Process

House Call

"I'll take this one!"

Old Chen flicked the coin he'd been playing with into the air with his thumb, then caught it in his palm.

After the Cultural Relics Bureau staff treated it with their solution, all the green patina had vanished, leaving a bright yellow coin. He wasn't being greedy or trying to take more than his share; he just wanted it as a souvenir.

"I've got plenty more. I could put together a set of Five Emperors Coins, perfect for a feng shui ornament. Or I could get some red cord and string them into a little coin sword. I've seen people selling those at tourist attractions."

Li Bai had seen people selling things like that before, though he had no idea whether the coins they used were real.

"I'm just keeping it as a little trinket to play with. You're taking this seriously?"

Old Chen laughed and declined. It would be ridiculous for someone who opposed feudal superstition to start dabbling in feng shui. He'd be contradicting himself.

When the big Benz passed through Nanming County, it made its usual stop in front of the braised-food shop. Old Chen thought the food there was authentic, so he bought a few pounds to take home for his family to try.

The big Benz had a built-in refrigerator, so there was no need to worry about the food spoiling on the way.

A little after eight that evening, Li Bai and Old Chen returned to Huxi City.

"Wait!"

Old Chen had a bag of tea in his left hand, a bag of braised food in his right, and a backpack full of clothes on his back. He was just about to get out of the car, feeling pleased with himself, when Li Bai stopped him.

"What is