Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 343 Treating it as a last resort

The person was brought out, handcuffed, and had a hood over their head.

Yan Wenjing looked at the "Fragrant Fruit Garden": "Teacher Lin, what is 'Grasshopper Hand'?"

“That’s what they called it during the Republic of China era!” Lin Sicheng held out his right hand. “Anyone who played with crickets and gourds always kept the gourd in their hand. Over time, a callus would form on the pad of their thumb. That’s one reason…”

"Secondly, cinnabar is often used to preserve cricket gourds. If you handle them for a long time, the cinnabar will seep into your hand and leave red spots that cannot be washed off."

"What does this have to do with Shili River?"

"Thirdly: Only black-spotted gourds from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era used sulfur to repel insects. Long-term contact with sulfides can cause palmoplantar keratosis. However, if you only handle and play with one gourd, it won't cause your skin to crack. Only long-term contact, or the use of sulfur to create an antique or imitation, could cause your hands to crack like tree bark..."

"And in the entire capital, the area along the Shuli River has the most black-spotted gourds. Whether genuine or imitation, 99% of them come from there... and more!"

Lin Sicheng rested his chin on his hand: "Captain Yan, don't you think this person looks a lot like Qi Song?"

These words were like a wake-up call. Yan Wenjing stared at the "Xiangguoyuan" that had just been brought onto the vehicle: the eyebrows were similar, the eyes were similar, and the nose and mouth were similar too.

Are these two brothers?
Qi Song is hidden in Shilihe...

The key thing is the smell on this person: lacquerware, the smell of freshly unearthed lacquerware. Unless he spends all day in a warehouse where lacquerware is stored, it is impossible for him to have such a strong lacquerware smell.

Therefore, Wang Chun's goods are very likely located in Shilihe.

Yu Jichuan and Yu Jiyao are here, but where is Ren Danhua?
Most of them went to Shilihe.

They used to cast a long line to catch big fish, but now, due to his and Tu Jun's momentary negligence, the fish have gotten off the hook. If they don't find a way to salvage the situation, they won't catch a single fish, let alone any fish.

Not catching Ren Danhua is a minor problem, and even not catching Qi Song is acceptable, but finding the goods is essential.

Yan Wenjing looked frustrated: "Teacher Lin, what do we do now?"

What else can I do?
Lin Sicheng sighed: "We can only take it one step at a time!"

Yan Wenjing nodded and notified the team members to set off.

The cold storage is located in northern Shunyi, while Shilihe is located in southern Chaoyang, nearly 40 kilometers apart, spanning most of the city.

Just before getting into the car, Lin Sicheng looked at Xiangguoyuan's hands again and smelled his scent.

That's right, the cricket hand, smelling like freshly unearthed lacquerware.

Whether it can be found or not, only heaven knows...

As they pondered this, the convoy left the logistics center.

On the left and right, there were two small iron tables, on which Yu Jiyao and Yu Jichuan were locked.

His hands were handcuffed, his feet were shackled, and his mouth was still sealed with tape.

Lin Sicheng sat opposite him, his eyes fixed on the roof of the car: What are you asking? Are you asking about Wang Chun's incriminating evidence?

Even if they had three more lives, they wouldn't dare to say it.

Where is Ren Danhua?

Neither of them would say anything.

Lin Sicheng seemed to be lost in thought, while his brother and sister were both surprised and suspicious.

Beforehand, they had considered countless possibilities: a family of tomb raiders, the son of a master, a prodigy, or a rising star.

After the eldest sister finished her investigation, they were even more convinced: he was the nephew of Yang Bin, the notorious thief from Guanzhong and a master appraiser; a descendant of a court craftsman; and a disciple of the renowned restoration expert, Old Lady Zhao.

No wonder he's so amazing?
So from beginning to end, they never imagined that this person would be a policeman.

Even though they were sitting in a police car right now, handcuffed and shackled, and even though the brother and sister recognized the man sitting next to Lin Sicheng—the deputy head of the city's cultural investigation branch—they still couldn't believe it.

Consider his keen eye, his skills, his temperament, his age, his experience in the underworld... How could someone like that be a policeman?
Knowing what they were thinking, Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "I'm not a police officer. The reason I'm with the police is because your eldest sister forced me to... but let's not talk about that today."

Lin Sicheng leaned back: "I've noticed that the names you've changed to are quite unique; you all like to keep a character from your original name."
Miss Yu's name was Li Yao, which was changed to Yu Jiyao; General Manager Yu's name was Li Jilin, which was changed to Yu Jichuan; General Manager Ren's name was Shan Hua, which was changed to Ren Danhua. And Qi Song's original name was Song Qi, but it was simply reversed and a homophone was used.

And this guy today, the one wearing the 'Xiangguoyuan' uniform... he's Qi Song's younger brother, right?"

Yu Jichuan's eyes trembled uncontrollably, and Yu Jiyao's face turned deathly pale.

