Republic of China

Chapter 334 It turns out
There is a kind of existence, which was called eating the emperor's food in the past, and will be called passing the imperial examination in the future.

Although the Beiyang government's cabinet took turns in power, it was a formal official government for more than ten to twenty years after the Xinhai Revolution. If a child was promising enough to get a regular position in the Beiyang government, he would be envied by others.

As for me, thanks to my hard work and unparalleled passion, I was admitted to the capital's universities with excellent grades, and later was recruited into the Geological Survey Institute of the Central Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, where I was responsible for investigating relics and excavating cultural relics. I was also called an archaeologist.

In China, the concept of professional archaeology has not yet taken shape, just as all new things are impacting the ancient civilization.

The higher-ups were very anxious because they realized how precious the treasures our ancestors left us were. Even if they had to carry out destructive excavations, they couldn't let the cultural relics be stolen by foreigners who were actually tomb robbers under the guise of excavating.

The people below are also very anxious because they really can't prevent it. Our foundation is too weak. There are very few people who have truly studied archaeology systematically. Even if we add those seniors in the folk who are proficient in old-school epigraphy, our number is still too small.

Most of the local people are illiterate, and they basically sell the old items they dig out for money. It's not their fault. When anyone is struggling to make ends meet, no one can morally criticize their efforts to survive.

So, when we learned that several oracle bone fragments were unearthed again near Anyang, Henan Province, several colleagues and I speculated that there might be ruins from the Shang and Zhou dynasties under that piece of land, or at least a large tomb.

I reported my idea of ​​conducting a trial excavation and requested government funding. I also requested the dispatch of local troops to guard the site to prevent thieves from getting the news and stealing the site.

But, this is a troubled time.

The Northern Expedition was heading straight for the Central Plains. The Beiyang government authorities were in a panic and had no time to worry about archaeological excavations. The authorities tried every means to dispatch troops and recruit able-bodied men to boost their prestige, while the local authorities did their utmost to increase levies and miscellaneous taxes, intending to take advantage of every inch of the land if they really wanted to run away.

Some people say that China, as big as this country, cannot accommodate a quiet desk.

That's still an understatement.

We Chinese have no control over what happens on the loess.

The same cannot be done about what is happening under the loess.

People only know about the Old Summer Palace, but how could they know that every day, every minute, every second the treasures of our own civilization are flowing overseas?
If a civilization has no cultural heritage, what is its foundation? How can a nation trace its origins?
Beat your feet and stamp your chest?

Heartbroken?

That’s what students do.

And I will take action and protect them with my hands, my chest, my flesh and blood.

I quit my job, gave up the status and title that others envied and returned to my hometown.
To be honest, my hometown is more chaotic than I imagined. I remember that there didn't seem to be so many civil unrest when I left. Now it seems like there are wars everywhere? I heard that a young man even led his men into the county town.

Forget it, at least the situation in Anyang is acceptable. After many days of investigation, I finally made significant progress.

Who would have thought that a few children would find nail scales while digging sweet potatoes?

That’s right! It’s definitely a cultural relic!

I spent all my family fortune hiring laborers, but even with my professional guidance, it was still a drop in the bucket. Many scales were damaged to varying degrees, and the excavation site had collapsed more than once.

All are within the acceptable range.

At least it's better than being stolen by foreigners. I heard that several Western missionaries have come to Anyang to gather information.
No, I can't be too optimistic.

If my experience is correct, the point I am digging has not yet reached the core area, and there must be a big creature under Xiaotun Village.

Unfortunately, I can’t do it alone and can’t go on.

Given Marshal Zhang's temperament, even if he had the courage to confront the foreigners, he would probably be unable to govern Henan Province. The Zhenwei Army has begun to retreat in an orderly manner, which is obviously a strategic abandonment.

The test excavation site is going to be destroyed!
How can we conceal our tracks?

Yes, use ignorance.

I found a wandering man, whose nickname was Old Monkey. He said there was a plague in his family and entire families died. He had no choice but to come to the Central Plains to make a living.

I have never believed in ghosts and gods.

But it doesn’t matter whether I believe it or not, as long as my fellow villagers believe it.

Therefore, I gave all my remaining savings to the old monkey and asked him to perform some rituals around the trial excavation site, spread rumors that there were serious problems with the feng shui there, and then throw a few dead sheep and dogs there to call it a day.

It really works. On weekdays, almost no one dares to approach that cornfield. Anyway, it belongs to the landlord and the rich man. The harvest of two acres is not a big deal.
My father didn't stop me from spending money 'crazily'. He always supported me silently. But yesterday he told me something very serious.

marriage?

Not considered yet.

It takes me a long time to organize and study the dozens of nail fragments I have excavated. How can I have the time to talk about love?

But my mother passed away a few years ago, and my father is old. It is understandable that the old man wants to continue the family line. As a son, you can't be too selfish. But father, what I do is not just for myself, but for our nation.
As the year draws to a close, research on the nail plates is progressing slowly, but the symbols fascinate and intoxicate me.

