Chapter 37 (skipping a grade)
If no one comes, that's fine too.
Barth believed in the will of the Eternal Heaven.
His miraculous escape from despair, and his encounter with a Tibetan doctor who could heal him, was a chance given to him by the Eternal Heaven.
If we don't let him get down, he'll find his way home even if he has to crawl.
Bart never thinks about anything else.
Once a decision is made, it's important to take action first.
Regardless of the outcome, Bart always had a feeling that the person who spoke of it would arrive soon.
As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind swept in from outside.
It came from afar like a roar, tearing everything off the ground.
Bart propped himself up and looked out, but he couldn't see anything.
He waited and listened as the noise grew fainter and fainter until it fell silent.
Suddenly, another sound came from afar, growing closer.
It's footsteps!
Rapid and urgent breathing.
Bart's expression was serious, and his wary gaze swept outside.
Then they heard voices coming from outside.
"Captain, this is it."
"Everyone be careful, everyone get ready to go check it out."
"yes!"
As instructions were given, everyone drew closer and closer.
"Captain, there are footprints here."
Some people discovered numerous, messy footprints near the inside.
When Bart heard people outside calling for the captain, his fists clenched involuntarily.
He was filled with anxiety, but he remained silent.
I listened to the conversation outside in complete silence, and I still am now.
"There's no one here, and there's nothing here either."
"Could it be another mistake? That person really wasn't rescued?"
"There's another room here!"
As the door opened, Bart looked up and met the person's gaze for a few seconds.
"Found it!"
...
Inside the flower sea base, with the participation of all thirty comrades.
The internal project activities for the excavation of the megalithic coffin have officially commenced.
The main person in charge of this project is Yang Wenhua.
This includes photographic records taken by researchers, as well as written records.
The entire process was carried out by two large teams working together, and each of the two teams was further divided into three smaller teams.
No matter how people are allocated, the final number of people will remain the same.
However, people also like to use one person as two people, and two people as a team.
Especially in this situation, almost no one holds anyone back.
Everyone's enthusiasm for work is even higher than the weather.
From morning until lunchtime, Yang Wenhua, along with several experienced craftsmen, carefully used tools to find the traces of sealing the coffin, following the marks on its outer perimeter.
Because of the unique terrain, the coffin was better preserved than they had imagined.
So the wooden strips were easily embedded, and with the help of more than a dozen people, the upper coffin was lifted up.
As the coffin, sealed for many years, was opened, a unique fragrance wafted into everyone's nostrils.
Then, everyone present was stunned by the sight before them.
Before the event began, almost every researcher was speculating and wondering what discoveries might be made.
It could be gold and silver artifacts, jade and agate, or even the remains of the owner.
But in front of me was a well-preserved mummy with a textured surface.
Yet, it sent a chill down the spine of everyone who saw it!
This...this...this!!!
"Director Yang..."
The person who called out "Director Yang" had a trembling voice.
Yang Wenhua himself was also very shocked.
His hands trembled involuntarily, groaning.
He began to walk around, his eyes fixed intently on the scene before him.
"It's incredible, look how well it's been preserved."
"I guarantee this will shock the nation and the entire archaeological world."
"That's right, it's even more shocking than the one in Changsha last year."
"Oh my god, oh my god, what have we found?"
Amidst waves of cheers and jubilation, everyone at the scene in the south learned of this good news.
Someone immediately found the person in charge, and then the matter was reported and notified through the chain of command.
We still don't have enough people; we need to send a special plane.
After the initial excitement, Lao Yang was filled with even more pressure.
Has the notification been sent?
"We've been notified. We need to make the remaining arrangements. We should at least hold out for a week."
"Okay, from now on we need to be careful with every step we take."
Yang Wenhua looked at the sky and saw that there would be no rain for the next week.
This environment and humidity level are very favorable for their subsequent work.
Despite discovering the ancient corpse from two years ago, they dared not touch it now, and instead took photos of the opened coffin.
Then I moved closer to the still image and photographed the head, feet, abdomen, and limbs, taking pictures of everything inside.
Then came the on-site drawing and painting.
"Hey, there seems to be something on this too."
