“Grave Robbers’ Chronicles”

Chapter 4 Joining the Gang

"Hehe, young man, you're so young. Why are you so desperate?"

I wiped my tears and turned around. I was stunned. Isn't this the old man who showed me the way in Panjiayuan yesterday?

It was this old man who told me that the stalls in Baoguosi were free.

"Kid, I noticed you when you came to sell things in Panjiayuan yesterday. If I'm not wrong, was your money stolen?"

This old man was wearing casual clothes. There was some white hair at his temples. He looked very energetic.

I didn't think much at that time. I nodded with red eyes and said that my money from selling goods was stolen and I didn't want to live.

He shook his head and chuckled, "Kid, how much money did you lose?"

I said I lost more than four thousand yuan.

"Hehe," she smiled and held up one finger at me.

"Four thousand yuan is also called money? If you work with me, at this time, I can make you earn twenty thousand yuan."

Staring blankly at his one finger, I asked, "How long? A year?"

The old man shook his head.

"A month??"

He shook his head again.

"A week???"

"Haha, I won't tease you anymore. One minute! As long as you're quick, thousands of yuan can be earned in minutes!"

I thought it was incredible. I thought this person was a human trafficker and wanted to trick me into selling my kidney.

I wouldn't do it if it was about selling my kidney. It would be okay if I died. But if I sold my kidney and was still alive, I had heard that I would never be able to have children in my life and my wife would cheat on me.

He left a sentence and turned around to leave.

"Kid, if you want to make a name for yourself and drive a Mercedes-Benz home in style, then come with me. If you still want to die because of that little money, then don't come. It means I misjudged you."

Yes, four thousand yuan was an astronomical figure for my poor family, but it was just a trifle for him.

This person was the master who led me into this business.

The way he made a fortune was tomb raiding.

Searching for dragons, look at the surrounding mountains. One layer of mountains is one layer of barriers. If there are thousands of locks on the barriers, there must be a prince or nobleman living here.

From the moment I followed him off the overpass, I was in this business.

Soon after I entered this business, I understood that what the old man said was right. Thousands of yuan was just a trifle and could be earned in minutes.

Have you often heard of the four major sects of tomb raiding?

Mojin Xiaowei, Banshan Daoren, Xieling Lishi, Faqiu Jiangjun.

Actually, the real situation is not like this. These sects have long disappeared in the long history. Now tomb raiders are roughly divided into two sects.

That is, the Northern Sect and the Southern Sect.

Some people also jokingly call them the Bold Sect and the Timid Sect.

People in the Northern Sect are bold and have wild ways. They dare to dig anything with a Luoyang shovel in their hands. But there is one thing. They are not good at digging water-filled tombs, especially the water-filled tombs in southern regions like Hunan, Guizhou, and Zhejiang. Dry for a thousand years, wet for ten thousand years, half a year if neither dry nor wet. Water-filled tombs are very difficult. People need to have the swimming ability like a water monkey. For very deep water-filled tombs, professional scuba diving equipment is needed.

To be fair, people in the Northern Sect are basically landlubbers. They are great on the ground but really can't handle things underwater.

Many in the Southern Sect are family-based. Fathers take sons, grandfathers take grandsons. They generally seldom team up with strangers. They are also jokingly called the Timid Sect. Of course, they do this to prevent being double-crossed.

This business is a mixed bag. There are all kinds of people. The really capable ones are really amazing. They are people who can recite the "Book of Burial" backwards. They can determine the location of a tomb with one look. This is not an exaggeration.

There are also those amateurs who are just making up the numbers. People who dare to dig graves with a hoe. These people die the fastest. The ones who get caught the most are these people.

Those who operate in a more regular way are seldom caught.

Let me roughly explain.

In a six-person tomb raiding gang, the one who gets the most money is the "Eye Captain". The meaning of "Eye Captain" is to look for tombs and find tombs. This is a technical job. A capable "Eye Captain" is in high demand everywhere.

There is also the "Rice Seller". This is a code name in the business. "Rice" refers to money. In some regions, it is also called "Peddler". This person is responsible for turning the things dug up into cash. This especially requires connections. People from all over the south and north, they have their own circle and network. One thing is especially important. The things sold must not be traced.

Then there is the "Earthworker" who is responsible for digging holes. This job values experience. By thrusting a Luoyang shovel down and looking at the soil layer brought up, the age of the tomb can be determined.

