Chapter 100: Two Jade Artifacts (Requesting Votes)

Ning Zhiheng had no patience left for this scoundrel. He signaled Liu Datong to step forward and interrogate, then turned back to sit quietly in his chair, observing.

Old Liao had intended to showcase his expertise before Officer Ning, but before he could start any torture, Cui Er confessed and begged for mercy, leaving Old Liao in an awkward position—it was truly embarrassing! This was like cutting off a man’s future! No way! Just wait until I get you later!

This time, Liu Datong’s temper snapped. Without a word, he stepped forward and whipped Cui Er mercilessly until he was bloodied and battered, then snarled, “Hand over everything else quietly, or I’ll skin you alive today!”

Cui Er, barely clinging to life, finally gasped out, “Stop hitting me, please, stop! I’ll tell you everything!”

It turned out that Cui Er had broken into No. 2 Willow Tree Alley, turning the place upside down. To his surprise, the homeowner stashed not only a large sum of cash but also numerous gold bars, gold ornaments, and jade pieces—clearly valuable. He had taken everything and brought it back in one haul.

He was cunning enough to secretly hide these treasures, only squandering some of the cash. After being caught by Liu Datong, he bit his tongue and refused to reveal anything, hoping that once released, he could rely on this hidden fortune for a better life. This was his only hope for the future. After his leg was broken, he was even more determined to stay silent—if his leg was broken, even if he survived, his livelihood would be gone. Without that money, he couldn’t survive, so he gritted his teeth and endured.

Unexpectedly, Ning Zhiheng arrived and immediately saw through his lies. Ultimately, he even tried to suffocate him alive. Caught between life and death, Cui Er could no longer hold on and confessed, resigned to his fate.

“The items are buried in my courtyard, under the willow tree to the east,” Cui Er whispered weakly.

Liu Datong glared fiercely at him and cursed, “Cui Er, if you dare lie to me again, I’ll take your life when we get back!”

Cui Er’s face turned pale, his head drooped low with no strength left to speak. His lips moved slightly but no sound came out.

Only then did Ning Zhiheng step forward and study him carefully for a long moment before nodding to Old Liao. “Take him back, but don’t kill him just yet.”

Then he turned to Liu Datong. “Datong, let’s go to his home and retrieve the items from the spot he described. Let’s see exactly what’s been hidden.”

Ning Zhiheng and Liu Datong drove to Cui Er’s residence—a very ordinary civilian home consisting of two tile-roofed rooms, with a narrow courtyard in front. In the courtyard grew a flourishing willow tree, evidently quite old.

Following Cui Er’s instructions, Ning Zhiheng approached the east side of the willow tree and said to Liu Datong, “It should be here.”

Liu Datong looked around and indeed found an old, worn shovel in the courtyard. He took it and began digging at the spot Ning Zhiheng indicated.

Soon, they uncovered a pit. Not long after, the shovel struck something hard with a clank. Liu Datong hastened the digging, and before long, a flat iron box emerged from the earth.

He pried it free with the shovel, brushed off the dirt, and handed it to Ning Zhiheng.

The iron box wasn’t locked and opened easily. Inside were neatly arranged twenty gold bars and two jade boxes.

Liu Datong saw the stack of gold bars and couldn’t help but exclaim softly. Indeed, it was a fortune—no wonder Cui Er had been willing to risk everything and hold his tongue to the bitter end.

Ning Zhiheng, however, didn’t glance at the gold bars. Instead, he gently took the two jade boxes in his hands. He had a hunch that the contents of these jade boxes were the true reason why that tenant, Dong Chengjie, had fled his rented room in such a hurry.

Opening one of the jade boxes, Ning Zhiheng’s eyes brightened instantly. Inside lay an exquisitely beautiful jade magatama—a delicately translucent piece of jadeite, vivid green and pure in color, shaped like a crescent moon, radiating a dazzling, crystalline glow. It was stunningly beautiful.

In his previous life’s final years, Ning Zhiheng had dealt extensively with antiques and jade artifacts. Though not a renowned expert, he was quite knowledgeable about jade jewelry—ordinary items never escaped his notice.

The magatama was a very ancient ornament, commonly found in Japan, with rare examples in China and Korea.

Legend held that magatamas were imbued with spiritual power, serving as a medium connecting the divine, believed to improve fate and ward off evil.

This type of magatama was extremely popular in Japan. Almost every antique jade shop there sold such pieces, much like how ancient China favored jade pendants.

Ning Zhiheng had seen magatamas in his past life, but the material quality of this one far surpassed any he had encountered before.

