Chapter 200: I'll Let You Play

The street was littered with red paper scraps, the setting sun hung on the eaves of the glazed tiles, and the savory scent of braised food mixed with the nutty aroma of roasted goods rushed into the collar.

The spring couplet stalls were filled with the scent of thick ink, and the girl selling sugar treats displayed persimmon cakes, their white frost falling rustlingly into the cracks of the stone slabs. A bald old man carried a tower of candied haws, the syrup sticking to sesame seeds, dripping down the bamboo skewers.

Bright red lanterns swayed gently with the wind, and the colorful lanterns all over the street flashed brilliantly.

The little girl in a red padded jacket bit into a fried dough twist, the silver bells on the tips of her braids clinking with a delicate sound. A half-grown boy wearing a pig-snout hat held a steaming sweet potato, huffing and puffing, huffing and puffing...

Decorated with lanterns and streamers, full of joy, and brimming with the atmosphere of human life.

Lin Sicheng held a box of sugar leaves, chewing "crunch, crunch," with a scroll worth millions tucked casually under his armpit.

After finishing the fried dough leaves, he saw frozen meat, had the boss cut a piece the size of a palm, wrapped it in paper, and Lin Sicheng held it in his hands and gnawed on it.

At first, Ye Anning was still a bit reserved, but seeing Lin Sicheng eating until his mouth was oily, she completely let go of her true nature.

The two strolled the whole way, bought the whole way, and ate the whole way.

Gradually, the twilight descended, and the evening glow hung on the treetops.

The market began to clear out, and the two carried their large and small bags, walking out in a leisurely manner.

Ye Anning said in a soft voice: "The flight is the day after tomorrow morning, we probably won't be back until the eighth day of the lunar new year!"

Lin Sicheng peeled a sugar chestnut and tossed it into his mouth: "It takes that long?"

"It is quite long, right?" Ye Anning said nonchalantly, "Just like Uncle said: It's boring for you to stay in Xijing, and there's no one to play with you. Why don't you come to Beijing after the second day of the lunar new year?"

She paused for a moment, squinting her eyes, her tone filled with a hint of temptation: "It just so happens, aren't you going to look at paintings and cups? I'll take you to the Forbidden City!"

Go to Beijing?

Lin Sicheng shook his head repeatedly: "And then, be gawked at like a gorilla by those classmates and friends of yours?"

Ye Anning pouted and patted him: "It's not that exaggerated, is it?"

It would be strange if it weren't that exaggerated.

He would definitely go, at least he had to go to the Forbidden City once. To properly study again what he didn't have time to learn or didn't learn thoroughly in his previous life.

But the timing was wrong, and there wasn't enough time.

At the very least, he had to wait for the Center to run more stably and for his craft to be practiced more skillfully.

And even, for his fame to be greater...

Knowing she couldn't persuade him, Ye Anning didn't mention it again, and the two left the market.

Lin Sicheng sent Ye Anning to the school and parked the car in the garage.

There wasn't much stuff, so Ye Anning carried it up herself. As soon as the door opened, a fragrance rushed toward her.

Unsurprisingly, Aunt must be making a Steamed Basin.

This was a recipe she had asked Lin Sicheng's mother for, and she had been practicing hard these past few days, preparing to show off her skills in front of her family after returning to Beijing.

Hearing the movement, Dan Wangshu came out of the kitchen and glanced at the bags in her hand: "What did you bring?"

Ye Anning held them up: "Sugar leaves, fruit, meatballs, frozen meat, oil cakes..."

Youjian was sitting on the sofa watching TV; he glanced over and was about to sneak into the bedroom secretly.

Unsurprisingly, his cousin had already filled her stomach. But she was too greedy, and she would definitely want to taste a little bit of everything later.

But what if she couldn't finish it?

Of course, it would end up with him cleaning the plate; otherwise, he wouldn't love to eat, so how could he be so fat?

Just as he heard the movement, Wang Qi Zhi also came out of the study.

He patted his son's head with a look of disdain: "Ye Anning, look at Youjian, what man would like these things? Lin Sicheng is also something, to accommodate you, is he biting the bullet and stiffening his neck to swallow them down?"

Ye Anning protested indignantly: "No way, he ate more than I did!"

