Chapter 87 – A box of…… books! (1/2)

“Hello? Xiao Bing? Why are you still not back yet?”

“Oh…… Aunt Xuan. I am still busy with work. I will be back late today.”

“Ok. Then I will not wait for you for dinner. Don’t come back too late and watch out for your own safety.”

“Ok. I will take care of myself.”

After hanging up the phone, Dong Xuebing kept his iPhone4 in his pocket. He finished the last bite of his dinner. There were still people walking around the demolition site, and he had to wait. He continued to write the draft proposal for Xu Yan which was due tomorrow. When he completed the proposal, it was almost 8 pm. It was dark, and there were no one around.

It’s time!

Dong Xuebing steadied himself and walked out of the small restaurant.

The dimmed street lights illuminated that messy demolition site. This was only the initial phase of the demolition, and there was no heavy machinery. Thus, there were no security guards around. Other than two stray grey cats and a stray dog, there was no one else. It was night, and this place was messy and dirty. No one will come here. Dong Xuebing looked at the stone floor tile. He returned to the spot where he stood for hours in the afternoon. The stone tile was still in the same position before he left.

Time to start digging!

Dong Xuebing rolled up his sleeves and squat down. He used his fingers to hook onto the cold and heavy tile. He braced himself and start to pry the tile open. This tile was too heavy. In the afternoon, he saw a few workers working together to remove one stone tile.

A bit more! More strength! Just a little bit more!

The stone tile moved. It was slowly rising as Dong Xuebing uses all his strength.

10 cm…… 20 cm…… Bang! The stone tiled was flipped over.

Dong Xuebing quickly look around to see if anyone notice the loud sound. He was relieved and patted the dust off his hands. He leans forward excitedly to look at what was buried underneath the tile. It was a box. The box was covered in dirt and was worn out. Dong Xuebing swiped the dirt away and pried opened the wooden box. There was a rusty metal box wrapped in a thick plastic sheet in the box. From the condition of the box, it should not be buried too long ago.

What was in this box?

It will be a waste of BACK if this box contains something worthless!

Dong Xuebing grumbled for a while and unwrap the metal box from the thick plastic sheet. He held the box in his hand, and his heart skipped a beat. Damn! This box was too light. It only weighs about two to three teacups. He shook the box, and there was no sound. That means the box does not contain any gold, silver, or porcelain items. Dong Xuebing was disappointed. He placed the box on the floor.

The weight of this box feels like it was filled with papers.

Damn. Don’t tell me that some kid had buried his diary or newspaper under the floor tile! That will be a joke!

Dong Xuebing rubbed his cold fingers and put them near his mouth to warm them. Then he starts to open the metal box. Click! He removed the rusty lid of the box. From the dim lighting, Dong Xuebing saw what was inside. Fuck! Dong Xuebing slapped his forehead.

There were more than a dozen small books in the box and nothing else!

It was too dim, and Dong Xuebing could not see the books clearly. But unless the book pages were made from gold, how much can he sell these old books for? 1 RMB? 2 RMB? This should be what those garbage collectors will pay for books. Damn! Wasted the whole afternoon and today’s BACK. Dong Xuebing shook his head and walked over to the lamppost with the metal box. He had spent so much time and effort to get this box, he wants to see what was written in the books.

The street lights shone on the box.

Dong Xuebing did not think much about the books. He took out one book from the box.

When he took a closer look at the book, he was stunned for a few seconds!

Wait! Wait a minute!

The title of the book was…… ? The famous Song dynasty block-printed ?

Dong Xuebing quickly took out the other small books from the box. Jiaqing block-printed ? Qing Dynasty Kangxi block-printed ? Lu You’s ? Li Zhongshi’s ? The last book was a scripture from the Tang Dynasty…… ?!

Damn!

These were not worthless books. These were all classic books!!!

Dong Xuebing had worked part-time in an antique shop that specialized in old books and antique four treasures for two months. He knew the value of these books. He was speechless. This was terrific! He immediately took out all the books and kept them carefully in his bag. He checked the time and went back to return the stone tile back to its original position. After that, he flagged a cab and rushed to Panjiayuan.

The antique market at Panjiayuan closes early. Dong Xuebing was going to an antique shop just across the street from Panjiayuan.

Last summer holidays, Dong Xuebing had sold antique books at this shop.