The name on the ID card has been changed for seven or eight years. The parents and close relatives have long been taken out of the village. If you take their current photos back to the village, it is not certain that anyone will recognize them.

Even Qi Song and Qi Hao, who have known each other for so long, don't know what the two brothers' original names were.

But the police investigated thoroughly.
Yan Wenjing sat quietly to the side, his eyes shining: The person was just caught. Even if the police can find out, it will take time.

Lin Sicheng only thought that the two had similar facial features, and as it turned out, his trick was right.

"The saying goes, 'A cunning rabbit has three burrows,' but Wang Chun has at least nine: six shops and three companies, spread across all the antique markets in the capital. On the surface, none of them seem to be connected to her, but she indirectly controls each and every one of them..."

"Besides the shops and company, she used many more places to store her goods, sixteen in total, large and small: Majuqiao, Mafang, Shibalipuqiao, Liangmajie, Shunyi Logistics Center, and Shilihe..."

Nine out of ten are fake, one is real. The rest of the place is either piled with imitations, junk, or stones used for scouting. Since none of them are genuine, there's only one possibility left: the best and most valuable goods are in Shilihe…

Lin Sicheng paused slightly, staring at the two siblings: "Qi Song is in Shilihe, and so is the goods. Ren Danhua also knows that both the goods and Qi Song are in Shilihe. That's why she sent you here; she went to Shilihe herself..."

Yu Jichuan's pupils contracted sharply, while Yu Jiyao was slightly better; her eyes remained clear, and she didn't sweat.

But his cheeks were slightly puffed out as he clenched his teeth.

It seems the guess was correct: Ren Danhua went to Shilihe, and Wang Chun's goods were also in Shilihe.

That Qi Song is also in Shilihe.

Yan Wenjing breathed a sigh of relief: things had indeed gone wrong, but it wasn't beyond repair.

Once the goods are found, we can capture Ren Danhua and Qi Song.

Lin Sicheng, however, was not very optimistic: This was a criminal organization, and Ren Danhua and Qi Song were at most henchmen. Even someone as cunning and treacherous as Wang Chun was merely a second-tier contractor.

There was also Ma Shan, who was at the same level as her, and there were at least two or three others at the same level as them who haven't been found yet.

Above these key figures are at least two bosses. What should be done with these people? Should they be arrested directly?

Simply catching the person isn't enough; otherwise, when the old man was apprehended, all these people with names and identities would have been arrested. The reason the investigation has taken so long is for one reason only: to dig deeper into the clues and solidify the evidence.

For these people, a three-to-five, or even seven-to-eight-year sentence is like a tickle. Once their sentence is reduced and they go abroad, they'll have more money than they can spend for the rest of their lives.

Compared to them, these people are secondary. They can't dig out the worms or eradicate the tumor. Even if Ma Shan and Wang Chun are gone, there will still be Niu Shui and Zhang Xia.

Endless, inexhaustible...

Thinking to himself, Lin Sicheng stared at the brother and sister.

After thinking for a moment, he ripped the tape off Yu Jichuan's mouth.

Yu Jichuan didn't know what Lin Sicheng was planning. His lips trembled, and he wanted to curse, but he didn't know what to say.

Yu Jiyao, who was standing next to her, paused for a moment and shook her head vigorously. "Don't worry, I won't ask you about the case. I'm just a little curious."

Lin Sicheng sighed, "That camouflage uniform must have been sent by Qi Song to stake out this place. Maybe Qi Song wasn't comfortable with it, or maybe that woman wasn't comfortable with it, so she sent Qi Song's younger brother over as well."

"Ren Danhua sent you to the cold storage, presumably to gather information or confirm whether that woman's goods were here. Logically, since you were already preparing to run away, you should be enemies with these two. So I don't understand: why did you warn them after recognizing me?"

Yu Jichuan froze, his lips trembling.

Yu Jiyao's eyes narrowed, her gaze filled with hatred, resentment, and regret.

"I understand. Miss Yu must have recognized me and told you. But you thought of us as brothers, so you reminded me..."

Lin Sicheng breathed a sigh of relief: A simpleton emerged from the den of thieves?
If it weren't for the strange looks those two were giving him, he would almost never have noticed Yu Jichuan and Yu Jiyao.

If they hadn't discovered it, those two would have run away, and they would definitely have told Ren Danhua. Whether Ren Danhua would tell Wang Chun is unknown, but Yu Jichuan would definitely have told Qi Song.

Qi Song's knowledge meant Wang Chun's knowledge was also the same. Even a pig would think: if even a trusted confidante like Ren Danhua didn't know she had stored goods in the cold storage, how did this Lin fellow know?
After eliminating all other possibilities, the least likely one remaining is the correct answer: the police...

By a twist of fate, a misfortune struck. Fortunately, it bought some time for a rescue.

Desperate measures are inevitable. Even if it's just to "lose one piece of cultural relic as evidence, which could mean a shorter sentence," Wang Chun would still order his men to destroy all the goods.

