Chapter 3 Chapter Three
Panjiayuan Flea Market is a gathering place of Beijing's three religions and nine streams. It has always been famous for its trading of second-hand goods and antiques.Every weekend, the famous ghost market opens. It opens before three o'clock in the morning and leaves at dawn.Antique dealers traveling to and from all over the north specially choose this time of day to trade, and they are playing with their eyesight to identify antiques.The so-called ghost market means that the opening time is late at night when only ghosts haunt.
At ten o'clock on Sunday morning, Xiao Wei, carrying a huge snakeskin bag, dragged Gao Yang into a teahouse next to the flea market.When entering the door, Gao Yang noticed that there were four large characters written on the door of the teahouse: "Lame Three Restaurant".Gao Yang nodded, thinking that this name is a good one, with elegance in the vulgar.
The teahouse is very lively, full of antique fans who have just finished shopping and looking proud.While drinking tea, everyone boasted about their eyesight and judged each other's things.
A person who looked like a foreman saw the two people coming in, and greeted them from a distance, saw clearly that it was Xiao Wei, was taken aback, and said: "Oh, who am I to know? Didn't I hear that you washed your hands in the golden basin and married a wife?"
Xiao Wei grinned, and said: "I said, why did you leave any pot when you came up, and you left again!" The foreman said: "Oh, why did you leave again, what are you talking about!" Xiao Wei was obviously a little impatient, and said: "I said you never finished? Tired of playing, kick it!" Gao Yang's expression changed after hearing Xiao Wei's words.
The foreman hurriedly apologized and smiled: "It's brother's fault, it's brother's fault! What's the matter, come here today?" Xiao Wei said: "I'm here to look for third brother, is third brother here?" The foreman seemed very attentive: "Yes, I will give You call, the two brothers sit here first!" Leading the two to a table in the corner of the lobby, hurriedly calling for someone.The moment he turned around, Gao Yang noticed that there was a long scar on the face of the foreman who turned his back to him, which made the originally kind face look a bit ferocious.Asked: "Who is this person?"
Xiao Wei sat down on the sofa with a grin, put the snakeskin bag between his feet, and said: "He, 'Scar', the third brother has Cui Ben'er!" Gao Yang nodded, and asked: "We met today Is that the third brother?" Xiao Wei said: "Yes, he is nicknamed Lame Three, and he is famous in the Panjiayuan area. But he usually doesn't do antique business, he just helps other people's eyes (note ①) when he has something to do. He is the one who opened the teahouse. If you have any doubts, you come here to ask him for help. Third brother is a nice guy, worth paying attention to!" Gao Yang nodded: "It turns out that he is not a gold mine digger, but a water seller. "
Xiao Wei was taken aback, and asked: "What water seller?" Gao Yang was about to explain, when Li San had already limped over.Gao Yang looked at the visitor secretly, he saw that this lame man was in his thirties and thirties, thin and capable, with a sharp-edged figure.
Xiao Wei stood up and greeted Lame San affectionately.Lame Three patted Xiao Wei on the shoulder vigorously: "Xiao Wei, I haven't seen you for a while, where did you get rich recently?" Xiao Wei smiled and said, "What kind of money are you making, you fool!" Lame Three nodded, Skillfully sized Gao Yang who was sizing up Xiao Wei's side, and asked, "Who is this?"
Xiao Wei said: "This is my son, Gao Yang, a learned man, a great reporter!" The lame three looked very affectionate: "Come, sit, sit, what tea do you two drink? I just arrived here Guanyin!"
The two sat down, Xiao Wei waved his hands, and said: "No trouble, I'm here today, I need your help with something. I have something in my hand, I want Third Brother to help me " Lame San smiled and said: "Since when did Xiaowei start the antique business?" Xiao Wei chuckled and said, "Where do I have the money to sell antiques? I'm just fooling around, haha..."
Xiao Wei bent down to touch the snakeskin bag on the ground, "Scar" suddenly hurried over, Xiao Wei stopped. "Scar" smiled at Xiao Wei and the two, and said to Li San in a low voice: "Third Brother, Professor Liu is here, and he said that he wants to take something away, and he is a little uncertain." Li San nodded and said: "Just let them come and sit!"
"Scar" looked aside at Xiao Wei and Gao Yang, but did not move.Lame San smiled, and said: "Xiaowei and the others are not outsiders, go and call them!" Then "Scar" turned and left, and after a while, he led two middle-aged men over.
The leader is a fat man with glasses, who looks like a scholar at first glance, and the one behind is thin, with a wretched face, and looks like a foreigner.The two greeted Li San, who nodded slightly.The fat man turned around and said, "Take out the things!" The thin man nodded and bent forward, took out a paper bag from his pocket, opened it with three inner layers and outer layers, and placed a palm-sized copper incense burner on the tea table.
The thin man took a step back, turned his head to look at Lame San's face.Lame Three sat on the sofa carelessly, without showing any signs of expression, first glanced at the thin man beside him, and then lowered his head to observe the incense burner in front of him.Both the fat and thin looked nervously at Lame San's expression.
After only two glances, Li San stretched out his hand to pick up the incense burner. Gao Yang noticed that he didn't take the leg closest to him, but reached behind and picked up the last leg.Lame Three looked at the thin man beside him again.
The thin man seemed a little nervous, Lame San put the incense burner back on the table and asked, "How much?" The thin man stretched out his sleeve.Lame San waved his hand: "I'm not a businessman, so you don't need to have anything in my sleeve (Note ②), just say it straight!"
The thin man withdrew his hand and smiled compensatingly: "It's a serious thing, 180,000!" The lame man smiled, looked the thin man up and down, picked up the lighter on the table, lit a cigarette, and began to seem Unintentionally, he tapped the hind paw of the incense burner with the lighter, and following Li San's tap, the incense burner moved towards the table little by little.
Li San said: "Thirty-five thousand!" The skinny man's face trembled, and he said: "How can it be done, third brother, this is a real thing." Li San ignored him and continued to tap.The incense burner moved towards the table bit by bit.Lame San said again: "30,000!" The thin man looked nervous, and said: "Brother San, are you joking with your brother?" Lame San remained expressionless and continued to tap on the incense burner: "25,000!"
