Ji Shenyu didn't sleep soundly all night. Lying on his side, his cheek rubbed back and forth on the pillowcase. He frequently opened his eyes, only to be forced to close them by the deep darkness outside the window. He gradually fell asleep, but woke up immediately at the first sign of dawn, so he simply got up to read.

He sat under the eaves of the corridor, breathing in the fresh air, holding a language textbook and reciting in a low voice. After finishing a chapter, a magpie on a tree branch chirped loudly, as if echoing him. He became happy with his reading and raised his voice to recite loudly, one poem after another.

He turned another page, and an earth-shattering sound came from behind him.

The bedroom door was kicked open. Ding Hanbai stood in the middle of the doorway, his face like that of an Asura, radiating a hostile aura. If he were holding a sword, he would definitely have slashed someone. He suppressed a yawn and yelled at the stunned Ji Shenyu, "Go on, keep reading! Let me hear what kind of masterpiece you can recite! Disturbing someone's sweet dreams so early in the morning!"

Ji Shenyu, fearing he would suffer if he stayed any longer, tossed out an "I'm sorry" and fled to the Front Courtyard.

Karma was swift. During class in the daytime, just as he had disturbed Ding Hanbai's sleep, it was now his turn to be so sleepy he couldn't keep his eyes open. The notes he took in his book were crooked and twisted. He spent the day in a daze, and after school, he sprinted all the way to Miao'an Alley.

Ji Shenyu had come to tell Liang Hecheng about the situation with the porcelain kiln. He was afraid of getting home too late, so he planned to say what he needed to say quickly. But when he actually saw Liang Hecheng, he began to stammer.

Liang Hecheng was leaning against the headboard, smiling. "Why the long face? Did a classmate bully you at school?"

Ji Shenyu replied that he hadn't. He thought, 'Liang Hecheng has been dejected for a long time since his illness. He finally met me and summoned his remaining energy to pass on his craft. If he finds out the porcelain kiln is abandoned and his old friend is nowhere to be found, will he suffer another blow?'

Perhaps he really wasn't good at hiding his feelings; his worries were written all over his face. Liang Hecheng was still smiling. "Did you go to Tong Village? Did you find the place?"

Ji Shenyu didn't dare to lie. "I found it."

Liang Hecheng tapped him on the forehead. "Just say it. Don't make me squeeze it out of you like toothpaste."

Ji Shenyu said, "Master, that porcelain kiln has been abandoned... The villagers said it's been over a year. I didn't see your friend, Tong Peifan, either."

Liang Hecheng was stunned for a moment, his smile freezing before returning. He had been resting for a long time, with almost no contact with the outside world. He hadn't expected such an upheaval to have occurred. He sighed silently in his heart, then looked up to see Ji Shenyu with his head down, looking even more dejected than he was.

The room was quiet, with the old transistor radio occasionally emitting a bit of static. The old man and the young boy were both silent, a miserable pair. The sky was gradually darkening. Liang Hecheng finally spoke, "Stop moping. It looks like it's about to rain. Hurry up and go home."

Ji Shenyu asked, "Master, then what about us..."

Liang Hecheng comforted him, "Let's both think it over. It's not that serious."

Before long, it did indeed start to rain. Ji Shenyu bolted after getting off the bus, but the stretch of Sha'er Street was long enough to get him soaked. He ran up the steps and stood under the eaves, seeing someone on a bike approaching from the intersection in the distance.

The downpour was fierce, and pedestrians were all fleeing for their lives. Yet that person was cycling leisurely, one hand on the handlebars, the other holding an umbrella. Only the part of his body from the chest up was dry.

As the person drew near, the brim of the umbrella lifted slightly. It was Ding Hanbai.

Ding Hanbai got off the bike and threw the umbrella to Ji Shenyu, then carried the bike through the gate with one hand on the crossbar. From the main gate to the Front Courtyard, he snatched the umbrella back and held it for the two of them as they entered the grand living room, dripping water.

