Old Kui tapped Xiao Nian on the back of the head with the handle of his Luoyang shovel, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you standing there like an idiot for? Remember, the first rule of our trade is to inspect the site carefully." He pointed at the slope before them. "That pine grove I showed you this afternoon, with the mound half a foot high and the grass growing wildly? That's a sign of an untouched tomb. Got it?"
Xiao Nian nodded meekly, gripping his military shovel even tighter. "Master, then... why are there blue bricks under the soil?"
Old Kui crouched down and picked at the rusted iron lock between the bricks with his fingernail. "This is a picked-over pit. Someone's already dug here." He shot Xiao Nian a sidelong glance. "Pay attention. Only the spots the amateurs miss have anything left. A real expert can find treasure even in a second dig."
Just then, footsteps sounded from below the slope. Old Kui instantly snuffed out the miner's lamp and pulled Xiao Nian into a thicket of wild jujube, then hissed into his ear, "Listen! It's Li Laosi and his men. Someone's badly desecrated his father's grave, and now they're looking for them."
Xiao Nian was so frightened he barely dared to breathe, but Old Kui suddenly chuckled. "See? If the lookout hadn't been sharp, we'd have been caught by now. From now on, stick with me and keep your mind on the job, damn it."
Only after the footsteps had faded did Xiao Nian catch his breath. "Master, that 'archaeology' they were cursing about... that's us, right?"
Old Kui spat on the ground. "Those brats only use that word to make themselves sound respectable. Remember, we're grave robbers. Don't go copying those pretentious fools." He patted Xiao Nian on the back. "Let's go. Something's wrong with this tomb. If we keep digging, none of the skills I'm teaching you will be any use."
