Huangfu Yun suddenly asked, "Professor Meng, this sword is so magical, I'm afraid Lu You's lament, 'The national hatred remains unavenged, the brave warrior grows old, the sword in its scabbard makes a sound at night,' was not without reason, was it?"
Professor Meng paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled wryly and said, "That's all written in martial arts novels. When the master is in danger, the sword in the scabbard will ring out in the dead of night. Young man, you can't believe these things..."
"That's not necessarily true, Brother Zhuang. You must hang it on your bedroom wall tonight; perhaps this sword will work its magic..."
Huangfu Yun shook his head and said something that made everyone laugh and cry. Zhuang Rui secretly thought to himself, "If I were doing 'that' and this sword made that sound, wouldn't that be a disturbance? If I were a coward, it would probably turn into Viagra."
After handing the Dingguang Sword back to Zhuang Rui, Professor Meng suddenly wanted to see its sharpness, so he asked Zhuang Rui, "Little Zhuang, did you bring any copper coins?"
"I brought more than a dozen, Teacher Meng. Do you want to test the sword?"
Zhuang Rui had considered this possibility when he arrived, and he had more than 10 copper coins in his pocket.
Professor Meng waved his hand and said, "I can't do it, my eyesight is failing, you should do it..."
"Brother Zhuang, I'll do it..."
Before Zhuang Rui could answer, Peng Fei was already eager to try it out. He had enjoyed playing with cold weapons when he was in the army, and now that he saw such a famous sword from ancient times, he wanted to try it out himself.
"Okay, be careful not to damage the sword..."
Zhuang Rui nodded, took out some copper coins, but this time he didn't put in too many; he just stacked five copper coins at the foot of the table, and then handed the sword to Peng Fei.
Peng Fei gestured at the table a few times, then slashed down with his sword. His technique and wrist strength were far superior to Zhuang Rui's, and the force was immense. Everyone only heard a crisp "clang" as the sword blade pierced into the imitation mahogany table.
"It can cut through iron like mud and sever a hair in an instant. What a fine sword!"
Professor Meng picked up the copper coin that had been cut in half on the table and looked at it. Although he had seen many such behaviors that could not be explained by science before, he still looked incredulous.
Despite the advancements in technology today, many ancient inventions remain unexplained. For example, there's no consensus on how the meridians and qi in traditional Chinese medicine are generated.
Peng Fei, who was holding the sword, was also taken aback. He picked up the "Dingguang Sword" and looked at it. There wasn't even the slightest crease on the blade. Peng Fei couldn't help but marvel. This sword was even sharper than his own knife.
After calming down, Professor Meng looked at Zhuang Rui and said, "Zhuang, I have a request, I don't know..."
Professor Meng stopped mid-sentence, a troubled expression on his face.
"Teacher, you said..."
Seeing Professor Meng's expression, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but secretly groan in his heart. "Please don't tell me to donate it to the country," he thought. "I absolutely cannot hand this over. Even if I offend Professor Meng and have to give up my graduate studies, Zhuang Rui is still unwilling to give up this sword."
"Xiao Zhuang, although in recent years, archaeological excavations have unearthed a great many bronze weapons, including bronze swords, they are numerous and diverse. The discovery of the swords of King Fuchai of Wu and King Goujian of Yue has shocked the world..."
Professor Meng paused here, then continued, "Those two swords are too famous. I've seen them before, but I'd like to borrow them for research and analysis. However, no one will give this old man the face to do so. Xiao Zhuang, I'd like to borrow this sword from you to analyze its material composition..."
Professor Meng once conducted a research project to study why ancient bronze swords, buried underground for thousands of years, could still remain spotless and sharp without any rust. However, without physical examples to study, he put the project aside.
However, when quantitative chemical analysis was later applied to the authentication of bronze artifacts, Professor Meng learned that the rust-free and corrosion-free phenomenon was caused by the ratio of copper, tin, gold, and iron during forging. However, Professor Meng never had the time or physical evidence to study this ratio.
Now that Professor Meng has seen Zhuang Rui's sword, his old ideas have been rekindled. If this can help him unravel this mystery of ancient forging techniques, it would be a significant achievement in archaeological research.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Rui felt much more relaxed. As long as it wasn't something he was asked to hand over to the state, but rather borrowed for analysis and research, Zhuang Rui could accept it.
"Xiao Zhuang, I'm not asking you to leave the sword with me. You might not trust me, but I do. It's like this: once you officially become my graduate student, your main responsibility will be researching the proportions of materials used in bronze swords. When you need this sword, just bring it over..."
When Professor Meng saw that Zhuang Rui didn't speak, he thought that Zhuang Rui disagreed, so he quickly extended an olive branch. You know, newly enrolled graduate students are not qualified to develop research topics on their own.
