Professor Chen

The day after Hu Bayi and the others left the capital, ... inside Big Gold Tooth's shop...

Big Gold Tooth looked at the man and woman sitting across from him. The man was Professor Chen, and Big Gold Tooth felt at a loss. What had he come here for? Surely he wasn't here to inspect the shop? He knew that a big shot in archaeology like Professor Chen could tell at a glance whether an artifact was genuine.520 official website

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If there were any burial artifacts in his shop, Professor Chen would probably report him.

So he really didn't want Professor Chen coming into his shop. But he had to keep up appearances, so he wore a smile the whole time, as if he were delighted to see him.

"Little Jin, it's been years since we last met, but I still think of you from time to time."

Professor Chen started by appealing to their old acquaintance, then briefly introduced Shirley Yang before getting straight to the point.

"Comrade Little Jin, I won't beat around the bush. I came to impose on you because I have a favor to ask." Professor Chen spoke very politely. It was clear he was humbling himself.

In order to find the ancient tombs buried beneath the sands and locate Jingjue Ancient City, he was practically begging Big Gold Tooth.

Big Gold Tooth was taken aback. What could possibly make a highly educated man like Professor Chen ask him for help? Was the archaeology team short on funds? Did he want to borrow some money?

At the thought of lending money to these archaeology experts, Big Gold Tooth was a hundred times reluctant. Once you've finished excavating the tombs, where am I supposed to get goods to sell? Thinking this, he said tactfully, "Professor Chen, business in antiques is tough these days. I haven't made a sale in years. The deal you saw today is my first in all that time. My family's practically on the brink of starvation, so I..."

His meaning was clear: I'm sorry, but I can't help.

Yang Xueli could see what was going on. The man with the large gold tooth embedded in his mouth was an old fox, afraid someone might ask him for money. But money was no problem for her.

Yang Xueli gave a quiet laugh inwardly, but spoke in a friendly tone. "Mr. Jin, Professor Chen plans to travel to the Western Regions to search for Jingjue Ancient City and conduct archaeological research. I'm funding the expedition."

When Professor Chen had introduced Yang Xueli to Big Gold Tooth, he had only said she was a Chinese American and the daughter of a friend. He hadn't said anything more.

Yang Xueli continued, "We came here hoping you could recommend a few people knowledgeable about feng shui. You can rest assured, Mr. Jin: if the people you recommend meet our requirements, I'll pay each of them ten thousand U.S. dollars. There'll be another ten thousand if we find Jingjue Ancient City. And I'll give you ten thousand dollars as a thank-you."

Big Gold Tooth's eyes narrowed. The American woman had clearly stunned him. He'd never seen anyone spend so freely. After all, in the 1980s, a household with ten thousand yuan was considered wealthy.

At the time, ten thousand U.S. dollars could be exchanged for about sixty-three thousand yuan. Money went a long way then; in a poor rural province, seven or eight thousand yuan was enough to build a two-story house.

To Big Gold Tooth, only a fool would turn down a profitable deal. As soon as he heard there was money to be made, he thought of Hu Bayi and the others. He knew enough about their abilities to be sure they were up to the task.

He just didn't know whether they'd be willing.

Big Gold Tooth smiled. "Miss Yang, are you sure you're offering that much?"

"Shirley is the daughter of a Wall Street tycoon. She inherited the entire estate."

Professor Chen decided to lay his cards on the table and reveal Yang Xueli's identity, so Big Gold Tooth wouldn't keep worrying that he was going to ask for a loan.

Big Gold Tooth was inwardly shaken. No wonder she was so generous.

Then he smiled again. "What a coincidence. I may not have much in the way of antiques, but I've got plenty of friends and brothers in the business—and quite a few of them are capable.

"Two of my brothers are especially talented. One is Hu Bayi, Master Hu. He comes from a respectable military family. His father fought in the south after first resisting the Japanese in the north. After the war against Japan ended, he fought in the civil war, then led his troops south and settled there. When he started a family and his son grew up, the boy went to the countryside as an educated youth, then joined the army. He's been deep in the desert and to Kunlun Ice Mountain. During the border war, he led his troops and sent the enemy fleeing in disarray."

As Big Gold Tooth spoke, he raised his thumb and praised him again and again.

After Big Gold Tooth and the others had gotten to know Hu Bayi, they'd often chatted and boasted about the impressive things their fathers and they themselves had done. So it was only natural that they knew a fair bit about one another.

