My third uncle started wandering the streets when he was in his teens. Having seen a lot of things, he usually plans everything thoroughly. Like last time, when we were going to flip a coin, he prepared a lot of stuff. Sometimes I think he’s too cautious; eighty percent of the gear he brought last time went unused. I didn’t expect him to be so reckless this time, just grabbing a box and running off. I saw that I couldn’t stop him, so I shouted, “Be careful!” He just yelled back in response and ran into the elevator.

Just then, a service staff from a foot massage center in a hotel came up to me to settle the bill. Seeing this scene, he laughed and said, “Your uncle is even more reckless than you, having flipped over already, and you still have to keep an eye on him.” I couldn’t explain, so I just smiled and took the bill. When I looked at it, my face darkened; it turned out to be over four thousand. I cursed silently, “Damn it, that old man went out yesterday to mess around with those unclear matters again.”

Looking at the bill, I felt a bit anxious. I had spent quite a bit of money these days. My third uncle usually has a good amount of cash, but after escaping, the money was flowing out like water. He even donated some to the village that had burned down the forest. Now he was almost out of cash. He’s used to not carrying a card, claiming it’s an old-fashioned habit. These days, he’s been shamelessly using my money and said he would have his company transfer him some, and he would pay me back after that. Now that he’s run off, I started to think about this and wondered if he knew I was running out of money too and decided to flee.

I was feeling quite unhappy. I took out my wallet, and my heart sank. I had gotten used to using quick cash and hadn’t paid much attention; there were only a few bills left in my wallet. Panzi was now in a deep coma, and I didn’t know when he would wake up. Although the doctor said there were no major risks, it mainly depended on his recovery. I figured I shouldn’t expect to leave in ten days or half a month. Panzi was all alone, and it was impossible to find someone to replace me. This little money was definitely not enough for expenses.

The most troublesome part was that a four-digit bill was already staring at me. This was a bit difficult to handle. I smiled awkwardly and said I didn’t have enough cash and could I go get some and bring it back. He saw that I had been paying promptly these days and smiled, “No problem, tomorrow isn’t busy, so you can take your time.”

As soon as he left, I got anxious. I thought of even more things. Damn it, Panzi’s medical expenses in the hospital were four digits every day. With that old man gone, where would I find money to cover it? I couldn’t call my old man; if I did, he would probably yell at me. After all, he had a lot of complaints about me given how poorly business had been these past few years. Now I was learning from the most irresponsible third uncle to flip coins. Forget it, forget it.

I returned to my room, feeling frustrated. Suddenly, I spotted the golden-threaded jade coffin cover still lying in my bag. My third uncle took great care of this thing, wrapping it in four or five layers of oil paper. Looking at it, a rather impulsive thought struck me. I thought that in the next few days, I should really plan things out. Eating and sleeping here every day and running up tabs wasn’t a solution. Why not find an antique market to sell this thing, then get some money to take a tour around Jinan? It wouldn’t be a waste of time.

Thinking about it, it makes a lot of sense. I originally came here with a tourist mindset, but now it feels like I’m investigating the X-Files. What’s the point? Moreover, this matter can’t be dragged out; otherwise, it’s a small issue if I get kicked out, but if Panzi’s medication is cut off, it would be troublesome. Since it’s still not dark outside, I need to get this done quickly.

I thought about going down to the lobby to ask the staff where I could find places dealing in antiques. The staff was very enthusiastic and even accompanied me downstairs, helping me call a taxi. Once I got in the car, I told the driver to take me to where there are lots of antiques. The driver agreed and took me to the Hero Mountain Market. When I arrived, I found that this place had some interesting things.

On the way, I listened to the driver chat away. He said this is a relatively large concentration of antiques and calligraphy products, with many people and quite noisy. However, there are mostly fakes. But if you have nothing to do here, you can chat with the shop owners and boast a little; they are happy to do that.

I got out of the car carrying that heavy jade coffin cover and thought about finding a larger storefront. This item isn’t something an average person can afford. Those big shops must have connections with some larger clients. I could ask them for introductions and give them a two percent commission. I’ve been in this business long enough; no one can fool me. On my way back, I discussed the value of this item with my uncle. He said it’s worth about a million or so, but it’s a case of having a price but no market. It’s hard for someone to be willing to buy something so expensive unless they’re a foreigner, but this item is too large. Big items are inherently harder to sell than small ones. He estimated that if someone really wanted to buy it, he’d be willing to let it go for around eight hundred thousand.

