I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

That evening, Wenren Heng left Qingcheng, and Su Tinglan secretly went to see him off.

The rain had just stopped, and the ground was still wet.

The car was parked at the back gate of the West City Sanatorium.

Master Lai sat on a bench under the eaves, holding a thermos, his eyelids drooping, as if he had just been dragged out of bed.

Before getting into the car, Wenren Heng glanced at Su Tinglan.

"I'm leaving Qingcheng to you."

Su Tinglan nodded.

"I know."

"Don't rush things with Qingshan," Wenren Heng said. "Let's investigate thoroughly before taking any action."

Su Tinglan glanced at the rain.

"Where's Lin Ye?"

Wenren Heng smiled.

"You've seen it, what did you think?"

Su Tinglan: "He's more interesting than the information suggests."

"Being interesting is useless," Wenren Heng said. "The key is whether we can get close to him and make him work for us."

Su Tinglan lowered her eyes.

"I will continue to make contact."

Wenren Heng looked at her, his tone not harsh.

"Don't overact."

Su Tinglan looked up.

Wenren Heng said, "He's not stupid. The more coincidental your actions seem, the more suspicious he'll become. You need to make him feel that you have a problem, but it's not a big one."

Su Tinglan hummed in agreement.

Wenren Heng then looked at Su Tinglan.

"Keep Fang Mancang as is."

Su Tinglan said, "He doesn't know much."

"That's why we let him continue as before," Wenren Heng said. "The more he acts like an ordinary antique shop owner, the better."

Su Tinglan did not respond.

Fang Mancang is indeed ordinary.

His biggest daily annoyance is that his wife won't let him eat braised chicken feet.

But ironically, this kind of person is best suited to be out in the open.

There are many customers coming and going, they are talkative and love excitement, and even minor problems are treated like normal business disputes.

Before Wenren Heng got into the car, he said one more thing:

"If Lin Ye wants to leave Qingcheng, tell me immediately."

"it is good."

The car door closed.

The unlicensed car drove off and quickly turned out of the back gate of the sanatorium.

Su Tinglan stood still, not leaving immediately.

Master Lai slowly stood up.

"Stop looking, they've gone far away."

Su Tinglan folded her umbrella.

"A short-haired girl has appeared next to Lin Ye."

"Was this arranged by Gu Wantang?"

"It should be."

Master Lai yawned.

"Like those from the Qingquetang group."

Su Tinglan turned to look at him.

"You've seen it before?"

"I've met a few," Master Lai said. "They're all stubborn types; once they've chosen a master, they're absolutely obedient."

Su Tinglan frowned.

Is it troublesome?

"It's more troublesome for you." Master Lai walked upstairs with his cup in his arms. "But it's a good thing for Lin Ye. At least someone will take the blame for him."

Su Tinglan remained silent.

She glanced down at her phone.

Lin Ye didn't directly agree to come to Mancang Oldware last night, only saying "we'll see when tomorrow."

cautious.

But I didn't refuse.

This is enough.

Master Lai took a few steps, then turned back and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Submit your resume."

Master Lai was taken aback.

"Really?"

Su Tinglan put her phone away.

"I just came to Qingcheng to stay with my cousin. I can't just sit in the antique shop drinking tea every day."

Master Lai looked at her for two seconds and then laughed.

"You've put on quite a show."

Su Tinglan didn't laugh.

"The more convincing the performance, the less likely it is to be discovered."

On the other side, Lin Ye sat on the edge of the bed and sent a message to Lu Zhixia.

"Professor Lu, I heard you've returned to Beijing?"

After the message was sent, there was no reply for a long time.

Xiaoman stood at the door, chewing on a mint, staring intently at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye felt a little uneasy under her gaze.

"Could you sit down for a while?"

Xiaoman glanced at the only chair in the room.

Do you need it?

"Need not."

Xiaoman sat down.

He sat very upright.

With his hands on his knees, he stood up straight like a model soldier in military training.

Lin Ye looked at her for two seconds.

"Never mind, you can just stand there."

Xiaoman got up.

"I was just saying, why did you actually stand there?"

Xiaoman looked at him.

"Let me stand."

Lin Ye raised his hand and rubbed his face.

"Communicating with you makes me doubt my own ability to express myself."

My phone vibrated.

