Chapter 5, the vase goes missing again

Su Mei let out a sound of disbelief, wanting to refute but finding herself at a loss for words. After pondering for a moment, she suddenly said: "I think, perhaps this bottle was used during the time of Qin Shi Huang to hold the elixir of immortality. The medicinal properties of the elixir have adhered to the inner walls of the bottle, which is why it possesses magnetism inside."

I said: "It has already been very helpful, and I am convinced that the bottle is not ordinary. I cannot think of any metal that can insulate magnetism; I mean, the surface is like porcelain, insulating magnetism, while the inside possesses an unusually strong magnetic force."

We have always cherished this bottle and need to protect it diligently. Its identity is a mystery; it may be an artifact from thousands of years ago. We are truly afraid that it might disintegrate in our hands. Yet now, Compaq is recklessly mishandling it, taking X-rays and even filling it with water to place flowers in it. While it is true that vases are meant for flowers, an artifact from over a thousand years ago... some of these cannot be excessively exposed to air and require constant control of temperature and humidity. And now... I cannot help but let out a soft moan, imagining the scene of that bottle holding a rose from a thousand years in the future.

I agree with his view: "Perhaps we have all been deceived, as it is merely a replica of an antique"

Kangwen thought: "What if we were to bear the losses of your client?"

Kang Bai let out a strange cry: "Ha, it's inconvenient to intervene? You don't even care that the house has been turned upside down."

Su Mei interjected: "One day, you suddenly realize it is speaking to you."

Kang Wen smiled slightly: "Miss Gu, what do you think?"

One day, I had a sudden whim to visit a salmon farm to observe the lively and adorable fish. I had been to this farm once when I was about four or five years old, but I did not pay much attention at that time. This farm is different from the general impression; it is located along a large river in the deep mountains. I do not know the total length of the river, but at specific intervals, there are barriers and temperature regulators similar to small dams. In any case, the fish are allowed to swim freely in the vast river that stretches for several kilometers.

He suddenly fell silent, for the room was in utter disarray, as if it had been thoroughly ransacked by seven or eight people. The sofa was overturned, newspapers from under the coffee table were scattered everywhere, and half of the glassware in the closet was shattered

In fact, I still remember how he pretended not to know Kang Bai last time, watching me make a fool of myself from the side

Kang Bo took another sip of wine, contemplated, and slowly said: "I believe the origin of that bottle is extraordinary. I think its owner is using the auction as an excuse to gather such a large group of people to do something, and these people may have some desire for that bottle."

The iron hook that was pulled from the muzzle just caught the iron chain. I pulled hard, and a high-strength fiber rope was straightened by my effort, causing a considerable amount of dust to fall from the bronze chandelier.

Knowing the fall of the bottle has greatly calmed my heart, and since Kangwen is certain it is there, there will be no mistake; he possesses a compelling aura.

Compaq exclaimed, "What do you want to do, are you not trying to climb up..."

The originally quiet living room suddenly erupted with applause, and we saw a person slowly coming down from upstairs; it was Shao Kangwen

After a while, Kangwen said: "It seems that my discovery is of no use; we still cannot uncover the truth"

He turned his head, very seriously

I pondered, my gaze tracing circles on the ground, then sweeping over the walls, slowly rising until I finally fixed my eyes on a large bronze chandelier on the ceiling. The chandelier, reminiscent of medieval European court style, resembled an inverted bronze decorative plate, its surface appearing uneven with patterns that would make it impossible to securely place a vase. However, with a little something to stabilize it, that would not be an issue. Dust had accumulated on the iron chain of the chandelier, suggesting that it had not been disturbed for quite some time. The chandelier, reminiscent of medieval European court style, resembled an inverted bronze decorative plate, its surface appearing uneven with patterns that would make it impossible to securely place a vase. However, with a little something to stabilize it, that would not be an issue. Dust had accumulated on the iron chain of the chandelier, suggesting that it had not been disturbed for quite some time.

Su Mei has already gotten up: "How can someone collect things like this, losing their own items and then blaming others."

