A doctor who travels through two eras

Chapter 924 A Courtyard House Worth Ten Billion

When Lin Sanqi returned to the company after her European honeymoon, Feng Xingxian from the Palace Museum was already waiting for her.

Lin Sanqi knew that the old man must have brought good news.

If it's bad news, there's absolutely no need for him to personally make a trip to Huadu. Does he really think that experts at the Palace Museum have such a leisurely life?

"Old Feng, come, come, have some tea. This is top-grade Longjing tea, produced from those old tea trees by West Lake."

Feng Xingxian was in no mood for tea at all, and asked anxiously:

"Chairman Lin, have you rented out that Longyu Wan Gong sedan chair in the past month? Has it been damaged? Is any of the ceremonial regalia missing?"

Lin Sanqi waved his hand magnanimously:

“Old Feng, look at what you’re saying. Since we made an agreement back then, I will naturally abide by it. The sedan chair and ceremonial guards are all kept in our underground vault, and no one has touched them.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Xingxian breathed a huge sigh of relief:

"That's good, that's good. Chairman Lin, you may not understand the cultural value of this 'Ten Thousand Craftsmanship Sedan Chair.' After we went back, we searched the entire Forbidden City and only found one 'Ten Thousand Craftsmanship Sedan Chair' from the Kangxi period."

However, the sedan chair was now just a frame, with most of the decorations missing, making it completely beyond repair.

Let me put it this way: the Empress's palanquin you possess is the only surviving example of its kind in China, along with its complete ceremonial regalia. This is invaluable for our research into imperial etiquette; it's truly a national treasure.

Lin Sanqi said somewhat displeased:

"Mr. Feng, I understand everything you're saying."

Of course I understand the significance of the Longyu Wan Gong Sedan Chair, otherwise I wouldn't have spent 10 million US dollars to restore it. That's 70 million RMB, enough to buy a villa.

So it's impossible for the Palace Museum to take it for free.

My request remains the same: if you agree, I'll give you the sedan chair. If you don't agree, then I'll have to rent it out and make money from it.”

Feng Xingxian nearly choked on his words, cursing this stubborn capitalist a thousand times in his heart, but he could only manage a bitter smile:

"Chairman Lin, I came here today to discuss this matter with you. The courtyard house you requested by the Forbidden City's moat is something we simply cannot provide."

Forget about the courtyard houses west of the Forbidden City; the reasons are obvious, so we can eliminate them immediately. That leaves the courtyard houses along the eastern moat surrounding the Forbidden City.

West of Beichizi Street and Nanchizi Street, all the courtyard houses here are occupied by high-ranking officials. Even our Palace Museum can't coordinate with them. We have to submit a report to meet the owners.

So we finally decided on a courtyard house located east of Nanchizi Street and west of Pudu Temple. What do you think, Mr. Lin?

Lin Sanqi had lived in the capital for several years in another time and space, so she was quite familiar with that area.

"Pudu Temple?"

Lin Sanqi rested her chin on her hand and thought about it carefully for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly:

“Pudu Temple is an unlucky place. During the Ming Dynasty, it was the site of the Southern Three Palaces, where Emperor Yingzong of Ming was defeated at Tumu Fortress.”

Later, during the Qing Dynasty, it became Dorgon's residence. After his death, his bones were crushed and his ashes scattered.

Even in modern times, I remember Hu Shih used to live in this area, but later he slunk away to a small island and never returned home.

Upon seeing that the wealthy dog ​​knew history, Feng Xingxian quickly begged for mercy:
"Chairman Lin, you're mistaken. This area was once home to a few famous people, but that was hundreds of years ago."

The courtyard houses on this plot of land are now the most centrally located courtyard houses in Beijing. Everyone living here is either rich or noble.

That is, our Palace Museum happens to have a three-courtyard siheyuan here, which was used as a staff activity center back then, so the property rights are in our hands.

We specifically submitted a report to our superiors and obtained their approval for this courtyard house, which is why I rushed to Huadu. If you don't want this location, then we really have no other choice.

Lin Sanqi opened the map on his phone and checked.

I found that the designated courtyard house location of the Forbidden City is indeed excellent, being only 100 meters away from the Forbidden City's ring moat and 500 meters away from Chang'an Avenue.

The key is that this location is safe. No one would be foolish enough to break the law here; it seems like a good option. "So, Mr. Feng, how much is the Palace Museum planning to sell this courtyard for?"

Feng Xingxian said directly, "10 billion, no bargaining."

Lin Sanqi thought to himself that the price was definitely being overstated, but there was nothing he could do about it, since this location was not for sale. He had only managed to obtain a preliminary purchase qualification by using a royal sedan chair.

