📖 Metal and Stone Strategy

(in delicate handwriting) March 2nd, Year of Xu Wu Today, that kid Old Zhao brought another slender dog. I decided, let's call it Ah-Huang. Old Zhao asked me why a black dog should be called Ah-Huang. Isn't gold yellow? How silly!

(in delicate handwriting) 18th day of the 3rd month, Year of Wu Xu This Ah-Huang is picky, won't eat anything but good bones. These days, people can't even get meat, where to find good bones. Old Zhao swore on his chest that this is a genuine Shandong hound, with a pinnacle sense of smell. Hope Old Zhao didn't waste his money.

(in delicate handwriting) Wuxu Year, April 1 Suspicious that Old Zhao wasted money. Why does Ah-Huang laze around all day? Living better than me!

(in delicate handwriting) 2nd day of the 4th month, Year of Wu Xu Shouldn't have blamed Ah-Huang! There are good things where it sleeps! Good Ah-Huang, your bone-chewing wasn't in vain! Chatted with Old Zhao, he heard about the court compiling some "Relics Record," that's why he got into this. Who doesn't dream of fortune falling upon them? Life is hard, without dreams, it's unbearable. Heaven help us, hope this cave is a Fire cave.

(in delicate handwriting) Wuxu Year, April 5 Ah-Huang sniffed around but found nothing. Lost a good iron shovel again, alas.

(in delicate handwriting) Wuxu Year, April 15 Ah-Huang really sniffed out a good spot this time! Dug up a Buddha statue, need to find someone to identify its era.

(in delicate handwriting) April 16th, Year of Xu Wu Old Zhao found someone to check, this Buddha statue was lost by the surrounding villagers. Ah-Huang has been a bit down lately, perhaps he's also feeling sad.

(in delicate handwriting) April 18th, Year of Wu Xu Asked Liuzi, who knows how to raise dogs, and he said Ah-Huang is fine, just ate too much. Ha, I knew that rascal Old Zhao was secretly feeding the dog behind my back!

(in slanted handwriting) 7th day of the 7th month, Year of Gui Si Today was sunny, cooked a meal. The new fellow from Cizhou said his family used to run a kiln, also quite poor. That lad talks about porcelain like an expert, reminds me of my childhood... Ah, better not mention it.

(in slanted handwriting) September 5th, Year of Gui Si Misjudged! Turns out the stone Old Bai dug up has inscriptions claiming to be the authentic work of a female minister from the previous dynasty. Must contact Old Sun for verification.

(in slanted handwriting) 22nd day of the 9th month, Year of Gui Si A girl came to Old Sun's shop today, sharp-eyed and eloquent, talking about antiques in a way that left everyone stunned. When did such an expert appear...? She said her surname is Jiang, but no one has heard of her.

(in slanted handwriting) October of the Gui Si year This time the girl is gone, Old Sun regrets losing talent, still wanted to ask her more. Went out and saw someone selling porcelain on the street, the porcelain is good, but the deception is exaggerated. The vendor claims it's Chai Kiln craftsmanship! Who are they fooling, Chai Kiln has been lost. Remembering childhood, my family often praised me as good material for kiln work. If I hadn't taken this path, I might be like this person now, making and selling porcelain. But I really can't stand that temperament. Mother said, the kiln's glory, unknown for ten years. Learned that making good porcelain is hard! Still hoping to dig up some good porcelain next time!

(in heavy handwriting) January 25th, Year of Xin Mao Today, Xiao He insisted there's a ghost gnashing its teeth under the bed. I chased out two big rats from under the bed before he stopped talking. There's no such thing as ghosts in this world; it's all just people's imaginations running wild.

(in heavy handwriting) February 27th, Year of Xin Mao Received a letter from home saying Sanwa wants to go to school. What's the use of reading so many books? Scholar Wang from our village earned a title, but he's still working the fields like us!

(in heavy handwriting) Xinmao Year, March 10 Today's guide is a descendant of the Liu family from Hedong. So young, it's a pity.

(in heavy handwriting) March 17th, Xin Mao Year The cave collapsed, and Xiao He couldn't escape, buried inside, likely not surviving. Old He brought him into the trade; they were uncle and nephew. Today, Old He has been gloomy... Such incidents are common, but they are never easy to bear. (The ink is very heavy, as if paused for a long time) Hope Xiao He is born into a good family in his next life, becomes a young master of a wealthy household, and doesn't have to do this kind of work.

(in heavy handwriting) December 2nd, Year of Xin Mao Thought it over and decided to let Sanwa study. Studying is tough, but at least it offers a future. I've given up hope for myself, but the kids have a long road ahead, and having something to look forward to is good.

Seems to be a secret message passed by someone, with some recognizable writing remaining on the unburned part. To Xiao Yu: Burn after reading. Midnight on the sixteenth, South Nest, seek North. Also: Bring along Chang Laosan, she's quick with calculations. ... To Big Brother: Big Brother, I just started, I can't understand what you wrote. Burned after reading. ... To Xiao Yu: Fool! Can't understand, why not ask someone? Just follow your Sister Chang, call people on the sixteenth, and head down together.

Top Secret!! For personal use only. Do not disclose to anyone except direct disciples! Zhao Dayong, nicknamed "Goldscale," from Songzhou, around thirty years old, bearded (died from Toxic Insect) (Note: Brother Zhao was clearly a good man, but unfortunately, good men don't live long...) Sun Jiu, nicknamed "Blind Tiger," from Dengzhou, thirty-five years old, blind in one eye (Note: Old Sun has sharp eyes; you can ask him to appraise things) Liu Erniang, nicknamed "Ghost's Bane," from Ruzhou, forty years old, tall and loud (Note: Be extremely cautious around this woman!) Bai Sanye, nicknamed "Palm of Gold," from Cizhou, age unknown, loves to laugh (died in prison) Xiang Youjin, nicknamed "Iron Lump," from Minzhou, around forty years old, short and stocky (cause of death unknown) (Correction: died at the hands of an enemy) (Note: This guy is too cunning! In the First Year of Chongning, he swindled me out of a pair of Tang porcelain! His death is no surprise!) He Shijin, nicknamed "Face of Evil," from Xiangzhou, twenty-five years old, dark-skinned with scars Miao Shengsheng, nicknamed "Old Snake," origin unknown, around fifty years old, lame in the left leg (Note: Obsessed with insect fighting) ...

Seems to be a fragment of some ledger. August, Yi You Year A pair of Tang Tianbao Qingxuan porcelain, one hundred and fifty taels, to Old Zhao One embroidered sleeve of golden Shu brocade, eighty taels, to Big Liu ... November, Yi You Year One Eastern Zhou pottery, ownerless (Small text: This item is somewhat eerie, no one dares to claim it!) One jade bi from the previous dynasty, seventy taels, to Xiao Bai (Small text: A corner is chipped)

Seems to be a fragment of some ledger. December of the Wu Zi year One copper plate from the previous dynasty, thirteen taels, assigned to Xiao Li (Small note: This fool doesn't recognize its value, used it to roast sweet potatoes and ruined it, his master gave him a deserved beating!) Wei, one Ornate Jade tablet, twenty taels, assigned to Lady Tong (Small note: Lady Tong misjudged, the good item was taken away by someone, she's regretting it deeply!) January of the Ji Chou year One pair of Glazed Glass earrings from the Later Han, seventy-two taels, assigned to Liu Er