Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 8 Preparing to go to Savage Valley

at night……

"How did you three know to come at this time, and with so much stuff? Looks like you've made quite a bit of money out there!"

"The dishes are served," Yanzi's father said with a smile as he poured wine for the three of them.

Hu Bayi glanced at the fat man, then at Hu Ming, and then said with a smile, "No, it's just that life is much better now, but we can't let the three of us live this good life all by ourselves. So we thought of coming back to lead our fellow villagers to get rich together!"
"Good! Good!!" Upon hearing this, the old Party Secretary immediately beamed with joy.

Wang Pangzi, being impatient, chuckled and eagerly asked, "Old Party Secretary, I remember you have quite a few vegetable jars in your backyard, don't you!"

Hu Bayi glanced at the fat man with a look of disdain. Why was this fat man so impatient?

The old Party Secretary looked suspicious. "Why are you asking this?!"

Just as Fatty Wang was about to speak, Hu Bayi, worried that Fatty might say something, interrupted, "Didn't I just tell you? There are all sorts of people in the capital now. Luckily, we know an old friend who's willing to collect these old things and antiques!"

The old Party Secretary asked with some doubt, "What use are my vegetable jars?!"

At this moment, Hu Ming spoke up: "Old Party Secretary, these vegetable jars are just for pickling vegetables in your place, but in other people's eyes, they are works of art."

The old Party Secretary opened his mouth, somewhat at a loss for words, and asked, "Really?"

Hu Ming laughed and said, "Old Party Secretary, don't forget that I specialize in this kind of thing, and it's very valuable."

At this moment, Fatty Wang interjected, "That's why we came here. This jar alone costs several hundred."

My idea is to take all these jars and bowls we have here and sell them. After we get the money, we can split it 50/50 with the villagers!

"really?!
"Of course, the three of us brothers know each other so well, we know each other inside and out!" the fat man laughed.

After saying that, Yanzi's father and the old Party Secretary exchanged a glance and sighed helplessly.

"You two are late!"

The old Party Secretary said with a complicated expression, "The archaeological team came last month and gave every household food coupons, saying that all these things had to be handed over to the state. Everyone in the surrounding villages handed them over." If what Fatty said is true, a single jar is worth several hundred yuan.

Every household in Niuxinshan had several of those jars and bowls. Every family there had become a small-time millionaire.

In this day and age, a household with ten thousand yuan could practically walk around with its head held high! Leading the villagers of Niuxinshan to prosperity would be no problem at all.

Unfortunately, the old Party Secretary was very conscientious. Upon hearing that the items were collected from above, he handed over all the bowls, jars, and other valuables from various households and regions to the state!
At this point, even the old Party Secretary's expression became very complicated. He felt a mix of emotions, unable to quite describe the disappointment of missing this opportunity to lead the villagers to prosperity.

Huba and Fatty Wang were even more dumbfounded, and the smile on Fatty Wang's face vanished instantly.

The tomb is gone, and all the pottery jars are gone!
Hu Bayi fared even worse; he even pawned a watch to buy gifts for his fellow villagers. Not only was his source of income gone, but all his spending was also gone, leaving him penniless and without even enough money for a train ticket back to the city.

Old Hu cleared his throat, his eyes gazing longingly. The fat man wore an expression even more unpleasant than if he had swallowed a dead fly.

Only Hu Ming remained calm. He knew the whole story, and it suited him perfectly. Without the villagers getting rich from pottery jars, the three of them would have no choice but to go to Yerengou in Niuxin Mountain to rob tombs!
"Come on! Let's drink!" Hu Ming handed a glass of wine to Fatty Wang and Huba. "Let's not worry about these troubles anymore. Since we're here, let's eat and drink well first. We can make money another day! Come on! Let's drink!!"

Wang Pangzi's face was contorted with worry; the thought of making money was gone. Hu Bayi and Wang Pangzi were both incredibly dejected, and they picked up their wine glasses and chug down their drinks as if they were free.

The next morning...

Hu Ming didn't drink much yesterday, and when he woke up the next morning, Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang were still fast asleep.

So Hu Ming went for a walk outside by himself. When he came back, he found that the two people inside had woken up and were having a lively discussion.

"Mingzi, you're finally back! I have something to tell you!" Fatty Wang said, pulling Hu Ming down to sit by his arm as soon as he saw him come in.

"Are you trying to persuade me to go to Niuxin Mountain and Yerengou?" Hu Ming asked with a smile.

"How did you know?!" The fat man was stunned when he heard Hu Ming's words.

Hu Ming continued with a smile, "I heard from the villagers that there was an earthquake in Niuxin Mountain two years ago. A large crack appeared in the valley, and a large tomb emerged from it. That's why the archaeological team was alerted and all the treasures here were collected."

But I'd heard since I was a child that Yeren Gully in Niuxin Mountain was a remote, untouched place. The archaeological team hadn't even finished excavating the large tombs, so they obviously wouldn't have noticed Yeren Gully. Besides, Yeren Gully was a key fortress in Northeast China back then; there must be treasure there!

The fat man exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my god! I was trying to persuade you, but it turns out you and Old Hu are on the same page! Let's pack our things and set off!"

Hu Ming agreed, "Okay!"

The three of them discussed their ideas with the old Party Secretary, who did not object.

While packing his luggage, Hu Ming approached the old Party Secretary and asked, "Old Party Secretary, could our village get some gasoline for fuel?"

The old Party Secretary was a little puzzled, but didn't ask further, simply saying, "There's half a bucket left in our backyard, you can take it."

Upon hearing this, Hu Ming thanked him and said, "Then thank you very much, Old Zhi."

Hu Mingke clearly remembered that the Jin general in Yeren Gully, the red-haired giant rice dumpling, was incredibly strong, impervious to swords and spears, bullets, and even grenades couldn't kill him.

Although Hu Ming considered himself highly skilled in martial arts, he was no match for this thick-skinned, fleshy giant rice dumpling.

He still remembered that the rice dumpling was finally burned to death by the fire of the Tianbao Dragon Fire Glazed Tiles.

If Hu Ming wants to get out of the tomb alive, he must kill this red-haired monster, and the only way to kill it is to burn it!
After preparing their tools for tomb raiding, the three of them set off!
As soon as the three left the village, a pretty girl with short hair rode up on horseback, followed by four hunting dogs and an unridden horse.

(End of this chapter)