Liu Shou was considered quite capable within the archaeological team. However, in those days, positions weren't based on skill but on seniority.
Seeing others less capable than himself fare better, Liu Shou often grumbled internally, wishing for a shortcut. On the very day a terracotta warrior head went missing, Liu Shou inadvertently saw Zhao Shicheng take a replica warrior head from his work area.
These replicated warrior heads were fakes intended for display in museums in the future, so convincing in workmanship and color that they could fool anyone. What was Zhao Shicheng doing with a fake head? And so furtively. Liu Shou knew his leader well: sweet-mouthed, jovial, and always warmly interacting with staff when visiting the work site. This kind of secretive behavior was rare.
So, Liu Shou decided to follow Zhao Shicheng. He saw Zhao Shicheng place the fake warrior head in the storeroom and leave in a hurry. At first, Liu Shou couldn't comprehend Zhao Shicheng's motive. He wondered what Zhao Shicheng was up to. The storeroom door was left ajar. Was he intending for someone to take it as a gift for relatives and friends, or to pass it off as genuine on the market for personal gain?
Soon, Liu Shou realized he had guessed wrong. The storeroom belonged to the museum, and when the museum discovered someone had pried open the lock, they called the police. Liu Shou, piecing things together, found Zhao Shicheng and said with a smile, "Captain, the museum storeroom has reported a break-in."
"Something's missing?"
"They say a warrior head we were responsible for."
"Who put the head there, and it's missing?"
"I don't know. The police haven't arrived yet?"
Zhao Shicheng pondered, then instructed Liu Shou, "Xiao Liu, it's a bit of trouble, but could you go and retrieve that head?"
"Captain, is that head real or fake?"
"Xun Chong must have put it there. How could it be fake? It's all real, all real."
Liu Shou went to retrieve the head. He deliberately downplayed the incident, coaxing the staff in the unrepaired section of the archaeological team into admitting the fake head into the archive as if it were genuine.
Upon his return, Liu Shou went to Zhao Shicheng to claim credit. "Captain, I've put the head into the archive. It's real."
"Oh, good."
Liu Shou could tell Zhao Shicheng was playing dumb. Fearing Zhao Shicheng would renege, he quickly said, "Captain, I cataloged this head after authentication, but that head is fake."
"There's such a thing."
"You don't know?"
Zhao Shicheng put on a smile. "How would I know it was fake? But it's alright. It might be a replica made by Xun Chong. I'll ask him when he returns."
"If you didn't know, I'll speak up. If it's discovered to be fake later, I could lose my job."
Liu Shou tried to threaten Zhao Shicheng, but Zhao Shicheng was a seasoned veteran. He smiled faintly. "Don't make a fuss. It's not a big deal, and you won't lose your job. I've always thought highly of you. When I retire, this captain position might be yours. Oh, and there's a promotion opportunity recently. I'm discussing it with higher-ups, letting the younger generation step up and share more responsibility."
Hearing Zhao Shicheng's words, Liu Shou was elated. He was quite proud when his grandfather approached him then. But he never expected that after the incident, Zhao Shicheng would completely deny it, and the promised promotion turned out to be an empty promise. Not only did Zhao Shicheng not protect Liu Shou, but he also had Liu Shou fired.
"You have no proof, and we have no evidence to sue Zhao Shicheng with," his grandfather asked, frowning after hearing this.
"I've investigated this matter. Zhao Shicheng has a younger brother named Zhao Shirui who frequently sells antiques to foreign collectors. These antiques sold by Zhao Shirui are all acquired by Zhao Shicheng using his position in the archaeological team."
"Do you have proof?"
"That general's head is at Zhao Shirui's home. Does that count as proof?"
"Really?"
"Of course. Here's the whole story."
Zhao Shicheng and Zhao Shirui arranged for Zhao Shirui to sneak into the Terracotta Army work area and steal the general's head from the museum's storeroom.
To achieve this, Zhao Shicheng deliberately manipulated the work schedule. He knew Xun Chong had a habit of repairing heads in the storeroom.
