Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 16: Unrecorded Legacy (1)

Beijing, China “This came out from there?”

Lee Shian, the head of the Chinese National Culture Bureau’s Appraisal Committee, stared at the black wooden box for a long time.

Yang Chuin, manager of the Artifact Management department, studied Shian’s hand as it stroked the box.

“Yes, I think they left that box behind because there was something inside it… I need to know what that is.”

“Why are you curious about that?”

Yang Chuin frowned at the unexpected question.

“Of course, I want to know! It is estimated that at least thirty artifacts were stolen from that tomb. They also left that strange box behind, so what was inside might be one of our great country’s precious legacy! We must track it immediately!”

Even though Yang Chuin was quite angry, Lee Shian put down the box with a bored face.

“The material of this box is unusual and that’s all. This pattern was often used by people who believed in the White Lotus Religion. Take a look.”

Lee Shian took out one of the many books in his bookshelves and put it in front of Yang Chuin.

“Hmm…”

Yang Chuin carefully opened the book. Among dozens of black-and-white photos, he found one of the patterns that was similar to the one on the box.

“It is similar, but to call it the same…”

“Usually, each pattern that has a religious connotation will have a different meaning. One of them could be about wishing good luck, while another could be about curing diseases… this is one of them. I think the box used to contain a gold ring or a jade ring, at best. You don’t really think that there was a great artifact in this small box, do you?”

Lee Shian was clearly mocking him. Yang Chuin was angry, but he couldn’t ignore Lee Shian’s opinion as he was the best appraiser in China. Eventually, he sighed and stood up.

“I understand. And the box?”

“I admit that its material is strange. So, I think the Appraising Committee needs to analyze it.”

Lee Shian spoke so sharply that Yang Chuin felt embarrassed in asking to take it back. He had no choice but to leave empty-handed.

However, once he left and the door closed, Lee Shian’s expression changed.

“The hunting dog has caught the scent, this is difficult…”

Lee Shian muttered to himself and studied the box again, his eyes were full of greed. A while later, he picked up his phone and called someone.

“I’ve found some traces.”

Surprisingly, he was speaking in English. Hard English with a British accent. He heard someone on the other side and nodded. Then, he spoke again.

“A month at most. One month would be enough to find out where his legacy is.”

Lee Shian hung up. He stroked the box again and carefully put it in his bag.

“Why don’t you just go into hibernation?”

Byeongguk kept complaining as Haejin woke up late at night. He was famished. He was so hungry that he had eaten a cup of ramen at a nearby convenience store.

“Hey… that could happen to anyone. Anyway, I’m buying today, so please eat a lot.”

Haejin woke up around midnight, so they had to go to a barbeque place near Dongdaemun. The message on his phone said that he had received twelve million, so the meat wasn’t expensive at all.

Byeongguk was also happy to see that it was beef.

They ate six portions of beef in a flash and ordered two extra portions.

“But Yang Sojin, is she famous?”

They had been busy eating but, now that they were quite full, Haejin asked about what he had been wondering.

Byeongguk had a glass of soju and poked the table with his chopstick.

“She is great. You don’t know her because your father used to only deal with the few he knew well. So, it’s only right that you know few people in Insadong.”

“That’s right. Plus, I didn’t even go near Insadong by the time I was in middle school.”

“As you know, most art dealers of Insadong used to be Gaidasis.”

It was a sad story, but most artifacts in Korea were stolen goods. More than 30 years ago, the then director of the National Museum wrote on a newspaper, ‘There is no archeologist in Korea. Grave robbers are the archeologists, and they know better than professors and archeologists.’

“Yes, they took artifacts from people who knew nothing about them and sold them to Japanese and rich people.”

‘Gaidasi’ was a Japanese word that meant ‘retailer buying goods from a wholesaler’, but in Korea, Gaidasi was not a retailer. They were the middlemen who collected antiques and sold them to art dealers.

They went around the country. Whenever they spotted a huge house, they took a look inside, took out the things that were worth some money and sold them to antique dealers.

“That Yang Sojin is the daughter of the most famous Gaidasi in this country. His name was Yang Mancheol. He was really great. He did everything to buy things at a low price and sell them at extremely high prices. He didn’t even overlook a dog’s bowl in the countryside. He was the bastard of the bastards.”

“Ah…”

Sojin’s life was similar to Haejin. They both learned about antiques from their fathers. Byeongguk noticed what Haejin was thinking and added.

