Chapter 9 Chapter Eight: Three Pieces of Fox Fur

The director secretly sent someone to monitor the haunted house for a few days, but he never saw anyone having a meeting there.It seems that the cell phone I was calling leaked the secret.People have been prepared to change the location of the meeting.I folded the piece of fox fur and put it in a pocket and hid it in the beam of the roof of the dormitory.I thought they would come to me in a big way to get back the fox fur. I was on guard day and night, but the strange thing was that no one came.Secretary Luo and Fang Xiaodan would sometimes play cards with us, and it looked no different from before.Life is surprisingly peaceful, even boring.I sketched the patterns and words on the fox fur and drew them in a small book. I read them in my free time and thought hard, but I couldn't find any good breakthroughs.

There is another thing more important than finding treasures that bothers me from time to time, that is, Jingjing is going back to Changchun.Her vacation is coming to an end soon.Their unit also called to urge her to go back quickly.In fact, I have long been tired of this kind of barren mountains, dormitories, and cafeterias. If there is no Jingjing to accompany me, I really don't know how long I can persist here.Now that she is really leaving, my sense of loss is getting stronger.Often wake up alone at night, looking at her sleeping soundly almost weeping. January 20, 1998.On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, the solar terms are extremely cold.

Jingjing said that she met Captain Xiao during the day.The two also had lunch together.In my impression, Captain Xiao and Jingjing only met twice in a hurry. It is quite unexpected to say that they had lunch together.But when I think about it carefully, Captain Xiao's training in the bureau is all half a day.The remaining half day is free time for him.It is not surprising that he can meet Jingjing who is also alone when he is wandering in the urban area.Jingjing said that they discussed a lot of homework while eating, chatting about everything.Speaking of treasure hunting, Captain Xiao said that he had a friend who resold ethnic handicrafts and antiques. I heard that recently he spent a lot of money to buy a piece of fox fur from Ao Township, which was related to treasures.Just getting ready to make a move.

"What?" My eyes lit up, and it didn't take much effort. "Hurry up, find a way to contact Captain Xiao. Let's go and see the goods." The other half of the fox fur seems to be in possession.I couldn't contain my excitement. Jingjing smiled, charming in every way. "Look how beautiful you are. Tomorrow is the weekend. I'll accompany you there." On Saturday, the weather turned cloudy, and the temperature in the forest area reached nearly minus twenty-five degrees.Fang Xiaodan drove a Cherokee, and took me, Jingjing, and Captain Xiao to Ao Township in the severe cold.

The original site of Aoluguya Township is located in the depths of the dense forest 17.5 kilometers north of Mangui, and the winding road passes quietly by her side.Captain Xiao said that in summer, the Rapid River and the Aoluguya River flowed under her feet, the pines roared, the deer and birds sang, and there was a beautiful scenery here, not to mention how beautiful it was.Although Aoluguya Township only has an area of ​​nearly two square kilometers, it is a place where the Ewenki people have lived and multiplied for generations.Ao Township is the concentrated area of ​​the Ewenki ethnic group. The Ewenki ethnic group is an indeterminate ethnic group that relies on hunting as its main source of income. Other hunting minorities, such as the Oroqen and Daur people, are also part of it.They are some ethnic minorities that survived the long-term coexistence of the ancient Jurchen, Xianbei, Khitan, Manchu and other northern ethnic groups.During the three hundred years they moved into China, they hunted in the depths of the Greater Khingan Mountains, slowly taming wild animals such as reindeer.After liberation, with the help of the government, they directly entered the socialist society from the primitive society, and gradually lived a settled life, but they still did not give up the old way of life. They have brick houses in Ao Township and settlements on the mountains all the year round. Personnel alternate shifts to herd the reindeer.When the fur trade was relatively prosperous, their source of income was relatively abundant.However, with the deterioration of the ecological environment, the forest area has decreased, the number of wild animals has dropped sharply, and the country's laws and regulations on wild animal protection have become more and more perfect, which has largely affected the traditional economic methods of ethnic minorities and forced them to change. .Moved out of the mountains and changed to captivity for reindeer.Of course, after 2003, captive breeding failed and they returned to Dashan, and the country took measures to help them get rid of poverty and embark on the road to prosperity.Ao Township in 2000 was still a thriving scene.While driving and strolling, the orderly houses are arranged on both sides of the street. The Aoluguya Ewenki Museum stands in a prominent position on the street, and the right side of the museum is the ethnic school.Further to the east is the seat of the township people's government - the blue iron fence makes the township government look so friendly and peaceful.

