Chapter 14: Heart Has Spirit Communication

  Several people's wine cups touched together, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

  At the moment of clinking glasses, Qu Wen suddenly felt a sense of relief in his mind, and a refreshing feeling rushed in. He quickly looked around and found that the source of the refreshing feeling was actually a large ring worn by Qi Zhen Nan.

  "Huh, Nang Ge, this ring of yours..."

  "Oh, you like the ring? " Ji Zhen Nan saw Qu Wen staring at the ring on his hand, a hint of joy on his face, and immediately took it off. "If you like it, consider it a gift from your brother as a meeting present."

  This archer's thumb ring was purchased by Qi Zhen Nan at an auction for 300,000 yuan several years ago. According to the appraisal, it was worn by a high-ranking general during the mid-Qing dynasty. The jade is of exceptional quality, with a smooth and warm luster, and a strong spiritual energy, making it a rare treasure among Hetian jades.

  The history of archer's thumb rings dates back thousands of years, originally called "shè" (same pronunciation as "shoot"), made of leather, and worn by soldiers who used bows and arrows to prevent their thumbs from getting injured or bleeding. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, especially after the Qing dynasty became stable and wars became less frequent, archery was only used for hunting.

  To show off their status, officials and nobles began using gold, silver, jade, and stone to make thumb rings. Over time, it became a symbol of power and status, reflecting the martial spirit of the Manchu nobility. If someone was purely a civil official, they would never wear an archer's thumb ring.

  Qi Zhen Nan originally liked things that symbolized identity, so he bought it back then. Now, seeing Qu Wen also likes it, he has the intention to give it to him as a gift.

  Qu Wen wasn't from the Department of Archaeology, so he didn't understand the cultural connotations behind it. He just felt that the aura emitted by this ring made him feel very comfortable, and he couldn't help but take a few more glances, which led to Qi Zhen Nan's misunderstanding.

  "How can this be, Nang ge, you'd better take it back."

  It is said that a gentleman does not take away what others love, let alone this ring, which is obviously worth a lot of money at first glance. Having been in the pawnshop for some time, he can still see this point.

  "What I, Qi Zhen Nan, personally handed over, how can it be taken back? If you don't accept it, it's because you look down on me!" Qi Zhen Nan was indeed a person who had been a leader before, and with a sinking expression, he naturally emitted an aura of a strong ruler that made people unable to refuse.

  "Ah Wen, just take it. This signet ring was used by a general in the mid-Qing period. Many people have asked Nan Ge for it, even offering high prices, but he refused. Now I'm giving it to you because I consider you as a brother." Gong Hai De also liked this signet ring very much, wearing it on his hand made him look both eye-catching and domineering. At the moment, Qu Wen couldn't help but feel envious.

  "Alright then, I'll accept Nang's ring, but as for this money, I won't take a single cent."

  It's not a fake, his father taught him since he was young, don't be greedy for what doesn't belong to you, and don't give up on what belongs to you. After receiving the money, he firmly returned it to Qi Zhen Nan.

  "Alright, next time if there's a chance, you and Xiao Su must come to visit your old brother."

  The approach of Quwen made both Chen Qiang and Qi Zhennan very satisfied. One must know how to give up, those who are too greedy will eventually get into trouble.

  The whole banquet ended in the cheers of everyone, and Chen Qiang and others tactfully did not speak out, and took the initiative to drive Curve or Su Yaxin back home.

  "I'll send you back." Since it was he who had invited her, he had to be responsible for sending her back. Given Qu Wen's character, he would never let a girl go home alone at night.

  "Uh-huh." Su Yaxin returned to her earlier shy demeanor and nodded.

  The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder, neither knowing what to say, the atmosphere becoming increasingly awkward. Occasionally, they would steal a glance at each other with their peripheral vision, as if they were thieves, and then quickly withdraw their gaze. The emotions of longing and fear continued to entangle in both of their hearts.

  "Just now I really want to thank you, if it wasn't for your reminder, I wouldn't have been able to tell the authenticity of those two pieces of porcelain." After walking for a while, Qu Wen finally spoke up.

  "Remind? I've never reminded you!" Su Yahen looked at Qu Wen with a puzzled expression, not knowing what he was talking about.