Lu Zhixia replied.

"Who told you that?"

Lin Ye looked at the five words and smiled.

It's still the same old flavor, no explanations, no small talk.

He replied, "Gu Wantang."

Lu Zhixia: "Mm."

And that was it.

Lin Ye waited for half a minute, then couldn't help but continue typing.

"Is it really a project adjustment?"

This time the return was even slower.

Almost five minutes later, the phone finally lit up.

"WeChat is inconvenient."

The smile on Lin Ye's face faded.

He stared at those words for a while.

"How so?"

Lu Zhixia: "Come to the capital."

Lin Ye sat up a little straighter.

Xiaoman immediately looked over.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Ye didn't answer, but asked again, "When?"

Lu Zhixia: "The sooner the better."

Lin Ye: "Something happened?"

Lu Zhixia: "We'll talk when we meet."

Lin Ye held his phone and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he replied with a single word.

"OK."

Lu Zhixia sent another message.

Don't bring too much stuff.

Lin Ye thought for a moment and replied, "Could you use your brain a little?"

Lu Zhixia: "You have?"

Lin Ye: "..."

He placed his phone face down on the bed.

well.

The person is still in the capital, and their lethality has not diminished at all.

Xiaoman looked at him.

"Are you going to the capital?"

"Um."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tell Miss Gu."

"Know."

Lin Ye sent a message to Gu Wantang.

"Lu Zhixia asked me to go to the capital, saying that WeChat is inconvenient."

Gu Wantang replied quickly.

"Go."

"Let Xiaoman come along."

Lin Ye looked at Xiao Man.

"Miss Gu wants you to come with her."

Xiaoman nodded.

"Um."

"How can you not be surprised at all?"

"That's how she'll arrange it."

"You know her quite well."

"The commands follow a pattern."

Lin Ye thought for a moment.

Also.

Lin Ye went to the security booth and told Uncle Zhao.

Uncle Zhao is boiling water.

Upon hearing the words "the capital," he paused for a moment.

"Running around again?"

"Lu Zhixia is looking for me," Lin Ye said. "It's probably something important."

Uncle Zhao put the electric kettle back on its base.

"The important things you're talking about right now don't sound like good news at all."

"Uncle Zhao, your statement is very unlucky."

Uncle Zhao ignored him.

He opened the drawer, rummaged around for a while, and finally found an old amulet.

The red cloth has been worn white and the edges are frayed.

He threw it in front of Lin Ye.

"Take it."

Lin Ye was stunned for a moment.

"What is this?"

"Your aunt prayed for it at the temple before," Uncle Zhao said. "It's not worth much, but it gives her peace of mind."

Lin Ye held the amulet tightly.

The red cloth was old, but the stitches were still there.

He put the items into the inner pocket of his wallet.

Thanks.

Uncle Zhao snorted.

"You're welcome. Come back soon and make up for your night shift."

Lin Ye had just begun to feel a little moved, but it was instantly replaced by his usual self.

When Xiaoman returned to her dorm to collect her belongings, she had already packed her small black bag.

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Don't you need to pack your luggage?"

"I've put it away."

"This is the bag?"

"Enough."

He glanced at Xiaoman's small black bag and didn't ask any further questions.

He put his phone in his pocket, then suddenly remembered something.

"Let's not buy tickets yet."

Xiaoman looked up.

Why?

"Go to Nanqiao."

"The Fatty's Antique Shop?"

"Um."

"Looking for Su Tinglan?"

"No." Lin Ye touched the tip of his nose. "It wouldn't be right to go to the capital to see Teacher Lu empty-handed."

Xiaoman looked at him.

"Why is it bad?"

Lin Ye was stumped by her question.

This matter is actually quite complicated to explain.

He thought about it.

"She has helped me a lot in the past, so I'm going to see her now, bringing a small gift as a way of expressing my gratitude."

Xiaoman nodded.

"You like her?"

Lin Ye almost choked on his own saliva.

"Are you all so blunt?"

"We need to determine the relationship."

"A friend," Lin Ye said. "A very proper friend."

Xiaoman responded with an "oh".

I don't really believe it.

Lin Ye was too lazy to explain.

In the afternoon, the two went to Nanqiao again.

The door to the warehouse full of antiques was open.

