CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: XIANFENG HEAVY COIN

After Zhao Qing left with her daughter, Qi Yun squatted down to inspect the model of the water pipe more closely, then quickly headed to the supermarket at the entrance of the neighborhood to buy a new one to replace it.

He carefully examined everything to ensure there were no leaks and then found a mop from the bathroom to start dealing with the water stains on the floor.

The living room in Zhao Qing’s home only had a single classic British style sofa, and a simple French armchair.

The bookshelf was quite full, with all kinds of books arranged neatly.

According to the information, a copper coin worth no less than forty thousand yuan was hidden inside the sofa, so it must be concealed somewhere in that single sofa.

Regardless of how the copper coin will finally be dealt with, finding it first is definitely the right move.

After Qi Yun cleaned all the water stains on the living room floor, he started to circle around the sofa, carefully observing it.

The single sofa seemed to have aged; the dark brown leather surface had some slight wear, and a row of brass studs exuded a feeling of history.

He squatted down to check the bottom of the sofa, but besides some dust and small debris, he found nothing unusual.

Then he turned his attention to the gaps in the cushions, lifting up the entire cushion to reveal the crisscross spring frame underneath.

But apart from a few dried petals, he found nothing.

Qi Yun frowned and stuffed the cushion back in its original place.

He then continued to feel along the armrest meticulously, but still discovered nothing remarkable.

"Could the copper coin be hidden within the leather? If that’s the case, it could be a bit tricky..."

He pondered silently, a hint of concern appearing on his face.

Just then, a row of brass studs on the backrest, each about the size of a fingernail, caught his attention.

Several of the brass studs appeared to be slightly loose, seemingly easy to pull out with a gentle tug...

Qi Yun’s curiosity was piqued, and he leaned close to the backrest, carefully reaching out and gently grasping the most wobbly brass stud.

With just a bit of force, the brass stud easily came loose. Qi Yun felt a surge of joy as he continued to pull out the other loose brass studs one by one.

With the studs removed, a narrow gap appeared between the leather of the backrest and the internal padding.

Qi Yun narrowed his eyes and reached his finger into the gap, slowly feeling around.

Suddenly, his finger touched something round and hard. Qi Yun’s heart raced as he slowly withdrew his hand, and in his grip was a copper coin.

The copper coin felt heavy in his hand, its deep brown patina revealing an ancient glow.

The contours were well-proportioned and grand, the edges finely polished, smooth yet textural to the touch.

The front bore the inscription "Xianfeng Heavy Treasure" in four regular script characters, with strong and vigorous strokes, while the back showed "Baoquan Ten" characters.

Though Qi Yun wasn’t knowledgeable about such ancient coins, even he could tell the exquisite craftsmanship of this copper coin, explaining its worth of forty thousand yuan.

He carefully tucked the copper coin into his pocket, then restored the sofa to its original state before closing the door and returning to his own home.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he heard the crisp sounds of laughter from the kitchen; Zhao Qing and Nuannuan both had flour on their noses, looking like two little cats.

It was clear Zhao Qing really liked children, as the two interacted harmoniously.

"Daddy, you’re back! Sister said she’s going to teach me how to make little cakes!" Nuannuan exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Qi Yun, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the kitchen.

Zhao Qing also stood up, raising her hand to wipe the flour from her face, her cheeks slightly flushed with a hint of embarrassment.

After all, it was Qi Yun’s home, and they had just recently met...

Qi Yun smiled at her warmly: "The water pipe has been replaced, it won’t leak again this time."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qing’s eyes were filled with gratitude as she quickly said, "Qi Brother, thank you so much! I called the property management before, and they said the master is off duty. If it weren’t for you stepping in, I really wouldn’t have known what to do."

"No need to thank me. Helping each other is what neighbors should do."

Qi Yun dismissively waved his hand, speaking as he retrieved the copper coin from his pocket and said, "By the way, while I was mopping the floor, a copper coin fell from the sofa. Take a look."

Zhao Qing was slightly stunned, her gaze puzzled as she looked at the copper coin in Qi Yun’s hand: "It fell from the sofa? But I’ve never seen this copper coin before."

"I bought that sofa last year at a vintage fair..."

Qi Yun observed her expression, which confirmed his suspicion. If the copper coin truly belonged to her, she wouldn’t have hidden it in such a spot.

Moreover, judging by the look of that sofa, it had likely existed for a long time. The copper coin might have been hidden by a previous owner.

However, in any case, the sofa now belonged to Zhao Qing, so the ownership of the copper coin should also be hers.

Qi Yun nodded, handing the coin to her, reminding her, "This copper coin is quite valuable, you’d better keep it safe."

Zhao Qing looked at the copper coin Qi Yun passed to her, a trace of hesitation in her eyes, but she didn’t reach out to accept it.

"Qi Brother, this copper coin isn’t my possession. You found it..."

"Stop refusing it." Qi Yun cut off her words with a lighthearted tone, "Something found in your home could still belong to me? Just take it."

This woman truly surprised him; he had mentioned the coin’s value, yet she hadn’t seemed to be swayed at all.

If it were someone else, they might have eagerly pocketed it by now.

Upon hearing this, a complex expression appeared on Zhao Qing’s face. She bit her lip but eventually pushed Qi Yun’s outstretched hand back.

"But Qi Brother, I’m not interested in these things. Since you can recognize its value, perhaps you could help me sell it?"

After hearing her request, Qi Yun nodded. This was simple enough for him—he just needed to run to the Antique Street.

He agreed readily, "Alright, I’ll help you contact someone soon."

"Thank you, Qi Brother," Zhao Qing said gratefully, then turned to check her little cake in the oven.

Qi Yun sat on the nearby sofa, took out his phone, and snapped a few photos of the copper coin, immediately sending them to Shi Feng, the owner of Qiuyue Pavilion.

Soon after, his phone vibrated repeatedly as Shi Feng sent several voice messages.

"Buddy, where did you pick up such a great treasure again?"

"This Xianfeng Baoquan Ten mother coin is in good condition; I’m quite interested. Want to come to my shop and discuss it?"

"If you don’t want to bother coming here, send a location, and I’ll come find you."

"..."

Although the tone was deliberately casual, Qi Yun could sense a hint of urgency in Shi Feng’s words; otherwise, he wouldn’t suggest coming himself.

Qi Yun smiled slightly at this; if he could come over, it would save him a trip.

Thus, he sent Shi Feng his location and replied, "There’s a café at the entrance of the neighborhood, let’s meet there."

"OK!"

Twenty minutes later, Qi Yun calculated the time and figured Shi Feng should be arriving soon.

Then he informed Zhao Qing, and after advising the little girl with a couple of words, donned his coat and headed out.