Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 198 You're pretty good, huh?

Before we knew it, another half month had passed.

New lanterns have been installed at the entrance of the residential area, and the "Happy New Year" message has been replaced with "Happy Chinese New Year".

Colorful lights were hung on the trees along the street, and stalls selling New Year's goods stood at the base of the supermarket's outer wall. The tassels of the colorful plastic lanterns swayed in the wind, brushing against the back of customers' necks.

25. Grind tofu. 26. Go cut meat. 27. Deep-fry the pot.

Living conditions are much better now, and we've already bought most of our New Year's goods before the Lunar New Year. But then suddenly, we realize that something seems to be missing.

Today is the 26th, which happens to be the weekend. The couple had already discussed it and decided to go and buy everything they needed today.

Anyway, there was no rush. Around nine o'clock, Lin Chengzhi got up, slipped on his shoes, and went to the restaurant.

Jiang Yanfei fried some freshly made steamed buns yesterday, then fried some eggs and made some oil tea.

Lin Chengzhi sat down at the dining table and paused for a moment: Three bowls of oil tea were prepared?

The old man doesn't live here and rarely comes for breakfast, so whose is this extra bowl?

He thought for a moment: "Didn't Lin Sicheng go to school today?"

Jiang Yanfei was mixing side dishes in the kitchen when she casually replied, "It's the weekend today."

"Ha, is that strange?"

Lin Chengzhi looked on with curiosity, "Lin Sicheng also celebrates weekends?"

For the past two weeks, Lin Sicheng has been coming back every day, but he has no concept of what day of the week it is.

Regardless of the day of the week or what time I'm supposed to get up, I'll still get up at the same time and go out as usual.

"Even a donkey pulling a millstone needs to rest, let alone a person?"

Jiang Yanfei muttered to herself as she carried the mixed shredded potatoes out of the kitchen, "It's the Lunar New Year, shouldn't we give people a day off to do some New Year's shopping and buy some new clothes?"

Lin Chengzhi then realized that the "donkey" Jiang Yanfei mentioned referred not only to Lin Sicheng, but also to the researchers and interns in the studio.

He nodded: "Perfect, let's go together later and help move some things!"

"Don't cause trouble!" Jiang Yanfei glared at Lin Chengzhi. "Last night, he seemed to be on the phone with Ye Anning, saying he was going to get some calligraphy framed?"

Lin Chengzhi paused for a moment, then fell silent.

I don't mind being tired; my son's situation is more important.

Although it's not even close to being decided yet...

After soaking the fried dough sticks and taking a sip of oil tea while turning the bowl around, Lin Chengzhi suddenly remembered: "We're making steamed bowls tomorrow, shouldn't we buy more today and have Lin Sicheng deliver some after they're steamed?"

"Do I need you to remind me? I've already made a list..." Jiang Yanfei counted on her fingers, "Braised chicken, crispy pork, steamed pork with rice flour, pork strips, eight-treasure rice... I'll have Lin Sicheng deliver it after it's steamed tomorrow. On the 30th, I'll fry some sesame leaves; freshly fried ones are crispier..."

Lin Chengzhi calculated one by one: I'm afraid I'll have to make two trips today.
Just as he was secretly groaning, with a few "thump thump thump" sounds, Lin Sicheng rushed out of the bedroom and into the bathroom like the wind.

What's the panic?
Just as she was wondering, Lin Sicheng squeezed out some toothpaste and poked his head out: "Mom, why don't you make some tea first? We have guests coming."

"Who, Ye Anning?"

"No, it's Senior Brother Zhao's two sons! They said they're here to deliver some New Year's gifts!"

Senior Brother Zhao?
Suddenly, the couple remembered the four pieces of red-glazed porcelain and the chicken cup.

Jiang Yanfei pointed to the kitchen: "But everything is basically ready, isn't it?"

Lin Sicheng, his mouth full of white foam, couldn't open his mouth and could only shake his head.

The two brothers wanted to come early, but the center had just opened and both they and their father were extremely busy, so how could the two brothers have time?

It's even more impossible for them not to come: the title of master isn't given lightly; it's already a miracle that Zhao Xiu didn't come in person.

I finished brushing my teeth and washing my face in a few quick strokes when there were two loud knocks from outside the door.

Lin Sicheng rushed over and opened the door. The two brothers were carrying bags and packages, seven or eight bags each.

He called out "Master," entered the room, and then bowed respectfully, saying, "Grandmaster, Grandmother!"

The address "Master and Master's wife" stunned Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei. It wasn't until Lin Sicheng led the two brothers into the kitchen that they came to their senses.

They busied themselves making tea, saying there was still some in the car, and then went out again.

Hearing the footsteps coming downstairs, the two stared at Lin Sicheng with strange expressions.

Master?

Master, housewife?
Where does this argument come from?
While he was still stunned, the two brothers came in again, carrying seven or eight packets of tea, which were neatly arranged on the kitchen floor. Lin Sicheng then invited the two brothers to have some tea.