In addition to recording the scene, Lao Yang and several comrades placed special materials that had been prepared in advance on top of the wooden coffin for temporary protection.
At the same time, there is a larger canopy supporting it.
"What is that, Master Liu!"
The speaker was an experienced craftsman who led a team to study ancient patterns.
He pointed to the inside of the coffin lid, and the students next to him had bright eyes.
"Look, there seems to be something on top of this."
Their focus wasn't on the inner layer of the coffin lid, but rather on excavating the outer perimeter of the wooden coffin. Most coffins would have markings carved around this area.
Or they pray for ascension to heaven after death, for peace and tranquility, and so on.
Before Master Liu could even inspect it, he was shocked by the several large holes in front of him.
"how so?"
Old Yang squatted down to examine it carefully.
Master Liu counted them, "There are seven large holes in total."
"Hmm, this looks really familiar."
Old Liu was standing diagonally across the street, and despite his awkward posture, he still unconsciously tilted his head and stared at it.
The student next to him was in a better position, sitting directly opposite him.
Upon closer inspection, he exclaimed, "Isn't this the Big Dipper?"
"Look, this is the head, it connects here, and finally this is the tail."
After someone pointed it out, the mark was indeed exposed.
"It really is true, Teacher Chen, Teacher Zhang, look."
Yang Wenhua called over two teachers in succession, and the teachers, along with their colleagues, almost filled up the entire area.
Soon, people noticed this and hurriedly moved to the outer perimeter.
Old Yang glanced at the others' expressions, and seeing their hesitation, he didn't ask any further questions.
Let's make a note of this for now, and then we'll begin the process of checking and recording the contents of the coffin, both inside and outside.
Fieldwork has been conducted for many years.
But the hardships involved are beyond the imagination of most people.
It was several times more difficult than any imagined scenario.
It is several times more meticulous than any other meticulous work.
It's even more complicated than any other complicated process.
This is a contest among humankind, a comparison between people of the past and present.
Modern researchers decipher and uncover traces of the ancients.
To deduce and infer when or in what month and year it happened to her or him.
All speculations must be supported by empirical evidence.
Therefore, each move is the result of hundreds of verifications and experiments, or the result of hundreds of possible angles.
No one on site dared to relax for even a moment.
Today's discovery is enough for Lao Yang and others to begin a 24-hour vigil.
Regardless, they will remain in this place continuously and steadfastly throughout the entire process.
Beware of any accidents or emergencies!
Workers lined up to get their meals after get off work.
But as they waited and waited, someone noticed that none of the comrades from the south were there.
I didn't see it when I was getting food, and I didn't check on it while I was eating.
Many people were wondering if the game had already ended and they had gone back.
But just as the thought crossed my mind, I saw the familiar headlights turn on again in the distance.
"Oh, you haven't gone home yet? Are you working overtime again?"
"Hey, what treasure do you think they found over there? They've been working overtime every day for so long, they should have finished it by now."
"I don't know, but I thought they had left."
"Yes, I didn't see them come over when I was eating today."
"Alright, alright, what are you all worrying about? Go wash up and go to bed, you have to work tomorrow."
Seeing that the conversation had strayed off-topic, the group leader quickly steered the conversation back on track.
"By the way, team leader, I heard that Master Li is coming back tomorrow. Does that mean we can go to town again?"
“Yeah, yeah, it’s been so long since I’ve been to the city. I’ve run out of cigarettes, and I don’t feel motivated to go to work every day.” This was the man who liked to smoke.
"I don't smoke, I just want to have a few sips of liquor. I'd like to buy a bottle and store it for later."
"Go away, you drunkard, you're already thinking about it again after you've just finished drinking."
The group leader swallowed hard, his mouth watering, when they mentioned cigarettes and alcohol.
He was also craving it, but his eyes lit up when he heard them talking about going to the city.
"Alright, alright, I'll ask around tomorrow. If there's a chance, everyone get your money and tickets ready, and I'll get them for you as well."
As for the private benefits, there are naturally some.
The team leader grinned smugly; it had to be said that there was some salacious profit to be made in his lowly position.
"Sure, I'll treat the team leader to a cigarette later."
"I'll treat the team leader to something to eat."
