Ding Hanbai splashed his face with cold water. When he came to his senses, Zhang Yin had already commandeered his chair. Foes are bound to meet, but he would have never, in his wildest dreams, imagined meeting Zhang Yin here.

He demanded, full of righteous indignation, “Who are you?”

Zhang Yin, with an imposing air, retorted, “I’m his son!”

Ding Hanbai let out a curse, a truly foul one. He loved to lecture others but rarely used profanity; this time, this place, this scene had pushed him to his limit. He wondered, how could Zhang Sinian have a son? And how could that son be fucking Zhang Yin?

Zhang Yin was even more blindsided. “How do you know him?” He glared at Zhang Sinian, then suddenly recalled the application to collect scrap. “He helped you with the application, and that’s how you met? You not only met, but don’t tell me you also became friends despite the age gap.”

He knew Ding Hanbai was interested in antiques, so it wasn't a surprise that he and Zhang Sinian would hit it off. But the prerequisite for them hitting it off was that Zhang Sinian must have first revealed his skills.

Zhang Yin was resentful. Why? He wouldn’t help his own son, yet he was drinking and eating meat with someone who offered a few small favors.

Then, judging others by his own standards, he wondered if Zhang Sinian was fishing. Ding Hanbai was rich; he was a big fish.

For a moment, Ding Hanbai’s drunken eyes were half-open, silently and lightly staring at Zhang Yin. He could roughly guess the sordid thoughts in the other’s mind, finding it both ridiculous and a little helpless. “I say, Director Zhang,” he began, “the old master and I are really not friends despite our age gap.”

Zhang Sinian drank his alcohol in silence, his blind eyes stinging from the smoke.

Ding Hanbai said, “This is my master. I’ve formally become his apprentice.”

Zhang Yin shot to his feet, his bag dropping to the floor. His lips parted, about to curse, but he first turned his fire on Zhang Sinian. “You took him as your apprentice?!” Incredulous, his anger surged to the heavens. “Are you fucking senile! He works under me and opposes me every day, and you just had to take him as your apprentice!”

Zhang Sinian said calmly, “He has a talent for it. He can make a living in this line of work.”

Zhang Yin flipped the table. “So I’m the fucking one who can’t, is that it?!”

Ding Hanbai took a step back, dodging the mess of shattered cups and plates on the floor. Amidst the shouting, he understood something—the main conflict between this father and son. But he didn’t understand why Zhang Sinian wouldn’t guide his own son, only why Zhang Sinian favored him.

So he explained, “The old master took a liking to me because I could tell whether a few items were real or fake, including your Ge Ware Small Incense Burner.”

Zhang Yin’s eyes were practically splitting with rage. “The Ge Ware Small Incense Burner is a fake?” He staggered across the debris of plates and bowls to Zhang Sinian, leaning down and gripping his shoulders tightly. “You even deceive your own son?! Serves you right for going blind!”

Zhang Sinian said, “A fake can naturally only be exchanged for a fake. Where would one find so many instances of trading a fake for a real one?” His eyelids drooped slightly; he was tired. “Hanbai, tell him what the first item was.”

Ding Hanbai said, “It was the Celadon Vase.”

Zhang Yin swayed unsteadily, on the verge of collapsing, his memories turning hazy. The Celadon Vase he thought he’d scored, he had shown it off, been so proud of it, and had come with a heart full of satisfaction to trade for the Ge Ware Small Incense Burner he had long desired, treasuring it, loving it. And now, today, he was being told the Celadon Vase was fake, and the small incense burner was also fake.

“...They’re all fucking fakes.” He nearly tripped, picked up his bag, not bothering to pat the dust off.

The sound of his footsteps was scattered, sometimes pausing, sometimes hurrying. The broken-down hutong was so long, it made one worry if he might take a fall. Ding Hanbai had sharp ears, but it took a long while before the sounds faded completely. He was annoyed by Zhang Yin, but he didn't hate him. In that moment, he couldn't help but feel a sliver of compassion.

He asked, “Why do you treat your own son like this?”

Zhang Sinian seemed to have fallen asleep, his voice faint and ethereal. “One’s own son, who wouldn’t dote on him? I taught him when he sat on my lap.” As for talent, it didn’t depend on oneself or others; it all depended on whether Heaven was willing to grant you a meal.

“I didn’t teach him well. You work under him, you know his personality.” The old man opened his eyes again, his blind eyes clouded over. “I can help him scheme for money, but what about after I die? I used an incense burner of equal value to trade for his Celadon Vase. If someone else gave him a decent-looking piece of dog shit, he still wouldn't be able to tell the difference.”

If a father helps his son soar to the clouds, only for him to fall even harder later, it’s better for him to live a down-to-earth life.

