Many people who dealt in antiques were masters of storytelling. No matter how thrilling a story was, they could make one up. This was especially true when they went to the countryside treasure hunting. Many sellers used touching stories to win buyers' sympathy and make them let their guard down.
That was why, no matter how pitiful Lü Shuanniu made himself sound, Chu Chen remained unmoved. As the old saying went, one should never harbor the intention of harming others, but one must always guard against others. Stories could be heard, but if he wanted to believe one, he had to verify the authenticity of the item first.
Lü Shuanniu led everyone to a storage room. He walked up to an antique lantern placed in the center and said, "This is the item. Have a look. If you like it, we can discuss the price afterward. Also, let me remind you to be careful while looking. Don't damage it."
After saying that, he stood beside the antique lantern and watched Chu Chen and the others without blinking. He was probably genuinely worried that they would damage it while examining it.
Chu Chen smiled and nodded to show that he would be careful, then looked toward the antique lantern. In fact, he had recognized it as the lantern people commonly called a Zhuan Lu lantern the moment he saw it upon entering.
The Zhuan Lu lantern was known in ancient times as the Pan Chi lantern, the Xian Yin candle, and the Ma Qi lantern. It was one of the traditional festival toys and a type of lantern. It was commonly seen during festivals such as the Yuanxi Festival, the Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Modern Zhuan Lu lanterns consisted of a square or round paper lantern with an iron