After waiting for about two or three minutes, Adjutant Yang walked out and said:
"Please follow me. This way."
He distributed flashlights to each person and then led them out of the hall, proceeding down the corridor. As they looked outside, they beheld a square Chinese-style garden featuring a decorative pond situated at its center. Taihu stones adorned in the middle of the pond, while lotus flowers and ornamental carp embellished its surface. Adjacent to the pond stood a bamboo lounge chair, a tea table and a folded Chinese parasol. Stone tables and stools were strategically placed in the shaded areas, with various flowers and plants graced each corner of the courtyard. Continuing down the corridor, they rounded a corner and walked further until they reached a door. Exiting through this door, they found themselves on a vast lawn with a pathway leading to an iron gate at the front. Flanked by rows of houses on either side, they walked toward the iron gate along the pathway.
Glancing backward, Zhou Di noticed that they had exited beneath a splendid staircase. They passed through the iron gate and unexpectedly arrived halfway up the mountain, where Yang Chen awaited them in casually attire. He instructed Adjutant Yang:
"You can go back and I will accompany them for a stroll."
"Yes, Young Marshal."
Adjutant Yang stood at attention, executed a standard military posture and briskly departing.
Yang Chen looked at Zhang Zhen and the others. Apart from Zhang Zhen and Zhang Tianming, whom he had met the previous day, there was another young man present. He was of average height, slender, fair-skinned with bright eyes that still retained a hint of childishness innocence. His facial features were attractive and he had a somewhat boyish appearance that belied his age. However, upon catching Yang Chen's gaze, he quickly averted his eyes, avoiding direct contact. Yang Chen smiled and inquired of Zhang Zhen:
"Who is this?"
"Well, Young Marshal."
Zhang Zhen placed a pronounced emphasis on the title "Young Marshal", eliciting some chuckles from those behind him. He then turned his head, glaring fiercely at Zhang Tianming and Zhou Di before awkwardly smiling at Yang Chen, saying:
"I'm sorry. Yesterday, I mistakenly referred to you as a general. This is my son, Zhang Tianming, whom Young Marshal met yesterday. This is Zhou Di, a college student who joined our bureau last year."
Zhou Di bowed respectfully to Yang Chen and greeted:
"Young Marshal!"
Yang Chen nodded in acknowledgemtn and instructed:
"Follow me!"
Zhou Di felt a pang of curiosity. Yesterday, he heard from Zhang Zhen that this Young Marshal had discovered a cave while planning to build a house. However, there was already a ready-made large house here. Why was there a need for another construction? How many people resided in this household? Within less than 50 meters, they saw a stack of construction materials, adjacent to which was a small entrance to a cave. Yang Chen led them into the cave, revealing an obviously man-made structure. Within the cave, they discovered yet another artificial chamber. Using their flashlights to illuminate the space, they found a chaotic pile of various porcelain items scattered on the ground, including bowls, plates, jars and numerous fragments.
Curious, Zhou Di turned to Zhang Zhen and inquired:
"Sir, why are there so many porcelain pieces here? Was there once a kiln here in the past?"
Zhang Zhen pondered for a moment before responding:
"Hmm, it's quite possible. I've read the reports about kilns in the county annals."
Zhang Tianming interjected:
"Dad, most of these porcelain pieces are broken. I wonder whether we can piece them back together."
Zhang Zhen remained silent. These porcelain items were discovered within the Young Marshal's villa. According to national regulations, they should belong to the state. However, the current situation was domniated by the four warlords so nobody really cared about national laws. The edicts of these warlords constituted the only semblance of order. It seemed that they needed to discuss this matter with the Young Marshal. Turning to Yang Chen, Zhang Zhen inquired:
"Young Marshal, we have examined them. I wonder what your plans are regarding these items."
"Young Marshal, we have seen them. I wonder what Young Marshal plans to do."
Yang Chen suggested:
"Let's discuss it outside."
"Okay."
The group exited the cave and returned to the row of houses adjacent to the main mansion. They randomly entered one of the rooms, which seemed to be a resting area, sparsely furnitured with a lounge chair, a set of sofas and a small liquor cabinet. As Zhou Di looked out the window, he noticed that the villa was perched along a cliff. From the window the people could enjoy the scenery in the mountain.
Yang Chen and Zhang Zhen sat facing each other on the two-seater sofa in the center while Zhang Tianming and Zhou Di occupied the single sofas at either end. At this moment, Adjutant Yang came over, serving them tea before leaving.
Yang Chen broached the topic straightforwardly:
"Mr. Zhang, these porcelain items were found here on my property. I think they should belong to my family."
Zhang Zhen sighed but remained silent, just shaking his head. However, Zhou Di whispered:
"According to regulations, these should belong to the country."
Yang Chen turned around, arching an eyebrow as he looked at Zhou Di with a contemptuous smile. Zhou Di felt a surge of nervousness and hastily lowered his gaze. Yang Chen continued:
"You can ask President Jin Quan whether he dares to order me to hand over these porcelain items to the country."