The incense burner was about to fall off the table.Seeing sweat on his forehead, the thin man carried it for a while, stepped forward and hugged the incense burner, and said pleadingly: "Third brother, third brother... okay, twenty-five thousand is twenty-five thousand! Today I met an expert, I Admit it!"
The lame three ignored the thin man, turned around and said to the fat man, "You can decide for yourself whether to charge this price, or you won't earn much anyway!" The fat man quickly bowed: "Thank you, third brother, thank you, third brother!" Pick up things and leave quickly.
Gao Yang looked dumbfounded, looked at the backs of the two, and asked: "What...what's going on?" Lame San smiled and said: "That kid is fooling around!" Gao Yang said: "The incense burner Is it fake?" Lai San said: "The censer is not fake, but the Xuande censer is most valuable in a single word, and the defective products are not worth much!" Gao Yang was stunned, and asked: "Could it be that this censer is... Lame San smiled: "This incense burner is old, and the hind legs have been stuck. He thought that others would not be able to see it, so he offered the price of the whole product. If anyone buys it back for 180,000 yuan, he will lose it all." .”
Gao Yang nodded, and asked again: "Then if the incense burner fell down just now, who is to blame for the damage?" Xiao Wei patted Gao Yang on the shoulder: "Brother, if it fell, it must be the broken leg. Isn't this revealing? Who is the third brother, how can it be so easy to deceive the third brother!"
Lame San smiled slightly, waved his hands, and said: "Small skills are not worth mentioning!" Gao Yang said solemnly: "Your kung fu is not a small skill, and antiques are learned. By the way, I am a reporter from the Evening News , if you are free, can you find time to do an interview with you?" Lame San smiled slightly and said, "Okay, and help me promote my business by the way!" Gao Yang looked very serious: "Sure, definitely!"
Xiao Wei patted Gao Yang, and said with a smile: "I said buddy, you are really a nerd, you have done all the interviews here!" Lame San smiled tolerantly: "I think what Gao Yang said is very good. Good! Come on, let's talk business!"
Xiao Wei nodded, carried the snakeskin bag to the table, and was about to pull the zipper, when Li San stretched out his hand to hold it down, and said, "There are a lot of people here!" Xiao Wei stopped, Li San stretched out his hand to open a corner of the zipper, He put his hand in, for a moment, took out his hand, zipped it up, and said to Xiao Wei: "Let's go in and talk!" Xiao Wei looked at Gao Yang, and the lame three had already stood up.
The two followed Lai San into the manager's room, and Xiao Wei put the bundle on the table and opened it.As soon as the box was taken out, Gao Yang noticed that Li San frowned slightly.Xiao Wei put the box in front of Li San and stepped aside.Lame-san lowered his body, squinted his eyes and looked at the box.
After a long time, Xiao Wei asked: "How is it?" Gao Yang stretched out his hand and pulled him.Lame San didn't answer, he held up the box, looked up and down again, then put the box down, nodded, and said: "It's a good thing!"
Xiao Wei said: "Can you tell where it came from?" Lame San pondered for a moment, and said: "It looks like a Korean product!" Xiao Wei looked at Gao Yang, it seemed that Gao Yang's guess was right.Then asked: "Can you see the origin of this box and how much is it worth?"
Lame San shook his head, and said: "I can't say that well, how about it, my master happens to be here these two days, let him take a look at it." Xiao Wei smiled: "On the third brother's level, I still need a master ?” Lame San smiled, didn’t speak, and led the two out of the teahouse directly.
The Panjiayuan Antique Market is surrounded by a large area of one-story houses, and in the densely packed spider web-like alleys, there are merchants who resell and buy second-hand antiques from all over the country.He limped and limped to lead the way, greeting people with various accents from time to time.
Turning around a few alleys, the three of them stopped in front of an old-fashioned courtyard house, and the three of them knocked on the door.Not long after, a little girl who looked like a nanny opened the door.Lame Three asked respectfully: "Is the old man there, Master?" The little nanny nodded.
This is a small courtyard with two entrances, with pomegranates and cloves planted in the front hall.The nanny led the three of them to the backyard, where a reclining chair was placed under a towering ancient locust tree. A thin old man who seemed to be in his seventies was resting on the reclining chair with his eyes closed, and a purple clay pot was placed on the stone table beside him.
Lame San led the two of them forward, but the old man didn't open his eyes, and asked, "Is San'er here?" Lame San smiled and stepped forward: "Master is still very good, you can tell it's me just by the sound of footsteps."
The old man opened his eyes, looked at Xiao Wei and Gao Yang behind Li San, closed his eyes again, and asked: "Who are these two?" Li San said: "These are two friends. Master, please give me a slap." The old man said "Yes".
Seeing that the old man agreed, Lame Three stepped forward and put the purple clay pot on the table aside, turned around and gave Xiao Wei a wink.Xiao Wei took out the box from the snakeskin bag and gently placed it on the stone table.
Hearing the steady sound of the box falling on the stone table, the old man opened his eyes again.Seeing the box with a faint light on the stone table, the old man's cloudy eyes suddenly brightened, but then returned to normal.
Lame Three helped the old man up and handed over the magnifying glass.The old man stretched out his hand to push it away, looked at the box carefully, then put his hand on the lid and touched it carefully.After about a cup of tea, the old man raised his hand, put it under his nose and sniffed vigorously.
Xiao Wei and Gao Yang watched curiously, but no one dared to disturb.The old man smelled it for a while, nodded, sat back on the recliner, and closed his eyes.Xiao Wei couldn't bear it anymore, and asked, "How is it, old man?" The old man ignored Xiao Wei, as if he was in a state of concentration.Xiao Wei scolded his mother in his heart, opened his mouth to ask again, Li San waved his hand.
After a while, the old man opened his eyes and asked Li San, "Whose thing is it?" Looking Xiao Wei up and down, Xiao Wei felt uncomfortable for a while.The old man asked, "What's your surname?" Xiao Wei replied, "No expensive, your surname is Xiao!"
The old man asked again: "Have you opened the box?" Xiao Wei said: "No." The old man lay back on the recliner, closed his eyes and rested for a moment, then opened his eyes, and said to Li San: "One hundred thousand yuan, you can take it."
