Chapter 3
Changdong took a taxi to Beijiaofang, which is a village in the city awaiting demolition. Due to the developers' insufficient funds, the demolition has been sporadic, leaving half of the buildings in ruins and the other half still standing. When the wind blows, it stirs up dust, and there are basically no residents left.
The hole that grew in the yellow clay opened its eyes wide, refusing to close, with long hair tangled in the wind, like a beckoning hand, calling him over
No family members of the deceased believe this statement, as the relevant search and rescue units have explained to them many times: "It is normal not to find the body. Do you know about Peng Jiamu? He went missing there in the early 1980s, and there were six large-scale search and rescue operations, including helicopters, yet even after more than thirty years, the body has still not been found."
Chang Dong could not believe that Ye Liu Xi was truly a melon seller
A down jacket was added on Changdong Road in mid to late October. In a place where one wears a cotton-padded jacket in the morning and a thin shirt in the afternoon, it is so cold at night that one needs to cover with two blankets to avoid shivering, and one must not be careless.
Last night, I compared some information and found a few more videos related to Ye Liuxi. I have sent them all to your email; you can check if you want to forward them to your friends
He nestled into the chair, feeling a slight discomfort in his lower back. Upon reaching behind, he discovered it was the pure copper tortoise shell divination tool.
He dialed the phone of his colleague and asked somewhat incoherently: "Let me ask you, the person who went to your place to appraise the agate cup, was it a man or a woman? Is the item genuine?"
As soon as I logged in, I received a message from Qiliuhai.
Before liberation, those small-scale shadow puppet troupes that roamed the streets would pack all their props into just two theater boxes. The shoulder pole would tremble as it was lifted, representing their entire belongings
Upon waking up, Fat Tang still felt quite uncomfortable: speaking ill of others behind their backs is not a problem; engaging in unscrupulous deeds is fine; however, being caught in the act by someone in person is simply too shameful
Then why wasn't it secured
The theater box is not worth much, and Xiao He is happy to do a favor. He escorted Chang Dong to the end of the alley and politely said, "Dong Ge, if you want to come back, just give me a call anytime."
Chang Dong shifted the body bag aside to adjust the position of the shadow puppet theater box
She paid no attention to the two jars and one pot at the entrance; she directly overlooked the dazzling jade and gold artifacts
Fei Tang hesitated and simply said that he happened to be visiting the Shaanxi Museum and saw it, so he casually asked.
There were thoughts bursting forth in his mind, like bubbles about to explode before the water boils, just a tiny bit away...
I couldn't help but smile; daydreaming is truly delightful
However, the lack of planning inevitably leads to a disarray of the old and the new: sometimes, just a turn around the corner, the cement road instantly transforms into a dirt path, stray dogs search for food by the ditch, and when the wind blows, dust settles on the dying old trees by the roadside. The small restaurant facing the street has only three or five tables, with a colorful plastic curtain at the entrance, blackened by cooking fumes.
The waitress took his money, glanced disdainfully at Ye Liuxi outside the glass, and said as she walked away: "You've been looking all day, is she really that beautiful? Isn't she just a prostitute?"
Roll again; if the result is still the same, even if...! ... even if the heavens are just playing tricks on him, he will still accompany it!
As the old saying goes, a person cannot become wealthy without unexpected fortune, and a horse cannot grow fat without night grass; one must have unexpected wealth to succeed
On her vehicle, there was a cutting board an inch thick, with a straight-handled watermelon knife about a ruler's length resting on it. The green skin was olive-shaped and thick, making it difficult for men to cut through, yet she handled it with ease, her hand rising and falling as she sliced the melon as effortlessly as cutting tofu
Fei Tang's face flushed intermittently; he picked up the tortoise shell and swallowed hard.
From morning to afternoon, he ordered several rounds of snacks and drinks, while Ye Liuxi surprisingly continued to sell melons.
This remark reminded Chang Dong, and he turned back to the backstage to retrieve a shadow puppet theater box
Chang Dong said: "Thank you."
Last night, he cast divination, and the oracle said, "Go west, great wealth and nobility." When he peeked out, he saw Chang Dong standing to the west of the door, and Chang Dong was looking for Ye Liu Xi. Perhaps this "west" refers to Ye Liu Xi? Great wealth and nobility, beast-head agate, could it not be great wealth and nobility?