Chapter 616 Lion-shaped Seal (Part 1)
Nowadays, graduate students in universities are almost all working for their supervisors. Supervisors take on outside work and then dump it on their graduate students.
When results are achieved, a more conscientious supervisor will take the lion's share and will also share some with the student. However, a less conscientious supervisor might take all the profits and leave the student with nothing.
By saying this, Professor Meng was essentially promising Zhuang Rui that he would be in charge of the project.
Of course, the research funding that was granted was all controlled by Zhuang Rui. Professor Meng knew that Zhuang Rui was wealthy and might not care about this amount of money, but he still made his stance clear.
"Thank you, Teacher Meng..."
Upon hearing Professor Meng's words, Zhuang Rui quickly agreed. He had originally thought that the old man would be overcome with patriotism and make him hand it over to the state, but now that it was just for research and he could control it, what could Zhuang Rui possibly complain about?
Moreover, Zhuang Rui knew that his status as a graduate student at Peking University was already a done deal, and with Professor Meng's help, the interview would just be a formality.
"No need to thank me. If you can find anything out, your teacher will thank you in return. By the way, I need to take some photos. This sword is of great historical value, and you'll probably need to bring it to a seminar in a while..."
Professor Meng waved his hand, took out a digital camera from his desk, and started taking pictures of the fixed-light sword from various angles.
"Okay, just let me know when the time comes, teacher..."
Zhuang Rui readily nodded. He knew that the "Dingguang Sword" was a legendary sword and must have great historical significance. However, Zhuang Rui believed that as long as he didn't want to, no one could take the Dingguang Sword away, unless the old man in his family was being unreasonable.
"Alright, take your things back now. Keep them safe and don't apply any rust remover or other chemical agents. It's best to wipe them down frequently..."
Professor Meng also had some knowledge of the preservation of bronze artifacts. After taking photos of the Dingguang Sword from various angles, he gave Zhuang Rui a few more instructions, fearing that Zhuang Rui might not take care of it and damage this peerless sword.
"I really don't know if this kid is just lucky or if he has some kind of secret?"
After seeing Zhuang Rui and the others off, Professor Meng returned to his office and shook his head. However, he was already very satisfied to have seen a sword today that could rewrite the history of bronze ware. ...
"Brother Zhuang, it's rare for me to come back. I'm going to visit my teacher later, so let's say goodbye here..."
After leaving Professor Meng's office building, Huangfu Yun spoke to Zhuang Rui, but his eyes remained fixed on the "Dingguang Sword" in Peng Fei's hand.
As a professional collector of swords and antiques, Huangfu Yun was in a real dilemma. Unfortunately, he lacked the financial resources to buy them, even if Zhuang Rui agreed to sell.
"Alright, Brother Huangfu, let's keep in touch. If you come across any valuable artifacts left by our ancestors while you're abroad, give me a call..."
Zhuang Rui had long wanted to go abroad to shop, but he was not familiar with the major auction houses overseas. Now that he had met Huangfu Yun, he would have another guide when he went abroad in the future.
Huangfu Yun was unaware that Zhuang Rui had such thoughts. Hearing this, he paused for a moment before saying, "Brother, if you're interested, there's a special auction of Chinese antiques in London next month. If you're interested, you can go and take a look. I'll definitely be there..."
"next month?"
Zhuang Rui wasn't sure if he'd be free next month, and there were still more than 20 days left, so he said, "Brother Huangfu, if I'm free next month, I'll go check on things. I'll trouble you then..."
"Okay, then let's keep in touch by phone..."
Huangfu Yun glanced longingly at the brocade box in Peng Fei's hand, then waved goodbye to Zhuang Rui.
"Brother Zhuang, how much is this sword worth?"
Peng Fei had just seen Huangfu Yun's eyes and felt an urge to snatch her away. After getting into the car, he asked Zhuang Rui about it.
In Peng Fei's view, this sword was just a bit too sharp. In the era of cold weapons, it was undoubtedly a priceless treasure. However, in the modern society where guns and cannons are rampant, the role of cold weapons is no longer very significant. There is an old saying: No matter how high your martial arts skills are, you can still be taken down with one shot.
"Guess..."
Zhuang Rui drove away from the Peking University campus. Seeing that he still had time, he decided to first put the "Sword of Fixed Light" back at home, and then go to his grandfather's place to get the seal. After all, carrying an item worth hundreds of millions around would definitely make him nervous.
"It's worth at least a few million, right?"
Peng Fei had been with Zhuang Rui for a while and knew that the prices of antiques were unpredictable. The rarer the item, the higher you could guess. So Peng Fei gave what he thought was an astronomical price.
"Heh, a few million? That's not even enough to buy the tip of a sword..."
