Chapter 24: I have something to tell you

National law stipulates that cultural relics are protected by the state.

All cultural relics remaining underground, in inland waters, and in the territorial sea, as well as those remaining in other waters under China’s jurisdiction that originated in China or whose origin is unknown, belong to the state.

Ancient cultural sites, ancient tombs, and grotto temples belong to the state.

This man’s bronze mirror came from a Qing Dynasty tomb in Hebei Province. What does that mean?

Grave robbing!

Either he was grave robbing, or his gang was.

A crime.

By getting a confession from this man, he could follow the trail and catch the grave-robbing gang behind him.

He instantly understood why Lin Moran insisted on going to the police station she wanted him to earn merit.

Wu Kairui saluted Lin Moran, “Thank you, sister-in-law!”

“You’re welcome, go busy yourself.”

After leaving the police station, Lin Moran went to Liuli Factory.

Liuli Factory, officially the Liuli Factory Cultural Industry Development Association, is the unit that manages Liuli Street and a major organizer of the international art exchange.

The government has been renovating and supporting Liuli Factory for years, reviving it and hoping to make it a flagship for Beijing’s promotion of the national cultural center through this art exchange.

Many previously unseen cultural relics will appear at this exchange, some handed down through generations, some recently unearthed. 

Ancient calligraphy and painting often suffer damage and deterioration due to years of transmission, poor preservation, or natural disasters. Lin Moran came for a particular piece of calligraphy and painting.

“Chairman Wang, this is Comrade Lin Moran, whom I mentioned. She helped restore a painting before, her skills are superb, the restored painting is almost indistinguishable from the original. I wanted to recruit her to the association, but it was put on hold due to some reasons.”

As soon as Lin Moran entered, the association’s chairman took her to an old man named Wang Yuanwu.

Wang Yuanwu, wearing reading glasses, frowned at Lin Moran, his eyes scrutinizing her. After a while, he smiled, “Comrade Lin is so young. You look like an old friend of mine.”

Lin Moran’s gaze was equally probing. His eyes were deep, unreadable. He was smiling, but his eyes were cold. She disliked him, disliked talking to him, and disliked dealing with him.

Her grandfather had said that people with deep eyes are usually very scheming and have hidden aspects.

“It’s my honor to resemble Chairman Wang’s friend.”

“Comrade Lin, take a look. This is the recently unearthed *Ten Thousand Li River and Mountain Map*. Our experts have preliminarily determined it’s a Song Dynasty painting, of high cultural value, but unfortunately, it’s severely damaged.”

Lin Moran looked at the painting. The composition was meticulous, the colors vibrant, the brushstrokes refined. The vast rivers and rolling mountains formed a beautiful landscape of southern China. 

Quiet scenes of fishing villages, waterside pavilions, thatched huts, and long bridges were interspersed with dynamic scenes of fishing, boating, playing, and market days. The combination of stillness and movement was perfect.

The whole painting could be described as exquisitely superb.

The only pity was its severe damage.

Restoring this painting would take at least half a month.

Calligraphy and painting restoration is an ancient and scientific traditional skill, extremely complex, from the large structure to the small details, requiring meticulous attention to detail, precise steps, and no mistakes at any step.

For example, the first step: cleaning the painting core. Proper cleaning restores the original appearance; improper cleaning can cause minor damage or even destroy it.

As a child, her grandfather often brought home damaged calligraphy and paintings. Seeing her patience, he taught her restoration, and she eventually became even better than him.

Later, as she grew older, her grandfather frequently took her out, so she didn’t do this often.

“Comrade Lin, can you restore this?”

Wang Yuanwu asked directly.

Lin Moran replied, “I only have a basic understanding. The last time I restored a scroll, I followed another restorer’s work, and it happened to turn out well.”

Wang Yuanwu frowned slightly, then smiled, “Comrade Lin, are you afraid we won’t pay for restoring this relic? Don’t worry, we’re a government organization, and you’ll be paid. Comrade Lin, you’re young and seem very dedicated; you’ll want to help the state restore cultural relics, right?”

Lin Moran raised her eyes slightly, her expression unchanged.  She knew why she didn’t like this old man.

He started by flattering her, trapping her.

“Chairman Wang, I wouldn’t take on a job I can’t handle.” Lin Moran feigned regret, “This painting is too valuable, I really can’t restore it. Please find someone else.”

Wang Yuanwu was persistent, probing Lin Moran for a long time.

Lin Moran insisted she couldn’t restore it.

Finally, Wang Yuanwu had no choice but to let her go.

“Comrade, what a coincidence.”

As Lin Moran left the association, she heard a familiar voice.

Looking up, she saw a familiar figure. The man’s hair was as messy as ever, his clothes full of holes. Lin Moran frowned, “Didn’t the four hundred and twenty yuan you got last time buy you better clothes?”

Wang Yunfeng smiled, “Comrade Lin, it’s rare you still remember me.”

“How could I forget? After you left, the Cultural Relics Bureau came. My things were confiscated, and I was arrested. I was just released. They said my money was ill-gotten gains and confiscated it. Do you think I have money to buy clothes?”

Lin Moran was slightly stunned.  Ningjiayuan was investigated that day? Wang Yunfeng was arrested?

“Comrade Lin, what’s the point of doing this? You didn’t take the money I offered and reported us. You’re good at burning bridges after crossing the river.”

Lin Moran’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes narrowed, and she said slowly, “You think I reported you? You’re here to settle the score?”

“Wasn’t it you?”

“Wang Yunfeng, are you stupid? If I wanted to report you, I’d wait until after you sold the goods! If I reported you, could I stay out of it? I was investigated that day too. Someone reported me for selling a bronze tripod. Who can I complain to!”

“I suspect you didn’t trust me, crying wolf, and deliberately having someone report me!”

Lin Moran said coldly, her eyes dark and cold.

She scolded him harshly, expecting Wang Yunfeng to get angry, but he laughed, his eyes bright, saying, “So Comrade Lin knows my name.”

“Comrade Lin, you’ve been paying attention to me, haven’t you? When you don’t see me, do you miss me?”

Crazy! Lin Moran felt a chill, a sense of humiliation. She gritted her teeth, “Comrade Wang, if you’re sick, go to the hospital, don’t delay treatment.”

“Hey, don’t get angry. It’s okay if you don’t miss me, but I think about you every day.”

Wang Yunfeng said lecherously.

“Get lost!”

Lin Moran cursed angrily.

After returning home, she washed her hands thoroughly and wiped her eyes several times.

She had to clean her eyes after seeing something dirty.

As soon as she finished, she saw Gu Jingyao enter the house.

He usually returned around eleven at night, but today he was back before nine.

Gu Quanzhe wasn’t asleep yet. Seeing him, his eyes widened.

Seeing him sleeping at home last night wasn’t a dream.

Gu Jingyao didn’t look at Gu Quanzhe, looking calmly at Lin Moran, “Moran, I need to talk to you. The child is here; let’s go outside.”