Xiao Wei said anxiously: "Old man, we can't sell this item for the time being. The box hasn't been opened yet, so we don't know what's inside. Besides, you haven't said anything about the origin of this box?"
The old man closed his eyes and stopped talking.The lame man tugged at Xiao Wei and winked.Xiao Wei packed the box, and the three of them withdrew.Lame San sent the two of them out of the door, Xiao Wei said: "Third brother, why did the old man just give you a price without saying anything?" Lame San smiled and said: "My master has such a temper, don't worry, I will come back later Go and ask, I'll tell you if there's any news!" Xiao Wei nodded: "Sure, thank you, brother three, please do your work first, we brothers will withdraw!" Lame three waved his hand and went into the room.
The two walked out along the densely packed alley with three turns and two turns.Xiao Wei said: "This old man is really attractive!" Gao Yang nodded: "Are all masters like this? The dragon sees the head but doesn't see the end!" Xiao Wei curled his lips and said: "What the hell, you are as good as the second-five Eighty thousand with three barrels... By the way, he said that this box is worth one hundred thousand, and I reckon it must be more than one hundred thousand, right?"
Gao Yang said: "I feel that Master Lai San seems to be very interested in this box! By the way, didn't you say that they don't do antique business?" Just collect it yourself!"
Gao Yang nodded, and said: "But about the origin of this box, why didn't Lame San's master say anything?" Xiao Wei said: "I reckon he doesn't want to talk about it, and wants to find a leak." Gao Yang said: "Catch the leak." Xiao Wei explained: "This is the jargon of playing with antiques, and it is to take advantage of the seller's ignorance to make a bargain!" At this point, Xiao Wei paused, and said: "By the way, buddy, you should pay attention to this matter." But you have to help me, didn’t you tell Li San just now that you want to interview him, if you find a chance to help me trick him, let’s not let people be fooled!”
Gao Yang nodded: "Success, I will find a chance to ask!" Xiao Wei said again: "In addition, you can find a way to help me find out, what is the origin of this box, you are more knowledgeable than me!" Gao Yang agreed.
The two walked out of the alley, found a restaurant to eat, and went for a stroll to Gao Yang's house.Xiao Wei said: "By the way, how is your computer doing? It's been more than a week. Is it right or wrong?" Gao Yang said: "This calculation is very complicated, and it really takes a long time for ordinary microcomputers to calculate!" Xiao Wei said : "There must be an accurate score. If you keep doing this and waiting, you are almost dying of anxiety. If you can't figure it out, I want to smash this box open!" Gao Yang said: "Don't say it first!" This box is probably very valuable, have you forgotten that sentence in Zeng Lao's letter?"
Xiao Wei said: "What do you mean?" Gao Yang said: "You can't use external force to open it, otherwise everything will disappear!" Xiao Wei was stunned, and asked: "When the smoke disappears, there won't be... explosives inside?"
Gao Yang laughed, and said: "Where do you think it is? If there were explosives in it, we would all be killed if we were not careful?" Xiao Wei said: "Then what does the old man mean?" Gao Yang said: "This sentence The words are a bit strange, I wondered if there is some kind of self-destruct device installed in this box, so it cannot be opened by external force?" Xiao Wei said: "It is possible, your words are reliable!"
Gao Yang nodded, and suddenly frowned, as if he remembered something, after a while, Gao Yang said: "By the way, I suddenly remembered an allusion, it was also about a mysterious box, and it was also mentioned!" Xiao Wei said : "What point?" Gao Yang said: "Self-destruct device!"
Xiao Wei came to his senses and asked: "What allusion, hurry up and tell me, it might be this box!" Gao Yang nodded, recalled for a moment, and said: "That was a few years ago, in 2000, our newspaper office At that time, I was preparing to do a special column commemorating the fifty-fifth anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, and I was in charge of organizing materials, and I saw a material in the National Archives.”
Xiao Wei said: "What information?" Gao Yang said: "It was the 50th anniversary of the second anti-fascist victory in 1995. The former Soviet Union declassified a secret file of the Japanese Kwantung Army during the War of Resistance. It recorded a thing, and it was also about a mysterious box..."
Xiao Wei came to the head and urged: "Then you tell it quickly, I love listening to stories!" Gao Yang said: "In the files I saw, there is such a thing recorded, it is about the last emperor Puyi .” Xiao Wei nodded.
The files that Gao Yang saw recorded such a story:
In 1932, under the arrangement of the Japanese, Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, secretly sneaked into the puppet Manchukuo and became the puppet emperor.In the next few years, although Puyi got along with the Japanese on the surface, in fact, he had been secretly engaged in small tricks, and did not submit to the hostage of the Japanese.And the Japanese side didn't believe in Puyi either, and the super high school had placed a large number of spies around Puyi to monitor Puyi's every move at any time.
At the beginning of 1934, the Special High School suddenly received a secret report from spies: Puyi urgently called Lu Chuanlin, the Minister of Military Aircraft, and the Captain of the Personal Guard, and seemed to want to transport a batch of secret items out of Changchun for an unknown purpose.The Japanese quickly dispatched troops to intercept, and the two sides encountered each other on the outskirts of Changchun.In order to protect the accompanying belongings, the Puyi Guards did not hesitate to fight with the Kwantung Army with outnumbered enemies, and finally the entire army was wiped out.When the Japanese inspected the scene, they found a mysterious box.According to rumors in the world, the Manchus robbed a large amount of treasures and buried them outside the customs when they entered the customs. Before his death, Dorgon left a box containing a treasure map of the treasures outside the customs. This box followed the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. It has been passed down, so that if something changes, the Manchus can temporarily withdraw from the customs and use this treasure to make a comeback.The Japanese naturally knew about this rumor, and they guessed that perhaps Puyi wanted to use this batch of treasures to gradually get rid of the control of the Japanese and restore the Qing Dynasty.
After the conflict broke out, both China and Japan kept secret about the matter, and Pu Yi didn't mention anything about throwing the box.The Japanese have been trying to open the box and figure out what is inside.But the structure of the lock cylinder of the box is extremely precise, and there is a self-destruct device inside, as long as it is not opened normally, the self-destruct device activates, and everything will be destroyed.The Japanese have visited many lockpickers, but they have not been able to open the box.Until the Soviet Army declared war on Japan in 1945, and then Japan surrendered, the box disappeared.
