Chapter 54 He came to atone for his master's sins
He'd folded a masterpiece because of Qin Tian's situation. He racked his brains, thinking, what would be the best way to let Qin Tian know? He didn't want her to be moved, just to be moved. Telling her himself was the worst option, absolutely impossible. If she asked, would he admit it directly or just pretend?
Over the past three years, he'd thought about it many times: how could Qin Tian have fallen for him back then? Did he do something to impress her? From his perspective, he couldn't figure it out. Once, he'd discussed this with a friend. If he could understand what had moved her back then, perhaps it could still move her now.
My friend patted him sympathetically and said, "Give it up. You'll never guess what a girl is thinking. My girlfriend said that what attracted her to me was that I was looking for my phone in the bushes with my butt sticking out. I said, is it because of my perky butt? She said I wasn't afraid of embarrassment, which is why she was attracted to me."
Never mind, let it be. Wait until she asks, then see how the mood takes her. If she doesn't ask, he'll have Elder Deng call and remind her. Since they're close friends regardless of age, he'll just consider it a small favor for her.
He thought about everything and fell asleep until dawn.
Qin Tian entered the museum, and the first thing she did was to settle the score with Song Suiyang. But if she wanted to find Song Suiyang, she would inevitably meet Tong Zhongyuan. After weighing the pros and cons, she had no choice but to give up. In short, she knew that Song Suiyang was unreliable and would never ask her for anything again.
But there were some people she couldn't avoid seeing just because she didn't want to. She finished up the work she'd missed in the morning and went to the cafe to buy coffee. Tong Zhongyuan sat at a small round table with a bottle of orange juice on it. That kind of orange juice only cost 7.9 yuan at the store, but 25 yuan at the cafe. He had plenty of money anyway, so it was his freedom to buy whatever he wanted. She nodded at him and ordered a low-caffeine cappuccino.
Normally, after placing her order, she would sit aside and check her phone while waiting for the coffee to brew. But today, Tong Zhongyuan was sitting there, and she didn't want to face him, so she had to stand with her back to him and wait.
It took four to five minutes to brew a cup of coffee, and those five minutes passed incredibly slowly. She had no eyes behind her back, so she had no idea if he was paying attention to her. But Tong Zhongyuan had a certain aura about him, and whenever she stepped into his presence, she would feel uneasy. From now on, if she saw Tong Zhongyuan there, she would rather not buy anything and come back another time. Finally, the coffee was ready, she took it, and without looking back, she went back to the office.
He watched her resolute back as she walked away, threw the orange juice into the trash can, and left the cafe.
Before noon, she was called out by the most unexpected phone call.
During the few days she was away, the paper she wrote on thermoluminescence dosage had passed the review. Ming Yuanxing wanted to talk to her about the publication and time node, but he couldn't find her, so he asked Tang Zhixu. Tang Zhixu, as the official spokesperson, gave a unified answer that she had taken leave due to some family matters. But Ming Yuanxing was very clear about Qin Tian's family composition. He thought that if there was something wrong at home, it must be Old Qin, so he called Qin Yunjie. Qin Yunjie would not talk about his illness, but he was in a very bad state, and his words were a little disorganized. The nurse came in at that time, and Ming Yuanxing knew that Old Qin was in the hospital.
Ming Yuanxing had an outing today and had no plans to go into the museum. He was a considerate and nostalgic man, and knowing that Old Qin was in the hospital, he had no reason not to visit him. He called Qin Tian to inquire about the hospital's address and his condition.
It was impossible to explain Qin Yunjie's situation over the phone. Qin Tian hesitated, and Ming Yuanxing became even more suspicious. He was really anxious and said that he would go to the hospital to visit him at noon and bring some food to have lunch with Lao Qin.
Qin Yunjie's condition was sometimes good and sometimes bad, and when he was in a rage, he would not recognize Ming Yuanxing. Qin Tian saw that he could not persuade him, so he hurried to the hospital to wait for Ming Yuanxing.
Just as she arrived, Ming Yuanxing also arrived. The two met in front of the ward building. She didn't want Ming Yuanxing to be too shocked when he saw Qin Yunjie later, so she explained Qin Yunjie's condition downstairs.
In Ming Yuanxing's mind, Qin Yunjie was still the capable, sharp, down-to-earth, and hardworking person he had been in the past. He couldn't even imagine him having dementia. For a moment, he was speechless, his face etched with sadness.
