I was surprised by Lin Han’s expression. To me, it was just a hairpin from the Qing Dynasty, a three-pronged piece.
"What on earth is this? Have you seen it before?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I don't want to say."
"You can at least tell me what it is, right?"
Lin Han pondered for a moment before recounting the origin of the artifact.
Emperor Qianlong had a Han Chinese concubine, Consort Su, who was particularly fond of this style of ornament. The item I presented was a popular hair accessory during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In "Dream of the Red Chamber," it was known as "yizhàngqīng," and in the Qing Dynasty, common people called it an "erwǎchāi" (ear-digging hairpin). Consort Su was once bestowed such an ornament by Emperor Qianlong: silver-gilded gold, with the head shaped like a butterfly and inlaid with a jewel.
This silver and gold inlaid jeweled butterfly erwǎchāi is now collected by the Zhejiang Provincial Museum as a treasure. However, some say that Consort Su was only bestowed this hairpin after telling Emperor Qianlong the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. If it were related to Liang Zhu, then this hairpin should have been a pair.
Qing Dynasty women's headdresses were heavy, and they wore more than one hairpin. This theory is not without merit, but there is no evidence to support it. The authorities ignore this claim, but many people in the marketplace are searching for this artifact.
I was somewhat taken aback. I lacked the time and expertise to search for valuable artifacts in the ghost market. Therefore, I chose from the items Liu Chenxi had left me. She left me a green jade thumb ring, which I cannot reveal for now, and a piece of "dead man's jade." Such jade is uncommon in Beijing, so I assumed Liu Chenxi's piece was extraordinary, but I didn't touch it to avoid trouble. After careful consideration, I decided to use this hairpin, one of the three treasures she left me. Liu Chenxi's sapphire earrings had already been used in her schemes, so I believed the hairpin was also from her father. I never expected Lin Han to recognize it at first glance and claim to have seen it. Did Lin Han have a connection with Liu Chenxi?
Initially, I thought Lin Han was just a rebellious runaway child. Now, it seems, after this matter is resolved, I must investigate Lin Han's background.
...
"Lin Han, thank you for telling me the origin of this hairpin. I have one more question: if this hairpin is so valuable, using it as bait might put you in danger. Do you want to proceed?"
Lin Han tucked the hairpin into her pocket and said dismissively, "I, Lin Han, am afraid of nothing. I won't let you, Tang Nan, look down on me!"
...
The next morning, I proceeded according to plan. Lin Han took the hairpin to find Lina, while I was responsible for following Lin Han. Fatty and Da Huang were responsible for surveillance, and Chang Dachun went to the Jingcheng Prosperous Auction House.
Lina chatted with Lin Han at her home for a while before taking her to the home of the fake Leng Yan. Fatty, Da Huang, and I met up and hid downstairs. After eavesdropping for a while, I felt something was amiss. During the eavesdropping, I heard Lin Han's effeminate voice and the fake Leng Yan's, but not Lina's.
"Da Huang, call Lin Han. Confirm the situation."
Da Huang called Lin Han: "Reporter Lin, the boss asked you to deliver some documents yesterday. Did you deliver them?"
Our magazine was fake, and we wouldn't be sending any documents. The only thing I asked Lin Han to deliver was the erwǎchāi. Lin Han, being very clever, immediately understood what Da Huang was asking. She replied impatiently, "I already handed it over this morning!"
"But the boss said."
"What did the boss say? Is he sure I didn't deliver it?"
"No, the boss said she isn't even here?"
"Right, she's not here today, but I delivered it."
"Alright, I'll tell the boss."
I heard the entire conversation. After Da Huang hung up, he looked at me, awaiting my orders.
"Go find Lina now. Search the surrounding area."
Da Huang and Fatty immediately split up. After they left, I called Chang Dachun: "Brother Chang, when did you give the photos to the auction house?"
Chang Dachun was puzzled: "Traffic was bad this morning. I just got in to become a member. This auction house is quite troublesome; you need to verify your assets and pay a deposit to buy anything. I haven't had a reason to give them the photos yet. According to the process, we haven't reached that stage yet."
"Lina has already disappeared with the erwǎchāi!"
