As I walked, I said to Uncle Ming, "I never expected you to be playing games with us from the very beginning, with hardly a decent item in your house. This time, consider us unlucky; we'll only take these things that can't even see the light of day, giving you a huge discount. We're settled now, and after we eat, we really should go our separate ways. I have no doubt that Shirley Yang will handle Ah Xiang's affairs without any issue. As the saying goes, a grown daughter is hard to keep; I don't think she plans on coming home with you anymore, so you won't have to worry about her from now on."

Uncle Ming replied, "Brother Hu, why are you being so formal? Even though our marriage arrangement didn't work out, we shared life and death for so many days; how can that be just an ordinary friendship? I'm not planning on becoming a lama in Tibet anymore, so naturally, we'll need to keep in touch. I'll treat you to this meal, and we can discuss future business while we eat..."

My mood soured. Fatty was clearly determined to stick with me. We had arrived at the crossroads where Fatty's restaurant was located. When I saw it was a simple place selling zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), I quickly diverted Uncle Ming's conversation, saying to everyone, "Uncle Ming is very kind to invite us for a meal, but it's getting late. Let's not bleed him dry; let's just make do with some late zhajiangmian here. Uncle Ming, you've been in Beijing quite a while, haven't you? Are you used to Beijing cuisine?"

The moment food was mentioned, Fatty got excited. Before Uncle Ming could speak, he jumped in, "Beijing has ninety-nine snacks and three hundred and thirty main dishes; I can let you eat until you can't get enough. To be immodest, I've tasted practically everything. But Fatty still has a soft spot for mutton: Donglaishun's boiled mutton, Kaorouji's roast mutton, Bai Kui's stewed mutton, and Yueshengzhai's braised mutton. These four masters of boiling, roasting, stewing, and braising have truly perfected the flavor of mutton. Since Uncle Ming is treating, we can hardly refuse such hospitality; why don't we go to Kaorouji? Eating zhajiangmian is just too dull."

Uncle Ming was likely genuinely poor now. Hearing Fatty suggest Kaorouji, he quickly said, "We eat roast meat all the time; we're tired of it. Chaogeda (stir-fried dough pieces), zhajiangmian, and the specialty, shuixue pian (a type of noodle soup)—these are Beijing's three great flavors. I've heard about them in Nanyang for ages but never had the chance to try them. Let's eat them together now."

As they spoke, the four of us stepped into the restaurant. The place wasn't large; it was the most common kind of zhajiangmian shop you could find anywhere in Beijing, and the environment wasn't particularly clean. At this hour, there were a few scattered diners. We picked a clean table, sat down around it, and ordered a few bottles of beer and Erguotou. Soon, the waiter brought a large bowl of noodles for each of us. Fatty was a bit displeased, muttering that Uncle Ming was too stingy.

Big Gold Tooth was in high spirits today. Eating his zhajiangmian, he lectured the group, "Actually, chaogeda and shuixue pian are foods for the poor old Beijingers, but zhajiangmian has ways for the poor and ways for the rich. If you really get particular about eating zhajiangmian, following the top-tier method, it can be quite refined. Whether it’s exquisite or not mainly depends on the mianma (toppings). If you want the toppings complete, they must also be fresh. Green soybean sprouts, toon sprouts, blanched and chopped chives; minced celery, shredded lettuce, two cloves of dog-tooth garlic split open; bean sprouts with the roots removed, shredded cucumber tops with the prickly skin still on; a few piles of 'heart-good' radish, chopped and diced blanched yardlong beans, small radishes with their green tops; a drizzle of chili oil, and mustard sauce to sting the nostrils. Though zhajiangmian is just a small bowl, the toppings require seven dishes and eight bowls."

Uncle Ming listened and repeatedly praised him, giving Big Gold Tooth a thumbs-up: "So, Gold Tooth Boy not only has keen eyesight but also understands the way of gastronomy. Everything you say is structured; you truly are a man of many talents. Now that you've explained it, even the Emperor couldn't eat it any better. This zhajiangmian is truly wonderful." Uncle Ming used this as a segue to address me: "I have a brilliant idea. With my business acumen, Gold Tooth Boy's sharpness and expertise, Fatty's formidable strength, and Brother Hu's secret technique of fenjindingwei (dividing metal and fixing location), almost everyone has the talent to stand alone. If our group could join forces for development, we'd be a golden combination. As long as we're willing to work, opportunities abound; earning heaps of money won't be hard. Life is but a brief moment for humankind; who doesn't want to become rich and noble in this lifetime? If we don't gamble now, when will we?"