Chatter filled the air, but the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
As the lights went out, the sound of snoring soon filled the dormitory area.
Then the sounds grew louder and louder, including teeth grinding, rolling over, farting, and even sleep talking!
My gaze shifted back to the distant edge of the grassland.
Mu Ren is roasting wild game by the campfire.
Their rations had long since run out, and they were now relying on their hunting skills.
My uncle said to wait two more days, and if there was still no news, they would stop waiting.
Mu Ren nodded in agreement.
It has been quite a while since I last met Uncle Hei.
They never saw each other again after that.
Looking at the dim firelight, Mu Ren felt a pang of homesickness.
He misses the food at home, he misses his mother and his sister, and he misses his little sister.
I don't know how Luo Yin is doing yet. Has school started?
He had no idea what year it was.
"Uncle, what's the date today?"
It's August 25th.
Mu Ren was taken aback. It had been so long.
He did the math; his little sister was about to start school. It looked like he wouldn't be able to get back in time!
I don't know how to find my home anymore.
Was Mom worried?
However, worries and anxieties burned like an inextinguishable spark across his grassland.
No matter what method he tried, it made him restless and uneasy.
He saw the group of people again a day later.
A convoy of heavily armed trucks, just like Uncle Hei's, drove towards them.
"Uncle, look, someone's coming!"
Who is it?
Mu Ren became much more cautious, picked up his tools, and started looking around from a distance.
Seeing that the target was indeed coming towards them, they made no move to make a sound.
Instead, he moved aside with the even more handsome Bai Xue.
"Bai Xue, be careful."
"Muren, come here."
Fearing that he would go up and stop people again, the eldest uncle quickly mounted his horse and pushed it to a safe distance.
Even if they were to pass by on the main road, they wouldn't run into them.
They just watched from a distance.
The big truck was getting closer and closer.
As they approached, they found soldiers guarding the area.
They were also carrying weapons, and Mu Ren frowned deeply.
My uncle also looked unwell!
Both of them stared into the distance with grim expressions.
It seemed as if they wanted to see through Barthes.
But soon the first car drove past, and the second car also overtook the two of them.
Until the third car arrived, a familiar face appeared in the passenger seat.
The man seemed to have been watching outside the whole time. He recognized Mu Ren and was about to greet him when the car drove past.
Mu Ren felt as if he were being stared at by several sharp gazes.
I didn't see anyone I knew, so I just left.
Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.
"I wonder what these people do?"
"Indeed, but it's not under our jurisdiction."
On the morning of the second day, shortly after breakfast...
A car that drove out from behind them caught their attention.
"They're here."
"Uncle, hurry up and go!"
Mu Ren called his uncle and, without saying a word, went up to take a look.
Because that's how it's always been; they've seen almost every car that comes out. You can't say they're inspecting it, you can only say they recognize the driver.
Having no hope whatsoever, Mu Ren stepped forward and stopped the car.
He was familiar with the procedures and explanations. After introducing his identity and the reasons, mentioning his father's identity almost eliminated any major problems.
After all, asking if there's anyone named Bart isn't that difficult.
Moreover, the relationship between the military and civilians remains stable following the recent operation.
There were almost no problems.
Team Leader Chen was initially somewhat displeased when he saw the young man who had appeared out of nowhere.
But upon hearing the name Bart, his expression suddenly changed.
Who are you talking about?
"Bart? You're his son?"
"Do you recognize him? I'm his son. I'm looking for him. Where is he? Is he in this car?"
Clearly, Mu Ren has made progress over these past few days.
Compared to before, he has become much better at reading people's expressions.
Upon hearing him say that, I was certain that he knew.
His voice became considerably louder.
Bart, who was recuperating later, also heard the whole thing.
Is this Mu Ren speaking?
He was overjoyed and tugged at the young clerk beside him.
“Outside, my family has arrived.”
The comrades surrounding him were surprised, then delighted. Over the next day or two, they all became familiar with him.
I don't know how he got this injury.
It evokes both affection for the veteran and sympathy for his plight.
In addition, she was filled with mixed emotions and took extra care of him.
"Okay, wait for me to go down and tell the captain."
