Chapter 47: The Investigation Behind the Scenes
In the end, Luo Yin did not voice her concerns.
Firstly, she didn't want to spoil everyone's good mood by mentioning how wonderful the atmosphere was that day; secondly, she was genuinely happy for her second brother and delighted that he had achieved such success in his field.
She decided not to spoil the mood and suppressed her thoughts for the time being.
Life at home returned to normal, or even better than before.
Everyone in the family was full of energy, as if they had endless fighting spirit and drive.
The second brother was the most obvious among them.
Mu Ren would occasionally tell them about things outside, marveling at the prosperity and bustle of the capital, and vaguely expressing his desire to expand outwards.
"Little sister, do you think we don't have to stay here all the time from now on?"
That day, the brother and sister took over Ani's herdsmanship and followed behind to graze the livestock.
Luo Yin watched the sheep eating and drinking well, then swaggered over to his side.
"Second brother, where do you want to go?"
Mu Ren's eyes were firm, but then he hesitated.
"I don't know." He turned to look in the direction of his home.
“My parents are still here, and Ani definitely won’t leave. But the world outside is really different, it’s really, really good.”
Mu Ren couldn't find any other words of praise, so he could only keep saying "good."
Loin, of course, saw his enthusiasm and longing.
"Yes, it is indeed very nice outside. Second brother, we are not in a hurry. In the prime of youth, anything is possible."
"Ah, hehe, little sister, you're absolutely right."
“But none of that matters right now. Father’s leg is the most important thing. My older cousin and I will go with Father. We’ll have to trouble you with things at home.”
"Yes, I know. It's a long journey. What are your plans?"
Luo Yin was very worried about the transportation these days, especially since it was such a far place; how could it not make people anxious?
Fortunately, my uncle and cousin came over not long ago, and it seems they came up with some results.
Mu Ren waved his hand, looking like he had a plan.
"Don't worry, remember the camel shop we came across before?"
Luo Yin was surprised, then suddenly remembered something.
"You mean the competition in Ulanqab?"
That was the first time she had earned extra money. "I remember hearing that those people came from the west. Do you need them this time?"
Muren nodded, "Yes, it was Captain Aba who helped us. We went with them in April, and after we were sent to Tanggula, we weren't in a hurry for the rest."
Luo Yin thought about it and realized that having an acquaintance to guide her would be better.
"How long will it take this time?"
"This isn't a transaction. They shouldn't stop unless something happens on the way. I heard it will only take them a little over two months to go back and forth."
Luo Yin's face immediately darkened. "Second brother, Father's health is not as good as usual. I'll have to trouble you to take extra care of him and make sure he doesn't get any worse."
"That lama told him to take good care of his health, which I think was also to take into account the difficulties of the long journey."
Mu Ren nodded, agreeing.
Seeing her worried expression, he couldn't help but pat her head.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Just stay home and focus on your studies and exams."
Everything proceeded smoothly, and the day of departure soon arrived.
Luo Yin took leave again this time, and her group included her uncle, cousin, and others.
They were to follow their second brother to deliver the people to Ulanqab, and then meet up with the group before heading along their route.
Led by the eldest uncle, and accompanied by two young men, the group set off on their cart.
Urina held onto Luo Yin's hand, gazing intently at the departing figure.
"All is well."
Only after they were out of sight did the three prepare to leave.
Loin watched Ani and her mother go home, and then she left quickly as well.
Meanwhile, the fishing boats that had been lingering in the nearshore area for almost half a month returned empty-handed once again.
The captain and the fishermen were all in a bad mood.
There was very little food left, and fresh water was running out quickly.
But it seems the researchers still haven't found anything.
The captain originally wanted to take the opportunity to catch some seafood, but after being stopped by a young man on board, they all stopped.
Every day, they just stare at each other, watching them tinker and fiddle with some kind of machine.
This time, many people watched the spectacle privately, but after the gossip subsided, a sense of panic and urgency emerged.
After a brief period of comfort, these people who spend long periods of time on fishing boats are still thinking about what to eat next.
"Captain Chang, we really don't have much food left. If we don't set sail soon, we might not even have enough to eat on the way back."
The captain came back onto the deck and carefully explained the current situation.
Chang Yongshou looked miserable; he was much more haggard and disheveled than when I first met him.
He was squatting by the mast, looking down at the beeping machine.
His clothes were slovenly and covered in sweat stains, and his shoes were soaked in mud and sand.
Her hair was also blown into a mess, and she looked up when she heard the sound.
