"Is this oracle bone script?"
Elder Bai recognized it at a glance.
"Ah, are these Qin dynasty bamboo slips?"
"And this silk manuscript—could it be 'Spring and Autumn Annals'?"
Elder Bai's voice trembled with excitement.
Director Guo was equally thrilled.
The two elderly men, whose combined ages far exceeded a century, were so overjoyed they nearly spun in place.
Shen Nanchu knew she had played her cards right.
"Learn from the barbarians to defeat the barbarians."
The treasures she had taken from Lei Zhendong were now being used against him—perfectly fitting.
Yet, why did Shen Nanchu feel such a pang of heartache?
If these artifacts were converted into gold and silver, it would rain riches!
She couldn’t bear to look any longer, afraid the pain might overwhelm her.
Turning around, she found Pei Zhengnian blocking the doorway like an immovable wall.
Meeting his probing gaze, Shen Nanchu couldn’t be bothered to explain.
She was too busy mourning her losses!
Tilting her head at a forty-five-degree angle, she stared at the ceiling, willing her tears not to fall.
Three seconds of silence for the fortune she’d sacrificed.
But it was fine!
She still had Pei Zhengnian, her golden goose, who would surely lay golden eggs in the future.
Three.
Two.
One.
Done!
With renewed vigor, Shen Nanchu lifted her chin and marched over to negotiate with Elder Bai and Director Guo.
Pei Zhengnian was taken aback.
The woman who had looked utterly bereft mere seconds ago was now brimming with energy.
Her mood swings were faster than flipping pages.
And those artifacts—unless his memory failed him—were not from their household.
His memory was impeccable, never wrong.
Shen Nanchu had secrets.
"Elder Bai, Director Guo, the Pei family is donating this smaller crate of artifacts," Shen Nanchu announced.
"My apologies for the earlier mistake."
She swiftly closed the lids of the two larger crates and opened a smaller one nearby, revealing a few antique porcelain pieces.
Compared to the earlier treasures, these were still valuable but paled in significance.
The unspoken message was crystal clear.
Elder Bai and Director Guo immediately grasped her intent.
"Comrade Shen, on behalf of the Cultural Relics Bureau, I express our deepest gratitude to the Pei family for this tremendous contribution to our nation’s heritage," Director Guo began, laying the flattery on thick.
"If you or the Pei family ever face difficulties, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll assist however I can."
This was precisely what Shen Nanchu had been waiting for.
"Then, on behalf of the Pei family, I thank Director Guo and Elder Bai," she replied smoothly.
"As it happens, there is a small matter we’d like your help with."
"You’re not referring to Lei Zhenhua, are you?" Director Guo’s frown deepened enough to crush a fly.
Lei Zhenhua belonged to a rival faction, and their own authority was limited. Even if they wanted to intervene in the Pei family’s affairs, their hands were tied.
What a headache.
"Director Guo, rest assured, this request is well within your capabilities," Shen Nanchu cut to the chase.
"We’d like the Cultural Relics Bureau to designate the Pei residence as a protected site for artifact research—until our family can safely relocate."
Pointing at the two sealed crates, she added,
"Once this is done, the Pei family will gladly donate these remaining artifacts to our motherland, further contributing to its prosperity."
Pei Zhengnian stiffened, his expression turning inscrutable.
"Done! No problem at all!"
Before Director Guo could respond, Elder Bai eagerly agreed.
"Have someone bring over my tools. I’ll be staying at the Pei residence to conduct my research for the time being."
Director Guo couldn’t help but laugh wryly.
"Elder Bai, there’s no need for that."
It was just a matter of protecting the Pei family for a while—nothing too serious.
As long as it didn’t involve safeguarding every single person, it was manageable.
A small favor like this was well within Director Guo’s capabilities.
Shen Nanchu finally felt completely at ease.
Lei Zhenhua wanted to humiliate the Pei family? Frame them?
She, Shen Nanchu, would block every possible path he could take. Let’s see what he could do then.
Hmph.
(¬_¬)︵┻━┻
Downstairs.
Lei Zhenhua couldn’t shake off a growing sense of unease. He feared that delays might bring complications.
"Commissar Sun, don’t you think we should act quickly?"
"What’s the rush? We have plenty of time. Take it slow, no need to hurry."
Sun Younian remained utterly unperturbed.
Damn it, you might not be in a hurry, but I am!
Lei Zhenhua was seething inside but forced himself to suppress the anger.
"I have a meeting this afternoon. Time is tight."
"Oh?"
Sun Younian lazily raised his wrist and glanced at his watch.
"It’s only eight in the morning. Still early."
"No rush, it won’t interfere with your meeting."
"You—"
Lei Zhenhua turned away in frustration.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Director Guo descended first, followed by Shen Nanchu and Pei Zhengnian.
Elder Bai was nowhere in sight.
Director Guo whispered something to one of his subordinates, who then hurried upstairs with a team.
Lei Zhenhua’s sense of foreboding grew stronger.
"Since Director Guo has finished handling matters here, we’ll proceed with our operation."
"Hold on. Let me make a call first."
Director Guo glanced back at Pei Zhengnian.
"Young Pei, would that be alright?"
"Of course."
The Pei family’s telephone was installed in Father Pei’s study.
Director Guo followed Pei Zhengnian into the study and dialed a highly confidential number.
Soon after, Director Guo and Pei Zhengnian emerged from the study and invited both Lei Zhenhua and Sun Younian inside.
Everyone present exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of what was happening.
Grandma Pei watched Shen Nanchu approach and asked in a hushed tone,
"Nanchu, what’s going on?"
"Grandma, everything’s fine now."
Shen Nanchu gave her a reassuring look.
Though brimming with questions, Grandma Pei held them back.
A few minutes later, the study door swung open.
Lei Zhenhua stormed out first, his face livid with barely contained fury.
Sun Younian followed, looking noticeably more relaxed than before.
Director Guo, meanwhile, wore a pleased expression.
Even Pei Zhengnian’s usually stern face showed rare traces of relief.
"Call off the operation," Lei Zhenhua snapped.
Before leaving, he shot Pei Zhengnian a venomous glare.
"I hope the Pei family’s luck holds out forever."
"Thanks for the well-wishes. What goes around comes around—your turn will come soon enough."
Pei Zhengnian’s retort nearly made Lei Zhenhua faint from rage.
"Fine. We’ll see about that."
Lei Zhenhua turned to leave in a huff—
Just then, movement came from upstairs.
Cultural relics bureau staff, clad in white gloves, carefully carried down a crate.
Why did that crate look so familiar?
Lei Zhenhua narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
It bore an uncanny resemblance to the ones he had hidden at home.
When he finally saw the contents inside, his fury erupted like a volcano.
"Son of a—! That’s mine!"
With a strangled cry, Lei Zhenhua collapsed, overwhelmed by sheer rage.
Pei Zhengnian, you damn jinx!
...