Ji Shenyu temporarily forgot his worries and asked, amused, "Senior Brother, the rain is so heavy. How can you be so at ease?"

Ding Hanbai said, "It doesn't rain much in the north during autumn, and winter is even drier. So when it rains, you have to enjoy it." He wasn't telling the truth. The reason he was out in the rain was that he'd been feeling hot and bothered inside recently.

As for why he was hot and bothered, it seemed to be because he had chewed too much ginseng candy.

The rain lasted for three days, falling intermittently, soaking the entire city. The sound of the rain was annoying, but Ji Shenyu thought about many things, about what he and Liang Hecheng should do without the porcelain kiln.

The early morning was cold and exceptionally gloomy. The roses in the small courtyard were withered, and a cold wind was blowing.

But the South Room was quite lively. All five senior and junior brothers were gathered, along with their master, Ding Yanshou. Seven or eight cardboard boxes were neatly arranged, filled with raw stones brought back from Xi'an. They had been stored at Jade Pavilion and had just been moved home after being appraised and cataloged.

Ding Yanshou sat and said, "Each of you pick one piece. Hand in your work at the beginning of next month."

The boxes were opened, containing a mix of ordinary and high-priced materials, both jade and stone. The second to fourth brothers held back, waiting for Ding Hanbai to choose first. It wasn't so much about respecting seniority as it was about gauging the difficulty.

If Ding Hanbai chose a large piece, they couldn't take one that was too small.

If Ding Hanbai chose an ordinary-priced one, it would be inappropriate for them to take a high-priced one.

However, Ding Hanbai never chose ordinary materials. He didn't even glance at them, walking straight to the white jade. He bent down to examine it and asked, "Dad, what was that order the Third Shop took again?"

Ding Yanshou said, "Jade Carved Flower Holder. One in the Ming style, and one in the Qing style."

Ding Hanbai pointed to a piece of white jade about the length of his forearm. "This one. I'll take that order." Having made his decision, he got up and left, indifferent to what the others chose, a cold smirk on his face, ready to go back to his room for another nap.

Ding Erhe went next, followed by Ding Keyu and Jiang Ting'en. Finally, it was Ji Shenyu's turn. Ji Shenyu rarely dawdled. It seemed he had already made up his mind long ago. "Master," he said, "I choose that piece of Green Jade."

The other three looked over, their gazes filled with various emotions.

The two pieces of Green Jade were the best in quality and most expensive in this batch. Ding Hanbai hadn't chosen them because the customer had requested white jade. Since even Ding Hanbai hadn't picked them, who would have thought Ji Shenyu would dare to?

As they were leaving after making their choices, Jiang Ting'en grabbed Ji Shenyu and asked, "What are you planning to carve?"

Ji Shenyu answered honestly, "I haven't decided yet."

Jiang Ting'en grew anxious for him. "And you still chose the Green Jade? Eldest Brother didn't even choose it!"

Ji Shenyu retorted, "Just because Senior Brother didn't choose it, I can't? Shouldn't it be that I can choose it because he didn't? Don't worry, I will do my utmost to complete it and will absolutely not let that material go to waste."

On the very day he received the Green Jade, he roughly cut it to size, sliced off a third, carefully wrapped the smaller piece, put it in his backpack, and once again hurried to Miao'an Alley.

Master and disciple met again. For the past few days, both had been pondering. Now, seeing each other again, they both broke into smiles. Liang Hecheng beckoned his good disciple to sit down and, without beating around the bush, got straight to the point. "Shenyu, do you remember what I said when I found out your master was Boss Ding?"

Of course, Ji Shenyu remembered. The other man had been both surprised and delighted, and had said the reason there were no jade carvings in the room was that different trades were like different mountains, and even if he could carve, he wouldn't be able to escape Ding Yanshou's discerning eye.