"It would be strange if he didn't..."

Before Wang Qi Zhi could finish his sentence, he was glared at by Dan Wangshu.

You old man with no romantic sense, what do you know?

Back when they were dating, Wang Qi Zhi would take her to see a movie, and she could be happy for half a month.

But counting on her fingers, even the number of times they went to the movies could be counted on one hand?

With a huff, Dan Wangshu took the items, and Wang Qi Zhi saw the long box in Ye Anning's hand.

"Eh, it was mounted so quickly?"

"It's not Great-Grandfather's calligraphy, that one can only be picked up tomorrow." Ye Anning handed it over, "This is something Lin Sicheng picked up along the way, he asked me to bring it back to Beijing so that when I help him look at that Jiaqing Famille Rose Cup at the Forbidden City, I can ask a calligraphy and painting teacher to take a look at it!"

Wang Qi Zhi was stunned: What?

He could hear clearly when they were separate, but put together, why did he suddenly not understand?

He took a look: "Where did Lin Sicheng pick it up?"

"Rongbaozhai!"

"Why take it to the Forbidden City and ask a teacher to look at it?"

"He said this is a Shen Du Authentic Work, which is recorded in the Ming Dynasty Painting Academy Records and the Qing Dynasty Precious Collection of the Stone Canal Pavilion. But it's a bit strange, so he needs to check the materials and compare it with the Shen Du Authentic Work in the Forbidden City..."

Ye Anning explained roughly, and Wang Qi Zhi and Dan Wangshu looked stunned.

Picking up a bargain at Rongbaozhai, and it was a piece of calligraphy and painting that Rongbaozhai specialized in?

Lin Sicheng, can you not cause any more trouble?

At first glance, one would think he and Hao Jun were colluding to Lower Out of Cage (colluding inside and out to line their own pockets)?

But looking at the item again, one felt that his picking up this bargain was truly a matter of course.

At just one glance, Wang Qi Zhi could see the two extremely obvious seams. He could even more clearly see that the colors on the left and right sides were slightly darker, while the color of the painting center was slightly lighter.

The calligraphy in the middle was clearly added later.

But who would have thought that the added inscription and colophon were written by Shen Du in his prime, while the painting center was inscribed in his later years, with a difference of nearly twenty years between them, so the former was naturally older.

And even less expected, this was an official addition, or even "added by imperial decree?"

The two were stunned for a long time, and Dan Wangshu tried hard to recall: "How do I remember it, as if some famous master's painting had also been repaired like this?"

Ye Anning nodded: "Lin Sicheng said there are quite a few; just those recorded in the *Precious Collection of the Stone Canal Pavilion* number over a dozen... The most famous is Wen Zhengming's *Villa Guest Arrival Map*, which is now collected in the Liaoning Museum.

Because at the time, Wen Zhengming's seal and inscription were placed too high, they were cut off during mounting, moved, and then patched back on...

It also happened in the Qing Dynasty; due to improper storage, or dampness, or ant bites, or moving inscriptions, or cutting and patching... Works by the Four Wangs, Giuseppe Castiglione, and Jiao Bingzhen have all been repaired!"

Once Ye Anning reminded her, Dan Wangshu had a vague impression. Although she couldn't recall whose work it was, she had indeed seen it in the *Precious Collection of the Stone Canal Pavilion*.

Immediately, she paused abruptly and leaned back slightly.

The *Shiqu Baoji* is classified by the characteristics and artistic style of the paintings, not by any specific person or period.

There is no specific volume recording which ones were repaired or which ones were pieced together; it is only mentioned when referring to a specific painting.

Then why could Lin Sicheng remember it so clearly, citing eight, nine, or ten pieces at once? Surely he couldn't have memorized the entire *Shiqu Baoji*?

But the three series, totaling one hundred and eight volumes, contain over ten thousand works, including annotations on the authors' backgrounds, the works' origins, colophons, seals, and inscriptions. Each entry is at least seven or eight hundred words, if not over a thousand.

How many words is ten thousand items?

Seeing Dan Wangshu's eyes widen, Ye Anning sighed: "He said it was a coincidence, that he just happened to have seen them!"

Dan Wangshu: "Heh..."