Xiao Wei was extremely excited after hearing Gao Yang's story, and said, "Dude, if what my grandfather left behind is the box you just mentioned, we'll send it out! By the way, in the file you saw, is there any What does that box look like?" Gao Yang shook his head: "No, but I was very interested in that box after reading the file, and it took a long time to collect a lot of information."
Xiao Wei asked: "How is it?" Gao Yang said: "According to the information I found, there was originally a pair of this box, one of which contained Huang Taiji's beloved things, and after Huang Taiji was buried, The other one, handed down from Dorgon, has been placed behind the upright and bright plaque of the Qianqing Palace. It stores the imperial edicts of successive emperors. However, there is no mention of the treasure in the information. It's just unofficial history."
Xiao Wei said: "Don't care about his official history and unofficial history or shit, this time we have to hug whether we have grass or not, if it is true, then we will be arrested?" Gao Yang laughed and said: "What are you thinking? This matter is horrific I haven't written a word yet, don't be crazy! And I think, judging from the letter left by Mr. Zeng, it should have nothing to do with this matter. What Mr. Zeng said in the letter is an extremely weird matter……"
Xiao Wei interrupted him, and said: "I said buddy, you are fighting for the things related to the treasure, and you are moving with your heart. Isn't it weird? By the way, you just said that the Kwantung Army found the Where did the box come from? In 1934, I remember that the old man mentioned in his letter that it was the 23rd year of the Republic of China. Damn, is the 23rd year of the Republic of China also 1934?"
Gao Yang was taken aback, and said: "Yes, yes, why didn't I think of it!" After a pause, he said, "It seems that these two things are really related!" Xiao Wei was very excited, and said: " Then let me tell you Gao Yang, you have to help me with this matter, if you really get rich, brother will definitely not miss your benefits!"
Gao Yang smiled and said: "You are obsessed with money, even if it is true, the treasures buried in the ground belong to the country!" Xiao Wei curled his lips and said, "What country? Say I don’t tell, who knows! Hurry up, buddy, let’s take a taxi back and see how your computer is doing! I just want to take a shit too.” Gao Yang frowned and shook his head.
When the two entered the house, Xiao Wei put down the snakeskin bag and hurriedly rushed to the toilet.Gao Yang came to the study and turned on the computer screen. The data on the screen showed that the computer had reached the final calculation stage.
Xiao Wei yelled in the toilet: "Brother, hurry up and get some paper, your toilet is out of paper!" Gao Yang shook his head, got up to look for toilet paper.As soon as he got to the living room with the toilet paper, a stench was already coming from the toilet. Gao Yang pinched his nose and passed the paper over, and said to Xiao Wei: "No wonder Zhao Ying always wanted to criticize your faults, you are too informal, The door is not closed when you go to the toilet." Xiao Wei chuckled and took the toilet paper.Gao Yang closed the bathroom door and opened the window of the living room. Just as he was about to turn on the air purifier, the computer in the study made a rapid "beep beep". Gao Yang was taken aback and rushed into the study.
Here, Xiao Wei also ran out of the toilet with his pants in his hands, his face full of excitement, and asked: "How about it? Forget it?" Gao Yang didn't answer, carefully checked the data on the screen, and nodded: "The computer prompts , There are a total of seventeen ways to open the box, the fastest is two hundred and seventy-six steps, you see, here are the specific steps of each method!"
Xiao Wei said: "That is to say, according to the computer prompts, we can spell out the picture?" Gao Yang nodded and said: "It should be possible!" I'll give you a girl!" Gao Yang ignored Xiao Wei's nonsense, dragged the mouse to enlarge a piece on the screen, and said to Xiao Wei: "We need to find the simplest way, yes, this is it, let's follow this One way to fight!"
Xiao Wei stared at the screen and said: "I can't understand it, it's all in foreign language, it knows me, but I don't know him!" Gao Yang smiled and said: "Look, the numbers here are the numbers of the pictures, U, D, L and R represent up, down, left, and right respectively, very simple!"
Xiao Wei scratched his head: "Let's do this, you should watch it on the computer, read it to me, and I will spell it out, buddy's hands are smarter than yours!" Gao Yang nodded, and found a piece of copy paper from the side , tore a lot of paper, and then numbered each piece of paper.Xiao Wei had already taken the box, and the two of them pasted the corresponding number on the wood chip.Gao Yang said: "Okay, let's start!"
Xiao Wei found a chair and sat down, Gao Yang dragged the mouse, and began to read from the first step.The first is the chip numbered twenty-seven to the right.Xiao Wei found the corresponding piece of wood, and slowly moved the piece of wood to the right, and with a snap, the piece of wood was in place.
The computer's calculations were really accurate. After half an hour, the upper part of the puzzle already had a shape. Xiao Wei followed Gao Yang's instructions and moved the wooden pieces one by one. An hour later, Gao Yang read the last step, which was numbered thirty. Chip number eight, move to the left.
Xiao Wei was already sweating profusely, wiped his sweat with his hand, and looked at Gao Yang: "Dude, whether it's a blessing or a curse, just look at this!" Gao Yang nodded, his expression also very nervous.Xiao Wei collected himself, and slowly moved the wood chip, and with a snap, the wood chip was in place.
The two held their breath for a long time, but there was no response from the box. Xiao Wei picked up the box and looked at it, and said, "That's right, isn't it all finished? Look, the last eye of the picture is right at the very end." Is it in the lower right corner?" Gao Yang looked at the whole picture, and then at the original picture on the computer, it was indeed spelled out.
Xiao Wei frowned, and suddenly said: "I understand, I have to put back the piece of wood on the eye of the picture!" After speaking, Xiao Wei found the original piece of wood, put it in the lower right corner of the picture, and let out a long breath. Press down suddenly. There was a soft "click", and a hole one inch square was exposed at the seam in the middle of the front of the box.
When the box was opened, Xiao Wei was very excited. He rubbed his hands together and said, "I said buddy, if there is really a treasure map inside, then we two won't have to do anything in this life!" Lift the lid lightly.
Nothing happens.