Liang Hecheng said, "You're Boss Ding's disciple, what you're best at is carving. And you met me. Isn't this fate, destined for us to work together?" He had thought hard for many days and finally had an epiphany. It turned out that the serendipitous connection was not just for him to teach Ji Shenyu, but also for Ji Shenyu to fill the gap he couldn't bridge himself.

If it was about creating forgeries of jade antiques, then it didn't matter if they had a porcelain kiln or not.

This time it was Ji Shenyu's turn to be stunned. Wide-eyed, he opened his bag, peeled off the layers of wrapping, and revealed the piece of Green Jade. He broke into a delighted smile that grew wider and wider. "Master, I was thinking the same thing."

Liang Hecheng slapped the table gleefully. "Since you brought Green Jade, have you already decided what to make?"

Ji Shenyu replied, "A Song Dynasty Jade Boy Figurine, holding a lotus, riding a deer, and climbing a flowering branch."

The master and disciple shut themselves in the small inner room, where the broken table served as a workbench. Ji Shenyu ground the ink. He had never seen Liang Hecheng paint before, and his anticipation was mixed with a hint of defiance. After all, what apprentice hasn't dreamed the grand dream of "the student surpassing the master"?

The paper wasn't large. Liang Hecheng, his sixth little finger cocked, put brush to paper. It didn't take long for him to draw a boy walking and holding a lotus. He instructed, "Jade Boy figurines from each dynasty are different. You're making one from the Song Dynasty. The posture can be holding a lotus, riding a deer, walking, or climbing a branch. The hairstyle must be short, the clothes must have a slanted diamond or water-character pattern, and even the minute facial details like the shape of the eyebrows and the contour of the ears must be precise."

This wasn't about carving whatever one's heart desired. Every line had to be meticulously planned. The slightest mistake, and its authenticity would be seen through.

This small piece of Green Jade was large enough to make a proper Jade Boy Figurine. Ji Shenyu decided to make one in a walking posture, holding a lotus. Liang Hecheng watched him draw, demanding the utmost precision and detail. "Master," he couldn't help but ask, "how much knowledge is stored in that head of yours?"

Liang Hecheng said, "Just enough to fool you, that's all."

Ji Shenyu had his own thoughts. The rate of fakes in the Antiques Market was as high as ninety percent. Countless highly skilled masters hid among them, making a fortune quietly. But most of these skilled masters specialized in a certain area, like porcelain or paintings. Within porcelain, there were many types, and within paintings, there were many categories. But Liang Hecheng was different; he seemed to know it all.

He suddenly remembered Blind Zhang and asked, "Master, you're so incredible, how could that Blind Zhang still see through it?"

Liang Hecheng said, "That man grew up surrounded by treasures, plus he has natural talent. It's not something that can be explained in a few words." He had intended to stop there but added a piece of gossip, "During the 'special period,' his family was dealt with harshly. His eyes went blind then, too. He probably saw through a lot of things, and the torment beat the competitiveness out of him."

Ji Shenyu thought, 'This pair of rivals, one was persecuted, the other has a terminal illness. They should have become bosom friends.'

He was really overthinking it. Not just overthinking, he had it completely backward.

Every autumn rain brings a new chill. Two more days passed. Ding Hanbai took leave from work, using the drop in temperature as an excuse... He was always like this, finding new ways to challenge Zhang Yin's bottom line. The other party was happy to endure it, waiting to accumulate enough reasons to take away his job.

The machine room was too cold, so he carried the piece of white jade to the study. He washed his hands and calmed his mind, preparing to start carving the Magnolia Flower Vases. First, he laid down a thick felt cloth, placed the white jade securely on it, and once he had the dimensions right, he could start drawing the design.

Ding Hanbai's hearing and sight were sharp. As he dipped his brush in ink and made a couple of strokes, he noticed the soft, stealthy footsteps outside. He wondered which family's little thief it was.