Wang Qi Zhi had long since ceased to be surprised; he cupped his chin and examined it: "If it's an authentic work, how much could it sell for?"

Dan Wangshu gestured: "Double the market price!"

Wang Qi Zhi did some quick math and was slightly startled: "That high?"

Dan Wangshu rolled her eyes at him: "What did you think?"

Writing is like looking at mountains; one dislikes flatness. This also applies to the Antique Trade. The so-called cultural play—culture comes first, play comes second. The more stories associated with it, the more bizarre and convoluted they are, the higher the historical and artistic value bestowed upon it.

To put it simply: the nature of this painting is like a misprinted currency.

The key is that this item was collected by the inner court of both the Ming and Qing dynasties and was included in the imperial calligraphy and painting catalogs of both dynasties, which adds even more luster to the work.

Therefore, don't look at the painting core as only four chi eight-fold (35*34), the smallest of small pieces, it is worth at least five or six million.

And just over half a month ago, Lin Sicheng had picked up a Jiaqing Famille Rose Cup and a string of agarwood for about four or five million. That means in less than a month, he earned over ten million...

Even though it wasn't the first time, Dan Wangshu still felt: at this rate of making money, sooner or later, it's possible for Lin Sicheng to open a bank.

Thinking secretly, she let out a breath: "How much did Lin Sicheng spend?"

"Five hundred thousand!"

Ye Anning roughly explained what happened, and subconsciously, Wang Qi Zhi and Dan Wangshu looked at each other again.

They felt that Lin Sicheng's conduct was becoming more and more upright and magnanimous.

How should a real "pick-up" (bargain hunt) be done?

If it were Hao Jun: keep a low profile, act as if nothing is wrong. Afterwards, invite a friend... at most spend seventy or eighty thousand, or even thirty or fifty thousand to get it.

But the possibility of messing up is also high; it's not as good as Lin Sicheng's way: decisive and swift.

"Oh, right..." Wang Qi Zhi remembered again, "Did you say it, inviting him to play in Beijing?"

"I said it!" Ye Anning pursed her lips, "He said he didn't want to be a gorilla!"

Dan Wangshu was startled for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed: "This brat!"

But honestly, it really is quite vivid.

With Wang Qi Zhi's personality, if Lin Sicheng went to Beijing, it would be a miracle if he could resist showing Lin Sicheng off everywhere.

Meeting this senior today, that leader tomorrow. Everyone is an elder; Lin Sicheng would do nothing but nod, bow, and smile humbly.

Would Lin Sicheng have to be out of his mind to go to Beijing?

Wang Qi Zhi felt very regretful: This kid isn't falling for it?

After sighing, he took out his phone and dialed.

"Big brother, don't buy too many New Year goods... Let you all taste the most authentic Steamed Bowl from our hometown, the purest game from the Qinling mountains... Oh right, there's also a bottle of wine soaked with a Chixia Cup (Rhino Horn Cup). After you go back, let Dr. Wang (the health doctor) take a look. If the old man can't drink it, it'll just be a treat for Dad..."

A sound of gasping came from the phone: "Chixia Cup... Third brother, where did you get that?"

"Of course it's a filial gift from my disciple!"

"I'm not talking about the wine, I'm talking about the cup!"

Wang Qi Zhi looked smug, "Oh... you mean the cup? He picked it up from a street stall..."

Dan Wangshu and Ye Anning looked at each other and curled their lips in unison: They knew it; he had no good intentions in egging Lin Sicheng on to go to Beijing.

Look, he hasn't even arrived home yet, and he's already showing off?

Unknowingly, the New Year festival drew near.

On the 28th, Lin Sicheng drove and sent Wang Qi Zhi's family to the airport.

Just before boarding, Wang Qi Zhi was still nagging: He always felt something was missing, feeling that this year's New Year didn't seem very satisfying.

Lin Sicheng smiled and comforted him: Next year for the New Year, he would definitely accompany his teacher to Beijing.

That was exactly what he wanted. Having received a firm promise, Wang Qi Zhi finally boarded the plane with satisfaction...

Returning home, Lin Sicheng helped move things to the old house in Qujiangchi Village.

On the 29th, they prepared, and on New Year's Eve, the family took two cars and returned to the old house.

