Zhou Jinzhi

Biodata

Background / History

Zhou Jinzhi previously lived in Capital City, where he was a powerful, well-known figure. Although retired, he retained influential connections. His children lived abroad and ran very large businesses; his jade shop in Cang City was a hobby rather than his principal livelihood 15 16.

He rarely served customers personally, generally leaving that work to his assistants. He also routinely declined banquet invitations, making his uninvited appearance at Wu Tengming’s banquet a considerable honor for the Wu Family 15 35.

Personality

Zhou is selective about whom he associates with and is described as exceedingly difficult to please. His special regard for Ye Fan therefore attracts attention from Cang City’s prominent families. Ye Fan’s boasting and blunt remarks frequently leave him speechless, but his irritation does not prevent him from recognizing the young man’s abilities or helping him 17 21 30.

He cares deeply about Bai Yunxi’s health and reacts angrily when Ye Fan proposes sleeping with him as treatment. Nevertheless, he later arranges an opportunity for Ye Fan to spend time with Bai Yunxi. His attitude combines skepticism about Ye Fan’s romantic prospects with practical assistance and warnings about how his behavior will be received 16 21 36.

Abilities & Skills

Antique Appraisal

• Recognizes that Tang Yongjin’s supposedly Song-dynasty brush washer does not look genuinely antique after Ye Fan identifies it as a modern reproduction 31.
• Notices the fine workmanship of a wooden carving and suggests it may be the work of Ghost Blade Carver; Tang Yongjin’s subsequent inquiry confirms that attribution 31.

Connections and Access

• Can contact Bai Shiyuan directly and have a prescription submitted to Physician Hua for evaluation 14.
• Secures Ye Fan a place on an archaeological expedition as an ancient literature researcher and supplies his work badge 21.
• Recognizes the standing of Realman Zhang of Dragon Tiger Mountain and considers Ye Fan’s Illness-Expelling Talismans underpriced at two hundred thousand yuan each 29.

Relationships

• Bai Shiyuan — Sworn brother. Their bond is one reason Zhou takes Bai Yunxi’s illness so seriously 16.
• Bai Yunxi — Calls him “Uncle Zhou.” Zhou checks on his health and acts as an intermediary for Ye Fan’s gifts and medicine 13 20 30.
• Ye Fan — Customer who becomes a favored acquaintance. Their exchanges remain argumentative and teasing even as Zhou helps him pursue Bai Yunxi and introduces him to a paying patient 13 17 21 28.
• Tang Yongjin — Old friend and real estate tycoon. Zhou seeks treatment when he falls unconscious and later accompanies him to show Ye Fan his antique collection 28 29 30 31.
• Xiao Chi — Exchanges information with him about Ye Fan, including his Illness-Expelling Talismans, following the ancient-tomb expedition 29.
• Wu Family — Receives considerable deference from its members. Wu Sihan repeatedly urges Ye Fan to treat him more respectfully 15 16 28.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Meeting Ye Fan and Passing Along the Prescription

• Zhou first meets Ye Fan when the latter shops for a jade pendant. He accepts five thousand yuan after initially asking thirty thousand, prompting Ye Fan’s lasting accusation that he is a crooked merchant 13.
• When Bai Yunxi visits, Zhou offers him a Jade Buddha for three million yuan, explaining that he found it while clearing out an old Song-dynasty house. Ye Fan purchases it as a gift and asks Zhou to deliver it with a prescription and romantic message 13 14.
• Zhou initially regards Ye Fan’s claims of extraordinary medical knowledge as boasting. Nevertheless, he calls Bai Shiyuan and asks him to have Physician Hua examine the prescription 14.

The Wu Family Banquet

• Physician Hua’s enthusiastic assessment prompts Bai Shiyuan to request an introduction to the prescription’s author. Zhou attends the Wu Family banquet and approaches Ye Fan directly to ask where it came from 15 16.
• Ye Fan claims authorship, predicts that Bai Yunxi has six months remaining, and says medicine can only buy time. Zhou eagerly asks about another treatment, then leaves in anger when Ye Fan proposes balancing their cold and fiery energies by sleeping together 16.
• Zhou later identifies Ye Fan to Bai Shiyuan as his future grandson-in-law, infuriating him. Bai Yunxi eventually learns that both the prescription and Jade Buddha came from Ye Fan 20.

Arranging the Archaeological Expedition

• Despite his doubts about Ye Fan’s chances of winning Bai Yunxi over, Zhou obtains him a place on the Shanxi tomb excavation that Bai Yunxi will attend with Xiao Chi 21.
• He instructs Ye Fan to gather in Falling Wind Town in six days and warns him about the poor conditions at the site. His recommendation enables Ye Fan to join the expedition 21 22.
• During their reunion, Bai Yunxi says he has not received Ye Fan’s accompanying letter, contradicting the delivery assurance Ye Fan attributes to Zhou 22.

Tang Yongjin’s Treatment and Collection

• Zhou offers Ye Fan ten million yuan to awaken his hospitalized friend Tang Yongjin. At the hospital, he sends the doctors outside so that fewer people will witness Ye Fan’s unusual treatment methods 28 29.
• After Ye Fan removes enough poison to restore consciousness, Zhou asks what a complete cure would cost. Ye Fan quotes fifty million yuan and says he would have asked for one hundred million without Zhou’s earlier help arranging the expedition 29.
• Tang Yongjin thanks Zhou for bringing Ye Fan to him. Zhou warns his friend that his enthusiasm for antiques of dubious origin is bound to cause trouble 30.
• Zhou accompanies them to Tang Yongjin’s collection, where Ye Fan identifies contaminated objects and discovers purple bloodwood. He also offers to deliver another batch of medicine to Bai Yunxi 30 31.

Ye Fan’s Departure for Capital City

• Before Ye Fan leaves, Zhou warns him not to publicly boast about courting Bai Yunxi or making him his wife, citing the hostility and ridicule he could attract 36.
• After witnessing Ye Fan reject Liao Tingting’s invitation to eat together, Zhou withdraws upstairs when she approaches his shop, leaving the manager to handle matters 36.