paintings on the long table.

There was no point in thinking about selling these three items for the time being; even if he did sell them, what would be an appropriate price?

It was just like the Xu Weili Documents.

Xu Weili was not a well-known figure, having only reached the rank of Junior Grand Master of Court Consultation at the lower sixth grade, yet the valuation of his seventeen-volume document set reached as high as two billion.

Some historians and archaeologists even compared them to Su Shi's personal memorial, the Xuzhou Flood Control Memorial.

The reason lay in the subversive academic discoveries regarding the Southern Song Dynasty official system recorded in the documents, as well as the ahead-of-their-time preservation techniques.

Comparing them like this, these three items were truly hard to sell. Selling them for too little felt like a loss, selling them for too much meant no one would want them, and using them for Artifact Research was too wasteful...

Oh right, the "Xu Weili Documents"?

If he couldn't recall them, so be it, but since he had thought of them, he could not let such treasures be tossed back and forth in the hands of Cultural Relics dealers.

The items should not have left Wuyi yet, or at least not Jinhua.

He had to make a trip to find them.

His thoughts were like a wild horse running free, and Lin Sicheng's eyes were vacant.

Assuming he was in low spirits because he had lost money, Hao Jun smiled and comforted him: "This line of work is just like this; there are gains and losses. Don't be discouraged, and don't get carried away!"

Lin Sicheng came back to his senses.

Carried away? That didn't exist. It wasn't as if he hadn't lost money in his past life.

Besides, he hadn't even lost money yet.

"I know!" He nodded. "Senior Brother Hao, Director Guan, let's have a meal together another day!"

Rolling up the scroll paintings in a few quick motions, Lin Sicheng tucked the long boxes under his arm, and Ye Anning followed quietly behind him.

Guan Xingmin and Hao Jun looked at each other in dismay.

Lin Sicheng had picked up so many bargains that two million was not a small amount for him, but it definitely couldn't be called a lot either.

But it felt like he had suffered a huge blow?

In truth, Lin Sicheng was absent-minded and appeared to be full of worries.

Even Ye Anning was a bit suspicious, and just as she was pondering how to comfort him, Lin Sicheng said out of the blue: "Sister Anning, have you ever thought about changing careers?"

"Huh?"

Ye Anning was a bit dazed, not knowing why his train of thought was so erratic: "Change to what?"

"For example, doing some academic research or something, like the teacher does!"

Ye Anning shook her head: "Too dull, I don't really like it!"

Oh, then forget it!

Furthermore, there wasn't enough time: Ye Anning specialized in art Appraisal, and the accumulation of expertise and technique was a major hurdle. If she started from scratch, it would take three to five years at the fastest, or seven to eight years at the longest.

By that time, the opportunity would have long since passed...

The two got into the car, and Lin Sicheng drove straight to the school.

After getting out of the car and tossing the keys, Lin Sicheng waved his hand: "Sister Anning, sorry for the trouble today, let's have a meal another day!"

Saying this, Lin Sicheng tucked the three long boxes under his arm and strode away.

Ye Anning was left in the Wind, bewildered.

Lin Sicheng, it's already twelve o'clock, okay? Why another day?

It felt like suddenly, he had returned to those days of studying Gold Craftsmanship, absent-minded, soul-absent, his whole mind filled with research.

Turning the thought over, Ye Anning turned around, and just as she entered the building entrance, she suddenly realized: Research?

In an instant, she remembered that sentence Lin Sicheng had said out of the blue just after leaving the Shijian: Sister Anning, have you ever thought about changing careers, for example, doing some academic research or something?

Could it be that those three paintings had some scientific or technological value?

After thinking for a long time without finding a clue, Ye Anning made a call home, asking Wang Youjian to come downstairs and take him out to eat.

On the other side, Lin Sicheng was making a call while walking home.

After two "beep" sounds, the sound of Gu Ming "munching and crunching" came through the receiver.