Xiao Wei was taken aback, and said: "No way!" He changed his posture, hugged the box body with his left hand, and pulled the lid of the box with his right hand, exerting another force.The box still hasn't been opened.Xiao Wei looked left and right at the box, and said: "It must be stuck somewhere, I'll try again!" He picked up the box and prepared to increase his strength.Gao Yang suddenly reached out to stop him, shouting: "Wait!" Xiao Wei put the box down.
Gao Yang observed for a while, and said to Xiao Wei: "Look here!" The place Gao Yang pointed to was the hole that just popped open at the seam between the box cover and the box body. There are two tiny slits, shaped like a keyhole, but very thin, not much thicker than a hair, about one centimeter long.
Xiao Wei looked at Gao Yang and asked: "What is this?" Gao Yang said: "Could it be a keyhole?" Xiao Wei shook his head and said: "No way, brother, where is such a thin lock?" Kong, besides, have you ever seen a lock with two holes?"
Gao Yang nodded, and said: "Don't be reckless, I think the box has not been opened!" Xiao Wei was taken aback, and asked: "Not opened? Then our picture is for nothing?" Gao Yang said: "The picture is not for nothing Put it together, these two holes are only exposed after the picture is put together, I think that even if it is not a keyhole, it must have something to do with opening the box!"
The two observed again.Xiao Wei asked Gao Yang to find an extremely thin steel wire, bent it a few times with a vise, and slowly poked it into the gap above the small hole. After a while, Xiao Wei stretched out the wire.Gao Yang asked: "How is it?" Xiao Wei shook his head and said: "It seems that you are really right, there is a lock cylinder inside!" Gao Yang was overjoyed, and said: "So it can be opened?"
Xiao Wei didn't answer, he collected himself, and poked the steel wire into the gap below.This time it took a long time, and Xiao Wei's usual playful expression disappeared. He closed his eyes, concentrated on his expression, and made subtle movements entirely by the feeling in his hands.
Gao Yang watched nervously from the side.Xiao Wei's expression changed with the movements of his hands, sometimes he was happy, and sometimes he frowned.After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Wei opened his eyes and pulled out the wire.Gao Yang said: "How is it?" Xiao Wei shook his head, and said: "Nothing, nothing at all, it's too complicated! This lock is simply... not opened by someone!"
Gao Yang said: "Can you try again?" Xiao Wei said: "It's useless to try, I can't even open the lock on the box, let alone this one! It's so small, but the inside is more complicated than a bank safe!" Gao Yang Frowning tightly, he said: "Now I feel a little bit that this box is more and more like the one in the legendary Puyi treasure!" Xiao Wei was taken aback for a moment, then with a happy face, he asked: "How do you say it?"
Gao Yang said: "In the information I have read, the box is not specifically recorded in detail, but there is one point mentioned above: the mechanism of the box is extremely complicated, the Japanese even used special agents to search for lockpicking experts everywhere, but they still couldn't open it! And I also mentioned just now that there is a self-destruct device inside the box, and it cannot be opened by external force, just like what Mr. Zeng said in his letter..."
Xiao Wei was excited for a moment, then showed disappointment, and said: "If this is the case, then don't we stop eating?" Gao Yang said: "Don't worry, it doesn't matter if you can't open it, someone will definitely be able to open it!" Xiao Wei Asked: "Who?" Gao Yang said: "Zhao Ying!" Xiao Wei was taken aback.
The next afternoon, Xiao Wei crouched at the entrance of the Ministry of Public Security building with a cigarette in his mouth, looking inside from time to time.Gao Yang has been in for more than an hour and has not come out.
Xiao Wei was a little nervous, but he knew better than anyone else that perhaps only Zhao Ying could help with opening the box.She is a disciple passed down from her grandfather, and most of Zeng Lao's lockpicking skills have been passed on to Zhao Ying.As long as Zhao Ying is willing to nod, no matter how complicated the lock is, it will definitely be opened.
However, the divorce itself really offended people badly, plus what happened at the funeral two days ago, even if Zhao Ying is a clay figurine, she must be a bit rustic.Xiao Wei began to secretly regret that he did things too terribly at the beginning, and didn't leave himself a way out at all.But then again, since we won't be able to get to the same place, it's better to avoid thinking about it if we don't have to do things. It's better than dragging our feet.There is no other way now, it depends on whether Zhao Ying is willing to buy Gao Yang's face!
After thinking about it, Gao Yang finally came out after finishing a pack of cigarettes.Xiao Wei stepped forward to greet him quickly: "How are you, buddy?" Gao Yang shook his head.Xiao Wei asked again: "She won't help?" Gao Yang said: "It's weird, Zhao Ying never seems to be so unreasonable! I'm going to talk nonsense, but she just doesn't nod!" Xiao Wei said: "Tell him about me. Already?" Gao Yang said, "Already mentioned."
Xiao Wei nodded, and was silent for a moment: "I know what's going on, I'll go and tell her!" Gao Yang was stunned, and asked, "You go? Are you afraid that she will ignore you? What happened at the funeral last time ..." Xiao Wei patted Gao Yang, and said: "That's not the case, I know where Qian Jieer is, you can wait for me here!" Xiao Wei stepped into the building of the Ministry of Public Security.
When they opened the door and entered the office, everyone was taken aback.Because of Zhao Ying's relationship, most people here know him.During the period of pursuing Zhao Ying, Xiao Wei reported here almost every day.But since the two divorced, he never came again.
When Zhao Ying's colleagues saw Xiao Wei, they were somewhat embarrassed.Xiao Wei grinned at everyone and went straight to Zhao Ying's seat.Seeing Xiao Wei, Zhao Ying turned her head away and continued her work.Xiao Wei grinned with a hippie smile, and said, "Zhao Ying, I have something to ask you." Zhao Ying looked a little cold: "Tell me!"
Xiao Wei said: "It's not convenient to talk about it here, let's go out and talk about it." Zhao Ying said: "Forget it's inconvenient, I'm busy." Listen..." After finishing speaking, Xiao Wei straightened up and said loudly: "Zhao Ying, I'm here today, just to admit your mistake in front of everyone, about the divorce..."
The office was very quiet. Everyone was taken aback by Xiao Wei's voice, and turned to look at the two of them.Zhao Ying's face turned red all of a sudden, and she called softly: "Xiao Wei!" Xiao Wei looked at Zhao Ying with a smirk on his face, and said, "Why don't you go out and talk?" Zhao Ying bit her lip and stood up. get up.