My face is a bit flushed: "The situation is that we took out a loan to build an orphanage, which needs to be paid in installments"

Kang Baijing fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly let out a terrible scream

Hahaha. Kang Bo laughed heartily, letting go of the steering wheel in his hands

I took a breath, "Are you saying ... ... ?"

Yet, there was a rose that bloomed for seven mornings, having been placed in a bottle of unknown origin, as indicated by www.hetushu.com

I suddenly recalled something: "Will the tracking device placed inside the bottle be interfered with?" If the device placed inside malfunctions like the watch, then all subsequent actions would be out of the question. I felt a sense of anxiety for Kangwen's answer.

Su Mei suddenly said: "To be preserved, it must be something fresh, something that can be eaten or appreciated..."

Su Mei asked, "Why do you not believe that the value lies in the bottle itself?"

I took the rose from his hand and examined it closely. It was an ordinary red rose, slightly wilted due to lack of water, with the edges of the petals scorched and curling. However, it still retained the shape of a bud.

At first glance, Su Mei's words may seem somewhat unclear, but they actually strike at the heart of the matter. This is because Kang Bai's earlier point was that the value of the bottle is not merely the superficial value we observe, such as its classification as an antique. He clearly believes that the bottle's provenance is more significant than the bottle itself.

Shao Kangwen had not yet spoken, but Kang Bai had already called out: "No, no, Miss Gu, he is my elder brother; in fact, the house belongs to him"

Some things are still better when they are old. Kang Wen said lightly, continuing: I suspect that the watch was not damaged due to a collision, as the quality of the watch has always been good. Therefore, I placed some electronic instruments into the bottle and found that no matter how careful I was, they ultimately still got damaged and could not function properly. From this, I concluded that there is a strong magnetic field inside the bottle

Modern scientific perspectives suggest that placing a single aspirin tablet in water can keep roses from wilting for up to one week, but this does not imply that the form of the roses remains static and unchanging

I nodded slightly: "Not bad, I think we should sit down and discuss this matter seriously."

Kangwen stated: "The tracking device I selected is wrapped in a layer of anti-interference magnetic absorption material on the outside, which can prevent radiation interference. Additionally, a filter is installed at the bottom, and with the use of that special adhesive, it can simultaneously suppress conductive interference. I conducted experiments for about half an hour without any issues"

We were astonished, as we had never considered that there might be someone upstairs. Our thoughts were entirely captivated by the question of whether the vase had been stolen. It was only upon discovering the vase was missing that we were drawn into a discussion about its value, and we had never thought that there could be other people in this house

Compaq said: "Everything is possible; is it not allowed to have protruding doorways?"

I asked: "Have you discovered anything?"

I took a breath: "Are you saying that we should consider not how the bottle acts on something, but how something acts on the bottle?"

Kang Bai laughed heartily three times: "Miss Su, your imagination is too rich. A magnetic elixir of immortality, would you dare to swallow it? Moreover, Emperor Qin Shi Huang never actually discovered the elixir of immortality; in the end, he still passed away."

Su Mei snorted, "You said it yourself, anything is possible. I actually think my argument is more convincing than yours"

I looked at Kangwen and said, "Do you want to use a bottle as bait?"

I pondered: "So, this bottle may be used to store something, to be precise, to preserve something."

Su Mei listened intently, her heart yearning: "It is... always residing in the mountains, unwilling to return..."

Kang Wen did not mind and simply smiled: "Miss Gu's summary just now was very comprehensive, but I would like to add one point: I have noticed that there is a strong magnetism inside the bottle"

Kang Bai jumped up: "It is precisely because of your broken bottles that my house... truly damn unlucky..."

Shao Kangwen slightly bowed to us, "I was originally on the rooftop organizing the plants and did not want to disturb you, but I was drawn in by your discussion. Miss Gu, your remarks just now were truly wonderful, and I couldn't help but want to come down and discuss with you all."

