Chapter 87 (First Update)
Ye Hongzhen is cooking shredded pork noodles for her daughter in the kitchen.
It was also topped with two golden-brown fried eggs.
“Your second sister-in-law said that her factory was not doing well and the wages were low, so she didn’t want to work there anymore. In addition, your second brother partnered with someone to open that factory, which was far from home and took two hours to commute every day. So your second brother rented a house there and brought her and her daughter over.”
"According to Chen Feiyong, their factory is doing very well now."
"Your second brother said business is good; he now earns in one month what he used to earn in three or four months."
They earned more money than before, but the second son and his wife also argued more often, every few days.
She never gets involved in the couple's arguments, but she can't help but get her head spinning from the noise.
The second son probably took Li Yan and her daughter out for this reason as well.
Ye Hongzhen brought the cooked noodles to the dining table and called Yan Ruyi over to eat.
Yan Ruyi came over after washing her hands and was startled. "Mom, you cooked too much. I can't finish it."
"It's just a bowl of noodles, how come you can't finish it? You've been gone for a week, and I see you've even lost weight."
Yan Ruyi secretly pinched her belly, thinking that her mother might not have good eyesight.
Under her mother's loving gaze, she still forced herself to finish the bowl of noodles.
After finishing eating, she slumped into a chair and said, "Mom, I've eaten so much I can barely swallow it."
Ye Hongzhen, "Let me explain it to you."
The moment his hand touched Yan Ruyi's neck, Yan Ruyi tickled and laughed, pulling away.
"Have dinner before you leave. I'll go buy some ribs and call your older brother over so he can make you sweet and sour ribs."
Yan Ruyi said, "I've already gained weight, and you still want me to eat sweet and sour pork ribs."
Ye Hongzhen said, "Then don't eat it, just watch us eat."
Yan Ruyi slurped her saliva. "I'll eat. I bought three roast ducks. One for you and Dad, and the other two for my eldest and second eldest brothers. My eldest brother can take them."
"Then call your second brother over too, and have him take the roast duck after dinner."
Having not slept well on the train that night, Yan Ruyi's eyelids began to droop as she spoke.
Ye Hongzhen patted her tenderly, "Go get some sleep, I'll wake you up when your brother comes."
Yan Ruyi went back to her room and pounced on the bed.
Even if she doesn't live here, her mother still airs out her bedding regularly, keeping the bed clean and tidy.
Yan Ruyi rubbed her head against the blanket and fell asleep in a second.
She was woken up by a kiss, "Auntie, Auntie."
Yan Ruyi didn't even open her eyes before pulling him close and kissing him.
When I kissed Miaomiao's ticklish spot, she giggled and said, "Auntie, it's getting dark."
Yan Ruyi opened her eyes and saw that it was almost dark.
She got out of bed, picked up Miaomiao, and went outside.
Yan Minghe was busy in the kitchen.
Ye Hongzhen and Fang Caiyun were picking vegetables in the yard.
Yan Ruyi carried Miaomiao over and said, "Big brother, add more sugar. The food in the capital is so salty, my tongue is going to go numb."
Yan Minghe, "Aren't you afraid of getting fat?"
Yan Ruyi said matter-of-factly, "My mom said I've lost weight and need to eat more."
Miaomiao blinked her big eyes and reached out to touch her double chin.
Yan Ruyi pinched her little face, "Little traitor!"
Miaomiao giggled and hid in Ye Hongzhen's arms.
A car horn sounded outside. Yan Ruyi pulled Miaomiao up and said, "Little sister is here. Let's go pick her up."
The car stopped outside the gate, and Li Yan got out of the car carrying Congcong.
Miaomiao broke free from Yan Ruyi and ran over, "Hug my little sister!"
Li Yan: "Your little sister is asleep. She'll wake up and you can hug her in a bit."
The room where she and Yan Mingtao used to live was now empty, so they put Congcong on Ye Hongzhen's bed.
After coming out, he said to Fang Caiyun, "Sister-in-law, other people's children this age can already recite Tang poems, why can't Miaomiao speak fluently yet?"
Miaomiao is a late talker and still can't speak in complete sentences.
Fang Caiyun took her to the hospital, but they couldn't find anything wrong with her.
The doctor said that as long as the child can speak, it means there is no problem with her language development. Talk to her more often, and she will gradually learn.
However, this was also a source of worry for Fang Caiyun, and Li Yan's words were like stabbing her in the heart.
Unfortunately, what Li Yan said was true, and she couldn't refute it at all.
The second son's wife has this skill; she can kill a conversation the moment she opens her mouth.
Ye Hongzhen said, “There are babies in our compound who can walk at 9 months old. Congcong is almost 9 months old and has just learned to stand. We can’t say that there’s something wrong with Congcong.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Miaomiao ran out of the house, "Little sister is awake!"
Everyone, "..."
Fang Caiyun asked in surprise, "What's wrong with my sister?"
Miaomiao repeated, "My little sister is awake."
His pronunciation is clear and he doesn't stutter at all.
