Chapter 35 was just that unfortunate
Subconsciously, Li Xinfang recalled the scene when she accompanied her father to Rongbaozhai, where the store manager, unable to bear her father's pestering, had to ask General Manager Hao to come out:
With a serious expression and sitting upright, he said, "Mr. Li, I won't lie to you: the store does have what you want, but I'm really sorry..."
Looking ahead: arms around each other, laughing and joking...
If she hadn't remembered it so well, she wouldn't have recognized it.
After exchanging a few words, Hao Jun was about to leave when Lin Sicheng stopped him again: "Director Guan hasn't called yet, why are you in such a hurry? I need your help: do you have any jade pieces in the shop? Could you spare one for me?"
"Who wants it first?"
Wait, there are different tiers for these?
Lin Sicheng had a sudden inspiration: "My grandfather's god-grandson's fiancée's father!"
Hao Jun racked his brains for a long time, then looked back and said, "Why don't you just say you're a relative?"
"Just tell me, do you have it or not?"
“Yes!” Hao Jun nodded. “But you need to be more specific. Even if it’s a study artifact or a jade piece, different objects have different attributes and meanings.”
"I know, it's for a birthday gift, and the recipient is someone of high rank!"
Lin Sicheng replied, then looked back and said, "Dr. Li, could you reveal more?"
Li Xinfang was suddenly stunned: It's done?
She steadied herself and lowered her voice: "My uncle works in the judicial system."
"Then a seal would be perfect!"
Hao Jun made the final decision, "But there's no need to go to the shop. The procedures are troublesome, and the price is high... Old Guan has several pieces, all by famous artists: Gao Fengxiang, Zhang Yanchang, Li Liangyu... and even a piece by Wu Changshuo with crow skin..."
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: "Crow skin is also known as black Tianhuang stone, which is the best of the best among Tianhuang stones, and it was engraved by Wu Changshuo."
Even in 2007, it would have cost over a million.
Seeing that he remained silent, Lin Sicheng assumed that Guan Xingmin was worried that he would not be willing to help, so he gave him a reassuring look: "Old Guan does really value that thing, but it depends on the person!"
Last night, when the two were on the phone talking about coming to Xicang, Lao Guan mentioned Lin Sicheng: "That kid has good judgment, and even better character..."
In short: We clicked!
"Forget about Wu Changshuo!" Lin Sicheng glanced back. "Dr. Li, ask your uncle if Gao Fengxiang's seal will do!"
He was famous, but not too famous, certainly not as prominent as Wu Changshuo. He had a positive image and had even served as an official.
Li Xinfang nodded repeatedly: "It will definitely work!"
"It's better to ask!"
"Okay, okay... I'll ask now!"
Li Xinfang's face flushed, and she quickly took out her phone.
She couldn't help but be excited: her father had said all the nice things, being humble and courteous, but Secretary-General Hao hadn't given in, yet Lin Sicheng had only said a few words.
Even if she didn't understand, she knew what Tianhuang stone was and who Wu Changshuo was.
Her dad would laugh himself silly if he found out.
Lin Sicheng told her to wait until she finished her call before going to find Guan Xingmin. He then casually asked, "Does Director Guan like seal carving?"
"He doesn't work with gold, only stone, and he likes to tinker with all kinds of jade, not just seals."
"How about Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads? Do you like them? They're made of Hetian jade, from the mid-Qing Dynasty, and the four knotted beads are kapala!"
“He definitely won’t want it, but someone else will.” Hao Jun’s eyes lit up. “I have a Tibetan customer who sold that Buddha statue of yours last time. He was very quick to sell.”
That was indeed quite straightforward; Hao Jun sold a Buddha statue worth around 200,000 yuan for 370,000 yuan. After paying taxes, it came to exactly 300,000 yuan.
"Then go ask around later, it's just around the corner. The price isn't too high, only 160,000. And the boss was pretty badly hurt by me, so you might be able to negotiate a lower price..."
