Chapter 494: Song Dynasty Black-Glazed Conical Tea Bowl

The two on-duty police officers blinked, glancing at Lin Sicheng's face from time to time.

They glanced a few times, looked at the credentials in their hands, then glanced a few more times, and looked at the credentials again.

Involuntarily, a strange thought popped into their minds: could these credentials be fake?

It was just that they were too surprised and were merely muttering to themselves; of course, they knew it was impossible.

No matter how bold a criminal was, they couldn't possibly take such counter-intuitive, suspicious-looking fake credentials to a place like Customs to bluff and deceive. Not to mention anything else, these four units were not the kind of secretive or highly classified organizations; one could call to verify the credential numbers and information in a matter of minutes.

Besides, Customs was in the business of this very thing; they wouldn't be unable to tell whether a credential was real or fake.

The problem was the age: twenty-two?

Look at the units: Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, Palace Museum.

Anyone with even a little common knowledge of cultural relics knew the nature of these two departments.

The former was the core unit for national-level cultural heritage protection and was the most authoritative and professional research institution in the country in the fields of archaeology and cultural relics, bar none.

The latter was even more so: a palace-level window for Chinese history and culture to the outside world, and the central hub for the inheritance of Chinese history and culture.

At twenty-two, one would be at most a newly graduated undergraduate; even if they applied to be the lowest-level intern at the Cultural Heritage Research Institute or the Forbidden City, they wouldn't be accepted. There, even those moving materials or washing test tubes had to be Master's degree students.

Yet this person was a Consultant, a Researcher?

Looking at the next two, it was even more unbelievable.

The duties of Customs were tax collection, anti-smuggling, entry-exit management, and inspection and quarantine, and among these, anti-smuggling and entry-exit were under the dual leadership of the General Administration and the Ministry of Public Security.

Calling them police was perfectly accurate. Moreover, since they dealt with them often, Ye Anqi knew very well what level of units the Xijing City Public Security Bureau and the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Division were.

They were on par with the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau.

And he had seen plenty of so-called consultants and had cooperated with them even more. But this was truly his first time seeing one with credentials.

But at the very least, he knew the nature of these two credentials and what conditions were required: having participated in the investigation and solving of major, high-impact, and socially destructive cases, with outstanding results.

To translate: participating in Ministry-supervised major cases and leading the investigation work.

The key was, two of them?

And even more key, Beijing and Xijing were so far apart?

Looking at the issuance dates of the credentials, they were more than half a year apart; could this possibly be the same case?

Honestly, if he had known Lin Sicheng had these two credentials, he wouldn't have needed to pull strings or make calls, let alone owe anyone favors.

As long as Lin Sicheng wanted to go, let alone just the temporary storage room of the Luohu Port Disposal Section, he could have swaggered in with Lin Sicheng even to the Municipal Customs Major Crimes evidence room.

In a flash, Ye Anqi blinked, the surprise on his face seemingly about to overflow.

When the on-duty police officer took the keys to lead them in, Ye Anqi deliberately lagged behind two steps and signaled with his eyes.

Lin Sicheng, what did you do?

It couldn't be explained in a few words, so Lin Sicheng was noncommittal: "Just happened to help out a bit!"

Ye Anqi shook his head decisively: Impossible.

Just take one point: Lin Sicheng was not an on-staff police officer; regardless of which level of unit issued these two credentials, the relevant application had to be approved by a higher-level unit.

Look at the credentials again; both were stamped by deputy-department-level units, so what level was the higher-level unit?

The department-level Provincial Public Security Department, and it must have been passed by a meeting vote and signed by the main leaders.

It could be said like this: for Wang Qizhi, if he really wanted to get them, the first two might be possible, nothing more than pulling strings and using favors. But the last two? Don't even think about it.

Therefore, Lin Sicheng had absolutely solved major cases and played a leading role.

Ye Anqi wouldn't give up, lowering his voice: "Can't you say?"

There was nothing that couldn't be said.

Both Xijing and Beijing had already compiled the investigation processes of the two cases into case studies, and some departments had already started internal training; it would be publicly trained by March or April at the latest.

Customs units would be a bit later, around the summer. Although they wouldn't mention his name, when Ye Anqi saw it then: one from the Xijing Municipal Bureau, one from the Beijing General Team, both major cultural relic cases, and both led by a consultant?

He could guess it with his toes.

Lin Sicheng didn't hesitate: "Second Brother, I can say it, it's just a bit long!"

Ye Anqi's curiosity was itching like a dog scratching; he felt that waiting even one more second was torture.