The body of the car was covered in dust. Chang Dong brushed it off with his hand, stood in front of the rear trunk for a moment, and slowly opened it
Finally, when she stopped, Fat Tang's scalp tingled
It looked rather desolate. When Xiao He saw him off at the door, he couldn't help but confirm once again: "Dong Ge, take a look around again, make sure you haven't left anything behind."
In the midst of uncertainty, with so many signs, could it be that fate is guiding the way
Putting down the phone, feeling parched, I said to myself: Impossible, how could such a coincidence happen? The beast head agate, if there were truly another one lost out there, the industry would have already been thrown into chaos, how could he even entertain such thoughts?
That head replied: "A woman. I tell you, the master and I, with our four eyes, can see that the goods are genuine, a whole piece of banded agate, beautifully carved jade, with a golden cap on the mouth and nose..."
In the afternoon, there were not many people, and the temperature gradually dropped. She wrapped herself in a military green cotton coat and read a magazine, one of those cheap erotic magazines with covers featuring scantily clad women.
Shaanxi History Museum
He walked silently towards the street corner, one hand carrying a bag and the other holding a trunk. The trunk was heavier than the bag, causing one of his shoulders to sag under the weight.
Thus, my morning temper was greater than usual. I opened the store door and, while passing through the grocery section, I was careless and knocked over two eggs. The shells shattered, and the egg liquid spilled all over the floor, making it impossible to distinguish between the egg whites and yolks—having been unsold for too long, they had all gone bad and turned murky
At this point, the tone suddenly became alert yet eager: "Why are you asking this? Have you seen it too?"
There are many eye-catching Land Rover Hummers on the road, which can attract the attention of beautiful women, but for him, a car is a tool for use, and it should be able to save lives in emergencies. The fact that this car is still around is also a matter of luck—during the "Black Camellia" event, a major brand car dealer sponsored it, and for the sake of advertising effect, he could not drive his own car
The car was given to him by Kong Yang several years ago. After receiving it, Chang Dong spent almost half the price of the car on modifications. The Gobi Desert is not a rural road; the desert can easily trap vehicles, and the vast salt crusts of the Lop Nur can wear down tires to a pitiful state, resembling the damage done by a dog chewing on them.
Fei Tang wanted to curse: The antique business has been difficult to manage over the past two years. He opened a small storefront to sell miscellaneous goods, hoping to find some supplementary income. However, he did not expect the same downturn; every day of operation results in losses. If this continues, when will he ever become wealthy?
He entered a fast food restaurant at the intersection and chose a seat by the window for easier observation
The long-suppressed smell of plastic surged forth, revealing a bundle of thick black PVC body bags, without needing to count, there were eighteen of them, along with a bag of miscellaneous items, some belonging to him and others to Kong Yang
Chang Dong's luggage is minimal; he has only a single handbag, which is even more deflated than the one he brought with him.
When Ye Liuxi finally left, Fei Tang's heart raced like a drum: the thirty yuan ticket to the treasure museum, so many priceless items, she did not look at the dancing horse with a cup in its mouth, nor the incense ball and silver sachet, why did she only focus on the beast head agate?
After installing the anti-roll bar, raising the vehicle's body, replacing it with all-terrain large tires, and equipping it with an electric winch, the originally robust and handsome off-road vehicle has taken on a somewhat clumsy appearance. Kong Yang finds it not aesthetically pleasing enough, while Chang Dong responds that practicality is what matters.
Fat Tang squinted at the edited video: Ye Liuxi walked neither fast nor slow, without pausing, following the guidance, and made his way into the Treasure Pavilion
In this day and age, those who deal in antiques can no longer rely solely on their eloquence; they must possess a certain level of "cultural literacy." They should diligently study the Feitang books and frequently visit the Shaanxi Museum for self-cultivation. When engaging with clients, they often take the opportunity to reference the museum: "Look at this painted female figurine with Hu makeup; it is almost identical to the one preserved in the Shaanxi Museum..."
It is unknown whether Fat Tang and the others continued watching that video. At 4 minutes and 12 seconds, when he was struck by a brick and blood was streaming down his face, he hoarsely said, "I will find a way to help them collect the bodies"
Fei Tang held his breath.
