Chapter 132: How Could I Be So Embarrassed? (Two-in-One)

The sister and brother stood by the window.

Downstairs, Gu Ming led the way carrying a case, with Lin Sicheng following behind; the two passed through the street stalls.

The younger brother frowned: "Sister, could it be that he just guessed it by luck?"

The woman thought for a moment and shook her head.

If it were a guess, it would be impossible to guess the key correctly, let alone the sundial.

Moreover, he came to find something; since he was asking for help, he wouldn't just spout nonsense or make things up.

Therefore, if it is truly a Han Dynasty sundial as he claimed, that item is worth at least tens of millions...

Watching Lin Sicheng get into a taxi, the woman turned and walked into the shop. She entered the door, went to the back room, and dialed the boss's number.

The younger brother kept watch outside; after about four or five minutes, the sister came out, carefully washing a teapot.

Afterwards, she opened a cabinet and took out a special tea box.

The younger brother was startled: "The Big Boss is coming too!"

"With a loss of over ten million, we must have the Big Boss come and take a look no matter what!" The woman nodded, "Go check the surveillance!"

The younger brother dared not delay and hurriedly opened the computer.

About an hour later, two middle-aged men entered the shop.

Both were around forty; one was short and fat, his face full of smiles and glistening with oil.

The other was tall and thin, with a cold expression and sharp eyes.

The sister and brother asked in unison: "Big Boss, Second Boss."

The two nodded, looked at the Bronze Key on the tea table, and sat down in front of the computer.

The tall, thin man clicked the mouse. On the screen, Lin Sicheng sat opposite the tea table, cupped his hands, and spoke in a clear voice: "This brother's surname is Lin; may I ask the surname of the house?"

The Big Boss had no expression, but the fat man behind him froze, staring at Lin Sicheng's little finger pressed against the other:

"This is called the Yuanliang Seal, originating from the Song Dynasty 'Classic of Urging Officials' (a classic of geomancy): 'Yuanliang inherits the body, succeeds the ancestral line to preside over the sacrificial vessels...' Geomancers have used it ever since to navigate the Dao..."

The tall, thin man curled his lip: "Old Li, what era is this? Still talking about geomancers?"

The fat man froze for a moment, then revealed his signature fake smile: "That's true!"

Continuing to watch, Lin Sicheng stated his background: "This brother comes from Chang'an, and upon the recommendation of Manager Zhao, I found your establishment..."

As he spoke, he spread out the painting. The tall, thin man clicked pause and zoomed in on the screen.

Then, he curled his lip again: "New!"

The fat man remained noncommittal.

Clicking the mouse again, Lin Sicheng began to examine the items. With a point of his hand, he first asked for the Bronze Fish. Then he pointed again and asked for a Jade Bi, and then pointed once more for a Gold-Inlaid Lacquer Box.

Only then did he look at the two books.

The tall, thin man thought for a moment and rewound the footage: the two books were fine, he looked at them for about five or six minutes. But the first three items took less than a minute in total.

He didn't even touch them with his hands, just took a glance?

If one were to say this young man pointed randomly, every single item was authentic.

But to say he saw it accurately?

His posture was too casual, too unrestrained. It felt like he was buying groceries, not antiques.

Yet his spending was truly bold; items worth a million or so, and it took less than ten minutes in total.

After watching it back and forth twice, the Big Boss gave a "snort": "Putting on airs!"

The Second Boss, Li Jinqian, sighed.

Old Chen was good at everything, except for one thing: his craft was not refined, yet his standards were sky-high.

Take this young man on the screen, for example: the jargon is one thing, that's easy to learn. But that Dragon Gate Array and those few Wind-water incantations—if one isn't from a genuine geomancy background, let alone using them, one wouldn't even understand them.

Therefore, he is definitely an expert.

It's just that he's a bit too young?

With these thoughts, the fat man took out his phone, tapped on the group labeled "Street-Runner," and flipped through it for a while.