"Okay, we won't talk about the price, but I still want to see what your courtyard house looks like now."

These courtyard houses weren't for living in, but for showing off. In this location and with this kind of house, only princes and nobles were qualified to live in them during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Even in this new era, if your grandfather has never climbed a snow-capped mountain, he can only watch from the sidelines, no matter how much money he has.

Therefore, Lin Sanqi attaches great importance to this courtyard house. If managed well, it can become a symbol of status and position, and if his descendants are ambitious, it can be passed down for generations.

Even if future generations are not successful, you can still get a large sum of money by selling the property, and become a wealthy man.

This is also why the richest people on the domestic pig slaughtering list are willing to buy courtyard houses in Beijing.

For example, on the north side of Di'anmenwai Street, right next to Wanning Bridge and Shichahai, there are two wealthy people whose names are not allowed to be written down who own large courtyard houses there.

The location of Nanchizi Street, west of Pudu Temple, is more important and symbolic.

When Feng Xingxian heard that the other party had indeed not bargained, a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders.

He knew that buying this courtyard house for 10 billion RMB was something most people couldn't afford, and the Palace Museum was indeed thinking of ripping him off.

"Alright, alright, Mr. Lin, you're very generous. You can go see the house whenever you want. But I'd like to take a look at the Longyu Wan Gong sedan chair first. Please make sure it doesn't get damaged."

Lin Sanqi thought to himself that the old man's work style was quite rigorous, so he smiled and said:
"Then, Mr. Feng, let me take you to see it. Without me, no outsider can get into this underground vault, hehe."

Only Lin Sanqi and his son Lin Musen had access to the underground vault, along with his wife Yin Lianyi. The vault was filled with treasures, and anyone could take out any of them and make a fortune.

After the two stepped out of the elevator, Lin Sanqi went through a security check and finally entered a vault in the vault.

The warehouses are all individual rooms, storing different kinds of antiques, jade and gold, as well as various precious teas and Moutai liquor, etc.

Do not meet with people easily, otherwise trouble will ensue.

Therefore, all the treasures were transported by Lin Sanqi through his golden finger, without being handed over to anyone else; otherwise, the secret would definitely not have been kept.

As soon as the furniture warehouse door opened, the lights came on, and Feng Xingxian saw the Longyu Wan Gong sedan chair in the middle of the room. He excitedly ran up to it.

"My treasure, it's a real treasure, Mr. Lin. Your restoration is excellent. It's as if it were done by an old expert from our Palace Museum. I really can't understand which other expert in China can restore it so perfectly using ancient methods."

Lin Sanqi thought to himself, "Wasn't it restored by experts from the Palace Museum in 64? And it was done by more than 200 experts working together. I wouldn't dare say it was 'unprecedented,' but it was definitely 'unparalleled.'"

After admiring the sedan chair for a long time, Feng Xingxian finally stood up straight with satisfaction, and then casually glanced at the other furniture next to him.

I don't know if I don't see it, I'm startled when I see it.

The old man's face turned ashen, and he dashed over in a flash, his hands trembling.
"No, no, no, no, Chairman Lin, this chair of yours is a 'Ming Dynasty Imperial Rosewood Carved Eight Treasures Cloud Bat Pattern Water Wave Cloud Dragon Throne,' with a five-clawed golden dragon on it. This is something from our Palace Museum."

And this, a large four-piece cabinet with a top box and high relief carving of nine dragons and lotus patterns on rosewood? This is from the Qing Dynasty. If I remember correctly, it used to be in the Chuxiu Palace and was used by Empress Dowager Cixi.

And this, this is a cloisonné enamel screen with a blue ground and inlaid with precious materials depicting the four seasons, made of rosewood? It was made by Emperor Qianlong himself. Look, there's even a piece of calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong here. Wasn't this destroyed in the great fire at the Southern Three Palaces in 69?

Looking at Feng Xingxian's crazed state, Lin Sanqi began to feel a little guilty.

"Mr. Feng, Mr. Feng, these pieces of furniture are all fake, imitations. Don't take them seriously. Come on, it's almost noon. I'll treat you to lunch."

Feng Xingxian turned around and glared at Lin Sanqi, gritting his teeth as he said:
"Chairman Lin, I am the director of the Department of Artifacts at the Palace Museum. How many pieces of Ming and Qing furniture have passed through my hands? Are you telling me these are fake? Are you doubting my judgment and professional ability, or do you think I'm a three-year-old?"

Lin Sanqi thought to himself, "Is it my fault? Blame Dean Wu from 64, he was the one who decided to sell it to me."

(End of this chapter)