A comprehensive overview of tombs: starting with the Yellow Weasel's Tomb

It is foreseeable that Bai Qi and his group will be awarded for their meritorious service this time.

Bai Jing spent about seven days at Farm No. 17, carrying many local specialties given to him by the Corps and Division, before boarding the train to Beijing.

Because of this incident, Bai Qi and the other three were granted a month-long leave by their superiors to return to Beijing to visit their families.

Because of his discovery, the large number of precious cultural relics he voluntarily handed over, and most importantly, the corpse of the King with the vertical eyes, they were even put on sleeper berths this time.

It's important to know that in those days, there were many strict requirements for buying a sleeper berth.

As soon as Bai Jing and his companions boarded the train, they were met with curious stares from the passengers.

Soon, Bai Jing and his four companions found their bunks.

However, when Bai Jing and his group of five arrived at their location, they saw two people sitting on the lower bunk in their private room, discussing something.

The hard sleeper carriage at this moment is a compartment with 6 berths, and the berths of the five people in question are all in this compartment. Obviously, one of the two people is not a person from this compartment.

Chapter 115 Encounter with Professor Chen and Hao Aiguo

Bai Jing looked at the two men. One of them looked to be in his fifties, while the other looked to be around thirty.

Both of them wore glasses and looked like intellectuals.

When the older man saw Bai Jing and his group arrive, he knew that they must be the other passengers in the private room, but he was also somewhat surprised by their youth.

As mentioned earlier, in this era, buying a sleeper ticket wasn't just about having money; there were other strict requirements as well.

Bai Jing and his companions were only granted tickets by the military corps because of their meritorious service, under the guise of military cadres on official business. Otherwise, they would have had to take hard-seat trains to Beijing.

The older man saw Bai Jing and his group and quickly said, "Hello, young comrades, this is my student. We're just discussing something, he'll be leaving soon. Sorry."

Bai Jing and the others all considered themselves successors, so they naturally wouldn't care about such things. They immediately said it was nothing, and Bai Jing and Bai Qi simply sat down by the car window and started chatting.

After a while, the younger man left, and Bai Jing and the others sat back down.

The old man looked at Bai Jing and his companions, seemingly having overheard their conversation, and chuckled, "Young comrades, are you heading to the capital? Are you all worker-peasant-soldier college students?"

It was already mid-August, and the news that worker-peasant-soldier college students were beginning to be recruited was no longer a secret.

From the abolition of the college entrance examination in 66 to the start of recruiting worker-peasant-soldier college students this year, it has been four years since universities began training students.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jing and the others all looked at the old man opposite them.

The old man naturally noticed the confusion of Bai Jing and the others, and immediately smiled and said, "I am a professor at Peking University. The man just now was my student and also a lecturer at Peking University. My name is Chen Jiuren, and that man is Hao Aiguo. In 66, when university admissions were abolished, we were sent down here."

Not long ago, they said universities had resumed enrollment, so they made us go back to school for classes.

Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to realize something.

Bai Jing's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but look at Chen Jiuren.

Bai Jing also found it somewhat interesting; they had actually encountered two key figures from the Jingjue Ancient City ten years ahead of schedule.

However, Bai Jing didn't say anything.

At this moment, Lu Jun spoke with a smile.

"Sir, we're not worker-peasant-soldier students; we're on leave and have come home. But this..."

As he spoke, Lu Jun pointed to Bai Jing and continued, "This is Bai Jing. He is a worker-peasant-soldier student, and he has been admitted to Peking University. We just don't know what he will be studying yet."

Upon hearing Lu Jun's words, Professor Chen also looked at Bai Jing with curiosity.

He knew all too well that the recommendation slots for worker-peasant-soldier students were hard to come by.

Although the college entrance examination has been abolished and students are no longer admitted to schools based on their exam scores.

However, each of the recommended workers, peasants and soldiers was absolutely a model worker or activist from any industry.

Otherwise, even if you're recommended by your workplace, the people in your workplace have to be convinced of your worth.

Moreover, there was no worker-peasant-soldier student system before.

It's still hard to say how these trainees are doing.

But as the first cohort of worker-peasant-soldier students, they were definitely quite capable.

Professor Chen immediately looked at Bai Jing and smiled, "Young Comrade Bai, what are you good at? I have been teaching at Peking University for twenty years and I am familiar with the various majors here. I can recommend some to you."

Professor Chen's words were a bit modest; he knew far more than he did—he knew them quite well.

The others, besides Bai Jing, were also filled with curiosity about university and all looked at Bai Jing.

Bai Jing thought for a moment and said, "If I were to say what I'm good at, it would probably be that I have some understanding of changes in mountains and ley lines."

After Bai Jing finished speaking, Professor Chen thought for a moment and said, "Then you might be suited for a major like geology or geography. However, I'm not sure what aspect of mountains and rivers you've studied."

At this moment, the fat man couldn't hold back any longer and said directly, "No offense, Brother Bai, but you're being too modest. Didn't you just find that... what's-his-name from the inner sect?"

The fat man paused at this point, clearly having forgotten.