Then he dialed out; it only rang twice before the call was answered.

A smile appeared on the fat man's face: "Manager Zhao, how have you been? Is the old ancestor well?"

"Good, everything is good!" Laughter came from the phone, "Manager Li, are you calling to ask about the background of young Boss Lin?"

Young, Boss Lin?

Was it really introduced by Zhao Xiuneng?

Looking at that overly young face on the computer screen, Li Jinqian replied: "Yes!"

Zhao Xiuneng laughed "Hahaha," with a hint of schadenfreude: "Did you miss a treasure?"

Li Jinqian froze, then paused: "He did buy four items, but whether I missed a treasure, I don't know yet!"

"Hahaha... Manager Li, if you didn't miss a treasure, I'll kowtow to you!"

Zhao Xiuneng laughed even louder, "Did he just take a glance, maybe without even touching them, and then tell you to pack them? Don't doubt it; when he came to me, I laid out seven scattered items, and he didn't even take three minutes!"

Li Jinqian's eyelids twitched: "With such high discernment, what does this person do?"

"He says he's a student, he looks like a student, and he really is a student. As for where he learned his craft, I really don't know. The old lady should know, but she didn't say... but his discernment is truly high, and his craft is even higher! I'll just say one thing: he can perform Repairing Blue and White Porcelain, the kind that the eye cannot detect..."

Zhao, what nonsense are you spouting?

Li Jinqian's eyes popped, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

Old Chen glanced at him, then turned his head back, staring blankly at the screen.

The sister and brother looked at each other, appearing incredulous.

If you ask why: repairing one piece of Imperial Kiln blue and white porcelain sells for at least several million. If the shape is slightly larger and the condition slightly better, it can reach tens of millions. That's more than they make in several years of risking their lives digging up graves...

Perhaps guessing they were stunned, Zhao Xiuneng laughed again: "He is indeed an insider, but Boss Lin is in the legitimate business; he and Manager Li are not on the same path. So, this time he really came to stock up, picking up a few of your leaks was just incidental!"

Li Jinqian was half-doubting, clicking the mouse and zooming in further: "But his painting, isn't it too new?"

"I just looked at the photos, it is indeed too new. But Boss Lin's background is definitely not a problem; at least he isn't here to set a trap for Manager Li. So if he can help look for it, Manager Li should just help look for it. Besides, he certainly won't let Manager Li look for it for nothing..."

"Don't look at his young age; his bearing is truly extraordinary: the old lady offered him a Great Ming Imperial Inkstone, a Lu Zigang Jade Piece, and Li Dongyang's manuscript, and he didn't take a single one!"

The few people fell silent again: these few items added together, if not ten million, must be seven or eight million, right?

Li Jinqian still didn't believe it: "What does the old lady want him to do?"

"Repair a Chicken Cup, right?"

Zhao Xiuneng laughed once and hung up the phone.

The few people looked at each other in dismay.

After a long silence, old Chen frowned: "Old Li, do you believe it?"

Li Jinqian pondered, neither nodding nor shaking his head.

For someone in their early twenties to repair Blue and White Porcelain and Chicken Cups felt as ridiculous to them as a primitive man cobbling together an Atomic Bomb.

But then again: it's just looking for a few paintings; if you can find them, find them, if you can't, then forget it. Is it worth Zhao Xiuneng bragging like this?

Therefore, one thing is certain: this person is indeed an insider.

"He is indeed a peer, but to say we missed a treasure... it's hard to say!" Li Jinqian shook his head, "Let's make an appointment tomorrow and ask again."

"If we missed it, we missed it; it's not like we haven't missed one before?" Chen Wei was completely indifferent, "Since we opened the door, we are doing business; as long as he has the ability, he can take it all away!"

In those first few years when the business started, when Li Jinqian hadn't joined yet, Chen Wei hadn't sold items worth tens of millions for a few tens of thousands before?

