Chapter 55 Reunion in the Capital
Team Leader Zhang never expected that she would be struck by lightning and knocked unconscious.
Even though he was a seasoned veteran, he was a little slow to react until the noise around him reminded him.
Seeing the person lying flat on the ground, they quickly picked them up.
"Get them out of here right now!"
Someone shouted at him, and Captain Zhang quickly ran away.
Just then, a strange smell wafted through the air.
Then came a series of crackling sounds—another electric shock!
It's enough to send chills down your spine.
"Captain, how is it?"
"Make way! This girl's been struck by lightning! Quick, check if she's still alive!"
Upon hearing this, several people immediately gathered around, and those familiar with first aid rushed forward to check on the patient.
First, a full-body scan was performed, and then her pupils were observed. It was found that she was alright; there were no obvious external injuries. Then, her pulse was checked and found to be beating a little slower than usual.
"Hmm, thankfully, he should have just passed out."
"Carry her over there and let her lie down for a while."
Everyone looked at the team leader, then at her, and could only do as she said.
After everyone was settled, they asked about what had happened outside. Only then did Captain Zhang recall what he had just seen, and he didn't know what to say.
"Alright, all of you behave yourselves. As we said before, if you don't feel like you're resting, get back to training."
"No, Captain, it's getting late, everyone should go and rest."
Soon everyone closed their eyes and huddled together to rest.
Their breathing gradually calmed down, but they were not asleep, waiting for the crisis outside to end.
Luo Yin slept for a long time this time. In her dream, she was chased by the black dragon, jumping up and down, but she couldn't escape it. It didn't care about others, but it was fixated on her. Luo Yin was very distressed and could only run and escape desperately.
Until he was chased into a cliff and lost control, he plunged down the cliff.
Ah~
The cramping pain in her legs brought her back to her senses.
Looking around, Luo Yin found herself inside the cabin, feeling slightly relieved.
She rushed outside and saw that it was already bright daylight, and the area around Tianchi was peaceful.
Yesterday's events seem to have vanished.
She looked around and came up to Blind Chen.
The old man sat there leisurely drinking hot tea while cooking rice over a fire.
She rubbed her head, recalling the moment she was struck, and instinctively shuddered.
"Yo yo, you're awake!"
"Grandpa, what happened yesterday? I was struck by lightning!" Didn't you say I was perfectly safe?
Blind Chen looked somewhat haggard, but his spirits were still good.
He remained calm when she asked, "I didn't die, did I? Where's the beaded string you were holding?"
Luo Yin: "That's not what you said..."
What kind of bracelet?
She looked at her empty wrist, then reached into her pocket as if remembering something.
"You mean this? Isn't this just a regular string of beads? What's wrong with it?" She subconsciously held it to her nose and sniffed it. Sure enough, it had a very strong, intoxicating smell.
Her agitation subsided somewhat, and she unconsciously began to twirl her hands.
This was something Old Man Chen asked her to take with her before she left home.
It is made of wooden beads of varying sizes strung together, and the beads were provided by Ani and the other person.
"Take another look?"
The old man spoke strangely, which distracted Luo Yin.
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that some of the eighteen beads were slightly cracked.
Although the gap is small, it can be noticed if you look closely.
Her fingertips trembled as she looked at Old Man Chen in disbelief.
"This...it's been split open, and what's with the color?!"
Golden veins appeared at the cracks in the wooden beads, as if they were naturally rising.
The simple, ordinary wooden beads gleamed brightly in the sunlight, but Luo Yin barely touched them.
"Grandpa, is this still usable?"
Old Chen chuckled, and his laughter grew louder and louder.
"What are you afraid of? This thing isn't sentient. Take another look."
She wanted to say, "Think about it again. What was in the lake yesterday? Don't think I didn't see it."
However, after hearing what he said, I fiddled with it for a while longer.
I found nothing different, but the smell seemed to have changed somewhat compared to before.
She knew there were a few sea willow trees inside before; the name itself suggested they were related to the sea, and Luo Yin could vaguely smell their scent. But after being chopped this time, her sense of smell seemed even stronger, and she could smell a faint fruity and floral fragrance.
Yes, it definitely exists!
As she recounted her discovery, Old Chen's smile vanished, and he lowered his voice slightly.
"As expected, I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
"Girl, there's a stable job tailor-made for you, do you want it?"