He seemed more like a local than the old captain.
"Captain, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing this, the captain knew he had wasted his breath, so he repeated "yes" and waited for his reply.
The researchers were also taken aback by the comparison of several data points.
Then the paper and pen in their hands seemed to have gained weight, making it difficult for them to put pen to paper.
"Cough cough cough, how much longer can we hold on?"
The captain pondered for a moment and said, "The food will only last for ten days at most, but the fresh water will last for about fifteen days."
This is still a precise daily quota for each person, with no more than that.
Old Chang stood up unsteadily, gripping the pole with increased force.
A surging light, incomprehensible to others, flashed in his eyes.
"Wait a little longer, I'll give you an answer when Comrade Yang returns, is that alright?"
Seeing this, the captain felt a strange sense of tragic heroism. As usual, he should have offered a few more words of advice, since drifting on the sea like this was of no use to them.
Perhaps it was because they were both middle-aged that they saw the helplessness hidden beneath his facade.
"Okay, I'll be in the control room all day. Just come when the time comes."
Old Chang nodded, which was considered his agreement to the matter.
After everyone left, the research team resumed what they had been doing for the past half month.
They had detected sonar signals and seen underwater objects on previous occasions, but after Comrade Yang Anguo led his men down the water, they encountered significant obstacles.
The environment below was murky and visibility was poor.
They overcame the difficulties as much as possible, and after diving more than ten times, they finally found the hidden iron pieces in a pile of ruins.
When Comrade Yang surfaced with the iron sheet, Lao Chang's mood immediately reached a high point.
I almost fainted from excitement.
“These are things from the outer deck of an ancient ship.”
"Quickly, tell me what else is going on."
But then it was like entering a dead end. After finding that large fragment, they had nothing left and never encountered anything of value again.
They either encounter attacks from unidentified creatures while diving, or they run into underwater fishing nets that entangle and damage their diving equipment.
It even made Yang Anguo so distressed that he dared not go into the water.
This directly reduced the already scarce diving equipment from four to two.
Old Chang was also heartbroken. These were all on loan, and he had to pay a fixed amount of compensation for each one that was damaged. His name was on all the slips of paper.
"Hey, hey, it's out, it's out."
As Lao Chang was pondering whether to give up, he heard the sound of water breaking and rushed to the side of the boat to look down.
Sure enough, the familiar black voice splashed water.
Comrade Yang excitedly waved the things in his hand and greeted them.
"Quick, quick, has something been discovered? Captain, look! Look!"
Chang Yongshou quickly had someone throw down a rope, and then lowered a basket so that he could put his things down.
After a lot of effort, they finally managed to bring the two people up from underwater.
At this moment, the atmosphere on the deck changed from its previous gloom.
Everyone's eyes lit up as they looked at Comrade Yang Anguo in the center.
"This is a typical official ceramic from the late Qing Dynasty. The color is perfect and the manufacturing is complete. This kind of thing has never been completed before."
As soon as Lao Chang finished speaking, cheers and applause erupted on the deck.
"Slap slap slap ahh~"
"Really? We really did it."
"Yes, yes, that's great! I thought there was no hope left, but unexpectedly, a new path has opened up."
Everyone chimed in, sharing their joy.
It was as if they wanted to express all the sorrows of the past.
Chang Yongshou carefully placed the porcelain in a special box, then tightly grasped Comrade Yang's hands.
"Comrade Yang, we are so grateful for your help. If you hadn't brought these things up this time, we probably would have..."
Yang Anguo caught his breath and was finally able to speak.
On this ship, he was probably the one who used up the most physical strength, besides Lao Chang.
Each time I go into the water, I not only have to consider the special circumstances from all directions, but also take care of my colleagues, for fear of any mishaps that could lead to uncontrollable consequences.
These days, he seems to have been soaking in water, his skin all over his body is wrinkled, as if he has been soaking in water.
She was also much thinner than usual.
“These are all things that should be done. Captain Chang, I have something I need to discuss with you privately,” Yang Anguo said to him solemnly.
"Perfect timing, I also have something to tell you."
Old Chang sensed that he didn't seem so happy and a bad idea was creeping into his mind.
The two walked one after the other. After leaving some things for the remaining people, Lao Chang went to the small cubicle.
This is Lao Chang's room, a specially made room with a lock.
"Have some water to warm up first, Comrade Yang. Tell me, is there any difficulty you're facing?"
