C5 Ouyang Derong

"Well, about that..."

Lin Hao extended his right hand, thumb and forefinger rubbing together with a mischievous grin.

Seeing this, Qin Sisi tugged at Lin Hao, her lips pursed in feigned indignation. "What kind of person are you, so obsessed with money?"

Lin Hao couldn't resist rolling his eyes.

"Darling, I've got to make a living too. Do you think I'm some deity who can sustain himself on the essence of the universe?"

Right he was. If not for his dire finances, he wouldn't be in this predicament, wearing the proverbial green hat, clueless about his next move.

Qin Chuyang gave Qin Sisi's shoulder a reassuring pat, motioning for her to step aside, before he took his place in front of Lin Hao, chuckling. "Money is no object. Convince me with your answer, and you'll be 100,000 richer."

Lin Hao paused, then broke into a smile. "You've got a deal!"

With that, he accepted the dagger Qin Chuyang offered him.

"Determining the authenticity of this Dragon Scale Dagger is quite straightforward."

"The most obvious method is to inspect the patina. But that's common knowledge to everyone here."

"A genuine Dragon Scale Dagger, with over two millennia of history, would show significant signs of acid corrosion and oxidation—layer upon layer of patina that's robust and fine-grained, yet not prone to flaking off."

Qin Chuyang nodded in agreement. "Impressive analysis. So this Dragon Scale Dagger—do you not deem it authentic?"

"Hold on, Elder Qin!" Lin Hao said with a smile. "You're correct, this dagger exhibits the characteristics I've mentioned, but there's one thing you've overlooked..."

"The Dragon Scale Dagger was historically used for the gruesome death by a thousand cuts. It would be coated with innumerable bloodstains, blood rich in iron, which would only accentuate the oxidation. The real Dragon Scale Dagger would show even more pronounced effects!"

"Furthermore, considering the punishment involved thousands of cuts, and this dagger is only as wide as a finger, how much flesh do you suppose it could actually slice from a body?"

"The true Dragon Scale Dagger would be as thin as a cicada's wing. And this one? Its blade is uneven with dragon scale patterns—hardly conducive to precise cutting."

In reality, the true Dragon Scale Dagger was a later addition by the executioner. The original crafted by Ou Zhizi lacked any scale-like texture, with a flat blade and no blood groove, causing it to stick to the flesh upon cutting.

To facilitate easy withdrawal of the dagger from a cut without it clinging to the wound, the executioner cleverly hammered in a few indentations, giving it the appearance of dragon scales and creating air gaps.

Lin Hao's explanation had a revelatory effect on the crowd, who smacked their foreheads in amazement.

"Wow, the attention to detail is incredible!"

"The analysis is spot-on, but look at this patina... It's clearly an artifact from thousands of years ago!"

"Hehe, it just occurred to me, there's been a group recently using chemicals to treat bronzeware, burying it, and then having it unearthed by the next generation. It comes out looking ancient, deceiving people into thinking it's not a forgery!"

"…"

Qin Chuyang turned abruptly and gasped, "Elder Ouyang!"

The crowd followed his gaze, curious.

An elderly man with a head of white hair emerged from behind the onlookers, his face beaming with a genial smile as he made his way forward, eyes appraising Lin Hao.

"Ouyang Derong, the vice president of the National Antique Association? The esteemed luminary of the antique world is here?"

"Right, didn't I hear about an ancient tomb discovered on the outskirts of Ashpond? Perhaps the archaeologists called him in for his expertise in historical identification."

"Goodness, with Ouyang Derong here, the authenticity of the Dragon Scale Dagger will be discerned in no time."

"…"

Lin Hao quickly grasped the situation; Ouyang Derong was a bigger deal than Qin Chuyang, commanding even more respect in the field.

"Little Qin, you've been immersed in this business for decades, yet your eagerness this time nearly led to a misstep!" Ouyang Derong remarked with a wry smile.

Qin Chuyang, momentarily taken aback, respectfully responded, "I welcome your guidance, Elder Ouyang."

Ouyang Derong, stroking his beard, chuckled and shared, "The Dragon Scale Dagger is mentioned in the historical annals of the Spring and Autumn period. The dagger weighs about two to three taels, which is just over an ounce in today's measurements."

"You realize this dagger weighs at least half a pound, right? Haven't you caught on yet?"

Qin Chuyang, caught off guard, slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh, how could this have slipped my mind?"

Ouyang Derong, gesturing towards Lin Hao, chuckled, "You owe this young man a debt of gratitude!"

"The Qin family may be wealthy, but respect can't be bought. If you'd actually settled the bill for this item, you'd be the talk of the town—and not in a good way."

"Absolutely, absolutely!" Qin Chuyang agreed, nodding vigorously with a shudder of relief.

"Sisi, why the daze? Get moving... transfer two million to your savior, and do it now!" Qin Chuyang pressed.

"Fine!"

Qin Sisi, lips pursed, spoke in a peculiar tone.

After punching in some numbers, she passed her phone to Lin Hao. "Here, enter your account details!"

Lin Hao was slow to grasp the situation. Was he really a millionaire now? This... This money came too easily, didn't it?

Standing nearby, Ouyang Derong chuckled, "It's rightfully yours, no need for unease."

"You've got impressive skills for someone so young. Would you mind sharing where you learned them?"

Lin Hao snapped out of his reverie and offered a vague response, "I'm self-taught. I spend a lot of time reading and watching live streams—shows like 'Daily Treasure Appraisal' are my go-to. I'm a big fan!"

Ouyang Derong sensed Lin Hao's reticence but didn't press the issue. Everyone has their secrets, and prying too deeply would be impolite.

As Lin Hao took the phone to input his account information, Ouyang Derong and Qin Chuyang stepped aside, conversing and laughing, occasionally glancing over at Lin Hao and Qin Sisi.

"What are they up to?" Qin Sisi inquired.

Lin Hao shrugged, "Who knows!"

Before Qin Sisi could continue, Qin Chuyang suddenly approached them with a bounce in his step.

He looked at Lin Hao, then at Qin Sisi, and said with a grin, "Sisi, Elder Ouyang has agreed to take you on a learning expedition to the ancient tombs in the suburbs."

"Seriously?" Qin Sisi lit up with excitement.

Her interest in antiques was mild, but her passion for archaeology was intense—a truly unique inclination.

Qin Chuyang nodded, then shifted his gaze to Lin Hao with a smile. "Young man, I have a question from Elder Ouyang for you. Are you available in the next few days? He would like... he would like to invite you to the ancient tomb in the suburbs to assist in assessing its historical and cultural significance."

"Hold on a second..."

Before Lin Hao could respond, Qin Sisi interjected with a furrowed brow, "Grandpa, why does he get to help while I'm just there to learn? Are you getting things mixed up?"

Qin Chuyang offered an embarrassed chuckle. "Well, it seems... I didn't make a mistake. So, do you want to come along?"

At that, Lin Hao couldn't contain his laughter, while Qin Sisi glared in frustration.