Lin Sicheng briefly recounted what had happened, and Hao Jun's eyes widened.
How obscure is Wuzang Buxiang?
Not to mention hearing about it, even someone who majored in Indian and Buddhist archaeology has barely seen it many times.
The key issue is that the recipe is extremely complex, containing over thirty different ingredients. Lin Sicheng, on the other hand, managed to include every single one correctly?
Can we bring a police dog over?
Lin Sicheng touched his nose: "Why are you staring at me?"
"Nothing!" Hao Jun averted his gaze. "Aren't you going?"
"Forget it, don't go looking for trouble and get beaten up!"
Is that so?
There was a bit of that, but Hao Jun knew that Lin Sicheng was just returning the favor.
For ordinary people, kapala is a human bone, but for Tibetan Buddhist believers, it is absolutely the most sacred object: it is not a relic of a great lama, it cannot be strung on a jade prayer bead, and it is even less likely to be placed in a shrine for many years.
If he were to sell it to the customer who bought the Buddha statue, he wouldn't even bat an eye at three 160,000s.
Hao Jun sighed: What did Lao Guan say last night?
That kid is a bit stubborn; he always remembers kindness shown to him and repays any favors he receives...
Just as Hao Jun was silently reflecting on this, his phone rang. He took it out, but then hung up.
Immediately afterward, Guan Xingmin's voice came from behind: "Hey, Xiao Lin, did Lao Hao call you here?"
"Hey, this kid skipped class!"
"Haha..." Guan Xingmin laughed, "You're something else: you kept your grandpa in the hospital while you went out and had some fun?"
Lin Sicheng laughed as well: "I'm helping a relative look after something!"
Hao Jun then brought up the matter of the seal, and Guan Xingmin didn't refuse at all, inviting Lin Sicheng to his house to choose whichever side he wanted.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Xinfang finished her call and walked over with Gu Ming. Just as Lin Sicheng was about to introduce them, Li Xinfang exclaimed softly, "Uncle Guan?"
Guan Xingmin paused for a moment, recalling what Lin Sicheng had just said, and his expression grew increasingly strange.
"That man over there is my grandfather's godchild. You should know his father: Gu Kaishan, who works at the South Gate Police Station..."
"The person next to him on the phone was his girlfriend. They had just caught a glimpse of each other when his girlfriend's father was about to deliver a gift..."
"I didn't ask what they did specifically, they just said they worked in the judicial system, so I guess it's for asking people for favors, and the position isn't low-level..."
So, could it be that the person Lin Sicheng's grandfather's god-grandson's prospective girlfriend's father, the one he was supposed to give gifts to and get things done, was himself?
Li Xinfang was completely dumbfounded.
She did hear Lin Sicheng and Hao Jun mention "Director Guan" several times, but Guan Xingmin's official title was "section chief," so she never thought of it that way.
Now that's a problem, how are we going to deliver it?
Hao Jun was also quite surprised: In fact, he recognized Li Xinfang at first glance, but since they weren't familiar with each other, he didn't say anything.
Lin Sicheng was completely bewildered:
My uncle works in the judicial system... Guan Xingmin works in the Public Security Bureau.
The rank is not low... Is the deputy director of the certification center a division chief or a deputy division chief?
He likes collecting... If he didn't like collecting, Guan Xingmin wouldn't be able to join the Collectors Association.
But who could have imagined that things would turn out so badly?
Perhaps we've made a mistake by trying to do something good but ending up with something bad?
Sensing something was wrong, Guan Xingmin laughed and said, "Xiao Li, go back and tell your dad to come to my office tomorrow... Don't bring anything, and if you do, don't come!"
After a slight pause, he chuckled and patted Lin Sicheng on the shoulder: "Why make such a fuss over a phone call?"
Li Xinfang was dizzy and wanted to say thank you, but her tongue seemed to be tied in knots: her father had been worrying about this for months, and it was done just like that?
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