Forget it, I'll just follow my father to visit relatives and friends, and change my mood.
Is she the relative my father mentioned?

As expected of a family of scholars, he does have some talent.

We chatted about the elegance and fun of life and imagined the mountains and rivers thousands of miles away.

Yes, she is my future wife.

When an auspicious day is chosen, I will welcome you into my home.

Although she knew little about the field of archaeology, after spending time with her I realized that working in isolation was not the way out.

Remember that brother Yan Song failed the exam and returned home last month?
It's just luck. With brother Yan's talent, he will definitely be on the list next time.

He and I have been like-minded since childhood. Now that he has returned to his hometown to rest, why not study the nail plate together?
As winter passed and spring came, Brother Yan's ingenuity proved to be so quick-witted that he managed to decipher all the contents on a fragment. If our research is correct, this batch of armor fragments is at least three thousand years old.

Three thousand years!!!
I couldn't contain my excitement and ran and roared in the yard, just hoping that the situation would stabilize as soon as possible so that I could hand over everything to the country.

I happened to run into Uncle Zhou who came to discuss a marriage with my father.

Ha. It's really disrespectful. I hope my future father-in-law can forgive me.

My future daughter-in-law also came with me. When she saw my expression, she smiled, as if she had guessed that I had made progress and was genuinely happy for me.

But life is not perfect.

Just as they were cheering and rejoicing, a guest came to the door.

Several local county officials, and a foreigner.

Judging from the accent, he should be from England.

The other party was very well-intentioned and said that he was an antique dealer. He asked to see the nail plate he had found and was willing to pay a large sum for it if possible. Price was not an issue.

Ah.
Thief ears!
Since the other party came to my house, he must be absolutely sure that the armor piece is here.

I didn't hesitate to tell you that you could see the nail plates, but only if you brought the stolen treasures from the Old Summer Palace to me, otherwise there would be no deal.

Even when he took out a whole box of brand new pounds, I remained unmoved.

It's just waste paper, how can it be compared with national treasures! ?
Your money can buy other people's knees, but it can never buy my spine.

Threat?

Why fear death?

Since the Reform Movement of 1898, so many patriots have sacrificed their lives for the sake of heaven!

As expected, the meeting ended unpleasantly.

I not only laugh at the foreigners' foolish dreams, but I also despise my compatriots who forget their principles for the sake of profit. If we had used the energy we put into serving the foreigners to govern the people's livelihood, why would Henan Province have fallen into a situation of war everywhere?
Having said that, the nail plate must be moved, otherwise if it is worried about day and night, something bad will happen sooner or later.

The only person I can trust is Brother Yan. When he takes the exam again, let him leave Henan Province with the armor plate. Even though the situation is turbulent, the government is still the government. If there is no other way, I will have to hand it over to the authorities.

It is really ridiculous that they dare not hand over the priceless national treasures to their own country.
Well, it's time to change my mood. The old monkey has helped me set an auspicious date. I can't go to marry my new bride with a gloomy face. I hope my country can be like my life, even if it has gone through hardships and obstacles, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Although I didn't quite understand why the old monkey set the date so early, my father was very satisfied and said that the sooner the baby got married, the sooner he could have a grandson.

Yes, yes, yes, you haven’t remarried, and you are lonely most of the time. It’s a good thing to have a child to keep you company.

But the old monkey really didn't choose a good day.

Just after putting on her bright red wedding dress, she was drenched by a heavy downpour, which didn't look like it would stop in the short term.

I say that gods and ghosts are extremely ignorant. There are no ghosts in the world, and no one can predict the future. They are all feudal dregs.

The heavy rain did not dampen my enthusiasm for getting married.

I really like that girl, but it's a pity that we didn't have much time to spend together and get to know each other.

That's all, there's still a long way to go.
There are few ships traveling to and from Huayuankou, and there are countless undercurrents flowing beneath the surging yellow water of the mother river.

I was a little nervous. I had no fear of sacrificing my life to protect the national treasure, but I was really scared of having to cross the river in the rain on the way to get married. How about getting married on another day?
My father glared at me. He said it was unlucky. The Yellow River is not always calm. Besides, the current is not turbulent. Didn't you see boatmen rowing across the river? If I can't even overcome this little difficulty, I will be looked down upon in the future.

Helpless, helpless.

When outsiders say that people from Henan are dogmatic and picky, I always argue with them. In fact, I know very well that many people do have this bad habit.

The old monkey urged people not to miss the time, pointing to the vaguely visible relatives of the Zhou family on the other side of the river.

Overcome it.

My father, Lao Hou, Yan Song and two drummers and I boarded the wooden boat first.

The moment I stepped onto the sampan, I felt irritable and depressed for some reason, perhaps because of the heavy rain.

The waves hit the bow of the boat, and drops of water splashed on the big red flower on my chest that was already wet and drooping.

I cheered myself up and imagined my future married life.

Have two children, preferably twins, a boy and a girl. The boy should develop good physique so that even if he cannot be good at literature in the future, he can serve the country with military force. The daughter should be sent to Guangzhou to study. It would be best if she could aim to be a woman like Lin Huiyin. Of course, whether she is willing or not is entirely up to her. The most important thing is to be happy.

