Chapter 23

Gu Jinshui thought, This is bad.

With Song Jianshe here, Elder Guan was bound to ask for a high price.

Sure enough.

Elder Guan began telling them the Jade Snuff Bottle's history. It had belonged to his great-grandfather, who had been a third-rank official. His family had owned countless antiques and treasures, and even back then, they had paid a full three hundred taels of silver for this Jade Snuff Bottle.

If it had been worth three hundred taels then, there was no telling what it was worth now.

Besides, the jade had a rich, lustrous sheen. The material alone was expensive.

"Sir, just tell us the least you'll take for it."

Song Jianshe pressed him for an answer.

Elder Guan fell silent for a moment, shifted in his seat, and said, "Twelve hundred. Not a penny less!"

Twelve hundred?!

Song Jianshe and Gu Jinshui both cursed inwardly.

Was it worth that much?

Yes!

But the price was far higher than either of them had expected.

"Don't think I'm asking too much," Elder Guan said, looking a little embarrassed. He picked up the coarse porcelain tea bowl on the table and took a sip. "If I had any choice, I wouldn't sell it at all. Keep a thing like this, and who knows what it might be worth someday?"

"I know it pains you to part with it. It's a fair price."

Gu Jinshui added, "But I don't have that much on me right now. Give me a chance to go home and get it."

"Hey, since when was it yours? I never said I wasn't buying!"

Song Jianshe had still been hesitating, but at Gu Jinshui's words, he grew anxious and hurried to stake his claim. "Sir, twelve hundred it is. No haggling!"

"Fine. You both want it, so whoever brings me the payment first gets it."

Elder Guan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Song Jianshe quickly asked, "Would you take small gold bars instead of cash?"

Small gold bars?

Gu Jinshui couldn't help glancing at Song Jianshe.

Song Jianshe noticed nothing. His eyes were fixed on Elder Guan.

Elder Guan paused, then nodded. "Those will do."

With that settled, Gu Jinshui and Song Jianshe came out together. Gu Jinshui pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and blew out a puff of smoke. "Not bad, Jianshe. Your Song Family has a bit tucked away, doesn't it? Small gold bars, even."

"Whose ancestors didn't leave them something?"

Song Jianshe gave him a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You're the impressive one, Jinshui. Twelve hundred in cash? You must be doing well."

Their eyes met, sparks all but flying between them. Then both hurried home as fast as they could.

"Are we being a bit unfair, dear?"

Auntie Guan lifted the curtain and came out of the room, nervously rubbing the apron around her waist.

"What's unfair about it?" Elder Guan said. "We never promised to sell only to him. A sale takes a willing buyer and seller, and I haven't made things difficult for him. If he brings the payment first, I'll still sell it to him."

When his wife said nothing and merely lowered her head, he knew it still troubled her.

Elder Guan waved a hand. "Leave it be. You think the buyer's losing out? Pay twelve hundred for this, find the right customer, and he could make several hundred on it just like that. If I weren't desperate, I'd never sell it."

People said sellers knew the value of their goods better than buyers.

After so many years of selling the family's possessions, Elder Guan knew the business. He had a good idea how much profit each piece could fetch.

He had hoped to keep this one as a family heirloom. It could have provided for generations of his descendants.

But the crisis at hand left no room to worry about descendants who weren't even born yet.

Whenever he thought of Da Ya's marriage, Elder Guan said nothing, though the worry had already brought several sores to his mouth.

Gu Jinshui hurried off and returned half a day later.

At noon, Liang Ying had made noodles with fried bean sauce at home. She had fed her daughter a few bites when she heard footsteps. A moment later, Gu Jinshui came in, sweat beading across his forehead.

As soon as he entered, he shut the door and drew the curtains.

Puzzled, Liang Ying stood up. "What happened? Weren't you going to buy it?"

Gu Yousi poked at the noodles in the little bowl before her. Sauce ringed her mouth as she blinked her round eyes at her father.

Her father grabbed the teapot from the table and gulped down a bellyful of water. Wiping his mouth, he said, "Don't ask. That bastard next door somehow caught wind of it."

"Song Jianshe?"

Liang Ying was startled. "How did he find out?"

Gu Jinshui was wondering the same thing. "Who knows? There's something odd about that family. And that old man asked for twelve hundred. Guess what Song Jianshe said?"

"What?"

Liang Ying leaned in.

Gu Jinshui gave a cold laugh. "He asked if he could pay with small gold bars. Damn it, the Song Family's been dirt-poor for generations, and now he can pull out gold bars? If they came from anywhere honest, I'll take his name!"

Liang Ying was astonished too.

But now was no time to dwell on it.

"So you came back for money? If you need it, I could..."

"No." Gu Jinshui shook his head. "I have enough. I'm worried the old man might ask for more. Song Jianshe's no honest sort either. He might raise his offer at the last minute."

That was a real possibility.

Liang Ying grew worried.

She knew how much time and effort her husband had put into chasing down that Jade Cicada lately.

Then she said, "You said Elder Guan was selling the Snuff Bottle for his granddaughter?"

"Almost certainly."

Gu Jinshui went into the room to get the money and counted it as he spoke. "I asked around. That granddaughter is all the old couple have left. If they're selling things, it has to be for her."

"What if we offered his family something else?"

Liang Ying's suggestion stopped Gu Jinshui mid-count. "Huh?"

She went over and whispered in his ear.

Outside, Gu Yousi was bursting with curiosity. But her parents were whispering, and she couldn't make out a word.

Her curiosity itched at her like ants crawling over her skin.

Sitting in her Baby Walker, she pushed off with her little legs and headed for the room. She had barely reached the threshold when Liang Ying scooped her up.

A smile spread across Gu Jinshui's face. "You're clever, sweetheart. I bet that'll work."