Next, Ning Zhiheng opened the other jade box. Inside was an exquisitely crafted gold-inlaid jade seal. The upper part was a pure gold bird, lifelike and finely made; the lower part was a smooth, translucent white jade base, intricately carved with a pattern.

Ning Zhiheng examined the pattern carefully. It was exquisitely detailed: four diamond-shaped plum blossoms, neatly stacked with petals facing outward, forming a perfectly symmetrical diamond-shaped design.

The entire seal was flat and exquisitely crafted, evoking an aura of ancient antiquity. It was an exceptionally precious artifact.

At this point, Ning Zhiheng was almost certain that the entire mystery centered on this exquisite gold-inlaid jade seal.

Liu Datong tore his gaze away from the gold bars and, seeing Ning Zhiheng carefully inspecting the two jade items, asked, “Officer Ning, do these treasures have any special significance?”

Ning Zhiheng hesitated for a moment before explaining, “Not exactly treasures. Jade artifacts these days don’t fetch high prices, but these two are indeed fine pieces. This is a magatama, an ancient ornament, especially common in Japan. They’re very rare in our country.

“As for this gold-inlaid jade seal, I’ve seen quite a few seals, but I can’t discern its origin. The pattern on it is unfamiliar to me.

“Datong, do you know if there’s any expert in seals and epigraphy in the antique circles of Nanjing?”

Liu Datong scratched his head awkwardly. “Officer Ning, you’re asking the wrong person. I’m barely literate. If I can recognize a few characters, it’s a miracle. I don’t know much about antiques, but I do know Chen Yanqing likes these kinds of things. I’ll ask him.”

Ning Zhiheng knew Liu Datong wasn’t the right person to ask—he had little formal education and no interest in antiques. To him, those jade pieces paled in comparison to the allure of the gold bars.

Having retrieved the items, Ning Zhiheng and Liu Datong hurried to the police station with the iron box.

Not wanting to cause a scene and stir unnecessary trouble, Ning Zhiheng didn’t enter the station himself but sent Liu Datong to fetch Chen Yanqing.

Soon, Chen Yanqing appeared at the police station entrance with Liu Datong. The three got into the car, and Ning Zhiheng handed over the jade boxes.

“Yanqing, Datong told me you’re interested in antiques and jade. Take a look at this seal and see if you can tell us anything,” Ning Zhiheng said.

Chen Yanqing took the jade box with both hands, opened it, and carefully examined the gold-inlaid jade seal for a long time before shaking his head. “I only know a little about seals and haven’t seen many fine pieces. I can’t really figure this one out, but I can tell it’s definitely very old.

“However, I know of a seal and epigraphy expert nearby who’s well-versed in antiques and jade. He’s a professor at Jinling University, named Fang Boyi. He’s quite renowned in the circle.

“He lives not far away, on Jiyuan Road, just three blocks over. Why don’t we go ask him?”

Yunheng nodded. The three drove to Fang Boyi’s residence.

Twenty minutes later, they stopped at the intersection of Jiyuan Road and walked to the gate of No. 23. Ning Zhiheng and the others got out, and Chen Yanqing rang the doorbell.

After a moment, a man dressed as a servant came out and asked, “Whom are you looking for?”

Ning Zhiheng smiled. “We’ve come to visit Professor Fang, having heard much of his reputation. We have some items we don’t understand and admire the professor’s knowledge greatly. We humbly ask for his guidance.”

The servant nodded. “Please wait a moment. I’ll ask Mr. Fang.”

He turned and went back inside. After a while, he returned, saying, “Mr. Fang isn’t feeling well and can’t receive guests. I’m afraid you’ll have to come back another time.”

Liu Datong was visibly displeased and stepped forward, finger pointed, ready to argue with the servant. Ning Zhiheng quickly stopped him with a firm hand and said, “We are seeking help; we must be polite.”

Seeing Ning Zhiheng’s rebuke, Liu Datong dared not speak further.

Ning Zhiheng then smiled and quietly said to the servant, “It’s not easy for us to come here just to ask Professor Fang for a little guidance. We won’t take up much of his time. Once we’ve looked at the items, we’ll leave immediately.”

As he spoke, two bills were discreetly slipped into the servant’s sleeve. The servant paused, glanced closely at Ning Zhiheng, then smoothly withdrew the twenty yuan bills into his pocket without a trace.

“I’ll ask again! Please wait, sir,” the servant’s tone immediately softened.

He turned and went back inside, this time staying longer. When he came out again, he smiled and said, “Mr. Fang will see the three of you in.”

The door opened, welcoming them in.