My Gold Rush Career Begins in 1984

Chapter 247 Someone Will Take the Blame

There will always be someone who breaks down the barriers between ethnic groups.

Zhou Jingming couldn't imagine what Wu Yang and Nara would become in the future, but at least for now, he was quite happy.

Three days later, Batu's family dismantled their yurt, had horses carry their sheep across the Haxionggou wooden bridge, and began their journey to the autumn pasture to tend to the flock.

When he left, he left Nara a lot of sheep products such as ghee and sheep milk, and also left behind more than twenty fat Altay sheep as a return gift to Wu Yang.

Wu Yang accompanied Nara and saw the three of them off for a long time before returning near dusk.

That's great, now there's another Kazakh girl at the mine.

This is a rare and precious thing.

Nora has a striking appearance, with the soft, doe-like eyes of the Han people and the high cheekbones of the Slavs. She always has a sweet smile and looks both generous and a little shy, like a snow lotus on the Tianshan Mountains, pure and beautiful.

Zhou Jingming didn't really know how to get along with the Kazakh girl. However, with Nara's arrival, he had to give everyone a few pointers during lunch, reminding these rough men to pay attention to Kazakh taboos and to show her enough respect.

Since those sheep have been delivered, we naturally can't keep them.

The daily income that each person at the mine can bring to Zhou Jingming is more valuable than that of a sheep, so we can't waste manpower.

In the afternoon, he arranged for people to slaughter and smoke the animal.

Nora was an expert at handling mutton, and feeling rather bored, she took the initiative to take over the task.

Wu Yang was overjoyed and full of energy. He personally led people into the forest to cut down a lot of pine branches and leaves for Nara. Su Xiulan and Zhang Xueqin also went to help. When they were smoking the meat, the whole mine was filled with a strong pine and cypress smell. From a distance, it would definitely look like there was a fire.

Although the food at the mine was made with vegetable oil, Nara still cooked her own special meal for dinner. She wasn't used to eating with a group of Han people, and Wu Yang followed her to eat separately as well.

When they went to bed at night, Wu Yang slept in his original bed, and Peng Yuanchao also returned to his original spot, leaving Nara and Zhang Xueqin to share a dugout.

The next day, Wu Yang took leave, borrowed a motorcycle from Zhou Jingming, and took Nara on a special trip to Tiemaike to buy some household items and clothes for Nara.

According to him, Nara's current attire was too conspicuous at the mine, and he felt it was necessary to buy her two sets of Han Chinese clothing.

Anyway, Nora has black hair, so if she changes into Han Chinese clothes, she won't stand out too much.

Zhou Jingming thought it made sense, so he handed over the motorcycle keys to him.

When Wu Yang returned in the evening, Nara, who had changed into Han Chinese clothes, looked completely different.

In addition, Wu Yang also bought some pots and pans specifically for Nara, indicating that he was determined to make sure Nara had her own special kitchen.

As a result, Wu Yang only ate special meals with Nara for three days before he couldn't stand it anymore and ran away to eat communal meals with Zhou Jingming and the others.

Li Guozhu couldn't help but laugh at him: "If this is how it is now, what will you do in the future!"

Wu Yang explained, "I just felt it was too deserted and not lively enough."

Zhou Jingming smiled and said, "Just take your time to adapt. If you can't change her, you can only try to change Nara, but that's going to be very difficult. This is still in the northern border region. It will probably be even more difficult when you take her back to your hometown this year."

"That's easy. I've already thought about it. I'll buy a house in Altan or Doleburqin and live in the county town. I don't necessarily have to go back to my hometown..."

Wu Yang seemed to have already thought about it, and answered quickly.

His words surprised Zhou Jingming, but also pleased him: "That's indeed a good idea... Don't go to Altan or Doleburqin, go to HBH county town to buy it!"

With Wu Yang's current wealth, it's indeed not difficult for him to accomplish this.

"Haba River?"

Wu Yang paused for a moment, then asked, "Where is Haba River?"

Zhou Jingming thought for a moment: "On the southern slopes of the Altai Mountains, in the northwesternmost part of the territory."

Wu Yang was puzzled: "Why go there?"

"Because I plan to go there to mine for gold next year, it would be much more convenient if you settled there."

As Zhou Jingming said this, he looked at Wang Dong and said, "Brother, haven't you always been thinking about opening a restaurant? HBH County is a good place too, there are quite a few gold diggers there."

As things grew bigger and bigger, Zhou Jingming began to plan his next move.

Wu Yang didn't think much of it: "After the gold rush ends this year, I'll go to HBH County and see if I can build a house there."

Wang Dong smiled and nodded.