The junior officer immediately jumped out of the car and ran away.
Mu Ren's commotion not only startled Bart, but also surprised his great-uncle.
He watched as the boy started making a fuss, seemingly arguing about something.
Fearing that he might cause trouble, he hurried forward.
When Captain Chen saw someone coming, he was about to explain a few things.
Then someone came out from behind.
"What's wrong?"
"Team Leader Chen, the veteran said he came to find his family."
As expected.
Captain Chen thought to himself.
Muren pulled on the reins and headed back, after seeing his father again after several months.
Mu Ren's eyes were red.
"Father, what happened to you?"
If he hadn't checked repeatedly, he wouldn't have recognized the disheveled man leaning against the side with a full beard.
She then burst into tears.
"Father, I've finally found you."
Mu Ren's cries were absolutely deafening, completely disregarding the lives of those present.
But the person involved completely ignored it and started yelling at the top of their lungs, leaving the people in the back of the truck looking at each other in bewilderment.
Bart, in particular, suddenly felt incredibly ashamed!
What's the difference between this feeling and defecating in front of someone? He noticed strange gazes constantly sweeping over him.
Suddenly, the image of how I had recently boasted about my own child flashed through my mind.
So, that's it?
Looking at the guy in front of me with tears and snot streaming down his face!
Bart was tired.
"Muren, it's me, it's me!" Don't cry!
Bart shouted excitedly at him, but Muren was clearly unaware of his father's emotions at that moment.
"Alright, alright, stop crying. Tell me quickly how you got here, how things are at home, and whether everything is alright."
He still misses his family quite a bit.
"No, it's nothing, everything's fine at home."
"But Father, my uncle and I were so worried. We waited for so long to see you. If we hadn't run into you today, we wouldn't know how we would have found you."
"Wait, your eldest uncle, your great-uncle is here."
"Oh, they're here. They're right next to me."
"Stop crying, you little brat!"
"Take me to meet him right away."
This interruption finally stopped Mu Ren's crying.
Randomly, Team Leader Chen also learned of this and indeed came to find Bart.
Despite this, they still didn't release him.
After a brief chat, I drove him there, but this time there were two horses and two people following behind.
It was the same hospital where Lao Zhang and the others were staying. Team Leader Chen took Bart in for a check-up.
After discovering that there were no major problems, except that I felt a little weak, I was finally able to give myself some peace of mind.
Bart already knew the reason before he arrived, so he took Muren to meet them one by one.
When Old Zhang saw Bart again, his eyes reddened, a rare occurrence for him.
"Pug, you're still alive! That's wonderful!"
"Brother Zhang, I'm still alive. Thank you for reminding me."
Old Zhang gripped his hand tightly, "It's a pity the captain hasn't woken up yet, and Xiao Wang and the others didn't make it either."
He thought of his comrades who hadn't held on, and a look of pain flashed across his eyes.
Bart was taken aback, clearly not expecting this.
That Xiao Wang was the person Wang Li had arranged to send him out; he must have encountered danger to do so.
Bart silently gripped the handle firmly in return.
My condolences.
They were delayed a bit, and by the time they left the hospital, it was already dark.
Having given prior notice, the three of them had dinner first and then quickly arrived at the guesthouse that had been arranged for them.
Bart was finally able to wash up and get himself ready.
Bart was fine with his brother-in-law, but he didn't dare to order him around.
He hadn't thanked his brother-in-law when there were outsiders present, but now that he saw him, he was very grateful for his visit.
The eldest uncle waved his hand, indicating that it was all something relatives should do, and told him not to worry about it.
Bate nodded, indicating that he would be grateful, and then told him to go and rest first. He then called on Muren to help.
This was the first time Muren had ever served his father so attentively.
His beard was already a mess, and it took several basins of water to wash his face clean.
Bart's face is finally presentable.
He then asked Mu Ren to fetch hot water, found an old cloth, wrapped it in the hot water, and applied it to his leg.
Mu Ren moved carefully and worked diligently throughout.
Only when he saw that his father's expression had softened did he become slightly curious.
"Father, what's wrong...?"
Mu Ren dared not utter the last few words.
