Xing Zhaozhao was overjoyed to see Professor Yang: "Professor Yang? Why are you back?"
Ever since Professor Yang returned to Beijing with Professor Zhou after being exonerated, Xing Zhaozhao thought it would be difficult to see him again, but she didn't expect to run into him again so soon.
Compared to when he first left, Professor Yang looks much better, and it seems he's doing quite well in Beijing.
"Old Zhou is so busy at the research institute that he's never home. When he heard that a new Han Dynasty tomb had been discovered here and that they needed to send people over to participate in the excavation, I had nothing to do, so I volunteered to come," Professor Yang said with a smile.
"I only saw people from the city and province before, I didn't expect that even the capital would be alerted?" Xing Zhaozhao said in surprise.
“Of course, that’s a Han Dynasty tomb,” Professor Yang said.
Professor Yang sat with Xing Zhaozhao for a while and talked for a bit. After most of the people who had come from Beijing had arrived, they went into the mountains together.
Xing Zhaozhao, carrying Xiao Hongling, decided to follow along.
Recently, with the increase in people going in and out of the mountains, the mountains have changed dramatically. Not only has a fairly wide path been cleared, but dangerous wild animals in the nearby forests have also been driven away to ensure the safety of staff going into the mountains. For the time being, it is safe to walk around without worry.
When Xing Zhaozhao arrived at the location of the Han tomb, she found that the place had changed even more. Not only had a large open space been cleared out, but several houses had also been built for the staff who stayed there to work and rest. Although the conditions were still simple, at least there was a place to shelter from the wind and rain.
Xing Zhaozhao also saw Gao Mingcheng, who had come early in the morning to help build the house with cement along with other soldiers, and two little ones who had come with their father, covered in mud and water, and were helping to move bricks in a very serious manner.
Hongyu was the first to see Xing Zhaozhao and called out in a clear voice, "Mom..."
Gao Mingcheng looked up and immediately came to greet him: "Why are you here too?"
Xing Zhaozhao pointed to Professor Yang beside her: "Professor Yang and the others are coming into the mountains, so I came along to take a look."
As she spoke, she introduced him to Gao Mingcheng: "This is Professor Yang. He was sent down to our village before, but he was exonerated and returned to Beijing last year."
Gao Mingcheng had heard Xing Zhaozhao mention Professor Yang before: "Hello."
“My husband, Gao Mingcheng,” Xing Zhaozhao introduced to Professor Yang.
Professor Yang had naturally heard of Gao Mingcheng, the most promising young man from Xiaogao Village, but this was the first time he had met him in person. He looked him up and down with great interest and said, "He's a good young man, worthy of our Zhaozhao."
Xing Zhaozhao proudly raised her chin.
Professor Yang looked at the houses that had already been built and those still under construction and said, "You've built so many houses in such a short time. You've worked hard."
"The conditions are still a bit rudimentary," Gao Mingcheng said regretfully.
"Why don't you stay at my place, Professor Yang?" Xing Zhaozhao suggested. At least she could sleep more peacefully at night.
Professor Yang smiled and shook his head, unconcerned, saying, "It's nothing. I've stayed in places even more rudimentary than this."
Xing Zhaozhao thought of the cowshed where Professor Yang used to live. That was indeed it.
The original tomb-raiding tunnel had been completely opened. When Professor Yang saw that his other colleagues had gone down into the tomb, he immediately abandoned Xing Zhaozhao and couldn't wait to follow them.
Xing Zhaozhao didn't rush back. She stayed and helped out wherever needed. She was just helping someone move something when she left the little girl in the care of the two little ones. When she turned around, she saw the little girl had rolled into a mud puddle and was having a great time playing in it. She was waving for her mother to come along. Xing Zhaozhao was both annoyed and amused.
When Xing Zhaozhao and Gao Mingcheng brought the children out of the mountains, all five of them had dirty faces, not a single clean spot left.
Little Hongling looked at the two little muddy handprints on Xing Zhaozhao's face and laughed happily. Those were her handiwork. Originally, Xing Zhaozhao was the only one with a clean face, but the little girl was not happy. The whole family should be clean, so she stamped her face with her chubby little hand.
Xing Zhaozhao pinched her chubby cheek lightly in anger: "Still laughing, still laughing, isn't this all your doing?"
Little Hongling rubbed her chubby face against Xing Zhaozhao's and called out in a soft, sweet voice, "Mom..."
"Being cute won't work." Xing Zhaozhao snorted, determined to teach the chubby girl a lesson today.
Little Hongling pouted and gave him a quick, kissing kiss.
Xing Zhaozhao tried to dodge.
Little Hongling grabbed her neck and kissed her. She succeeded and the little girl laughed triumphantly.
Xing Zhaozhao glared at the little girl speechlessly: "Why did you have to learn from your dad?"
Gao Mingcheng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Where did you learn it poorly? I think you learned it quite well."
Xing Zhaozhao immediately rolled her eyes at her: "You can sleep with your son tonight."
Gao Mingcheng quickly shut up. That's absolutely unacceptable.
Seeing that he was almost home, Gao Mingcheng paused for a moment when he saw the familiar figures of one adult and two children waiting at the door, and let out a strange "Eh."
"What's wrong?" Xing Zhaozhao turned to look at Gao Mingcheng, noticed his gaze, and followed his eyes to the front door. She was also stunned for a moment, then quickened her pace and hurried over.
The two little ones quickly recognized the person and ran over to him, calling out happily, "Uncle!"
At that moment, waiting at the door were Xing Zhaoming and his two sons, Jiashu and Jiaping.
Xing Zhaoming then saw the family of five returning home late.
Upon seeing his two little nephews rushing towards him, he immediately grinned, grabbed one in each arm, and gave them a tight hug: "You two little ones have gotten heavier again. Looks like your mother is taking good care of you." He had been worried when he came over earlier, having heard that his sister had moved out with her three children and was living on her own.
After Hongfei and Hongyu greeted their uncle, they quickly rushed to Jiashu and Jiaping, who were standing nearby: "Ashu, Jiaping."
Xing Jiashu and Xing Jiaping, who had been feeling down, finally smiled when they saw their long-lost friends: "Dafei, Xiaoyumo."
The four little ones quickly gathered together and started chattering away.
"Have you received the gifts we sent you?"
"Is it fun?"
"We have lots of more fun things to do, let's play them together in a bit."
"..."
When Xing Zhaoming saw smiles return to his two sons' faces, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the anxiety he had been carrying was temporarily put to rest.
At this moment, Xing Zhaozhao also arrived in front of Xing Zhaoming. Looking at her brother whom she hadn't seen for so long, her eyes reddened, her throat tightened, and she called out, "Brother..."
Xing Zhaoming chuckled and ruffled her hair: "Why are you crying? It's like it's a matter of life and death."
It's just a matter of life and death.
Xing Zhaozhao rushed over and hugged him.
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