“Your father, however, never robbed the graves in this country. Whenever he got an artifact that used to belong to our ancestors, he sold it at a low price to let it go to Korean museums.”

“I also think my father was a great man. Even though he did a lot of bad things…”

“Grave robbing was the only thing he knew, so what choice did he have? Anyway, this Yang Sojin inherited a lot of artifacts and personal connections with Japanese and Chinese art dealers from her father. She used that to open a gallery and befriended rich people and politicians. She is good at selling, too. So, once she holds an exhibition, almost all the artifacts are sold.”

“She is remarkable.”

Byeongguk was angry. He drank more soju with meat and spoke again with a red face.

“Yes. The problem is that she sells Korean artifacts abroad for money, just like her father used to. Mostly in Japan. Do the prosecutors and politicians not know about this? No, they all know. But they can’t touch her. Do you know why?”

Byeongguk’s story was quite interesting.

Haejin asked, “Why?”

“Her prime clients, Japanese politicians, are powerful. You know Japan still has a large influence in the Korean political world, right? Plus, they all sell to or buy from Yang Sojin. Therefore, she holds their weakness. Of course she does, they are buying stolen artifacts or selling our ancestors’ artifact to Japan! So, no one dared to mess up with Yang Sojin.”

“She is a mean woman, but how do you know her so well?”

Byeongguk looked bitter. He drank another glass of soju.

“When I was a boy, there was an old porcelain at home. Yang Mancheol, Yang Sojin’s father, forcefully took that at a low price. So, of course, I know about Yang Sojin.”

Haejin couldn’t leave that woman alone.

“Oh… good! We will make her pay.”

Haejin shouted, hitting the table with his fist. Byeongguk’s eyes widened.

“Make her pay? How?”

“That would depend on what she has and what she wants.”

“Hhhh… yes. This is exciting!”

Byeongguk agreed as a joke. He was probably thinking that it was impossible.

They ate 10 portions of meat. The next day, Haejin dropped by at his new home, changed into his new suit, tidied his hair and went to Saeyeon Gallery.

“You shouldn’t get involved into Hawjin’s business after this,” Byeongguk said when they were almost at Saeyeon Gallery.

“Why?”

“Grave robbers who get involved with rich people never end well. Your father was the best grave robber in Korea, but he never got close to rich people. You know what I’m saying, right?”

“Of course.”

Although Haejin didn’t know if he could do that.

They went inside the gallery where a woman in her early 30s approached them. Haejin had never seen her before. She had a nametag that read Curator Jong Mina.

“Welcome. Is this your first time here?”

She wasn’t extremely beautiful, but she was calm and polite.

“No. Is director Lim Eunhae here now?”

“Yes, she is here, but… may I ask who you are?”

“I am Park Haejin.”

“Okay. Please wait.”

Mina left while Byeongguk asked, “Huh? You’ve been here before? And you know someone here?”

“I somehow ended up working with her. You will be surprised to see her.”

“Surprised? Why?”

Eunhae’s office door opened. They heard an urgent sound coming from the high heels. Surprised, Eunhae, who was wearing bright-colored clothes, quickly reached them.

“How… no, would you like to come in?”

“Thank you.”

Haejin was about to follow her into her office when Byeongguk poked his side.

Haejin looked at him while Byeongguk was frowning. He pointed at Eunhae with his chin.

“Do you like her?”

Byeongguk spoke without making a sound. Haejin shook his head and also spoke quietly.

“No, but isn’t she pretty?”

“Khmm…”

Byeongguk didn’t like it. He sat down on a sofa before Eunhae asked him to. Haejin smiled and sat next to him. Eunhae then brought them some juice.

“Why did you… I am glad to see you, but you were clear on not coming ever again the last time.”

Byeongguk’s gaze became even sharper. Haejin tried to ignore it and answered.

“I was given a case. Didn’t Vice Chairman Lee tell you?”

“Oh… you mean Director Yang Sojin’s…”

“Yes, I am the appraiser.”

“But I have something to ask. Are you asking for the same fee…”

She was asking if Haejin had requested the 1% fee to Sungjun. Her face said that was impossible, but she was wondering ‘what if?’.

“Yes. I will receive 1% as the fee.”

“Wow….”

She was genuinely impressed. Someone knocked on the door and came in.

“Director Yang Sojin is here.”

“Oh, really? Then…”

Eunhae looked at Haejin who smiled widely and stood up.

“Then let us go. I wonder what kind of item it is!”

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