Zhuang Rui laughed upon hearing this. He turned around and prepared to find Mr. Qian from the Kyoto Auction House to get some recent antique auction data so he could brush up on his knowledge. If Huangfu Yun hadn't told him the price of the sword, Zhuang Rui's estimate would have been only slightly higher than what Peng Fei had just said.
"That man named Huangfu Yun was valued at around 200 million, but now that we know about his lineage, the price will probably be even higher..."
Zhuang Rui didn't expect his luck to be so good today. It seems he should go to Panjiayuan for a stroll when he has nothing else to do.
"Two...two hundred million? It can be that expensive?"
Peng Fei's hand, holding the sword, trembled violently, and he almost dropped it.
"Nonsense, don't you think about it? Of all those legendary swords, only this one has been unearthed. Two hundred million is probably an understatement..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Peng Fei simply placed the "Sword of Fixed Light" on Zhuang Rui's lap and said, "Brother Zhuang, this thing is too precious. Why does it feel so heavy when I hold it?"
"Alright, kid, stop messing around. You're carrying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold, and you haven't complained about how heavy it is..."
Zhuang Rui jokingly scolded Peng Fei, and the two returned to the courtyard house while talking.
Qin Xuanbing's jewelry design studio was located in the side room leading to the basement in Zhuang Rui's backyard. Upon seeing Zhuang Rui enter, Qin Xuanbing asked curiously, "Honey, didn't you go to Uncle Gu's place? Why are you back now?"
"Hehe, honey, I found a priceless treasure at Panjiayuan today. I'll take it home first, then head over to Grandpa's right away..."
Zhuang Rui leaned in, hugged Qin Xuanbing, and kissed her. If it weren't for the fact that it was broad daylight and he had things to do later, Zhuang Rui would have loved to use... you know... actions to release his excitement.
"You idiot, hurry up and go, don't bother me..."
Qin Xuanbing watched Zhuang Rui dash out of the house like a child, a smile appearing on her face. She thoroughly enjoyed this life; she had a loving husband, an easy-going mother-in-law, and lived a peaceful and tranquil life in this large mansion—perfectly suited to Qin Xuanbing's personality. ...
"Brother Yun, why aren't you busy today?"
Upon entering Grandpa Gu's courtyard, Zhuang Rui saw Gu Yun playing Go with the old man and quickly went over to greet him.
"This brat only played chess with this old man because he knew you were coming, otherwise would he have kept this old man company?"
Before Gu Yun could speak, the old man snorted coldly, swept the chessboard aside, and said, "Zhuang Rui, come inside when you've finished your business..."
"Hey Dad, are you cheating? We're about to lose, and you're trying to run away?"
Gu Yun's words made Zhuang Rui realize why the old man was in a bad mood; it turned out he was going to lose the chess game to his son.
Zhuang Rui glanced around and then said, "Brother Gu, what do you need me for? Let's make this clear first, that thing is really gone, so please don't bring it up..."
These days, he's been spending every day with his wife, and since they're both young and energetic, they've been doing *that* almost every day. Even with Zhuang Rui's ability to recover his spiritual energy, he's finding it a bit overwhelming. Now he's just eagerly hoping that he can start making his own medicinal wine next spring.
Of course, this doesn't mean Zhuang Rui is incapable; it's a psychological effect. It's like giving a regular vitamin to someone with a cold and telling them it's a miracle cure. The person who takes the vitamin will experience a significant improvement in their cold. That's the effect of psychology, proven by clinical trials.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Gu Yun wore a wry smile and said, "You little rascal, who told you about that? I'm strong enough, go ask your sister-in-law if you don't believe me?"
"strong?"
Zhuang Rui curled his lip in disdain, wondering who was following him around asking for tiger penis. They might not be strong, but their skin was certainly thick.
"Alright, stop talking nonsense, I need your help with something..."
Fearing that the old man would find out about him asking Zhuang Rui for tiger penis, Gu Yun quickly changed the subject and asked, "Is your fourth brother developing land in the East City area?"
Zhuang Rui nodded and said, "Yes, Brother Gu, just say what's on your mind. Let's not beat around the bush between brothers..."
"Alright, then I'll get straight to the point, brother. You know, I get more work in the winter, and less in the spring and summer. See if you can get some projects from Ouyang Jun. By the way, I'm qualified, not some roadside freelancer..."
Ancient building restoration is indeed seasonal. There is usually more work in autumn and winter. If Gu Yun can't get other work in spring and summer, he will have to spend money to support a large group of people.
"Hey, it's just a small matter. You can talk to Fourth Brother yourself. It's not like you don't know him..."
Zhuang Rui thought it was something big, but it turns out it involves an engineering project.
Gu Yun laughed and said, "Isn't it because we're close brothers? Your opinion is definitely more effective than mine..."
"Okay, I'll call Fourth Brother later. You can go find him yourself, Brother Gu..."