Big Gold Tooth was moved by Uncle Ming's stirring words. He asked me, "Master Hu, I mean the same thing. Business in Panjiayuan is impossible now; there are more fakes and fewer genuine items. Relying on dealing in this stuff for a living will certainly lead to starvation sooner or later. Though I have insight, how many real things can I really acquire just by digging around? I hear there are many ancient tombs in the mountains of Hubei and Hunan. We should seize this opportunity to pull off a few big scores, and we won't have to worry about food and drink for the rest of our lives."

My mind was made up, but I still needed to hear Fatty's thoughts. So I asked Fatty, "Uncle Ming and Big Gold Tooth have spoken from the heart. Little Fatty, why don't you share what your intentions are for the future?"

Fatty lifted his beer bottle and took a few big gulps, saying casually, "By rights, I'm destined to be a willing servant, born to serve the people, always playing the subordinate no matter where I am; this whole life I've just been a hired gun for others. But since the conversation has led here, I’ll speak frankly. I say, Old Jin and Uncle Ming, it’s not that I’m criticizing you two, but you're both being too meek. You aren't fools, but the problem is, you shouldn't treat others like fools either. If we were to partner up for tomb raiding, with your temperaments—one with chronic asthma and the other an old man full of schemes—who would be doing the back-breaking, dirty work of digging holes and crawling in and out? And the life-risking jobs... aren't those all for me and Old Hu? I'm telling you, if you two want to go tomb raiding, go ahead and partner up yourselves; no one's stopping you. But as far as tomb raiding goes, we're bored with it. From now on, Fatty wants to go to America and make foreign money."

Fatty's words were blunt and immediately choked Uncle Ming and Big Gold Tooth into silence. Big Gold Tooth stared blankly for a long time before asking me, "Master Hu, is this... is this true? Have you really decided to go to America with Miss Yang? Then... then what's so great about America? Even though America's material civilization is advanced, it doesn't have everything. I won't mention other places, but just look at our Beijing: the bright moon over the Temple of Heaven, the wind on the Great Wall, the lions of Lugou Bridge, the pines of Tanzhe Temple, the Drum Tower in front of Dongdan and Xidan, the Five Altars, Eight Temples, and the Summer Palace, Dashilar in front of Wangfujing, Panjiayuan and Liulichang—no matter how magnificent America is, can it have these places? Never. Besides, how could you bear to leave these relatives and good old friends?"

I saw Big Gold Tooth becoming genuinely emotional the more he spoke. Although Big Gold Tooth was a shrewd merchant, he was different from Uncle Ming; he shared common experiences with me and Fatty. We were all educated youths sent down to the countryside back in the day. Regardless of whether we knew each other then, mentioning being sent down forged an immediate bond, a sense of kinship from sharing the same fate. Fatty had just equated Big Gold Tooth with Uncle Ming, which was a bit excessive. While Big Gold Tooth certainly wanted us to get rich, he was truly reluctant to part ways with us. So, I said to Big Gold Tooth, "Old Jin, as the saying goes, it's hard to leave one's homeland. I'm also reluctant to leave China, reluctant to leave this land soaked in the blood and tears of my comrades, and even more reluctant to leave my family and partners. But when we were in Tibet, I realized that Fatty and I didn't know anything besides tomb raiding. Our way of thinking can no longer keep up with the progress of society; that's a tragedy, I must admit. Moreover, having been to so many places and seen so many secret artifacts in ancient tombs, I've come to realize that some things are best left buried forever."

Since ancient times, most Mojin Xiaowei (tomb raiders) chose to enter monastic life after completing their tasks, spending their remaining years with dim lamps and old Buddhas. This is because, after experiencing so much, one eventually develops an insight: trading one's life for money isn't worth it. The funerary objects in tombs are inanimate things; they only gain value because of people's desire to possess them. Risking one's life for objects deep underground is too costly. Although gold, stone, and jade artifacts are wonderful, they are not as precious as one's own life.

Furthermore, the most significant point is that valuable things are the root of all evil. Almost every funerary object in an ancient tomb is worth a fortune. If one successfully plunders a tomb, they can rake in a fortune. But regardless of the motive—whether they spend it on themselves or use it to help the poor—those artifacts will inevitably enter society, sparking endless covert struggles and bloodshed. For all the sins caused by funerary objects, if traced back to their origin, the ultimate responsibility lies with the Mojin Xiaowei who unearthed them.

I told Big Gold Tooth, "They say life has three sufferings and three joys, but look at the bleak lives of our group—it's been a rugged and winding road. We've endured the hardships we should have, and we've suffered as much as we should have, but even now we're just small business owners, with no real prospects, practically on the verge of being phased out by society. I think we shouldn't pin all our future fate and hope on tomb raiding; if we do, the road ahead will only narrow. We absolutely refuse to bow to fate, so Fatty and I are going to America to start over in a new environment, learn new things, and implement the 'General Line and General Task' in all our work, to create a life that is different from the present."