Besides, this path had never been smooth. As the cloudiness in his eyes faded, it transformed into two streams of turbid tears. “Do you know how much the cowsheds stank? I do.” The old man suddenly choked up, crying, his sobs filled with utter despair. “The antiques and paintings found in my home were either smashed or burned. The moment I tried to stop them, the tip of a stick stabbed me in the eye. I was scared, shaking like a leaf. Now that things are peaceful, I still wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in a cold sweat from fear.”

That was why he had taken snail-like refuge here, in this dilapidated house, this courtyard of junk and scrap. With his body disabled, his ambitions were destroyed along with it. He didn’t dare to pursue wealth and status. He could only secretly lock himself in the inner room, reminiscing while guarding the few beloved objects he had left.

Ding Hanbai had long wondered why Zhang Sinian lived like this. He finally knew, and his heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife.

As if all life had been extinguished from him, he cleaned up the mess, locked the courtyard gate, and helped Zhang Sinian into the inner room. After closing the window and turning off the light, he didn't leave. He sat on a chair in the outer room and said, “I’ll keep watch for you. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Ding Hanbai sat bolt upright all night, watching the sunrise through the window.

He washed his face again. Still in the same clothes, he just smoothed out the wrinkles and went to the Cultural Relics Bureau. It was the weekend, and only one person was on duty in the office. Ding Hanbai greeted them and sat at his desk, lips pressed together, eyes downcast, with no desire to chat and pass the time.

After a while, the morning paper was delivered.

After another while, the cleaning lady came in to spray disinfectant since there were few people around.

The surrounding smell was pungent, but Ding Hanbai sat there motionless, as if he wasn't even breathing. Moment after moment passed, the seconds ticking by. He tore out a sheet of paper and wrote a resignation letter in a free-flowing script.

When he left, he didn't take anything. He asked the cleaning lady to throw away the worthless things on his desk and gave the valuable items to his colleagues as keepsakes. The most valuable was the White Jade Chilong-Patterned Brush Rest he had chosen from Zhang Sinian's place. He placed it on top of his resignation letter, leaving both on Zhang Yin’s desk.

Ding Hanbai left, feeling unburdened. As he walked out the main gate, he glanced back at the maple vines on the building's wall.

He didn’t owe anyone. He was heading down a different path to fight for a future he liked more.

The large living room in the Front Courtyard was bustling. Jiang Ting'en had brought over a few boxes of mooncakes with new flavors that Jiang Xunzhu had brought back from a business trip. Everyone gathered to open the packages and try them, chatting idly while waiting for breakfast. However, Ji Shenyu was not among them.

Ding Hanbai hadn't come home last night. Ji Shenyu had woken up early to check next door, but he still wasn't there.

He paced in the courtyard, wondering what could keep someone out all night. Working overtime? Impossible. A traffic accident? The hospital would have contacted the family. Finally, he mumbled, he must have been up to no good...

Ding Hanbai, still unaware that someone was worried sick about him, was feeding the fish in front of the screen wall when he got home, whistling a tune. Ignoring the lively crowd of relatives in the room, he strolled back to the small courtyard to shower and change.

As soon as he entered the arched gateway, he bumped into Ji Shenyu, who was rushing out. “What are you running for?” he asked.

Ji Shenyu stared at him, stunned. “I was going to the main gate to wait for you.”

Ding Hanbai said happily, “Well, I’m back now, aren’t I?”

He unbuttoned his cuffs and walked toward the bedroom. Ji Shenyu followed him like a little shadow. “Senior Brother, where were you last night?” Ji Shenyu asked, sounding less curious and more like he was checking up on him. “Did you sleep?”

Ding Hanbai gave an irrelevant answer. “I’m not going to work on Monday.”

The whole family was used to Ding Hanbai not working, so Ji Shenyu pressed on, “Where on earth were you last night—”

Ding Hanbai interrupted, “I’m not going to work anymore, ever.”

Ji Shenyu leaned against the doorframe in a daze. Ding Hanbai had suddenly resigned, he thought. Something must have happened last night. He gazed at Ding Hanbai’s back as he stood before the wardrobe, then watched as Ding Hanbai turned and approached. “Zhenzhu,” Ding Hanbai called him intimately, seeming to be in a good mood. “You’ve been pretty well-behaved recently. Haven’t skipped school?”

Ji Shenyu had indeed been well-behaved. He was always diligent; he had only skipped school before because he had too much on his plate. When he gave Liang Hecheng the Joined Jade Rings, he had explained that he was busy carving the jade censer and preparing for mid-term exams, so he couldn't entertain any other commitments for the time being, nor would he go to Miao'an Alley.

