Teahouse

Han Sheng is usually reserved, but he exudes optimism, always wearing a cheerful smile. It's rare to see him so serious, indicating that the appearance of this photo is not a good omen.

Receiving the photo, he spoke solemnly, "Legend has it that rhinoceros is a divine creature, and burning rhinoceros horn can communicate with spirits, while cowhide can ward off evil. The outer coffin of this one is made with lacquer mixed with rhinoceros skin. When freshly buried, it shines like black jade, but it has been a long time. The traditional method involves layering over thirty pieces of rhinoceros skin, and even with a knife, it can only leave an imprint, more durable than stone coffins."

Surprised, I exclaimed, "Over thirty layers? Isn't that too extravagant?"

Han Sheng sighed, "Doing this indicates that the occupant inside is difficult to suppress. Perhaps they were a notorious figure during their lifetime, unsettled even in death, or there were signs of decay before burial, prompting the use of such a coffin to seal them."

"Was this discovered locally?"

Han Sheng responded, "Yes, it's said to have emerged from the mountain. Unfortunately, I didn't witness it; the village head took the photo, and by the time I arrived, they had already tied the coffin with iron chains and sunk it to the bottom of a local mountain lake."

Examining the information provided by Han Sheng, I felt somewhat troubled. Despite his seemingly casual tone, it undoubtedly took him a considerable amount of time to collect this information. However, my fear of that place and the absence of any connections made me reluctant to go. Furthermore, we lacked manpower; transporting equipment with just the two of us would be a challenge.

Unwilling to admit my fear, I reluctantly said to him, "Aren't we too ill-equipped for this? It doesn't seem suitable to proceed like this."

To my surprise, Han Sheng agreed, "Certainly not suitable. The two of us can't even carry the necessary equipment. We need to find Lao He. Besides, you still have the copper coin from Second Master. On this path, few people wouldn't recognize Second Master's coin."

I didn't expect him to suggest this, and considering that I hadn't seen Lao He for a few days, unsure of how he explained Second Master's death to his subordinates, I imagined he must have been troubled during this period. Consequently, I responded, "Alright, let's see if he has any solutions."

Second Master's shop in Beijing was located in the Haiwang Village of Dongliuli Factory. Han Sheng and I took the subway and got off at Hepingmen. Although I hadn't visited the shop frequently, I was certain about its location. However, when we arrived today, the shop was closed. On a big weekend, it shouldn't be closed. I knocked on the door, and after a while, a shop assistant peered through a crack, looking at me and saying, "Uncle Cao, don't you recognize me?"

The young assistant, a orphan taken in by Lao He, had no given name, so we simply called him Nanbei. He recognized me, opened the door, and said, "Uncle Cao, come in quickly."

Passing by him, I teased, "Next time, call me 'Brother.' Where are the others? Why only you left?"

Nanbei closed the door and sighed, "Business has been slow these days, and there's a lot going on. The deputy shopkeeper gave them a break, so now it's just me and Little He running the shop."

Han Sheng and I followed him to the back hall, where Lao He was sitting in the courtyard. Not seeing him for a few days, he seemed noticeably aged.

Without much delay, I explained our purpose. Lao He hesitated for a moment and said, "Since Second Master's departure, the business at home has declined. Several shops on the surface have closed down, and now only this one in the north is barely holding on. Even those less reputable businesses that could continue have also ceased. Heirs scatter when the tree falls; it's the principle of this trade."

"Can't seven or eight people be spared?"

Lao He glanced at Han Sheng, sighed, and shook his head helplessly, "In the past, even if you didn't take any profits, as long as Second Master called, everyone would eagerly grab the opportunity. Now, even if I lower my dignity to organize a team for you, they would likely be a mixed bunch. Forget about working in the field; they might get detained halfway."

I picked up Lao He's white sand bag, lit a cigarette, feeling somewhat exhausted. "So, there's no way."

"There is," Han Sheng interjected.

Listening to their conversation, I realized that the activities of the Cao family, especially its involvement in tomb-robbing, were concealed under the guise of a legitimate antique shop. Although it was a dangerous and illicit profession, they seemed to operate with an unwritten code of conduct. The exchange between Han Sheng and Lao He indicated the complex web of relationships and ethics within this clandestine world.

Han Sheng continued, "We can use the shop's name to support the tomb-robbing activities. Moreover, you still have Second Master's copper coin. On this path, almost everyone recognizes Second Master's coin."

Before Lao He could express his concerns, Han Sheng pointed at me and declared, "If he accepts the coin, he becomes Second Master. If not, he can return it to me. If he takes it, from now until the day he dies, he'll be Second Master, carrying all the responsibilities that come with it."

I was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. The decision seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. I had just come

 here to borrow manpower, and now, unexpectedly, I found myself becoming Second Master. Han Sheng and Lao He's expressions were serious, and the weight of their gazes made me feel like I was stepping into an unfamiliar role.

They were waiting for my response. Caught off guard, I blurted out, "Why not?"

Upon hearing my words, Han Sheng immediately burst into laughter, exchanging glances with Lao He, who also sighed in relief. I, on the other hand, couldn't shake off the feeling of absurdity. It was as if I had suddenly become a martial arts leader after going to a supermarket to buy discounted beer. Had I somehow crossed into a different dimension?

Feeling a bit awkward under their scrutiny, I exclaimed defiantly, "Why wouldn't I dare!"

Han Sheng, hearing my response, laughed heartily. The two of them, with expressions of relief and amusement, signaled that the decision was settled. The situation, however, seemed off to me. Did these two intend to make me the scapegoat and manipulate events to put me in a difficult position, perhaps even set me up to be caught?

Lao He invited me to sit down, affirming that the plan was settled. The shop would provide the initial funding, and Han Sheng and I would represent the shop in the tomb-robbing activities. There was no time to waste; we were to set off in the afternoon.

Skipping over the details, Han Sheng and I took a taxi directly to the tea house mentioned by Lao He.

Although called a tea house, it served as a venue for tomb-robbing activities. Negotiating such deals through phones was unreliable, and face-to-face meetings were essential. This particular tea house, as Lao He had mentioned, was well-known in Beijing and drew various individuals from different backgrounds. Despite the gatherings, there were rarely any disturbances.

The tea house wasn't far from Liuli Factory, located in an old street's alley. The place seemed ordinary, with an open first floor containing the counter and stove. Glancing around, I noticed the sophisticated interior, adorned with paintings and calligraphy. In the center stood a stage, likely used for performances like drum music and cross-talk comedy. Tea patrons, seated in groups, chatted quietly. At a glance, it was difficult to distinguish those there for a simple tea session from those engaging in more clandestine business.

Han Sheng whispered, "Look at the corners of those tables; those with tokens are probably here for tomb-robbing."

Scanning the room, I indeed spotted a couple of tables with items placed at the corners. The hosts, however, remained calm and collected, making it impossible to discern their true intent. One table even had an elderly man with a white beard, joyfully sipping tea and chatting.

Feeling anxious, I placed Second Master's copper coin under the table, wondering if anyone would stealthily snatch it away. Shaking off this irrational thought, I began to feel the absurdity of the situation. I had vowed to avoid such activities, yet here I was, about to embark on a tomb-robbing endeavor.

A hand suddenly rested on my leg under the table, and I heard Han Sheng say nonchalantly, "Don't worry; you're Second Master now."