My case is much simpler. Studying oracle bone inscriptions is my lifelong ideal. I hope that brother Yan will have the opportunity to study abroad in the future, learn from foreigners, and bring back advanced archaeological knowledge.

The future is full of light.
Until a wave came.

I couldn't tell the direction, I just felt cold all over, and the bright red wedding gown on me felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

I tried my best but couldn't find a lifeline.

The feeling of suffocation was excruciating, and my lungs were filled with more and more turbid river water.

The light is getting farther and farther away from me.

I seemed to see my father struggling violently until he trembled a few times and fell into darkness.

I seemed to see two different kinds of water splashing out, from which two shirtless men jumped out.

They were as agile as dragons in the water, and the younger one pulled the old monkey and swam upwards with all his might.

He is a corpse retriever.

Only the helplessness and fear after falling into the river made me understand how precious some professions are. I have never respected them as much as I do now.

The desire for life made me use all my strength to wave my arms at the older corpse catcher, trying to attract his attention as much as possible.

coming!

he came!
He noticed me!

Where's my father? Is he still breathing?

Don’t save me first, save my father first!
But how long can I hold on?
My thoughts turned over and over again, and a moment of hesitation made me despise myself for being despicable.

However, when the older corpse retriever swam close to me, he did not stop at all, but swam straight behind me.

He didn't save me, let alone my father.

It’s Yan Song.

When they passed by me falling, they all looked at me at the same time.

I don't understand what that means.

Guilt?

mercy?

mocking?

Regret?

have no choice?

Determined?

The darkness gradually swallowed me up. I could no longer feel the biting cold, and yellow water no longer came out of my mouth and nose.

But the confusion about the meaning in their eyes at the end puzzled me.

I want to understand what that means.

When I opened my eyes suddenly, I was standing on the south bank of the Yellow River.

The rain was getting heavier, but it couldn't drive away the crowds of people watching the fun.

What are they looking at?
I trudged forward, not noticing how easily I could make my way through the dense crowd.

There were three bodies lying at the scene.

One was my father and two were drummers on the ship.

Old Hou Hou and Yan Song knelt on the ground and coughed violently, while the two corpse lifters, one old and one young, stood quietly beside them.

People around were pointing and talking, saying that such a great happy event had turned into a funeral, and why did they choose today to cross the river?
I do not understand.

I shouted loudly that I was not dead, I was standing here.

But no one paid any attention. First, Zhou Shijing looked at his relatives with an expressionless face, then came the corpse retrievers and the corpse, and then the villagers who came to watch the fun.

Finally, I was left standing alone.

I don't understand why they can't see me, why they can't hear me calling.

So I followed Zhou Shijing to Nanyue Village and found not only Lao Houhou and Yan Song, but also the two county officials who had served the foreigners before.

Zhou Shijing and his friends were very angry and asked where the agreed money was.

Two county magistrates sat at the head of the group, holding their horses and golden swords, sneering and insisting that the money could only be obtained if the goods were sold.

Zhou Shijing asked again when the goods could be shipped.

The county magistrate replied that if you bypass the foreigners to ship the goods, the speed will definitely be slow, so you should hurry up and deal with the funeral of the new son-in-law, so as not to cause trouble for others.

I felt something was wrong and left immediately
Gone.

The nail plates are gone.

Before I could figure out what was going on, I suddenly felt dizzy and was dragged back to the Yellow River by some powerful force. Before I could die, I saw an old monkey casting a spell on the shore.

Depression and darkness tortured me all the time. I couldn't go anywhere except the bottom of the river where I fell.

But what torments me most is the endless doubts.

Fortunately, I am alone and quiet here, and I can slowly figure out what happened.
It turned out that when the old monkey saw those scales, he guessed that they were priceless.

It turned out that when Yan Song saw the foreigner carrying a box of foreign currency, he thought of using the money to bribe the examiner and get promoted overnight.

It turned out that when enough benefits were placed in front of Zhou Shijing, even the books of sages would be wasted. He wanted to get a huge sum of money to rebuild his family.

It turns out that corpse lifters can not only save people from danger, but also kill people without anyone noticing.

It turned out that the younger sister's jealousy was more poisonous than a bee's tail. She would rather her elder sister be a widow than let her future husband have the possibility of being rich. It was she who found the father of her lover Xiao Meng and proposed this whole plan.

It turns out that officials who are supported by the people's money can easily trample on the dignity and even life of a person who has given everything for the country. My so-called protection is nothing but a joke.

It turns out that I am dead.

It turns out that there really are ghosts in the world.

It turns out that there are things scarier than ghosts.

It was not until Yan Song, wearing a bright red wedding gown, fell into the water that I laughed, a heart-wrenching laugh.

Good body!
Bai Sha, with an intriguing smile, faced the interesting people who rushed over and said words that were similar to what he said at that time, but with completely different meanings.

"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Yisheng."

"Have you ever heard of Oracle?"

(End of this chapter)