The person we are looking for is Daxi. Although he has an Evenki name, he is indeed a Han.My family lives in a tile-roofed house not far from the township government.According to Captain Xiao, Darcy and he were classmates in elementary school.After growing up, this guy made a living by reselling ethnic handicrafts.But Captain Xiao said that this was just a cover, and he had always suspected that he was secretly a dealer in cultural relics, relying on collecting some old goods from the people to make money abroad. "Oh, what kind of wind is this that brings old classmates here, please come in please. It's cold outside, hurry up and warm up inside." Darcy opened the cotton curtain and invited us into the room one by one.He arranged for us to be seated closer to the stove.Fang Xiaodan’s main task was to pick us up and drop him off. He was not interested in what we were going to do. He was very knowledgeable and interesting like a professional driver. He took a newspaper and sat on the sandy surface in the corner of the room to watch it.Only then did I have time to look this Darcy up and down.Although he and Captain Xiao are the same age, they seem to be a few years older than Captain Xiao, and they are not as burly as Captain Xiao.It looks thin and dry, but it is really lean.There are blue veins on his forehead, a pair of eyeballs are rolling around, he is wearing a purple Tang suit, and he is playing with a pair of walnuts in his hand.Seven of the broken hairs on the forehead are facing upwards and eight are facing downwards.At first glance, he is an expert in playing with weapons.

Captain Xiao introduced us one by one, and then went straight to the point and told him that we are here for the fox fur.Darcy laughed loudly: "It's not busy, it's not busy. I came all the way to my house. I asked my wife to prepare a little wine. Let's chat while eating." When he heard that the food and drinks were ready, Captain Xiao It is inconvenient to refuse, but I readily agree. Captain Xiao cut to the chase. "Darcy, last time we spoke on the phone you said you had a fox fur you wanted to sell. Is it still there?" Darcy laughed and said: "Hehe, um. This happened just a few days ago, if you come a few days later, you will really be gone."

Hearing that the fox fur is still there, I finally breathed a sigh of relief, and nodded to Darcy: "Can you take out the fox fur so that we can open our eyes first?" "Well, Director Tao, there's no rush for this. We can see the goods in detail when the price is negotiated." Captain Xiao asked: "Then tell me the number, how much do you want to sell for that fox fur?" "Hey, what am I guessing, this is the number no matter what." Darcy stretched out five fingers. "Ah, don't you want five thousand? Generally, the whole skin with the best quality can't be sold at this price. You are a lion." Captain Xiao didn't know that the value of the fox skin was not mainly in the skin. Hearing the price, of course. surprised.

Darcy put his five fingers back with a smile: "Old classmate, you are wrong. I didn't say five thousand, but fifty thousand." "Ah!" Captain Xiao was startled, and stared at Darcy, wanting to carefully observe whether his old classmate was crazy. Darcy put away his smile and lowered his voice: "Don't worry. Since you came here to see this leather, it means that there are people who know the goods among you. I will introduce the origin of this leather in detail, and you will know that 50,000 is not worth it. It’s not a huge amount.” "Don't you know Zhang Zuolin, king of the Northeast?..." Darcy had just started, when his wife greeted everyone for dinner.We had to sit around a "stand aside" (stand aside: a northern dialect, a foldable round table) under the guidance of Darcy.The food is very rich, the wine is good and the meat is good.We toasted and greeted again, and it took a long time to re-enter the topic.

