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

Chapter 82 Ghost Mask

The more Wang Qizhi thought about it, the more unsafe he felt.

No, we have to find a way to completely cut off the path of these people...

He rolled his eyes and asked, "You also know Sanskrit?"

Lin Sicheng quickly patched it up: "I just read a little bit in a book!"

"hehe!"

Wang Qizhi gave a forced smile and said, "One day, when you have some free time, come with me and your master's wife to the capital!"

Lin Sicheng suddenly became serious: "Ah?"

"What? Just recognize the door!"

Which door, the door of your father-in-law's house?

Lin Sicheng suddenly fell silent.

Afraid that he would be nervous and make excuses not to go, Wang Qizhi changed the subject: "It's almost half past eleven. Is there anything good to eat around here?"

"Turn the corner and you'll find Muslim Street!"

"Huh, so close?"

Wang Qizhi put his face against the window and looked out through the glass.

Sure enough, he saw the Drum Tower at a glance.

Having not been here for many years, Wang Qizhi was not very familiar with the route. But he knew: after the Drum Tower was the Bell Tower, and Ye Anning's company was next to the Bell Tower Restaurant.

"It's just on my way, so I can go see Ye Anning and avoid people saying that I, as her uncle, don't care about her!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and turned the steering wheel.

Bell Tower Restaurant is a branch of the Xi'an restaurant, specializing in business receptions. The annex is available for rent, but the rent is quite high.

However, for Baoli, this was just a drop in the bucket, so even if it was just an office, it still rented an entire floor.

After making a call in advance, Ye Anning was waiting in the lobby. When she saw Lin Sicheng, she smiled softly.

"Uncle, where have you been again?"

"I didn't go anywhere. I came specially to see you!"

"Ah?"

"Ah!"

Ye Anning pursed her lips. "It's just right. I'll treat you to dinner. Lin Sicheng, what would you like to eat?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and said, "The Shaanxi restaurant next to the bell tower is pretty good: gourd chicken, beef tripe and tofu skin, traditional Shaanxi and seafood three delicacies, and ice flower fried dumplings are all good..."

It would have been fine if he hadn't said it, but once he did, Ye Anning couldn't stop swallowing her saliva: everything Lin Sicheng mentioned was her favorite.

Her Adam's apple rolled, and she licked her lips: "Another steamed bun, and preferably two braised pork head buns..."

What a coincidence, isn't it?

Lin Sicheng also wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ye Anning.

He looked at Wang Qizhi again: "Teacher, what do you want to eat?"

Wang Qizhi snorted: You two have already made the decision, and now you come to ask me?

He was just about to say, "Let's have some fish, mutton and steamed pork with rice flour," when Ye Anning clenched her fist and waved, "Let's go!"

We just went there, it was just a few steps away, so we didn't drive.

The two foodies got increasingly hooked as they chatted, eating non-stop throughout the trip: one said the meatballs at the second and fourth kids' restaurants weren't as chewy as at the third, while the other said the zongzi at Fatty's was the best. It was just that there were so many people there that you had to queue up no matter when you went.

Wang Qizhi drooled and cursed secretly: Do you know why Ye Anning insisted on staying in Shaanxi?

This is a greedy girl.

Well, now there's one more?
We walked and talked until we passed the bell tower and arrived at Yisu Street. The piercing sounds of opera wafted from afar, tickling my eardrums. A dazzling array of delicious food filled the air, its aromas filling the air.

There are also many shops selling ethnic handicrafts along the street, some of which are Hui, some are Mongolian, some are Manchu and some are Tibetan.

It was not time to get off work yet, but there were a lot of people, mostly tourists, so the three of us could only patiently follow them.

As he walked, Ye Anning stopped and looked at a shop: "Uncle, what kind of god is this?"

Finally I remembered, you two have an uncle following you?
With a hum, Wang Qizhi looked up: a shop with very ethnic characteristics, behind the glass window, hung a cloth painting:
The main colors are black, blue, and red, and the images of gods are numerous and complex, almost filling the entire painting. In the center is a three-faced god with countless hands.