In fact, even Zhou Jingming himself was thinking about getting a house or something like that in Habahe, but it wouldn't be a golden building like Wu Fusheng's, which would be too flashy. It would be better to keep a low profile.

It's like having a few bases; it will be much easier to carry out your plans when needed.

As for Peng Yuanchao, Li Guozhu, and others, we'll ask them for their thoughts after this year's gold rush ends, including Bai Zhishun and Old Man Liu. With things underway, Zhou Jingming was still thinking about it when he went to bed that night, unable to fall asleep until Su Xiulan helped him relax. Only after his tense emotions eased did he finally drift off to sleep.

On the fourth day, two more people arrived at the mine.

The roar of motorcycles came from the dirt road on the opposite hillside, which made Jinwang, who was resting in the shade by the poplar grove, bark incessantly.

Whenever this happens, it's as if the mine has suddenly been put on pause; everyone stops what they're doing and looks towards the hillside diagonally opposite.

Zhou Jingming also ran back to the dugout from the chute, ready to grab his gun at any moment.

He observed for a while, and when he saw the people riding down on motorcycles, he felt a little relieved and instructed the group, "It's alright, keep working!"

Before long, the motorcycle reached the riverbank, crossed the wooden bridge, and drove straight into the pincer-shaped ravine.

The people who came were Sun Huai'an and the thin young man who had received Zhou Jingming when he went to sell gold.

Zhou Jingming went up to him: "Brother Sun, what brings you out here?"

Sun Huai'an turned off the motorcycle. After the thin young man on the back got off, he didn't rush to get off but kept riding the motorcycle: "How dare you say that? It's been so long! We agreed to cooperate, but I haven't seen you send gold to sell to me. I'm starting to wonder if you've forgotten about me."

"If you don't come to me to sell your gold, I have no choice but to come and buy it myself. You forced me into this situation."

Zhou Jingming smiled and handed him a cigarette: "The main thing is that I don't need the money right now."

"I know, your business is getting bigger and bigger, and you're starting to look down on me!"

“Brother Sun, you’re going too far with your words. With your connections, you must know what’s happened here. The mine was bombed once, and I almost got blown up myself.”

Zhou Jingming tilted his head to show Sun Huai'an: "Look at my head, the hair I shaved off to treat my wounds hasn't grown much yet. These are turbulent times, and to avoid trouble, I have to go out as little as possible. If someone bombs me again, I might have escaped it once, but I can't guarantee I'll escape it a second time. I'm scared!"

Sun Huai'an rolled his eyes at Zhou Jingming and lit a cigarette: "If you're afraid, you can't do such a big thing. Don't pretend with me!"

Zhou Jingming said in a serious tone: "I wasn't afraid before, but I became afraid after being bombed once!"

Sun Huai'an took a deep drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaled it through his mouth, then inhaled it through his nose, exhaled again, and then took a deep breath: "I've heard some things about what happened here. Do you know who did it?"

Zhou Jingming shook his head, pretending not to know, and then asked, "Brother Sun, do you know?"

Sun Huai'an got off the motorcycle, leaned close to Zhou Jingming, and whispered, "It's Liang Mazi!"

"The captain of the Qingshan team... how could it be him?"

Zhou Jingming feigned surprise: "How did you know?"

Sun Huai'an laughed: "That's why I say you should come and visit me. Once you get there, you'll understand."

Zhou Jingming pressed, "What do you mean?"

"Something happened a couple of days ago. Liang Mazi was also injured in an explosion. A lot of people came and searched all over Tiemaike."

"Who injured you?"

"A wanted criminal named Hou Xiangdong."

"What's going on?"

"Hou Xiangdong was the one who bombed you. Liang Mazi ordered him to do it. But when things didn't go as planned, Liang Mazi turned around and tried to deal with him. He shot him once in Tiemaike, but Hou got away. Hou was furious and found an opportunity. When Liang Mazi led the Qingshan team to Tiemaike, he used explosives to bomb them. Three members of the Qingshan team were injured, and Liang Mazi's pockmarked face was also grazed by flying stones."

This matter has caused quite a stir. You know, Liang Mazi could have chosen anyone, but he chose a criminal wanted for murder. That's a ruthless guy.

I know this because that guy surnamed Hou spent several days with a woman at my place..."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingming felt a pang of regret: How come he wasn't killed in the explosion?

Do you know where that man surnamed Hou is?

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since that incident. I don't know where he went."

Zhou Jingming nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

He just felt that this was a good opportunity; with Liang Mazi dead, someone would take the blame.

It seems it's time to go out for a trip.

After a brief chat, Zhou Jingming gathered everyone at the mine.

In addition to receiving their salaries, they also received some gold. Over the past few months, everyone had managed to save some money. He helped arrange for Sun Huai'an to collect the gold.

(End of this chapter)