As for the few pieces this kid bought, they had sat in the shop for so many years without anyone even asking about them; even if it was a missed treasure, how much could it be?

One or two million at the very most.

"I'm off!"

Chen Wei rubbed his hands and stood up again, "I have an appointment to play cards with some leaders tonight!"

"Old Chen, wait a moment!" Li Jinqian held him back and pointed to the Bronze Key on the tea table, "What about the gnomon (sundial)? If we go by what that kid said, if that thing is from the Han Dynasty, I'm afraid it would be worth over ten million?"

But how much did they sell it for back then? Eight hundred thousand!

"It's already sold, you still want it back?" Chen Wei laughed, "Old Li, although we work in a niche, it is precisely because it is a niche that we must value integrity!"

Li Jinqian opened his mouth, speechless.

The thing he admired most about old Chen was this: a promise is worth a thousand gold, set in stone.

Otherwise, just based on his skill of "relying on explosives to dig holes," Li Jinqian wouldn't even look at him if he closed both eyes.

Seeing him stunned and motionless, Chen Wei tucked his bag under his arm: "You insisted on calling me here, wasting time! With this effort, you'd be better off practicing your eye for antiques? I'm off!"

Li Jinqian twitched his lips, a "fuck your mother" surging to his mouth.

The sister and brother looked at Chen Wei's back, unable to help but admire: a loss of over ten million, and the big boss doesn't even blink?

Just as they were secretly lamenting, Li Jinqian tapped the table and also stood up: "A Hui, you have that person's phone number, make an appointment, for tomorrow!"

"Okay, I'll call in a moment!"

After Li Jinqian left, the woman found the note Lin Sicheng had left.

The phone rang four times before it was answered, and a gentle voice came from inside: "Hello, who is this?"

The woman smiled: "Boss Lin, my surname is Qiao. I just reported to my boss, and I'd like to make an appointment with you to see if you have time tomorrow!"

"I do, still at the shop?"

"Still at the shop!"

"Okay, thank you, General Manager Qiao!"

The woman giggled and hung up the phone; Lin Sicheng let out a breath.

This so-called casting a stone to ask the way, spending one million, had finally opened the door.

The rest would naturally fall into place...

Putting away his phone, he looked at Gu Ming, who was staring at the Jade Bi with eyes glowing.

"Gu Ming, stop looking!"

"Why not look?"

Gu Ming drooled, not even blinking: "Spend one hundred thousand, earn over one million? Chengwa, I'm not being a Police officer anymore, I'm just going to do this..."

"Do what, you idiot?"

Lin Sicheng grabbed the Jade Bi and stuffed it into the box, "You want to lose everything, you son of a bitch?"

Gu Ming was half-doubting: "I see you, you're quite relaxed?"

Lin Sicheng paused and gave a cold laugh.

He was indeed relaxed, but this relied on the study and accumulation of his past life, and even more on his transcendent talent.

This profession is like studying mathematics; 0.1% talent absolutely outweighs 99.9% effort. Lin Sicheng belonged to this type, not to mention he was also sufficiently diligent.

And even so, how many stumbles he took in his past life and how much tuition he paid, only Lin Sicheng knew himself.

As for the rest, 60% of people lose more than they earn, unable to make ends meet.

Of the remaining, only 10% can earn a little, like Grandfather, like Hao Jun, like Guan Xingmin. This type, besides relying on innate talent and acquired effort, is also sufficiently cautious.

The final 30% belong to those who don't have much talent and can't control their hands. For this kind, there is only one outcome: bankruptcy and the destruction of their family.

With Gu Ming's personality, it's practically tailor-made...

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "After we go back, I'll take you to a place to see!"

Gu Ming raised his head: "See what?"

Lin Sicheng sighed: "See the destruction of a family!"

The morning light just appeared, and the city of Hangzhou was still wrapped in a layer of white, hazy mist.