The door opened a crack. But those amber-colored eyes were too easy to recognize. The little thief himself, however, was blissfully unaware that he had been exposed. He stepped back, about to leave. Ding Hanbai looked down at the jade, but his voice rose, "Since you're here, why are you leaving?"

Ji Shenyu's footsteps halted. He had no choice but to enter, bracing himself.

The reason he was reluctant to be in the same room with others was mainly because he was afraid of revealing what he was doing. What was he doing? He was holding a few boxes of pigments and looking for Xuan paper to mix colors. Jade that had aged for a long time would absorb elements and turn yellow or brown. He was mixing colors to use on the Jade Boy Figurine.

Walking up to the desk, he mumbled, "Senior Brother, I'm here to do some outlining."

Ding Hanbai didn't look up. Smelling the pigment, he asked, "Painting?"

Ji Shenyu hummed in agreement, his movements as light as his footsteps. He went around the desk, moved a chair to sit beside it, laid out his paper, and began mixing colors, dabbing a little bright yellow, a little brownish-brown, carefully trying to find the right ratio.

The design was already drawn. Ding Hanbai asked, "I heard you chose the Green Jade. What are you planning to carve?"

Ji Shenyu replied, "A Jade Incense Burner, a tripod with loose-ring butterfly handles."

Ding Hanbai finally looked up at him. "That's quite difficult."

Ji Shenyu nodded. Of course he knew. Setting aside the preciousness of the Green Jade, by cutting off a small piece to make the Jade Boy Figurine, he was reducing its value. Therefore, he had to carve something with a high degree of difficulty, so that its future selling price could compensate for the loss.

After trying for a long time, he still couldn't mix a satisfactory color. He put down his brush and began to admire the other person's work. The piece of white jade had also been cut in two. He remembered one was to be Ming style, and the other Qing style. He asked for guidance, "Senior Brother, is there a big difference between Ming and Qing Jade Carved Flower Holders?"

Ding Hanbai said just a few words: "They originated in the Ming Dynasty."

Just a sentence, but Ji Shenyu understood immediately. They originated in the Ming Dynasty, which meant the earliest ones would inevitably be simpler and rougher. After a generation of development, they would become slightly more complex and diverse. And since the time from the Ming to the Qing wasn't too long, the overall form wouldn't have changed drastically.

He had admired enough and went back to mixing his colors.

This time it was Ding Hanbai's turn to look over. Seeing the paper full of yellowish-brown spots, he felt nauseated. "What on earth are you messing with?"

Ji Shenyu said guiltily, "I'm mixing colors to paint... to paint a loquat tree."

Ding Hanbai sighed, snatching the brush away with an air of "hating iron for not becoming steel." He washed it, dipped the tip into the pigment box—three parts yellow, one part brown—and after mixing it evenly, it showed a rich loquat color. "Go on, paint," he said. "I haven't actually seen you just paint before."

Ji Shenyu had forced himself into a corner, so he had no choice but to paint seriously.

He turned his head to look at the open window, which framed a view of a tree in the courtyard. Inspiration struck, and he casually sketched out the structure. He couldn't stop. One stroke followed another—the tree was aged, the leaves lush, the fruit yellow. He rendered a bleak sky, and hunched over the table, he gradually completed a painting of a loquat tree with distinct colors.

Ding Hanbai stopped his carving knife and watched, looking at the painting, at Ji Shenyu's tightly pressed lips, and at the characters written with each stroke.

Bramble roses send forth their fragrance

Loquats gleam yellow

The garden pond has secretly stolen the light of spring

Doves coo in the mulberry trees

Orioles sing near the window

A traveler journeys far to a foreign land

Heartbroken with the sorrow of parting

A small courtyard, a shallow pond, birdsong, coming here from Yangzhou was indeed "journeying far to a foreign land"—it all fit perfectly. But Ding Hanbai was not pleased. What did he mean by "heartbroken with the sorrow of parting"? When he was displeased, he'd always pick a fight, always want to teach someone a lesson. He asked, "You have good food and good drink, and you have me to dote on you. What kind of heartbreak are you suffering from?"

