Chapter 34: Words Manifesting into Law

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The three of them left the shop. Li Xinfang tilted her head, her eyes blinking rapidly.

Two weeks earlier, when Gu Ming had told her that his god-grandfather was some kind of expert, she had not really believed him.

It was only after Gu Ming brought her a photograph and she made a half-skeptical inquiry that she learned he had not been exaggerating. Professor Lin Changqing was highly renowned in the antique and appraisal circles, ranking among the very best in Western Capital and even throughout the province.

Later, when they were preparing to ask the old man for help, Gu Ming told her that his grandfather was in the hospital, but that his god-brother was also remarkably capable.

Li Xinfang naturally did not believe that either.

There were plenty of cases where a great father had a worthless son, let alone someone separated from him by an entire generation. Besides, Lin Sicheng was only a fourth-year student. How much experience or discernment could he possibly have?

Still, letting Gu Ming’s younger brother take a look would help strengthen their relationship. Once Professor Lin was discharged, their chances of asking him for help would be better as well.

So today she had come merely because she had nothing better to do. She had never expected the matter to turn out like this.

The jade-shop owner had looked as though he had seen a ghost, barely restraining himself from asking, “How did you know?” Could that string of court beads really be genuine?

Thank goodness. Thank goodness. They had come within a hair of losing tens of thousands.

She exhaled and glanced at Lin Sicheng, whose brows and eyes still held a trace of youthful innocence. He really was a man whose true abilities did not show on the surface. She never would have guessed.

Gu Ming was no less astonished, though what surprised him was not Lin Sicheng’s eye for antiques. He had witnessed that several times already and had grown accustomed to it.

What amazed him was Lin Sicheng’s nose. He had said that there were more than ten spices mixed into the incense. Even a dog might not have been able to identify them all.

“What was that thing you mentioned? The last one—the stuff that was part traditional medicine, part tea, and part fruit-tree branch?”

“Wubo Tibetan incense.”

“What?”

“It is a transliteration of a Tibetan term meaning offerings to Heaven, the gods, and the Buddha. Traditionally known as ‘burning incense offerings,’ it was the most solemn sacrificial ceremony of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The incense used during the ceremony was called Wubo Tibetan incense, or heavenly incense and divine incense.

“Because its fragrance is excessively rich and pungent, it never became popular in the Central Plains. It was used only in Tibetan, Mongolian, and other regional lamaseries.

“There was a considerable amount of soot remaining inside the holes through which the beads had been strung. That means they must have been offered for worship in a lamasery before they were acquired, and for a very long time—at least several decades. Therefore, they could not possibly be court beads. At most, they were a monk’s prayer beads.”

Li Xinfang was astonished. Didn’t Western Capital University teach any of this?

But she kept silent.

Gu Ming thought it over again. “They may only be prayer beads, but they’re still made of jade. They should be worth quite a bit, shouldn’t they?”

“They have some value, certainly. But compared with court beads, both their worth and their significance are worlds apart.” Lin Sicheng paused. “Besides, they would hardly be suitable as a birthday gift.”

“Why not?”

“Do you remember that among the jade beads of the court necklace, there were four large beads?”

“I remember.” Gu Ming thought back. “They weren’t very bright, and they were a little dirty. I didn’t know why, but they gave me an unpleasant feeling.”

“That unpleasant feeling was justified.”

Lin Sicheng sighed. “They were skull beads.”

The other two stared at him in unison. Human skullcaps?

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Li Xinfang, of course, knew that the four beads had been carved from bone. She had asked about them before, and the shop owner had told her they were rhinoceros horn.

But now she reconsidered. Since that necklace had been enshrined in a lamasery, it must have been the remains of a deceased lama. And when she thought of certain customs of Tibetan Buddhism...

Her small face went deathly pale.

“Lin Sicheng, you’ve saved us today!”

Gu Ming also understood. The issue had nothing to do with what kind of bone they were made from. The crucial point was that they were planning to give the necklace to someone as a present—and specifically as a birthday present.

They were about to give someone the bones of the dead?

Lin Sicheng had truly done them an enormous favor.

Gu Ming secretly gave him a thumbs-up. Lin Sicheng smiled.