In the heart of a mountainous region in central China, Xia and others are putting the finishing touches on their work.
They followed the orders, keeping track of the data and investigation reports along the way. They thought this field trip would be foolproof, but unexpectedly, something went wrong.
Because of the unique geographical location, the team leader and researchers all lived in nearby villages.
Although it's called a mountain village, there are actually fewer than ten households.
Due to the inconvenient transportation and the tasks involved, it was natural to leave early and return late, and to be covered in dust and grime. It was during this temporary stay that a comrade in the team noticed something amiss.
There are smugglers in this village.
And the shipping channels are smooth!
Just by listening to their conversation, I knew they knew their stuff. The young comrade quickly wrote it down and went back to tell the team.
Upon hearing the situation, Hosen told them to remain calm; he then led his men to not only protect their safety but also to gather information about the village.
Just before he was about to leave, the team leader came to see him.
"Comrade Huo, how's that matter going? Should I bring more men..."
The team leader was very worried. He had been tossing and turning and was distressed these past few days. He stared wide-eyed at the word "bronze." But he couldn't abandon the task at hand, and he couldn't ignore these people either.
"You should leave according to plan; the rest will be taken care of."
Seeing his resolute attitude, the researchers left as planned. It wasn't until they reached safety after a day and a night that they learned what had happened.
Xia Mingjiang: "Ah, bronze artifacts? These are national cultural relics. If someone gets caught, they'll be sentenced to death, right?"
“Those people are incredibly audacious; you absolutely must stop them from taking the goods.”
Xia, who had high hopes for him, looked at Hosen.
"Never mind, it's not my responsibility." Hosen dismissed the person and made two phone calls.
The deputy captain then handed the information over to the local authorities.
"What? Nothing found? Not a single thing?" The salvage bureau of Nanjiang City, under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, received a phone call that day.
"Yes, the shipwreck was not found, but some other things were discovered."
"Really? Are you sure?"
The person who received the call looked surprised, then stood up and slammed their hand on the table, unable to hide their smile.
"Alright, alright, I'll recommend you for good deeds when you get back. Now, don't wait any longer, come back right away."
After hanging up the phone, Fang Peng called the military region. He heard the person on the other end laugh out loud after just a few words, saying that if it were true, he would definitely be credited.
"Quickly, Xiao Chen, give me the car keys."
As Fang Peng spoke, he walked out and soon drove to a nearby dock. He wanted to personally oversee the situation and wait for their return.
On the nearly new merchant ship, Old Yang had completely changed his previous dejected state.
He was staring at the iron thing in front of him with a look of delight.
His eyes were eager and excited; the words on it were all foreign, and he guessed it was a probe that had been sent in by another country.
What is commonly known as espionage.
Although their origins are unknown, at least they managed to get us here, so this trip wasn't in vain.
Moreover, if it proves useful, it will greatly increase their chances of success on their next overseas expedition.
Yang Anguo patted it expectantly, "You must make me proud!"
Chen Tian's lips twitched upon hearing this. "Captain Yang, will we have another chance to come next time?"
The underwater salvage operation was declared a failure, which was disheartening for everyone on board; however, they had no choice but to pull themselves together and accept the situation.
"I don't know, but I will definitely try again if I have the chance." Old Yang was a little disappointed, but his tone was firm.
"Yes, I believe we can do it!"
The ship sailed on, and led by the veteran crew member, the group arrived at the dock at 7 p.m.
After a long period of wandering, the group finally saw land.
Excitement, cheers, and joy welled up in his heart. Just then, Fang Peng was led onto the ship.
The handover was conducted by the previous staff, who were familiar with both sides.
After a brief exchange, Fang Peng's gaze fell on that guy.
"Oh my, this really is a lump of iron."
He spun around a few times, his face filled with surprise and amazement, his eyes shining brightly.
"Captain Yang, you've worked hard this time. Don't worry, I'll definitely treat you well after we get off the ship."
Fang Peng knew better than anyone on the ship, having salvaged quite a lot over the years; plus, being from the salvage bureau, his experience far surpassed anyone else's.
This time, seeing it again, I felt much more at ease!
As they pondered how high they could be promoted this time, they noticed out of the corner of their eye that they were still there.