Zhao Da hunched over slightly: "Master, it's just some wild game. My father ordered it a long time ago, but he hasn't had time until yesterday when he had it delivered from the mountains!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "When are you going back to Beijing?"

"The day after tomorrow, my dad said that there are two elders in Xijing who might not have time after the New Year, so we need to visit them before the New Year!"

"Okay, then I'll wish your dad a Happy New Year when you come back after the New Year!"

The two brothers nodded hurriedly: "Yes, Master!"

After drinking a cup of tea and sitting for a short while, Lin Sicheng saw the two of them out.

Before leaving, the two brothers bowed to Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei.

The couple nodded, looking bewildered.

They knew that the two brothers were learning their skills from Lin Sicheng, and they also knew that Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiu could address each other as "senior brother" and "junior brother".

The two of them had always thought that they were called that only because of the World Heritage application and their partnership.

Judging from their demeanor today, these two brothers are extremely humble, clearly treating Lin Sicheng as their master.

But a twenty-year-old master taking on two disciples in their thirties... it just seems a bit strange.
Just as he was pondering this, Lin Sicheng entered the kitchen and glanced around.

Termitomyces albuminosus, matsutake mushrooms, morel mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, and persimmon cakes.

A split muntjac, four wild boar legs, eight scalded blood pheasants, and cured beef and mutton... The key point is that each item is served in double portions.

Senior Brother Zhao is so thoughtful... He even prepared the gifts for Professor Wang's visit.

Lin Chengzhi followed him in, and after a quick glance, his eyelids twitched involuntarily.

"Dad, don't worry, this is a yellow muntjac, it's farmed!"

After explaining, Lin Sicheng divided the ingredients again. He planned to wait until his mother steamed the bowls tomorrow, then send some to the teacher.

After roughly sorting things out, his phone buzzed. Seeing it was Li Zhen, and assuming she wanted to ask about work arrangements after the New Year, Lin Sicheng answered.
"Teacher Lin, I didn't know there would be a holiday for the Spring Festival. Yuzhu and I sent some New Year's goods from home. We can't finish them, so we brought some over to you."

Lin Sicheng paused: It was agreed half a month ago that there would be a holiday for the Spring Festival, and those from other places would not be on duty.

What a coincidence, were they both sending them together?

Lin Sicheng quickly wiped his hands and ran to open the door. Li Zhen and Xiao Yuzhu followed, one after the other, each carrying a large bag.

As if by prior arrangement, we greeted each other upon entering. Thankfully, we weren't addressed as "Master Lin" or "Teacher Jiang," but rather as "Master Lin" and "Teacher Jiang," respectively.

The selection is limited, but it's definitely exquisite: salted duck, rice cakes, braised pork ribs, ham, honey, chestnuts... and you can tell at a glance that it's homemade.

They hurriedly welcomed them in, put down their things, and Jiang Yanfei helped them make tea and brought them some oily food.

Presumably having not eaten breakfast, Li Zhen and Xiao Yuzhu didn't stand on ceremony, thanked them, and started eating.

Lin Sicheng hadn't eaten either, so the three of them ate breakfast head-to-head in the restaurant, chatting as they ate.

It was the first time I'd met them, and I immediately thought both girls were incredibly beautiful. They were also very respectful to Lin Sicheng, not much less so than the two brothers who had just left.

Lin Chengzhi and Jiang Yanfei, however, found something was amiss: at first glance, everything seemed normal—the tone was normal, and the content of their conversation was normal.

But the problem is, the look in his eyes is wrong.

The younger one was alright, quite easygoing. But the older one, the one surnamed Li with a master's degree, judging from Lin Sicheng's expression, how was he any different from Ye Anning?
Lin Chengwa, what's going on with you?
They patiently sat there for about half an hour. Just as the couple was about to interrogate Lin Sicheng after he left, Lin Sicheng rushed to the front door, grabbed his coat and slippers, and said, "Dad, Mom, Cousin Ye is here, I have to go!"

With that, he went downstairs with a loud bang.

No... Lin Chengwa, if you weren't afraid, why were you running away?
The couple exchanged a glance and went to the balcony.

Sure enough, the Grand Cherokee was parked downstairs, and Ye Anning was standing by the car, chatting with Li Zhen.

At first glance, they seemed normal; the two appeared to be quite familiar with each other, both wearing smiles.

But Jiang Yanfei's womanly intuition told her that something was very wrong.

Li Zhen is acting strangely, and so is Ye Anning.

Afterwards, Lin Sicheng went downstairs, and the four of them got into the car.

Lin Sicheng drove, Ye Anning sat in the passenger seat, and Li Zhen and Xiao Yuzhu sat in the back seat.

Watching the taillights disappear into the distance, Jiang Yanfei sneered: Lin Chengwa, you're something else?

(End of this chapter)