Darcy looked at Fang Xiaodan, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.I understood what he meant, and said to him: "Brother Darcy, it's okay, just speak up if you have something to say. The driver is also one of us." "Yeah." Darcy nodded at me and told the story he knew.The first half of what he said was basically the same as what the boss of Jixian Club I heard in the cabinet that day, but I haven't heard the rest of it. "...Adjutant Cui hid the last copper medal and left Genhe and never came back. The folk customs in Ao Township are very simple. This hunter kept his promise and never told anyone about the fox skin and treasure. Until he Before his death, he divided the fox fur into two and gave it to his two sons respectively. His two sons also kept half of the fox fur as the old Orion wanted, and never revealed a word to others. This caused Twenty years ago, Cui Shuwen, a descendant of Adjutant Cui, came to Genhe to look for a bronze medal, but failed to contact the two brothers and left with hatred. Later, the two brothers passed away one after another, and the two and a half fox skins have now been passed down to the third generation. The two boys are not as good as their parents. They are ignorant and lazy. Coupled with the big turmoil in Ao Township in the past few years, their lives are getting worse and worse. Later, the two brothers combined , so I contacted everywhere to sell these two pieces of fox fur. It was also a coincidence that I bought this treasure back."

"Oh, that's the case. Why did the brothers sell it? Wouldn't it be better for you to use the map on this leather to find the treasure." Captain Xiao asked puzzled. "Well, this..." Darcy hesitated for a moment: "Old classmate, you also know that there is a line of gauge. We are just businessmen, receiving and selling goods, as long as we make money, we will make a profit." Pen. I guess they are the same as me. I dare not even think about such a difficult thing as finding a treasure. Besides, the Jixian Society is not a joke. If the treasure is really found, I will I'm really afraid that I won't be lucky enough to bear it. People are dying, so what's the use of having more money if you don't have a life to spend." "Well, I understand. Do you have one leather or two in your hand now?" I asked. "I only have one and a half in my hand now, and it's genuine. This thing is also a hot potato. Now some people on the road are beginning to know about it. I'm really afraid of nights and dreams. After selling this half for 50,000 yuan, I Just go far away and go to the south to do some business. I dare not come back in three or two years. I will save myself from getting into trouble when I can." I asked: "That means, the other half of the card also came out of your hand?" He thought for a while and said: "The people brought by my old classmates are not outsiders, so I'll tell the truth. I sold the first half sheet for 100,000 yuan, and the goods have been taken away. As for who bought it, I definitely can't Say, this is the gauge of our business." One hundred thousand yuan?No way.I even took away the fox fur that Jixian Society bought for 100,000 yuan.This matter is much more serious than I imagined. Darcy went on to say: "I just want to sell the remaining half of the sheets quickly. If you are not in a hurry, you can sell them for one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand. There is no problem at all. Director Tao, give me a quick word, you can buy it for 50,000 yuan." Whether you want it or not. If you want it, I will take out the leather and pay for it with one hand and deliver it with the other. If you can’t, we can count as friends, so please don’t ask me any more, no comment.” When Jingjing and Captain Xiao saw Darcy's anger and looked at each other, they both looked at a loss.I smiled, and said unhurriedly: "Brother Da, you don't have to talk so badly. Since we are here, of course we sincerely want to accept this leather. The price you mentioned is also reasonable. But I can't have it yet I'll give you the money when I see the goods." Darcy was a little confused: "What does Director Tao mean?" "That's it." I took out a round of RMB from my handbag and threw it on the table.People in the rivers and lakes can tell at a glance that the thickness is a full 10,000 yuan. "This is considered as a deposit. You take out the goods, and I have seen that there is no problem. I will give you the rest." Darcy was taken aback by my bravery, and glanced at my still bulging handbag.I must be so regretful that I wish I could slap myself a few times.Obviously, judging from my shot, the price I quoted just now was low.But his reaction is also very alert.I picked up the ring of money I threw from the table, and took out a left and right photo to identify the authenticity.Then put on a slave-like smile.I happily went into the back room to get the goods. Both Jingjing and Captain Xiao were in a hurry. "Director Tao!" "Master Taozi!" I reached out my hand to signal them not to speak, and said in a low voice, "I have a sense of proportion." Two minutes later, he took back an oiled paper package.The three inner