Yang Anguo felt much better, and then said seriously, "Captain Chang, I wonder if what you said to me before we came still stands?"
When Chang Yongshou heard him suddenly bring up the past, his heart skipped a beat.
He quickly tried to recall what had happened before, and almost slammed his hand on the table.
"What is it?"
“I remember you said that professional matters require professional people. The main reason I agreed to come was that you would listen to my arrangements. Now we have been here for a long time, but we have not gained much. Especially after I went into the water this time, I found that there seems to be a warm current moving northward in the ocean.”
Old Chang's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.
Having spent years studying in coastal areas, how could he not know?
"With the warm current flowing through, this sea area is bound to undergo tremendous changes. The tides, seawater temperature, and even marine fish populations will all change." It will no longer be the same as before.
"Yes, that's what I was thinking too, we can't go into the water anymore."
Comrade Yang made a solemn and affirmative conclusion.
"The reason we were able to find this ceramic piece during this dive may be due to the warm current and easterly winds that separated it from the sediment and the accumulated marine organisms on the bottom. I have indeed found the remains of an ancient shipwreck below. Judging from its size and location, the ship was buried at least ten meters underwater, and the hull itself was covered by at least six or seven meters of sediment."
"What...what are we going to do?!"
Old Chang was initially delighted, but was then shocked by the enormous problem.
Is the location clearly defined?
"Yes, I will mark it clearly on the map later, and I will also record the location where I found it."
Perhaps sensing his resentment, Yang Anguo thought for a moment and offered an explanation.
"Captain Chang, this time it wasn't a complete failure. It's a huge step forward in underwater archaeology in our country. I think we can go back with a satisfactory report."
Old Chang sighed and remained silent for a moment.
The only sound inside the small cubicle was the breathing of the two people.
Accompanied by the sound of waves crashing, Lao Chang finally made up his mind.
"Okay, I agree to your arrangement, but I have a request before I leave, and I hope you can grant it."
Yang Anguo felt much relieved. He was already quite satisfied that the man wasn't being stubborn and domineering. So he didn't hold back and let him talk.
"I want to go for a swim myself before I leave."
"No, this is too dangerous!"
He took back what he had just said and gave him a disapproving look.
"I must go and see. Comrade Yang, I have also studied diving. Don't worry, once I go down there, I will follow your instructions. I won't touch or do anything. I just need you to take me for a walk around the bottom of the shipwreck."
"No, Captain Chang, you have no underwater experience whatsoever."
The changes in Ulanqab in early spring were even more noticeable than those at home.
Mu Ren turned his gaze away from the distance and took care of his father's needs first.
Seeing that he looked a little tired, I figured he hadn't rested well while traveling, so I quickly packed up the tent for him to rest.
The eldest uncle was directing his eldest son to start a fire nearby; they needed to wait for the contact person to arrive.
"Muren, I heard you won prize money in the competition again. Tell your uncle how things are in the capital."
My uncle was very eager to hear about it and asked him to introduce me.
Mu Ren lived up to expectations and muttered a string of words, which made his older cousin next to him look on with longing.
"Hehe, little brother, you're really amazing. Is it really that good out there?"
"That's right, you have no idea how big and clean the outside world is, with so many people and cars, and people don't even ride horses when they go out."
The three of them asked and answered questions, sharing their experiences and observations.
The eldest uncle kept an eye on the two brothers' affairs whenever he could, and the investigation only ended when Bai Malian brought the people over.
When Bart woke up, he saw the captain and his former teammates had arrived.
The once valiant and rugged man suddenly had tears in his eyes.
"Captain and teammates, thank you for your help this time."
Chao Lu still dressed the same as before, only his face showed more signs of hardship, and his hair was white.
"Don't talk nonsense. We're all brothers. We're all happy that your injury can be treated."
"Yes, yes, Bart, don't overthink it. Just focus on getting treatment there. We'll all be here waiting for you to come back."
"Good brother, we've already spoken to them over there, don't worry. We'll drink and eat together once you're all better."
Seeing that it was almost time, the captain handed a large package to Mu Ren.
"Good lad, you better take good care of your father."
He then led them to the person in charge of the camel shop this time.
Abu is a middle-aged man who has been friends with Chaolu for many years; they were once brothers who came from the same camp.
Upon seeing him arrive with his entourage, he shook hands with Bart very politely.
"Brother Bart, right? Chao Lu has already told me. Don't worry, leave this trip to me. I'll definitely take good care of you."
"Hello, Brother Abu, I'll be leaving the rest to you."