Poor Liang Hecheng was troubled. He could only digest the news that “Ding Hanbai is Ding Hanbai” by himself. Then he remembered Ji Shenyu saying his master was Ding Yanshou. So, the two of them, fellow apprentices from the same school, had kept their apprenticeships from each other and even had a contest of skills.

And now it had evolved to this, with the senior brother trying to “recruit” the junior brother.

Liang Hecheng’s lungs ached with worry, yet at the same time, he was amazed at the profound connection between Ding Hanbai and Ji Shenyu.

Having waited anxiously since waking up, Ji Shenyu didn’t mind waiting a little longer. He sat reading on the porch. Just as his throat grew tired, Ding Hanbai returned from his shower. They went to the Front Courtyard for breakfast together. After taking their seats, Ding Hanbai immediately swallowed a wonton.

Ji Shenyu held his bowl steadily. With the person next to him not teasing him, he ate in peace.

There were no three rounds of wine, only a half-eaten meal, when Ding Hanbai suddenly said, “I’ve resigned.”

A sudden silence fell. Porcelain spoons no longer clinked against bowl rims, chopsticks no longer scraped against plate bottoms. Ding Hanbai raised his eyes and scanned the room, his gaze finally resting on Ding Yanshou’s face. “Dad, I handed in my resignation at work this morning,” he repeated, offering an explanation. “It wasn’t that they fired me, so I didn’t lose face.”

Ding Yanshou remained calm and composed. “What are your plans?”

Ding Hanbai replied, “On Monday, I’m going to the shop. This young master will be taking charge.”

While he was talking with Ding Yanshou, he caught Ding Keyu looking at Ding Erhe out of the corner of his eye, but Ding Erhe ignored him. After they finished talking and eating, those who were cleaning up cleaned up, and those who were leaving left. The room felt crowded with all the brothers.

Ding Hanbai gave Ding Keyu a light kick. “Can’t keep your cool. You have a problem with me resigning?”

Ding Keyu forced a smile. “Of course not. I just think it’s a pity.”

Ding Erhe stepped in to smooth things over. “When you worked at the Cultural Relics Bureau, you always had a ton of tickets for all sorts of exhibitions. What he thinks is a pity is that he’ll have to queue up to buy them himself from now on. Don’t mind him.”

Ding Hanbai couldn’t be bothered to investigate further. Rather than worrying about what others were thinking, he’d rather go back to his room and catch up on sleep. But he was picky. The mattress and bedding were clean and comfortable, the incense from the censer was calming and light; everything was perfect, except for a buzzing sound in his ear, incessant and unending.

After tossing and turning a few times, Ding Hanbai burst out of his room, heading straight for the suspected culprit in the machine room. He stopped outside the door in his slippers, his hand poised to push the door open, but he paused. He just stood there, listening to the faint sound of singing.

Ji Shenyu had finally finished carving and was now polishing. He knew this.

Ji Shenyu was humming Yangzhou Tunes again—the spring river tide, the moon upon the sea. He could almost see the beautiful scenery.

Ding Hanbai simply sat down on the porch, his back against a round pillar, his shoulder leaning on the railing, and closed his eyes for a short nap with his legs crossed. He was clearly closer to the source of the noise, but just because it was mixed with the sound of a clear tune, he felt calm and at ease.

Ji Shenyu was completely unaware, carefully polishing the jade censer he had poured his heart and soul into—the flaming pearl, the knotted patterns, the openwork carvings and relief characters. The reason he was singing was that he was thinking of Ji Fangxu, wanting Ji Fangxu to see this piece.

He was doing well, he was improving, there was no need to worry.

At some unknown moment, the grinder stopped, everything stopped, and Ding Hanbai's pleasant dream was abruptly ended by the sudden silence. He blinked drowsily at the door and subconsciously called out, “Ji Zhenzhu, you done polishing?”

Ji Shenyu hadn't expected anyone to be outside. He replied, “Come in!”

Ding Hanbai pushed the door open. The pouring sunlight mingled with the electric light. Ji Shenyu had his back to him, a circle of glittering jade dust at his feet. He walked up behind him, peered over his shoulder, and saw the jade censer. Butterfly handles, loose rings swaying gently. It was translucent, green, lustrous, and bright.

Ji Shenyu turned his face. “Senior Brother, is it good?”

Ding Hanbai wiped the powder from his cheek. “Go get my dad. Bring Second Brother and Third Brother, all of them.”

Ji Shenyu was stunned for a moment, then beamed at him with delight, dashing out. When he returned, he was supporting Ding Yanshou’s arm, followed by Second, Third, and Fourth Brother, and Jiang Caiwei, who had come to see the excitement.

