Chapter 161 Lee Jung-gyu Ink
After a noisy meal, Jinran knew her sentence was about to begin.
Professor Wang placed the items Jinran had bought onto the table one by one: a box, an inkstone, and a paperweight.
"These cost five yuan in total?"
Jinran nodded obediently.
Professor Wang asked seriously, "Then tell me, why did you choose these things? And what were you thinking at the time?"
Jinran thought for a moment, then picked up the box on the table and weighed it. Then she said, "The weight of this box is wrong. I suspect there's a hidden compartment, but I'm not sure if the contents are good or bad. I admit there's an element of gambling involved. But I'm still curious about the contents, and that paperweight is also strange, I can't quite put my finger on it."
Professor Wang nodded. "I'm really surprised you didn't choose your specialty, porcelain. This box is a bit odd, but the paperweight is definitely from the Republic of China era. There's nothing fishy about it. So, will you open the hidden compartment yourself, or do you need my help?"
Of course I'll help. Why bother myself when there's something to do?
Professor Wang seemed to know Jinran's thoughts. He gestured briefly, then took out gloves and began to operate.
Professor Gu and Jinran watched Professor Wang's movements intently.
After two hours, we finally managed to open the hidden compartment, but inside was a very small thing wrapped in red cloth.
Professor Wang stepped back and said to Jinran, "This is your stuff, you can do it yourself."
Jinran obediently reached out and took the item out.
Once the red cloth was opened, what appeared to be a... ink stick?
What kind of treasure is this?
Jinran looked at Professor Wang with a puzzled expression, but Professor Wang remained rooted to the spot. Jinran then looked at Professor Gu with a puzzled expression. To her surprise, Professor Gu was also staring blankly at the ink stick in Jinran's hand.
What exactly is this thing?
Just then, Grandma Wang came out with a kettle. "What are you all doing? What are you staring at so intently?"
Jinran replied, "I don't know. I just took out this ink stick, and the professors turned into this."
Grandma Wang looked curiously at the ink stick in Jinran's hand, and then there was another person with a blank stare.
Jinran “123., Wooden Man?”
Professor Wang was the first to come to his senses. He excitedly said to Jinran, "Nini, can I take a look at this ink stick?"
Jinran nodded and handed the items over.
Professor Wang didn't take it. Instead, he spread the red cloth he had earlier on the table and carefully said, "Put it here slowly."
Jinran could tell from Professor Wang's tense attitude that the ink stick was of considerable origin. After putting it down, before Professor Wang could even handle it, Professor Gu grabbed it in his hand.
Professor Wang was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged.
Professor Gu said in a frenzied tone, "I can't believe I've actually seen Li Mo in my lifetime. This is the real Li Mo."
Grandma Wang asked tremblingly, "Is it true? Is it Li Tinggui Mo?"
Lee Jung-gyu Mo?
Jinran's mind suddenly started racing with gold coins. She was rich! She had only ever heard of this before, but never actually seen it.
Professor Wang said impatiently from the side, "Hey Lao Gu, can you let me take a look? You've been looking at it for so long already."
Professor Gu reluctantly handed Li Mo over, but before Professor Wang could take it, Grandma Wang intercepted it.
Professor Wang: "!!?" What happened in that fleeting moment?
Grandma Wang said excitedly, "This is a treasure! I'm so lucky to be able to see it."
When it was finally Professor Wang's turn, half an hour had passed, and Jinran had already started drinking her second cup of tea.
As Professor Wang observed the ink sticks, he explained their origin: "These ink sticks were originally made by Li Tinggui and his son from the Southern Tang Dynasty. Actually, Li Tinggui's original surname was Xi, but Li was the imperial surname at the time. His family was only granted the surname Li because of their ink-making skills, which earned them recognition. Furthermore, this ink is easy to grind, the ink is glossy black, it doesn't bleed or soak into paper, and it has a special fragrance. Paintings and calligraphy made with this ink will not be damaged by insects no matter how many years pass. Moreover, it is very hard."
Then came a barrage of compliments.
Professor Gu concluded, "There are fewer than two known examples of this in existence. It is extremely precious."
Jinran looked at the two of them suspiciously. They wouldn't expect her to make a selfless donation, would they?
Professor Wang reluctantly returned Li Mo to Jin Ran, and then said earnestly, "This is a precious item that can be passed down as a family heirloom. You must keep it safe and don't sell it unless absolutely necessary."
Jinran suddenly realized she had been being petty, and nodded firmly, "I will definitely protect it well."
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