The two walked out of the room, Xiao Wei pulled Zhao Ying to a corner of the corridor.Zhao Ying turned around and didn't look at him.Xiao Wei said: "Zhao Ying, I'm here today, I really want to apologize to you, the divorce is indeed my fault, and the last time I was at the old man's cemetery..." Zhao Ying interrupted him: "You don't have to say I don't remember you, nor do I hate you!"
Xiao Wei chuckled: "It's good that you don't hate me, I know you are not a narrow-minded person. Then... what Gao Yang said just now, can you help me?" Zhao Ying said: "It's your own business, I don't want to Help!" Xiao Wei said: "How can you say that you are also a student of the old man, and this is more or less something left by the old man, so let's do it, if you really don't want to help, can you introduce us to other ways?" Zhao Ying said: "I have no other way. way!"
Xiao Wei said sincerely, "Then help us..." Zhao Ying shook her head.Xiao Wei turned Zhao Ying's body and looked into Zhao Ying's eyes: "Zhao Ying, tell me the truth, do you still hate me?" Zhao Ying shook her head and said: "No!" Xiao Wei said: "That is now Hate me, bother me, don't like me, just because it's my business, why don't you help me?" Zhao Ying shook her head again: "I don't hate you, and I don't bother you!"
Xiao Wei said: "That's because...you haven't forgotten about the divorce? You still like me? So, you don't want to see me again?" Zhao Ying bit her lip and replied in a deep voice: "Yes, I still like me You, but I won't help you, and I don't want to have any contact with you." After Zhao Ying finished speaking, she turned around and left, Xiao Wei was stunned for a while.
Xiao Wei came out of the Ministry of Public Security building disheartened, Gao Yang asked: "How is it?" Xiao Wei said: "It's no use, I'm talking about it, I just don't help!" Gao Yang asked: "Did you apologize to her?" Xiao Wei said: "Yes Ah!" Gao Yang said: "That's strange, Zhao Ying is not the kind of narrow-minded woman, what did she say?"
Xiao Wei said: "I asked her if she didn't want to talk to me because she hated me, so she didn't help?" Gao Yang said: "What did she say?" Xiao Wei said: "She said no, she still likes me now, but if she doesn't help, she I don't want to have any contact with me anymore!"
高阳一愣，问道：“还喜欢你，那为什么离婚？”萧伟呵呵一笑，道：“这个事儿说来话长，咱们先回去吧。”高阳点了点头，两人往前走去。
走了一阵儿，高阳突然问道：“萧伟，你跟我说实话，你们两个到底为什么离婚？”萧伟道：“不跟你说了么，我们俩，过不到一块儿去。”
高阳停住脚步，盯着萧伟，道：“不对！这肯定不是最主要的原因，你一定是把赵颖给伤了，我从来没见赵颖这么不讲情面过，你小子给我说实话，到底怎么回事？”萧伟讪讪地笑了笑：“其实……也没出什么事儿，就是我和英子胡搞，被赵颖撞见了……”
高阳一下子愣住了，停顿了片刻，勃然大怒：“萧伟，你……你怎么能做出这种事儿来？你到底还他妈的是不是人？”高阳说完话，转身就走。