The group filled the room, crowding around the workbench. Numerous gazes were all focused on the Jade tripod censer with loose-ring butterfly handles. Ji Shenyu was nervous. Out of nervousness, he let go of Ding Yanshou and quietly moved closer to Ding Hanbai.

He didn't even realize he had done it until Ding Hanbai put an arm around his shoulders.

“Dad, what do you think?” Ding Hanbai asked, his tone and expression indicating he was asking a question to which he already knew the answer.

Ding Yanshou asked in return, “What do you all think?”

The crowd fell silent, waiting for Ding Hanbai’s response. Seeing this, Jiang Caiwei said, “I’m a layman. I just think it’s extremely beautiful. If I had the money, I wouldn’t be able to resist buying it for my collection.”

Ji Shenyu lowered his head in embarrassment, then turned his head to peek at Ding Hanbai, hoping for a word of praise.

Ding Hanbai said, “The ‘Pines and Cranes Prolong Life’ from the shop on Yingchun Avenue has been sold. I think this piece can take its place.”

Ding Yanshou loudly approved. “Then tomorrow, we’ll take this piece to be the shop’s centerpiece.”

The centerpiece... For a moment, everyone had their own thoughts. Ji Shenyu excitedly grabbed Ding Hanbai’s sleeve, nearly hugging him.

The other senior brothers praised and consulted him, making Ji Shenyu’s head spin. Ding Hanbai walked out with Ding Yanshou. Standing in the bright courtyard, their conversation was also bright. “Son, are you not feeling resentful this time?” Ding Yanshou was gratified. “Your awareness has improved quickly. This child is teachable.”

Ding Hanbai retorted, “Enough with your sarcasm. I’ve always prioritized the bigger picture.”

After everyone had left, Ji Shenyu arranged the small wooden stand and applied oil to it. Once done, he left the door and windows open to air it out and let it dry. After being busy for so long, he could finally relax and went to review his schoolwork in peace.

A night passed. When Ji Shenyu woke up, he didn't even wash his face before running to see if the small wooden stand was dry.

He froze at the door. The space next to the wooden stand was empty, and the jade censer he had painstakingly completed lay shattered on the floor, the butterfly handles and loose rings broken into several pieces... How could this have happened?!

His mind went blank in an instant. He had no time to worry about why it had broken. Luckily, he knew how to repair it, but he had to keep this skill of restoration and forgery hidden, so he could only conceal and delay.

Just as he closed the door and window, Jiang Caiwei called him from outside for breakfast.

Ji Shenyu calmly answered, locked the door, went to wash up and change, and then, as if nothing had happened, went to the Front Courtyard for breakfast. He sat down, his gaze secretly sweeping the room, afraid his suspicions might wrong an innocent person.

“Master,” he said calmly, “the small wooden stand isn’t finished yet. Can I finish it in the next two days and bring both to the shop together?”

Ding Yanshou said, “No problem, you can decide.”

Ji Shenyu felt a temporary sense of relief. He lowered his head to eat, wishing he could bite through his chopsticks and crack the bottom of his bowl. He didn't believe the wind could have blown the jade censer over. If someone had broken it by accident, he wouldn't blame them. But if it was intentional, did that mean he had to be on guard against something in his own home from now on?

“Shenyu, is your senior brother not up yet?” Jiang Shuliu called to him. “Shenyu?”

Ji Shenyu came back to his senses. “Not yet...”

Ding Hanbai was already up. He thought the small wooden stand should be dry by now and was eager to see the complete set. He unlocked the door and was shocked still. It was broken? How could it have shattered just like that?!

Whether it was accidental or intentional, this labor of love was ruined!

Ding Hanbai suppressed his thundering rage. The jade censer was already broken; figuring out why could wait. The priority was to fix it. Re-carving it was too unrealistic. The best option was to repair it. A flash of inspiration struck him—he remembered Liang Hecheng’s brilliant apprentice.

He carefully wrapped the pieces in old newspaper, put them in a cardboard box, and rushed out of the small courtyard. Ding Hanbai sped all the way to Miao'an Alley. He needed to ask Liang Hecheng’s apprentice for help again, to request that he repair the jade censer.

At this time, Ji Shenyu had hastily finished his meal and slipped away, needing to urgently save his creation.

He ran into the machine room, only to be met with an even greater shock. It was empty. Where was the shadow of the jade censer?!

Ruining it wasn’t enough, they had to steal it too... Ji Shenyu was overcome with anxiety and rage, feeling as if the sky had fallen.

Author has something to say:

Ding Hanbai: Zhenzhu, I'll return it to you once it's fixed!

Ji Shenyu: what the fxxx