But this gold-inlaid jade seal is something else! I've seen quite a few seals, but this one is truly impossible to identify. I honestly can't recognize the design on it either!
"Big Head, do you know any renowned seal engravers or connoisseurs in Nanjing's antique trade who are fond of seals?"
Liu Datong scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Commander Ning, you've asked the wrong person. I'm only a tiny bit educated. I'd be lucky to recognize a few characters. I'm really not familiar with these antiques, but I know Chen Yanqing is quite fond of them, so I'll have him go and ask around."
Ning Zhiheng knew he had asked the wrong person. Liu Datong had not received a good education since childhood and could only barely read. He had no interest in these antiques. In his opinion, these two jade artifacts were far less tempting than those gold bars!
The items were successfully retrieved, and Ning Zhiheng and his companion hurriedly arrived at the police station with the metal box.
Ning Zhiheng didn't want to alarm others and cause unnecessary trouble, so he didn't go to the police station and asked Liu Datong to find Chen Yanqing.
A short while later, Chen Yanqing followed Liu Datong out of the police station. The two got into the car, and Ning Zhiheng handed over the jade box he was holding.
“Yanqing, Datou said you’re interested in antiques and jade. Why don’t you come and see what the origin of this seal is?” Ning Zhiheng said.
Chen Yanqing took the jade box with both hands, opened it, and took out the gold-inlaid jade seal. He examined it carefully for a long time, then shook his head and said, "I only know a little about seals, and I haven't seen many good ones. I can't understand this seal either, but I can tell that it is definitely an ancient seal from a very long time ago."
However, I know a renowned scholar of epigraphy and jade nearby, a professor at Jinling University. His surname is Fang, and his name is Fang Boyi! He is quite famous in the field.
He doesn't live far away, just on Jiyuan Road, about three blocks away. Why don't we go ask him for advice?
Ning Zhiheng nodded. So the three of them drove together to Fang Boyi's house.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the intersection of Jiyuan Road, and the three people walked to the gate of No. 23. Ning Zhiheng and the other two got out of the car and went to the gate, where Chen Yanqing rang the doorbell.
After a while, a man dressed as a servant came out of the house. He stood before the gate and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Ning Zhiheng said with a smile, "We have come to visit Professor Fang because we admire his reputation. We have some items that we don't understand. We have come specifically to visit you because we admire your scholarship. We hope that you will be so kind as to meet us!"
The maid nodded and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go ask Mr. Fang."
After saying that, he turned and went inside. He returned a moment later and said, "Mr. Fang is not feeling well and is not able to receive guests. Please leave!"
Liu Datong was immediately displeased and stepped forward, pointing at the male servant, ready to argue. Ning Zhiheng reached out and stopped him, shouting, "We need your help; we should be polite!"
Seeing Ning Zhiheng's reprimand, Liu Datong dared not say anything more.
Ning Zhiheng turned around and smiled at the male servant, saying softly, "We've come all this way to ask Professor Fang for some guidance. We won't take up too much of his time; we'll leave as soon as we've looked at the items!"
As they spoke, Ning Zhiheng discreetly slipped two banknotes from his hand into the servant's sleeve. The servant was taken aback, glanced at Ning Zhiheng carefully, turned around, and deftly slipped the twenty yuan into his pocket.
"Let me ask again for you! Sir, please wait a moment!" The servant's attitude immediately became polite.
After saying that, he turned and went back into the house, this time staying a little longer. When he came out again, he smiled and said to Ning Zhiheng, "Mr. Fang, please come in."
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