Treasure Appraisal: 1988

Set against the tide of reform and opening up, this is the legendary life of Lu Jiuxiao, a Beijing alley kid who stirs up trouble in the world of antiques and on cross-border adventures, using his family’s secret techniques and Beijing-style humor. Two storylines intertwine: the main plot follows thrilling contests in the antiques world, from finding hidden bargains and gambling on stones to competing over treasures; the underlying plot follows the search for the national treasure, the Yongle Qilin Wine Vessel, lost during the Cultural Revolution.