It seemed he was eating.

"Are you leaking from your mouth?"

"You're the one leaking!" Gu Ming put down his chopsticks. "Didn't you go to accompany your cousin Ye today?"

"Accompany your head?"

It was actually Ye Anning who had accompanied him for two days.

Lin Sicheng got straight to the point: "Do you have time this afternoon?"

Gu Ming glanced at Li Xinfang opposite him: "Yes!"

"What about tomorrow or the day after? If you're not busy, accompany me on a trip to Hangzhou!"

Gu Ming's eyes lit up: Li Xinfang had been nagging for more than half a month, asking him to invite Lin Sicheng every day, but Lin Sicheng had always been busy.

Wasn't the opportunity here now?

"Are we going to have fun with cousin Ye? That's perfect, Xinfang isn't busy either..."

Where would there be time for fun?

"It's serious business! If you're busy, I'll go by myself!"

Li Xinfang gave him a look, and Gu Ming hurriedly nodded: "Not busy, not busy, what time are we going?"

"You finish eating first, then come to the house to pick me up; I'm going to buy the tickets first!"

In such a rush?

Just as he was suspicious, with a "beep," Lin Sicheng hung up the phone.

Li Xinfang served him a Bowl of rice: "Hurry up and eat, go as soon as you're done!"

"Alright!"

Gu Ming took the bowl, "I won't be able to keep you company these next few days!"

"I'm not a child, am I?" Li Xinfang laughed, then thought for a moment, "Gu Ming, in the future, if Lin Sicheng has something going on, don't you dare take it lightly."

"Of course!"

The two grew up wearing the same pair of pants; they weren't brothers, but they were closer than brothers.

Gu Ming buried his head in his food, but Li Xinfang felt anxious inside.

She didn't know the specific details, but she at least knew that because of Lin Sicheng's help, the Incense Burner case had suddenly taken a turn for the better, and he might even be released on bail at any time.

Her father had been prepared to spend millions and still couldn't get it done; just how much influence and how great a favor must this be?

Li Guojun had even given her a card directly, telling her to try and give it to Lin Sicheng. He also reminded her that Gu Ming was a good person, and said that as long as Lin Sicheng was around, this big silly oaf wouldn't end up doing too badly in life.

She didn't know about other things, but Li Xinfang had at least seen what Lin Sicheng was like when he was with Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin.

But no matter how good a relationship is, it still needs maintenance. So, she was genuinely worried for Gu Ming...

As she thought about it, she kicked Gu Ming, "This time it's real business, don't just think about having fun!"

Gu Ming nodded, "I know!"

The flight was at two o'clock. After boarding, Lin Sicheng gave careful instructions again: "This time going to Hangzhou, you just act as my bodyguard. No matter where we go, just remember six words: speak less, ask less, look less."

Gu Ming was stunned for a moment.

Old Gu was a Police officer, and he had been influenced since childhood; he still had basic alertness.

"Cheng-wa, you aren't going to do anything bad, are you?"

"You're the one who thinks too much," Lin Sicheng gave a "heh" sound, "I'm going to find something, and I expect to deal with people who do Grave Robbing. I'm afraid you'll be curious and ask random questions, so I'm reminding you in advance."

Gu Ming rolled his eyes: "Am I that stupid?"

"You aren't exactly smart either!"

Gu Ming gave him a punch.

After some joking around, Lin Sicheng closed his eyes to ponder.

It wasn't impossible to go alone, but it was best to have someone to look out for him, and Gu Ming was just right.

With this build, no one would believe him if they said he wasn't a bodyguard.

The two were best friends; as long as he gave the word, Gu Ming would never blab about things he shouldn't.

There was only one point: the item shouldn't be hard to find, but when should this case be exposed?

It wouldn't be good if it were too early; they probably wouldn't be able to finish the Artifact Research, and the item would just be confiscated. If it were too late, he was afraid several more tombs would be robbed...

