Chapter 341: Treating a Dead Horse as if it Were Alive

The person was brought out, wearing handcuffs and a hood over their head.

Yan Wenjing looked at the "Xiangguoyuan" 【Fruit Garden】: "Teacher Lin, what is a 'Cricket Hand'?"

"That's a term from the Republic of China era!" Lin Sicheng extended his right hand. "Anyone who plays with a Cricket Gourd always keeps the gourd in their hand. Over time, a callous forms on the pad of the thumb. That is the first thing..."

"Second, Cricket Gourds are often preserved with cinnabar. After playing with them for a long time, the cinnabar seeps into the web of the hand, leaving red stains that cannot be washed off."

"What does that have to do with Shilihe?"

"This is the third thing: only black-spotted gourds from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era were treated with sulfur to prevent insects. Long-term contact with sulfides causes keratosis of the palms and soles. But if one is only playing with them, and only with one, it wouldn't cause the skin to crack. Only long-term contact, or perhaps using sulfur to make replicas look old, could make the skin crack like tree bark..."

"And in all of Beijing, Shilihe has the most black-spotted gourds. Whether they are genuine or replicas, ninety-nine percent of them come from there... And there's more!"

Lin Sicheng propped up his chin: "Captain Yan, don't you think this person looks a lot like Qi Song?"

A single sentence awakened the dreamer; Yan Wenjing stared at the "Xiangguoyuan" who had just been escorted into the vehicle: the eyebrows were similar, the eyes were similar, and the nose and mouth were also similar.

Are these two biological brothers?

Qi Song is hiding in Shilihe...

The key is the smell on this person: lacquerware, the smell of freshly unearthed lacquerware. Unless he spends his entire day in a treasury where lacquerware is stored, it is impossible for him to have such a heavy smell of lacquerware.

Therefore, Wang Chun's goods are very likely in Shilihe.

Yu Jichuan and Yu Jiyao came here, so what about Ren Danhua?

Nine times out of ten, she also went to Shilihe.

Previously, they wanted to cast a long line to catch a big fish, but now, because of a momentary lapse by him and Tu Jun, the fish had slipped the hook. If they don't find a way to remedy this, let alone the fish, they won't even catch a single hair.

Failing to catch Ren Danhua is a minor issue, and even failing to catch Qi Song is acceptable, but the goods must be found.

Yan Wenjing looked annoyed: "Teacher Lin, what should we do now?"

What else can they do?

Lin Sicheng sighed: "We can only take it one step at a time!"

Yan Wenjing nodded and notified the team members to set off.

The Lengku is north of Shunyi, and Shilihe is south of Chaoyang, nearly forty kilometers apart, spanning most of the urban area.

Just before getting into the car, Lin Sicheng looked at the hands of "Xiangguoyuan" again and smelled the scent on him.

That's right, Cricket Hand, the smell of freshly unearthed lacquerware.

As for whether they can find it, heaven knows...

While pondering, the motorcade left the logistics Center.

One on the left and one on the right, two small iron tables, Yu Jiyao and Yu Jichuan were locked onto them.

Handcuffs on their hands, shackles on their feet, and their mouths still sealed with tape.

Lin Sicheng sat opposite them, his eyes fixed on the roof of the car: what to ask, ask for evidence of Wang Chun's crimes?

Even if they were given three more guts, they wouldn't dare to speak.

Ask where Ren Danhua is?

The two of them would be even less likely to speak.

Lin Sicheng was lost in thought, while the brother and sister were both shocked and suspicious.

Before, they had considered countless possibilities: a family of grave-robbers, descendants of experts, a heaven-sent genius, a rising star.

After their eldest sister finished her investigation, they were even more convinced: the nephew of the Guanzhong grave-robber and appraisal expert Yang Bin. A successor to palace Craftsmen and a disciple of the famous restoration master Zhao Laotai.

No wonder he was so capable?

So from beginning to end, they never once thought that this person could be a Police officer?

Even now, sitting in a police car, with their hands and feet cuffed, and even though the brother and sister both recognized the person sitting next to Lin Sicheng—the Deputy Detachment Leader of the City Cultural Relics Investigation Detachment—the two of them still could not believe it.

Think about his eye for detail, think about his craftsmanship, as well as his temperament, age, and experience in the underworld... how could such a person be a Police officer?

Knowing what they were thinking, Lin Sicheng smiled: "I am indeed not a Police officer. The reason I am with the Police is because I was forced by your eldest sister... but let's not talk about that today."

Lin Sicheng leaned back: "I discovered that the names you changed all have a certain characteristic; you like to keep one character from your original names:

Miss Yu is named Li Yao, changed to Yu Jiyao; General Manager Yu is named Li Jilin, changed to Yu Jichuan. General Manager Ren is named Dan Hua, changed to Ren Danhua. And there is Qi Song, whose original name was Song Qi, just reversed, and he used a homophone.

And this person today, the one wearing the 'Xiangguoyuan' uniform... he is Qi Song's younger brother, right?"

Yu Jichuan's eye sockets trembled uncontrollably, and Yu Jiyao's face turned deathly pale.