layers and the outer three layers peeled off the yellow paper that exudes a musty smell, and a small piece of fox skin appeared in front of our eyes. I put the fox skin in my hand and looked at it carefully up, down, left, and right.I didn't speak for a long time.The room was extremely quiet, everyone was waiting for my reaction.Darcy was the first one who couldn't hold back his words: "Director Tao, what's the matter with you. It's absolutely true. If you read on, it will be up to you whether we are going to do this business or not." I suddenly looked up at him, eyes like electricity.This sharp look made him shiver suddenly, and stopped talking.I gritted my teeth and said word by word: "Darcy, you don't seem to be doing business with me sincerely." "Why, what's the matter? This is indeed the real thing." The confidence in his voice was obviously lacking. "Yes, it's the real thing. But, it's not half a fox fur at all, it's just half of a half or a quarter. In other words, you only paid for half of a fox fur The fox fur, you cut it open with a knife and sold it in two, right?" He was dumbfounded when I said this. "Director Tao, you have something to say, something to say." Captain Xiao was furious, went over and grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him up like an eagle lifting a chick. "Darcy, you are obsessed with business, aren't you? Even your old classmates are fooled." "Let go of me, if you have something to say, speak slowly, slowly." The kid was so frightened that he was a little out of his wits.A pair of small eyes gurgle around.Fang Xiaodan, who was sitting on the side eating, saw the tense situation, turned over in fright and retreated directly behind the table.Jingjing also stood up nervously. "Captain Xiao, let him down. Listen to what he has to say." Hearing my order, Captain Xiao let him down. The kid wiped the sweat from his forehead.Before he could speak, Captain Xiao pulled out the 10,000 yuan from his pocket and stuffed it back into my handbag.Seeing the money in his hand fly away, this guy dared not speak out after getting angry several times.He shrugged his head and told what happened: "Everyone, now I won't hide it from everyone. I also thought about taking the leather to find the treasure. But I only received the half of the leather after going through a few twists and turns .The remaining half was bought by someone and where it went. There is no evidence at all. Rather than looking for a needle in a haystack, it is better to earn some cash and spend it. That's why I sold this leather. Later I thought, anyway, this fox fur The thing about it is just a legend, and few people can understand the content on the leather. The half of the leather is divided into two, in order to make more money. Old classmate, this is indeed because I moved Greedy, I'm wrong, but the goods are still genuine." Captain Xiao didn't know how to respond, so he turned to see my reaction.I continued to ask him with a straight face: "Since you cut this knife, what about the remaining quarter?" "Didn't I just say that it was sold to an owner for 100,000 yuan. They don't know the goods like Director Tao, and they happily took the goods and left." Captain Xiao asked, "Then why don't you sell them both quarters?" Darcy looked sad: "Old classmate, you really know how to joke. If I take out the two halves together, I won't be seen by anyone. Anyone who dares to buy this thing is not a ruthless character. I can't lose my temper." Serve as an escort for a cat—you don’t want to die to make money.” "Hmph." I sneered.Throw the round of money back on the table. "Darcy, you just have to tell me who you sold the other quarter to, and the ten thousand is yours. And, if I can get the skin back from that buyer, I'll come back to collect yours." This one. Didn’t you want 50,000, I’ll give you 200,000. We’re all businessmen, what do you think of this deal?” "Director Tao." Darcy stood up, poured himself a glass of white wine and drank it down. "Today is my brother. I don't think I'm self righteous. I don't know that Director Tao has sharp eyes. It's not my intention to leave such an impression on a few of you when we first met. In the future, if Brother Tao, Brother Xiao, is useful to my affairs, I will definitely Go through fire and water and never give up.” He pressed his hand on the round of money and paused for a moment, then pushed it back to me and said, “But I can’t take this money. Who bought that piece of leather. Don’t ask me any more. .Even if you kill me today, I won’t say anything. There is a way, and this is the norm in our business.” Captain Xiao sneered: "The gauge? You know the gauge too? You kept the gauge and cut the leather in half to deceive us. Didn't you say that you would kill you and not say it? Then I will fulfill you." As he said that, he wanted to grab Darcy by the neck again, but I pulled him back. "Captain Xiao, don't be impulsive. That's it for today, let's go back first. Here is my mobile phone number. When Brother Darcy has new clues or can help me contact other Pizi, please call me." As he spoke, he took out a business card and gave it to him. I was the first