  "Didn't you say to me when we were appraising those two pieces of porcelain before that the five-color foreign teapot was genuine and the Yu Zun was fake?" Seeing Su Yaxin's bewildered expression, Qu Wen followed with a slight daze, could it be that she didn't say it, but the voice was clearly hers.

  Su Ya Xin looked at Qu Wen as if she was looking at a monster, and indeed she had said such a sentence, but her voice was extremely small, almost inaudible to herself, as if reminding herself. But Qu Wen heard her voice, whether it was his good hearing or the so-called "heart has a spiritual connection". Su Ya Xin became more and more flustered, with two red clouds flying up on her face, her shy and lovely appearance completely stunning Qu Wen.

  "I did say something like that, but I said it very quietly, how could you have heard it?"

  "Is it? Maybe I just have good hearing."

  Su Yaxin didn't mention it, but Qu Wen almost forgot that he had extraordinary senses, especially after seeing Jin Tingbiao's true painting scroll last time. His senses seemed to be clearer than before, and as long as he focused on listening and looking, he could see and hear very distant scenes and sounds. The same thing happened again today, could it be that historical artifacts with a certain history all have spiritual energy hidden in them, and when one is in close contact with them, they can absorb the spiritual energy from the artifact into their body and use it for themselves.

  This idea is also possible, the Tao Te Ching says: The Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. All things in heaven and earth have a spiritual root, after going through thousands of years, encountering opportunities can achieve the great way. So old objects, after accumulating years, may slowly produce and gather spiritual energy.

  But this is just an idea, and I dare not jump to conclusions before it's verified. Who let that pig-headed master kick me back without even explaining the practice method?

  Thinking of the prank, he gazed intently at Su Ya Xin's body. Her originally thin summer clothes gradually became blurry and indistinct, faintly revealing a glimpse of her skin tone underneath. Su Ya Xin's perfect curves and snow-white skin were exposed, with her full breasts seeming to burst forth.

  Seeing Su Yaxin's nearly naked body, Qu Wen's whole body couldn't help but feel hot and dry, as if there was a raging fire burning in his abdomen, the scorching blood rushing straight to his brain, finally spraying out of his nostrils.

  "Ah, how did you get a nosebleed!" Su Yaxin exclaimed in shock as she saw two streams of blood flowing from Qu Wen's nostrils.

  "No, no big deal, it's just too hot, it's too hot!" Qu Wen hastily withdrew his gaze, afraid that if he continued to look, his own life would be in danger first.

  "You sit here for a while, I'll go buy some iced water and come back."

  Su Ya Xin hastily ran off and soon returned with two bottles of frozen mineral water.

  "Use this to apply to your forehead, don't bow your head, it'll be fine in a bit." Su Yaxin seemed a bit flustered, tightly pressing the frozen mineral water against Qu Wen's forehead, the proximity of their bodies releasing waves of girlish fragrance that left Qu Wen dazed.

  Is this a dream? Four years in college without even one girlfriend, and now after just working for a few days, I've met a girl with a simple personality and a kind heart. If she's willing to be my girlfriend or even wife, it'd be worth shortening my life by a few years.

  Thanks to the proper method, Qu Wen's nosebleed stopped quickly, and Su Yaxin finally calmed down a bit, sat beside Qu Wen and smiled: "At the age of 23 or 24, you still get nosebleeds."

  "Isn't this all your fault, with a figure like yours!" Qu Wen shouted in her heart, but said aloud: "I spent four years studying in the north and just returned to the south, I haven't adapted yet, thank you again..."

  "You don't have to thank me, it's actually I who should be thanking you. Last time if not for your help, I would definitely suffer a loss. And afterwards, you also introduced a business deal to me, which helped me complete my work task."

  "Never mind, we're all friends, no need to thank each other. If you have anything in the future, just look for me." Qu Wen suddenly remembered that he didn't have Su Yaxin's phone number: "What's your phone number?"

  Su Ya Xin had never been so close to any man before, nor had she ever given her phone number to a member of the opposite sex. Hearing Qu Wen's words, her face turned bright red and she almost bled, saying in an extremely soft voice: "My phone number is..."