Ye Hongzhen said, "See? He suddenly got it without warning."
Li Yan didn't believe it and wanted to ask Miaomiao again to see if she could really speak in complete sentences.
Ye Hongzhen said, "Hurry up and go check on Congcong, or he'll roll off the bed again."
Li Yan then went inside.
Yan Mingtao took two small wooden boxes off the car, one for Yan Ruyi and the other for Fang Caiyun.
Yan Ruyi recognized it at a glance, "A mechanism box?"
The last time Yan Mingtao visited her home, she showed him the puzzle box that Grandpa Song had given her, and to her surprise, her second brother actually managed to replicate it.
Yan Mingtao: "It's a mechanical box, just not as exquisitely made as others, but it'll do. It can hold a piece of jewelry or some small odds and ends."
Fang Caiyun smiled and said, "I'll save such a good thing for Miaomiao, and give it to her as part of her dowry when she gets married."
Li Yan carried Congcong out of the house. "I don't need it either. I don't have any jewelry, unlike Ruyi, who has spare money to buy those things."
Yan Mingtao: "If you don't have it, then buy it. It's not like we didn't give you the money."
"How much money are you giving me? I'm unemployed right now and I have to support Congcong."
Yan Mingtao now gives Li Yan 200 yuan a month.
He didn't squander the rest of the money. One reason was to keep it for entertainment expenses, and another was that Chen Feiyong's energy was now focused on the import and export business, leaving him with little energy to manage the furniture factory. He intended to transfer the furniture factory to Yan Mingtao.
The equipment in the factory was all funded by Chen Feiyong. If it is transferred to Yan Mingtao, this money will have to be returned to Chen Feiyong.
Even if you calculate it based on depreciation, it will still cost a lot of money.
He had already told Li Yan about all of this, but Li Yan still didn't understand him. She just wanted him to hand over all the money to her for safekeeping.
Once the money is in her hands, it's like it's fallen into a crack in the ground. Can he give it back?
Seeing that the couple was about to argue again, Ye Hongzhen sent Yan Mingtao away, "Go and call your dad back for dinner, and also call Sihe back. If you don't call them, I think they won't be back until midnight."
Fang Caiyun changed the subject, asking Yan Ruyi, "Ruyi, have you learned to drive yet?"
"I haven't had time to go to school."
"Didn't you say last time that you were learning from so-and-so at your workplace?"
“Liang Shi, but before I learn from him, I should first have Yi Ping give me some basic training, otherwise I’ll be clumsy when I get on the bus and my image will be ruined.”
Ye Hongzhen said, "My daughter carries quite a heavy burden of leadership responsibilities."
Fang Caiyun smiled and said, "Once you get your license, we'll ride in your car too."
Yan Ruyi said confidently, "I'll definitely get my driver's license before Mom's birthday. Then, I'll drive us to Yuexianglou to eat lobster."
Yan Ruyi has already registered with the Transportation Bureau and received her study manuals: one on "Traffic Rules" and the other on "Mechanical Common Sense." She needs to study both books on her own, as there will be an exam later.
Then comes driving lessons.
I have my own car, so I can learn as long as I have the time and space.
Song Yiping drove Yan Ruyi around the city and found a road that had just been repaired but was not yet officially open to traffic.
Song Yiping: "This is fine."
Song Yiping first explained to her the manual transmission, accelerator, brake, dashboard, wipers, headlights... Then he switched places with Yan Ruyi, moving from the driver's seat to the passenger seat.
Song Yiping adjusted her seat and said, "Sit up straight, look straight ahead, and check the rearview mirror. You can't look down while driving."
Yan Ruyi gripped the steering wheel and asked excitedly, "Can we drive now?"
"Don't rush to drive. First, familiarize yourself with the gear shifting, the accelerator, the foot brake, the horn, the high beams, and the low beams."
...
After a day, Yan Ruyi was able to hold the steering wheel and slowly drive forward.
Yan Ruyi was brimming with confidence, but she maintained a reserved demeanor as she asked, "Commander Song, am I learning pretty quickly?"
Song Yiping readily praised her, "That's fast. At this rate, you should be able to get your driver's license in three months at most."
Yan Ruyi was overjoyed. "I've already promised Mom that once I get my driver's license, I'll drive her to Yuexianglou to eat lobster."
Before I even got my driver's license, I received a call from Gu Shusheng.
"Ruyi, the tomb of Princess Shou'an has been half excavated. Why don't you come and give us some guidance?"
Fearing that Yan Ruyi might not come, he specifically emphasized, "Professor Jiang is also here, and besides, you are our archaeological team's advisor, right?"
It took Yan Ruyi a long time to remember how she got the position of consultant.
It was at the end of the year when she went to the Cultural Relics Bureau for the year-end summary meeting. Gu Shusheng insisted on giving her the title of "Special Consultant of the Archaeological Team," and she casually agreed.
A verbal agreement is still a promise, and she genuinely wanted to see in person what the tomb of the six-year-old Princess Shou'an actually looked like.
You can also visit Yan Fuhua while you're there.
