Chapter Four: Rules and Boundaries

On second thought, I decided to let it go. I had already concealed the envelope from my father; if I tried to manipulate things with the photographs again, I’d never forgive myself. Besides, it might tip him off that something was amiss.

So I covered up with a laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking, that fat bastard took so many burial relics from the tomb—when he sells them, shouldn’t we get a cut of the profits?”

At the mention of that fat man, my father broke into a chuckle. “You worry about things like that? Damn it, the more I look at you, the more you take after a thief.”

“Like father, like son. Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and turtles… well, you know how it goes,” I replied offhand.

He promptly flicked me on the head. “Watch your tongue! In the Yuan family, there are only dragons, none of that other nonsense.”

I gave a sheepish grin. “Father, I have to return to Yanjing anyway. When I’m there, I’ll track him down and make sure we get our share. We can’t let him walk away with all the spoils.”

This time, the fat one really made the biggest haul. Just thinking about him stuffing his pockets made my blood boil.

My father waved his hand dismissively. “No need. Cao Jin from the Cao family has a bit of a reputation up north. He knows the rules of the trade.”

“What rules?” I asked.

“There are plenty, both written and unwritten, in this line of work. But in the end, only a few old hands like us truly respect them. Those who dabble on their own don’t care about rules—if they can get their hands on burial relics, they’ll do anything. But people like that never amount to much. Unless they’re incredibly lucky, most don’t survive more than five years in the business.

As for Cao Jin, what happened this time is called ‘dividing the pig’s leg.’ The relics he took out are the pig’s legs. Since he entered the main tomb chamber with us, the rule is that everyone who contributed gets a share of the relics, no matter who did more. A pig has four legs, so we get a quarter of the take.”

“That’s a new one for me,” I said, genuinely intrigued.

“That’s not all. Since your father showed him the way and helped him find the relics, he owes me a guide’s fee—another quarter share.”

I laughed, but couldn’t help but feel skeptical. “Do you really think that fat bastard will hand over half the money?”

My father burst out laughing. “That depends on how he conducts himself. It’s supposed to be half, but as long as he gives us close to that, no one in the trade will call him out. But I promise you, once he’s sold off those relics, he’ll deliver at least half the proceeds, if not more.”

“Father, you have too much faith in him.” I shook my head, recalling the fat man’s sly grin.

“It’s not about faith, it’s about profit.” My father smiled. “Cao Jin may have made a name for himself in Yanjing, but he’s still a lone operator. He’s not our equal. He’s a smart man—he knows better than to burn bridges with the Yuan family. When I let him in on the job last time, I was dropping him a hint. He knows outsiders aren’t welcomed into the Yuan family’s inner circle. I’m sure he understood what I meant.”

“Oh…” It dawned on me. “No wonder you seemed so indifferent to those relics—you’d already made arrangements.”

My father gave a sly smile. “When it comes to money, I never make a losing deal. But…” He sighed, a note of regret in his voice. “This time, we still lost two of our own, even if it was indirectly.”

“Father, they’re gone now. Don’t dwell on it,” I tried to comfort him.

Suddenly, my father’s sorrow turned to anger. “Damn it, it was all because someone leaked information. If word hadn’t gotten out, nothing would have happened. Now the whole world’s talking about the Map of the Four Rivers. I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

At that, I was reminded of the group I’d run into at the foot of the mountain. My second uncle had mentioned a lot over drinks a few days prior. I knew the Li family—who supported old Shun—was a powerful force here. If the two families ever clashed, it would be a bloody affair. Still, my uncle said such things rarely happened unless absolutely necessary. What came next would depend on how my father’s talks with the head of the Li family went.

“Father, I remember old Shun gave you something last time. What was it?” I asked, recalling the odd look on my father’s face when he accepted the item. It made me uneasy.

He shook his head. “Trust that Li Sanlang to resurrect tricks from the Republic era.”

“The Republic era?”