As I observed the two of them becoming increasingly tense, on the verge of confrontation, I hurriedly intervened: "Please allow me to organize my thoughts. Our discussion revolves around the following points: First, the bottle's primary function is tentatively identified as preservation, and the items that require preservation are not only valuable but also relatively small in size. Second, the bottle may have other functions, but we are unaware of them. Third, we can hypothesize that the value of the bottle lies in its ability to preserve and document certain items, a value that surpasses its historical significance. Now, I have summarized these three points. We can adjust our line of thinking; I believe it is more beneficial to consider what else the bottle could be used for rather than directly pondering what it preserves. This is because if its true function is not preservation but something else, then pursuing the line of thought centered on preservation would lead us down a dead end."

Kang Wen nodded and said, "I once consulted an expert, and the expert also believed it to be impossible. There is no such special substance on Earth. Perhaps it is merely a thin layer of metal attached to the ceramic. However, we do not dare to cut it open for further study"

Regardless of what kind of person Compaq is, at the very least, I find him to be an interesting individual who knows how to enjoy life

On the way to Kang Bai's house, it seemed that we had already become friends. Surprisingly, Su Mei was also present. From the moment Kang Bai returned her phone, she appeared to no longer be angry with him; she would only occasionally engage in banter. However, to me, it truly seemed like she was merely trying to attract someone's attention.

I did not wait for him to finish speaking; with a flick of my wrist, as if wielding a soft whip, the grand chandelier began to sway. I exerted more force, pulling in the opposite direction, causing the chandelier to swing like a pendulum, with dust falling densely... However, there was nothing on top of the chandelier

As he spoke of meaningless yet very interesting "deeds," our car drove out of the city. As I began to be on guard, the car turned onto a private road and stopped in front of a three-story house at the end. It was evident that the house had some years behind it, with walls showing a faded splendor. Long hanging plants swayed in the wind from the rooftop, and in the thick night, it appeared tranquil.

Su Mei widened her eyes: "Your mind really has a problem."

When I went, it had been raining heavily for several consecutive days, making the mountain roads extremely muddy and the hike quite arduous. Nevertheless, I still donned a raincoat and climbed up the large rocks by the shore with great difficulty, admiring the fish swimming upstream. They seemed very happy, occasionally leaping out of the water as if they were dancing the Latin dance

Su Mei asked: "Dreaming of something? Is a fairy going to come out to fulfill your three wishes?"

After a while, Kang Bai苦笑 said, "I really dislike intelligent women; why can't my lucky streak last a little longer"

Compaq opposed: "In that case, its functionality is too ordinary to be worth that much; I believe it is meant to store some important items"

Before I could say anything, Su Mei had already started shouting: "What nonsense are you talking about? It's one thing for you to have your home searched, but how could you be so careless with the bottle..."

Kang Wen came to the rescue: "It is not Miss Gu's fault for misunderstanding; indeed, my younger brother is far more outstanding than I am."

These two brothers have distinct personalities. Kang Bo is intelligent and outspoken but lacks patience, while the elder brother, Kang Wen, appears cultured and steady, yet he is quite scheming. However, both are audacious and reckless, and the surprises they bring are truly remarkable, making me suspect that these two brothers have very powerful backing.

The two of them are indeed in step with each other in terms of the overall direction

Normal women tend to be soft-hearted towards handsome men, and this is the first guarantee I, Gu Qingcheng, make in the name of a detective

Of course not, however, I have employed many advanced scientific instruments to examine it, even utilizing X-rays... I happen to have a friend who works at a hospital

After a while, he came back with fatigue bombardment, "Do you all like to eat salmon? My favorite is usually garlic roasted salmon, smoked salmon, and sashimi; as long as it is made from salmon, I find it delicious"

If Su Mei hadn't mentioned it, I would have truly forgotten

Kang Boqie said proudly: "You will absolutely not guess the outcome... it is the scenario you have always dreamed of..."

Then I heard the most arrogant answer of the year. He proudly proclaimed: "When I am in the presence of young and beautiful ladies, I usually do not resort to technical means; instead, I rely on my personal charm to inspire them, allowing the lovely ladies to willingly and consciously throw themselves into my embrace"

I find it somewhat hard to believe. Balzac said: "This rose, like all roses, only bloomed for one morning"

I strive to imagine the shape of that bottle: "It resembles a vase, and it can also serve as a wine bottle. Wine? But isn't it true that the older the wine, the better it is? It doesn't need to be preserved."