Bart asked Muren to hand him a small bundle containing some local specialties and an envelope.
Abu glanced at the group, then calmly took the items.
"I'll accept the gifts. You'll see what happens next."
After exchanging some pleasantries, the group officially embarked on their westward journey.
Considering her father's health condition, their cart was still taken up the road.
However, because of the long distance, the horses that drove the carts were replaced by their camels.
This was Muren's first time riding a camel, and he seemed to be even less skilled than his father.
The older cousin was quite used to it, staying by his uncle's side the whole way and serving him from time to time.
Luo Yin was worried about her family who had gone far away.
Then it seemed like she adjusted her schedule again, and she sped up her studies significantly, starting with material from the second year of high school. She made sure all her classmates stayed far away from her.
Upon hearing the situation, the homeroom teacher pulled her into the office.
After a series of inquiries and counseling sessions, even the head of the grade was alerted and personally led a team to give her a diagnostic test, which revealed that her results were quite good.
If they can maintain this level during the high school entrance exam, their school will definitely make a big splash this time.
"Good, good, Luo Yin, keep it up!"
"Well, the teacher didn't say anything more. Your learning progress is very good, but it's appropriate to slow down the pace a bit."
Chen Lan, who was advising her students not to study so hard for the first time, realized what she had said as soon as she finished.
This doesn't seem like something a teacher should say.
"Ahem, but I know you're a meticulous person, so I won't say anything more. I just hope you can manage your time well. By the way, if I may ask you one more question, which high school do you plan to attend?"
There is only one high school in the town, and the only other high school is in the county seat.
The best in terms of teaching resources is undoubtedly the No. 1 Middle School in the county, but its management is very strict; then there are the No. 2 and No. 3 Middle Schools, which offer good benefits and have more relaxed management.
Luo Yin thought for a moment, "I want to go to the county's No. 1 High School, but I want to skip grades afterward. I don't know if that's possible there. I haven't decided on the specifics yet."
Chen Lan thought for a moment, "I'll ask around for you. With your grades, you're sure to get into a good school."
After reassuring the promising young players, Chen Lan began to leverage her connections and inquire about potential candidates for her students.
Upon hearing this, the teachers in the office also mobilized their connections and began searching for people they could contact in the neighborhood.
As a result, a wave of enthusiasm for learning suddenly swept through the third year of junior high school, starting with the teachers.
Look at the students in other classes, they study so hard that even the teachers help them; and look at you, what excuse do you have for not studying hard?
Inside an office building within the inner ring of the capital.
The lights stayed on for several days in a row, and the busy staff could be vaguely seen inside.
From one of the shady offices on the third floor, the sounds of an unfamiliar argument could be heard.
"There's nothing interesting to see in this girl's file, so why do the higher-ups insist that we continue the investigation?"
"Exactly! What exactly does the boss want us to find out?"
The younger comrade, not understanding what was going on, passed the question to the team leader.
The team in charge of the data investigation was the seventh group, led by Group Leader Yin, who raised his bloodshot eyes upon seeing this.
"Shut up and listen to me. Do exactly what the higher-ups ask. Put aside all other thoughts, understand?"
“We know the team leader, but it’s always the same thing over and over again.”
They spent a lot of effort gathering information, but they couldn't even finish writing it down on half a page.
Team Leader Yin took another deep drag on his cigarette. "Fine, let's rest for five hours first. I'm going to make a phone call."
"Chengcheng, go quickly."
"Finally, I can rest for a while. I've been working harder than an eagle."
Even after the door was closed, Team Leader Yin could still hear sounds coming from inside.
He frowned, then turned around and actually made a phone call.
Therefore, they would wait for the right moment, make a phone call, and first probe the leader's intentions.
"Is this why you called me?"
"Comrade Yin Zhiming, is this all the ideological awareness you have?"
Yin Zhiming's face fell, and he hurriedly pleaded, "Sir, it's our fault for not doing a good job. We really didn't find much information. Could you give us a hint?"
The second-in-command stopped writing and recalled the information that had been reported.
"Go check on Xia Ming."
"Alright, I'm busy here, bye!"
The microphone slammed shut, and only then did Yin Zhiming react, muttering those two words to himself.
"Xia Ming, Xia Ming, why does that sound so familiar?"
After estimating the time, he lay down and slept for a few hours before ordering his men to investigate Xia Ming's matter again at dawn.
During the investigation, Mr. Xia, who was conducting research at the National Museum every day, received a call from the hospital.