He nodded. “Yes… The Four Government Offices, the Outer Eight Guilds, the Old Nine Gates, the Thirteen Roads—these are things I only heard your grandfather talk about. They were rules all the old tomb raiders abided by. Our family has always been tied up with these traditions. Even now, we have to respect some of them, pointless as they may be. The whole trade is watching; if we break these rules, the hierarchy falls apart. The old families are ‘old’ because of their seniority. Respect for these things is already fading, but if we don’t uphold the code, the Yuan family’s standing will disappear.”

I was entranced. After a while, I asked, “So, what’s with the cloth pouch they gave you?”

He sighed. “To put it nicely, it’s an invitation to gather in Shanxi. To put it bluntly, Li Sanlang wants to challenge the Yuan family to a duel of skills.”

“A duel?” I thought I had misheard. “Father, do tomb robbers actually hold martial arts tournaments like in the old stories?”

He gave a wry smile. “You’re not the only one who finds it odd. I think it’s absurd too. But if the Li family is inviting me, the other old families must know as well. With the Blue Blood Dragon Pattern and the Map of the Four Rivers involved, I suspect they’re planning a grand spectacle.”

A duel between tomb raiders? What could they possibly compete in? How fast they get in or out? Who’s better at digging a tunnel?

Then a thought struck me. “Hey, Father, maybe the Li family’s actually taken a liking to you. Since you’re single, maybe this is a marriage contest, and they want you as a son-in-law?”

“Nonsense!” My father shot me a glare. “Even if I were to remarry, it’d be to a proper young woman. The Li family’s full of rogues—no good ever comes from their women.”

He spoke so earnestly, I almost forgot what business I was in myself. I couldn’t help but think: Old man, maybe you really are considering taking another wife.

“Well, at least the Li family’s brought things out into the open,” he continued. “As long as it’s a fair fight, things won’t get out of hand… Enough of that. Yuanzi, pack your things.”

After that, we checked out of the hotel, had a hearty meal at a restaurant, and then my second uncle arranged a few cars. We left Gulin in groups for safety. My father, Qin Feng, Erlengzi, and I were the last group to set off for Chengdu around three in the afternoon. On the way, my father and Qin Feng said their goodbyes, leaving only Erlengzi to accompany me back to Yanjing.

At Chengdu’s Shuangliu Airport, Erlengzi said he couldn’t fly any further. He gave me contact details for the Yuan family’s connections in Yanjing, then hailed a taxi and left.

Sitting in the terminal, I felt as if I had just woken from a dream. Suddenly, I remembered that I’d come home to join my father in visiting my grandfather’s grave. Now my father wouldn’t let me go back, and with so many offspring, who knew if anyone would visit to clear the weeds this year?

Just then, a boy of seventeen or eighteen approached me.

“Do you need something?” I asked, eyeing his shifty expression. Was he planning to mug me in the airport lounge?

To my surprise, he spoke in a Beijing accent. “You’re the young master of the Yuan family, right? My boss sent me to wait for you.”

“Your boss?” I thought, I don’t know any bosses in Yanjing.

He looked a bit simple-minded and didn’t say anything else, just pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Once the call connected, he handed me the phone. I watched him warily for a long moment before putting the phone to my ear.

“Hello, who is this?” I asked, thinking, With that ‘young master’ address, he must be from the trade.

There was a sound of smacking lips on the other end—I could tell right away the caller was eating Beijing roast duck. Then a familiar voice came through.

“Missy, you’ve already forgotten your fat uncle? Heartless as ever.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, if it isn’t you.” It was the fat man.

“How come you’re only just getting to the airport? I’ve been waiting for you for three days,” he grumbled, still wolfing down roast duck. I could almost smell it through the receiver.

“What are you waiting for me for? We’re not that close. And who waits for someone by stuffing their face? Careful you don’t choke.” Helpless, I could only mock him.

“Tsk, told you you’d never make it in Yanjing. By the way, where’s your old man?”

“Gone.” I had no idea what this fat man was up to, getting someone to meet me at the airport, so I was on guard.

“Just as I thought,” he chuckled. According to my father, the fat man would try to contact him, but from the sound of things, he didn’t seem to have that intention. I was losing patience. “What are you up to? If there’s nothing, I’m hanging up.”

“Wait, wait—” he lowered his voice. “I’ve got a big job I want to discuss with you.”