Thinking secretly, a flash of light crossed his mind, and Lin Sicheng opened his eyes again: "Ming-wa, have you ever thought about changing careers?"

Gu Ming was confused: "Change careers? To do what?"

"Be a Police officer," Lin Sicheng coaxed him, "Look at Gu Shu, how impressive he is!"

Gu Ming curled his lips: "Old Gu is impressive? He's not impressive at all; he's only impressive when it comes to me! Whenever my mom nags, he only knows how to smile."

Lin Sicheng laughed "haha": "Really, consider it. It's better than you doing logistics now!"

"That's true!" Gu Ming nodded, "But I don't know if Old Gu would agree?"

Lin Sicheng patted his chest: "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

It was no wonder he had this sudden whim.

Gu Ming only had an undergraduate degree and studied medical laboratory science; it didn't even count as clinical work. He could see the end of his life at a glance, and even if Lin Sicheng wanted to help, he couldn't find a way to exert any force.

But if Gu Ming became a Police officer, and if he could then test into Customs, it would be nothing short of perfect: Lin Sicheng could casually point him toward a few cases, and it would be enough for Gu Ming-wa to stand on the podium and receive an award every year.

By then, the flowers on his shoulders would be climbing up and up...

Huh, didn't he seem to advise Ye Anning to change careers this morning too?

After a flurry of thoughts, Lin Sicheng dozed off for a while, and a little past four o'clock, the plane landed.

They hailed a taxi and arrived at the city center. They found a hotel next to the Shangcheng District Public Security Bureau, dropped their luggage, and headed straight for Wushan Tongbao City.

While still a hundred meters away, they could hear the noisy, clamorous sounds.

Walking closer, they saw people bustling on both sides of the road, with stalls densely packed on the ground.

There were many people, many stalls, and even more objects. The key was that they just spread a cloth on the ground and placed the items on it casually, crowding the walkway so there wasn't even a place to step.

If you weren't careful for a moment, your foot would step right onto a stall.

It was noisy, chaotic, and messy.

Gu Ming instantly got into character, pushing and shoving to force a path through. The two crossed the aisle, entered the mall, and reached the second floor.

Lin Sicheng went straight to a fairly large shop.

It had double-door curtains and no signboard, but it had many items.

Bronze, porcelain, ancient coins, ancient books, ancient jade, wood carvings, lacquerware... it felt like there wasn't a type of antique on the market that couldn't be found here.

Basically, everything was clearly priced, and the prices were not low. Moreover, there was a sign specifically set up: "No bargaining, no returns once purchased."

But don't doubt it, the authenticity rate was at least over thirty percent.

As for downstairs, on the first floor of the mall, in the so-called boutique area, the authenticity rate was only ten percent. As for the stalls outside the mall, if you could find one real item in a hundred, your ancestors' graves would be smoking with good fortune.

Inside the shop were a man and a woman sitting behind a tea table. Both were in their thirties and looked like siblings.

They didn't pay much attention when people entered, just nodding casually, prioritizing a laid-back style.

But don't be surprised, because shops like this mostly dealt with regular customers.

After looking around roughly, Lin Sicheng sat down in front of the tea table. The siblings raised their eyelids and looked at him curiously.

Lin Sicheng didn't speak; he first smiled, then picked up the porcelain cup from the tea tray.

There were four of them, arranged in a simple pattern. Then he cupped his hands, and his two little fingers touched lightly: "This brother's surname is Lin; may I ask the surname of the 'pot-supporter' (the person in charge of providing funds and fencing stolen goods in a Grave-robbing gang, also referring to the big boss)?"

Suddenly, the sister and brother straightened their backs.

Four eyes, like sharp arrows, looked at the Tea Cup formation on the table, then looked at Lin Sicheng's cupped hands.

Afterwards, the sister and brother stood up, their eyes narrowing into slits: "You look very unfamiliar, brother?"