"Leader, it's getting late. The cultural relics I want to donate are still some distance away from here. Why don't we just set off directly? We can talk on the way if you have anything to say." After saying this, Lin Yi took the initiative to make a gesture of invitation towards the gate and took the opportunity to let go of the leader's hand.
The leaders of the Cultural Relics Bureau and the publicity officer of the Cultural Bureau smiled even more broadly: "Well, well, well, Comrade Hu, thank you for your understanding and selfless dedication. On behalf of the Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Bureau, I express my sincere gratitude to you."
Lin Yi waved his hands repeatedly: "You're too polite, Leader. This is what I should do as a Chinese citizen."
In a flash, all the people in the yard left in an instant, and several cars lined up and drove towards Xujia Village.
Xu Tianfang and Xu Huaiwen also took a taxi and followed closely behind.
Xujia Village is not far from Hujia, only a twenty-minute drive away. When the convoy arrived at the village entrance, the village chief and secretary of Xujia Village had already organized a group of people to wait at the village entrance for a long time.
Everyone exchanged pleasantries, and finally, Lin Yi broke the back-and-forth of pleasantries and asked Village Chief Xu, "Village Chief, find a few strong young men, have them bring shovels, and follow me."
The village chief said hurriedly, "Everyone is ready. Let's go directly. They are waiting for you at the Xu family cemetery. It's not easy to drive there, but it will only take ten minutes to walk there. Let's walk there."
Although the road in the village is a bit narrow, the weather has been dry and rainless recently, so the road is not difficult to walk on. Lin Yi walked in the front, followed by dozens of people. Most of them heard that there were reporters from the city TV station and wanted to find an opportunity to show their faces on TV to watch the fun.
Xu Tianfang and his son were among the crowd. Unlike the others, who were all relaxed and cheerful, their expressions were more serious than the other. Lin Yi didn't even need to look for them; he could just tilt his head and see those two sullen faces out of the corner of his eye.
After meeting up with the young men carrying shovels, Lin Yi led everyone directly to a grave, which was the place where Xu Zhilin's parents were buried together. He first placed the prepared offerings, lit a few incense sticks to the tomb owner, and bowed three times. The people behind him also bowed to the tomb owner with him to apologize.
Then he burned some paper money for the dead, muttering something to himself. Then green smoke rose straight up. Although there was no wind, it finally floated slowly towards the west.
After the paper money had burned out and the incense had gone out, Lin Yi pointed out the location. It was right next to the joint tombstone, a small bulge, but there was no tombstone. "This is it. Let's dig."
"dig!"
At the command of the village chief, the young men rolled up their arms and started to work. Dust rose up everywhere, and the leaders and staff of the Cultural Relics Bureau were all concentrating on watching the movements under the ground.
Xu Huaiwen's eyes widened: "Oh my god, so many people are digging, this shouldn't be a box, right?"
Xu Tianfang was also a little uncertain: "Maybe it's not Xu Zhilin's box, maybe they found a group of ancient tombs or something."
The two of them comforted each other, their emotions were complicated, and they were even more nervous than the comrades from the Cultural Relics Bureau.
With a "Duang" sound, a young man shouted, "We found it."
Several people from the Cultural Relics Bureau immediately put on gloves and stepped forward: "Okay, leave it to us next." They took out very delicate small shovels, spoons, and brushes and began to "grind out" the box bit by bit.
The onlookers seemed to have waited for half a century before the full picture of the box was finally revealed to everyone.
One of the officers adjusted his glasses and reported to his superior, "It's a large wooden box. The box is well-preserved and emits a distinct woody aroma. The carvings are clear and there are inscriptions all over the box. The metal fasteners are free of rust. We're still unsure of the wood it's made of. But the box itself is already of great research value."
The leader nodded in understanding. After all, after all, it had been underground for so many years, yet it had remained intact and intact, and even had an inscription engraved on it. This box alone was enough to explain the trip. Satisfied, he ordered, "Open the box. Handle it with care."
The officers received clear instructions and resumed their busy work. At this time, police officers from the county public security bureau also arrived at the scene and cooperated in setting up a cordon.
The onlookers were cleared to twenty meters away. When they heard that a box had been dug out, they all stretched their necks to look inside.
The staff, who were professional archaeologists, wanted to break the lock, but this lock was different from any they had seen before. They tried several times but failed. Lin Yi hurriedly handed over an ancient key. The key was black and it was obvious that it was a set with the lock.
With a click, the key was inserted and the lock popped open. The archaeologists all looked solemn. They didn't all gather in front of the box, but retreated two or three meters in an orderly manner.
The person in the lead also put on a gas mask-like shield. He looked at the leader, and the leader gave him a positive instruction. The box was opened and safe.
Inside the box were more than twenty wooden boxes of varying sizes, each containing a magnificent collection of antiques. Each was carefully removed, just long enough for the onlookers to fully appreciate. But soon, they were returned to their boxes and carefully stacked aside.
This completely unnecessary "display" was precisely the donation agreement between Lin Yi and the Cultural Relics Bureau, and its purpose was to allow the Xu family father and son in the crowd to see it clearly.
A young man in the crowd asked the village chief with envy, "These things belong to our Xujia Village. How could they just take them away for nothing?"
The village chief glared at him angrily: "You don't accept it? Then go and argue with them."
The young man glanced at the guards on both sides and shook his head quickly: "I dare not."
The village chief said, "If you don't dare, then shut up right now. What nonsense are you talking about? The place you are standing on and the air you breathe all belong to the country. Do you understand the Cultural Relics Law?"
The young man shook his head: "I don't understand."
The village chief said: "The Cultural Relics Law says that cultural relics belong to the country. The state is taking state property. Do we need to tell you?"
The young man muttered quietly, "The government can't just dig up people's graves, right? They have to give compensation for demolition. So, they can just burn some paper money and be done with it?"
The village chief wanted to kick the young man: "Do you know whose grave this is?"
Young man: "There's only a small mound on this grave, and no tombstone. Who knows who it belongs to? The big grave next to it does have a name, but Xu Jingwen? Xu Liushi? That must be from my great-grandfather's generation."
The village chief sighed, "That's right. The old couple were veteran revolutionaries, but they died young. They sacrificed their lives for the new China at such a young age, leaving behind a child of only a few years old, without a father or mother. How pitiful!"
Young man: "Who is that kid? Is he still in our village?" Why has he never heard of him?
The old village chief didn't want to say anything more, but he couldn't resist the curiosity of several young people from the village around him, who pestered him to tell the story. The old village chief had no choice but to sigh softly.
"That child's name is Xu Zhilin. If he were still alive, he would be in his early sixties this year."
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