Yin Yang Tomb Raider

Chapter 97
The emperors of the Ming Dynasty liked small and red ones, while the emperors of the Qing Dynasty liked big and black ones, but no matter which dynasty the emperors were, they all had persistent requirements for furniture. Lao Jiu said: "If you know who this box is made for Is it?"

"This is the ancestor's proud work, and it has been handed down." Master Xu said: "The time when the ancestor entered the palace was at the end of the Ming Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen. Later, when the situation became unstable, he sneaked out."

"Your ancestors had the foresight. If you stay inside, you may lose your life." I smiled and said, "King Li Chuang entered the palace, and those who died were juniors."

Master Xu glared at me, and said angrily: "It's a pity, the ancestor just came out of the palace, he met the rebel army, ran away, but was seriously injured, and was finally picked up by the side of the road. Thanks to the people who saved him, he took out half of his belongings and wanted to give them away, but he was rejected."

Lao Jiu touched his nose: "And then?"

"The ancestor came out of the palace and hid a batch of huanghuali. You should know that at the end of Ming Dynasty, huanghuali was already quite rare, and it was even in crisis in the Qing Dynasty." Master Xu said: "The ancestor thought that people don't want money, I just want to show my skills, so I took out the huanghuali and made a box."

"Wait a minute, that box is for women. Could it be that a woman saved the ancestors of the Xu family?" I interrupted Master Xu: "Is this not the Ming Dynasty version of Aventure?"

Master Xu's fingers were bent, and he slapped me hard: "Lin Tianyi, if you keep fooling around, I won't say a word, you guess it yourself!"

I immediately put on a smile: "Master Xu, it's alright if I'm wrong, I'm really wrong, just show kindness and tell me?"

"It was a couple who saved the ancestors. Because the huanghuali was taken out of the palace privately, the original shape was limited. Big things couldn't be made at all, and only small ones could be made." Master Xu said: "I didn't expect that The couple was very excited after seeing the first box they made. They asked about the identity of their ancestors and found out that he was a famous palace craftsman. stuff, and it’s not easy to take it out.”

Master Xu patted the drawing on the table: "In the end, I made another one that was exactly the same. It is said that it was a supernatural workmanship, and the mechanism was hidden very cleverly. After that, the ancestor separated from the couple and never met again, but the ancestor thought The design of that thing is my masterpiece, after thinking about it, I drew the blueprint and passed it on to my descendants. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, my great-grandfather got it, and then passed it down like this.”

"A couple." I said anxiously: "Master Xu, what are the names of this couple? There is no clue?"

"It's so far away, and it's passed down by mouth, so it's not necessarily 100% compatible." Master Xu said, "Lin Tianyi, did something happen to you? Why did this thing fall into the wrong place?" It’s in your hand, it’s a good thing, you let me smash it? I can’t bear it.”

"Master Xu, I am useful." I said anxiously: "This huanghuali is a good thing. If I have no choice, I am willing to smash it. Otherwise, if you have a way, help me make an identical one?"

"There are blueprints, that's fine." Master Xu said vigorously, "But it's hard to find materials for huanghuali now, so I can only make fake ones."

"It's just right, you can show your skills." I said with a smile: "Why don't you start now?"

"Okay, go find Suanzhimu." Master Xu said, "I've found it, and I'll start right away."

I left Lao Jiu here and went to look for Suanzhimu alone. I am very familiar with where these things are, after all, it is my profession.
Rosewood is named for its pungent sour smell after the wood is cut open. The difference between the heartwood and sapwood of rosewood is obvious.Heartwood is orange, red, purple, dark brown; sapwood is yellowish white to yellowish brown.The wood structure of rosewood is fine and smooth, and the wood feels smooth and shiny under the light. It is divided into red rosewood and black rosewood. The red rosewood is just right for pretending to be huanghuali.

I drove to the lumber factory I was familiar with, and it didn’t take much effort to get red rosewood and sent it back to Master Xu’s home. Room, let me stop: "Don't follow, Master Xu doesn't like this."

"Wouldn't it be nice to just watch the excitement?" Lao Jiu shrugged and said, "Look at how it's a steal."

"In fact, it's nothing special, and I know the principle." I said: "Sulfuric acid is burned, and it is passed through a lime pool, and then hydrogen peroxide and other Chinese herbal medicines and chemicals are used to change the color of the wood. It looks the same as ordinary huanghuali, and it also has a smell, and it can also be changed with chemicals. Although I know the principle, but it is impossible for ordinary people to do it like Master Xu."

"Experience, master the time and weight." Lao Jiu no longer insisted on going in to watch the fun, and sat directly on a small wooden stool: "Tell me, who did the ancestors of the Xu family make the box for?"