to walk out of his house, Captain Xiao, Jingjing, and Fang Xiaodan followed behind.The four got into the car and sat down.Captain Xiao sat in the co-driver, and Jingjing and I sat in the back seat. "Director Tao, let's just leave it at that? You don't want to buy the leather?" After the car started, Captain Xiao looked puzzled. "I won't buy it. That piece of leather is worthless to me now." I said confidently. The few people in the car didn't understand why I wanted to buy leather without spending a lot of money just now, but now I have no interest at all. Could it be that a quarter of the leather is fake? I saw everyone's doubts, and said with a smile: "Hehe, don't you guys understand what I'm talking about?" Several people shook their heads, but no one understood what I wanted to do. "I've already forgotten what was written on that piece of leather just now." "Director Tao. To be honest, when you first came, I really didn't know what a frail scholar like you could be. Now I'm really convinced. From now on, if you point to the east, I will go east, and if you point to the west, I will go east." Just head west. It’s right to follow you.” Captain Xiao’s words moved me deeply.I reached out from the back seat and put my hand on his shoulder and pressed it hard: "My good brother, we are all family members, and you still put it so politely. As long as we work together, there is nothing we can't do." "Beep!" The buzzer sounded.I took out my phone from my waist.Look at the caller ID, it's Secretary Luo's phone number. "Hey, Xiao Luo. Why do you think of me when you have time on the weekend? Do you still want to fight the landlord?" "No, Director Tao. I found a new clue, and I have to tell you immediately." Secretary Luo's tone was very serious, as if he had discovered some shocking secret. "Tell me." I was afraid of the people in the car, so I just covered it up with these two words. Secretary Luo said with certainty: "Fox skin, here comes another fox skin." His words really startled me.My mind was running fast, and I couldn't figure out what his purpose was.I had no choice but to continue: "Don't worry, can you explain in detail." "Oh, that's right. A package from your mail came this morning. I signed for it for you when you were away. But I saw that the handwriting, address, and packaging were exactly the same as the one you received last time, so I guessed that it should be delivered again." It was sent by Jixian Club. I shouldn’t have opened it by myself, but I was eager to find clues and so I opened it. Guess what, it’s another piece of fox fur, the same as the one we stole last time. It looks like it was cut from a piece of skin, but it doesn’t seem to match up. It seems that Jixian Society is not as scary as we imagined, they seem to be helping us find treasures.” Ah, the third leather!I was startled, my blood was surging, I really wanted to do whatever I wanted, and I was worrying about where to find the piece of leather that was bought by someone for 100,000 yuan, when such good news came.But Secretary Luo is a member of Jixian Club, so his purpose of doing this should be uneasy and kind.The few pieces of leather I got may have been pre-designed by them.They want to borrow my hand to get the treasure?Yes, it must be so, otherwise, who would give up something bought for 100,000 yuan to others.However, the purpose of the existence of the Jixian Society is not to find treasures and hand them over to the country.Are they going to help me find the treasure?After all, whoever handed over the treasure to the country is the same.On second thought, no.Judging from Fang Xiaodan's description and what I actually heard in the cabinet, the boss of Jixian Club is definitely a gangster who kills people without batting an eyelid.It is impossible for him to hand over the treasure to the country.My head is all messed up.I had no choice but to perfunctoryly say: "Don't worry, we will go back in a while." After hanging up the phone, Jingjing poked me on the side, indicating that she wanted to talk to me.I put my ear to her side knowingly.She covered her mouth with her hand and said softly to me: "Master Taozi, I heard the general idea when you were talking on the phone just now, but I came up with a good plan." I raised my eyes and looked ahead. Fang Xiaodan was driving the car seriously, and Captain Xiao was also watching the front. The Cherokee was roaring loudly, and they probably couldn't hear our conversation. "Tell me." I don't know what new tricks Jingjing, the weird elf, has. Jingjing said mysteriously: "Aren't we suspicious of Secretary Luo? Director Wang is cautious in officialdom, and he won't believe us unless we catch Secretary Luo's conclusive evidence. I have a method that may make Secretary Luo showed her fox tail. But you have to take a little risk." "How?" I asked. Jingjing said: "Now we have collected two of the three fox skins, and the other one was bought by a mysterious person for 100,000 yuan. If the one that Secretary Luo just mentioned is really the third one, That means that the conditions for finding the bronze medal are fully met. I guess no one would have guessed that