It was a two-courtyard residence, just an ordinary rural house. In the past, people lived in the front courtyard, livestock were kept in the back, and vegetables were grown by the front and back doors.

But the location was excellent, facing south towards the north, with the entrance facing Qujiangchi.

Around the year 2000, the neighbors moved to Shanghai as a family. The old man split the household registration for his father and bought the place next door as well.

Afterwards, they opened it up and renovated it. So the area was not small, totaling a little over four mu.

It was also well-kept; once summer arrived, it was like a garden.

In fact, they rarely lived there, only coming during festivals. But as soon as they arrived, it was bustling with noise and excitement.

From the founding of the country to the eighties, the village produced only two university students; the first was Lin Zhangqing, and the second was Lin Chengzhi.

The family was full of professors, civil servants, and special-grade teachers from key middle schools. The father and son were both honest and kind, helping whenever they could, and Jiang Yanfei also treated people with tolerance, so their reputation was excellent.

No matter when they returned, and no matter how far or near, people would come over to greet them.

As soon as the car stopped at the gate and the iron gate rang, the neighbors from the left and right came over upon hearing the sound.

There wasn't enough room inside, and the sun was bright, so they sat in the courtyard. The old father handed out cigarettes, the old mother handed out candies, the old man was in charge of small talk, and Lin Sicheng followed behind with a reserved smile, playing the part of the well-behaved one.

Once the neighbors had left, the relatives entered the courtyard one after another.

They were all the brothers and sisters of the old man's uncles, grandchildren of the same grandfather, proper relatives. Every New Year's Eve, they would first come to Lin Zhangqing's place. Then, they would spend one day at each family, rotating until the fourth day of the lunar new year, a tradition they had kept for over ten years.

There were five families in total, and most of the elders were still alive; the uncles, aunts, and aunts-in-law were basically all there.

There were also many young people; besides the brothers and sisters, there were three brothers-in-law.

Because they were waiting for land requisition, the young women basically did not marry outside the village; even after getting married and having children, they mostly lived at their parents' home.

There were also many children brought along, making for quite a lively scene.

The elders and the older generation went into the house, while a group of young people circled the off-road vehicle at the entrance.

"A Jeep Grand Cherokee? This car is purely imported; doesn't a new one cost over four hundred thousand?"

More than that.

The latest novels are first published here!

It's an imported high-trim model, the base price was five hundred and twenty thousand, and since Wang Qi Zhi needed it urgently, he even paid a premium, so it came to just over six hundred thousand after everything was settled.

"Sicheng, where did you get this?"

Lin Sicheng smiled: "It's my teacher's car. He went back to his hometown, so I borrowed it to drive for a couple of days."

"Your teacher is something else!"

Not only is he rich, but he just lends out such a good car without a second thought?

Everyone was quite envious, but they all had a sense of propriety, and no one brought up things like "lend it to me to take for a spin."

After chatting briefly, Jiang Yanfei called for tea, and the group of young people also went into the house.

The space was extremely large, with two large connected living rooms, two sets of sofas, and two tea tables, yet it was still packed full.

The heating had been on for a week, so the room was warm and cozy, with no dampness.

Lin Sicheng greeted everyone one by one, and a woman in her forties looked him over with a smile: "Little Cheng is growing more handsome by the day. Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

This should be his second aunt; just as Lin Sicheng was about to answer, her daughter sitting next to her chimed in: "I remember Little Cheng is only twenty-one, right? He hasn't even graduated yet, so he definitely doesn't have a girlfriend."

"Tsk, kids these days start dating in middle school; they know everything before they even finish high school. For someone like Little Cheng, would he lack a girlfriend?"

"Knowing things is one thing, but some kids are already holding babies!"

Someone else interjected from the side, drawing a burst of laughter, and the topic drifted far away.

It wasn't easy to keep asking, so the mother and daughter exchanged a look.

Lin Sicheng smiled along and helped his mother serve tea.

After pouring the tea, Jiang Yanfei began handing out Red Envelopes to the children, one hundred each.

That wasn't a small amount; a strong laborer on a construction team only earned fifty or sixty a day, so one hundred was equivalent to two days' income.

The young wife who had just said Lin Sicheng didn't have a girlfriend held out her hand, joking: "Third Aunt, I want one too!"