The small sign at the entrance that read "Don't touch if you don't understand" swayed gently in the wind.

Lin Ye pushed open the door and went in; the copper bell jingled once.

Fang Mancang was eating cold noodles while leaning over the counter.

As soon as he heard the door open, he quickly stuck his chopsticks into the bowl.

"Brother Lin!"

He looked up and saw Xiaoman, then immediately added a sentence.

"Sister Jiang is here too."

Xiaoman stood by the door, without answering.

Fang Mancang had clearly adapted to her state and smiled naturally.

"Would you like some tea today? Don't worry, I washed the teapot three times and scalded the cups. If you're still worried, Sister Jiang, you can check it yourself."

Xiaoman said, "No need."

Fang Mancang patted his stomach.

"This is the beginning of trust."

Lin Ye said, "Don't overthink it, she's just too lazy to bother with you."

Fang Mancang: "..."

When Su Tinglan came out of the inner room, she was carrying a laptop.

A job posting was also displayed on the screen.

She was wearing a light-colored shirt today, and her hair was casually tied up. She looked more like a relative who came to help out at her cousin's shop than she did yesterday.

She smiled when she saw Lin Ye.

"You actually came."

"As I said yesterday, the 'friendship price' was too outrageous, so I had to come and check if there was any after-sales service."

Su Tinglan placed the computer on the counter.

"So, what would you like to see today?"

Lin Ye glanced at Fang Mancang.

"Gift."

Fang Mancang's eyes lit up immediately.

"Give it away?"

"Um."

"Male or female?"

Lin Ye paused for a moment.

"A woman."

Fang Mancang pushed the cold noodles aside, and his whole demeanor brightened.

"age?"

"A little over twenty."

"Relationship?"

"friend."

Fang Mancang gave him an "I understand, I understand" look.

Lin Ye looked at him.

That look you're giving me is very impolite.

Fang Mancang said with a smile, "The first skill of an antique shop owner is to see through things but not say it."

"You've already revealed half of it."

"Then I'll pack it up."

Su Tinglan sat down next to her and turned the laptop around.

"You're here just in time, could you take a look at my resume?"

Lin Ye was stunned.

"I?"

"Hmm," Su Tinglan said, "I just arrived in Qingcheng, and I can't keep eating at my cousin's shop every day. I want to find a job."

Fang Mancang immediately protested.

"What do you mean by 'mooching a meal'? Do you think I, your brother, need your food?"

Su Tinglan looked at him.

My sister-in-law said it was bad.

Fang Mancang shut up.

Lin Ye looked down at his computer.

Su Tinglan applied for a wide variety of positions.

Cultural tourism project planning.

Museum education.

Editing of folk customs content.

There is also an assistant for the funeral culture exhibition.

Lin Ye paused for a moment when he saw the last one.

"Your job search covers a wide range, involving both the mortal and spiritual realms."

Su Tinglan smiled.

"My major is too niche, there's nothing I can do about it. There aren't many places I can apply to anyway."

"You studied folklore and fortune-telling?"

"More or less," Su Tinglan said. "My thesis is about local funeral customs. My advisor said it's very interesting, but the employer says it's not a good fit for me yet."

Lin Ye couldn't help but laugh.

"That's so true."

"Asking me won't help," Lin Ye said. "I'm a cemetery security guard myself."

"But you're a native, you know a lot of people." Su Tinglan rested her chin on her hand and looked at him.

Lin Ye pushed the computer back a little.

"I suggest you apply for museum education and cultural tourism planning."

Why?

"The editors of folk culture content are too poor," Lin Ye said. "The assistants at funeral culture exhibitions make me feel that the competition from my peers is too intense."

Su Tinglan smiled.

"Are you afraid I'll take your job?"

"Our company is already bad enough. If we hire a professional like you, I'll easily lose my job."

Fang Mancang chimed in from the side.

"If you're unemployed, come work at my shop; I need staff."

Lin Ye looked at him.

"How much is the salary?"

"Meals included."

"goodbye."

Fang Mancang was heartbroken.

"Why are young people so materialistic these days?"

Xiaoman suddenly spoke.

"Because we need to make a living."

Fang Mancang choked.

He glanced at Xiaoman and silently pulled the cold noodles closer to himself.

"That makes sense. Let's eat first."

Su Tinglan closed the laptop.