"It's fine, just give me a hint."

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: a hint?

Maybe it really would work.

Ye Anqi was responsible for anti-smuggling, and the largest bulk of smuggled goods seized at the Guangzhou port were luxury goods: for example, watches and designer bags. The second most common were cultural relics, which were often disguised as modern handicrafts for entry and exit.

Therefore, whenever there was a Ministry-supervised major cultural relic smuggling case, they had to study it internally.

That was one thing; the second was that whether it was the Yu Dahai case or the Wang Chun case, the Guangzhou port was one of the most important smuggling channels, and when Xijing and Beijing were investigating at the time, they must have sought assistance from Guangzhou Customs.

Ye Anqi must have heard of them, and it was even possible he had participated.

Thinking secretly, Lin Sicheng said concisely: "Xijing's Zhang Shi'an, Beijing's Qing Imperial Mausoleum..."

Before he could finish, Ye Anqi's eyes popped, and the words "Holy crap" surged to his lips.

His footsteps stopped subconsciously, and his gaze was like a hook, nailed to Lin Sicheng's face.

His lips kept twitching, and it took a long time before three words popped out.

He was talking about the main physical evidence in these two cases:

In the Zhang Shi'an grave-robbing case, besides cultural relics, many contraband items were also seized.

The Wang Chun case was even more so.

Now it was Lin Sicheng's turn to be surprised: Ye Anqi not only knew, but knew in such detail?

After a pause, he nodded.

Then, Ye Anqi looked as if he were stunned; the way he looked at Lin Sicheng was like looking at an immortal.

Lin Sicheng had guessed right: when the Xijing Municipal Bureau and the Beijing General Team came to Guangzhou for investigation, Ye Anqi not only participated, but he was the one who led the team to assist. At the time, he was just curious: they were just two grave-robbing and cultural relic smuggling cases, why were they being supervised by the Ministry?

Later, I found out that the Zhang Shi'an tomb case involved guns and explosives, and the Imperial Mausoleum case was even more exaggerated: electronic remote-controlled bombs...

The key is that these two incidents were not just grave-robbing and cultural relic smuggling cases; they also involved multiple murder cases...

Just tell me, what era is this? How many cases with such destructive force and such vile social impact happen every few years?

Not to mention, last year was an Olympic year?

Because of this, Ye Anqi became even more curious. He specifically found channels to ask about it, and then was shocked: the key person who solved these two major cases was actually not a police officer?

What's even more incredible is that he didn't just find clues and deduce the case; he could even disguise himself for reconnaissance. He even ended up facing off directly against cornered criminals fighting like trapped beasts?

Especially that time in Beijing, the basement that he went into was rigged with dozens of remote-controlled explosives?

If his reaction had been a second slower, Boom...

But Ye Anqi never expected that one day he would be able to meet this person. And he never expected that this person would actually be Lin Sicheng?

It is no exaggeration to say that Ye Anqi's eyes seemed to have light bulbs in them; they were frighteningly bright.

"No... Sicheng, that was a bomb?"

If it had been anyone else, their legs would have turned to jelly long ago, and they might even have wet themselves on the spot.

Lin Sicheng, on the other hand, actually turned around and threatened the criminal: I'm pulling the battery out, okay...

Lin Sicheng sighed: That's right, a bomb, and an electronically remote-controlled one at that.

But before going in, who knew that thing would be down there?

The old saying goes: when two parties meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins. If you don't fight for your life at that point, are you just going to wait for death?

Seeing him not speak, which was clearly an admission, Ye Anqi became even more excited.

He had seen heroes, and he had seen living Level One Heroic Models, but he had truly never seen one who was completely unscathed and still so young.

He looked him up and down, his eyes gleaming: "One against a dozen?"

Lin Sicheng looked stunned: Good heavens, you even know about that?

He sighed and nodded.

"Did you get stabbed?"

Lin Sicheng hesitated for a moment, then pulled aside the collar of his shirt.

Ye Anqi's pupils constricted: A knife scar, only two centimeters away from the main artery...

Was the rumor actually true?

Bare-handed, facing blades with nothing, he fought eighteen people alone.

Among them, eight were seriously injured...

Ye Anqi looked him over once more, up and down, left and right: clean, thin, and scholarly. No matter how he looked at him, Lin Sicheng didn't look like a martial arts expert?

But the scar on his neck could not be faked...

Ye Anqi gasped: "Do Third Uncle and Third Aunt know?"

They must know.