"It would be great if the ancestors of the Xu family were still alive." I said angrily, "Why don't you bother me to make a trip and go to the Underworld to inquire about it?"

"Fuck you, you think I'm that boy Mengluo." Lao Jiu was stunned for a moment, then touched his head and said, "I said something is wrong today, it seems that something is missing, it turns out that the boy is missing , Don’t look at him who is usually silent, but without him suddenly, I feel that something is missing, and I feel uncomfortable.”

"Miss him?" I said, "It will probably be tomorrow before I return from the mountains after my birthday."

I took out my mobile phone and called Meng Luo, and the call was connected, but the signal was not good, the voice was intermittent, and there was still the wind whistling from him, I couldn’t hear a few words clearly after tossing for a long time, I only knew that he was coming back , I simply hung up the phone directly. What Master Xu did today was to treat the rosewood into the shape of a huanghuali. After a few hours, the semi-finished product came out.

Master Xu pushed open the outer door and poked his head out: "Come in and have a look."

There is no difference between the red rosewood and the chrysanthemum pear in front of me. The texture is smooth. After the new material is polished, the texture is clear and beautiful. Already 100%, but the taste is not good enough, the pungent smell is too obvious, seeing me sniffling my nose, Master Xu immediately said: "The time is too short, the smell of chemicals has not dissipated, but don't worry, I It will definitely be dealt with.”

The real taste of huanghuali is a thick fragrance. Although the fragrance is fragrant, it is spicy. If you have a good nose, you can smell some sourness. Know how to use your tongue, the taste of huanghuali is slightly bitter, and you can tell it once you taste it. You have to work hard in these three aspects in order to not show your traces. Now Master Xu has only blinded his eyes, and there are still two barriers to pass. However, I want it urgently, and I can't rush it anymore.

I nodded again and again: "Naturally, I still believe in the master's level."

There is nothing wrong with flattering people, who doesn't like to listen to good things, Lao Jiu also echoed: "Lin Tianyi's introduction is indeed correct, this is simply a supernatural workmanship, it is very delicate, powerful, powerful."

Seeing our satisfied eyes, Master Xu said, "I'll start when the smell is gone and it's dry. You can come back tomorrow afternoon."

"Master Xu, don't stay up late, we are not in such a hurry." I laughed.

"Don't come here, kid. You always speak in a yin-yang tone. I will hurry up. The price, you know, doubles." Master Xu said: "Okay, it's getting dark, you two go."

Lao Jiu and I said goodbye first, left Master Xu's house, got in the car, Lao Jiu rubbed his hands a few times: "I really didn't expect that Lin Tianyi would get such important news from your network."

"It's important, but knowing it is the same as not knowing it." I smiled wryly, "The most important thing is the identity of the couple at the end of Ming Dynasty, but I don't know anything about it. But let's deal with those two guys first."

Lao Jiu patted his stomach: "I'm hungry, go eat first, let's try Northeast cuisine today."

I rolled my eyes and said, "I know there is a restaurant with good Northeast cuisine, why don't we go there."

When the car passed two traffic lights and then turned right, Lao Jiu's face immediately changed: "Where are you going?"

"A restaurant." I pretended I didn't know anything: "Otherwise, where else could it be."

Lao Jiu groaned, and finally put his hands in front of his face, putting on a look of indifference. The place I took Lao Jiu to was indeed a Dongbei cuisine restaurant, but it was not far from the neighborhood where Seventh Sister lived. It was only when we realized this that we reacted. The Dongbei Restaurant is not big, but the business is good. Looking through the window, the inside is already bustling. Fortunately, there is a table in the corner. The two of us squeezed through the crowd and sat down. Cai, Lao Jiu looked a little preoccupied, and looked at the guests. I knew what he was looking for, so I snorted: "Don't look, no."

I also wondered if I would run into her by chance. I was obviously out of luck today. Seventh Sister and the others didn't show up here. She was busy with the housework of the Blue Tiger Club, so she probably seldom showed up.

Lao Jiu was obviously lost: "I'll drink some wine today."

"You didn't drink before?" I smiled and said, "Why are you reporting to me?"

"Please." Lao Jiu said.

"No problem." I said, "I can't drink, so I will accompany you with tea."

Lao Jiu laughed a few times, and called the waiter to bring over the wine. At this moment, the door of the restaurant was pushed open, and a person walked in. I immediately reminded: "Lao Jiu, it's Iron Hand."

Tie Shou walked in and didn't look at us. He went directly to the waiter to order food, which seemed to be ordering takeaway. Lao Jiu murmured, "Why doesn't she come out..."

(End of this chapter)