Chapter 10

Elder Fang arrived in Qunnan Province with only a few people accompanying him. Except for his students, he didn’t notify anyone.

He had plenty of reasons, such as the panic that would ensue in Qunnan’s business circles if his unexpected visit was known.

People’s standpoints, opinions, and attitudes were not all the same. Zheng Cunzhi and his compatriots in the same faction were willing to drive to the airport late at night to wait for his arrival, but not everyone was like them.

Fatigued by the journey, the guests took the rest of the night off. The next day, in a VIP suite of Qunnan Hotel, an emergency “student-teacher meeting” was held.

Elder Fang let out a puff of cigarette smoke and shook his head. “The situation in Qunnan Province is quite a mess, you know?”

Mr. Zheng, who usually presented an imposing, dignified image, at the moment looked humble and deferential. He heaved a sigh. “Indeed. Our younger generation was supposed to take over and lead the charge, and yet…”

Last month, at Sotheby’s annual auction in Hong Kong, a new record for the price of antiques was made. The vermilion and gold-decorated ‘Qianlong’ long-necked vase from Qing dynasty, which was auctioned, had the same value as the “national treasures” carefully guarded by the National Museum. It was the treasure of the Chinese nation, and yet it ended up in the hands of a French antique dealer.

According to reliable reports, the source of this priceless antique was mainland China.

And it wasn’t just a single case. In recent years, the rapid economic development of the country had spawned countless smugglers willing to take risks for profits. They all had their unique tactics and tricks, but usually, they used sea transport. As such, Qunnan Province with a large number of coastal cities was among the highest statistics of smuggling incidents.

Countless treasure-carrying ships left their native land and headed overseas. However, every time the government tried to catch the smugglers, they came away empty-handed.

Once a phenomenon reached such a level, like a big, sturdy tree, nothing short of a hurricane could uproot it.”How is it your fault? In his work ‘Capital,’ Mr. Marx said: ‘With adequate profit, capital is very bold. A certain 10 percent will ensure its employment anywhere; 20 percent certain will produce eagerness; 50 percent, positive audacity; 100 percent will make it ready to trample on all human laws; 300 percent, and there is not a crime at which it will scruple, nor a risk it will not run, even at the chance of its owner being hanged.’ And stealing cultural relics would ensure far more than 300 percent profit.” Well aware of his student’s difficulties, Elder Fang shook his head. “Cunzhi, people in government positions often have their hands tied.”

Grave, he continued, “So you understand how great propaganda value this donation of antiques will have for our plan to fight smuggling. For this reason, I’ll leave for Liyun Town as soon as possible, and check their authenticity. Remember, you must not act until you hear from me.”

Mr. Zheng immediately straightened and replied, “I know. Rest assured, there will be no leaks.”

Elder Fang nodded and leaned back on the sofa. “There’s one more thing, Cunzhi. I heard after your old leader was transferred, a new one was never appointed?”

Mr. Zheng was somewhat embarrassed: “Yes, his position has been vacant for over a month now.”

At the moment, he was performing his former leader’s duties, as it was different from his current position by only one syllable in the title. However, many people in the province were eyeing the empty position and stirred up various waves. Facing competition from multiple rivals, he didn’t have much confidence of really winning it.

Elder Fang saw his smile, as diffident as a decade ago, and smiled kindly in return, his eyes full of the wisdom of age. He looked at his former student meaningfully: “You don’t have to worry. You’re still young—you need to understand that when fate is on your side, even the earth and heavens will do their best to help you.”

Zheng Cunzhi turned these words over in his mind. Once he understood their deeper meaning, he turned solemn and immediately made a call: “Notify Liyun Town—they must prepare to receive the National Museum’s delegation and do their utmost to ensure the personal safety of its members! This has top priority! Be sure to emphasize that, more than once if needed!”

In Liyun Town, located in the northern part of Qunnan Province and with absolutely no sense of presence as far as the province was concerned, the municipality leader hung up with a confused expression on his face.

Nowadays, not only provincial and municipal governments but also museums send delegations?

Oh, whatever, he thought, unwilling to spend more time on pondering this matter. What would the museum delegation even do? Eat, drink, climb the mountains, and maybe research local cultural traditions? He would treat them as the most important guests, ply them with good wine and good food, and soon they would feel right at home.

And the security issue—the provincial leader repeated this so many times but really, wasn’t he overstating it? The delegation was just a group of ordinary scholars, who would look for trouble with them?

