They were preparing to cover up the lie. During a short break at home, Bai Shan went into his own storeroom and finally found the Buddha statue in one box and the Laozi statue in another, both jade carvings.
There were more Buddha statues, but there were also two Laozi statues.
Bai Shan carefully compared them and took away the smallest Laozi statue, only one and a half feet tall.
The manager overseeing the storeroom saw the young master carrying out this Laozi statue and immediately reached out to protect it, cautiously saying, "Young master, this is carved from rare black jade. Where are you taking it... and for what?"
Bai Shan replied, "To give it away."
The manager was stunned and quickly asked, "Does the Old Madam know?"
Bai Shan stated, "She'll know soon."
Then he recorded the items he took on a list, stamped it with approval, and ran off with the item.
