As Da Kui prepared to charge at me, I quickly said, "Master Qu, don't you want to hear me out first?"
Elder Qu hesitated, shot Da Kui a glare, and then said to me, "Fine, I'm curious to hear why this vase is only worth a thousand yuan!"
I chuckled, "A thousand yuan is my estimated price. If it were on the market, it wouldn't fetch more than five thousand."
Seeing Elder Qu losing his patience, I continued, "Master Qu, have you ever heard of Shichibao-yaki?"
"Shichibao-yaki?"
Noticing his confused expression, I knew he hadn't heard of it.
I explained, "Precisely, Shichibao-yaki. That's what the Japanese call it."
"You mean this vase is from the Land of the Rising Sun?"
I nodded, "Indeed. The term 'Shichibao' originates from Buddhist scriptures. There are four interpretations of Buddhist treasures. One, as recorded in the 'Pan Yan Sutra,' lists gold, silver, lapis lazuli, clam shell, agate, amber, and coral as the seven treasures."
"The second interpretation, found in the 'Amitabha Sutra,' includes gold, silver, lapis lazuli, glass, clam shell, red pearls, and agate."
"The third interpretation, from the 'Lotus Sutra,' lists gold, silver, lapis lazuli, clam shell, agate, pearls, and rose quartz as the seven treasures."
"As for the last interpretation, it's recorded in the 'Sutra of Immeasurable Life,' which mentions gold, silver, lapis lazuli, quartz, coral, agate, and clam shell."
Seeing Elder Qu listening intently, I went on, "Although the specific items differ, the concept of seven treasures remains consistent. The 'Xijing Zaji' mentions that Emperor Wu of Han created a seven-treasure bed, and the 'Bei Shi' records that Emperor Houzhu of Northern Qi crafted a seven-treasure carriage for Empress Mu. The 'Shivu Yuanshi' states that during the Sui Dynasty, the Tujue presented a seven-treasure bowl…"
As I was about to continue, Elder Qu interrupted me, "Get to the point."
I smiled, "Shichibao-yaki, in essence, refers to artifacts fired with many precious materials. The character 'qi' (seven) doesn't represent an exact number, but rather a multiplicity of types. The name Shichibao-yaki originates from Huaxia, but it was popularized in Japan. These artifacts are very common there. While I don't know where you acquired this Shichibao-yaki vase, it truly isn't worth much…"
My elaborate explanation was merely an attempt to showcase my knowledge, to let Elder Qu know I possessed some skills.
Judging by his expression, I knew my strategy had worked.
"I didn't expect this thing to be all show and no substance. What a waste, I actually considered it a treasure," Elder Qu remarked, taking the vase from my hand and casually smashing it to the ground.
With a crash, Da Kui flinched. "Master Qu, you believe him just like that? What if this kid is trying to trick us then…?"
Elder Qu glared at him, "Shut your mouth! Whether he's tricking us or not, I know that!"
Scolded, Da Kui dared not say another word.
"Brother Xiang's expertise in appraising treasures is indeed extraordinary," Elder Qu said with a smile.
"I dare not accept such praise, it's merely the family trade passed down…"
"Oh? Is Brother Xiang's family also in the business of appraising treasures?"
I nodded, mentioning the names of my great-grandfather and grandfather.
This was the first time I had used their names to impress someone.
Although Elder Qu hadn't heard of them before, when I mentioned Ouyang Xiu and Zhang Xueliang, his gaze towards me changed.
"So, Brother Xiang's ancestors were such esteemed figures. My apologies."
"Master Qu, your words are too kind; I only rely on the experience passed down from my family to make a living," I replied with a smile.
"Excellent! I accept your proposal," Elder Qu declared. "Follow me and work hard, and I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury."
"Master Qu…" Da Kui started, but Elder Qu cut him off, "Didn't you hear me? From now on, Brother Xiang is one of our own. Understood?"
Da Kui, deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, immediately wilted.
I hadn't expected things to turn out this way, but at least for now, it was for the best.
While this group led by Elder Qu was skilled in tomb raiding, their weakness lay in treasure appraisal.
It was fortunate that Elder Qu knew how to value talent.
Joining them was merely a temporary measure for me; if an opportunity arose, I would naturally seize it to escape.
"Master Qu, there's something I'm quite curious about," I said, picking up a pack of cigarettes from the table and lighting one.
"Since we're all family now, I won't hide anything. What do you want to know?" Elder Qu asked.
I smiled, "Master Qu, with so many brothers gathered here, are we preparing for something big? Can you reveal whose tomb we're about to raid?"
"A tomb?" Elder Qu chuckled. "Who told you we were going to raid a tomb?"
"Not raiding a tomb?" I was taken aback, glancing at the wooden chests nearby. "Then where did these things come from?"
"Brother Xiang, have you ever heard of the Kwantung Army Treasure?" Elder Qu asked.
I exclaimed, "The Kwantung Army Treasure?!"
Of course, I had heard of it!
My grandfather had mentioned it to me once, saying that during the anti-Japanese war, the Japanese occupied the Northeast and established the puppet state of Manchukuo, plundering a vast amount of gold, silver, jewelry, and precious antiques.
Later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese were defeated. The treasures intended for transport back to Japan were unable to be shipped due to the Pearl Harbor incident.
Consequently, the Japanese hid that batch of treasure in the Greater Khingan Range.
Of course, this was merely a folk legend. My grandfather had also said that this matter was most likely not true.
I never imagined that it would actually be true?!
"It seems Brother Xiang has heard of it?" Elder Qu chuckled. "Many people consider this a rumor, but it is indeed true. Our purpose for coming here was to find this treasure, and we have indeed found some."
"Found it?" I pursed my lips and asked.
"Only some. We've also found other items, but they are currently proving difficult to retrieve and will require some time to extract." Elder Qu explained.
I took a deep breath. No wonder they were unwilling to let us go when I offered them money before.
For the past few days, I had been wondering whose tomb was buried here, only to realize it wasn't a tomb at all, but a treasure hoard!
"Brother Xiang, I've been honest with you, so don't harbor any other intentions. As long as you're willing to work with me diligently, once these items are sold, you won't have to worry about your livelihood for the rest of your life," Elder Qu said with a smile.
Coming back to my senses, I quickly put on a smile. "Master Qu, please rest assured, I will definitely help you with your work. If you tell me to go north, I absolutely won't go east; if you tell me to climb a mountain, I absolutely won't cross a river!"
"Good! With Brother Xiang's addition, we are like tigers with wings!" Elder Qu patted my shoulder. "Later, I will gather the brothers and hold a welcoming feast for Brother Xiang!"
I don't know if I'm lucky or unlucky to have stumbled into such a situation.
However, for now, all I can do is take things one step at a time…