"Jingxing, my cousin?"
A distinguished and refined-looking lawyer, Lin, paused for a moment, then approached with a look of pleasant surprise. "Cousin Jingxing, it's been a long time."
"Cousin Lin Yan, long time no see."
Lin Qingge searched her memory and vaguely recalled a relative like this in her extended family. However, having attended an all-girls school, she had very little interaction with this cousin. Her brother, Lin Jingxing, on the other hand, had apparently been schoolmates with him for a few years.
"After all these years, Cousin Jingxing, you seem to have become quite distant with me. You used to call me by my name directly."
"In the past, Jingxing was immature. I hope Cousin Lin Yan will not hold it against me."
Facing her overly enthusiastic cousin, Lin Qingge offered an awkward yet polite smile, subtly shifting a small step closer to Leng Ningyue.
"Here is my business card. Feel free to visit my law firm when you have time. A few days ago, I had someone bring back some coffee beans from abroad. You used to enjoy them, so could you help me taste them and see if they're authentic?"
Remembering that her brother did indeed like these foreign things, Lin Qingge nodded in acknowledgment.
As Lin Yan was about to say more, he was interrupted by Hua Jinrong, who stood up straight for a rare moment. "Since Lawyer Lin is here, you must have already heard the news of Old Master Shangguan's passing. May I ask, Lawyer Lin, what business did Old Master Shangguan have with you last night?"
"Detective, protecting client privacy is the most basic professional ethics for a lawyer. I must respectfully decline to answer."
"Then I have a question unrelated to your work. Lawyer Lin, when you went to Old Master Shangguan's study last night, did you see a cup on the desk?"
Upon hearing Lin Qingge's question, Lin Yan's attitude underwent a complete 180-degree change, even softening his tone. "Yes, last night I did see a cup on Old Master Shangguan's desk. There was still half a cup of milk left in it, unfinished. Also, I would prefer it if you called me Lin Yan, or Cousin Lin Yan."
"Um… Cousin Lin Yan, did Old Master Shangguan send for you in a hurry last night?"
Since this question did not involve his work, Lin Yan readily nodded. "Yes, I was about to rest when I suddenly received a call from Old Master Shangguan. He said I absolutely had to come over."
"Never mind that useless talk. Since Lawyer Lin is here, hurry up and read my master's will! I've already found the best locksmiths in the city and they're waiting in the side hall!" Mrs. Shangguan interrupted impatiently and then motioned for the butler, Uncle Wang, to call them.
The safe was placed inside a cabinet in Old Master Shangguan's study. This cabinet was also locked, but now both cabinet doors were askew, clearly showing signs of forced entry. The safe itself was a complex rotary mechanism. According to the butler, Uncle Wang, it was the final masterpiece of a renowned mechanism master from the late Qing Dynasty, reputed to be the most secure safe in history and possessing considerable collector's value.
Mrs. Shangguan had summoned almost every locksmith in Harbin, but few possessed true skill. They listened intently and used tools to pry, busying themselves around the safe. Lin Qingge did not rush to open the lock. Instead, she returned to Old Master Shangguan's desk to examine it more closely. This time, however, she only looked through items like desk calendars and notebooks.
Perhaps after waiting for a long time and seeing no one able to open the safe, Mrs. Shangguan couldn't help but exclaim in frustration, "A bunch of useless good-for-nothings!"
Miss Shangguan Yu Yan, who had been supporting Mrs. Shangguan, gently comforted her. "Mom, don't worry. The company needs you to take charge, so it doesn't matter if the will is read a day earlier or later. Besides, all the locksmiths in the city are here; someone will surely be able to open the safe."
"I am Wu Suowei, the eighth-generation descendant of a locksmith family, and I am willing to give it a try!" A clear, loud voice echoed from the corridor. Everyone turned to look, and saw a man standing at the doorway whose appearance was severely at odds with his booming voice. The man had a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks, his eyes darting around. He gave the impression of a habitual thief rather than a locksmith.
"You? A descendant of a locksmith family?" Mrs. Shangguan snorted with disbelief. However, Wu Suowei straightened his back, undeterred. "Madam, as the saying goes, you can't judge a person by their appearance, nor measure the sea with a bucket. Though I, Wu Suowei, may look plain, if I claim to be second in my lock-picking skills, I dare say no one in the entire country, let alone Harbin, would dare claim first! If Madam doesn't believe me, feel free to ask the other colleagues present."
"Mrs. Shangguan, Wu Suowei is indeed a descendant of a locksmith family."
"Yes, yes, yes. It is said that the mechanism master who created this safe also came from a locksmith family. They were from the same school; perhaps he can really open this safe!" The others chimed in. Hearing this, Mrs. Shangguan nodded, her belief mixed with doubt. "Fine, let this shifty-eyed fellow give it a try."
"Madam, our family has traditions, and our trade has rules. I will help you open the lock, and you will pay me my fee. So, before I help you open the lock, let's settle the price."
Seeing Wu Suowei's mercenary nature, Mrs. Shangguan's look of disgust intensified. She said with pursed lips, "If you can open the lock, I will reward you with one hundred silver dollars."
"Madam Shangguan, your Shangguan family is the richest in Harbin. Is offering one hundred silver dollars like chasing away a beggar?"
"Then how much do you want?"
"My asking price is ten thousand silver dollars!"
"Why don't you just rob us?!" Mrs. Shangguan exclaimed with a shrill cry, but Wu Suowei ignored her, analyzing, "Madam Shangguan, your Shangguan family's assets, if not hundreds of millions, are certainly tens of millions, right? Compared to that, my requested ten thousand silver dollars is less than one ten-millionth of this inheritance. To exchange ten thousand silver dollars for tens of millions in inheritance, this deal, by any calculation, is more advantageous for you, Madam Shangguan."
Thinking of the inheritance within her grasp, Mrs. Shangguan couldn't help but waver. "Can you really open the safe?"
"Of course!"
As if making a great decision, Mrs. Shangguan pressed her tongue against her upper palate and declared, "Very well. With Detective Hua of the police station as witness, I, Xiahou Jin, declare here today that whoever can open this safe, I will pay them ten thousand silver dollars!"
As soon as Mrs. Shangguan finished speaking, Lin Qingge walked up to her and spoke at a leisurely pace, "Madam Shangguan, please settle the payment for opening the safe. Ten thousand silver dollars, cash payment, no credit."