Big Gold Tooth put particular emphasis on the words "respectable military family." He wanted the intellectual Professor Chen to understand that his friend Hu Bayi was the son of a cadre, not some grave robber.

Big Gold Tooth had clearly gone to a lot of trouble—and it was probably all for that ten thousand dollars!

"Master Hu served in the army for ten years and made it to company commander. But during that counterattack, the enemy surrendered and then suddenly launched a sneak attack, killing his men. He saw red and opened fire on the prisoners with a machine gun. The army dismissed him, but arranged a job for him. He refused and started a business selling cassette tapes instead. He's gone to pick up stock now, so he probably won't be back for a few days."

"Hu Bayi?" Professor Chen and Shirley Yang exchanged a glance. He had certainly had a colorful career: he'd been a company commander, traveled deep into the desert and to Kunlun Ice Mountain, and fought in a war. He'd make a suitable expedition leader.

But that wasn't what they were after. They looked at Big Gold Tooth questioningly. Seeing their expressions, he smiled. "Master Hu comes from an extraordinary family. His grandfather's teacher was a Taoist priest who taught him the art of Dragon Seeking Finger Pointing. He was famous for his feng shui skills. The book was called the Sixteen Character Yin Yang Feng Shui Secret Art. It was a feng shui text, and Master Hu inherited the knowledge from his grandfather. He's very skilled at Dragon Seeking Finger Pointing."

Dragon Seeking Finger Pointing? Professor Chen trembled with excitement. What a talent! That was exactly the kind of person their archaeology team needed.

He turned to Yang Xueli with an excited look. She gave a slight nod and a smile, apparently satisfied with Hu Bayi's abilities. But she wasn't about to take Big Gold Tooth's word for it; she'd need to put him to the test herself.

Yang Xueli asked eagerly, "And the other one?"

Big Gold Tooth glanced at Professor Chen. "You know him too, Professor Chen."

Professor Chen looked puzzled. "I do?"

Big Gold Tooth nodded. "He's Hu Bayi's cousin, Hu Ming—the Hu Ming who studied archaeology at Capital University five years ago."

Professor Chen exclaimed, "It's him!"

Yang Xueli looked at Professor Chen in surprise and asked, "Uncle Chen, what's wrong?"

Seeing her confused expression, Professor Chen smiled wryly and explained, "Hu Ming was a famous prodigy back then. His parents were renowned economists too. I just didn't know he was Hu Bayi's cousin."

Big Gold Tooth nodded. "That's right. Master Ming is truly talented. He also knows the Sixteen Character Yin Yang Feng Shui Secret Art. And he knows quite a lot about the history of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. He even had the good fortune to publish a few articles. Professor Chen, didn't you invite him to join your team back then?"

Professor Chen looked a little embarrassed. "Yes. I asked Hao Aiguo to invite him at his university, but Hu Ming declined."

Big Gold Tooth glanced at Professor Chen. He knew a little about his student, Professor Hao, so he didn't comment.

Professor Chen changed the subject. "Didn't he enlist back then? Has he returned?"

Big Gold Tooth nodded. "He has. He made the same mistake as Master Hu, so he came back with him. Before he left, he'd already made it to deputy company commander. Master Ming is also an excellent fighter. He can take on more than ten people in just a few minutes."

Professor Chen nodded. "That's true. Hu Ming is outstanding at everything he does. I just don't know whether he'd be willing to join us."

Big Gold Tooth gave him a sidelong glance. "I don't know about that. I think it should be fine. Master Ming is open-minded, but he doesn't like people who think they're better than everyone else."

After he finished speaking, Big Gold Tooth glanced at Yang Xueli. He knew Hu Ming would yield to reason, but not to force.

Back then, Professor Hao had gone to Hu Ming's university and ordered him to join their team. Hao Aiguo wasn't even a professor at Hu Ming's university, so Hu Ming hadn't shown him any respect. He'd simply had someone throw Hao Aiguo out.

Because of that, Hao Aiguo had gone to Hu Ming's teachers to try to cause trouble for him. Unfortunately, after the teachers heard Hu Ming's side of the story, all they did was tell him to be more mindful of the university's image in the future.

But the grudge had been formed.

Professor Chen nodded. "Don't worry, Little Jin. I won't let Aiguo make trouble again."

Big Gold Tooth said, "All right. When Master Ming and the others get back, I'll talk to them."

Professor Chen nodded, then got to his feet. "In that case, I'll leave it to you. Shirley and I should get going."

Big Gold Tooth stood up too and saw them out.