“Grave Robbers’ Chronicles”

Chapter 3 Turning the Tide

At that time, there were still street stalls in Baoguosi, and there were quite a lot of them. They mainly sold coins and porcelain pieces. It was said that the very famous Pian Bai in Beijing made his fortune in Baoguosi.

One thing for one place. What I brought happened to be porcelain and copper coins, which exactly matched the market. Instantly, I swept away my dejection and my confidence soared.

I really didn't believe that no one would want these old things!

I was lucky and occupied an empty space in front of a newsstand. Then I bought two chicken sausages with the only three yuan I had left.

While eating the chicken sausages, I thought, "Will I starve or freeze to death in Beijing, or will I live a prosperous life? It all depends on today."

Unexpectedly.

Less than ten minutes after I had set up my stall, a large crowd of people gathered in front of my small stall.

"Boss, how much are these Song Dynasty and Qing Dynasty coins?"

"Boss, can you show me that small pastel salt pot?"

For a while, I was extremely busy.

"Boss, how much is that pair of blue-glazed vases? Just tell me the lowest price. If it's suitable, I'll take them."

Looking at the stall in a flurry, I said casually, "A pair of blue-glazed vases, at least eight hundred yuan."

"Okay, wrap them up. I'll take them. How should I pay you?" This person directly nodded and asked me to wrap them up.

"Wait, don't be hasty. I'll offer eight hundred and thirty for this pair of vases," suddenly another person increased the price for me.

"Ma Laosan, what you're doing... is not in line with the rules, is it?" This person said coldly.

"Huh, rules? Haven't you paid yet? The young boss can sell to whoever he wants!"

"You're talking to me about rules? Boss Song, there are fewer and fewer old things nowadays. Moreover, this kind of dowry vase doesn't need to worry about sales. Just put it in a box and put it in your shop. How much can you sell it for? Don't you know in your heart, Boss Song?"

Boss Song slapped his thigh.

"Damn it! Ma Laoliu, what does it matter to you how much I sell it for!"

Seeing that these two people were about to fight, I quickly tried to stop them.

"Don't quarrel. Aren't there other things? Take a look. This small pastel salt pot is quite nice. Although it doesn't have a lid, the painting is good."

Boss Song looked at the salt pot in my hand and asked me loudly, "Little brother, you said you would sell it to me for eight hundred yuan just now. Who do you want to sell it to now?"

I thought to myself, "Why were these things that no one wanted in Panjiayuan being fought over here?"

After thinking about it, I looked at him and said, "Brother, I said eight hundred yuan for this pair of vases before, so I'll sell them to you for eight hundred yuan. I can't go back on my word."

"Haha."

"Good!" The man laughed loudly and patted his beer belly, looking at Ma Laoliu with a complacent expression.

He roughly glanced at the other things on my stall.

"Okay, little brother is quite straightforward. Then I'll also be straightforward with you."

"I'll take all of your things."

"Buy them all in one go!"

"Ah?" I didn't react for a moment. How could this Beijing boss be so generous.

"Okay, stop selling. Pack up your stall and follow Boss Song to his shop to get the money," the sister who set up a stall next to me said to me enviously.

"Oh, oh, okay," I quickly packed up my stall.

Following the potbellied Boss Song into his shop, he asked me to leave the suitcase and said that he would also include the money for the suitcase.

Finally.

For the porcelain, copper coins, and the suitcase, the potbellied boss gave me four thousand and seven hundred yuan in cash! This was equivalent to the savings of an ordinary person working for a year at that time!

That's how awesome it was. The big boss bought everything in one go, even the trolley suitcase!

Walking out of Baoguosi empty-handed, I touched the thick stack of one-hundred-yuan bills in my clothes and almost grinned from ear to ear.

I stood on Guang'anmen Bridge, holding a large sum of money and shouting at the top of my voice: "Heaven rewards the diligent. I may not be good at studying, but I'm born to be a business talent! My eldest uncle-in-law's farmhouse is nothing! I'm going to become the most awesome antique dealer in the country!" At this time, the passers-by all looked at me with strange eyes.

Now, fifteen or sixteen years have passed. Whenever I think of this scene, I can't help laughing. I think I was such a fool.

This trip, I made a net profit of more than four thousand yuan!

With money in my pocket, I don't have to worry. When I have money, I must first fill my stomach.

As a village kid, I have a big appetite. I ate two bowls of sliced noodles and ordered a cold dish. I was full.

After eating, picking my teeth with a toothpick, I was planning in my mind, "Well, this way works. After deducting the money to pay back my eldest uncle-in-law, I still have some left. This amount of money should be enough as capital. Next time, I don't need to pay back my eldest uncle-in-law. I'll collect more things. If I can earn four thousand yuan in one trip, what if I make ten trips? Won't I be able to earn forty thousand yuan?"

In the evening, at the West Station, I was tricked by a middle-aged woman and went to stay in a small hotel. The price was sixty yuan per night.

After checking in, the landlady said furtively, "Young man, do you want me to find a girl for you?"

After realizing what she meant, I hurriedly waved my hands and said, "No, no, I don't want a girl."

The landlady kept pestering me. Finally, when I was forced to have no choice, I gave her an extra twenty yuan and asked her to stop bothering me.

As the old saying goes, when you're away from home, don't show off your wealth.

I remember clearly that the landlady of the hotel stared straight at my stack of red banknotes.

That night, I was very sleepy and fell asleep in a daze. For fear of insecurity, I deliberately put the plastic bag with the money under my pillow.

Unexpectedly, when I woke up.

The money was gone...

The more than four thousand yuan that I had earned with great difficulty was gone.

"Where's the money! Where's my money!" At that time, my face turned pale with fright. I desperately rummaged through the sheets and pillows randomly.

But there was nothing left. Only an empty black plastic bag remained.

I was terrified and quickly went to find the landlady. I asked her to check the surveillance. I said my money was lost and I wanted to call the police.

The result was predictable.

Not a single cent of the money was recovered.

Even today, I still don't have a good impression of these small hotels near the railway station.

More than ten years have passed. I guess that small hotel is long gone. Can I say I hate it? Not really.

If the money hadn't been lost at that time, I might be a small antique shop owner now. I might have a wife and children. My life path might have been completely different.

But, no one has a chance to start over.

If the money hadn't been lost at that time, there wouldn't be a person like me in the antique circle. There wouldn't be the nickname "Divine Eye Feng" in the underworld.

The police simply took a statement and vaguely told me that there was little hope of getting the money back.

Empty-handed and in despair.

I didn't dare to go back to Mohe, didn't dare to go home.

I knew that if I went back, I would definitely be laughed at, by my peers, and looked down upon by my eldest uncle-in-law's family.

I was ashamed!

I said I had earned four thousand yuan. The villagers simply wouldn't believe it!

Standing on the overpass outside the West Station, for a moment, I really wanted to jump. I thought it would be better to just die.

I have no father or mother and no one cares about me. I'm just a wild child that no one loves. It would be better to die early and be reincarnated.

The mind of a teenager is immature. Once having such an idea, it's very scary.

I was about to jump off the overpass at that time. Even if I didn't die from the fall, I would probably be run over by passing trucks.

I had already stretched out my leg.

Just then, someone patted me on the back.