So, he told Xun Chong that these two heads needed to be repaired today. When Xun Chong arrived at the storeroom, Zhao Shicheng immediately assigned Xun Chong an external task, deliberately arranging for Xun Chong to leave both heads in the storeroom.
According to the plan, Zhao Shirui would use a pre-made key to enter the storeroom and take the target, the general's head. As agreed, Zhao Shicheng would then check the storeroom and find a scapegoat to return the warrior head.
However, the plan encountered a snag.
No one could have anticipated that an ignorant peasant would break into the Terracotta Army work area intending to steal something. And this peasant, afraid to steal from the work area, inexplicably pried open the storeroom. Coincidentally, he stole the warrior head that Zhao Shicheng had left there.
When Zhao Shicheng arrived and saw this, he broke out in a cold sweat. How could someone steal the warrior head he used as a cover? Was it intentional?
But Zhao Shicheng wasn't a fool. He glanced at the lock and confirmed it had been forced open. Immediately, Zhao Shicheng felt a surge of relief. This theft was perfectly timed. He could explain anything from now on. Even if it was discovered that there were two heads here, and even if superiors learned the priceless general's head was missing, he could find a way to cover it up.
Therefore, Zhao Shicheng decided to retrieve another warrior head to continue his plan. But when he went to the work area, he saw that the archaeological team members were all diligently working, and he couldn't openly take anything.
What to do? Zhao Shicheng went to the replica area. The museum couldn't display genuine national treasures. For valuable items, they displayed replicas. The replica area had things like warrior heads.
Before entering, Zhao Shicheng deliberately glanced around and saw only Liu Shou was present. He knew Liu Shou well: a smart young man, but unsettled.
Thus, Liu Shou became Zhao Shicheng's intended scapegoat.
In front of Liu Shou, Zhao Shicheng stealthily took a replica warrior head. His actions were designed to attract Liu Shou's attention. As expected, Liu Shou took the bait, followed Zhao Shicheng to the storeroom, and saw Zhao Shicheng place the warrior head inside.
Indeed, shortly after, Liu Shou came forward with a sarcastic air to receive instructions. Zhao Shicheng agreed, feigning a promotion to get Liu Shou to deceive the police.
Zhao Shicheng believed that walls have ears, and the police would eventually investigate the case. While Zhao Shicheng could navigate the archaeological team smoothly, he wouldn't fare as well with the police. Therefore, before that happened, he needed to find a morally corrupt young man to be the scapegoat for this matter.
Due to his grandfather's involvement, the police quickly recovered the genuine warrior head. Zhao Shicheng unhesitatingly reported Liu Shou's daily conduct to his superiors. Liu Shou's attempts to use underhanded methods and bribery were exposed. Consequently, Liu Shou was fired.
Now Liu Shou came to his grandfather. His grandfather frowned, "You have no proof, and we have no evidence to sue Zhao Shicheng with."
"I've investigated this matter. Zhao Shicheng has a younger brother named Zhao Shirui who frequently sells antiques to foreign collectors. These antiques sold by Zhao Shirui are all acquired by Zhao Shicheng using his position in the archaeological team."
"Do you have proof?"
"That general's head is at Zhao Shirui's home. Does that count as proof?"
"Really?"
"Of course. Here's the whole story."
Zhao Shicheng and Zhao Shirui arranged for Zhao Shirui to sneak into the Terracotta Army work area and steal the general's head from the museum's storeroom.
To achieve this, Zhao Shicheng deliberately manipulated the work schedule. He knew Xun Chong had a habit of repairing heads in the storeroom.
So, he told Xun Chong that these two heads needed to be repaired today. When Xun Chong arrived at the storeroom, Zhao Shicheng immediately assigned Xun Chong an external task, deliberately arranging for Xun Chong to leave both heads in the storeroom.
According to the plan, Zhao Shirui would use a pre-made key to enter the storeroom and take the target, the general's head. As agreed, Zhao Shicheng would then check the storeroom and find a scapegoat to return the warrior head.
However, the plan encountered a snag.
No one could have anticipated that an ignorant peasant would break into the Terracotta Army work area intending to steal something. And this peasant, afraid to steal from the work area, inexplicably pried open the storeroom. Coincidentally, he stole the warrior head that Zhao Shicheng had left there.