Chang Dachun analyzed: "From a scammer's perspective, this doesn't make sense. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless Lina has already contacted Leng Yan and reached some consensus. Damn it, if this woman is truly as she claims, she might already be helping Leng Yan."
Just as Chang Dachun finished his analysis, Da Huang ran over, panting: "We found Lina! Lina is with Leng Yan."
"How did you determine that person was Leng Yan?"
"He's thin and wearing a tailcoat similar to a musician's, just as you described."
...
After hearing Da Huang's description, I quickly dictated a message to Da Huang: "You two follow them closely. Make this call, and have the Criminal Investigation Bureau arrest them."
"We can arrest them ourselves. What if we lose them?"
"We are responsible for investigation, not arrest. Leave professional matters to professionals."
After Da Huang left, I listened in. Lin Han was still chatting with the fake Leng Yan in the room, engaging in unimportant small talk.
"Haha, you are truly a humorous person. I'll get you a glass of water." the fake Leng Yan said.
"I'm not thirsty."
"Talking so much must make your throat uncomfortable! Sister Lina doesn't know where she went. Why hasn't she returned yet? How about we log into QQ and see if Leng Yan is online?"
From their voices, Lin Han must have opened her computer, and the fake Leng Yan went to get water.
Beep beep...
A QQ message arrived on the computer.
"It's Leng Yan. He's talking to you."
"How should I reply?" Lin Han's voice sounded anxious.
"I don't know either. Should we call Sister Lina?" The fake Leng Yan sounded clueless as well.
"Fine, you go call."
I heard the fake Leng Yan place the water on the table, then make a call. His voice sounded surprised: "Lina's phone is turned off. Why is it turned off?"
...
I thought for a moment and called Chang Dachun again: "How are things on your end?"
"Everything is following proper procedures. I can't see any trickery. I feel like we've taken the wrong step."
"Da Huang and Fatty are currently watching Lina and Leng Yan, but Lin Han is still chatting with the fake Leng Yan. So I'm certain they are part of the same team."
I had asked Chang Dachun to pay to become a member of the auction house because I suspected that Leng Yan's team was within the auction house. Now that I say they are definitely a team, Chang Dachun started to panic: "What do we do? I haven't found anything yet!"
"Don't worry. Make a scene and then call the police. Be somewhat childish so they think this is just an accident within your control. In reality, I've already made arrangements. Upon receiving the report, colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Bureau will go and, by surprise, control all staff at the Jingcheng Prosperous Auction House."
"I understand. And the sister?"
"She's still at the fake Leng Yan's house."
"I'll find an excuse to call the police now. You call and tell sister to come back. Don't cause any more trouble."
"Okay!"
I hung up, my palms sweating. I was more nervous than ever. Everything was going according to plan, and precisely because of that, I was anxious. In my mind, as the mastermind, I had utilized heaven, earth, and man to the fullest. If any more unexpected problems occurred as before, I would surely lose my confidence as a strategist.
Just then, I suddenly noticed the quietness in my ear. Wearing earphones, I detected no movement from the other end of the listening device, meaning something had gone wrong with Lin Han.
I sprinted upstairs. I prayed Lin Han wouldn't get hurt! I reached the fake Leng Yan's house, and their door was even unlocked. I kicked it open and entered. It was silent inside.
No one, no computer, not even a water cup.
Immediately, I realized I had been tricked. Just then, Chang Dachun called. He lowered his voice and said, "Officer, I've been making quite a fuss, but they ignored me and didn't call the police at all."
"Act according to the situation. Something has happened on my end."
"Sister..."
"Hangs up!"
As soon as I hung up, Da Huang's call came: "Tang Nan, I'm sorry. We were following that woman named Lina, but after they drove into an underground parking lot, they disappeared."
"I understand. I'll hang up now."
As soon as I hung up, Lin Han's call came. I answered without speaking. The voice on the other end sounded familiar: "Tang Nan, you're truly lucky to be alive?"
Hearing that, I identified the voice: "You're that fake Leng Yan, aren't you? The fake Leng Yan is the real Leng Yan."
"Clever. Surprised? Unexpected?"