Turning Swords into Plowshares

Big Gold Tooth saw Hu Ming's reaction and said timidly, "Master Ming, yesterday I, Big Gold Tooth, was being unreasonable. After all, you know the rules of the antique trade: buy low and sell high. And I admit, I, Big Gold Tooth, was momentarily blinded by greed and took advantage of Master Fatty's price. I know it was my fault. I, Big Gold Tooth, am willing to apologize to you, Master Ming. This is a small token of my sincerity." After saying this, Big Gold Tooth took out a roll of banknotes and placed it in Hu Ming's hand.

Hu Ming took the money and looked at it, estimating it to be three to four thousand. Hu Ming thought to himself, Big Gold Tooth's sincerity is quite good. I like it.

Hu Ming put the money away and said to Big Gold Tooth, "Let your people go. Let's go inside and talk."

Hu Ming actually quite admired Big Gold Tooth. The man was loyal, and being friends with him would be beneficial for Hu Ming and his brothers to establish themselves in the Capital.

However, Big Gold Tooth's mood was not very good at the moment.

"What? Go inside?"

Big Gold Tooth's face turned pale, and he cried out to Hu Ming, "Master Ming, I have elders and young children at home. Please be magnanimous and let me go!"

Seeing this, Hu Ming knew Big Gold Tooth had misunderstood.

Hu Ming said exasperatedly, "What are you thinking? I want you to come in because I have something to discuss with you. Hurry up and come in."

Hearing this, Big Gold Tooth relaxed. He quickly walked inside and, bending over, asked, "Master Ming, what do you need me for?"

Hu Ming replied, "It's nothing much. I graduated with a history degree and also majored in archaeology. My brothers and I might get into this line of work in the future. I'll need your help then."

After speaking, Hu Ming deliberately took a sip of water from his cup, then picked up Hu Bayi's bag and said, "Old Hu, I'm putting the money in your bag, okay?"

Hu Bayi, though a bit confused, nodded.

Hu Ming put the money in the bag and then casually let a corner of the Dragon Seeking Compass peek out. This was precisely what Big Gold Tooth, who had been watching him, saw.

Big Gold Tooth's eyes darted, and he said, "How about this? I'll host. Today, let's all have a good chat. Firstly, it's for me to apologize to my brothers; secondly, it's to celebrate our pleasant cooperation. What do you say?"

At this moment, Big Gold Tooth had completely forgotten the unpleasantness from before. He quickly ushered Hu Ming and the others to the mutton restaurant from yesterday and ordered a table full of good food and meat from the waiter.

Seeing this, Hu Ming was not polite.

During the hot pot meal, Big Gold Tooth kept glancing at Old Hu's Dragon Seeking Compass.

At this point, he seemed unable to hold back any longer.

Big Gold Tooth spoke, "Master Hu, what you're carrying, is it the Dragon Seeking Compass left by the older generation?"

Old Hu took out the Dragon Seeking Compass and said to Big Gold Tooth, "Oh, you mean this?" He looked at the compass in his hand and then at Big Gold Tooth.

Big Gold Tooth immediately said, "Yes, that's it." His gaze was fixed directly on the Dragon Seeking Compass.

Then he couldn't help but ask, "Master Hu, where did you get this thing?"

Hu Bayi replied nonchalantly, "This thing you're talking about was actually left by my grandfather, Mingzi's maternal grandfather. It's been passed down to me."

After hearing Hu Bayi's words, Big Gold Tooth thought for a moment. "Master Hu, if you don't mind, could you let me take a look at this Dragon Seeking Compass? Let me, Big Gold Tooth, have a look."

Hu Bayi was not stingy. "If you want to see it, then see it!"

Upon hearing Hu Bayi's agreement, Big Gold Tooth became somewhat excited. He immediately took the Dragon Seeking Compass with both hands and examined it carefully.

Big Gold Tooth couldn't help but exclaim, "Not bad, not bad! Seeking dragons by looking at mountains, dividing gold and pointing acupoints! To be honest, my ancestors were all tomb raiders. I've understood the ways of antiques since I was young. My father was also a folk tomb raider in his early years.

Later, he was conscripted by a warlord and became a soldier. He sustained a lifelong disability on the battlefield, so when he returned to the Capital, he had no choice but to start an antique business. Unfortunately, the ancestral skills of gold prospecting and tomb raiding were lost by my generation." Big Gold Tooth said this with a look of regret.

At the dinner table, everyone chatted casually.

"Come, come, Master Ming, Master Hu, Master Fatty, eat your meat, drink your wine, drink heartily." At this moment, Big Gold Tooth was piling meat into Hu Ming's bowl and filling his wine cup with sake.

As they drank. Big Gold Tooth looked at Hu Ming. He himself was getting quite drunk, but Hu Ming, after drinking so much strong liquor, was still perfectly fine. Big Gold Tooth couldn't help but admire him inwardly.

Hu Ming looked at Big Gold Tooth and said, "Master Jin, would you like another drink?"

Big Gold Tooth immediately shook his head, speaking of his drinking capacity with fear. He said he was already feeling the effects.

Hu Ming didn't force him and said to Big Gold Tooth, "If you don't want to drink, that's fine. How about we talk about something else?"

As they chatted, the conversation eventually turned to tomb raiding.

At this point, Big Gold Tooth patted his belly, bared his teeth, and said to everyone, "See these gold teeth? They're from the late Ming dynasty, made of cloisonné enamel.

Back then, someone was dealing with a dried corpse, and I got curious and went to take a look. I didn't expect the corpse to be alive and to bite off my teeth! As a result, I got angry and found some people to beat up that big zombie. Look at these teeth, look closely, they were all pulled from that big zombie."

Wang Fatty, who had been eating quietly on the side, looked at the gold teeth in Big Gold Tooth's mouth and felt a little nauseous.

He stopped using his chopsticks and listened as Hu Bayi recounted his experiences as a soldier and a sent-down youth, and the events he encountered in the Kunlun Mountains. Big Gold Tooth repeatedly expressed his amazement.

Big Gold Tooth couldn't help but exclaim, "Master Hu, so you're also an extraordinary person!"

Hearing Big Gold Tooth say this, Old Hu just smiled.