After Qin Yunjie left the Shanghai Museum 20 years ago, he cut off all contact with the people and things there. She guessed that inferiority and arrogance coexisted in him, and in fact, he was not as regretless as he said. Later, she graduated with a degree in cultural relics and museums, and came to the Shanghai Museum for an interview under the name Qin Tian. After going through many difficulties, she finally got the offer. She always thought it was due to her own strength. A few years later, she learned that her father had asked Ming Yuanxing for help. It was at that time that he reconnected with his former boss. The moment she learned the truth, she felt no gratitude at all, only anger. He had once again tarnished her dreams and pride. She will never know whether Ming Yuanxing recruited her because of her or because of Qin Yunjie. In order to prove herself, she can only work harder.
Ming Yuanxing sometimes lamented that she resembled his father in his youth, but she didn't want to hear that. Director Ming gradually stopped mentioning her, and he began to talk to her as his right-hand man, rather than the daughter of his former subordinate.
She pushed open the door and saw Qin Yunjie half-leaning on the bed. She called out, "Dad, look who's here?"
He turned around, his eyes fell on Ming Yuanxing, and asked blankly, "Team Leader Ming?"
Qin Tian felt a little relieved. Ming Yuanxing walked over to the bedside, clasped his hands, and said with emotion, "Old Qin. Alas, it's all good. It's good that you're here. Qin Tian told me that medicine is so advanced now, so you shouldn't be too stressed."
Qin Yunjie smiled, but the smile seemed to be half a beat late, appearing slowly and dully.
"It's great that you're here. I thought I wouldn't see you again."
Ming Yuanxing was heartbroken upon hearing this, but he couldn't show it on his face. He pretended to be relaxed and said, "Why can't we meet? If you want to see me, just give me a call and I'll be here."
Qin Yunjie continued to smile and said, "Then I'll call you later. I can still remember the number. 58702126, right?"
Ming Yuanxing paused for a moment, then laughed out loud, "You still have a good memory. It's been all these years, and you still remember it."
Qin Yunjie leaned on the bed frame with clear eyes.
"Team Leader Ming, after I leave, the matter of the Ba Mausoleum will be handed over to you. The Shanghai Museum has always been weak in archaeological research. If you can prove that the Jiangcun Tomb is the Ba Mausoleum, no one will dare to look down on the Shanghai Museum's archaeological team anymore."
Ming Yuanxing turned his face away, unable to hold on any longer, and just held Qin Yunjie's hands tightly. Qin Tian opened the door and walked out, leaving the ward to the two of them.
She stood by the window, watching the pigeons circling across the sky. Most of the trees were still as lush and green as they had been in summer, but those that were sensitive to autumn had already shed their first leaves.
After a long while, Ming Yuanxing finally came out of the ward and stood beside her, looking out the window with her. After a while, he said, "Xiao Qin, if you have any difficulties, please tell me. I'm old and don't want to have any regrets."
Qin Tian nodded and replied, "I know."
He shook his head, his gaze cast into the distant past.
"You don't know. I owe Lao Qin a debt. I was young then, and only after all these years have I come to understand. Others don't understand him, but I do. It's because I didn't try my best, otherwise he wouldn't be like this."
"Don't say that," Qin Tian couldn't help but said, "You've already fought for him. He made a mistake, it has nothing to do with you."
"Qin Tian, your father's mistake isn't as serious as you think. Although he bought that copper coin while on a business trip, he used his own money, and its value isn't high enough for the Shanghai Museum to collect. He didn't buy it to make money by reselling it. Emotionally, it's a matter of deep affection between husband and wife; morally, it's a matter of not letting the Shanghai Museum down. I don't think this punishment is appropriate. Even putting aside these emotional considerations, there's a saying in solving cases from ancient times to the present that meritorious service can atone for sin, or that one can make up for one's sin with meritorious service. The value that Old Qin has created for the Shanghai Museum far outweighs this minor mistake. Over the years, this matter hasn't just been a knot in your heart, it's also been mine."
A pigeon flew past the window, landed on the grass and started to walk around. Several patients were sitting or standing and chatting.
Ming Yuanxing recalled how, over 30 years ago, he and Lao Qin often traveled together on business. Sometimes they'd be away from home for half a year, their clothes worn out before they'd even come home. If one of them fell ill, the other would rush them to the hospital. Once, both of them fell ill, still in their hospital gowns, chatting about their newly acquired bronze artifacts. Neither of them had families then, so he had no ties, but he knew Lao Qin had someone he cared about. His fiancée was the daughter of his master, Han Yehua, a renowned antique dealer before the Liberation Army.
"Yi Zhang," he said, looking off into the distance. Old people tend to be talkative. "Wasn't Lao Qin assigned to the Shanghai Museum? Back then..."
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