“Oh, what a pleasant surprise meeting an old acquaintance in a new place! I’ve just come to Seattlemere to explore the international market,” Gilberto said as he invited them into the shop. “What are you here for today, selling treasures or finding them?”
Sophia took out a blue and white porcelain small bowl and handed it to Gilberto. “Gilberto, I found this small bowl near your shop. Could you help me authenticate it?”
Gilberto solemnly accepted the bowl with both hands, placed it on the counter, and scrutinized it with a magnifying glass.
A while later, Gilberto put down the magnifying glass and said, “Please have a seat.”
Leo and Sophia sat down by a wood-carved tea table, and Gilberto personally made two cups of fragrant tea.
Returning the blue and white porcelain small bowl to Sophia, he said, “This bowl is genuine, from the 1800s. May I ask how much you paid for it?”
“Twenty-five thousand,” Sophia answered truthfully.
“That’s a bit on the high side. I have a similar blue and white porcelain small bowl in my shop, priced at twenty thousand,” Gilberto remarked.
“Sophia praised, “Gilberto truly has sharp eyes.” She then signaled Leo with a glance and continued, “Could you also appraise these two Kaiyuan Tongbao coins?”
Leo took out the two Tongbao coins and placed them on the tea table. Gilberto’s gaze noticeably paused for a moment upon seeing them.
He then slowly picked up the Tongbao coins and examined them carefully. After a longer inspection, he returned them to the table with a composed smile, saying, “These Tongbao coins are in good condition, from the medieval period. As for the price, it varies. May I ask how much you paid for them?”
“Fifty thousand,” Leo replied calmly.
This number added a subtle depth to Gilberto’s expression. He smiled and said, “Luck is very important in the antique business. Coincidentally, my shop’s ancient coin collection lacks medieval examples.”
“To encounter two medieval Tongbao coins today is quite fortunate. How about this, I’ll offer sixty thousand. Would you be willing to sell them to me?”
What a cunning man!
Leo chuckled inwardly but said out loud, “Sorry, Gilberto. I have a special fondness for collecting ancient coins, so these two Kaiyuan Tongbao coins are not for sale. I’m here today to purchase a piece of red thread that’s at least a hundred years old.”
Gilberto showed no sign of disappointment. He stood up and said, “A hundred-year-old red thread, right? I believe I have one in the shop. Please wait a moment while I find it.”
While Gilberto went to search for the red thread, Sophia whispered, “It seems Gilberto is very interested in these ‘Kaiyuan Tongbao’ coins. His willingness to offer a higher price suggests they are quite special.”
“These Tongbao coins are indeed special, though it’s not apparent to most people,” Leo affirmed Sophia’s suspicion while pondering whether Gilberto had also discerned their unique nature.
Soon, Gilberto returned with a piece of red thread and handed it to Leo. “Friend, I acquired this thread three years ago. See if it’s what you’re looking for.”
Leo took the thread, scanned it with his consciousness, and nodded, “Yes, this is exactly what I need.”
“This red thread has an interesting story,” Gilberto said, sipping his tea. He then proceeded to tell the story, regardless of whether Leo and Sophia wanted to hear it.
Long ago, Eastcurrent suffered a severe drought, and even the Eastcurrent River that flowed through the city dried up. A villager named Derek, whose bedridden mother desired fish, came to the river hoping to try his luck in some water puddle.
To his dismay, the riverbed was completely dry. He walked upstream and unknowingly entered the mountains. Suddenly, a flash of light caught his eye. Approaching the source, he discovered a water puddle, but strangely, no animals were drinking from it.
It was unusual for animals to avoid water unless it was poisoned or something dangerous lurked in it.
Approaching cautiously, Derek saw the water was clean and clear, with small water insects crawling about, indicating it was toxin-free.
He sat down to drink and rest by a large smooth rock near the puddle. The sunlight reflected from the water onto the rock, creating ripples that resembled a dragon twisting and coiling inside the stone.
Perhaps this mysterious appearance kept animals away.
As Derek prepared to catch fish, he noticed the dragon’s shadow on the rock moved independently of the water’s ripples. As he examined the stone closely, he saw a real dragon trapped inside, its front claws bound by a red thread, tears streaming into the puddle below-forming it!
Upon realizing the dragon’s plight, Derek asked, “Do you need me to free you?”
The dragon nodded.
“But how can I do that?” Derek asked again.
The dragon signaled him to break the stone. Derek tried using a pebble but it shattered upon striking the rock.
Disheartened, he told the dragon he needed to fetch tools and hurried back home. His mother, seeing him geared up, asked about his endeavor. After learning about the dragon, she warned, “That dragon is born of the stone’s spirit. Freeing it will invite heavenly wrath and certain death.”
Understanding her reasoning, Derek halted his mission.
That night, he dreamt of the dragon, furious and demanding why he hadn’t returned. He explained his mother’s concerns and advised that a brief, glorious existence might be preferable to a long, miserable one. But the dragon laughed heartily, preferring a day of freedom.
Awakened, Derek respected the dragon’s wish and returned with his tools.
After half an hour of work, the stone shattered, releasing the dragon to grow massively.