Professor Li was a friend of my grandfather. He used to work at the Chinese Cultural Heritage Research Institute and later became a professor in the history department of a university. He used to visit my family's tea shop quite often.
Although the old man is over eighty years old, he is in very good health and looks like he is only in his sixties.
The aroma of tea filled Professor Li's study. He filled my and Monkey's teacups with water and said, "Let's drink tea."
I smiled and said, "Grandpa Li, your tea is excellent. It smells so rich and mellow that it makes your mouth water."
"This tea was a gift from your grandfather before he passed away. It's genuine Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao. When he went there to investigate, he discovered this tea tree growing deep in the mountains. I estimate it to be at least several hundred years old. It's truly excellent tea. I've seen many high-ranking officials, and their teas might not even taste as good as this. It's just a pity that the tree was struck by lightning the following year. Every sip of this tea is one less sip available. I only brew a pot to enjoy when I miss your grandfather... It's rare to find a true friend in life!"
Professor Li is getting on in years, and his words were full of nostalgia for his old friends, which made me feel quite emotional.
"You little rascal, you still have a conscience, you even know to come and wish me a Happy New Year on behalf of your grandpa."
Professor Li stood up, took out a brocade box about a foot wide from the cabinet next to him, and handed it to me: "You came in a hurry, and I don't have anything to give you. Consider this a New Year's gift."
I quickly stood up: "Grandpa Li, you're making me feel so embarrassed. I only came to wish you a Happy New Year, how could I possibly bring you anything!"
“Take it. This was your grandfather’s most cherished possession when he was alive. I was just too stingy to give it to him back then! At our age, money is just an external thing. Just as Bo Ya broke his zither to thank his soulmate, how can I, an old man, not give this to you to fulfill your grandfather’s wish?”
Professor Li has three children. His eldest son works in a central government department in Beijing, his second son works at the National Museum, and his daughter is said to be abroad, working for a top 10 Fortune 500 company as a senior executive.
Based on his family background, Professor Li is already a true collector. His collection of antiques has long since moved beyond judging quality by value; he is now genuinely seeking out the past and cherishing the old.
I heard that this was my grandfather's most cherished possession, and I couldn't help but be curious. After obtaining Professor Li's permission, I opened it on the desk.
As soon as the box was opened, a sandalwood scent wafted out.
This is an ancient painting, with an ancient sandalwood scroll as its axis. This way, when the scroll is opened, it releases a fragrance and repels insects. The sandalwood is made from two hollowed-out pieces, with jade handles at both ends serving as the axis, so as not to damage the painting.
This scroll is clearly an antique; it could easily fetch tens of thousands of dollars.
Unroll the scroll, and a picture of children playing leaps off the page.
The painting depicts five children, symbolizing the wish for five sons to achieve academic success.
Compared to the stemmed bowl that the monkey showed me before, the children's play scene in this painting is richer in content and more interesting in form, perfectly capturing the innocence of childhood.
China has a long tradition of painting infants, and the techniques gradually matured during the Tang and Song dynasties. The Song dynasty was the golden age of infant play paintings, making them an extremely popular genre in Chinese painting.
The painting is in the style of the Song Dynasty, and there are no issues with the ink color or the quality of the paper and silk.
The door opened at a glance.
However, since there are no inscriptions or seals on the painting, it is not immediately clear who the artist is.
Seeing me staring intently at the ancient painting, Professor Li picked up his teacup and asked, "Shenxing, do you know who painted this?"
"The style and brushwork of this painting seem to be from the Song Dynasty. Among the famous figure painters of the Song Dynasty, there are Qian Shunju, Tang Yin, and Du Jin. I have seen a copy of Tang Yin's 'Children at Play' painting. The children in his paintings are plump and full of childlike innocence. But this painting is more realistic and should not be his work."
I thought about it for a moment: "The Ming Dynasty Painting Records commented on Tang Yin's figure paintings, saying that his painting skills were below Qian Shunju but above Du Chengju. Although there is no first place in literature, I think the meticulous brushwork of this painting is no less than that of Tang Yin, but its bright colors are not in the style of the Northern Song Dynasty, but rather resemble the style of the Southern Song Dynasty."
Professor Li smiled and said, "Continue."
"Su Hanchen, Li Song, Liu Zongdao, Du Haier, and others are all representative figures in children's play paintings, but among these masters, it seems that only Su Hanchen's children's play paintings have survived to this day. The exquisite quality of this painting is comparable to, or even surpasses, Su Hanchen's children's play paintings!"
I paused for a moment: "Legend has it that Liu Zongdao and Du Haier were once famous for their paintings of children at play at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, but unfortunately none of their works have survived to this day. Could this painting be the work of one of them?"
"History is a mystery, and once you miss a certain point, the mystery will never be solved. That's why I didn't pass it on to your grandfather back then."
Professor Li stood up: "At the time, your grandfather also thought that the painting must have been created by one of these two people, but I thought it was very likely that it was created by Su Hanchen's son, Su Zhuo. So I kept the painting, wanting to verify it and compete with your grandfather. Unfortunately, I never found out the truth before your grandfather passed away. When I heard the news of your grandfather's death, I originally wanted to burn it at his grave, but then I thought of how your grandfather used to play with it, and I couldn't bear to do it."
Seeing Professor Li's dejected expression, I also tried to refuse: "Grandpa Li, no matter who painted this, it is far too valuable. I cannot..."
"Take it."
Professor Li waved his hand to interrupt me: "I originally intended to find out its origin and give it to your grandfather. In my heart, this painting has long belonged to him. Giving it to you is like returning it to its rightful owner."
I was moved by Professor Li's integrity, so I bowed to him, carefully put away the painting, sat back down at the tea table, and after chatting for a few minutes, I told him the purpose of my visit: "Grandpa Li, I came today not only to wish you a Happy New Year, but also because I have a question that I can't figure out and would like to ask you for advice."
Professor Li, a learned scholar and a teacher, readily agreed: "What's the problem? Tell me."
I smiled and said, "I know you have studied the history of the Jin Dynasty. Do you know anyone named Hu Shahu?"
Professor Li found it rather strange: "Hu Shahu is fickle, a traitor who murdered the emperor, and has ambition but lacks the courage to act. Why are you interested in this traitor?"
"It was also because of a bet with a friend, just like you and my grandfather did back then."
I know Professor Li is a history major, and if I tell him directly that I want to rob a tomb, he definitely won't help me.
But I wasn't entirely lying. In a sense, I was indeed gambling with Wei Shengnan and the others.
They were betting on who could find Duan Jinyan first.
The tomb of Hu Shahu is the most crucial link in this chain.
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