Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 882: Chapter 878 The Same Text

Jiang Xiaoqin accidentally caught a glimpse of the text inside the book and was immediately stunned. She didn’t even care to play with the Azure Pearl in her hand anymore. She leaned forward, stretched out her neck, and stared intently at the text on the book cover.

After no more than five seconds of looking, she began to feel a bit dizzy and couldn’t help but mutter, ”What... what kind of writing is this, all crooked and slanted, it looks like tadpole script. Such strange characters!”

Qiao Zhenhuan also couldn’t help but murmur, ”Isn’t this the Classic of Mountains and Seas? Why does it contain such bizarre writing? The script looks like clerical script but not quite. At first glance, it seems very familiar, like I recognize it. But when I look closer, I realize I don’t understand any of it. It’s truly puzzling.”

”It looks like oracle bone script, but not as complex,” Li Quan shared his opinion.

Madam Yan by the side shook her head with a wry smile, ”It’s neither clerical script nor oracle bone script. This book isn’t printed; it’s likely a handwritten manuscript. It might very well be a unique copy. We aren’t sure if its content is truly the Classic of Mountains and Seas; it might be that the person who copied the book deliberately used such a cover to mislead people.”

”For over twenty years, my husband and I have searched countless places for this book. We’ve visited every old book pavilion and library across the country, but we haven’t found any useful clues.”

”At least amongst the archived languages and scripts in the cultural archives, there’s no record of this script.”

Hearing Madam Yan say this, everyone in the room exchanged puzzled glances. Huo Sining, who had been suppressing her emotions, felt her heart jump to her throat. Her eyes turned red, and her body stiffened. She took a moment to calm down internally, and after about half a minute, she said hoarsely, ”Li Quan, let me take a look at the book in your hand.”

Li Quan and Qiao Zhenhuan were both engrossed in the peculiarity of the book and hadn’t noticed Huo Sining’s odd behavior. However, Jiang Xiaoqin immediately sensed something was wrong with Huo Sining and instinctively asked, ”Sister Ning Ning, are you okay? Not feeling well?”

Huo Sining shook her head, ”I’m fine, just feeling a bit hot. I’ll be alright in a moment.”

Madam Yan explained sheepishly, ”We can’t remodel this old house, and my husband and I are not used to air conditioning, so there’s no AC installed here.”

Huo Sining feigned nonchalance and waved it off, then steadied her trembling hands and took the thread-bound book from Li Quan.

With just a few flips, Huo Sining felt her heartbeat quicken. She subconsciously took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

With just a casual glance earlier, she had noticed that the script in this Classic of Mountains and Seas resembled the script recorded on the four pieces of parchment paper Bagua Chart and Shen Wansan’s nautical chart she had collected.

Huo Sining, who had been skeptical at first, now felt certain after flipping through multiple pages of the book. The characters in this Classic of Mountains and Seas matched those on the parchment papers and the nautical chart, likely originating from the same language civilization.

Huo Sining had always wanted to understand the meaning of the passage on the parchment but had struggled to find an opportunity. She didn’t want others to know the secret of the parchment, but she also knew that she wouldn’t be able to decipher the meaning on her own.

She had considered trusting Zhou Shitao, showing him the parchment, and asking for his help to decipher it, but the decision had lingered in her mind for months without her being able to make up her mind.

Unexpectedly, after all her inner turmoil, another clue had appeared before her.

Realizing the connection between this book and herself, Huo Sining felt like it was a serendipitous moment, like finding something without even looking for it.

She had a strong premonition that this thread-bound Classic of Mountains and Seas might hold the key to deciphering the secrets of the parchment paper Bagua Chart and even Shen Wansan’s nautical chart. This book might lead her into a completely different world.

”Madam, I’m curious, these two items are quite valuable, even just these two wooden boxes made of redwood are worth a lot. How come your grandchildren didn’t take them?”

After examining the items, Qiao Zhenhuan directly cut to the chase without any polite preamble.

Although they were almost certain the Qing Imitation Xuande Furnace was authentic, and the presence of these two wooden boxes reduced their suspicions, they still needed to ask detailed questions to avoid any mistakes.

The old lady wasn’t upset, probably already worn out from dealing with her troublesome grandchildren. With a helpless smile, she explained in detail:

”It’s quite a coincidence. These two boxes were originally placed together. One time when I was tidying up, I picked them up thinking about the soup simmering in the kitchen. In my haste, I placed the two boxes on top of the kitchen cupboard.”

”As you get older, memory fades. I completely forgot about them, and the boxes remained on top of the cupboard.”

”My grandchildren know where we keep our things. While I was busy dealing with my husband’s passing, they ransacked the study and storeroom, but they didn’t think to look on top of the kitchen cupboard. By pure luck, these two items were left untouched.”

Saying this, the old lady’s face showed a hint of a wry smile, uncertain whether she should feel fortunate or sad.

Qiao Zhenhuan nodded, finding the explanation believable. Internally, he sympathized with the old lady. It hadn’t been easy for her to deal with ungrateful grandchildren who were like locusts, stripping the house of valuables. It was a miracle these two items remained.

Li Quan looked at the two boxes and couldn’t help but ask, ”Madam, since you’re considering selling them, could you sell the boxes to us as well? The price is negotiable, what do you think?”

The old lady sighed, then replied indifferently, ”Sell them. I didn’t intend to keep anything when I invited you. I know my grandsons well; if these items aren’t sold, once they run out of money, they’ll be back to scavenge. Nothing can be kept.”