General of the Heavens

Chapter 98 The Archaeological Team [Seeking Recommendations]

A month later.

In Ning Chen's office.

Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang said earnestly, "Director, you see, we've been at the research institute for over a month now. Apart from one business trip with you, we've been learning..."

"Stop talking nonsense, what's the matter?"

Ning Chen tapped on the table, and Fatty Wang said, "Well, we'd like to ask for leave to visit the old Party Secretary we used to stay at when we were sent to the countryside."

"We both earn 800 yuan a month now. If we don't go back and visit our old Party Secretary who treats us like his own sons, wouldn't we be ungrateful?"

Hu Bayi added, "Exactly!"

Ning Chen said jokingly, "You're quite grateful, but it's fine if Hu Bayi asks for leave, but it's not okay for you."

"Why?" Fatty Wang asked anxiously.

"Why is it that you can't understand anything even though we train you all the time? Hu Bayi can learn it all, but you can't understand anything?"

"You're useless at everything, but you're the best at eating. You have the nerve to come asking me for leave? Do you think I'd give you leave?"

Fatty Wang opened his mouth, looking aggrieved and almost crying. How could he be blamed for eating so much? It was clearly Ning Chen who said he could eat as much as he wanted...

Hu Bayi, standing to the side, laughed and said, "Director Ning, how about this? You grant us both leave, and I guarantee that Little Fatty will have learned everything he needs to know when he gets back. If I don't, you can hold me accountable! How about it?"

Although Hu Bayi said that, what he really thought was that once they dug up the tomb on Niuxin Mountain, they would have money!

Who the hell would go back to this godforsaken place to be bullied...

Ning Chen stroked his chin, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Then there's no problem. You two can go ahead if you have nothing else to do. I still need to discuss the situation of the next Liao-Jin tomb with Professor Chen later."

"Okay!"

Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang took their leave one after another.

.........

Having set their goal, Fatty Wang became somewhat worried. "Old Hu, isn't Niuxin Mountain supposed to be haunted? What if we encounter a ghost?"

Hu Bayi said, "There are no ghosts in the world. They only exist because so many people talk about them. So don't scare yourself. Also, this is our first mission. We don't necessarily have to raid tombs."

"Have you forgotten that many families in Yanzi's village own antiques? We can just go and buy a few and sell them, saving us the trouble."

Fatty Wang clapped his hands and said, "Hey, Old Hu, how could I have forgotten about that? Those jars in the old Party Secretary's house might even be antiques!"

The two began preparations that very day.

Wang Pangzi had 1,900 yuan in his pocket, which was the money he and Hu Bayi had together. 1,600 yuan was their salary for the month, and the remaining 300 yuan was the subsidy from their last business trip with Ning Chen.

"Old Hu, what should we buy?"

Hu Bayi said, "First, we need to go to the flea market to buy some essential tools, such as flashlights, gloves, masks, candles, handcuffs, and small whips..."

As they were talking, Hu Bayi sensed something was off. He glanced at Fatty Wang, and the two of them simultaneously let out a lewd laugh.

"Hehehe..."

Then Hu Bayi added, "We also need ropes, water bottles, gas masks... and finally, we'll need two entrenching tools."

"Okay, whatever you say!"

After a busy day, having searched all the surrounding markets and bought most of the things, I still couldn't find a gas mask.

These items cost a total of over a thousand yuan. When Fatty Wang took out the money, his hands were trembling and his heart was bleeding.

With everything prepared, the two bought train tickets overnight. They hadn't been back for over a decade, and the thought of seeing their fellow villagers again after so many years filled them with excitement.

The two of them were practically returning home in glory, so they couldn't go empty-handed. Fatty Wang left the return fare behind, and used the remaining few hundred yuan to buy all sorts of candies, canned goods, and daily necessities...

Another few hundred yuan was spent, and the two of them were basically broke except for the transportation costs. But when traveling, you can't be without a backup plan.

In the end, Hu Bayi still sold his watch, since the two only knew Da Jinya, so they just sold the watch to him directly.

When Big Gold Tooth heard that Hu Bayi wanted to go tomb raiding, he actually sponsored them with two hundred yuan, leaving Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang speechless.

The two traveled by train for several days and were finally almost there. As they approached the village, the villagers even came out to greet them.

Hu Bayi and Fatty Wang were in tears.

Yanzi, leading her daughter, cried and said, "Old Hu, Fatty, how come you've been gone for so many years without a single word!"

Yanzi's father cursed and said, "Those two little brats, they disappear without a trace. This time, they're not allowed to leave for two or three years."

The old Party Secretary was helped up and asked the two men a lot of questions.

Fatty Wang distributed the good stuff he had brought to the villagers, and Swallow's father beamed with joy: "Wow, you two have struck it rich!"

Hu Bayi said modestly, "Not at all, we both work at the same research institute now, and our salary is eight hundred a month."

"Eight hundred? My goodness, in less than two years, you'll be rich! The whole village can't even match the two of you!"

Yanzi exclaimed in surprise, and the others were even more envious. Some of them even asked Hu Bayi if he could arrange something for them, even if it was only a hundred yuan a month.

Hu Bayi calmed everyone down and said, "Folks, Fatty and I have come here to improve your lives."

Since the reform and opening up, people all over the country have been living more and more comfortably. Do you know what wealthy people like these days?

"Jinzi also has a young wife!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone chuckled. Hu Bayi waved his hand and said, "It's an antique!"

You all don't know, but nowadays rich people like to collect antique bottles and jars. In our village, which family doesn't have a couple of these?

In your hands, they're just some jars for pickling vegetables, but take them to Beijing, and they'll be antiques. Even a flowerpot the size of one of those can sell for several hundred yuan!

The villagers were shocked by Hu Bayi's words. "Are all city people stupid? What's so interesting about these bottles and jars?"

Fatty Wang said from the side, "This is called art. City people like art now, so, folks, we've come here for this very reason."

"If anyone has any bottles or jars at home, the two of us will help you sell them, and we'll split the profits 50/50..."

However, before the fat man could finish speaking, Yanzi suddenly said, "Oh dear, Lao Hu, you two are too late! The archaeological team took everything away a couple of days ago! Their Director Ning said it's state property and has to be handed over, and one bottle can be exchanged for three jin of grain coupons!"

Hu Bayi: "..."

Fatty Wang: "..."

The two clowns nearly coughed up blood in anger. This was outrageous! Wang the Fatty asked, trembling, "Have you paid it all?"

The old Party branch secretary, a veteran member of the Communist Party and a role model, proudly stated, "Not a single item was left unsold; it was all for serving the people!"

Fatty Wang: "..."

Hu Bayi keenly caught a name: "Is the Director Ning you're talking about someone who's young and handsome?"

The swallow said, "How did you know?"

P.S.: Please add to your favorites and recommend!

(End of this chapter)