Chapter 396: Selling Guns

Shijingshan District, Laoshan.

The mountain is not high, only about a hundred meters or so, appearing bare and exceptionally unremarkable under the gray, overcast sky.

Hu Yongan had been wandering around a large dirt slope at the foot of the mountain for the better part of the day.

He already had a rough outline of the tomb chamber's structure in his mind, but without the right tools in hand, even if they had someone who knew how to use explosives, it would all be in vain.

Lin Wanning sensed her Siqiang's state of mind, leaned in, and said, "Siqiang, I've heard that eight out of ten people who dabble in antiques have ties to tomb raiding. Why don't we kidnap someone who knows the trade and make them help us dig?"

Hu Yongan shook his head slowly: "If a person is kidnapped, the Police will definitely investigate." He turned his gaze toward Mei Feng, "You are good at changing your appearance; go probe the antique shops in Si Jiu Cheng and find a way to get some practical tools."

A look of difficulty appeared on Mei Feng's face, "Siqiang, I'm a layman in the antique trade; how do I even open this conversation?"

"Don't look for the old foxes; just find a young clerk in the shop. Wait until he leaves the shop, then follow him and treat him to a meal..." As Hu Yongan spoke, he became a bit angry and said impatiently: "Just say a family member is critically ill and you need to open an old grave for an emergency. Damn it, you're really getting worse as you get older; you can't even handle this little bit of improvisation?"

After being scolded, Mei Feng hung his head: "But Siqiang... where do we still have money?"

"Go to the black market and sell a few guns. Can a living person really be suffocated by their own urine?" Hu Yongan waved his hand impatiently.

Ye Guanying, who was standing to the side, interjected: "Siqiang, Mei Feng is an intelligence operative after all; he's unfamiliar with this kind of street-level work. How about... I go with him? I can provide some cover."

"You've already exposed yourself." Hu Yongan glanced at him, "If my guess is correct, your portrait is probably plastered all over every police station by now. Stay put and don't cause trouble."

Ye Guanying was choked off and sheepishly lowered his head.

Mei Feng took a deep breath, his face regaining some composure: "Siqiang, I understand the current situation. Leave the task to me; no problem, I will definitely get it done."

Hu Yongan's expression softened a little; he walked up and patted him on the shoulder: "After you get into the city, find an opportunity to check on Ji Zhaoxiang's side as well... see if his shop is being watched."

"I understand, Siqiang." Mei Feng nodded heavily. He split the two hundred thousand he was carrying, giving one hundred thousand to Hu Yongan, tucked three Box Cannons onto his person, and turned to head toward Si Jiu Cheng.

Mei Feng found a sheltered spot, opened his bundle, and got busy in front of a small mirror.

It didn't take long; he, who was already delicate-looking, was transformed into a pretty-looking young rural wife after dressing up.

It was almost dusk when he finally reached Qianmen.

He didn't go to find Ji Zhaoxiang, but instead slung a tattered basket over his arm and walked into the New Bridge Trading Company's porcelain shop with his head down.

As soon as he entered, he sensed something was wrong—of the two familiar clerks, only one remained; the other was a new face with a straight back and sharp eyes, and he was far less patient with customers than the previous clerks.

Mei Feng pinched his voice and tentatively asked a few questions about porcelain glazes and dating; the other party was actually somewhat hesitant, unable to answer, and just gave vague responses.

"Get out quickly." His heart tightened; he truly admired Siqiang Hu Yongan's ability to foresee things—the lead on Ji Zhaoxiang had indeed been watched for a long time.

He hurriedly pointed to a few of the most common white porcelain bowls on the shelf, paid, and left quickly with his head down, fearing that the old clerk in the shop would look up and recognize him.

After leaving the shop and seemingly wandering the street for a while, he turned into the "Hutong Yi" antique shop. This was a branch of the one at Qianmen, with the storefront located near Liulichang.