Now, let's see who's faster...

Shilihe is right next to Panjiayuan, about two kilometers away as the crow flies. The headquarters isn't far from here either, about ten kilometers away.

Upon arriving at Tianjiao Cultural City, the four cars parked in the parking lot one by one. Just as they came to a stop, an SUV next to them honked its horn, and then its window rolled down a crack.

Only half of his face was visible, but Yan Wenjing's face turned deathly pale.

If it only happened once, you could say it was a coincidence and blame it on bad luck, but what about twice?
Yan Wenjing got out of the car like a zombie, and walked over blankly. Yu Guang stared at him, his expression complicated, hesitant to speak.

Yanwenjing, oh Yanwenjing, an opportunity fell from the sky, yet you couldn't seize it?

After a long pause, he shook his head: "Let's go back to the team!"

Then, Yu Guang looked at Lin Sicheng and said, "Teacher Lin, thank you for your help!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Captain Yu, the chances aren't slim, but there's a high probability we'll end up with nothing."

"I know!" Yu Guang smiled. "Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Lin!"

All the numbers we found before have been switched off. These people have definitely changed their numbers, so we can't use technical means to investigate them now.

Even the police weren't sure if Ren Danhua and Qi Song were definitely in Shilihe, let alone Lin Sicheng.

The most crucial aspect is the separation of people and goods.

As soon as the items are moved in, the person immediately leaves and then keeps a watchful eye on the situation from a distance.

Just like those two cold storage rooms before: when the plainclothes officers checked them, it wasn't the people in camouflage uniforms or "Xiangguoyuan" who opened the doors. The people who opened the doors were all newly hired and had no idea what was inside.

Under this premise, even if you are incredibly lucky and manage to catch Ren Danhua or Qi Song, you still need to be able to interrogate them on the spot.

Moreover, no one can guarantee whether Wang Chun has sent someone to keep an eye on Qi Song.

A phone call, a can of gasoline, and a fire...

We can only try our luck, and give it a shot if all else fails!

With a sudden change of heart, Lin Sicheng walked towards the market.

They had their makeup changed, and their special agents had changed again; it was still a man and a woman.

Zhao Xiuneng was smoking by the gate when he suddenly stopped after taking a puff.

Lin Sicheng sighed: "A makeover done on the spot is bound to have flaws. Besides, Senior Brother Zhao has a keen eye and knows him well enough."

Therefore, it's not surprising at all that Yu Jiyao could recognize him.

The two didn't speak, and as they passed each other, Zhao Xiuneng handed over a box.

Lin Sicheng answered the phone, and immediately the phone vibrated.

Just one text message with three shop names: Tingqiu Mountain House, Imperial City Relics, and Mingyu Hall.

After glancing at it, Lin Sicheng went straight into the market.

After finishing his cigarette, Zhao Xiuneng walked to the parking lot and got into his Mercedes-Benz.

……

The blue brick floor gleamed with an oily sheen, and a camphor wood birdcage swayed on its iron frame. A thrush chirped incessantly, its call crisp and bright.

The air was filled with bird droppings, the smell of mud, and all sorts of floral fragrances.

Famous flowers, famous plants, famous fish, famous birds. Tianjiao Cultural City is the largest flower and bird market in Beijing, and also the fourth largest antique market.

Whatever Panjiayuan and Liulichang have, we have here. And what those two places don't have, we also have here.

Take, for example, chirping insects.

Lin Sicheng carried the box and strolled around casually.

After about half an hour, he walked through two passageways, then subconsciously stopped and looked at the plaque above his head: Tingqiu Mountain House.

A wooden couplet hangs on the pillars outside the gate: "Tears of silk beneath wings resound through half the city's misty rain. Embraces mountains in its bosom, encompassing the autumn sounds of ten thousand valleys."

The first half of the poem describes insects, while the second half describes utensils.

After glancing at it twice, Lin Sicheng carried the box inside.

The store was large, but there weren't many customers. A man in his thirties was playing on his computer, clicking a few times: "Let's roll..."

He glanced up, then continued working, saying, "What would you three like to order? Feel free to look around!"

Lin Sicheng nodded.

There are gourds, feed, heaters, and all sorts of sticks made of various materials.

There were also insects, kept in insulated glass boxes, but they didn't seem very active.

After looking around, Lin Sicheng took out a box, opened the lid, and pushed it forward: "Do you have this one?"

The man glanced at it, paused for a moment, and then forgot all about playing the game.

The outer box is made of sandalwood, the inner core is covered with blood amber (a gourd-shaped openwork component that transmits sound), and the lid is made of ivory.

No need for appraisal, it's obviously an old item.

It is decorated with a lotus scroll pattern, and faint sounds of "goo~goo~" can be heard coming from within.

After listening carefully, the man narrowed his eyes, picked up the gourd, opened the lid, and his eyes narrowed subconsciously: Shandong Yimeng Iron Wing Golden Sound?
(End of this chapter)