Zhou Di kept his head bowed, not daring to raise it. He understood that President Jin Quan had been installed with the assistance of the northern warlord Chen Yutian. Although other warlords had also tacitly endorsed him, each of them did their own thing as they pleased. President Jin Quan had no authority to exert control over them. In the past, wars, large or small, had constantly erupted among the four warlords. However, in recent years, the four warlords had began to maintain a temporary peace and stability in the country, each governing their own territories and refraining from aggression against one another. Among them, the territory held by the eastern warlord Yang Tianhu was the wealthiest and most populous region, making him evidently the leader among the four warlords. Chen Yutian had selected a puppet president, Jin Quan, for the balance between himself and Yang Tianhu. Although Yang Tianhu seemed to acknowledge President Jin Quan, the people in the east always regarded Yang Tianhu as their true leader, not President Jin Quan. Nevertheless, President Jin Quan wouldn't dare to ask Yang Chen to surrender these artifacts. Despite this reality, Zhou Di couldn't shake off his indignation. Yang Chen pressed on with his remarks:
"Frankly speaking, I don't intend to keep all of them to myself. I visited your exhibition hall yesterday and it's quite impressive. So, I will donate some to your bureaue. The condition is that you have to make them presentable for me. Don't devalute them."
Zhang Zhen said:
"It is our job. If you want us to work on them, then we'll need to move them to our bureau. We will ensure they are properly managed there."
Yang Chen insisted:
"No, If you fix them, you have to do it here and I guarantee that all of materials will be provided to you."
Zhang Zhen considered:
"Well, if that's the case, someone has to live here."
Yang Chen assured:
"No problem. I'll have them prepare rooms, one for you to live and one for you to use for restoring these porcelain items. As for how to do, you are professionals, just discuss with my adjutant."
Zhang Zhen glanced at his son and Zhou Di, both of whom remained silent. They knew that Zhang Zhen couldn't stay here because there were still plenty of responsibilities awaiting him at the Cultural Relics Bureau every day. It seemed like it would be just the two of them. Zhou Di sighed and volunteered:
"Let me do it. Tianming just got married and I am a lone individual so it's more convenient for me."
Zhang Zhen and Zhang Tianming looked at him gratefully while Yang Chen regarded him with a skeptical gaze so he finally asked:
"Is he able to fix these pieces?"
Zhang Zhen assured:
"Please rest assured, Young Marshal. Zhou Di have this ability. I'm afraid his restoration skills might even surpass my son's."
Yang Chen said:
"Okay, I trust you and let him try. If it doesn't work out, I will find someone else to handle the restoration. At that time I can't guarantee the donation to your bureau."
After his words, Yang Chen stood up and picked up a phone on the wall:
"Zaihua, come here."
Before long, Adjutant Yang Zaihua entered. Yang Chen instructed:
"This is Zhou Di. He will be staying here for a while. Prepare two rooms in the main building according to his requirements." Then he turned to Zhou Di and said, "When do you plan to move in? You can tell my adjutant any requirement."
After bidding them farewell, Yang Chen left. Adjutant Yang asked Zhou Di politely:
"Mr. Zhou, what kind of rooms do you need?"
Zhou Di replied:
"Two rooms, one for a bedroom and a large one for working, preferably adjoining."
"Please follow me."
Yang Zaihua led them through several rooms and then down a short corridor. Glancing out the window, Zhou Di admired the beautiful scenery of the cliff. Yang Zaihua opened a spacious room with minimal furniture, a few shelves neatly stacked with beddings, bed covers and napkins. Yang Zaihua assured them:
"We will move these things before you move in. I'll arrange everything what you need."
Zhang Zhen said:
"This place is quite suitable. Keep these shelves here. Just add a slightly large table."
Yang Zaihua asked:
"How much bigger should the table be?"
"A bit larger than a standard desk will suffice for working. It doesn't need to be too elaborate. We'll put putty, paint and such on it as a workbench. Oh, a sink here is much more convenient. Zhou Di, what do you think?"
Zhou Di replied:
"It sounds great. We can always add more later if needed, right?"
Yang Zaihua agreed:
"Of course. Now let's take a look at your bedroom."
After saying this, Yang Zaihua opened the door next to it, revealing a fully equipped bedroom, including even a dressing table. Zhang Tianming chuckled at the sight, but Zhou Di shot him a stern look before addressing Yang Zaihua:
He opens the next room with all of bedding furniture including dressing table. Zhang Tianming laughs at Zhou Di when they see the dressing table. Zhou Di shots a glance at him and asks Yang Zaihua:
"Could you move this dressing table away?"
Yang Zaihua chuckled as well:
"Certainly." Then, he opened another door, "This is the bathroom."
Zhou Di looked around this room with appreciation. For him this was like a luxury bedroom he had never slept in such a room before so he smiled and said:
"I will come over tomorrow. Also, please prepare a few large baskets. Tomorrow, I'll need a few people to move those porcelain items into the room."