As soon as Mei Feng entered, he saw Xu Damao bent over, busy organizing a batch of newly acquired porcelain.

Xu Damao looked up and saw a person dressed as a rural woman enter; finding it strange, he joked: "Comrade, we don't sell vegetables here; did you walk into the wrong door?"

Mei Feng deliberately glared at him and scolded: "Little comrade, what kind of talk is that? Can't a woman come into an antique shop to take a look?"

Xu Damao straightened up and looked him up and down, always feeling that this person was indescribably awkward, so his tone became impatient: "If you have something to say, say it quickly; I'm busy here!"

Mei Feng leaned in a few steps and lowered his voice: "I want to buy some tools for Doudao from you; do you have a way? The price is negotiable."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao sneered: "Yo, are you a cop? Trying to set me up? Our shop does legitimate business; everything has an invoice!"

Seeing that the young man was tight-lipped, Mei Feng rolled his eyes, put on a sorrowful expression, and sighed: "Brother, to tell you the truth, my family has run into trouble. My son is only three years old and caught a strange illness; he suddenly can't walk and crawls on the ground like a snake all day... We've seen so many hospitals, and even after spending all our money, he's not cured. My husband is truly at his wit's end, so he set his sights on an old grave in the mountains... That's why I'm here, thick-skinned, to ask..."

Listening to this, the playful look on Xu Damao's face slowly faded, and he smacked his lips: "Sigh, hearing you say that, it really isn't easy... Among the friends I know, there are indeed ways to get the things you want. However... the price is not cheap."

Mei Feng asked hurriedly: "About how much?"

Xu Damao counted on his fingers, one by one: "Gold Touching Amulet, Luoyang Shovel, Compass, Candle, Combat Shovel, Rope, Black Donkey Hoof... to get this whole set together," he paused, holding up five fingers.

"Fifty thousand? That's too expensive; I'm afraid even if we sell the things we dig up, it won't be worth that much."

Xu Damao said with a cheeky grin: "Those things aren't used up after one time; they'll be worth it if you keep using them later!"

"Little brother, my husband used to be a bandit, and he has a few Box Cannons; can you sell them for us, little brother?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao quickly pulled Mei Feng into the reception room, "You old woman, why do you dare to say anything? Nowadays, if you get caught doing Doudao, you get sentenced to three to five years at most, but if you are trafficking arms... that's a crime of ten years or more, damn it!"

Mei Feng shrank his neck and feigned terror: "We... we are just dealing with our own things; that can't count as arms trafficking, right? If it weren't for the fact that we can't put food on the table, who would do that... that soul-destroying business!"

"Stop right there! You've said all the good and bad things!" Xu Damao got angry when he heard the phrase "soul-destroying"; he had originally wanted to offer fifty thousand for one gun, but changed the price as the words reached his lips: "Forty thousand at most for one gun."

Mei Feng had said that just to test him; seeing that Xu Damao was truly angered, he felt relieved—it seemed this kid was indeed involved with tomb raiding.

"Little brother... if my man can really dig up some old items from the mountains, can... can you receive them here?"

"I can receive them! But I'll say the ugly words first: if you get caught and dare to give up our shop... we have people in both the underworld and the police; your whole family won't have a good life from then on!"

Mei Feng nodded repeatedly: "Understood, understood! I only brought... three today. Little brother, look, can you take them today?"

Xu Damao rolled his eyes, thought for a moment, and said: "Fine. However, this deal has absolutely nothing to do with me or this shop. I'm just helping you make a connection; if anything happens, I won't be responsible!"

A smile squeezed onto Mei Feng's face, "No problem; since I've walked down this path, I'm not even afraid of losing my head!"

Xu Damao nodded and lowered his voice: "Go to Meishikou Hutong and wait under the second utility pole from the east end; someone will find you."

"Good, good." Mei Feng nodded repeatedly, turned around, and hurriedly merged into the bustling crowd outside.