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Before Sun Lao Da left, he only took one bronze artifact, saying it was a sample to show to someone. This time was different from usual. There were dozens of bronze artifacts unearthed, and people without enough strength wouldn't be able to take them.
Wang Ba Tuo's plan was to get rid of everything at once, quickly convert them into money, and leave the area.
However, several days passed, and there was still no news, which made our team constantly anxious. We were worried something had happened, wondering if Sun Lao Da had been captured.
During these days, Sun Lao San rarely went out. He locked himself in the hotel room and spent all his time drawing something on blank sheets of paper. I saw him a few times and immediately recognized that the lines he was drawing resembled the stone door of the underground tomb. Sun Lao San had experience with opening self-locking stones, but with such a large and heavy self-locking stone, he was at a loss.
I knew that his obsession with the sealing stone was a form of self-delusion, a way of comforting himself. How could something that even our combined efforts couldn't open be pushed open by Second Brother alone?
It was a form of hysteria.
To put it in simple terms, it's like someone with only ten bucks going into the most expensive clothing store. The staff knows they can't afford anything, but they can't ask them to leave. So, this person keeps trying on expensive clothes, none of which they can buy. Sun Lao San was in the same state right now. We didn't know how to talk him out of it.
On the third day, I went to find Li Jing because I suddenly remembered it was her birthday. I wasn't sure if her family still had debt collectors knocking on their door. Anyway, I was just sitting idly at the hotel, so I decided to go spend her birthday with her and give her a gift.
Back then, portable cassette players were very popular. For the younger generation who hasn't used them, they may not understand, but at the time, anyone who had one was sure to show it off. You'd carry it around with one hand, and the headphones hanging out so everyone could see. You'd be the coolest person, and girls would turn to look at you.
Two songs were extremely popular back then. One was "Mei Fei Xiu Wu" by Sammi Cheng, and the other was "The Girl Across the Street, Look Over Here" by Richie Jen. The songs from later years, like "Mouse Loves Rice" and "Seeking Buddha," wouldn't become popular until years later.
I spent several hundred to buy a Sony cassette player at a music store. Of course, I had to buy some tapes as well. At that time, these things were expensive, and the Japanese companies made a lot of money selling them.
The money I used came from Wang Ba Tuo's budget. I hadn't spent all of it, and I felt a little pained by the cost.
At the turn of the millennium, the "burial love family" style was all the rage. The "Shamate" hairstyle with torn jeans was ridiculous, but Li Jing seemed to be very interested in this style.
When I got to her place, her mother had gone to work at the river office, and Li Jing was home alone.
"Here you go, Li Jing. Happy Birthday, may you grow more beautiful!" I handed her the cassette player as soon as I walked in.
"Thank you!" Li Jing blushed as she accepted the cassette player. For a moment, there was an awkward silence between us, as we both remembered what had happened in the small hotel. I had run away out of fear that night.
After a few moments of awkwardness, Li Jing suddenly looked up at me. "Yun Feng, you went to school at No. 1 High School, right? I'm doing some problems for my homework. There are a few math equations I don't understand. Can you help me? My mom also said you could help me with my studies."
I immediately turned pale.
How could I help with math? I wasn't even a student at No. 1 High School. I had lied to her. I didn't know any math equations, but I did know tomb robbing techniques, though I didn't dare teach her that.
I took the paper, looked at the strange scribbles and incomprehensible characters, and broke out in a cold sweat. I couldn't understand anything.
She handed me a pen. "How do I solve this, Yun Feng? Can you write the steps for me?"
I remember I wrote something on the paper, but I've completely forgotten what it was. I think I drew a circle, then a square—just random scribbles.
When Li Jing saw my "work," her mouth dropped open in confusion. She asked me what method I used.
I lied, saying that it was something from later lessons. I told her that once she got to that part of the course, she would understand.
As we were talking, two of Li Jing's classmates came to celebrate her birthday—two boys. One of them had dyed his hair entirely red, except for a small patch on his forehead that was dyed yellow. He wore chain-link pants, a typical "Shamate" teenager.
"Li Jing, happy birthday!" The boy with yellow hair handed her a small cake.
Li Jing quickly accepted it. "Thank you, Wang Qiang. You really shouldn't have spent so much on me and even bought me a cake."
The yellow-haired boy flicked his hair, "It's no big deal. A piece of cake is nothing."
Looking at this yellow-haired boy, who was about the same age as me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
It was just a damn cake, maybe worth thirty bucks at most. My Sony cassette player cost over eight hundred. Li Jing didn't even mention the cost when accepting the gift from me, but this cake was treated like it was something special.
"Come on, I'll take care of it. Let's go to the Xingxing Restaurant by our school. I've reserved a table for you, Li Jing," the yellow-haired boy said, looking smug as he glanced at me.
"Thank you, Wang Qiang. I haven't eaten yet, let's go," Li Jing grabbed my arm.
Seeing this, the yellow-haired boy looked displeased and kept glaring at me.
Xingxing Restaurant was right across from the Third High School. It mainly catered to school leaders and wealthy students, and it was considered a luxury restaurant in the area. Among students, it was only second to KFC.
Wang Qiang was trying to impress Li Jing, and I guess he spent a lot of money on this meal. Later, I guessed he probably spent an entire week's worth of food money on it.
During the meal, something amusing happened that I just have to share with you. I swear, it's almost like one of Xiao Shenyang's skits.
When it was time to order:
Wang Qiang asked for a plate of garlic scallops. The waiter replied that they were sold out.
Wang Qiang frowned and asked for a plate of white-cut chicken. The waiter said that they couldn't get any chickens because the market was closed.
Wang Qiang slammed the menu on the table: "What do you have at Xingxing Restaurant?!"
The waiter smiled and said, "We have authentic home-cooked dishes."
So, we ordered authentic home-cooked dishes: five dishes in total, including sour and spicy shredded potatoes, Mapo tofu, Kung Pao chicken, braised eggplant, and scrambled eggs with chives. We also ordered three bottles of Gatorade.
Obviously, Wang Qiang didn't order me any Gatorade.
"Here, to wish Li Jing a happy birthday," Wang Qiang said as soon as the food arrived, raising his glass.
"Yun Feng, you drink mine," Li Jing handed me her bottle.
"No need, I'll buy my own if I want to drink," I pushed it back to her.
Seeing us quietly talking, Wang Qiang snidely commented, "Hey, kid, look at what you're wearing, and your hair is so outdated. Have you ever had Gatorade? Ha ha."
I was about to stand up and snap back, but at that moment, a familiar voice came from the restaurant entrance.
"Yun Feng? What are you doing here? I saw your face earlier, you seemed off. What happened?"
Seeing the group of people walking over, I quickly stood up.
"It's nothing, Yu Jie. I'm just having a meal with some friends."