we got three pieces of leather in such a short period of time. So we can make a time difference before those scumbags find out our intentions Before, we acted quickly to find the treasure. We could work together with Secretary Luo to break down the details of the bronze medal and set out to search together. Then we deliberately gave him a chance to see how he performed, and by that time he would show his true colors." I nodded: "You have a good idea. But we will be in trouble if he calls in the middle to bring those gangsters here. If he doesn't do it, he will get killed. Those people can do anything. Also, even if If the people from the Jixian Society don’t come, I might not have the upper hand if I fight with him. Our physiques are just about the same.” Jingjing smiled: "As long as we watch him and don't let him call before we leave. Besides, who asked you to compete with him." She pointed her mouth forward, and I understood what she meant.She meant to let me unite with Captain Xiao.Captain Xiao is upright and upright, and has a strong physique like a northern man, plus he is obedient to me now, so he must not be able to cast a spell on him to help us Secretary Luo, plus his best friend, the sharpshooter Daya, is even more so. It is an out-and-out double insurance, and what Jingjing came up with is really a foolproof plan. "I love you to death, my Jingjing" Maybe I didn't control the volume well when I said this.The two people in the front row showed smiles on their faces, probably they must have heard this sentence.I stuck out my tongue, and Jingjing blushed beside me. It was getting slightly late.The road back from Aoluguya Township has nine twists and turns.There are many hills with no trees on both sides of the road.This is the so-called forest black hole, which is the result of deforestation in the early years.Along the way, you can also see the meandering Aoluguya water system.The north wind gradually began to blow, and the setting sun hung on the horizon like a big disc, covering everything around in a khaki color.A line of cooking smoke curled up from the homes of people in the distance.It further reflects the incomparable desolation along the way.It reminds me of the two ancient poems "The lonely smoke in the desert is straight, and the sun is setting in the long river".There are many kinds of beauty, and sometimes desolation and cruelty are also a kind.I can't help but want to stay here for a while. I asked Fang Xiaodan to find a place to park the car, and dragged Captain Xiao to continue talking.Of course Jingjing knew my intentions, she rubbed her hands and stayed in the car with Fang Xiaodan to keep warm.In this extremely bleak scene, I explained to Captain Xiao that Jingjing and I had doubts about Secretary Luo and our plan.Captain Xiao is worthy of being a hot-blooded man from the north. After listening to it, he patted his chest and assured me that no matter who he is, Secretary Luo or Jixian Club, as long as he dares to make a fool of us, they will never return.I smiled and said it wasn't that serious.Just do what I say. The group returned to the dormitory.Secretary Luo is like an ant on a hot pot, he can't wait long ago.Great to see us back.Fang Xiaodan didn't like to be troublesome, so he went back to his room to sleep.The others entered my room together. Secretary Luo glanced at Captain Xiao and then at me. I knew he was using his eyes to show my attitude towards Captain Xiao.I said, "Brother Luo, it's okay. Captain Xiao is not an outsider." "Okay." My blunt answer made Secretary Luo somewhat embarrassed.He carefully took out a piece of fox fur and spread it on the table. I turned on the desk lamp and looked at the words and patterns on it carefully.The others also held their breath and gathered around me.This piece of leather is the smallest and is the one on the right side.On the left side of this piece of leather there is an obvious knife mark from the upper right to the lower left, which exactly matches the knife mark on the small piece of leather I saw at Darcy's house.I tried to connect the three pieces of leather from memory.That's right, these are indeed three split fox furs, which were definitely a whole at the beginning. My heartbeat started to speed up.Cui Shuwen's dream that has not been fulfilled in the past twenty years, the wish of several generations, is clearly in front of my eyes at this moment.Surrounded by pairs of expectant eyes. "Director Tao, is this piece of leather real?" Captain Xiao was violent, and finally couldn't help asking. I looked around everyone, and laughed for a while: "See you guys are nervous. It's another prank. I don't know who used a piece of fake leather to coax me." After that, I threw the piece of leather on the table and greeted everyone. Everyone went to the cafeteria to eat.Jingjing, Captain Xiao, and Secretary Luo were all stunned there for a long time without recovering.I called several times before I realized that the rice bowl followed me out. It was late and the wind picked up again.There is no car to go back to Mangui Town at night, Captain Xiao can only find a bed in Fang Xiaodan's dormitory for the night.