Jiang Yanfei rolled her eyes at her: "If you're so capable, why don't you give birth to two more next year?"

"Two isn't enough? If Sister Chunmei wants to give birth, she has to give birth to a whole litter..."

"You're the one giving birth to a litter!"

After some laughter and teasing, several women busied themselves going to the kitchen to prepare the evening feast.

Just as the group walked out of the living room, Chunmei's phone rang. They didn't know what was said, but several people looked over here.

After whispering a few more words, Jiang Yanfei looked at Lin Sicheng: "Your Sister Chunmei's two sisters-in-law went to the city to buy things and can't get a taxi; you go pick them up!"

Lin Sicheng asked for the phone number, and just as he picked up his coat, a young man wearing glasses stood up: "Sicheng, you don't know them; I'll go with you!"

This was Sister Chunmei's partner, and the two sisters-in-law just mentioned were likely his younger sisters.

Lin Sicheng nodded, and the two of them went out together.

The brother-in-law's surname was Chen, he was from Xianyang and had studied at Shaanxi Normal University. After graduation, he was assigned to the town middle school. After marrying Sister Chunmei, he simply moved his household registration to the second uncle's house.

He felt a bit bookish and didn't like to talk much, but he was very polite and would smile before speaking.

After chatting halfway there, Chen Wenchang seemed to have just remembered: "Sicheng, you're studying at Xida?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Yes, brother-in-law!"

"You're a senior this year, graduating in the summer, right?"

"Yes!"

"Oh~"

After that "oh," Brother-in-law Chen didn't say anything else.

Assuming it was just a casual question, Lin Sicheng didn't pay it any mind and focused on driving.

It wasn't actually far; the two sisters-in-law had gone to the Yintai Department Store at Furong Garden, less than four kilometers away.

But it was unusually congested, stop-and-go, and it took nearly an hour to drive.

Finding them in the parking lot and moving their things into the car, the two young women sat in the back seat.

They were both quite young, in their early twenties, and looked quite pretty.

Just as Chen Wenchang was about to introduce them, the slightly taller one leaned over the back seat, her eyes blinking.

"Lin Sicheng?"

Lin Sicheng paused and glanced at the rearview mirror: No impression?

He smiled: "Hello!"

"Oh, is it really you? I saw you from afar and thought it looked like you, but I didn't dare to be sure!"

The girl was very happy, "I'm in the Department of Life Sciences and Chinese Medicine, also a senior this year!"

Huh, not only are they classmates, but they are both at the Taibai Campus?

No wonder Brother-in-law Chen suddenly asked him if he was at Xida while they were on the way.

Lin Sicheng nodded: "What a coincidence!"

"It really is a coincidence!" Chen Jiayu was very lively, pointing at Chen Wenchang, "This is my own brother!"

Then, she pointed at the girl sitting next to her, "This is my own younger sister, she's also at the Normal University, a sophomore this year!"

Three siblings, and they all got into key universities?

Lin Sicheng sincerely complimented: "That's quite impressive!"

"Not as impressive as you! Before New Year's Day, I even worked part-time at your Center, helping with the cleaning!"

Chen Jiayu looked excited, "Lin Sicheng, are you still hiring next year? Cleaning is fine too..."

You are studying a National Level specialty, why would you work as a cleaner instead of going to a hospital after graduation?

Knowing she was joking, Lin Sicheng smiled and nodded: "Hiring!"

"It's a deal then, I'll really come to apply once I graduate..."

The two grew more familiar as they chatted, and Chen Wenchang became more bewildered the more he listened: This center Chen Jiayu is talking about, it seems like it's something Lin Sicheng opened himself?

Isn't he only a senior?

Seeing his stunned expression, Lin Sicheng explained: "It's just a small studio for Artifact Restoration of porcelain!"

Chen Jiayu stared at the rearview mirror and curled her lips: A small studio?

The Experimental Center of their department is only about as big as Lin Sicheng's Center.

But she didn't point it out, instead winking at the rearview mirror.

The two shared a knowing smile across the mirror.

Chen Wenchang was absent-minded, his soul wandering elsewhere: His mother-in-law and wife had been egging him on, saying they wanted to introduce partners to Jiayu and Jiayi.