Autumn crept onto the branches, the breeze was lingering, and the copper bells rang softly, startling a few black cicadas into falling.

An old farmer wrapped in a cotton-padded jacket squatted beside a bamboo basket, which was piled high with mud-stained porcelain shards.

Further ahead: greenish copper coins, boxwood-carved Guanyin, Underglaze Red broken bottles, and mottled calendar posters... one could not see the end at a glance; the sheer variety was uncountable.

Gu Ming's eyes were wide open, blinking and darting around restlessly.

Lin Sicheng sighed: "How much money did Li Xinfang give you for this trip to Hangzhou?"

Gu Ming was startled: "How did you know?"

Nonsense, if you didn't have a few coins in your pocket, would you dare to be so eager to try?

"Listen to me, hold onto this rice bowl firmly, and your life will be secure!"

Gu Ming pondered for a long time, gave Lin Sicheng a punch, and then looked miserable: "The rice is soft enough, but I'm afraid I won't be able to eat it for long!"

Oh?

"Finally enlightened?" Lin Sicheng chuckled, "Rest assured, with me here, why else would I have you change careers?"

She wasn't exactly a wealthy heiress, but Li Xinfang's family background was certainly not bad; the two could enjoy the novelty at the start, but once that faded, all sorts of problems emerged.

But don't even think about getting rich overnight; with Gu Ming's personality, he couldn't guard a mountain of gold, so he could only work on himself.

Although his temperament was a bit rough, he was strong-willed and decisive, and tough enough. Plus, with the influence of Gu Shu for over a decade, being a Police officer was much better than being a laboratory doctor.

If he helped out a bit more, he wouldn't dare say how high Gu Ming's future achievements would be, but ensuring steady progress and a harmonious family was possible.

"It just so happens you're in hospital logistics now, bored to death all day; you might as well start preparing for the exam early and aim to pass in one go next January..."

Gu Ming scratched his forehead: "I'll probably be laughed to death!"

After all, the common perception in this era was: doctors were not as hard-working as Police, and their income was higher.

"Laugh my ass off, open your eyes and look ahead: in this life, the director of a community hospital is the ceiling for you..."

Lin Sicheng scoffed, "You shouldn't have listened to people's nonsense back then; with a score of over 610, it wasn't impossible to get into the Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, but look at you, studying laboratory medicine?"

Gu Ming didn't make a sound.

Looking at it now, it was indeed quite unsatisfactory. So, sometimes when relatives give advice, it isn't necessarily all well-intentioned.

He nodded again: "As long as Gu Shu agrees!"

"Rest assured, he definitely will!"

If Gu Shu knew that Gu Ming was being talked into quitting being a doctor to become a Police officer, he would surely be so moved he'd set a table for him.

"Oh, right..." Lin Sicheng remembered again, "Did you replace that broken equipment at your hospital?"

"Replaced it long ago; my dad went to the Dean, and after I was transferred to logistics, it was replaced... I forgot to ask you, how did you know there was a problem with our hospital's machine?"

Lin Sicheng said casually: "Nonsense, look at what you looked like during that time?"

Gu Ming thought about it and nodded again.

Vomiting at every turn, he had thought his stomach was bad... luckily it was discovered early.

Gu Ming sighed: "If it weren't for you, I would have almost died young!"

Lin Sicheng said nothing with a chuckle: Too many people owe me.

Just those seven or eight people in their same department, every single one of them owed Lin Sicheng their life.

And so many patients...

But the same saying applies: there are things you do and things you don't do; if you don't think of it, so be it, but since you have thought of it, you must do something...

The two chatted idly as they entered the shopping mall.

It was just eight o'clock; although the ghost market outside was lively, most of the shops hadn't opened yet.

However, the one on the second floor had its lights on early.

Before the two even entered the door, Li Jinqian stood up, then cupped his hands in a bow and gestured: "Brother Lin, please come in!"