These researchers were really lucky. He hadn't had much hope when he heard about their mission. He wondered what kind of equipment the "Maria" had on its ship compared to what they had on theirs.
He knew there must be shipwrecks in that area, and he envied what was below, wanting to salvage it, but he was a pragmatist; he also knew that this trip would most likely be a waste of time. It was only after much deliberation and the decision of their superiors that they were allowed to go, and sure enough, the result was fruitless, with a total loss of about a thousand or eight hundred yuan.
But things took an unexpected turn, and they were able to get other things as well.
"Captain Yang, could you please tell me more about the situation?"
"How exactly was this thing discovered back then?"
Fang Peng's flattery and assurances made Chen Tian, Lao Yang, and the others blush.
Fang Peng noticed their disappointment and repeatedly assured them that if conditions allowed, there would be another opportunity to go to sea.
This finally hit them where it hurt, and Old Yang began to recount what had happened, with others adding their own reminders.
Two military vehicles drove from a nearby encampment toward the dock.
After hearing what had happened, Fang Peng couldn't help but marvel at their luck.
"Good, good, good! It's all thanks to everyone's help that we were able to thwart the enemy's plot!"
"Beep beep~"
"They're here."
During the subsequent negotiations, Lao Yang and the others remained on the sidelines.
Aside from shaking hands and receiving a phone call from the second-in-command of the military region, Lao Yang and the others were still bewildered.
After resting for less than a night, they quickly boarded a train to the capital.
The news spread quickly, and by the time everyone returned to their units to report, the news about what happened in the south had also been spread.
As the leader of the third group, Lao Yang needs to report the situation to the person in charge.
Seeing that Old Xia was engrossed in his work, he stood silently to the side.
Old Xia, who was taking a break, saw him and quickly invited him to sit down, asking about the underwater situation. By the time he finished understanding, half of the morning had passed. "Well, although we didn't get what we wanted, I heard that you retrieved that thing, which is quite an achievement. Don't worry, consider this as our experience of feeling our way across the river. I'll definitely go and see it next time I have the chance."
Yang Anguo looked agitated, his eyes red.
"Yes, sir!"
He's been feeling really bad lately, and he's been calculating things countless times in private.
He didn't know how many times the underwater salvage report and action plan had been revised.
But as the person in charge, he had to shoulder everything; yet, upon hearing Xia Lao's words of reassurance and approval, he found it hard to control himself.
"It's alright, just get some rest. I have another task for you to complete."
"I'm fine, I'm in great health, Mr. Xia, you said I can leave now."
"Hey, hey, wait a minute, go home first, I haven't decided on things here yet."
After repeated explanations, they finally saw this general off.
Xia Ming rubbed his temples, looking at the handwritten three-year "Four-Star Plan" report, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.
Whether it will succeed or not depends on this final swerve.
Thinking about the small meeting in a couple of days, Lao Xia's brow remained furrowed.
At 12:10 that night, the news finally arrived from the Northeast, Central, and Southern regions. Meanwhile, those secretly monitoring the situation were also verifying the changes in the nation's destiny.
The next day at work, a "top secret" report was quietly placed on the leader's desk.
The leader looked at it for a while, then called to announce a meeting the next day.
That day, in the core area of the capital, the red-walled courtyard had been open for who knows how long.
From that day on, a strategic plan that would influence China's millennia-long development quietly began to emerge.
Luo Yin never expected that after coming down from Changbai Mountain, she would be abducted and put on a train.
A group of more than a dozen people dressed as country folk were lying in the soft sleeper berths.
Luo Yin ate her braised pork lunchbox without even looking up;
"Girl, aren't you in a hurry? Aren't you afraid of being sold off?"
Luo Yin said that the food was too salty and drank a few sips of water.
"Sir, could you give me some travel expenses? I'll buy a return ticket at the next stop."
Blind Chen lay half-reclined on the lower bunk, his legs crossed and swaying back and forth.
"Hmph, dream on. If you're so capable, walk back yourself."
The soft sleeper was full of their men at the moment, including the two men, Captain Zhang, and Brother Liu.
They pretended not to see the two arguing.
"Then wait and see. Your mission isn't over yet. You have to finish what you started." Blind Chen had plenty of reasons. He was treating her well and didn't believe she wouldn't take the bait.
Luo Yin had indeed thought about it; she had hesitated ever since he last mentioned "a stable job that suits her."