“It was nothing. If you’re not in a hurry, take your time looking. If you are, have Gu Ming help you think of something else.”

“I am in somewhat of a hurry. The main problem is that the uncle in question has a rather special position. He won’t accept ordinary gifts, so we can only cater to his preferences.”

I see. The man was an official, and they needed to ask him for a favor.

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment. “How about this? Take the afternoon off as well, and let Gu Ming accompany you. We’ll go to Rongbaozhai.”

“I definitely have time, but Rongbaozhai requires advance reservations. I’m afraid it may be too late.”

That was true.

Rongbaozhai mainly dealt in paper for calligraphy and painting, as well as the Four Treasures of the Study. It also accepted commissions to purchase famous calligraphy and paintings, seal engravings, and other antiques and curios.

The key was the commissioned purchasing service. A customer had to place an order first, after which the shop would check whether the item was available in its warehouse. If not, it would see whether any customers had registered for advance sales.

For example, Rongbaozhai itself collected calligraphy and paintings. If something was unavailable in Western Capital, it could be brought in from the capital or Tianjin.

For other categories, however, they could only search gradually. If a customer wanted something too urgently, Rongbaozhai would simply refuse the order.

“Can you be more specific? What sort of item are you looking for?”

“Preferably jade.”

“Then they’ll definitely have something.”

They did indeed have jade pieces. The problem was that they did not sell them to nonmembers.

And to become a member, one needed the joint recommendation of at least three members who had belonged to the organization for more than five years.

It was difficult to understand. What kind of business operated like that?

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment. “Don’t worry. I have a friend who works there. I’ll call and ask him later.”

It would certainly be useless.

Her father was a regular customer and knew several of Rongbaozhai’s managers, yet even he had been unable to help.

Li Xinfang still thanked him. “Then I’ll trouble you.”

Lin Sicheng nodded. “It’s nothing.”

Gu Ming looked bewildered. “Why does it have to be Rongbaozhai?”

Li Xinfang sighed. “At least they don’t sell counterfeits, and the provenance of their items is guaranteed.”

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Just like that necklace of court beads. Whether it was genuine or not, they had nearly turned their good intentions into a disaster.

Gu Ming understood. He glanced at Lin Sicheng again, clearly asking whether they should have his grandfather step in.

Lin Sicheng shook his head. Why use a butcher’s cleaver to kill a chicken?

The market was too noisy. Once they left, he would call Senior Brother Hao and ask him.

As he was pondering this, a voice came from behind.

“Hey! You there, stop! Why are you running?”

Lin Sicheng instinctively turned around and immediately burst out laughing.

What were the odds?

He had just been thinking about Senior Brother Hao, and there he was.

Was this some kind of wish-fulfillment magic?

...

“You’re skipping class again, you little rascal?”

“What are you talking about? I’m a model student.”

“If you’re a model student, then I’m a model worker. Just so happens...” Hao Jun slung an arm around Lin Sicheng’s neck. “Come on!”

“Where?”

“To Old Song’s place. Let’s see whether he has a second Mansheng teapot.”

As if that were likely.

If Old Song had possessed one, he would have brought it out that day.

Lin Sicheng pointed behind him. “I still have friends with me!”

Hao Jun raised his head. When he saw Gu Ming and Li Xinfang, he realized that Lin Sicheng had come to appraise something for them.

“All right, then. You two browse around first. Old Guan is waiting.”

“Director Guan is here too?”

“He was the one who suggested it. He said he’d go sound out Old Song first and ask where he got that teapot. If he can find out, I’ll make my appearance afterward.”

Lin Sicheng shook his head. “I doubt it.”

Hao Jun clearly shared his opinion. “So do I. But Old Guan said that since we’re idle anyway, we might as well give it a try.”

The two men murmured to each other while Gu Ming remained puzzled. This man was about the same age as Uncle Lin, yet he was draping an arm over Lin Sicheng’s shoulders as though they were close friends.

Li Xinfang, meanwhile, was staring in astonishment. After visiting the place several times, she naturally recognized the man before her: the general manager of Rongbaozhai in Western Capital and the secretary-general of the Folk Arts Association.

So Lin Sicheng’s “friend” was him?

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