I'm afraid that if I say it out loud, I won't be able to hope for anything more.
But how could that be?
He shook his head, thinking it was highly unlikely.
"There is some good news, but there's no rush." Bart didn't hide anything, after all, he still had to tell his family to make some preparations when he got back.
After today's ordeal, his legs were noticeably stiffer.
They changed the dressing twice more, and only stopped when both legs were completely red.
The father and son quickly washed their faces and soaked their feet before lying down.
Mu Ren didn't even have time to ask a few questions before he fell asleep.
Similarly, Bart's joy at seeing his family consumed most of his energy, causing him to fall asleep quickly as well.
In the room, which was filled with masculine energy, the digging sounds grew louder and louder.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"
Luo Yin didn't expect the holiday to end so quickly.
Because I've been studying all summer, time seems to have flown by even faster than before.
Luo Yin packed her things, tying her luggage and books with rope.
He turned and went into his mother's yurt.
"Mom, there's something I want to tell you."
Urina was already getting ready for bed when she saw her come in, and she quickly got up to find some clothes.
He lit the oil lamp and waved for her to come up.
Urina moved to Bart's position and let her lie down in her own spot.
As she grew older, Luo Yin rarely slept with her anymore.
Seeing her like this, he subconsciously took off his shoes and crawled over.
She nimbly lay down and said, "Mom, I've been studying all summer. I've already finished the second half of the semester's courses, and I've almost finished the junior high school books. I want to skip a grade."
Urina was stunned; she didn't understand.
"What do you mean by skipping a grade?"
Curious eyes turned back to Luo Yin.
Luo Yin then explained the skipping of grades to her, but Urina clearly hadn't thought of that.
After a long silence, she continued.
"Won't you fall behind? It'll be very tiring for you."
"No, I think I know it all. Besides, I have to pass an exam before I can go to the third year of junior high."
"I'll tell the teacher after school starts. Don't worry if anything happens!"
Urina nodded, which was taken as an agreement.
Although she really wanted to say a few words of advice, she didn't say them.
She knew that Luo Yin had grown up.
She's grown into a young lady and is very sensible now!
Some things don't need to be said.
“Oh, Mom, you’re so good to me. You support me no matter what I do. After I’m done with this, I’ll contact the business we had before. We need to make some more money. My nephew will be born around the New Year.”
"When the time comes, I'll buy him baby bottles, formula, and lots of delicious food."
She looked forward to the New Year celebrations, with her family gathered together, filled with laughter and joy.
Urina seemed to have imagined that scene as well, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
He gently patted her body and hummed a melodious tune.
This time, not only did Grandma go to school, but Ani also drove a cart to take her there.
The two men handed her the things and watched her wave goodbye as she carried her bags.
Once the person was out of sight, Ani cracked his whip and turned to leave.
Luo Yin greeted her roommate and put away her bedding and clothes.
I would occasionally run into familiar classmates on the way, nod to them, and then go our separate ways.
There wasn't much to do during evening self-study at the beginning of the semester, so she didn't plan to go so early.
After thinking for a moment, he turned and went to his office.
The homeroom teacher was a middle-aged man, and he was especially responsible in teaching math.
Seeing Luo Yin approach, he thought something was wrong and put down his pen.
"What's wrong?"
"Teacher, I need to ask you something."
Old Cheng's lips twitched slightly. He pretended not to hear the word "Old Class Teacher" and nodded to ask her what was wrong.
Luo Yin glanced at the people coming and going in the office; many teachers were looking over curiously.
She felt inexplicably embarrassed, but she couldn't care less.
"I want to skip a grade!"
"What did you say?" Old Cheng's eyes widened.
He stared at her in disbelief. "No, you...you're not kidding, are you?"
But as soon as he said that, he shook his head. This girl wouldn't do that.
Many teachers nearby heard it too, and when they saw that the girl looked familiar, they remembered that it was her; she had done quite well in the final exams last semester and ranked high.
If it's her, there might still be a chance.
Then a teacher gave her an idea, "Old Cheng, your student is quite good. It just so happens that I'm free today. I'll go to the ninth grade and get a set of final exam papers for her to do."
"What are you going to do?"