Below the "Earthworker" is the "Lookout". As the name implies, the "Lookout" is to keep watch. Their eyesight must be good and they must be alert. Such people should not be underestimated. Whether a big job can be done or not, keeping watch is also very important. Some "Lookouts" will even start acting one year in advance. They will mix with the local residents in the name of opening a supermarket and gain the trust of the local people.

There is also a job called "Logistics Department". The "Logistics Department" is usually one person. This person doesn't go down into the tomb. They are only responsible for replacing and purchasing equipment.

Mouse suits, diamond shovels, small whirlwinds, gas masks, Luoyang shovels, fire folders, waterproof flashlights, walkie-talkies, tents, bedding, pots, pans, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. All these things are to be purchased and managed by one person. This is to reduce exposure and avoid revealing their identity.

Finally, there is another job called "Scattering Earth".

The first job I did when I entered this business was "Scattering Earth".

The money earned from "Scattering Earth" is the least. But even the least amount is much more than what a regular job earns.

For the job of "Scattering Earth", the more ordinary-looking a person is, the better. I was chosen because I have an ordinary face.

I have an average appearance. Who would stare at me every day for no reason?

On the contrary, if you are too handsome or too ugly, you can't do this job. Maybe before you finish scattering the earth in your pocket, you will be discovered.

Carry a little bit at a time. Pretend to be taking a walk or walking a dog. Scatter the tomb earth from your trouser legs until there is no trace left.

Afterwards, divide the money secretly. No one will notice us.

The old man who led me into this business was called Wang Xiansheng. People in the business called him Wang Captain. It was said that he had explored thousands of large tombs in his life. From the Warring States, Han Dynasty, Pre-Qin, to the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. He had basically dealt with all of them.

People in the business love two kinds of tombs the most. One is the Han tomb and the other is the Western Zhou tomb.

The reason is simple. Bronze wares and ancient jades are very valuable. People often say that nine out of ten Han tombs are empty. This is absolutely true.

Western Zhou tombs are even more remarkable.

During the time of "The Monarch of Zhou Who Played with Fire to Please His Concubine", there were princes everywhere and the custom of lavish burial was popular. If you are lucky enough to find a large and deep pit filled with bronze wares of a prince of the Western Zhou Dynasty, then congratulations. Your children and grandchildren won't need to work for three generations.

Similarly, Western Zhou tombs are buried the deepest among all dynasties. After Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms and built the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, mounds began to be popular.

Mountains and rivers change.

Generally, Western Zhou tombs are more than fifteen meters underground. There is no mound. They are hard to find and even harder to dig.

Officially, the relevant department prohibits the buying and selling of bronze wares. But everyone knows. Where did those bronze wares in the antique appraisal programs on TV come from?

The bronze wares handed down from generation to generation account for less than one percent of the total number. Did the rest pop up by themselves?

The source is the same. They all come from our business.

At first, Wang Captain took me away from Beijing and asked me not to contact the outside world recently. The first job I did was in Shunde.

This job was about a Western Zhou tomb. Because there was a serious shortage of manpower, I was chosen by Wang Captain to do the job of "Scattering Earth".

I was the youngest member in the gang at that time.

When we got to Shunde, Wang Captain threw me one thousand yuan and said this was a rule. It was an initiation red envelope. He asked me to spend it freely. He said it was okay to find a girl to have fun with.

How old was I at that time? I didn't dare to find a girl. It didn't cost much to just eat and drink.

I ate the water snake soup, four-cup chicken, fried fish cake, Jun'an steamed pig, etc. in Shunde. They were all very delicious.

After wandering around Shunde for two days, Wang Captain called me and said, "Yunfeng, we should do the job tonight. How about it? Are you ready? Have you remembered what I taught you?"

I nodded and said, "I remember. Don't scatter earth at dawn. Don't scatter earth when there are cars. Don't scatter earth in the park. Don't scatter earth when there are many people."

Wang Captain nodded with satisfaction. He asked me again, "Then let me ask you, where are you going to scatter earth?"

After thinking about it, I told him, "Back to Captain, beside the construction site, in the demolished house, in the woods, in the garden."

"Haha, good. I haven't taught you these yet. Good, good! You have potential."

"Be smart and work well with us! I'll make you the richest person in your whole village within two years. Do you understand?"

I was happy and immediately nodded and said yes.