Evening, 7.15 pm.
The sky darkened as dusk approached. The enchanting curtain of night gradually covered their heads.
In the No. 1 Villa of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, the aroma of food drifted out from the crack of the kitchen door. It was very fragrant. In the living room, Xie Huilan is using a blood pressure monitor to measure Han Jing's blood pressure. Xie Jing, Xie Ran, Xie Hao, and the rest of the younger generation are looking at Han Jing's blood pressure. After a while, Han Jing's blood pressure is out. "Pulse 76, blood pressure 70-110. Normal."
Xie Jing heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that.
Han Jing smiled gently. "I told you I'm fine. Don't worry."
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes and slowly untied her mother's wrist. "It's time for dinner. Drink your medicine first. Xiao Hao, go and get a glass of water."
"Ok!" Xie Hao quickly left.
Han Jing patted Xie Huilan's hand. "You only know how to order your brother around. Why aren't you going? Oh, where is Xiao Bing? Is he coming over today? "
Xie Huilan laughed. "I had called him, and he said he is coming over. But he had called a few more times, and his phone might be out of battery. I wonder what he is doing. Let me try calling him again." Xie Huilan took out her phone and dialed a number. A few seconds later, Xie Huilan put down her phone and narrowed her eyes. "His phone is still switched off. How dare he be late for my mother's birthday and make the whole family wait for him?!"
Han Jing patted Xie Huilan's hand. "Something must have happened to him."
Xie Huilan helped her mother stand up. "Let's not wait for him. Let's eat."
Xie Huilan looked at her watch and frowned. Last night, Madam Han was hospitalized, and Xie Huilan was accompanying her. But Dong Xuebing, the grandson-in-law of the Old Master, was nowhere to be seen. He had left the hospital without saying goodbye and was nowhere to be seen during the day. Who knows he is still not here tonight? Today is the Eldest Aunt's birthday, and he doesn't even switch on his phone? Isn't this a little too much?
Xie Guobang, Xie Guoliang, and Xie Guojian also came down from upstairs.
Xie Guobang looks downstairs. "Xiao Dong is not here yet?"
"He has something urgent to attend to." Xie Huilan replied. "He will be arriving soon."
Xie Guojian was a lieutenant general and was a straightforward person. He frowned and said, "What time is it? What could be more important than your mother's birthday? "
Xie Ran deeply agreed.
Xie Huilan laughed and looked at Dong Xuebing. "Second Uncle, what you said is not right. The local government is different from the military. I know you are not busy in this era, but the local government is different. You should put the interests of the people and the country first. If there is an earthquake over there, and Xiao Bing and I still come over to celebrate my mother's birthday, my mother will slap us. Don't you think so? "Dong Xuebing's words were explosive.
Xie Ran had wanted to say something as he felt Dong Xuebing was too rude. But when he saw his Sis's expression, he kept quiet. He doesn't want to get scolded, and everyone in the family knows his Sis's temper. Xie Ran had experienced it when he was young, and he is afraid of his Sis.
Han Jing gave her daughter a stare. "Huilan! How can you talk to your Second Uncle like this?! "
Xie Guojian laughed. "You are quite protective. Xiao Dong had arrived late, and I can't even say a word to him? Ah? "
Xie Guojian's wife, Ci Lifen, quickly pulled him aside. "Stop it."
Xie Hao slapped his forehead and made a pause gesture. "Dad, Sis, why are you two arguing? Let's eat. It's a joyous occasion …"
Xie Guoliang smiled. "Third Brother, alright. Let's eat."
It could be seen that because of the loss of the sandstone Bodhisattva statue in the Sky Dragon Mountain Grotto, everyone was in a bad mood.
Ring, ring, ring, ring. The phone at home suddenly rang.
Han Jing immediately stood up. "… I will go and answer it."
Everyone knew Han Jing is waiting for this call, and Xie Huilan helped her over. "Hello."
"Sister-in-law, I'm Xie Guoyue. I heard you … how are you?"
Han Jing's eyes dimmed imperceptibly. She forced a smile and said, "Guoyue, hehe, sister-in-law is fine … En, en … Thank you … En, take care of yourself …"
Han Jing had been waiting for Old Master Xie's call. Every year on her birthday, Old Master Xie would call her. It was the same every year, but this year … there was no exception. Han Jing's nose felt a little sour, but she endured it. After hanging up the phone, she sat back down at the dining table. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. She asked the younger generation to come to the table and thank them for coming to celebrate her birthday.
Everyone saw this and felt terrible in their hearts.
This should be a happy day, but now …
For a moment, the atmosphere at the dining table was a little silent.
Ding dong … ding dong … the doorbell rang. Xie Hao jumped up from his chair and walked out to look at the CCTV before opening the door. "Brother-in-law, you are here?" Dong Xuebing was panting.