These three words are very tempting these days!
What he said next was that he would become a member of the National Archaeological Institute.
Although she was an external hire, the old man said that she had a three-year mission that would allow her to travel all over the country.
Not only do you not have to worry about safety issues, but you'll also be protected throughout the trip, with accommodation and food provided. Isn't this just fun?
Luo Yin was moved for a moment, then suddenly remembered being struck by lightning.
I shook my head. You can't believe what this old man says.
But once she got on the bus, her heart kept itching, and she was always torn between different options. According to her original plan, she would continue her studies and try to get a job after graduation so that she could live a peaceful life with her parents.
But if I listen to him, I might end up like Xia Ge and the others, becoming a member of the field research team.
Luo Yin took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar fragrance, which smothered some of the smelly feet. She had already learned from Old Chen that she had awakened some talent.
He has an exceptionally sensitive sense of smell, especially when it comes to old objects;
He said it was a talent, unique to a small number of people, and that such talent was very rare, especially for someone her age to have such an opportunity. It would be a pity if she didn't do something about it.
This gave her an idea: to go with the archaeological team.
With so many ancient tombs and relics across the country, her presence will definitely play a role.
The scales in Luo Yin's heart had already tipped.
Sometimes she even suspected that falling into the Heavenly Pool was his deliberate plan, otherwise how could it be such a coincidence that she awakened after being struck by lightning?
But Old Chen insisted it wasn't true, and the train finally arrived at the station, swaying and rattling.
She had been talking about going to Beijing, and unexpectedly, she actually came, and with them no less.
"Come on, follow me."
Old Zhang and the others escorted them to the station, then prepared to report back to their unit.
The group said their goodbyes, and Luo Yin followed him as they walked and walked until they came to an alley.
Looking at the double-doored courtyard house, Luo Yin revealed a look of envy and admiration.
"This is your home!"
So rich!!!
Blind Chen almost missed a step while crossing the stairs. "Cough cough, hurry up and catch up."
"Oh, here I come!"
Luo Yin thought that if she stayed there once, the trip would be worthwhile.
She skillfully passed through the screen wall, crossed the covered corridor, and arrived at the hanging flower gate. Luo Yin was so amazed by what she saw inside that she couldn't speak.
Every pillar, every brick and tile, and every relief mural exudes an aura of history.
Luo Yin was certain; this guy was really rich.
They're all genuine!
Stepping through the hanging flower gate, you enter the second courtyard.
The sight of blooming flowers, artificial hills, flowing water, and fishponds once again filled Luo Yin with amazement.
This is a man-made mini park!
"Old Qin, come out quickly."
Upon hearing the familiar surname, Luo Yin's mind immediately turned to someone.
Seriously? That person is that amazing too?
The door to the side room directly opposite was tightly closed. Luo Yin looked around and noticed that there were many shelves in front of the side rooms on both sides. She went closer and sure enough, they contained medicinal herbs.
Turning my head, I saw Blind Chen sitting on the stone table next to me.
"Who is it? Don't you know I don't receive guests? Go back, go back!"
"Girl, you've come all the way to the capital? Chen Suanzi, you've lured everyone here?"
Old Qin was both surprised and delighted, and only felt relieved when he saw that neither of them had any external injuries.
"Hahaha, I told your Ani a long time ago to let him take a stroll, but I didn't expect you to come first." He gestured for Luo Yin to sit down.
Seeing this, Luo Yin naturally lagged behind and sat down on the side.
"Don't ask questions yet, let's check if she has any problems."
Old Qin's smile vanished. "Let me see your hand."
As soon as he took the pulse, Old Qin became serious, listening intently as his expression changed.
Luo Yin glanced at him, then at Old Man Chen.
"Don't be nervous, why is your heart beating so fast?"
Luo Yin was embarrassed and silently adjusted her breathing!
"Nothing's wrong, I've just been going to bed a bit lately. You're old and you still have insomnia?"
"Pfft, hahaha~"
Blind Chen burst into laughter; you could tell how happy he was just by listening to his voice.
Luo Yin rolled her eyes at him, then smiled at Old Qin, "Hehe, I've been thinking about some things."
"I'm perfectly healthy!"
Old Qin nodded, "Not bad, just a bit short."
"Grandpa Qin, you have a guest here!"