The second mock exam came. Lin Jingzhe scanned the exam paper and nearly choked—the difficulty was barely higher than that of the school’s internal final exam. He was truly disappointed in the school leaders.

However, it was still difficult for Class 5 since they reviewed an entirely different scope of material. After school, Lin Jingzhe, Gao Sheng, Zhou Haitang, and Deng Mai walked home together with Deng Mai’s “younger brothers.” On the way, they listened to them pour out their anxieties about the college entrance examination.

Of course, their way of thinking was different from that of Lin Jingzhe. Class 5 thought: the questions they reviewed in the class were tough, and on the second mock exam, which everyone said was much easier than the college entrance exam, there were still so many questions they couldn’t solve. So—just how difficult was the college entrance exam? They had to study even harder!

Their understanding was a bit skewed, but since it produced the desired effect, Lin Jingzhe didn’t bother correcting them.

Deng Mai did not join the discussion. He didn’t care about the college entrance examination and had already planned his life after graduating from high school. As such, right now, he was more interested in expanding his intelligence network: “Big Bro, did you know? Jiang Run from Class 1 came back to school yesterday and got the recommendation quota for Qunnan University. Li Yurong insisted on it.”

Lin Jingzhe’s eyebrows wrinkled. “Didn’t he get a demerit?”

“Oh, he did, but apparently some important guy personally contacted the principal. The school leaders nearly had heart attacks when they learned who he was, and erased the demerit. The director of Moral Education Office and the top students who were also eying the quota keep screaming blue murder, but what can those ninnies from Class 1 do except whine?”

This matter was strange. What “important guy” did the Jiangs know? He combed through his memory, but the only person who even remotely fit the bill was the official from the provincial capital who Jiang Xiaoyun promised the antiques. Certainly, in his previous life, the Jiang family became successful due to that man’s aid. Just—if he was willing to help them at this time, he must’ve already gotten a taste of sweetness, so to speak.

What sweetness? Lin Jingzhe didn’t even need to guess.

However, he didn’t panic but calmly reassessed the situation. A few days ago, the people from the National Museum contacted him and guaranteed a team of at least twenty experts to collect the bronzeware. They were supposed to arrive in Liyun Town today.

As long as his grandfather’s treasured collection was safe in the museum, where they belonged now that the old man had passed away, the future developments would be drastically different from his previous life. As such, Lin Jingzhe had nothing to fear.

The damaged, full of potholes road came to an end, and the teenagers stepped onto the smooth asphalt road of Liyun Town’s “wealthy neighborhood.” Lin Jingzhe just pulled out a key when he saw five people standing outside the gate of his house. The leader seemed to be an old man looking at the yard with hands clasped behind his back. He held himself with the kind of dignity that was impossible to ignore. The other four were tall and strong, and intentionally or unintentionally hovered behind the old man as if protecting him. From their bearing, they weren’t your average joes either.

His situation being what it was, Lin Jingzhe immediately became wary.

He exchanged tacit glances with Deng Mai and whispered, “Go home, ask your dad to get a few more people and come here, okay?”

Deng Mai nodded, trying to suppress his rising excitement—was there a great show about to happen?! His expression forcibly calm, he whispered back, “All right. Take care of yourself, Big Bro!”

Then, somehow looking like a special agent on a mission, he wheeled around dramatically and dashed away like the wind.

“……” Lin Jingzhe turned towards the five men who had noticed him already and said, “Good afternoon, you are…?”

The four tall men eyed him suspiciously, but the old man’s expression, which had been dignified when no one was there, became a kindly one. “Young gentlemen, do any of you know someone called Lin Jingzhe?”

At that, all the teenagers’ eyes focused on him.

Alarm bells went off in Lin Jingzhe’s head. “I do, but why are you looking for him?”

“We’re from the National Museum in Yan City. We have an appointment with him, but came a little too early.” The old man clearly regarded him as a child, and so treated him with extra patience. “Do you know where he is now?”

The people from the National Museum?

Lin Jingzhe relaxed a bit, but because of the news he’d heard from Deng Mai, he still maintained vigilance. So, he smiled and asked, “I see. Can you show me your credentials first?”

Elder Fang couldn’t remember how many years ago he last heard these words, and looked at the unusually cautious child in front of him with some surprise. However, this request was indeed reasonable, so he placidly took out his documents: “Of course.”

Government seal, museum’s official seal, various anti-counterfeiting marks—the man shouldn’t be a fake, the Jiangs weren’t able to obtain the National Museum’s credentials forged this flawlessly. Almost convinced, Lin Jingzhe put away his false smile and handed the document back. His tone of voice lost its naivety, becoming unemotional and even a bit authoritative instead: “Didn’t you promise to send at least twenty people?”

