Snail Senior Brother

Chapter 335 Recollection: A Stitch in Time

After receiving the news from Zhao Shicheng, Grandpa felt something was amiss. The timing of the theft was too coincidental. He had just given the bronze short blade to Zhao Shicheng, and then Zhao Shicheng lost it along with the terracotta warrior's head. What did this imply? It meant someone had their eye on it.

Who could it be?

Grandpa's first thought was his son. Who else would have the motive and opportunity? It had to be his son, Lin Zhijun. That brat was crazy! If he got caught, he'd be shot.

After work, Grandpa hurried home to find Lin Zhijun. But Lin Zhijun wasn't there. Mama Lin was making lamb head soup, and Grandma Lin was playing with Lin Han outside.

"Where's your son?" Grandpa asked Grandma.

Before Grandma could answer, young Lin Han pouted, "Dad went for drinks. I asked him to bring some back for me. He said kids can't drink, but why are only adults allowed to drink good things."

Grandpa was about to explain when Grandma smiled, "Hanhan, Grandpa's wine pot is under the dining table. Go have a taste."

"Okay!"

Lin Han happily ran inside. Grandma solemnly asked Grandpa, "What's wrong? Has Da Jun gotten into trouble?"

Normally, Grandma didn't interfere with Grandpa's decisions and played the role of a devoted wife and mother at home. But when it came to crucial moments, Grandma was the pillar of the family.

Grandpa sighed, organizing his thoughts, and recounted the whole story. Grandma frowned, "This matter of fifteen thousand yuan isn't a big deal. But getting Da Jun involved in stealing national treasures, that must not happen. They probably haven't found a buyer yet. You need to bring Da Jun back."

"What good will bringing him back do? Can I tie him up?"

"I'll handle it."

Grandpa sighed deeply, "You can't indulge him this time. He hit someone's eye, sold national treasures to small vendors. If we hadn't covered for him, would he have reached this point? To dare to hire someone to steal national treasures." Seeing Grandpa's expression, Grandma got angry, "What else can we do? Let your son be dragged away and shot? If he dies, what happens to this family? What happens to his wife? What happens to Hanhan?"

Grandpa was speechless. Grandma glared, "Go find him first."

Grandpa searched several restaurants and finally found Lin Zhijun and his companions at a Wangyue Restaurant. There were six people at the table, including Lin Zhijun, Liu Shou, and four strangers.

Seeing Grandpa, Lin Zhijun looked somewhat embarrassed and slowly stood up, "Dad."

Liu Shou also stood up and smiled, "Comrade Lin, you're here. Sit down and have a drink."

"Since when did my son get mixed up with you?" Grandpa was extremely displeased, his tone sharp and his face sullen. "We're friends!"

"He's not your friend. Lin Zhijun, stand up and come home with me."

Lin Zhijun's face was awkward and he felt unhappy. He stood up and got into a ready stance, wanting to defy Grandpa. But Liu Shou pulled him back and said sternly, "Lin Zhijun, this is not the place to argue. The more you say, the more mistakes you make. Go home with Old Comrade Lin first. We'll be in touch."

After Lin Zhijun returned home, he still wanted to throw a tantrum, but Grandma glared at him, and his temper was suppressed. He lowered his head, "Mom, this is not a big deal!"

"Have your wife take the child to bed. You come with me to the study."

Grandpa started to follow, but Grandma stopped him, "You don't need to come in. I'll discuss it with your son."

Grandpa didn't know what Grandma and Lin Zhijun discussed. He waited anxiously in the bedroom. When Grandma returned, Grandpa quickly asked, "What did you talk about?"

"This matter is too big. He can only atone for his crime by performing meritorious service."

"How can he atone?"

"You go to the police station and report it," Grandma said seriously.

Grandpa was dumbfounded, "Won't that implicate my son?"

"After you report it, go find Zhao Shicheng for help."

Grandpa knew Grandma was meticulous. But with these vague instructions, Grandpa was completely bewildered. Grandma called Grandpa closer and whispered the plan she and Lin Zhijun had devised. Grandpa could only nod, "Alright."

The next day, Grandpa went to see Liu Shou alone. He looked at Liu Shou sternly, "I never expected this, Liu Shou. You're like Zhuge Liang reborn. The trap I painstakingly set was used by you."

Liu Shou smiled playfully, "Old Comrade Lin, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Jing Ke assassinates Qin Shi Huang. Have you found a buyer?"

"No!" Liu Shou didn't conceal anything.

"Then how about this? I'll sell it. After the transaction is successful, I'll give you 100,000 yuan."

Liu Shou's eyebrows shot up, "100,000? Old Lin, you're too harsh. You're giving me 10,000 out of a million? I'm the one who found the people to steal it."