Kang Bai said: "Kang Wen, are you conducting experiments behind my back? Why didn't you inform me?"

Su Mei and I both made a grim face at the same time

Look at the sky, it is still drizzling, turning back to glance at the vibrant fish, in that moment, can you imagine what I am thinking?

An exaggerated sound of vomiting suddenly erupted in the cramped compartment

It turned out to be a modified handheld detection device

I stopped Su Mei and asked, "Kang Bai, what should we do now?"

Kang Wen remained calm and simply said, "I do not wish to alarm the snake by beating the grass, but I have discovered their point of contact."

I am anxious: "Where is the Aquarius?"

Kang Baiha said: "Then it becomes much more complicated. The bottle can be placed in a device to function, anyway it has magnetic properties and can be used as a key."

Seeing Compaq's expression was akin to a mute eating bitter herbs, I added, "Of course, I must have guessed wrong, right?"

Balzac said: "This rose, like all roses, only bloomed for one morning"

At that moment, Su Mei shouted sharply: "You lost the bottle and still have the nerve to talk nonsense!" She first used a lion's roar to cut off the opponent's escape route

I made up my mind not to greet the two people who were arguing, and directly drew a tool gun from my waist to fire a shot at the iron chain

If it weren't for your ill intentions in deceiving and taking the bottle, how could so many troubles have arisen? Now you blame others; you are a man, not...

Kang Wenxiao said, "It was merely an accident; the watch strap came loose, and the watch just happened to fall into the bottle"

Kangwen said: "But discovering the true value of the bottle is our true purpose, not to actually possess the bottle"

My heart sank

Su Mei made faces at me, and I felt displeased: "Mr. Shao, hiding upstairs and eavesdropping like this is rather sneaky"

During the journey, I inquired whether he had employed soul-capturing techniques on my client

The two of them seem to be natural enemies, seizing every opportunity to fight to the death. Kang Wen and I exchanged a wry smile.

Kang Bo nodded and said, "You see, I have removed the thorns below, leaving only the three thorns at the top."

Kang Bo poured a glass of wine for each of us and said, "Because I have conducted experiments." He looked at us and slowly continued, "You all regard it as a thousand-year-old antique, or even as a vessel used for Yang Guifei's hair oil, treating it with utmost care and reverence. However, I do not see it this way. I believe that to truly understand an object, one must approach it from multiple perspectives and be willing to put it into practice"

I exchanged a glance with Su Mei; these two brothers indeed have quite a background, as not everyone is qualified to be a fool.

Yet, a rose unexpectedly bloomed for seven mornings because it was placed in a bottle of unknown origin

No, what you women yearn for is clear; there is no need to ask, it is the eternal preservation of beauty

He did not deny that he had hypnotized Zhou Fuping before leaving, causing him to forget what he looked like

I conducted some research and nodded slightly: "I hope your hands and feet are clean, so they won't notice."

Compaq took out the key to open the door, saying, "The place is not much, it's a bachelor's apartment, so it's a bit messy..."

I ponder: "But we are entrusted..." The struggle between morality and curiosity is intense

Oh! I am so embarrassed that my face has turned red, shouting "catch the thief" in someone else's living room. How could I make such a mistake? In fact, the two of them have similar builds, and their names are quite alike; I should have been more alert.

I said at that moment: "Kangwen, please lend me the detection instrument. Alternatively, would you be willing to join us and help us uncover the mystery." I added, "Your younger brother is very interested in this matter, and perhaps you would also like to see the results soon. Mr. Shao's abilities will surely be of great assistance to the event."

I am a bit stunned: "Could the preservation of roses be related to magnetic fields?"

Kang Wen smiled and said, "It's just a simple procedure; otherwise, I wouldn't allow things to be taken away so casually."

I glanced at Kang Wen and realized that this person is not only sharp-minded but also extremely meticulous, a genius in my line of work. Of course, I mean that if he were to pursue my profession, he would undoubtedly excel beyond me

Kang Bo said on m.hetushu.com: "Even if there is, it is imperceptible to the naked eye. This means it has already decayed several dozen times slower than normal. In fact..." He presented a rose that had somehow appeared in his hand, "After they discovered the bottle and took the rose out, it began to wither."

