Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Hangzhou's museum only sold real-name tickets, and you needed an ID to get in.
Before coming, Jiang Li had checked a guide, though: if you didn't have an ID, you could pay an extra twenty yuan at the "foreign visitors" counter and still buy a paper ticket.
Kakayan's features were delicate, and her hair was an impossible shade of pink. Jiang Li told the clerk she was half-foreign, and the tickets came out without a hitch.
"Jiang Li, are all the statues inside like this?"
Kakayan tilted her little face up, staring at the stone lion crouched outside the museum entrance for the longest time.
On the continent of Aze there were plenty of stone statues too, usually carved by humans to commemorate someone important. Maybe Jiang Li even had one? But those faces were always rough and dull; they couldn't compare to this lifelike stone monster in front of her.
"Of course not," Jiang Li said with a laugh. "They only leave these guys outside to stand guard."
Kakayan's ears drooped, disappointment flashing across her eyes.
Such a vivid stone creature, and there was only one of it? She'd hoped to see more magical beasts from Earth.
"What's it supposed to be?"
To Kakayan, this sculpture had to be honoring some incredibly powerful creature. Humans never built statues for anything less.
"It's called a stone lion."
"A stone lion... So it must have done something great?"
"It's really good at guarding doors."
"Oh..."
Kakayan let out a long, thoughtful sigh, and who knew what was running through her head.
"Come on, let's go inside."
Jiang Li led her through the museum doors.
The Hangzhou Museum was a general collection: everything from ancient ancestors' hairpins and jewelry to folk wood carvings.
Along the way, glass cases displayed handicrafts—ceramic vases, porcelain plates, and even tiny ceramic ducks.
They followed the polished marble path deeper in. Cool white LEDs lit the corridor, the chilly light falling on Kakayan's clear, pretty face.
Kakayan stopped in front of a cabbage.
She licked her lips.
...Seriously, the moment she steps into a museum she's still only thinking about food? Doesn't anything else catch her eye?
"Jiang Li, we have this at home too," Kakayan said, pointing at the cabbage in its display case.
She was probably already imagining how it tasted.
"Don't talk nonsense. We definitely don't have one of these at home."
"I saw it in the fridge bag."
"That's an actual cabbage."
"?"
Kakayan tilted her head, her CPU threatening to overheat.
"Look closer."
Jiang Li tapped the pale-green jade leaves.
"..."
Kakayan pressed her face to the glass, bright eyes wide.
Realization dawned; her small mouth opened in surprise.
She instinctively rose on tiptoe for a better look—
and thunked her forehead against the glass.
"What a powerful barrier..."
"That's just glass."
"Uugh... This cabbage is made of jade?"
Kakayan forgot the pain, spinning to Jiang Li for confirmation.
When he nodded, she finally closed her mouth, which had been hanging open in shock.
She'd seen jade on the continent of Aze, but never an artwork carved so finely it looked exactly like the Napa cabbages back home—down to the pale heart and crisp green leaves...
"This is amazing, Jiang Li."
Kakayan's amethyst eyes sparkled.
Once again she marveled at human imagination—turning a chunk of jade into something so playful.
"Let's take it home."
She rolled up her sleeves, looking ready for action.
At that, every tourist nearby turned to stare.
"Guess why no one else tries that."
Jiang Li rubbed his temples, already feeling a headache coming on.
"Because they didn't think of it."
Kakayan's lips curved in a beautiful arc; she crooked a finger at him. "Listen, I have a brilliant plan."
"Ha-ha."
Jiang Li gave a dry laugh and dutifully leaned in. "Let's hear it."
"We'll take the cabbage from home and swap it with this one."
Kakayan deployed her astonishing intellect.
"Mm-hmm. Let's go."
Jiang Li nodded in mock agreement and steered her out of the jade section.
In the relics gallery, Kakayan's steps slowed of their own accord.
Gold, jewels, robes—things she'd never even seen before surrounded her.
"This robe is gorgeous."
The golden fabric reflected in Kakayan's violet eyes, making them shine even brighter.
"So? Feel like kneeling yet?" Jiang Li asked.
"Why would I kneel?"
Kakayan blinked in surprise, studying the robe a moment longer.
"Emperors wore robes like that," Jiang Li explained. "They forced commoners to kneel and work for them day and night.
Most of the jewelry and ornaments you see here belonged to those rulers. Look this good because they used the finest materials in the land and the best craftsmen—cost didn't matter. Anything less than perfect was unacceptable."
"Oh..."
Kakayan tilted her head, half understanding. "What happened if it wasn't perfect?"
"You lost your head." Jiang Li drew a finger across his throat. "Not just the craftsman—his family, friends, even neighbors could be executed."
Kakayan covered her mouth.
"That's awful."
She instinctively stepped back, an inexplicable distaste welling up as she looked at the glittering robe.
"But that was centuries ago. Doesn't happen anymore," Jiang Li said, waving her over. "Don't look so grim."
"So who owns these things now?" Kakayan asked. Since their original owners were gone, who would be next?
"Now they belong to everyone."
"Can I try one on, then?"
"No." Jiang Li shook his head. "None of the clothes, gold, or jewelry here can be used anymore."
"What's the point of keeping them?"
"To remind us of history."
"Oh..."
Kakayan rarely paid such close attention to human history, but after hearing Jiang Li, she felt lucky to live in the modern world.
After all, she and Jiang Li could lounge at home eating and drinking without some "ruler" suddenly ordering them to work.
She still missed the continent of Aze.
But she didn't hate living in this world with Jiang Li.
If he'd just buy her a few more snacks, life would be perfect.