Ji Shenyu hadn't meant anything by it, but he still muttered, "When did you ever dote on me?"

Ding Hanbai was speechless for a moment. Taking him for zhajiangmian, taking him shopping, carrying him around when he was injured... He couldn't be bothered to list them one by one. He coldly threw out a harsh remark: "You ungrateful brat. Starting today, I'll let you know what it means to be unloved by grandma and unwanted by uncle."

Ji Shenyu smiled brightly. "What do grandma and uncle have to do with you? Aren't you my Eldest Brother?" He played dumb perfectly, sidling over to appease him, helping to clean up the fallen jade dust.

Ding Hanbai gave him a cold look. Ji Shenyu eagerly added another compliment, saying that this white jade was beautiful even before being carved. It was unclear whether he was praising the jade or the person, but he knew Ding Hanbai's cold gaze warmed up.

An autumn wind blew outside; there were even fallen leaves on the street. The greenery around the City Museum had always been well-maintained, and the branches and leaves were still holding strong. Liang Hecheng had gotten a haircut and, looking very sharp, queued up to enter. He wanted to see the official new acquisitions.

He wandered around with small steps and saw a hexagonal water pot with gold tracing. The object wasn't rare, but the person wearing sunglasses in front of the display case was.

To protect the cultural relics, the lighting in the Museum couldn't be too bright. To wear sunglasses in there, how crazy was that? Liang Hecheng walked over and muttered to himself, "Turquoise green glaze base, the color is a bit tacky."

The person beside him didn't even turn his head, retorting, "Alum red interior, famille rose exterior. Red with green is gaudy as hell, suits you."

The two old men turned to face each other, their smiles not reaching their eyes. They clearly disliked each other but didn't separate, sticking together as they continued to browse. They bickered and sniped at each other all the way, attracting the attention of the staff.

Entering another hall, Zhang Sinian said, "I heard you were sick. Can't work anymore, can you?"

Liang Hecheng replied, "Can't work, so what else is there to do but wander around all day?"

Zhang Sinian sneered, "I told you long ago your trade has no future. The moment you run into disaster or illness, you have to stop. Unlike me. As long as I can see with one eye, it's no obstacle. Why don't you take me as your master and switch professions?"

Liang Hecheng felt that this war of words was boring; declaring a real war was more interesting. He said, "I've taken on a disciple." Seeing the other's surprise, he added, "Just because I'm down, you think you're the big boss now? My disciple is exceptionally talented and extremely intelligent. The key point is, he's only seventeen. He'll outlive you."

Zhang Sinian was still smiling. "Outlive me? I'll outlive you first." They walked out of the Museum's main doors side by side into the bright, open space. "If a monster like you with your Six-Fingers can take a disciple, why can't I? My disciple is the one with extraordinary talent. Don't even think that anything your disciple makes can escape his discerning eye."

Liang Hecheng shouted, "Fine! Then let's put it to the test!"

These two old codgers made a pact. They were a spear and a shield; it was impossible to tell who was stronger. In any case, they were old, so they would let their disciples take their place. Let's see whose hand is more skilled, and whose eye is sharper.

Ding Hanbai and Ji Shenyu were completely unaware, still gathered together admiring the painting. Ding Hanbai was shameless. It was someone else's painting, someone else's calligraphy, yet he took out his seal and stamped it. This earned him a scolding from Ji Shenyu, who then ignored him and went back to mixing his yellowish-brown spots.

"Hey, how come you people from Yangzhou swallow phrases when you write poetry?"

Ding Hanbai had noticed it early on but only brought it up now. When Ji Shenyu tilted his head to look, he took the brush and added after "The garden pond has secretly stolen the light of spring"—just as the days in the mortal world grow long.

Their eyes met, and both their faces turned red. They both damn well forgot it was now autumn.