"Let me tell you, this girl is really lucky. She was struck by lightning at Tianchi Lake but didn't get hurt at all."
Two voices rang out, one after the other.
The people present were all stunned for a moment, and then stared at each other in disbelief.
Xia Mingjiang was surprised and excited, and hurried towards Luo Yin. "How come it's you? You've come all the way from the grasslands to the capital! Why didn't you tell me!"
Old Qin smiled slightly as he saw the people walking behind him.
"You two know each other!" Realizing what was happening, she looked at the two of them.
Luo Yin exclaimed "Hi!" and pointed at Old Man Chen, saying it was because of him.
"Wait a minute, did you really get struck by lightning?" Xia Mingjiang looked at her with bright eyes, focusing on her head.
His hair and eyebrows weren't burned, and he didn't look injured.
Hossen glanced at her subconsciously, equally curious.
Seeing that he was also curious, Luo Yin couldn't help but twitch her lips.
Three pairs of surprised eyes turned to her, and she could only explain, "I just got an electric shock. I reckon my ancestors on the ground are probably kowtowing their heads until they're broken."
The others were stunned, but Xia, quick-witted as ever, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"My ancestors must have kowtowed so hard they broke their foreheads, hahaha, how funny you are."
This time, it was Blind Chen's turn to be speechless. What was this girl saying? Why was she mentioning him? It was because he had made preparations in advance.
"Ahem, since there's no serious injury, that's good."
He reverted to his ethereal, otherworldly demeanor and glanced indifferently at the group.
However, everyone present knew his character, and even Luo Yin, who had only known him for a short time, had figured out his temperament.
"Hey, you guys are just inexperienced and don't know how to respect the elderly and care for the young. Wait until you need my help someday."
"Old Qin, I have to attend meetings these next few days, so I'm leaving this girl in your care. Take good care of her, or her mother might cause you trouble and whip you."
Old Qin ignored him dismissively, "Get lost, this girl is my junior, do you need to tell me?"
He led the person inside, saying, "You can choose a room in the back building to stay in. Aunt Liu is here, so leave anything to her."
Luo Yin nodded her thanks and went to find Aunt Liu.
Xia kept calling her from behind, saying she would treat her to a meal once she was ready.
"I understand!" Luo Yin waved her hand, telling him to wait.
"Alright, what are you two doing here?"
Xia Mingjiang pulled Huo Sen over and leaned close to Chen Suanzi, "Grandpa Chen, is there something special about that girl? Where did you all go?"
He was curious; he never expected to run into her again.
Upon hearing Old Chen humming a tune, he asked, "Want to know?"
"Think about it, why don't you tell me?"
How do you know that girl?
Xia explained the reason in a few words, and then looked at him.
"Well, no rush, you'll have more contact. Just wait!"
Xia was taken aback and turned to look at her friend, only to see Huo Sen sitting coldly in the only seat.
"Boring!"
He chuckled and added, "Isn't that girl still in school? How could you lie to her? Her family dotes on her!"
Blind Chen shook his head and said, "I have a brilliant plan!"
"It's almost time, I'll be going now." He suddenly stood up, startling Xia.
"You sit down, Lao Qin, I won't be having dinner here."
Old Qin was writing a prescription, waving his hand without even looking up.
As the people walked away and disappeared through the hanging flower gate, Xia rested her chin on her hands and asked, "Grandpa Qin, do you know where they went before?"
Old Qin looked at the ratio of the ingredients for the emperor's and minister's prescriptions and handed them to him.
"You two just got back from outside, right? Why are you asking so many questions? Look at Xiao Huo, you seem to have too much to say!"
"No, I'm just curious. Tell me about it."
He was eager to know, but Lao Qin pulled Huo Sen aside and started playing chess.
He found it boring and kept his eyes fixed on the back room, waiting for someone to come out.
After an unknown amount of time, Luo Yin appeared, her hair half-down, wearing a T-shirt and black pants. She wore cloth shoes, looking neat and clean.
Having just showered, some water droplets dripped down her hair from her wheat-colored cheeks, and her lips were a little dry. She subconsciously licked them, making them appear even fuller.
When Hosen caught a glimpse, his fingertip flicked a black piece, scrambling the board.
Old Qin looked at him with surprise, then turned around when he heard footsteps.
"Wow, Luo, your hair is so long! Have you never cut it since you were little?"
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