Su Mei raised one eyebrow (this is one of her special skills): "Are you going to throw the watch in to test it?"

Kangbai raised his hands and shook his head

I jumped up: "No, we must go retrieve the bottle. Whether it is real or not, the client said it is worth this price, and that is the price."

I苦笑 in the midst of the swirling dust: "I guessed wrong, I am truly sorry"

I thought about it, "Did you install a tracking system?"

I still have questions about this. When he was resisting arrest at the Monopoly competition venue, why didn't he use simple escape methods like soul capture or hypnosis on me

Compaq ignored her and continued, "I merely did something quite ordinary, yet it yielded an extraordinary result... I filled a bottle with water and inserted a rose into it"

Kang Bo nodded at me and said, "Not bad, that rose maintained its original posture a week later, it neither bloomed again nor withered."

Such small and precious items are hard to imagine beyond jewelry, yet jewelry does not require preservation at all

Kangwen said: "I am also curious, but since you are the precious one, I find it inconvenient to intervene"

***

Modern scientific perspectives suggest that placing a single aspirin tablet in water can keep roses from wilting for up to one week, but this does not imply that the form of the roses remains static and unchanging

Kang Bo took a sip of wine and suddenly said: "However, I have noticed that although this bottle seems to show no signs of being unusual inside or out, it has been sitting on the desk in my study for three days, and I have been looking at it every day..."

Kang Wen looked at me and said, "Miss Gu, you can just call me Kang Wen. The price I paid for the house being turned upside down was to track them down, and I found out that they were located in a residential area about ten miles from the city center." He was not at all cryptic, unlike his brother's whimsical nature.

He took out something that resembled a metallic business card holder from his pocket, opened the cover, and showed me the LCD screen: "Look, this green dot represents our location, this red dot is the bottle, and this continuously expanding wave ring indicates the detection range. Each ring represents ten kilometers, and there are four rings here, which means the bottle is approximately forty kilometers away from us"

May I ask again: "Are you sure the rose has not changed?"

He turned his head and feigned innocence: "Miss Gu, and this Miss Su... If you both think that my use of hypnosis on you is gender discrimination, then please do not worry. One of you is too spicy, like Chinese sorghum, a single sip goes down the throat harshly; the other is too bland, like mineral water, I lack the patience to savor that taste. Therefore, neither of you suits my palate. Next time we cross paths, I will not be so gentlemanly."

Kang Bo jumped up suddenly

Kang Bo said resentfully: "What a ridiculous bottle, my house has been turned into a mess by them... That teacup was brought back from Rome, and that silver frame is from Italy..." Looking at the expressions on Su Mei and my faces, he suddenly added: "The bottle is stored in the living room, you can take a look; if you're lucky, it should still be there"

The extraordinary functions of bottles are indeed becoming increasingly mysterious

Kang Wen smiled at us and suddenly said, "Your opinions just now were very unified; you all believe that the bottle has certain functions. Alternatively, you might want to consider the opposite perspective."

Kang Wen slightly bowed and said: "I dare not, Miss Gu is being too polite. This matter was initiated by us, and we should also participate in its resolution"

On such a rainy day, only I, a leisurely person, wandered there; not a single other idler was present. Surrounding me were maple trees, their leaves as red as fire, fluttering diagonally in the wind and scattering onto the river's surface, drifting with the current. Fish leaped among them incessantly, and maple leaves fell beside me, extraordinarily beautiful. Hehe, Canada is a land of snow and maple leaves. I crouched down to touch the stream water; it was very cold, like touching ice. It is remarkable that the salmon endure it, unafraid of the wind and frost. As a human, seeing the fish makes me feel quite ashamed; I have been too pampered. Hehe, Canada is a land of snow and maple leaves. I crouched down to touch the stream water; it was very cold, like touching ice. It is remarkable that the salmon endure it, unafraid of the wind and frost. As a human, seeing the fish makes me feel quite ashamed; I have been too pampered.