"Where is there a million? Mysterious person X is my son, Lin Zhijun. You know this, don't you? I've actually contacted a real buyer. That buyer is a foreigner from Australia. He's offering 300,000 yuan."

"Business is about negotiation. I want 200,000," Liu Shou said with a chuckle.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because this national treasure is in my hands."

"Half each. No further negotiation."

"Deal. Old Lin, you contact the buyer."

After Grandpa and Liu Shou reached an agreement, Grandpa returned to find Zhao Shicheng. Grandpa said, "Let's report to the police. If we report now, we'll get credit. If others find out, we're finished."

Zhao Shicheng, having lost the terracotta warrior's head and ending up with nothing, was already in a state of extreme distress.

"Yes, let's report it. Report it now."

Grandpa pulled Zhao Shicheng aside, "You need to have someone steal the fake one out first."

"Okay!"

After the two of them discussed it, Zhao Shicheng reported to the police first, stating that a terracotta warrior's head had been lost. Upon hearing this, Grandpa checked the warehouse and found that the bronze burial short blade from the seventh year of Qin was also missing. Grandpa quickly reported this matter to his superiors. The superiors communicated with the police, who believed that the thief had stolen these two national treasures to echo the legend of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang.

The police began an internal investigation and determined that both national treasures were stolen by Xun Chong. The police searched everywhere for Xun Chong but found no trace of him. This incident had a significant impact, and the police immediately formed a special task force to investigate.

A few days later, Grandpa went to the police station. Just as he had helped the police solve the case of the warrior's head before, Grandpa provided a clue: someone was trying to contact a mysterious person X, an Australian national, attempting to sell these two national treasures together for 300,000 yuan.

Upon receiving this information, the police immediately went undercover as Australian antique dealers. Sure enough, someone contacted the disguised police. During the transaction with the criminal group, the police successfully apprehended four criminals.

These four criminals had multiple theft records and even a江湖 title of "Yan Luo Dian" (Palace of Hell). However, these four individuals, named Niutou (Ox-Head), Mamian (Horse-Face), Heibai Wuchang (Black and White Impermanence), who appeared fierce and overbearing, were very docile in front of the police. They confessed their crimes with little questioning.

They had stolen the terracotta warrior's head and the bronze short blade from Zhao Shirui's home based on information provided by Liu Shou. The police quickly conducted a deeper investigation and discovered that the actual thieves in this case were not these individuals. It was the antique dealer Zhao Shirui. Zhao Shirui, using his brotherly relationship with Zhao Shicheng, repeatedly contacted Xun Chong, a key technical member of the archaeological team, bribing Xun Chong with tens of thousands of yuan and using Xun Chong to bribe other members of the archaeological team. Under the archaeological team's relaxed vigilance, they colluded to steal the terracotta warrior's head and the bronze dagger.

Afterward, Xun Chong found Liu Shou, a dismissed member of the archaeological team, and instructed Liu Shou to find a theft ring to steal the terracotta warrior's head and the bronze dagger from Zhao Shirui. Zhao Shirui discovered this and confronted Xun Chong, leading to an argument. During this altercation, Zhao Shirui killed Xun Chong and dumped his body in the wilderness.

In this case, Zhao Shirui repeatedly confessed that he did all of this because he was instigated by a mistress with whom he had business dealings. The existence of the Australian mysterious person X was also a fabrication spread by this mistress. The police did not believe this, considering Zhao Shirui to be a deliberate offender. The judicial authorities rendered their verdict, sentencing Zhao Shirui, who repeatedly stole national treasures, to death. The mistress, Xu, was sentenced to life imprisonment, and the other four thieves were sentenced to 6-8 years in prison, respectively.

In addition, Zhao Shicheng, as the person responsible, was also punished. His position as team leader of the archaeological team was revoked, and he became a staff member at the Archaeological Research Institute. Grandpa, on the other hand, was commended and left the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin Research Institute Museum to become the director of another museum.

Although the case was settled, Grandpa remained troubled. Grandma called Grandpa into the study and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"

"I still feel something is amiss. There's been no definitive conclusion yet on whether the recovered terracotta warrior's head and bronze short blade are genuine."

"You think the national treasures recovered by the police are fake?"

"Yes."

Grandma chuckled, "Then it's right." With that, Grandma pulled out a box from under the desk. Grandpa opened the box and his eyes widened. Inside the box lay a terracotta warrior's head and a bronze short blade.

"What's going on?"

"I told you your son would atone for his crimes by performing meritorious service. This is his achievement."

Grandpa was confused. Grandma smiled and said, "I'll explain it to you in detail."