"Then I'll vote for these two first."

Lin Ye watched her click submit.

Museum education.

Cultural tourism project planning.

They took the voting quite seriously.

Fang Mancang had already pulled out two boxes from under the counter.

A small wooden box.

An old velvet box.

He opened the small wooden box first.

Inside is a small jade rabbit brooch.

The jade isn't particularly translucent, but it's smooth and lustrous. The little rabbit is only the size of a thumb, with its ears flat against its back, squatting round and plump. Its eyes are carved very lightly, giving it a somewhat憨憨 (simple and honest) look.

Fang Mancang said, "This is a small jade rabbit brooch from the Ming Dynasty. The material is so-so, but the workmanship is decent. It's a nice gift for a young lady."

Lin Ye looked down.

They are indeed cute.

Xiaoman also took a look.

"Like a steamed bun."

Fang Mancang's face stiffened.

"Sister Jiang, this is a rabbit."

"Like a rabbit-shaped steamed bun."

Lin Ye couldn't help laughing.

Su Tinglan smiled too.

Fang Mancang was deeply hurt.

"You don't understand, this is called rustic and simple."

Xiaoman: "It looks like a steamed bun."

Fang Mancang quietly pushed the small wooden box a little to the side.

"Then look at this."

He opened the old velvet box.

Inside lay a silver enamel bookmark.

The bookmark is very delicate, with a slightly oxidized and darkened silver edge. It has a blue-green enamel finish in the center and a small plum blossom carved at the end. It's not a large item, but it's exquisitely made. Under the light, the color is not glaring but rather very clean.

Lin Ye felt it was a good match at first glance.

Lu Zhixia seems to be more suited to this kind of thing.

You can also put it in a book.

Fang Mancang could tell from his expression that things were going well.

"A Republic-era silver enamel bookmark. Suitable as a gift for scholars, and even more so for those in the cultural and museum circles. Lightweight, elegant, and it also shows your taste."

Lin Ye looked at him.

"Were you planning to ask for more money in your last sentence?"

Fang Mancang chuckled.

"Aesthetic appreciation is free, but the product itself costs money."

Su Tinglan reached out and pushed the velvet box towards Lin Ye.

"This is more suitable than the Jade Rabbit."

Lin Ye looked at her.

Why?

"The jade rabbit is too cute and can easily lead to misunderstandings," Su Tinglan said. "Bookmarks are safer. If the recipient doesn't want it, you can just say it's a regular souvenir."

After listening, Lin Ye fell silent.

That's so accurate.

It was so accurate that he was embarrassed to refute it.

Fang Mancang clapped his hands.

"Did you hear that? Professional advice."

Xiaoman glanced down at the bookmark.

"Can."

Lin Ye looked at her in surprise.

"You even know about this?"

"don't know."

"So you say it's okay?"

"Can't I just say it casually?"

Lin Ye: "..."

Fang Mancang placed the box on the table.

This time he was very self-aware and didn't hand it to Lin Ye at all.

"I understand Sister Jiang's rules. Put the things on the table and see for yourself."

Lin Ye picked up the bookmark.

The silver feels a little cool.

He stared at it for a long time.

Good.

Ordinary things are fine.

When giving gifts, you should give ordinary things.

"How much?"

Fang Mancang held up two fingers.

"Twenty-two thousand."

Lin Ye put the bookmark back in the box.

"goodbye."

Fang Mancang quickly pressed down on the box.

"No, Brother Lin, it's a business deal, you can haggle."

"Two thousand two."

Fang Mancang's eyes widened.

"You're not bargaining, you're digging up your ancestors' graves."

Lin Ye said earnestly, "I work at a cemetery; it's a job that matches my major."

Su Tinglan laughed so hard she leaned against the counter.

Fang Mancang clutched his chest.

"Are the people at Qingshan Cemetery all this ruthless?"

Xiaoman said, "He's not ruthless."

Fang Mancang looked at her.

Xiaoman added, "They're just poor."

Lin Ye: "..."

Fang Mancang wanted to laugh, but he was afraid that Lin Ye wouldn't buy it, so he held it in.

The two argued for a long time.

Fang Mancang's income dropped from 22,000 to 16,000.

Lin Ye's income increased from 2,200 to 8,000.

Both sides felt that the other was not sincere.