萧伟一下子傻了，他从没见过高阳骂人，愣了片刻，大步追了上去：“哥们儿哥们儿，是我不好，是我不好，你别走啊，你走了，这事儿谁帮我啊……”
高阳伸手拦了一辆出租车，扭身对萧伟说道：“萧伟，我算看错你了，我没你这样的朋友！以后这种事情，你少来找我！”出租车刷地开走，萧伟愣在了那里。
萧伟彻底抓了瞎，赵颖是死活不肯帮忙，现在高阳也不理他了。接下的一周，萧伟抱着那只盒子，放家里也不是，放别人那儿更不放心。盒子一时半会儿也打不开，他急得像热锅上的蚂蚁。
找了高阳几次，恰逢这段时间报社工作很忙，高阳几乎天天没日没夜在外面采访。直到第二个周末，他才在报社门口逮着了高阳。
高阳似乎还在生气，见到萧伟爱答不理，萧伟拉下脸皮，一通死求。他很清楚高阳的脾气，高阳的性子就像老太太的牙口，吃软不吃硬的。
高阳的口气果然略有松动，对萧伟道：“萧伟，你现在求我也没用，我也不是不想帮忙，这件事情，除赵颖没别人有办法，除非你想办法让赵颖点头！”萧伟呵呵一笑：“我想起一个法子，赵颖肯定会点头！”高阳一愣：“你有办法？”
萧伟道：“你记不记得老爷子那封信？”高阳点了点头。萧伟道：“老爷子那封信背面，写了一句话，让我一旦抓瞎就去找赵颖帮忙。”高阳道：“你是说，拿着这封信去找赵颖？”
萧伟点头道：“赵颖是老爷子学生，老爷子既然生前有安排，她不会不答应！”高阳道：“你不觉得这样做有点要挟的意思？”
萧伟嘿嘿一笑：“所以我才找你啊，她现在不想见的是我，这事儿你帮我办，我把盒子和信都交给你，只要赵颖帮着把盒子打开，以后我永远在她面前消失不就结了！”高阳叹了口气，没有说话。
两人往前走了一段，高阳突然道：“萧伟，你告诉我一句实话！你现在……还爱不爱赵颖？”萧伟一愣：“靠，你怎么问起这个来了？”高阳道：“这个很重要，你要是还爱赵颖，跟英子就是逢场作戏，我觉得赵颖不是那种不允许别人犯错误的人，这件事情我去和赵颖求情，既然她还喜欢你，我还是希望你们能在一起。这样，这件事情也就解决了！”
萧伟叹了口气：“哥们儿，你的好意我心领了，不过这不是喜欢不喜欢的问题，我和赵颖，过不到一块儿去！”高阳道：“怎么过不到一块儿去？”萧伟道：“我们俩不般配，你想想，赵颖是研究生，大知识分子，我呢，就是一小混混儿，过了上顿儿不知道下顿儿！”
高阳道：“既然不般配，当初为什么会走到一块儿去？”萧伟道：“这你又不是不知道，说起来，这也是我的错，当初我看着赵颖新鲜，我圈子里哪儿有赵颖这样的女孩儿？再加上我又死追活追，赵颖就上了套儿了！”
高阳咬了咬牙：“萧伟，你真是个混蛋！敢做，不敢负责任！”萧伟赔笑：“你说得对，你说得对！我确实是混蛋，我也从来没说我不是混蛋……”停顿了一下，又道，“不过这事儿你也不能全怨我，你想啊，我们俩根本就不是一路子的人，我喜欢的，赵颖一概没兴趣；她喜欢的，我又全都不懂，而且赵颖还一直想把我改变成一绅士，可我这人，你又不是不知道，谁改变得了我啊，自由惯了！天天家里有个什么事儿都管着你的，后来又让我去上班，我哪儿受得了啊？”
高阳叹了口气，不说话了。两人往前走了一段，萧伟问道：“怎么样哥们儿，这事儿全靠你了，我保证，只要盒子一打开，以后绝不再骚扰赵颖，让她好好过日子！”高阳摇了摇头，道：“年纪轻轻就离了婚，以后还怎么好好过日子？”
萧伟沉默了片刻，突然道：“对了高阳，有一句话，兄弟最近一直想跟你说，就是不知道你听了会不会生气？”高阳道：“你说吧！”萧伟沉吟了半晌儿，道：“我一直觉得，你跟赵颖，比我们俩在一起合适……”
高阳一愣：“你什么意思？”萧伟道：“你看，你们俩都是读书人，都有学问，兴趣爱好也都一样。另外，你不是也一直喜欢赵颖么，我琢磨着，现在我们俩也不在一块儿了，你要是不嫌弃赵颖跟过我的话，那就……”
高阳一下子打断萧伟，脸色铁青：“萧伟，你什么意思，你说的这是人话么？”萧伟见高阳生气，赶忙道歉：“哥们儿哥们儿，是我错，是我错，我也没别的意思，就是这么一说，这么一说！”
高阳停住脚步，对萧伟道：“萧伟，我是喜欢过赵颖，甚至现在还喜欢她！但是我告诉你，喜欢一个人，就是要让她幸福。现在赵颖还喜欢你，所以，我还是希望你们两个能再走到一块儿！至于你刚才说的那件事情，我会帮你去找赵颖，不管怎么样，我们俩是从小一起长大的朋友！我说的话，你好好考虑考虑！”萧伟愣住了，虽然他从来都觉得自己属于狼心狗肺一类，但听了高阳这段掏心窝子的话，还是被感动了。
当天晚上，高阳从萧伟家取走曾老留下的两件东西，直接去找赵颖。接下来一周，萧伟如坐针毡。他估计得没错，赵颖看了曾老书信，答应帮这个忙。盒子已经留在了赵颖那里，但赵颖并没有说什么时候才能打开。
一个星期的时间，度日如年。周五晚上，高阳来找萧伟，抱着那只盒子。萧伟迫不及待问道：“怎么样哥们儿，打开了？”高阳放下盒子，摇了摇头。萧伟道：“怎么回事儿？”高阳道：“赵颖说，这个盒子上的锁是失传已久的'子午鸳鸯芯'，她的功力，是打不开的！”
萧伟一愣：“子……什么芯？”高阳重复道：“子午鸳鸯芯！”萧伟问：“赵颖怎么说的？”高阳道：“赵颖告诉我，这种暗锁是中国古代早已失传的一种极精密的纯机械锁，不过，有一件事情让赵颖觉得很费解。”萧伟问道：“什么事情？”
高阳道：“子午鸳鸯芯暗锁的内部极其复杂，从赵颖见过的资料看，都很巨大，而盒子上这把尺寸小得不可思议，这个盒子应该有四百年历史，那个年代怎么会有如此精细的加工精度。”萧伟道：“不会是外星人搞出来的吧？”高阳一笑，道：“你又想到哪儿去了？”
萧伟很失望，道：“要是连赵颖也打不开，那咱们不都瞎了？对了，不会当年老爷子也没打开过这个盒子吧？”高阳摇了摇头，道：“那倒不会，赵颖说虽然她打不开，应该还有别的办法！”萧伟一喜：“还有办法？”
高阳点头道：“对，赵颖告诉我，虽然这种锁的开启方法官方失传已久，不过民间应该还有高人，可能会掌握这种技术。”萧伟问道：“民间高人？什么样的人？”
高阳道：“盗窃高手！解放前的盗窃高手，除精通各种盗术外，必是精通各种开锁的锁术，不过能打开这种锁的人，必是身怀二十'柱'以上绝技的高手。”
高阳说得不错，过去的盗窃高手确实身怀绝技。就以开锁功夫而论，至少在二十“柱”以上。这里讲的“柱”，前文已经提过，便类似围棋所讲的“段”，是判别一个开锁高手功夫高低的准绳。