To tell the truth, he didn't think much of it: The village had been undergoing land requisition on and off for several years, and while they had gotten a lot of money, it had also raised a bunch of second-generation rich kids, with very few doing honest work.

But he couldn't withstand his mother-in-law and wife nagging in his ears every day, so Chen Wenchang couldn't refuse and let his two younger sisters stay for the New Year, thinking he would just deal with it.

It wasn't until he came out with Lin Sicheng and was halfway there that he realized: Nine times out of ten, his mother-in-law and wife had set their sights on Lin Sicheng.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have asked if Lin Sicheng had a partner the moment they met.

If he had to say what he really thought, he would of course agree with both hands and feet...

Just as he was thinking about this and that, a "Pop!" sound exploded, and Lin Sicheng slammed on the brakes.

With a sharp "Screech," Chen Wenchang lunged forward, the seatbelt tightened abruptly, and his chest hurt.

At the same time, two screams rang out from the back seat, followed by a "Crackle-snap" sound in his ears.

Chen Wenchang was stunned: Smoke was rising outside the car window, the hood was covered in a layer of red paper scraps, and a mark from a firecracker explosion remained on the windshield.

Then, the glass shattered into a spiderweb pattern.

Who the hell threw a Thunder King firecracker?

While he was still in shock, with a "Bang," Lin Sicheng pushed open the car door and jumped out.

The three siblings were stunned for a moment, then followed him out of the car.

Standing at the front of the car and looking around, Lin Sicheng walked to the side of the car.

Not far from them, about five or six meters away, there was a shop by the road, and seven or eight young men were standing at the entrance.

Some were in their early twenties, some were seventeen or eighteen, their hair dyed in all sorts of colors, their clothes worn in a messy fashion, and quite a few even had eyeshadow and makeup on.

Some were smoking, some were holding firecrackers, squinting their eyes and shaking their legs, looking at Lin Sicheng with a provocative expression.

Have you ever seen the non-mainstream "Shamate" style famous on the internet in later generations?

These few were exactly that.

At first glance, the outfits were so exaggerated, like aliens. But don't be surprised, it was very popular in '07 and '08; out of ten hoodlums on the street, seven or eight were dressed like this.

It's just that he didn't expect to run into them one day...

Lin Sicheng's face darkened: "Who threw the firecracker?"

"Your daddy!"

One of them retorted, and suddenly there was a burst of loud laughter: "Haha..."

Lin Sicheng narrowed his eyes and scanned left and right.

This should be Dongsanxiao Village; he had wandered around here for several days when he was looking for the Zhang Anshi Tomb before.

A proper urban-rural fringe, commonly known as an urban village, where there are no shortage of such young people.

Idle all day, if they aren't playing cards or chasing girls, they are fighting and brawling.

But the problem is, you didn't even look at what kind of car it was, and you dared to blow it up?

He said with a cold face: "Whoever blew it up, come out!"

The one who shouted "Your daddy" earlier spat on the ground, sneering, "I'll give you a dick, do you want it?"

Suddenly, the laughter grew even louder: "Hahaha..."

They were all hot-headed youths at the age where they loved to act like bosses. Plus, the social atmosphere was like this; as long as someone stirred up trouble, the courage of such reckless fools would grow larger and larger.

The group was eager to try, full of provocation, with the posture of "If you keep acting tough, I'll kill you."

There was no lack of those wanting to provoke Lin Sicheng into making the first move.

Consequently, seeing the two sisters standing by the car, lost and helpless, someone let out an "Oh": "There are two broads? Tsk, they're really pretty..."

"Let's go, call them over to play..."

"This car is also quite nice, this idiot must be quite rich, let's borrow some money to spend..."

As they spoke, seven or eight young men actually walked over.

Lin Sicheng was stunned: he knew these past two years were a relatively chaotic time in Xijing, but he hadn't expected it to be this chaotic.

They want to rob me in broad daylight, is that it?

Fine, I'll let you play...

He immediately took out his phone and dialed Chen Peng directly: "Uncle Chen, we are currently at Sanyao Village and have been intercepted... Professor Wang's car has already been blown up..."

It is no exaggeration to say that in an instant, Chen Peng's hair stood on end.

The car was blown up, how was it blown up?

The crucial thing is, where are the people?

(End of this chapter)