Chapter 56: Reversal

Chapter 56: Reversal

The representative from the Cultural Relics Bureau looked at her and smiled slightly. "Does Comrade Jiang think I look like ten million?"

As if she understood something, Jiang Xiaoya studied him intently for a moment before hesitatingly uttering a number: "I see you... could you be... two and a half million?"

Cultural Relics Representative: "..."

If he wanted to call him an idiot, he could just say it. There was no need, really no need.

The people on the scene held back their laughter so hard they nearly lost their breath.

【Hahaha, last time the Bureau only gave Sister Stupid twenty thousand, so she knows exactly how they operate. Even if she says something harsh, they have to suck it up.】

【Is that even harsh? That was actually quite polite; she just called him a "two-and-a-half million" (idiot) without teaching him a lesson in manners.】

【Exactly. That great saber of hers has become legendary in our circles. Setting aside its research value, even in the antiques world, we can't even get through the door just to catch a glimpse of it. You can imagine how much wealth it could generate.】

【Now, application forms from all over the country are being sent to the Licheng Cultural Relics Bureau, hoping for a chance to view that saber. Even the top leaders are preparing to head over. I heard a special task force has been activated. This is the most sensational event the Bureau has seen in years.】

【Heavens, so saying twenty thousand was basically treating them like beggars.】

【Our Sister Stupid is actually quite generous.】

"Hehe... Comrade Jiang, I'm not joking. Because we achieved such a great feat last time, the amount I applied for this time is quite substantial. Shall we look at the item first?"

The representative wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, staring at the toy car at her feet, terrified that she wouldn't hand it over.

"Oh, how much is that?" Jiang Xiaoya took a piece of gum from the table and chewed it slowly, her eyes narrowing.

The representative held up one finger and hurriedly added, "Up to one million. Anything within a million is fine."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoya nodded, feeling the price was acceptable. She then picked up the toy car, placed it on the table, took out her tools from her backpack, and began to dismantle it.

The toy car wasn't heavy in her hand, but the inner compartment was locked. Jiang Xiaoya guessed the contents were likely something like a relic or an ancient book. With a few quick movements, she forced the screws open.

To everyone's surprise, a piece of tattered cloth fell out.

The moment the scrap of cloth appeared, disappointment flashed across the faces of the onlookers.

"The great saber Jiang Xiaoya found in the ancient tomb last time was the weapon of a great general from the Warring States period, worth a fortune. I heard she found something again and even the Cultural Relics Bureau came out, so I was really looking forward to it. I even left a pile of work to run over here."

"Finding the saber last time was probably an accident. It was in an ancient tomb, wasn't it? Even if Jiang Xiaoya hadn't found it, archaeological experts would have eventually."

"That's why they say she's lucky."

"She was just haggling over the prize money earlier; I'm actually quite curious to see how much she gets this time."

"Hahaha, forget a million, she won't even get a hundred bucks."

Some of the onlookers covered their noses and snickered with disdain.

The representative from the Bureau held the cloth, looking at it from all angles, but couldn't discern anything special.

Jiang Xiaoya did not underestimate the scrap of cloth. Given that she had been underpaid last time, she took out her phone, entered her livestream, and checked to see what the omniscient netizens were saying.

【Isn't that just a rag?】

【It looks like a burial shroud. It looks very ominous.】

【Hehe, seeing everyone so tense and even bringing guns, could it be some kind of pathogen-carrying specimen?】

【I know of a new type of pathogen with devastating killing power.】

【Yeah, yeah, it's really possible. They love dealing with such unscrupulous things. Remember the plague during the—War—Time?】

【This thing... why does it look a bit like an ancient shroud?】

【Heavens, a shroud? Like the cloth used to wrap the dead? It's definitely a pathogen.】

【...】

Jiang Xiaoya: "..."

This wasn't what she had imagined.

Forget the prize money; she'd be lucky if she didn't get a fine.

Jiang Xiaoya was stunned for a few seconds before she quickly reacted.

Wait, if it really was some kind of new pathogen and she was the first to discover it, stopping the danger in its tracks would make her a national hero. There would definitely be a reward.

Having figured this out, Jiang Xiaoya hurriedly grabbed a bag from the table, intending to pack the item up and seal it.

However, the representative from the Bureau seemed possessed, reaching out to grab the tattered cloth from Jiang Xiaoya's hands.

"Representative, don't touch it! Don't touch it! This might be..." Jiang Xiaoya couldn't directly say that the netizens were speculating about a pathogen in the comments, so she simply used a bit of force to snatch the cloth back from him.

The representative was not about to let go.

As a result, the already aged cloth tore during their struggle, and another piece of fabric fell out from within.

With quick reflexes, Jiang Xiaoya caught it. Looking at the shimmering, golden fabric in her hand, a flash of amazement crossed her eyes.

Even if she didn't recognize the object, she knew it was something precious.

The representative's eyes widened even further as he stared fixedly at the object in her hand.

"This thing..." Jiang Xiaoya searched her memory and blurted out, "Could it be Tang Monk's cassock?"

She had only said it casually, but unexpectedly, the representative's gaze, which had been analytical just a moment ago, shook violently, and his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"A Kesi Dharani Sutra cloth... it's a Kesi Dharani Sutra cloth... the inscriptions on it are long-lost scriptures."

The representative was well-versed and quickly recognized that the material in Jiang Xiaoya's hand was that of a Kesi Dharani Sutra cloth, and the scriptures upon it were long-lost, sacred texts of profound significance.

Trembling, the representative took the cloth from Jiang Xiaoya's hands, tears streaming down his face, overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion.

Jiang Xiaoya took out her phone and continued reading the comments.

Sure enough, she saw educational posts about the Kesi Dharani Sutra cloth. It was indeed made of the same material as a holy monk's cassock. As for the scriptures, it was said they contained mysteries that ordinary people could never decipher. For years, Buddhist followers had been searching for the meaning of these scriptures; it had become an obsession.

Simply put, the existence of this cloth could not be measured by money.

If one had to measure it, one could look at a certain royal item sold at an auction a few years ago for 1.3 billion RMB.

The value of this Kesi Dharani Sutra cloth was even higher. Forget the National Cultural Relics Bureau; even the Buddhist community would never allow it to enter an auction house.

"..."

1.3 billion... 1.3 billion...

Jiang Xiaoya looked at the representative. No wonder he was crying so sincerely; that expression of finding a priceless treasure—this wasn't just a treasure, it was a miracle.

If she had dug this up from a trash heap, she definitely wouldn't have handed it over!!!

The representative held the Kesi Dharani Sutra cloth and didn't even have time to haggle with Jiang Xiaoya; he grabbed the item and prepared to leave immediately.