The names on their Identity Cards had been changed for seven or eight years, and their parents and close relatives had long since been moved out; if one took their current photos back to the village, it's not certain anyone would be able to recognize them.

Even for Qi Song and Qi Hao: they had known each other for so long, and even they didn't know what the two brothers' original names were.

But the Police had investigated it so clearly?

Yan Wenjing sat quietly to the side, eyes gleaming: the person had only just been caught; even if the Police could investigate it, it would take time.

Lin Sicheng just felt that the two people's facial features were somewhat similar, and as a result, a bluff hit the mark.

"The so-called 'cunning rabbit has three burrows,' but Wang Chun has at least nine: six shops, three companies, spread across all the antique markets in Beijing. On the surface, not one of them has any connection to her, but every single one is indirectly controlled by her..."

"Besides the shops and companies, she has even more places to hide goods, sixteen in total, large and small: Majuqiao, Mafang, Shibaliqiao, Liangmajie, the Shunyi logistics Center, and Shilihe..."

Nine fakes and one real; the other places are either piled with replicas, or junk, or are stones used to test the path. Since not one of them is real, only one possibility remains: the best and most valuable goods are in Shilihe..."

Lin Sicheng paused for a moment, staring at the brother and sister: "Qi Song is in Shilihe, the goods are also in Shilihe, and Ren Danhua also knows that both the goods and Qi Song are in Shilihe. So, she sent you here, and she went to Shilihe herself..."

Yu Jichuan's pupils shrank rapidly; Yu Jiyao was slightly better, her gaze didn't waver, and she wasn't sweating.

But her two cheeks bulged slightly as she bit her teeth hard.

It seems the guess was correct: Ren Danhua went to Shilihe, and Wang Chun's goods are also in Shilihe.

That Qi Song is likewise in Shilihe.

Yan Wenjing felt a sense of relief in her heart and let out a sharp breath: things had indeed been messed up, but it was not beyond remedy.

As long as they find the goods, then catch Ren Danhua and Qi Song.

Lin Sicheng, however, was not very optimistic: this is a criminal syndicate; Ren Danhua and Qi Song count at most as lackeys. Even someone as cunning and treacherous as Wang Chun is merely a role similar to a second-tier contractor.

Along with her at the same rank were other key members like Ma Shan, and even those not yet discovered, who were at the same level as the two of them, numbered at least two or three more.

And above these key members, there were at least two bosses; what to do about these people, arrest them directly?

Just catching the people is far from enough, otherwise, when that old man was caught, those with names and surnames would have all been arrested. The reason it has been investigated for so long is for one reason: to dig deep for clues and secure criminal evidence.

For these people, a sentence of three or five, or even seven or eight years, is like a tickle. Once the sentence is reduced and they go abroad, they will have money they can't spend for the rest of their lives.

Compared to that, these people are only secondary; if the parasites aren't dug out and the malignant tumors aren't removed, without Ma Shan and without Wang Chun, there will be Niu Shui and Zhang Xia in the future.

Endless, continuous...

Thinking secretly, Lin Sicheng stared at the brother and sister.

After thinking for a moment, he tore the tape off Yu Jichuan's mouth.

Yu Jichuan did not know what Lin Sicheng wanted to do; he trembled his lips, wanting to curse a few times, but did not know what to curse.

Yu Jiyao, beside him, was stunned for a moment and shook her head vigorously.

"Rest assured, I'm not asking about your case; I'm just a bit curious."

Lin Sicheng sighed, "That person in camouflage should have been sent here by Qi Song to stake out the place. It could be that Qi Song was worried, or it could be that the woman was worried and sent Qi Song's younger brother over."

"Ren Danhua letting you come to the Lengku should have been to scout for information, or even more so, to confirm whether that woman's goods are here. Logically speaking, you were already prepared to run, and you should be considered opponents with these two people. So I can't quite figure it out: why did you warn them after recognizing me?"

Yu Jichuan froze, his lips moving silently.

Yu Jiyao's eye sockets contracted, her gaze filled with hatred, resentment, and regret.

"Understood, it must be that Miss Yu recognized me and told you. But you thought of the brotherhood, so you gave a warning..."

Lin Sicheng let out a sigh of relief: a simpleton in a den of thieves?

If it weren't for the strange way those two looked at him, it would have been almost impossible for him to discover Yu Jichuan and Yu Jiyao.

If he hadn't discovered them, these two would certainly have run away, and they definitely would have told Ren Danhua. Whether Ren Danhua would tell Wang Chun, he didn't know, but Yu Jichuan would certainly tell that Qi Song.

Once Qi Song knew, it would be the same as Wang Chun knowing. Even if she were a pig, she would think: even a confidant like Ren Danhua didn't know she had hidden goods in the Lengku, so how did this man surnamed Lin know?

Excluding all possibilities, the remaining one, however unlikely, must be the correct answer: the Police...

By a twist of fate, a blessing in disguise. Fortunately, he bought a little time for rescue.

A dog jumping over a wall in desperation is inevitable; even for the purpose of "one less Cultural Relic as evidence might mean one less year of sentencing," Wang Chun would have her subordinates destroy all these goods.