Su Tinglan couldn't stand it anymore.

"Twelve thousand, I guess."

Fang Mancang immediately asked, "Tinglan, whose side are you on?"

"You'll be back if you skip a couple of meals of braised chicken feet."

Fang Mancang closed his eyes in pain.

"Okay, twelve thousand it is."

Fang Mancang closed the box, muttering to himself.

"What a loss, what a huge loss. Giving such a low price as a friend's gift, even my ancestors would come to me in their dreams and scold me for being such a spendthrift."

Lin Ye scanned the QR code to pay.

The moment the payment was successful, the pain on Fang Mancang's face vanished instantly.

Lin Ye saw it.

"Brother Mancang, you stopped acting a bit too early."

Fang Mancang put the box into a small paper bag.

"When doing business, you have to provide sufficient emotional value."

Lin Ye took the paper bag.

Do you have any tickets?

Fang Mancang froze.

Lin Ye looked at him.

Fang Mancang coughed.

"Yes, of course. We operate legally."

Su Tinglan said quietly from the side, "We were just fined last month for non-standard invoices."

Fang Mancang turned and glared at her.

"So you're not going to let me make a sale today, are you?"

Lin Ye smiled.

The atmosphere in the store seemed relaxed.

But Xiaoman didn't sit down at all from beginning to end.

She stood in a position where she could see the door and the inner room.

Lin Ye held the small paper bag and suddenly remembered the copper bell from yesterday.

He looked behind the counter.

"By the way, what about that bell from yesterday?"

Fang Mancang paused for a moment while printing votes.

"Which one?"

Lin Ye looked at him.

"The one in the long, flat wooden box."

Fang Mancang responded with an "oh".

"It's been put away."

"Didn't you say you weren't selling?"

"I'm not selling." Fang Mancang continued printing receipts with his head down. "I can't just take things out and leave them lying around every day that I've entrusted to me."

Lin Ye didn't say anything.

Xiaoman glanced at Fang Mancang.

Su Tinglan then picked up the computer.

"That thing belongs to someone else; my cousin just took it out to show off."

Fang Mancang nodded immediately.

"Yeah, to show off. Men need to show off, otherwise they'll feel stifled."

Lin Ye smiled.

"Brother Mancang's reason is quite simple."

Fang Mancang handed him the receipts.

"Take your things. The silver bookmark is from the Republic of China era. Don't get it wet or wipe it. It's normal for it to oxidize; it's not broken. If you want it wrapped nicely before giving it away, I have a box here."

"This one will do."

Lin Ye carefully put the paper bag away.

As you leave Mancang Antique Market, the wind on Nanqiao Street carries a hint of cooking fumes.

Xiaoman followed half a step behind him.

Will she like it?

Lin Ye thought about Lu Zhixia's perpetually indifferent face.

"She'll probably say I'm wasting money."

"Then you're still buying it?"

Lin Ye smiled.

"She may be cursing, but she'll probably stop."

Xiaoman didn't ask any more questions.

Lin Ye took out his phone, ready to send a message to Gu Wantang to say that he had finished buying the items.

As soon as the screen lit up, Lu Zhixia's message popped up.

"Have you bought the tickets?"

Lin Ye replied, "I'm going to buy it."

Lu Zhixia: "I'll arrive tomorrow afternoon."

Lin Ye: "So urgent?"

Lu Zhixia responded very quickly this time.

"Um."

A few seconds later, another message came in.

"After you arrive in the capital, don't come looking for me directly."

"Wait for me at the Xicheng Used Bookstore."

Lin Ye looked at the message and slowly stopped in his tracks.

Xicheng Old Bookstore.

This place doesn't sound like a normal meeting place.

Xiaoman also stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Ye put his phone away.

"It's nothing."

He looked up and glanced at the end of South Bridge Street.

The wooden signboard of Mancang Antiques is still swaying gently in the wind.

Lin Ye looked down at the small paper bag in his hand.

A silver bookmark given to Lu Zhixia.

A trip to the capital that was suddenly brought forward.

He suddenly realized that the gift he had bought didn't really feel like a gift.

It's like buying a new admission ticket.

"Let's go."

Xiaoman looked at him.

"Where to?"

Lin Ye stuffed the paper bag into his arms.

"Buy tickets."