Fatty asked curiously, "What's the General Line and General Task? I remember we never set any such plan. Don't just come up with things on the spot."

I replied, "I only remembered after seeing that teacup from the Lushan Conference. From now on, our General Line is to get rich, and our General Task is to make money. I hear there's a place in the Chinese community in America called 'Little Taipei.' When we eventually make a lot of money, we'll build a 'Little Beijing' over there in the American empire and corrupt those Yankee bastards."

Big Gold Tooth said to me, his eyes filled with tears, "Master Hu is truly a man who does great things. I never dared to dream of such a grand goal. Why don't you take your brother along to build Little Beijing? In the future, we'll make those Yankees change their tune, making them eat cornmeal cakes with Erguotou all day, and smear Wang Zhihe's stinky tofu with chili oil..."

Fatty chimed in, "Take a drag of a Hard Gate cigarette, sing all night after fishing and hunting. Beijing has had three great things since the early years: Peking Opera, candied hawthorns, and siheyuan courtyards. Once Fatty gets rich, I'm going to stick candied hawthorns all over the Empire State Building." The three of us burst into laughter, as if we were already standing on top of the Empire State Building, taking in the scenery of the Manhattan blocks.

After a while of joking, which eased the tension, I asked Big Gold Tooth if he was serious about what he said earlier—did he really want to go to America with us? Big Gold Tooth's father was in poor health, and my family was all retired in the ganxiusuo (cadre rest homes); Fatty had no one else at home. Therefore, Big Gold Tooth couldn't just leave his home and family as we could, especially for a trip across the ocean to America.

Big Gold Tooth said very solemnly, "The reason I advised you not to go to America was because I couldn't bear to lose you two gentlemen! If you go far away, what's the point of me staying in Panjiayuan alone? To be honest, I've seen the light; even if I fiddle around in Panjiayuan for another ten years, it'll still be the same. I've long been thinking about striking gold overseas. Our ancestors left behind countless peerless treasures scattered abroad. If I could make a fortune in America, my first wish would be to acquire a few genuine items—that is my lifelong aspiration. Secondly, I'd bring my old man over to enjoy some foreign comforts for a few days. But I don't have any overseas connections; getting out would be harder than climbing to heaven. Master Hu, could you put in a good word for me with Miss Yang and help me tag along? I hear the United States of America is not only highly advanced in material civilization but also culturally inclusive. Even people skilled in petty thievery and deceit can find a place to use their talents there. Don't you think my little tricks..."

I thought that having more people would be livelier, saving me and Fatty from a monotonous life over there. However, since Shirley Yang wasn't a human trafficker, I could only agree to Big Gold Tooth's request for now, promising to speak to her on his behalf when we returned.

So, Fatty, Big Gold Tooth, and I began planning how to quickly find buyers for the items we had on hand, how much money the three of us could pool together, and where to watch guzhen (ancient corpse) performances after arriving in America... We talked so animatedly that we completely neglected Uncle Ming, who was treating us to zhajiangmian, practically treating him as if he didn't exist. But Uncle Ming couldn't forget himself: "Are you kidding me? Do you think the world in America is that easy to plunder? But then again, a lot of treasures have indeed ended up in America. I hear the most valuable Chinese porcelain in the world—the Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white Chunhua Tianyuan vase—is in the hands of a collector in Los Angeles, and the Qianlong Jade Mountain is also in America; they are all priceless. Maybe I should go with you too. We can figure out a way to bring that vase back. Once we have ample funds, we can even continue the ancient corpse business; that's the fastest way to make money."

I told Uncle Ming, "If you want to go to America, that's your own business; we have no right to stop you. But out of consideration for our shared ordeal—both of us surviving the Gates of Hell in the Kunlun Mountains and returning—I must advise you: at your age, doing some small antiques dealing in America should be enough for your retirement. Don't keep thinking about making a comeback dealing in 'Zongzi' (a slang term for ancient corpses). Didn't you learn your lesson in the Kunlun Mountains this time? Even if you successfully brought back the Glacial Crystal Corpse, you made money, but you lost your wife, and your goddaughter won't stay with you either. All you're left with are two prodigal sons. You should be able to calculate whether that business was a profit or a loss. No matter how valuable a dead body is, it's not as valuable as a living person."

After saying all that, I felt I had done everything I could for Uncle Ming out of goodwill. Seeing that we had eaten and drunk our fill, I bid farewell to Uncle Ming and headed back with Fatty and Big Gold Tooth.