中国自古有“三百六十行，行行出状元”的说法。而在三百六十行之外的邪行——盗窃，古称“荣行”里，也曾高人辈出。这些高人掌握的绝技，最主要就是“锁术”和“扒术”两项。其中“扒术”指的是偷窃技巧，而“锁术”便是不用钥匙开锁的技巧。
以今天的眼光来看，当时的开锁和扒窃技巧甚至可以说是一门艺术。拿“扒术”来说，在掌握了诸多艰苦的基本功以外，不但要心细、胆大、眼明、手快，更主要的还要巧妙地转移别人的注意力。要想练成一个扒窃高手绝不是简单的事，确实要经历一系列艰苦卓绝的训练。就如我们今日的钢琴演奏训练，要经过诸如拜厄，车尔尼599、849、299、718、740，肖邦练习曲等一系列专业教材训练，才有可能达到钢琴演奏比较高的境界。
“扒术”训练要从指力练起，指力有三关：“碎炭”、“碎栗”、“碎石”，也就是要凭食指中指和无名指三指的力量，能够捏碎木炭、核桃之类的坚果，甚至是石头。当然，这仅仅是传说，并没有人真正见过。这三种境界达到，就要进行准确性练习：“悬铃”，即悬空挂一块极其光滑的圆石或肥皂（当然是发明肥皂以后），两侧分别挂一铜铃，要练到快速取走圆石而铃铛不响。铃铛的距离会随着技巧加深逐渐变近，最后近到和两指再加上圆石的宽度相仿。练到这个境界，才会进行“沸水取物”训练，也就是我们常听说的“开水夹肥皂”，如果能在极短时间将极其光滑的物体仅用三指力量从沸水中取出，而手不烫伤，就算练成了。
不过以上种种训练都是“死”训练，因为扒手在真正偷窃中面对的，是不断活动并且有感觉、有警觉的人，因而真正完美的偷盗更为艰难。所以“扒术”的最高级训练，是用一个木头人来进行的。这个木头人全身关节和活人一样，是活动的。木头人悬于半空，穿着和常人一样的衣服，身上绑上一枚铜铃，扒手要在木头人衣服各个口袋取出物品，而铃铛不因晃动而出声，这便达到所谓“一铃”的境界。而真正的高手，要从“一铃”练起，最高可练到“七十二铃”。也就是说最高境界要在木头人身上绑七十二枚铜铃，偷走东西而铃铛不响。这种神乎其技，对于“扒术”来讲，实在已到登峰造极的境界。根据传说，只有在前清康熙年间，京城扒手大龙头“神偷”贾三，曾练到七十二铃。即便是清末民初名满京津的大盗“燕子吕三”，据传在“扒术”方面也只到四十八铃而已。
至于“锁术”训练，虽然同样艰苦，却没有“扒术”这么多名目。根据锁芯里锁柱多少，配合特殊的训练工具，再加以配套的练习法门，从“一柱”开始，最高可练到“二十四柱”，到了这种境界，普通的锁已经没有什么开不了的了。
赵颖没有学全曾老的全部绝活，所以只有二十柱左右功力，盒子上这把子午鸳鸯芯暗锁，是打不开的。
萧伟听完了高阳的讲述，张大了嘴，半天也合不拢，他本以为自己开锁和偷东西的本领，虽说不上绝顶高手，至少也算是“准专业”水平吧，没想到就算溜门撬锁，也有这么一大堆学问。
愣了半晌儿，萧伟问道：“这么牛的人，现在还哪儿找去？”高阳点了点头：“你说得对，这样的高手现在确实很难找了，即便有过，'文革'时恐怕早被清洗光了。不过赵颖告诉我，还有第二类人，肯定可以找到，只要能找到这样的人，盒子应该就可以打开！”
萧伟喜道：“你说你说，哥们儿去找！”高阳道：“第二类人就是制锁高手，曾老以前就是一个制锁高手，他在抗战期间从东北回来隐居北京，就一直是开锁厂的。”
萧伟点了点头，这事儿他知道，曾老当年就是和高阳祖父合开的锁厂，不过到了高阳父亲这一辈儿，弃锁从文，家传的功夫也都丢了，要不然这事儿也不用去求赵颖。
高阳继续道：“赵颖说，制锁的人一定会开锁，虽说锁匠的开锁速度远比不上盗窃高手，但只要找到这样的人，打开这把锁应该没有问题。”
萧伟挠了挠头，道：“这可不好找，哥们儿认识的没有这样的人啊，要是有，还用得着去麻烦赵颖么？”高阳道：“你不用急，赵颖已经答应帮忙。她告诉我，中国制锁行业一直有'南张北谭'的说法。'南张'指的是苏州张家，是一个制锁世家。而'北谭'是北京谭家。赵颖说，只要能找到这两家任何一家后人的下落，盒子就应该可以打开！”
萧伟道：“这事儿靠不靠谱？”高阳点了点头：“赵颖说应该问题不大，据她了解，张家解放前在苏州开的'张氏锁行'，在江南名气很大，应该有可能找到。赵颖让我们等她的消息，两个星期之内肯定有结果！”
萧伟点了点头，感慨连连，道：“没想到赵颖这么恨我，遇到事儿还真挺帮忙！”高阳白了他一眼：“你以为赵颖是在帮你么？她是冲曾老的面子！”萧伟讪讪地笑了笑：“冲谁的面子都行，只要能把盒子打开就行。”
赵颖办事儿果然认真，第二个周一高阳带来消息，赵颖已经找到苏州张家的后人。根据赵颖的资料，苏州“张氏锁行”在1957年公私合营后，被合并到苏州市仪器仪表厂。张家惟一的传人——张廉诚，也留在了该厂。张廉诚当时三十二岁，于1980年提前退休，惟一个儿子张德祥同年进厂顶替。张廉诚于1990年去世，其子张德祥三年前下岗，在寒山寺市场摆了一个修锁配钥匙摊位。赵颖已经通过公安部的同学找到张德祥的详细地址，并且和对方进行过沟通，张德祥同意帮忙。
萧伟喜笑颜开，忙活着收拾东西南下苏州，正好高阳这个周末也可以休息，准备和萧伟同去。高阳也是个好奇心极强的人，曾老留下的这个盒子折腾了两人这么久，打开盒子的第一时间，他自然不想放过。
本来按着萧伟的意思，想让高阳约上赵颖一块儿去。关系是她找的，有她在场至少说话方便一点儿，另外，赵颖是公安部的开锁专家，水平至少比萧伟强，万一那个老张遇到点儿什么麻烦，赵颖还可以帮忙。
赵颖没有答应，她告诉高阳自己这个周末还有事情，高阳极力邀请，赵颖还是没有点头。看来，赵颖还是不想见萧伟。萧伟多少还是有点遗憾，他的本意，是想尽量让赵颖在这件事情里多掺和掺和，这样万一在祖父的盒子里找到财宝，也有理由分给赵颖一些。萧伟虽然惫懒，至少也是条汉子，他琢磨着，赵颖跟了自己这么久，至少也得留给对方点什么好处才能走吧。
高阳破天荒第一次在这件事上夸奖了萧伟，说他多少还有点良心，不过，赵颖并不是他想的那种女孩，赵颖不稀罕他的钱。萧伟笑了笑，他有自己的主意。收拾停当，星期五晚上，两人坐上了南下苏州的列车。
〖注①：掌眼，古玩界行话，意为鉴别古董真伪。
注②：袖里乾坤，过去买卖人进行交易，为了不让旁人看到最后成交价格，买卖双方握住手，用双方的袖子挡住，以手语进行讨价还价。 〗