Lin Sicheng narrowed his eyes and looked, then cupped his hands with a smile: "A Senior Brother from the Jiangxi School (one of the Feng Shui schools, belonging to the Liqi school)!"

Li Jinqian was stunned for a moment, a trace of discomfort appearing on his face: "I dare not claim to be a Senior Brother; Brother Lin, just call me Manager!"

Ancient Feng Shui disciples were the best at Dragon Seeking and setting heavenly formations. Regardless of whether it worked, at least the founding emperors all believed in this. The local warlords believed in it even more; if they succeeded, it was the merit of following the dragon.

For example, Guo Pu (Jin Dynasty), for example, Liu Bowen, Yao Guangxiao.

The next tier were the Grand Historian and the Imperial Observatory: watching the heavens, surveying capitals, fixing the Dingling, and building palaces. For example, Li Chunfeng and Liao Junqing (Ming Dynasty, selected the Thirteen Tombs).

The next tier down were those who watched stars, calculated calendars, and set farming times, such as Sima Qian. Only those even further down would fall into the folk sphere, choosing dragon sites (marking yin graves) and selecting yang dwellings for high-ranking officials and nobles.

People like Yang Yunsong and Lai Buyi, who were legendary, all belonged to this type.

And there were even more scholars who studied Feng Shui. As for whether it was effective, it was a matter of opinion. Just like Su Shi, who performed Divination for every major event, and every time it was auspicious, but every time he suffered great misfortune...

Those even further down could set up a stall to determine good and bad luck, perform Divination, and drive away evil spirits. Only the absolute dregs who couldn't survive would look for people's yin graves, dig up ancestral tombs, and cut off people's energy veins.

Although this type learned knowledge of Feng Shui and used the techniques of seeking mountains and pointing out water, they had nothing to do with the word Feng Shui, let alone a school.

And Li Jinqian didn't even count as that type. The reason they could find tombs was solely due to Chen Wei's convenience in the Shaoxing Archaeological Team.

It was only for the convenience of shipping and receiving goods that he learned a little bit to fool laymen...

Lin Sicheng cupped his hands again: "Fine, Manager Li!"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group sat down, and the siblings hurriedly poured tea. Compared to yesterday, their attitude was like heaven and earth.

After saying thanks and picking up the Tea Cup, Lin Sicheng glanced into the inner room.

There should be no one inside, so Chen Wei was not there.

This was a legendary figure: middle school education, self-taught, and by chance, he entered the Archaeology Team.

But he was generous and had great personal charisma, even possessing the temperament of an overlord.

If he liked you, he wouldn't blink at handing over an item worth a million. He didn't care what you lacked; as long as you lacked it, he would smash his pots and sell his iron to get it for you.

One might ask, what kind of official could withstand such a test?

His craft was even more unique: in the early stages of finding tombs, he relied on Chen Wei checking data internally, so development was relatively slow. But by around 2012, when civilian drones became popular, Chen Wei learned remote sensing map positioning, and the gang's development could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.

The method of digging holes was crude to the extreme: using explosives.

Therefore, for every tomb they entered, the number of objects destroyed was several times greater than those stolen. This included the famous Song Six Mausoleums (Southern Song Imperial Tombs), the Huzhou Xiagu City Ruins (a cluster of noble tombs from the Warring States period to the Han Dynasty), and the Lishui Longquan Kiln Ruins.

Because the tomb structures were destroyed and archaeological Information Detachment was lost, even they did not know which dynasty most of the stolen items belonged to.

For example, the few pieces Lin Sicheng bought yesterday.

But there was one point: the gang operated for over twenty years, spanning seven provinces and cities, eventually developing into twelve branch groups with nearly two hundred members, yet there was never a single instance of infighting. This relied on Chen Wei's personal charisma and a relatively fair method of dividing the spoils.