"What? Yes, yes, I am. Okay, I'll explain things here and come right away."
"Yes, yes, okay, okay."
Old Xia hung up the phone, his expression unusually serious.
After explaining the remaining matters, he turned around, grabbed Xia, and asked her to take him to the city hospital.
"Grandpa, what happened? Who's in the hospital?"
"Stop arguing, I have a headache."
Xia Mingjiang sensed the impatience in the old man's tone and dared not ask any more questions.
The car came to a quick and steady stop, and the two soon entered the hospital and found a ward.
Upon entering, Xia Mingjiang almost covered his mouth in shock.
"Old Chang, what's wrong with you?"
Xia Ming couldn't help but step forward and tightly grasp his hands.
At this moment, Chang Yongshou looked sickly, and upon closer inspection, there were many abrasions of varying degrees on his face.
He was lying on the bed with one leg slinged up, and the bandages on his upper body were faintly visible.
He seemed much more relaxed when he came.
"Old Xia, come quick, I have something to give you."
Xia Ming waved his hand to stop him, "Wait a minute, tell me what happened to you first. You can't just lie about all these injuries."
Xia nodded. Yes, these injuries were clearly caused by friction with someone.
But this guy isn't one to fight with people.
Old Chang gave a wry smile and pointed to the two comrades in the next bed.
"Well, on our way back from the Blackwater Pool area, we encountered a fishing boat. I don't know how they spotted us, but they've got their eyes on us. If it weren't for our numerical advantage, we probably wouldn't have made it back."
"What? You've encountered pirates?"
Xia Mingjiang's eyes widened. "Does this still exist these days?"
Old Chang nodded, still feeling a bit shaken. "Judging from their appearance, they were probably islanders from a nearby island. We called the police after we escaped, and I just happened to get pushed and bumped into."
Old Xia's face was grim, and the atmosphere was filled with anger.
"This is outrageous! How dare these people be so audacious?" Old Xia, who had traveled all over the country, had heard of such things before, but he never expected that his old friend would encounter this.
"Is he alright?"
"It's nothing serious. The worst case involved a little bleeding. The others are all fine and will be discharged soon."
"Hmm, so you called me here because..."
Old Chang's interest was piqued immediately. "Take a look at this. It's the investigation report for this operation. It contains the work records of this underwater archaeology."
Chang Yongshou handed him the fruits of his labor over the past few months.
Xia Mingjiang, who was listening nearby, suddenly brightened up, like the light of a flashlight turned on in the night.
Its brilliance was enough to attract the attention of those around it.
"Hahaha, Xia, how about it? Do you want to come with me for underwater archaeology? It's much more interesting than working with your grandpa."
"Uncle Chang, did you go down there yourself? What was it like down there? Did you find anything? Tell me about it."
Xia Mingjiang's admiring gaze almost overwhelmed him.
Xia Ming snorted a few times, his attention focused on the report in his hands.
At first, he didn't have much of a concept after flipping through a few pages, but the more he read, the more interested he became, even surpassing his current research on the ancient corpse from two years ago.
"Okay, okay!"
Three consecutive "good"s were enough for Xia Ming to praise the operation.
Xia had just heard Grandpa Chang recount how difficult the early stages were when she heard her grandfather cheer.
Therefore, everyone's attention naturally fell on it.
"Old Chang, where are the items? Let me see the ceramics quickly."
Old Chang chuckled and shook his head. "The item is definitely not here. Turn over, there are photos."
Xia Ming decisively flipped to the back, and a simple black and white photo appeared before his eyes.
Although the celadon color of Ru ware cannot be discerned from its appearance, the piece in front of me is exquisitely crafted and accurately conforms to the characteristics of an official kiln product in terms of workmanship, shape, and body.
Xia Ming lovingly stroked the photo with his fingers, wishing he could wear the edges of it raw.
Xia Mingjiang, who was standing nearby, was also very envious.
However, one can only glimpse it through the gaps; this is currently the only officially designated complete version of Ru ware found nationwide.
It's practically a sight to behold!
"Old Chang, I regret it. I really should have gone with you guys on this mission."
Xia Ming looked at Lao Chang with a regretful expression.
Chang Yongshou was taken aback, then revealed an uncontrollable smugness.
"Hahaha, Lao Xia, I never thought you'd end up like this. Haha, ouch, my wound."
"Alright, alright, take it easy!"
"Hehe, how about it? The photo isn't clear, is it? To be honest, the real thing is a hundred times better looking than the photo."
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