“Song Dynasty Jian Kiln Oil-Drip Cup.”
The antique shop fell silent for a moment. Ye Muqing knew about the Song dynasty and Jian kilns—they had been covered in her history lessons—but what was an oil-drip cup?
Yu Songjin placed the oil-drip cup in his hand back on the table and let out a quiet breath.
“See these small, round spots on the glaze that resemble drops of oil? That’s where the name ‘oil-drip cup’ comes from. Oil-drip cups are famous among porcelain wares. An intact one was once sold at Christie’s for 78 million yuan.”
Ye Muqing’s hand trembled. She finally understood why Yu Songjin had looked that way when he saw her bring it over wrapped in a plastic bag.
That was 78 million yuan!
No, just thinking about how she had nearly dropped something worth 78 million yuan made her liver tremble.
Yu Songjin glanced at his phone and said in a deep voice, “If you trust me, come with me somewhere.”
“Where?”
“To have it authenticated and see whether I’ve made a mistake.”
Ye Muqing nodded her agreement without much hesitation.
The two of them arrived in the old urban district of Ningjiang City. Even the youngest buildings in this area were probably about as old as their grandparents.
Yu Songjin knocked on the gate of one of the small courtyards. Before long, the gate opened.
An energetic old man’s eyes lit up. “Jinjin, did you bring the oil-drip cup you mentioned?”
“Grandpa, let’s go inside and talk.”
Ye Muqing looked at Yu Songjin in surprise. Grandpa?
Yu Songjin gave Ye Muqing a slight gesture. Only after she had entered did he turn around and close the gate.
The courtyard was not large, but it had been arranged with exquisite care. White snow against red walls made for a beautiful sight.
There was also a gray-haired old woman waiting inside the house. The moment she saw Yu Songjin, she smiled and waved to him.
Yu Songjin turned back to Ye Muqing. “These are my maternal grandparents. They used to be professors in the archaeology department at Yenching University, and they also led many archaeological expeditions. When it comes to this sort of thing, they have more experience than I do.”
Ye Muqing greeted the two elderly people, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“Jinjin, who is this?”
“She’s the owner of the Song Dynasty Jian Kiln oil-drip cup.”
The two elderly people immediately focused their gazes on Ye Muqing, especially the old man. His eyes lit up at once.
“Miss, may I take a look at it?”
“Of course.”
When the two elderly people saw Ye Muqing take out the box, they instinctively held their breath.
The box had been taken by Yu Songjin before they left. He had said that otherwise, they would curse him to death.
Ye Muqing silently took two steps back as the two elderly people began carefully and seriously authenticating the oil-drip cup in their hands.
The entire process was somewhat boring for Ye Muqing, and she could not help looking over the surroundings.
The whole house had the decorating style of the last century, but it was fully equipped with high-tech furniture. The two had been blended together quite well.
The two elderly people took even longer than Yu Songjin had. The process lasted from noon until nightfall.
It was only after the lights outside had come on and Yu Songjin had returned with takeout that the two of them sighed and sat back down in their original places.
“Although this oil-drip cup is not in as good condition as the one sold at auction, it is still exceedingly rare.”
Ye Muqing instantly stopped feeling sleepy.
What did this mean?
It meant she was about to receive another huge sum of money!
The old man looked at Ye Muqing with a broad smile. “Miss, do you have any intention of selling it?”
That sounded rather familiar.
Ye Muqing instinctively glanced at Yu Songjin. He had said the same thing before, and then she had ended up with three million yuan.
Yu Songjin understood what his grandfather meant. After pondering for a moment, he said to Ye Muqing, “Lu Huaining’s grandfather is an antique collector. I sold the calligraphy you previously put up for sale to Lu Huaining. His grandfather especially likes Jian ware. He missed an opportunity to buy one at auction before and regretted it for a long time.”
Ye Muqing nodded, understanding.
“I do intend to sell it. I’m just not sure what price the other party will offer.” She spoke cautiously.
“Miss, you don’t need to worry about that. That old fellow may not have much of anything else, but he has plenty of money.”
Ye Muqing looked perfectly calm on the surface, but only she knew how fast her heart was beating.
Perhaps afraid that she might change her mind, the old man immediately made a phone call after seeing that Ye Muqing had agreed.
Ye Muqing had the distinct feeling that they were worried she would run off, because less than half an hour after the old man made the call, the other party arrived.
Old Master Lu truly had considerable knowledge of Jian ware. With his two old friends’ authentication serving as a guarantee, he directly offered the high price of 50 million yuan.
Fifty million yuan!
Ye Muqing could not help clenching her fingers. Although she knew the piece was absolutely genuine, and although she was wildly tempted by 50 million yuan, she still had to say what needed to be said.
“If this oil-drip cup is fake…”
“Then it means we were the ones who made a mistake. It has nothing to do with you.”
Old Master Lu seemed to know exactly what she was worried about and answered bluntly.
Standing beside Ye Muqing, Yu Songjin quietly explained some unwritten rules of the antique world. Even if the oil-drip cup turned out to be fake, once it had been sold, it would have nothing more to do with her.
They had already put it that way, so Ye Muqing felt she had nothing left to hesitate over. She nodded directly at Old Master Lu, indicating her agreement.
Old Master Lu immediately asked for Ye Muqing’s bank account number and had someone transfer the money to her.
Ye Muqing soon received a text-message notification. When she saw that string of zeroes, her heartbeat, which had only just settled down, suddenly began pounding again.
This was 50 million yuan!
Although it was somewhat less than 78 million yuan, what had she put into it?
Only a few quilts!
Ye Muqing drew a deep breath. With 50 million yuan in her hands, what did she have to fear from Liu Yang?
Let Liu Yang go to hell!
Old Master Lu left in a great hurry, carrying the oil-drip cup worth 50 million yuan, and Ye Muqing also prepared to take her leave.
Before leaving, Ye Muqing accepted the two elderly people’s business cards. Only then did she discover that Yu Songjin seemed to use his mother’s surname.
After Ye Muqing walked out of the Yu residence, a cold wind rushed into her face, and she could not help shrinking her neck.
Yu Songjin hurried a few steps ahead and opened the car door. “Get in first. I’ll go get something.”
Ye Muqing did not have to wait long before he returned. When she saw the jar of pickles, she was a little dazed.
This thing seemed somewhat at odds with Yu Songjin’s overall demeanor.
Yu Songjin did not seem to mind. He took out another jar.
“My grandmother really likes making things like this. She’s very skilled at it. This one is for you.”
Ye Muqing instinctively wanted to refuse. Although she had come to sell something, she was still the younger party visiting her elders. It was one thing to bring nothing, but how could she leave with something as well?
“Take it. Or you can treat me to a meal another day.” Yu Songjin’s eyes and brows were filled with a smile.
Ye Muqing hesitated briefly. Meeting Yu Songjin’s smile, she moved her fingers.
Although she did not quite understand what connection there was between the two options, Yu Songjin had helped her both times. Treating him to a meal was only reasonable.
“All right. I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”
Yu Songjin turned his head. “Then it’s settled.”