Lin Sicheng nodded again.

Ye Anqi suddenly realized: No wonder this case was handled so quickly?

Wait, that's not right... It's not just Third Uncle and Third Aunt?

Not knowing what he was thinking of, Ye Anqi suddenly asked: "Have you met Director Tang and Department Head Tang?"

Truly, even Lin Sicheng was stunned:

No... Second Brother, how much of a favor did you have to pull and how strong of a connection did you have to find just to gossip?

Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to find out so much.

Ye Anqi was even more surprised and exaggerated than him: his eyelids blinked incessantly, like fans.

Just Lin Sicheng's expression was more convincing than him admitting it himself.

No... brother, you're amazing: that's Tang Nan Yan, and you dare to provoke her?

Thinking of those seven or eight cousins of Tang Nan Yan, Ye Anqi felt his scalp tingle.

Wait, that's not right...

They've been hanging out together for several days now; even a fool could see what the situation is between Ye Anning and Lin Sicheng.

Why the hell am I gloating?

Ye Anqi hurriedly straightened his face, but he couldn't stay serious for more than two seconds before it collapsed again.

He has looks, he has appearance, he has a sense of responsibility, and he has character.

The key is that his personal ability is off the charts. Even more importantly, there is the debt of saving a life. If he were Tang Nan Yan, he would have to consider it too. Secretly changing his train of thought, not knowing what he was thinking, Ye Anqi rolled his eyes twice.

Given his status, this question was not appropriate to ask, but he couldn't help it.

Sneakily glancing behind him, Ye Anqi looked gossipy: "Did you guys fight?"

This question came out of nowhere, and Lin Sicheng was confused: "Who?"

"Anning and Tang Nan Yan!"

No... Second Brother, I am truly impressed.

Do you believe that if Ye Anning finds out, she'll get angry with you?

Ye Anqi thought of this too and hurriedly reminded him: "Don't you go snitching, Sicheng, show some masculine spirit!"

Lin Sicheng looked helpless; not knowing what to say, he simply pretended not to hear.

Ye Anqi also knew the question was a bit abrupt, so he changed the subject: "What about Tang Nanjin, have you met him?"

Met him? That's an understatement.

Lin Sicheng nodded.

"Did he hit you?"

"No... Ye Anqi, what kind of logic is that?"

"Second Brother, how is that possible?"

To put it lightly, he took two stabs for Tang Nan Yan; to put it heavily, that is a life-saving grace.

One does not return kindness with enmity like that.

"It's different, because you don't understand Tang Nanjin. When he reasons with people, he never relies on his mouth, but on his fists."

Ye Anqi was exceptionally certain, "If he dislikes you, he'll have a fight with you; if he likes you, he'll also have a fight with you. If he wants to be friends with you, he has to have a fight with you even more. Not to mention, you even bullied Tang Nan Yan..."

We haven't even spoken more than a few sentences, so how did I bully her?

Lin Sicheng suddenly didn't want to talk to Ye Anqi anymore.

But Ye Anqi didn't intend to let him off: "Have you ever had a drink with Tang Nanjin?"

"I have!"

"I understand now, he can't beat you in a fight, and he can't outdrink you either!" Ye Anqi wore a look of schadenfreude, "Who would have thought, Tang Nanjin also has times when he admits defeat?"

One could figure it out just by thinking: Lin Sicheng could disarm an opponent with his bare hands and take on eighteen people at once; encountering someone like Tang Nanjin, he could easily handle at least two or three. As for alcohol tolerance, he had been drinking almost every day these past few days, and Ye Anqi knew quite a bit about it: at the very least, Tang Nanjin definitely couldn't outdrink Lin Sicheng.

Lin Sicheng looked helpless: having been together for many days, he had always felt that Ye Anqi was quite steady and had the demeanor of a big brother.

Only today did he realize that was because he hadn't encountered anything that interested him. Otherwise, he was more gossipy than anyone...

"Second Brother, we are here to attend to serious business."

"I know!" Ye Anqi said, completely unconcerned, "Sicheng, it doesn't matter if you can't go abroad; at worst, we'll just go next time!"

He had previously thought that the reason Lin Sicheng worked so hard was because he felt his background was too ordinary, that they were not a good match, and he was afraid the Third Uncle and Third Aunt would object. But today he realized that wasn't the case at all.

Not to mention anything else, just his performance that night in the basement filled with bombs was enough to make up for all his shortcomings. Furthermore, he had so many bright spots and such strong personal ability?