With his words in mind, I felt more assured. I was looking around when suddenly I spotted a shop with a bronze incense burner inside, featuring some carved figures. I felt a jolt of excitement; the figures on it all had big bellies, very similar to the Hai Dou wall paintings my uncle mentioned. I leaned down to take a closer look when the shop owner came out and said, “Oh, you really know your stuff! This is the only valuable item in my shop.”

Hearing his accent, which was a Beijing dialect, I asked him, “What are those carvings about? They look so strange. Is this thing from Hainan?”

Upon hearing that, his expression changed, and he quickly ushered me into his shop, saying, “Today I really met an expert! This item has been here for years, and you’re the first one to notice its significance. Indeed, it’s from Hainan.”

It’s certain that someone in the antique business has a sweet tongue. Looking at his expression, I couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or just trying to sell me the item. I didn’t have much information on hand, and pretending to be an expert would definitely expose me. So, I said, “I’m not an expert; I’m just someone who has seen this thing in Hainan and found it strange. I don’t even know what it’s called.”

The man invited me to sit down and served me a cup of tea, saying, “You’re being modest. But if you really don’t know, it’s fine. Let me tell you, the carvings on this incense burner depict a type of ghost. They all call this thing ‘Jin Po.’ The origin of this item is quite a story; if you’re really interested, I can tell you more.”

As soon as I saw there was a chance, I hurriedly pretended to be very interested in buying, nodding my head. He made a gesture for me to wait and took the incense burner out of the display window, placing it on the tea table. I immediately caught a whiff of a peculiar fragrance and couldn’t help but be surprised. He chuckled and said, “This scent is quite special, isn’t it?”

I asked, “What kind of spice is in it?”

He opened the lid of the incense burner, and I saw a small black stone inside. I was taken aback, and he smiled proudly, saying, “This is the bone of the ‘Jin Po’ (a mythical figure), and this fragrance is called ‘bone scent.’ It’s a good thing. If you place it beside you while you sleep, I guarantee you’ll sleep comfortably.”

I suddenly felt a bit nauseous and asked, “What exactly is this ‘Jin Po’? Sleeping with her bone is really unethical, isn’t it?”

He chuckled and said, “The ‘Jin Po’ is a broad concept, essentially a general term for something bad. People from that place say they got sick or injured because of the ‘Jin Po.’ It’s hard to describe what she is, but if I had to, I would say she is an evil spirit.”

“Oh, so this is her bone?” I frowned and asked, “Where did this come from? It looks like there’s some sea waste on the lid; it seems like a seafood item.”

He laughed and said, “You still say you’re not an expert! That’s right, this item was fished up by a fisherman who cast his net. However, rarity makes it valuable. Even though there’s a bit of sea waste on it, the price is still not cheap.”

I realized I didn’t have enough money, so I sighed and said, “It’s a pity. I’m someone who appreciates all kinds of things, but I don’t want this seafood. If you really want to sell, why not sell me just the bone scent inside?”

His expression changed, and he smiled apologetically, saying, “That won’t do. If you buy the bone scent, who will I sell the incense burner to?”

I glanced at the item, which had a bit of dust on it, knowing it had probably been sitting there unsold for a long time. Such items are too niche; buying it wouldn’t be a good investment, as those who usually buy for investment don’t like it. In chaotic times, gold is valuable, while in prosperous times, antiques are. Things that can’t be sold are naturally neglected by the shopkeeper. I shook my head; anyway, this item wouldn’t be useful to me. I thought that if I took out the jade coffin cover and showed it to him, if he could find a buyer, I wouldn’t mind him giving it to me. I smiled and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about this for now. I’ll show you something.”

Saying that, I took out the jade coffin cover and revealed a corner for him to see. Whether he was an expert could be gauged by his reaction. As soon as he saw it, his expression changed. Without saying a word, he stuffed the jade coffin cover back and stood up to pull down the shop’s roller shutter. He poured out my cup of tea and brought me another one. Upon smelling it, I realized it was high-quality Tieguanyin tea; it seemed I had moved up a notch.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked, “May I know how to address this craftsman?”

I noticed that he was indeed not just an ordinary antique dealer. His quick reaction showed he recognized that the item was special. I felt the need to be polite and smiled, “My surname is Wu. How should I address you, boss?”

He replied, “You can call me Lao Hai. So, Master Wu, do you intend to sell this item or shall I take a look at it?”

I said, “Of course, I intend to sell it. This item is a bit too hot to handle.”

