Zhuo Yu Feng Yang Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Special Exhibition, Old Friends and Old Stories

The opening ceremony of the special exhibition of cultural relics was scheduled for the weekend morning, and there was a long queue outside the venue early.When Jiang Zhuo arrived, Lu Chen was standing with Zhou Jingshan in the rest area at the entrance. The old man was wearing a clean Chinese tunic suit. He was in much better spirits, but he had some inconvenience in his legs and feet. He was holding a cane tightly in his hand.

Lu Jingyang was wearing the work clothes of the research institute. He spotted Jiang Zhuo at a glance and hurried up to greet him with a smile on his face: “Boss Jiang, you are here! The display cabinet of the Buddha head has a constant temperature and humidity system specially adjusted. The lighting angle has been adjusted repeatedly by the master and I to ensure that it can bring out its gilded luster.”

Jiang Zhuo nodded, his eyes fell on Mr. Zhou not far away, and he walked over slowly: “Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Jingshan raised his head, his cloudy eyes were filled with light, and he held Jiang Zhuo’s hand tremblingly: “Xiao Jiang…Thank you, thank you…” Before he could finish his words, his voice choked with sobs.

All these years of obsession turned into relief at the moment when the Buddha’s head saw the light of day again.

After the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony, crowds of people poured into the depths of the exhibition hall.The gold-inlaid jade Buddha head is placed in an independent display cabinet in the center. The warm yellow light shines on the gilded Buddha body and bright red gems. There seems to be a gentle flow of light between the compassionate brows and eyes, which attracts onlookers to marvel.

Zhou Jingshan was supported by Lu Chen and Jiang Zhuo, and stood in front of the showcase without speaking for a long time.He stretched out his thin hand and gently rubbed it through the glass, as if he was touching a dusty period of time.

“Back then, my grandmother said that the Buddha’s head was a treasure of the country. It was destroyed by the war and was lost among the people.” Zhou’s voice was hoarse, but her words were clear. “She hid the clues in the butterfly hairpin, hoping that one day the Buddha’s head would return to her homeland. I have been looking for it all my life, but I never expected it!”

Lu Jingyang stood aside, listening extremely seriously, his eyes slightly red.He suddenly remembered the folder in the “Notes on the Restoration of Cultural Relics” and quickly took it out of his pocket: “Mr. Zhou, look at this.”

On the yellowed note, there is a line of beautiful small words: “The Buddha’s head hides peace, waiting for the destined people, and protecting the national treasures.”

Mr. Zhou took the note, brushed the writing with trembling fingertips, and burst into tears: “This is my grandmother’s handwriting, it’s her handwriting!”

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion from the other side of the exhibition hall.Several men in suits were arguing around the staff. The middle-aged man in charge looked arrogant and held a document in his hand: “I have a power of attorney from an overseas collector in my hand. This Buddha head belongs to my ancestor…”

Before he finished speaking, Lu Chen coldly interrupted: “Sir, it’s best to check the historical data before speaking. This gold-inlaid jade Buddha head is a lost cultural relic of the Old Summer Palace. It is supported by the secret files of the Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty. It is a national cultural heritage and no private person has the right to claim ownership.”

The middle-aged man’s face changed, and he wanted to quibble. Jiang Zhuo had already stepped forward, holding a copy in his hand: “This is the number and description of the Buddha’s head registered in the book at that time, which corresponds one-to-one with the Buddha’s head in the display cabinet. In addition, the excavation records of Ning’an Temple show that the sealing method of the Buddha’s head when it was unearthed is completely consistent with the treasure collection regulations of the royal temples of the Qing Dynasty.”

He paused and glanced at the other party sharply: “What you call ‘ancestral collection’ is probably inseparable from the smuggling of cultural relics back then.”

The middle-aged man’s face turned pale. Looking at the questioning looks from around him, he did not dare to say another word and left in dejection.

Zhou Jingshan looked at Jiang Zhuo and Lu Momo’s cooperative appearance and smiled happily: “The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. As long as you are here, these cultural relics will have no successors.”

Lu Jingyang came close to Jiang Zhuo and lowered his voice: “I knew you must have been prepared.”

Jiang Zhuo glanced at him, with a faint smile on his lips: “You must be on guard against others.”

As the sun sets, the crowds at the special exhibition gradually disperse.Jiang Zhuo sat in the rest area with Mr. Zhou, listening to the old man telling old stories about antiques.Lu Jingyang was busy counting the exhibits with his colleagues at the institute. He occasionally looked up in Jiang Zhuo’s direction, his eyes filled with tiny lights.

Lu Chen walked to Jiang Zhuo and handed him a bottle of water: “Thank you for this.”

“It’s your job.” Jiang Zhuo took the water and his eyes fell on Lu Jingyang not far away. The young man was squatting in front of the display case, carefully checking the lock of the display case with the Buddha’s head, his movements were serious and focused.

Lu Chen followed his gaze, and the corner of his mouth raised a rare slight arc: “This boy has learned a lot from following you.”

Jiang Zhuo didn’t speak, but looked at the vivid figure, and suddenly felt a sense of stability in his heart.

Just like the lights of Xianyunzhai, they are always on no matter how late it is.

Just like those stories hidden in old objects, no matter how many years pass, there are always people willing to listen and protect them.

The night is getting darker, and the special exhibition venue is lit up with bright lights.The Buddha head stands quietly in the display cabinet, witnessing the end of a period of time and starting a new legend.