Elder Fang was dumbfounded by the change in the youth’s demeanor, and this question shocked him even more. “You…”

Lin Jingzhe sighed. He unlocked the gate, opened it, and stood aside. “You’d better come in—I’m Lin Jingzhe.”

Elder Fang took a while to digest Lin Jingzhe’s true personality. Only after they stood before the warehouse door, he remembered the teenager’s question. “Actually, Xiao… Uh.”

“You’re my elder, just call me Jingzhe, please,” Lin Jingzhe interjected timely.

Elder Fang smiled at him. “All right. Actually, the National Museum did send a delegation of twenty-nine experts. However, once we arrived in Liyun Town, there was a reception prepared by the Municipal Party Committee and so on. I didn’t want to suffer through it, so I left early, the others will come later.”

“Oh, I see.” Lin Jingzhe nodded. He opened the reinforced door and turned on the light. “Take your time. And, if you don’t mind a simple dinner, you’re welcome to eat at my house tonight.”

“Yes, yes, it’s fine…” Illuminated by the lamplight, the bronze gave off a muted glow. Once this glow reached Elder Fang’s eyes, the old man seemed to be bewitched. He quickly stepped forward, his gaze voracious, and raised a hand. When his fingers almost touched the surface of one of the antiques, he froze and seemed to shake himself. He pulled out a pair of white gloves from his pocket, put them on, and only then carefully picked up the smallest bronze vessel as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

These patterns, these shapes, this patina—every antique here was genuine. The more he saw and touched, the more excited he was, but at the same time, he became hesitant. He looked over his shoulder at Lin Jingzhe, who calmly watched him from the door. “Young man, are you sure you want to donate all this? You should know that, though they don’t look impressive, each of the bronzes here is extremely valuable. If you sell them, you will be able to live comfortably until you’re a hundred.”

Until now, Lin Jingzhe’s attitude towards Elder Fang was rather lukewarm, but these words caused him to improve his opinion. The first genuine smile appeared on his face—not very large, but all the more dazzling for it.

Elder Fan, basking in it, felt as if he stood in a warm, comfortable spring breeze.

Lin Jingzhe stepped into the warehouse and walked to Elder Fang’s side. He took a pair of gloves from one of the cabinets, then carefully received the small guang from the old man’s hands. He gazed at it, his eyes gentle. “This guang is from the Shang dynasty at the latest. In 1985, a similar piece was sold in Paris for the price equivalent to 4 million yuan. Five years have passed—it should be worth even more now, right? But even if it’s worth five million, six million, ten million or even one hundred million, I won’t exchange it for money. This collection is the result of my grandfather’s lifelong effort—he treasured it more than his life. I would never disregard his feelings like that.”

The words spoken by this young, clear, and crisp voice dumbfounded Elder Fang again.

If at first, the act of donation only gained his appreciation and praise, then at this moment, his heart filled with deep respect for Lin Jingzhe, a donor utterly different from what he’d imagined.

Lin Jingzhe was very young, but how many people would be open-minded and generous enough to donate things worth tens of millions or even hundreds of millions yuan in such a calm way? Liyun Town was small and insignificant, but even if he looked at Yan City, his friends and acquaintances, or his own children—maybe there would be none. Perhaps he’d only find a few in the whole country.

And this breadth of mind was by no means something that could be feigned.

Elder Fang opened his mouth but was unable to speak, a storm of indescribable feelings raging in his chest. He told himself that he must do something for the young man. Such a person shouldn’t be confined to the small, ordinary world of Liyun Town.

He was old and had retired years ago, but this was the first time he felt so moved by a person, to the point he had tears in his eyes. He couldn’t help but move closer to Lin Jingzhe and give him a gentle, encouraging pat on the back as if he was his blood-related and beloved grandchild.

After the little guang was carefully put back in its place, the two looked at each other and smiled.

Lin Jingzhe said calmly, “If there are no problems with the antiques, let’s return to the living room and sign the contract.”

Elder Fang nodded and supported himself on the arm the young man voluntarily offered. However, before they took even a step, a sudden noise burst from the living room.

“Lin Jingzhe? Where is Lin Jingzhe?!” A sharp voice shouted. “Don’t try to hide! We’re from the Cultural Relics Association. We came to investigate a case of privately held cultural relics—I advise you not obstruct our search!”