He walked around the room a few times and asked, “Is it complete?”

I nodded, “You won’t lose a single piece from me; it’s just out of the pot and still hot.” He sat down and said softly, “Master Wu, I’m a straightforward person. I dare say that among all of Hero Mountain, I’m the only one who would dare to take this thing. However, there’s no need for me to argue with you about it in a serious manner; treasures don’t come with a price tag. Just tell me honestly how much you’re willing to let it go for, and I’ll give my friend a call to ask.”

I thought for a moment and thought to myself that I had to aim for at least one million. Big Kui’s family should give at least three hundred thousand, and Panzi’s hospital bills would cost at least two hundred thousand. That fat guy had already made it clear that once the item was sold, the money should be sent to him. So, splitting it among us would only leave us with a bit over a hundred thousand each. Remembering that I had risked my life to bring it back, I couldn’t help but feel it was too little. But my third uncle said that this was how things worked in the treasure trade; otherwise, why would so many people keep digging? No matter how precious the item you bring out, if no one buys it, it’s still trash. Therefore, he doesn’t take the really good stuff because even if he did, it wouldn’t sell.

I estimated that one million was about right and made a gesture of one to that old guy. He couldn’t help but feel delighted, but I felt a bit gloomy—had I offered too low? He picked up the phone and quietly stepped into a corner to make a call. After finishing, he was so happy that his face turned red and said, “It’s done! It’s done! Master Wu, you’re lucky; there’s really someone waiting for this thing. One million is not high, and two million is not low. I quoted them one hundred and twenty thousand; what do you think?”

Upon hearing this, I thought to myself that who knows what he actually quoted; he might have doubled it for all I know. However, it was still twenty thousand more than I had expected, which made me feel quite comfortable. I smiled and said, “Then your cut, is it still the old rule?” He chuckled and replied, “To be honest, they’ve prepared a bit more for me over there. You just keep that one hundred and twenty thousand. Given your injury, it’s not easy to bring this out. You need to remember my kindness; next time you have something like this, don’t ask others, just bring it straight to me. Whatever price you want, I’ll raise it by twenty percent for you. You know, my backer is quite wealthy. He takes things that others wouldn’t dare to.”

Seeing that I looked a bit anxious, he quickly said, “Please sit for a moment; I’ll prepare the money for you. This one hundred and twenty thousand—don’t underestimate my little shop; I still have enough in the account. I’ll advance it to you.”

Upon hearing this, I thought he really had a big mouth. As the saying goes, “Of the thirty-six professions, antiques reign supreme,” and it really seemed true. It looked like this guy had some connections, so I hurriedly said, “Wait a minute, what about that forbidden stove? If you’re not taking it, could you give me a discount? I’ll take it all together.”

He chuckled and waved his hand, “If you like this, just take it; consider it a gift from me. To be honest, I got this for just five bucks. All that talk earlier was just to test you.”

Three hours later, with a huge sum of money in hand, I was in such a good mood that I felt like I was floating. On my way back to the hotel, I didn’t even want to look at the doorman. I overheard some people discussing whether I had just won five million, noticing that my eyes were smiling so wide I could barely keep them open. After organizing the money, I settled all my accounts first, then went to the hospital to pay for Panzi’s nursing fees for a month, sent money to the fat guy, and then solemnly transferred my share, along with what my third uncle owed me, all into my own account. Finally, I felt at ease.

In the next few days, I found a beautiful local tour guide and went around various places in Jinan. However, having come from Hangzhou, where I had seen plenty of cultural sites, my interest started to wane the more I looked. Eventually, I decided to go fishing at a fishing factory instead. These past few days have been the most leisurely of my life, but humans are a bit ungrateful; now that I’m comfortable, I actually started to miss the excitement of treasure hunting.

Without further ado, I lived this decadent life for about a week. When I returned from the fishing factory, as soon as I walked in the door, I heard the phone ringing. The only person who knows the number to this hotel is my uncle, so I thought perhaps there was some news about him. I hurriedly picked up the phone, only to hear a stranger’s voice on the other end. The first thing he said was, “Do you know someone named Wu Sanxing?”

Hearing the urgency in his tone, I quickly replied, “Yes, what’s going on?”

The man said, “He’s missing.”

I was taken aback and immediately asked, “What do you mean by confirmed missing?”

He replied, “The ship he was on has lost contact with land for ten days. What is your relationship with him?”

I said, “I’m his nephew.”

He then asked, “Can you get to Hainan as soon as possible?”