Judging from the appearance and layout of the cloth painting, it is a bit like the Tibetan thangka, but as to what kind of god it is, Wang Qizhi really doesn't know.

He winked and Lin Sicheng understood immediately.

"This is one of the five main deities of Yungdrung Bon, Wasai Ngpa."

Wang Qizhi and Ye Anning looked at each other, with confused yet clear light flashing in their eyes.

If they were taken separately, I would definitely recognize each word, but when put together...what was Lin Sicheng talking about?
"Bon, Tibetan?"

Ye Anning looked at the entrance of the shop: two girls were wearing embroidered white robes and felt hats with long feathers.

She wore a woven belt around her waist and a silver collar around her neck.

At first glance, they look like Mongolian and a bit like Yi.

“You can also say Tibetan, but there is a difference!”

Lin Sicheng nodded, "This is the Baima Tibetan people in Hanzhong, who evolved from the Diqiang people. Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of the Southwestern Barbarians":
To the west of Shu, from the Ranyu (an ancient ethnic minority distributed in the Maowen area of ​​Sichuan) to the northeast, there are dozens of rulers, with the Baima being the largest, and they are all of the Di kind... I'm referring to the Baima tribe."

"During the Three Kingdoms period, it established a state called Qiuchi, with its capital in Qingshui, Gansu... At that time, Longxian and Fengxian counties in Baoji, and Liuba and Lueyang in Hanzhong were all under its jurisdiction... It was not until the Northern Zhou Dynasty that the state was destroyed.

Because they have been farming and living at the junction of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces for many years, they have integrated some of the folk customs of the Tibetans, and most of them believe in Tibetan Bon religion. Therefore, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, they were classified as Tibetans, commonly known as Baima Tibetans.

But in fact, in terms of living customs, beliefs, and even culture and language, they are very different from the Tibetans... Even among themselves, most of them call themselves the White Horse people..."

Lin Sicheng talked freely, and the two girls stared at him with their eyes open.

Maybe it was because of the phrase “Waseangba” she had heard before, or maybe it was the first time she had seen a guest who was so knowledgeable about their national culture.

Of course, it could also be that Lin Si was pretty and still young. The two girls muttered a few words, then turned back into the store, each holding a felt hat.

It is made by rolling, with flowers on the outside and brocade feathers on the top. It is a pure handicraft, both exquisite and beautiful.

His Mandarin wasn't very standard, but he smiled sweetly: "For our distinguished guests!"

Ye Anning was extremely happy. He said thank you and quickly took it and put it on his head.

Lin Sicheng didn't move, but bent down to let the tall girl help him put his felt hat on his head. He patted his chest and said something in a low voice.

It was spoken in Baima language, and the general meaning was, may Dunba Xinrab (the founder of Bon religion, like Sakyamuni in Buddhism) bless you.

The two girls were stunned for a moment, as if they were very surprised.

Then the tall girl came into the store again and brought out a mask.

It is carved from wood and painted with colorful lacquer, with a ghost face and fangs, looking ferocious and majestic.

Lin Sicheng looked a little serious and was about to refuse, but the tall girl bowed and saluted, then stood up and tiptoed.

There was no choice but for Lin Sicheng to lower his head and let the girl help him put on the mask.

Then, the two girls stared at him motionlessly, with longing in their eyes.

Lin Sicheng was helpless. After thinking for a moment, he extended his index finger and lightly touched the edge of the mask's lip. Then, he gently tapped the two girls' foreheads: "Om Ma Zhe Mo Yesared!"

Suddenly, a light shone in her dark, deep almond-shaped eyes, and a mist of water rose from them. Her willow-shaped eyebrows wrinkled slightly at the center, and her pink lips moved silently, like the chanting of a pilgrim.

Ye Anning looked curious and was about to speak when Wang Qizhi gave her a look, telling her not to move.

Lin Sicheng didn't move. After about three minutes, when the two girls finished reciting the lawsuit, he took off his mask. He held his hands in his palms and hooked his waist:
"Thank you both, goodbye!"

The two girls had solemn expressions on their faces, their right hands touching their chests, and they bent down deeply.

(End of this chapter)