Now, it just depends on whose speed is faster...

Shilihe is right next to Panjiayuan, a straight-line distance of two kilometers. The General Team is not very far from here either, about ten kilometers.

Arriving at Tianjiao Cultural City, the four cars parked one by one in the lot. Just as they steadied, an off-road vehicle next to them honked, and immediately, the window lowered a crack.

Only half a face was revealed, but Yan Wenjing's face turned white as a sheet.

If it were only once, it could be called a coincidence, blaming his bad luck, but twice?

Yan Wenjing got out of the car like a walking corpse and walked over woodenly. Yu Guang stared at him, his expression complex, wanting to speak but stopping.

Oh Yan Wenjing, an opportunity dropped from the sky, yet you can't grasp it?

After a long while, he shook his head: "Let's go back to the team!"

Afterward, Yu Guang looked at Lin Sicheng again: "Teacher Lin, sorry for the trouble!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Captain Yu, the chances aren't small, but it's highly likely to be a waste of effort, coming up empty-handed."

"I know!" Yu Guang smiled, "Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Lin!"

The numbers previously investigated had all been turned off; these people had definitely changed to new numbers, so now they couldn't even use technical means to investigate.

Even the Police couldn't be sure that Ren Danhua and Qi Song were definitely at Shilihe, let alone Lin Sicheng?

The more critical point was: the separation of people and goods.

As long as the items are moved in, the people immediately withdraw and then watch from afar.

Just like the two previous Lengku: when the plainclothes officers inspected them, it wasn't the person in camouflage or "Xiangguoyuan" who opened the doors at all. The people who opened the doors were all newly hired and didn't know at all what goods were in the Treasury.

Under this premise, even if luck were off the charts and you could catch Ren Danhua and Qi Song, you would still have to be able to interrogate them on the spot.

And no one could guarantee whether Wang Chun had sent others to watch Qi Song.

A phone call, a bucket of gasoline, just a fire...

One can only try their luck, treating a dead horse as if it were still alive!

Thinking secretly, Lin Sicheng walked toward the market entrance.

Having changed his makeup again and changed the Special Duty Team members, it was still one man and one woman.

Zhao Xiuneng was smoking by the entrance; just as he took a puff, he suddenly paused.

Lin Sicheng sighed: the temporary makeup definitely had flaws. Moreover, Senior Brother Zhao's eye for detail was high enough, and he was familiar enough with him.

Therefore, it was not strange at all that Yu Jiyao could recognize him.

The two didn't speak; as they brushed past each other, Zhao Xiuneng handed over a box.

Lin Sicheng caught it, and immediately, his phone buzzed.

It was just one text message with three shop names: Tingqiu Shanfang, Huangcheng Yizhen, and Mingyutang.

Glancing at it, Lin Sicheng walked straight into the market.

After finishing a cigarette, Zhao Xiuneng walked toward the parking lot and got into the Mercedes-Benz.

The blue brick ground was slick with oil, and camphor wood birdcages swayed on iron racks. The hwamei birds chirped and twittered, their sounds crisp and bright.

The air was thick with the smell of bird droppings, earthy scents, and various floral fragrances.

Famous flowers, famous grasses, famous fish, famous birds. Tianjiao Cultural City, the largest flower and bird market in Beijing, was also the fourth-ranked market for Cultural Relics and antiques.

What Panjiayuan and Liulichang had, this place basically had. What those two places didn't have, this place still had.

Such as singing insects.

Lin Sicheng carried the box and strolled nonchalantly.

After about half an hour, he had strolled through two aisles when he stopped subconsciously and glanced at the plaque above: Tingqiu Shanfang.

Hanging on the pillars outside the door were wood-carved couplets: "Beneath the wings, silk tears, shaking the misty Rain across half the city. Within the bosom, mountains gather, encompassing the autumn sounds of ten thousand ravines."

The first half of the couplet spoke of insects, the second half spoke of implements.

After taking a couple of looks, Lin Sicheng carried the box and walked inside.

The shop was large, but there were few customers; a man in his thirties was playing on a computer, "Click, click" sounds: "letsroll..."

He glanced up, his hands not stopping: "What would you three like? Feel free to look around!"

Lin Sicheng nodded.

There were gourds, feed, heating equipment, and even more, all kinds of teasing sticks made of various materials.

There were also insects, kept in insulated glass boxes, but they did not look very active.

After looking around, Lin Sicheng took out the box, opened the lid, and pushed it forward: "Do you have this?"

The man took a look, was stunned for a moment, and could no longer bother with his game.

Red Sandalwood negative mold (outer box), Blood Amber heart-covering (hollowed-out gourd component, transmitting the chirping sound), Ivory mouth cover.

No need to appraise; one look and it was clearly an old object.

It was painted with intertwined lotus patterns, and from within, a "ju~ ju~" chirping sound could faintly be heard.

After listening carefully, the man narrowed his eyes, picked up the gourd, opened the lid, and his eyes narrowed subconsciously: Shandong Yimeng Iron Wing Golden Sound?

(End of chapter)