"I hope so. Come home early today. It's Dragon-Head-Raising Day, and Mom said we're having spring pancakes."

Liang Ying bounced the child in her arms, smiling.

At the mention of spring pancakes, Gu Yousi's mouth watered.

Then she suddenly remembered: today was Dragon-Head-Raising Day. Wasn't this the day Song Jianshe saved that old Overseas Chinese man's grandson and gained a powerful benefactor?

Dragon-Head-Raising Day?

Gu Jinshui and Liang Ying were both surprised.

They knew the festival was coming, but neither had realized it was already here.

Gu Jinshui gave it no more thought. If Song Jianshe was going to save someone, let him. It was a good thing.

Meanwhile.

Song Jianshe had just come out of his room, with Huang Xirong still nagging beside him. "What could cost so much, Jianshe? Don't let anyone swindle us. Remember those two hundred and fifty last time..."

"Mom, can't you trust me?"

The mention of two hundred and fifty made Song Jianshe furious all over again.

Ever since that incident, he had acquired a nickname in the Compound Courtyard. The children in particular called him "Two-Fifty" behind his back.

He couldn't stand hearing that number now. It set him off every time.

Huang Xirong hurriedly stopped. "All right, I won't say it. I'm just nervous. Your father gave his life for that gold."

She had barely finished speaking when Song Jianshe's expression changed.

"Dad, Grandma..." Song Chaohua spoke up timidly.

Seeing her in the main room, Song Jianshe's expression shifted again. Then he quickly smiled. "Xiaohua, weren't you going out to play? What are you doing home?"

Song Chaohua smiled. "Dad, I remembered something I need to tell you..."

"Tell me when I get back!"

Song Jianshe spotted Gu Jinshui walking past outside. He immediately grew anxious and, without waiting for Song Chaohua, waved a hand and rushed out after him.

Song Chaohua wanted to follow, but her grandmother caught hold of her.

Huang Xirong gave her a flat look and smacked her shoulder. "All you do is play and giggle. Your little brother's dirty diapers are piled up in a basin. Why haven't you washed them? Don't think you can do whatever you please just because your father dotes on you!"

"Grandma, it's important!"

Song Chaohua watched her father run out of the courtyard, frantic with worry.

Something big was going to happen today.

An Overseas Chinese man's grandson was going to be abducted. In her previous life, Gu Jinshui had caught the abductor on a bus. The old man had been so grateful that he helped Gu Jinshui's family a great deal.

Since her father happened to be home today, she had planned to tell him at once. She knew the time and place. It should have been easy.

But he had run off without even listening.

"What important business could a child have? You're just trying to shirk your chores. Your father has spoiled you rotten!"

Huang Xirong refused to listen. She slapped Song Chaohua's forehead and dragged her off to wash the diapers.

The Twenty-Seventh Day of Being Overheard

The only way to get from the city to the suburbs was by bus.

Gu Jinshui boarded, and Song Jianshe climbed on right behind him.

"Jinshui, what's the rush?"

The nerve of him. He was panting from running himself, yet he still found time to needle Gu Jinshui.

Gu Jinshui found a seat, closed his eyes, folded his arms, and ignored him.

Getting no response, Song Jianshe stood nearby until some passengers got off at a stop. He quickly took a seat, then turned to Gu Jinshui with a smug look.

As if getting a seat were some great victory.

Gu Jinshui found it laughable.

He had never thought much of Song Jianshe.

The man was petty, always comparing himself with others, and narrow-minded to boot. He had worked at the post office for nearly ten years without a promotion. Housing had been allocated twice, and he had been passed over both times, even though his father had died in the line of duty. Clearly, he wasn't much good at his work or at dealing with people. Otherwise, his superiors wouldn't have kept him down.

The bus rattled steadily toward the suburbs.

It grew more crowded. Some passengers had gone into the city that morning to sell vegetables and were now heading home; others were students on their way to enjoy spring in the suburbs.

The bus stopped again, and a middle-aged woman in coarse clothes got on, carrying a child of two or three. The child seemed fast asleep in her arms.

The conductor called out, "Could someone give this lady a seat? You strong gentlemen in the back, make room for her. She's carrying a child."

There were plenty of helpful people around in those days.

Several passengers stood. The woman lowered her head, looking embarrassed, and hurried toward the back with the child in her arms.

"Thank you," she said. When she looked up and saw Gu Jinshui, she froze.

Gu Jinshui had a roguish air. To put it plainly, he looked like someone you wouldn't want to cross.

"Have a seat."

He knew he looked intimidating. He stood and moved toward the front, squeezing in beside a handrail.

He glanced at Song Jianshe. Well, there he was, pretending to be asleep.

Gu Jinshui had seen that little trick so often it was almost funny.

The woman sat down with the child, and the bus pulled away again.

After a spell of jostling along toward the suburbs, the child seemed to wake. The moment the child opened his eyes, he called for Grandpa.

Gu Jinshui turned just in time to see the woman hurriedly pull something from her pocket and clamp it over the child's mouth. He struggled a few times, then went quiet.

Noticing Gu Jinshui watching, the woman looked alarmed but forced a smile. "He misses his grandpa. That's why I'm taking him to see him today."

"What a handsome child," an elderly man nearby said cheerfully. "Look how fair his skin is."

"Yes, he is fair. Takes after his father," the woman mumbled.

Gu Jinshui's eyes narrowed.

He stepped forward. "Ma'am, how old is your child?"

"W-why do you ask?" The woman looked flustered and instinctively held the child tighter.

She glanced toward someone a short distance away.

Hearing the commotion, Song Jianshe opened his eyes and looked over, then gave Gu Jinshui a puzzled glance.

"Oh, it's nothing. I