The sweetness is accompanied by a spoiled sour taste
Fat Tang shook his head, finished the milk in a few gulps, and as he threw the milk carton into the trash can, he thought: This thing must be worth a lot of money.
As evening approached, Chang Dong was certain that he would not observe anything further and called the waiter to settle the bill
In the Treasure Pavilion, people come and go; in front of the display case of the beast-head agate, the commentator arrives and departs, and several groups of people have passed by, yet Ye Liuxi remains in place.
He took out the photograph from the inner pocket of his clothing
I played a round of Mahjong online again, and halfway through I became distracted: what if it were real, even if I only gained a little bit...
Upon entering Qizhen Town, it was discovered that tourism development has indeed brought considerable progress to the local area: the road outside the bus station has been constructed to a scale typical of small to medium-sized cities, with a full range of convenience stores, auto parts shops, and fried chicken fast food chains available
Chang Dong said: "I am a rather dull person and have no particular hobbies. Just give me this box; during my free time, I can carve leather and practice stitching to pass the time."
Chang Dong walked to the side of the car, where a dried rose was inserted beside the exterior rearview mirror. It had turned a dark brown color, and as he reached out to touch it, the brittle fragments flew into the air
Later, Kong Yang passed away. He sold his property and left behind this car, sealing it at that time, thinking that perhaps one day it would be needed.
Chang Dong found a hotel to stay in and bought a new map of Naqi District. The original plan was to explore the entire town, but fortune smiled upon him; in just over half an hour, he encountered Ye Liuxi.
Dust fell in a flurry, instantly turning his hair gray, as the sunlight passed by, causing the dust to dance wildly
Fei Tang casually clicked into the email and opened the video
The town is located on the border of Menggan Province, where the Mongolian and Han populations coexist, having nearly undergone Sinicization. Driving out from the small town, it is not far to the Tengger or Badain Jaran deserts. Additionally, in recent years, many ruins of ancient Western Xia cities have been discovered in the surrounding area, making the town a new popular destination along the northwest route. However, the facilities in the town are inadequate, and with an increase in tourists, both daily life and transportation have become inconvenient, resulting in a chaotic and disorderly environment.
He relied on his memory to find the place, stopped in front of a large storefront, took out his keys to open the automatic rolling shutter door, and forcefully lifted it up
As soon as that woman left, I suddenly realized that I had been saying that the beast-head agate is a unique item in the country, but it is a wine vessel. Even if it is for the emperor—there are dragon robes and phoenix robes, theoretically it should be a pair
At a dirt road by the highway junction, the trunk of a car was open, set up as a stall, with a pile of green-skinned Hami melons inside. It is now the season for late-maturing green-skinned melons to be on the market, considered a local specialty, with roadside melon stalls lined up one after another.
He is as familiar with the layout of the exhibition halls there as he is with the shelves in his own home
Changdong spent three days traveling to Naqi Town
That person was extremely frustrated: "The beast-head agate is so famous, it is housed in the Shaanxi Museum. When you see it for the first time, you would definitely think it is a counterfeit and wouldn't consider it to be genuine, plus they are not selling it either"
He lacked Changdong's patience, the progress bar moved back and forth, he skimmed through hastily, until he suddenly saw a familiar facade.
Xiao He sighed, feeling that the matter of Chang Dong's return was most likely hopeless
Being beautiful has its advantages; her business is much better than the nearby stalls
A SUV is parked inside the room
Beast-head agate cup
Having finished washing up, with the sun already high in the sky and no customers arriving, Feitang took some bread and milk from the shelf for breakfast, eating while opening the computer, preparing to log onto QQ to play a few rounds of Mahjong to alleviate the current gloom.
The waitress in the store had a face full of disdain, and each time she delivered the meal, she did so with a scowl. Chang Dong initially thought it was due to the lack of service awareness typical of people from small towns, but only upon settling the bill did he realize that was not the case
After putting away the luggage, Chang Dong sat in the driver's seat. While clearing out the glove compartment, he found a piece of expired chocolate candy, which had been through two years of seasons, melted and solidified again, losing its shape. He unwrapped the packaging and slowly chewed the candy.
At noon, she went to a nearby restaurant to buy a boxed meal, sitting on a stool and eating with a spoon. A stray dog wagged its tail and approached her, and she picked up a piece of rib from the lunch box and threw it over.