Chapter 330: Antique Mystery

The Broadcasting Art Troupe's performance slowly came to an end amidst thunderous applause.

Their singing, whether in terms of technical proficiency or their grasp of the songs' spirit, was almost impeccable.

In the end, they took the crown with an absolute high score of forty-eight points, which was truly the expectation of the masses.

Although He Yushui and her four-person chorus group missed the championship, there was not much disappointment on the four little girls' faces.

They all understood in their hearts that there was indeed a significant gap between themselves and top professional groups like the Broadcasting Art Troupe.

Being able to win the second prize in the city-wide children's singing competition with their still-immature voices was already a small miracle for them.

After the awards ceremony ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, and the auditorium appeared somewhat empty.

Shen Wenqing walked through the sparse flow of people, approaching quickly, his eyes full of gratified smiles.

He gently stroked He Yushui's hair and asked softly, "Little Yushui, why didn't you say hello when you saw your uncle just now? Did your uncle offend you somewhere?"

He Yushui tilted her little face up, her large eyes flashing with anticipation, yet tinged with a hint of uncertainty: "Now... can I call you Uncle? Brother wouldn't let me call you that before, fearing others would say we were using back-door connections."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenqing couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Silly child, I'm not familiar with those judges at all. Even if I really wanted to pull strings for you, your uncle doesn't have that much influence."

At this moment, He Yuzhu interjected: "Big Uncle, my mother has been thinking about your lifelong marriage prospects! You really need to hurry up!"

"You brat!" Shen Wenqing was caught between laughter and tears, "This matter isn't your place to worry about."

Before the joy of the competition had faded, another piece of good news followed—the Municipal Children's Palace officially extended an olive branch to the four little girls, inviting them to join.

For a time, He Yushui and the others rose to fame, becoming well-known "little celebrities" in the Nanluoguxiang area.

Their instructor, Zhang Shuying, also received a job offer from the Children's Palace as a result.

Faced with this rare opportunity, she agreed almost without hesitation.

However, when she returned home full of joy, what greeted her was not congratulations.

"Dad, I have some good news; I'm going to work at the Municipal Children's Palace," Zhang Shuying said happily.

"You are not allowed to go!" Zhang's father's voice was cold and hard, allowing no room for negotiation.

"Why?" Zhang Shuying's heart sank abruptly.

"Why else? A unit like the Children's Palace definitely requires a strict organizational investigation before you can enter! Our family's background simply cannot withstand scrutiny!"

"It's already too late; I've already agreed, and the transfer order is already going through the organizational process."

"You... you are going to get this family killed!" Zhang's father was furious, slamming his fist onto the sofa armrest.

"Dad, I really like my current life! For my sake, you and Mom should leave here!" Zhang Shuying pleaded.

Zhang's father stared fixedly at his daughter and said, "As long as you bring He Yuzhu home for a meal, I will grant your wish!"

"I can't," Zhang Shuying shook her head vigorously, "He Yuzhu, he is very busy; it's impossible to invite him."

"You find a way! You must find a way!" Zhang's father's tone grew increasingly rigid.

"I really have no way. What kind of rotten organization are you in! It's not enough that you and Mom are dragged into this, you have to drag me into the fire pit too!" She stood up abruptly, "I won't come back to live here starting tomorrow! I've already rented a place near Qianmen!" After saying this, she ran out the door.

Zhang's father sat alone in the dim living room, his chest heaving violently.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-June.

He Yuzhu once again delivered six computer systems to the Military Factory.

After finishing the paperwork, Secretary Liu specifically asked him to stay for dinner.

In the small private room of the cafeteria, the food was steaming hot.

Secretary Liu personally poured a glass of wine for He Yuzhu and said, "Little He, guess how many enemy planes our frontline soldiers have shot down in these past few months using the Anti-aircraft Guns you built?"

He Yuzhu put down his chopsticks and made a quick estimate: "One set of equipment shoots down ten planes, so it should be around eighty?"