When Zhao Shicheng arrived and saw this, he broke out in a cold sweat. How could someone steal the warrior head he used as a cover? Was it intentional?
But Zhao Shicheng wasn't a fool. He glanced at the lock and confirmed it had been forced open. Immediately, Zhao Shicheng felt a surge of relief. This theft was perfectly timed. He could explain anything from now on. Even if it was discovered that there were two heads here, and even if superiors learned the priceless general's head was missing, he could find a way to cover it up.
Therefore, Zhao Shicheng decided to retrieve another warrior head to continue his plan. But when he went to the work area, he saw that the archaeological team members were all diligently working, and he couldn't openly take anything.
What to do? Zhao Shicheng went to the replica area. The museum couldn't display genuine national treasures. For valuable items, they displayed replicas. The replica area had things like warrior heads.
Before entering, Zhao Shicheng deliberately glanced around and saw only Liu Shou was present. He knew Liu Shou well: a smart young man, but unsettled.
Thus, Liu Shou became Zhao Shicheng's intended scapegoat.
In front of Liu Shou, Zhao Shicheng stealthily took a replica warrior head. His actions were designed to attract Liu Shou's attention. As expected, Liu Shou took the bait, followed Zhao Shicheng to the storeroom, and saw Zhao Shicheng place the warrior head inside.
Indeed, shortly after, Liu Shou came forward with a sarcastic air to receive instructions. Zhao Shicheng agreed, feigning a promotion to get Liu Shou to deceive the police.
Zhao Shicheng believed that walls have ears, and the police would eventually investigate the case. While Zhao Shicheng could navigate the archaeological team smoothly, he wouldn't fare as well with the police. Therefore, before that happened, he needed to find a morally corrupt young man to be the scapegoat for this matter.
Due to his grandfather's involvement, the police quickly recovered the genuine warrior head. Zhao Shicheng unhesitatingly reported Liu Shou's daily conduct to his superiors. Liu Shou's attempts to use underhanded methods and bribery were exposed. Consequently, Liu Shou was fired.
"Your grandfather asked me if I was sure that general's head is at Zhao Shicheng's brother, Zhao Shirui's, home?"
"Absolutely," Liu Shou promised, patting his chest.
"Then I will report it to the police," his grandfather said seriously.
Liu Shou nodded with a smile. He had come to his grandfather precisely because he feared his own word wouldn't carry enough weight, especially after being recently fired by Zhao Shicheng, which could make him appear to be slandering Zhao Shicheng. Having his grandfather intervene would be more appropriate.
His grandfather, concerned for national treasures, knew he was being used as a pawn but didn't mind.
Compared to these details, it would be a true crime if Zhao Shirui managed to sell the precious general's head.
Because his grandfather had recently cooperated with the police and earned their trust, the police station immediately allocated resources to assist him. What Liu Shou had said was indeed true; a general's head was found at Zhao Shirui's home.
Out of over 8,000 terracotta warriors, there were only 6 general's heads, making it a genuine national treasure. When his grandfather brought this news back to the museum, it quickly alarmed the higher authorities. Simultaneously, the captain of the archaeological team, Zhao Shicheng, was summoned to the police station for questioning.
Meanwhile, his grandfather found Xun Chong. Xun Chong, sitting before his grandfather's desk, appeared uneasy. This was understandable, as his grandfather was accompanied by a superior for this interrogation.
"Xun Chong, you previously told me that you left two heads in the storeroom at the time, a general's head and a warrior's head."
"Yes!"
"Did you report this matter to your captain?"
"Yes, I did."
Since learning this news, his grandfather had been searching for the general's head. However, the superiors of both the museum and the archaeological team were still shifting blame. Before the responsibility was clarified, his grandfather had already found the general's head.
"Why didn't your captain report it?"
"I don't know. I'm just a technician and not responsible for management."
"Xun Chong, losing a national treasure is no trivial matter."
"Yes, I know. But our captain said the general's head wasn't lost; he had someone retrieve it."