It was also a coincidence that in 2015, when relevant departments in Shaoxing conducted a Rescue Excavation of a Southern Song official tomb at Jiangposhan in Lanting Town, Lin Sicheng provided support and guidance alongside several teachers from the Forbidden City, and the two became acquainted as a result.

But Lin Sicheng had almost been dragged into the water by Chen Wei...

Sighing inwardly, Lin Sicheng waved his hand, and Gu Ming placed a box on the tea table.

Then Lin Sicheng smiled again: "Manager Li, please don't take offense. I came in a hurry and can only borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha, just to express my sincerity!"

He opened it casually, and it was indeed that Copper Fish.

Li Jinqian was stunned for a moment, then sighed inwardly: at this age, it really didn't match this person's worldly character and way of handling affairs.

This item did indeed come from Huzhou, but as for whether the tomb was from the Warring States, Qin, or Han, the person who received the goods didn't know either.

But as this person said, if this Copper Fish was an object from the Han Dynasty and was part of a set with a sundial, it must have come from a Western Han Dynasty Imperial Historian (who held the position of managing astronomy and the calendar, which was hereditary during the Han).

If I find a buyer who knows their stuff and say this was used by Sima Qian, would you believe it?

It would be worth at least a million. If I could buy back that sundial to complete the set, it would sell for at least ten million.

Zhao Xiuneng was not wrong: don't look at how young he is, his bearing is truly extraordinary!

It's a pity old Chen isn't here, otherwise the two would definitely be birds of a feather.

Sighing inwardly, Li Jinqian put away the box and raised his Tea Cup: "If there is anything I can help with, Brother Lin, just say the word!"

Lin Sicheng nodded, took out the Autumn Mound Painting of Maling, and spread it on the tea table: "Manager Li has wide connections, could you please inquire: are there any similar items, as new as this one? The range is roughly around Lishui and Jinhua... the price is negotiable!"

Actually, it was right in Jinhua, or even in Wuyi, but Lin Sicheng could not be too specific.

"It's no trouble at all!" Li Jinqian replied, then looked at it carefully, "But this painting, it feels a bit off?"

"It is indeed a bit off, it's actually a reproduction!" Lin Sicheng said, using his prepared excuse, "But Manager Li, look at this brushwork and this strength of stroke; it can be considered top-notch!"

Li Jinqian nodded, though he felt somewhat dismissive in his heart: the brushwork was indeed good, and the calligraphy was beautiful, but to be reduced to a fake, it probably wasn't by any famous master.

After a slight pause, he suddenly had a whimsical thought: is this person trying to turn a fake into a genuine article?

Didn't Zhao Xiuneng say he was in the legitimate business?

He probed: "Brother Lin, only looking for paintings, not people?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Yes, looking for paintings. It doesn't matter if it's documents, scriptures, ancient books, or calligraphy rubbings; as long as it's paper or silk, and it doesn't matter if it's a painting or calligraphy on it, the more the better, the newer the better... but I'm not looking for people!"

Li Jinqian's heart stirred: Just as I thought!

Suddenly, his mind became active again: Zhao Xiuneng said he only did legitimate business, but it seems it's not that legitimate?

I just don't know if his eye for antiques is really that sharp?

As these thoughts turned, he pointed to the painting: "It's not that I'm boasting, as long as such things really exist in the province, it's just a matter of a few phone calls. But Brother Lin has come from afar and brought such a big gift, I am truly ashamed to accept it!"

After a slight pause, Li Jinqian looked at the shelves: "How about this, Brother Lin, why don't you pick two more pieces?"

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment.

He was certainly no stranger to Li Jinqian, feeling that he was quite meticulous and cautious enough. But seeing him again, why did he feel the same as Chen Wei: wanting to recruit everyone he met?

But there was no reason not to pick up a bargain that had been delivered to his door. Besides, picking up bargains from the hands of Grave Robbers and Cultural Relics dealers required absolutely no psychological burden.

Thinking this over, Lin Sicheng smiled: "How could I be so bold?"