If it didn't work out, so be it, but if things did succeed, having him specifically go and engage in antique or Cultural Relics research would be a waste of talent.

Whether it was the Ye Clan or the Wang Clan.

At most, he could just handle it on the side.

Therefore, whether he went abroad or whether this project could be completed didn't have much of an impact.

Naturally, Ye Anqi wasn't all that concerned.

Of course, since they were here, he definitely had to take Lin Sicheng to take a look.

In a flash, two police officers led them to the storage room. After signing and registering, the four of them walked inside.

The items were placed on the shelves, categorized, and labeled.

The two police officers stood to the side and checked their watches again, a gesture to remind Ye Anqi: Section Chief Ye, time is limited.

Lin Sicheng nodded and walked a bit closer.

Two Yicheng Purple Hair Brushes, they had some age to them, at least seventy or eighty years.

A Brush Pot with pine, bamboo, and stone, carved quite well, roughly from the Kangxi and Qianlong Period, but it had no mark, so it was temporarily unclear if it came from the hand of a famous master. A stone inkstone ground from natural marble, primitive and natural, along with an Acid Branch Wood Yanjia.

It was easy to see that these two were not a set and should have been paired later.

Additionally, there were two incense boxes, one lacquer-inlaid and one with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, both items from the late Qing Dynasty.

For things like these, as long as relevant procedures could be provided, such as purchase records or an Identification Certificate, Customs would let them pass.

Besides these, there were more behind them:

Two White Jade Landscape Plaques imitating Lu Zigang, one Yellow Jade Taotie Pattern Wine Vessel imitating the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and one piece of a "Three Friends of Winter" ewer with Carving Flowers.

Setting aside the craftsmanship and provenance for a moment, just looking at the patina and the surface: they were undoubtedly from the Ming Dynasty.

This involved a point: the Cultural Relics Protection Law stipulates that regardless of whether it is an antique or a general Cultural Relic allowed for private collection and transfer, any Cultural Relic produced/made before 1551 (the 30th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty) is strictly prohibited from entering or leaving the country.

That is the first point; the second: when Customs departments, public security departments, or even Cultural Relics departments define them, due to limited technology, it is impossible to clearly pinpoint the exact year an antique was produced or made.

Therefore, all departments use a blanket rule: anything before 1616 (the founding of the Qing Dynasty) is strictly in the restricted category.

These few items were: one hundred percent Ming Dynasty antiques. According to custom, they could enter the country, but complete procedural documents were required: such as auction records, invoices, or even traceable transfer Contracts.

Besides these few items, there were more behind them: a pair of Tiger Tooth Pendants, the roots of the teeth wrapped in silver, inlaid with one Turquoise and several small Agate beads.

The condition was good, the patina was extremely old, and judging by the style, they should be playthings left behind by the Eight Banners descendants of the Qing Dynasty.

Next were several strings of beads, one of which was hawksbill turtle shell and one of helmeted hornbill. They were also very old, at least items from the Republic of China period. But regardless of whether they were old or new, according to the CITES Convention, within China, as long as they are endangered animal products, they are treated as Cultural Relics regardless of the production date. Those from before '49 can be collected and traded; those after '49 are all subject to seizure.

These items were definitely from before '49. If they were entering the country, as long as complete procedural documents could be provided, Customs would basically turn a blind eye. Lin Sicheng was also very certain that Hu Pangzi definitely had these procedures and had prepared them very thoroughly.

As for what Customs said about half of them not living up to their names, that should refer to the remaining ones.

Lin Sicheng looked further down, but just as he reached the shelf, he suddenly froze: porcelain?

Two pieces of blue and white, three pieces of Carved Black Glazed Porcelain: thick bodies, pale colors, dull glaze luster, typical Folk Kiln porcelain, and from a kiln with poor technique at that. As for the era, it was hard to judge for a moment. Because the soil encrustation was too heavy, the corrosion was also quite severe. In many places, there was already the phenomenon of glaze peeling. But this wasn't the point; the point was that Lin Sicheng finally knew why Customs had made such a big fuss and detained Hu Pangzi: because of the soil encrustation. Anyone with a little common sense about Cultural Relics could see: these five pieces were all dug out of a tomb, and no more than ten years had passed. This was definitely stolen Cultural Relics; if Customs didn't investigate you, who would they investigate?

But that was only secondary; the key was the last two pieces: could these be the Song Dynasty Ding Kiln black glazed partridge-feather pattern Douli Cup?

If they were genuine, they were one hundred percent national First-Class Cultural Relic.

Starting at three years...