But upon hearing this, Professor Chen seemed to realize something and asked in surprise, "Are you talking about the Baiyanku Xianbei mass burial site and the Kwantung Army base in Kerenzuo Banner, Inner Mongolia?"

Upon hearing this, the fat man immediately nodded vigorously, and then said, "Yes, yes, that's it. And that's not all. Just two days ago, my second brother Bai led us to the location of the tomb of Empress Xiao of the Liao Dynasty. Although it was all luck, not everyone has such luck."

Upon hearing this, Professor Chen was even more surprised.

This news was just reported the day before yesterday: the tomb of a Liao Dynasty empress dowager has been discovered in Heishantou, Daxinganling. This is the first imperial-level tomb of the Liao Dynasty to be discovered since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it is definitely big news.

Most importantly, it is said that behind the tomb of the Liao Dynasty empress dowager, a well-preserved ancient corpse dating back 6000 to 7000 years was also unearthed.

But now they're being told that it was these young people in front of them who found it.

Whether it's the mass burial in Baiyan Cave, the tomb of the Liao Dynasty Empress Dowager, or the ancient corpse dating back 6000-7000 years, they can all be considered major discoveries in the field of archaeology. They are of great significance to the study of ancient history, especially the history of northern nomadic peoples.

At this moment, Professor Chen's gaze towards Bai Jing seemed somewhat different.

Although it is said that revolutionary comrades are like bricks, to be moved wherever needed, everyone has their own expertise. Since Bai Jing was able to find large tombs such as Baiyan Cave and the Liao Dynasty Empress Dowager's Tomb, he would naturally be able to play a greater role in the archaeology department.

Although Bai Jing and the others said that there was an element of luck involved, science often does rely on a bit of luck.

In scientific experiments, some people succeed by testing only one material, while others fail even after trying a hundred materials.

Isn't that just luck?

Especially in archaeology, many scholars spend their entire lives searching for tombs they can't find, only to have a complete novice find them. How can this be explained?

For a moment, Professor Chen's gaze towards Bai Jing changed.

Then, Professor Chen said, "Comrade Xiaobai, I wonder if you would like to join the big family of archaeology?"

Bai Jing thought for a moment. Professor Chen wanted to take him as a disciple, but that wasn't a bad thing.

Chapter 116 Going Home, Starting School

Bai Jing finally agreed that he would definitely apply for an archaeology major if he had the opportunity.

After that, the group chatted and laughed.

It was only after chatting that Bai Jing realized that Professor Chen was indeed quite knowledgeable.

Professor Chen's research on ancient Western Region culture is so advanced that he can be considered an authority in the field nationwide.

In addition to his research on ancient Western Region culture, Professor Chen has extensive knowledge of other aspects of archaeology.

In addition, Professor Chen has participated in many large-scale archaeological activities since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

For example, the archaeological work at the Ming Dingling Mausoleum (the tomb of Emperor Wanli) and the Banpo Culture site in Chang'an, Shaanxi Province.

I haven't participated in many other activities.

However, these two points alone are enough to establish Professor Chen's status in the archaeological community.

Bai Jing lacked precisely this kind of status, and now that someone was eager to take him as a disciple, why should he remain reserved?

And so, the group arrived in the capital the following afternoon, exchanged contact information, and then said their goodbyes.

Then it was Bai Jing and the other four. Although Jian Guo and the other three were all from Beijing, they didn't know each other before they became educated youth. Fortunately, their homes weren't too far apart.

After sending Jian Guo home, Bai Jing and the others also went home.

Lu Jun, Bai Jing, Bai Qi, and Fatty all went to the same high school, so their homes weren't too far apart. After parting ways at the entrance of the alley, Fatty, Bai Jing, and Bai Qi went into the military compound.

To be honest, this was back in the 70s, and their compound was located in what would be considered the outskirts of the country. If this were in later years, it would be considered a prime piece of land.

Although Bai Jing and Bai Qi's father, Bai Banla, only reached the rank of regimental commander, he was promoted by half a rank when he retired due to his numerous merits. Therefore, even though Bai Banla retired, he was still entitled to live in the military compound.

Since the group hadn't been back for several years, the sentry on guard couldn't just let them in without a word, so he called home.

Well, that was just the beginning. After Bai Jing and the others had been waiting at the gate for about ten minutes, a large group of people suddenly arrived.

This startled Bai Jing and the other two.

Upon closer inspection, Bai Jing discovered that, in addition to his parents, his mother's relatives had also arrived.

Bai Jing's mother was the younger sister of his division commander when his father was a regimental commander. After returning from the Korean War, his division commander, who was also Bai Jing and Bai Qi's maternal uncle, introduced his mother to his father.

Then, naturally, the White Flag and the White Banner came into being.

Although Bai Banla has retired from the military, his uncle has not.

Although Bai Jing didn't pay much attention to this, in his opinion, what did it matter what official position he held? Family was more important, wasn't it?

But he also knew that his uncle was now the third-in-command of the garrison, and if he had a military rank, he would be a man carrying wheat ears.