Old Cheng retorted, "Luo Yin, do you know that if you skip a grade, you'll only have six months to prepare for the high school entrance exam?"
"You've missed more than just a little bit of your studies."
When Luo Yin saw him trying to persuade her, she nodded to indicate that she understood.
"I know, but I still want to give it a try."
But she remained firm.
Old Cheng became somewhat impatient when he saw that he couldn't persuade the girl.
Several teachers nearby also came over; her English and Chinese teachers both came over.
When inquiring about her recent situation, some personal biases inevitably crept in.
When the Chinese teacher saw that she had even memorized the content that was required to be memorized in the second semester of the third year of junior high school, her eyes became serious. "Well then, Teacher Cheng, why don't you give it a try? Luo Yin has always been very good at listening to memorize things."
One person gave in, and over there a group of people gave in.
Driven by a desire to watch the excitement, Luo Yin worked from the afternoon until evening self-study.
During this time, many teachers came to correct her papers, correcting almost every single one she completed.
When she looked up again, she realized that she didn't recognize any of the teachers around her.
"Teacher Cheng."
She shouted, moved her shoulders, and swung her arms.
"Wow, wow, this really works!"
"Luo Yin, I didn't expect this. Your English test paper is really good. You only lost two points, so it's 98 points."
"Wow, that's even higher than the highest score on the final exam, isn't it?" a teacher said suddenly after thinking for a moment.
The English teacher said with a proud look, "Of course, I really didn't expect her to do so well."
The English group leader of the third grade revealed a smug smile.
"Okay, okay, this student is really in the second year of junior high, not someone who repeated a grade?" she asked again, afraid of misunderstanding something.
The English teacher patted her chest and assured her, "How could that be? This girl has been with me since the first year of junior high, she's a true second-year junior high student."
The English group leader gratefully shook her hand, "Thank you so much, it's all thanks to Ms. Yang's strong foundation!"
"Thank you, thank you!"
Teacher Yang was puzzled by the thanks and didn't understand why she was being thanked.
However, before she could think further, the other teachers who had checked their answers were all excited.
Originally, we all shared the same office, and because of Teacher Cheng's student issue, we were all just trying to help each other out.
I didn't think about what the outcome would be; I just thought this girl was bold and wanted to give it a try.
They also wanted to dampen the arrogance of the young people.
Since school is about to start, I thought I'd give it a try before classes begin.
But upon grading the papers, they discovered something different.
These are all checkmarks, there are almost no omissions.
Chinese, Mathematics, English, Geography, History, Politics...
As they continued to revise each subject, even the grade head came to intervene.
"How many points are there in total?"
"The total score is ten points higher than the highest score in the final exam."
"What?"
"No way, is there a mistake in the calculation?"
Exclamations of surprise rang out continuously, as some people expressed their curiosity.
Old Cheng was the one calculating the total score. He looked at the score on his pen and shook his head.
"That's right, I read what she wrote."
"Could it be that he really is a genius?!"
Loin, who was surrounded by people in the crowd, also heard the conversation.
A smirk played on her lips. "A genius?"
"Hehehe, it seems pretty good."
Upon hearing this, the head of the second-year junior high school grade quickly came over and covered her hand.
"Hello, student. I'm Director Chen from the second year of junior high. I remember you went up on stage last semester when the grade rankings were being conducted, right?"
Luo Yin nodded and greeted the director.
The director thought to himself, "Just as I expected, they were going to have a genius." Just as a smile appeared on his lips, another voice came from in front of him.
"Ahem, Director Chen, this student probably wants to skip to the third year of junior high, right? Come here, I'm the head of the third year of junior high. Let's talk about skipping a grade."
"Yes, yes, I am the homeroom teacher of Class 1, Grade 9. Luo, please come to my class."
"No, I teach math, just like your homeroom teacher. Come to Class 5, the atmosphere there is great."
"Come to Class Two! Class Two has a good location, it's close to the cafeteria."
"What kind of ridiculous reason is that? Let's go, let's not compete with each other."
Luo Yin was once again surrounded by the homeroom teachers of the third year of junior high school.
The real homeroom teacher, Ms. Cheng, reached out to stop them, but it was too late.
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