Kangbai said about the book: "Not bad, but what is worth such great effort to preserve? The technology mastered by the ancients is unheard of; even the 'One Horse Red Dust, the Concubine's Smile' of Emperor Ming of Tang did not have such a grand display. If it were a living creature, this bottle has no lid, and it could escape at any moment..."

I forced a smile, walked to a corner, and quietly observed. I realized that the living room had indeed been thoroughly searched. If there were any places to hide a bottle measuring 20 centimeters in height and 7.8 centimeters in diameter, they should have already been excavated. However, as Kang Bai mentioned, there must still be some areas that have not been turned over, at least showing no signs of having been searched on the surface. Therefore, it cannot be a hidden compartment, as it must be obvious and clear.

Kangbai surprisingly did not retort this time. He walked to a corner, found an unbroken glass, and poured himself a glass of wine, sipping it slowly.

Kang Bai lazily said: "Old brother, that old watch of yours should have been replaced long ago..."

Su Mei said: "But what can be preserved in this small bottle? Perhaps it is merely for flower arrangement. You see, the ancients were very particular about how to brew tea and arrange flowers, and they even wrote works such as 'Floral Compendium' and 'Tea Classic'"

Su Mei let out a moan and said, "Did you not say that you dissected the bottle?"

However, Compaq is not merely a matter of having a face; he presents an appearance of cynicism, yet he is exceptionally intelligent and witty. Engaging in a battle of wits with him is not an easy task. His expressive abilities are remarkable, and of course, he spares no effort in boasting about himself, employing a unique style.

Su Mei said: "It is not permissible; we require a substantial amount of funds"

Su Mei opposed: "The bottle is concave, how can there be a concave key?"

reverse thinking

I said: "Mr. Shao, you mentioned that you know the whereabouts of the Aquarius."

Su Mei also said: "Yes, the auction is tomorrow"

Suddenly, Su Mei said: "You have concluded that the bottle is fake and decided not to look for it anymore"

Su Mei exclaimed: "Where can I possibly find it now..."

I glared at him, but I do not blame him for being meddlesome

Su Mei interjected: "How do you know it doesn't have a lid? Perhaps it was lost; you don't know either."

Su Mei is indeed as fiery as fire, yet this young man saw through me at a glance. As for saying I resemble mineral water, it merely implies that I am bland and tasteless. I have not shown him any favorable expression, nor have I smiled at him, so I wonder how this young man arrived at such a conclusion

At this moment, Compaq seemed like a different person; no longer cheerful and carefree, nor impatient and explosive. The words he spoke, though delivered calmly, were quite reasonable and made us see him in a new light

( Su Mei murmured: "You might as well be reincarnated as a cat..." )

I just suddenly feel: Ah... I really want to eat sashimi...

A flash of inspiration struck me as I looked at Kangwen, who smiled and nodded at me

Before the words had left his mouth, Kang Bai cried out: "I have already spent all my pocket money on buying bottles, and they have not returned any to me."

Kang Bai was also surprised: "Kang Wen, how are you up there?"

I listened and found his reasoning to be very correct, yet it seemed that something was amiss

I finally understand what the feeling of unease that has been lingering in my heart since just now is all about

Su Mei curled her lips in disdain

Kangwen said: "When Xiaobai was not around, I tried pouring out the water to conduct an experiment. I discovered that one of my watches stopped working after falling into the bottle and no longer ticks"

I asked: "Are you sure this is your rose?"

Kang Wen looked at me and said, "So that's how it is. Then let us brothers compensate for the losses."

I couldn't help but laugh as I watched Su Mei, torn between wanting to laugh and feeling angry, noticing her face turning red from the effort. I realized it had been a long time since Su Mei had shown such an expression.

I am responsible for diverting Kangwen's attention, leaving him no way to retreat. I asked, "Kangwen, you just said the bottle is magnetic, what do you mean by that?"

Kang Bo said, "Then what are we still waiting for here? Let's retrieve the bottle first"

Although our reaction was not as intense as Compaq's, Su Mei was also surprised and let out a gasp

He agreed to help, and I was very pleased, faintly sensing that our chances of success at tomorrow's auction were quite substantial

Kang Wen smiled: "No need to rush, I made a few adjustments to the bottle. I know it is still within our control."