"One hundred and eighty-six!" Secretary Liu slapped the table excitedly, "Now the enemy pilots have become a high-risk profession. Once these six new sets of equipment are transported up there, they might not dare to bomb us so easily!"

He Yuzhu took a deep breath and said, "That's great! It seems we are not far from completely mastering the initiative on the battlefield."

"Indeed!" Secretary Liu nodded with emotion, then his expression turned serious, and his tone became earnest, "However, there is a matter that requires your opinion. The comrades from the Soviet Union are very interested in the Computer in our system and have officially proposed wanting to learn and introduce the related technology. What do you think?"

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment and replied, "I personally agree in principle. Technical exchange is conducive to mutual progress. However, we cannot be at a disadvantage. It must be an equal exchange. If they want to learn our computer technology, then their cutting-edge science in other fields, such as aerospace and new materials, should also be unconditionally open to us. Of course, we must keep the core technology in our own hands."

"Good! Your opinion is very comprehensive and well-considered! Rest assured, I will definitely report your thoughts to the higher-ups truthfully and completely."

In the "Hutong Yi" antique shop, a middle-aged man wearing a Lenin suit had been browsing for over half an hour.

Hu Yunbin offered a cigarette, but the other party waved his hand and did not take it.

"What is it you are looking for?" Hu Yunbin asked.

The middle-aged man said in a low voice, "Can you find a Blue and White Porcelain Plum Vase?"

Hu Yunbin looked troubled: "Qing Dynasty imitations are easy to find, but Yuan or Ming Dynasty ones... that's difficult."

"If you can find a Yuan Dynasty one, I will pay twenty Big Yellow Fish!" the middle-aged man said decisively.

"Done, give me three days, and I will go look for you," Hu Yunbin replied.

The middle-aged man nodded and turned to leave the shop.

Hu Yunbin immediately took out five million and handed it to Cui Dazhi: "Hurry and go look around Liulichang; this money definitely won't be enough to buy it, but if you see something suitable, use it as a deposit first."

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Xu Damao's senior fellow apprentice Cui Dazhi had walked through almost every shop in Liulichang without seeing a shadow of a Yuan blue and white piece.

In fact, he and Xu Damao were not here for the first time—ever since their Siqiang Hu Yunbin stopped going into tombs himself, he focused on collecting the funerary objects brought out by fellow tomb raiders, and Liulichang was the trading spot they frequented.

The two had wasted their efforts all day and were dejectedly planning to go home, waiting to try their luck at the Ghost Market at night.

Just then, two ragged men with thick Shaanxi accents entered their line of sight.

The large cloth bags slung over the two men's shoulders were bulging, their expressions were flustered, and they kept looking left and right.

Cui Dazhi gave a wink and went up with Xu Damao to block their path.

"Two brothers," Cui Dazhi lowered his voice, "What kind of good goods are hidden in your bags? Take them out and let us have a look!"

The older man looked them over vigilantly, hesitating for a moment before saying, "There is a Blue and White Plum Vase... it will cost ten Big Yellow Fish."

"Let's go, find a place to look at the item," Cui Dazhi signaled.

The two followed Cui Dazhi into a quiet dead-end alley.

The older man carefully took out a Blue and White Porcelain plum vase wrapped in layers of tattered cloth from his bundle.

Cui Dazhi examined it for a long time; the vase body was decorated with an Intertwined Lotus Pattern in blue and white as its main theme, the lotus petals were plump, some like buds ready to bloom, others in full, unrestrained blossom, with vines entwined between them, the lines flowing and natural, as if swaying in the wind. It should be Yuan dynasty blue and white, but such items were extremely rare, so he shouldn't have run into one. That meant it was a Qianlong period imitation.

"Ten Big Yellow Fish, not a single one less." The older man immediately took the plum vase back.

"This item... I can't be sure of it; how about you come with me to Qianmen to have my Siqiang take a look at it?" Cui Dazhi said.

"No way!" The older one immediately refused, "If we get to your territory, what if you swindle us?"