Dong Xuebing was panting. "Are we late?"
Xie Hao whispered. "You must be careful. My Big Sis had quarreled with my Dad because of you." Xie Hao said.
Dong Xuebing felt warmth in his heart as he did not expect Xie Huilan to be so concerned about him. "Huh? It's all my fault. Why did Huilan talk back to her elders?" Dong Xuebing quickly changed his shoes at the entrance and put on a pair of cotton slippers. He was panting as he walked towards the entrance. He was exhausted. His body and mind had been tense for a long time, and he had jogged for a while before coming here. He was sweating profusely.
Everyone looked at Dong Xuebing when he entered the living room.
Dong Xuebing was holding a plastic bag and apologized. "I'm sorry. I had gone to prepare a gift for Aunty, and my phone had run out of battery. I will punish myself with a glass of wine." Dong Xuebing poured himself a glass of wine and finished it in one gulp.
Han Jing smiled. "It's good that you are here. Have a seat."
After sitting down, Dong Xuebing was speechless. What's wrong with the atmosphere?
This was supposed to be a happy birthday, and Xie Jing felt it was her fault. If she did not lose the Buddha statue, this would not happen … Xie Jing's heart ached. She took out a porcelain and changed the topic. "Aunty, I wish you a long life. This is a porcelain, and I don't know if you like it." Xie Jing passed the porcelain to Xie Jing.
Han Jing took the porcelain and looked at it. "Thank you, Xiao Jing. Haha …"
Xie Hao, Xie Ran, and the rest also took out their gifts, and Han Jing thanked them. "It's so beautiful. Thank you."
By right, it should be Xie Huilan's turn to give gifts. But she had not intended to come over to celebrate Dong Xuebing's birthday. She still has something to attend to in the County, and she had to rush over because of Han Jing's sudden relapse. She also had to stay in the hospital to accompany Han Jing and does not have time to buy gifts. Xie Huilan turned to look at Dong Xuebing with a smile.
Dong Xuebing understood and cleared his throat. He opened the bag slowly. "Aunty, this is a gift from me and Xie Huilan …"
The bag was unbuckled. Xie Hao, Xie Ran, and the rest looked over. They want to see what Dong Xuebing had prepared for the whole day.
One second …
Two seconds …
Dong Xuebing finally saw what was inside.
Everyone was stunned when they saw the Bodhisattva statue.
Xie Huilan gasped. "Buddha statue? Where did you get it from? "
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Where else can I get it from? Dong Xuebing passed the statue to Han Jing. "Aunty, I wish you good health and happiness."
Han Jing took it and touched it. "Xiao Bing, thank you. You are so considerate."
Eh? What's with this reaction? Dong Xuebing doesn't know if he should laugh or cry. Why is she not excited?
Xie Huilan smiled and looked at Dong Xuebing. "You are quite capable. There is only one Buddha statue unearthed from Tianlong Mountain Grotto, and it is with my Senior and Mum. It's hard to find imitations in the market, and you spent one day to find one? Haha … it looks like the real thing. Hmmm … the charm is there, and the material is good. Not bad. This is an imitation. This kind of quality is worth at least a hundred thousand, right? "
Xie Hao nodded. "It looks like the real thing."
Dong Xuebing almost fell off his chair. Damn! I had spent so much effort to steal it from Japan. How can you say it is the same as the real one? This is the real thing! But Dong Xuebing knows what they are thinking. It's just like < Along the River During the Qingming Festival Painting >, which is kept in the Palace Museum. If someone shows you a copy of < Along the River During the Qingming Festival Painting > in the market, you will know it is a fake.
Han Jing knew Dong Xuebing was interested in it. But a replica is still a replica. No matter how similar it is, it will not be the real deal. Furthermore, Han Jing was reminded of the real deal. She quickly kept the item and did not look at it again. She knows the real Buddha statue will never come back, and what she needs to do now is to adjust her emotions and stop thinking about it.
Dong Xuebing quickly said. "Aunty, this Buddha statue …"
Han Jing forced a smile. "I like it, and I will give it to it in the future. Haha …"
"No … I am saying this statue …"
Ci Lifen interrupted. "Haha … Let's eat while it's hot."
Xie Ran frowned and looked at Dong Xuebing. He thought to himself. Didn't you see his Aunt's expression? Why are you still talking about the Buddha statue?
Xie Huilan nudged Dong Xuebing under the table to stop him from continuing.
The atmosphere at the dining table became gloomy again.
Dong Xuebing was interrupted a few times, and he was frustrated. Damn! Why can't I say what I want to say?
Suddenly, the plasma TV behind Dong Xuebing heard a news report. Xie Hao's hearing is good, and he was stunned. He quickly turns up the TV volume.
He saw a line of words at the bottom of the screen. Tokyo National Museum had a major theft!
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