He smiled and agreed, "I wouldn't dare to offer guidance, but this is an opportunity for me to learn from Captain Gu and Teacher Jiang."
After arranging her work at Jialide, she went to Hefang County.
First by train, then by car, we arrived at Liujiaji Town on the evening of the second day.
There were no cars from Liujiaji to Shoumu Village, but Gu Shusheng said on the phone that someone would pick her up.
She saw Yan Fuhua as the car pulled into the station, rolled down the window, and called out, "Sister Yan!"
Yan Fuhua, "I'll be waiting for you at the exit!"
As soon as Yan Ruyi stepped out of the bus station, Yan Fuhua grasped her hand, saying, "We've been waiting for you to come."
"Sister Yan, why are you the one who came to pick me up?"
"Captain Gu went to the village to find a donkey cart, saying he would come to the bus station to pick you up. When I heard that, I thought, why would I need a donkey cart? We have cars in our factory, so I drove over."
"Thank you, Sister Yan."
"Don't thank me, I should thank you. Your friend Comrade Chen Feiyong has helped us a lot. Now our weaving factory's turnover has doubled. According to Comrade Chen, it's all sold abroad through the port city. Who would have thought that something that used to be used as firewood could actually generate foreign exchange for the country?"
Yan Fuhua was driving a small truck, which he parked on the side of the road outside the bus station.
Yan Fuhua opened the car door and let Yan Ruyi get into the passenger seat.
Yan Ruyi watched as Yan Fuhua skillfully started the car, pressed the clutch, and shifted gears...
The car drove forward smoothly.
Yan Ruyi asked enviously, "Sister Yan, how long have you been driving?"
"I just learned to drive this spring, and I also just bought this car this spring. None of them dared to drive it, so I said if you guys don't dare to drive it, I will. I practiced for two months, and I've been driving it ever since I got my driver's license."
"I've just started learning to drive and haven't gotten my driver's license yet."
"Then hurry up and learn, get a certificate as soon as possible. Before, when I came to town, I either walked or took a donkey cart, and it didn't feel that slow. Now that I've learned to drive, it's just a matter of stepping on the gas when I come to town to do errands. It's much more convenient."
The two chatted and soon arrived at the village where the tomb was guarded.
Princess Shou'an's tomb is not in Shoumu Village, but more than 2 miles away.
Seeing that Yan Ruyi was in a hurry to go to the archaeological site, Yan Fuhua took her there directly.
Yan Fuhua stopped by the roadside. "You can't drive any further. Ruyi, you can get off here. It's just a little further ahead."
"Okay, I've seen it. Sister Yan, you can go back now."
"You must tell me before you leave."
"That's for sure. I'd also like to visit your weaving factory."
Yan Ruyi got off the bus with her bag and walked about 4,500 meters before she saw the archaeological site in full swing.
However, as she walked further, someone stopped her, saying, "Comrade, this is an archaeological site. Outsiders are not allowed to enter or leave at will."
Yan Ruyi said, "I was looking for Captain Gu Shusheng; he's the one who sent me here."
The man looked her up and down. “You wait here. I’ll go ask Captain Gu.”
Before long, Gu Shusheng came over and waved to Yan Ruyi from afar, "Ruyi, come here."
Yan Ruyi then picked up her bag and went over.
Gu Shusheng said, “Comrade Yan Ruyi, you are truly a lucky star for our Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics. This tomb is not large in scale, but do you know how many precious cultural relics have been unearthed from it? So far, a total of 130 burial objects have been unearthed, including jewelry, porcelain, glassware, and pottery figurines. Each one is a first-class cultural relic. Imagine how much loss it would be if tomb robbers had managed to rob the tomb before our archaeological team could have done it.”
This was only discovered in the outer burial chamber; who knows how many more treasures were buried inside the coffin.
"Has it been confirmed as the tomb of Princess Shou'an?"
Gu Shusheng shook his head. "So far, only a lot of cultural relics have been unearthed. Based on these unearthed cultural relics, we can only determine that they are from the mid-Tang Dynasty, but we have not yet found the epitaph."
Judging solely by the scale of the tomb, it doesn't seem to belong to the imperial family; however, considering the quality of the burial goods, it doesn't appear to be from an ordinary official's household.
The two walked forward while talking.
Inside the burial pit, many archaeologists were using small brushes to carefully remove the accumulated soil.
The daily work of an archaeological team is actually quite monotonous.
Because the excavation is to be carried out protectively, the archaeological team is extremely careful, and sometimes they don't make much progress even after a whole day of sweeping.
Otherwise, Shen Zhimin wouldn't have been willing to join the archaeological team.
Yan Ruyi had just reached the edge of the grave pit when she saw Shen Zhimin.
Shen Zhimin used to be fair-skinned, but now he is dark-skinned and thin, with lifeless eyes.
The archaeologists worked hard, but no one else looked as haggard as him.
It's clear that he was living a rather unsatisfactory life.
Shen Zhimin also saw Yan Ruyi, but he lowered his head and pretended not to see her.
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