Chapter 23: The Dust of History
When the restaurant owner spoke, trying to demand a high price, he did so with a straight face and calm heart.
In reality, the Guan Gong statue had already been there when he took over the restaurant—it was left behind by the previous owner.
Since Chinese people seem to have a special reverence for Guan Gong, the owner didn’t dare to discard the statue. Instead, he kept it on the altar and continued to offer incense.
Xu Youyou glanced at him in surprise and asked, “Aren’t you from Southern Fujian? Why would you bring a Guan Gong statue across the ocean instead of a Mazu statue?”
The owner’s strong Southern Fujian accent was undeniable, and upon hearing her question, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. However, he quickly responded, “I had no choice. Our family has passed down this Guan Gong statue for generations—it wasn’t a Mazu statue.”
Xu Youyou seemed to believe him and soon added, “It’s funny, isn’t it? You, a Fujian native, brought a Guan Gong statue overseas, while I, someone from Yuncheng, completely forgot about it.”
After all, Guan Gong’s ancestral home was Yuncheng, Shanxi.
Hearing this, the owner’s eyes lit up. “Miss, if you really want it, I could part with it.”
Ever since he took over the restaurant, business had been poor. Encountering a wealthy customer was a rare opportunity—he naturally wanted to squeeze as much as he could. Besides, the statue was something he had gotten for free, so he felt no attachment to it.
Xu Youyou’s expression showed interest. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “In that case, I’m willing to pay $200.”
The owner’s eyes darted around as he shook his head. “I brought this across the ocean from home—it’s been in my family for generations! It might even be an antique!”
“How much do you want for it?” Xu Youyou asked.
The owner raised a finger.
“One thousand dollars?”
Thinking it over, the owner exaggerated, “One million dollars! This is a family heirloom. If I sell it too cheaply, my ancestors might haunt me in my dreams!”
Xu Youyou immediately said, “Forget it. I’ll just finish my meal and check other stores afterward.”
The owner panicked. “Miss, wait! We can negotiate the price!”
Xu Youyou seemed to lose interest and changed the subject. “Let’s eat first. I’m starving—why isn’t the food here yet?”
Seeing that his potential windfall was about to walk out the door, the owner quickly said, “I’ll go check on it right away!”
Soon, he brought out two dishes.
Xu Youyou took a bite and immediately winced—now she understood why business was so bad.
Besides the poor location, the food was awful.
She had been living comfortably and didn’t want to lower her standards. The two bodyguards, on the other hand, were former soldiers—unfussy eaters who could stomach anything when hungry.
Seeing Xu Youyou’s reluctance to eat, the owner became even more convinced that she was wealthy—only someone from a rich family would be so picky.
“Miss, if one million is too much, how about half—$500,000?” he offered.
Xu Youyou frowned. “Even at half, it’s not worth it. I wouldn’t pay more than $10,000 for it.”
The owner had been waiting for her to make an offer and immediately agreed. “Deal! Let’s settle it right now!”
The two bodyguards, who had been quietly eating, exchanged surprised glances. They were there to ensure Xu Youyou’s safety during the trip, but now they weren’t sure if they should intervene in what looked like a blatant scam.
Maintaining her “wealthy and naïve” persona, Xu Youyou hesitated but finally relented. “Alright, since we’re from the same country, I’ll support your business.”
The owner could hardly contain his glee—he had just made over $10,000 from a free statue.
After finishing the meal, Xu Youyou’s wallet was much lighter, and her stomach was still empty—but she left the restaurant clutching the Guan Gong statue tightly.
Once she hurried back to the private car waiting at the corner, she finally had time to examine the statue closely.
The statue was predominantly jade-green, with a long, oval-shaped head. It wore a flowing robe and stood in a majestic pose, its feet clad in cloud-patterned boots.
Because it hadn’t been properly maintained, a layer of dust had settled on it. Xu Youyou carefully wiped it clean, and the statue seemed to shine even brighter.
“Boss, is this thing really valuable?” one of the bodyguards asked.
Xu Youyou was about to answer when she caught herself and shook her head. “It’s not about the value—it’s about how it makes me feel safe having it nearby.”
The bodyguard only sighed to himself about how eccentric rich people could be and didn’t press further.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the ‘Hidden Treasure’ mission. Reward: Basic Porcelain Identification Skill.]
A warm sensation washed over Xu Youyou, and suddenly, it felt as though her mind had been filled with new knowledge.
When she looked at the Guan Gong statue again, she immediately recognized more details.
It was a piece of Longquan celadon from the Song Dynasty—the peak period of Longquan’s porcelain production.
Longquan celadon originated in the Wei and Jin dynasties, flourished during the Tang, peaked in the Song, and declined in the Ming. Today, authentic Song-era Longquan pieces are rare, making this statue a hidden gem.
More astonishingly, this Guan Gong statue had a distinguished provenance.
She turned the statue over and spotted six small red characters on the base: “Awarded by Qiande to Fangzhou.”
Before receiving the system’s reward, Xu Youyou wouldn’t have understood the inscription. But now, she recognized its significance instantly.
The term “awarded” wasn’t something just anyone could use—it required the emperor’s command.
“Qiande” referred to the reign era of Emperor Taizu of Song. And Fangzhou? That’s where a particular figure had once lived—Chai Zongxun.
Emperor Taizu had seized the throne from the child-emperor Chai Zongxun during the Chenqiao Mutiny. However, instead of executing him, he granted Chai the title of Prince of Zheng and exiled him and his mother to Fangzhou.
With this new historical insight, the statue seemed to carry a subtle message—a reminder of imperial authority and fate.
While Xu Youyou sympathized with the displaced young emperor, another thought filled her with joy:
She had struck gold—again!
