Chapter 117 Confusion

Du Ruo looked out the window in confusion, why were these people here?

After a while, these people returned to the private room, next to the two people.

Li Anze was about to speak when Du Ruo stretched out a finger and put it to his lips, indicating that he should be quiet.

There were sounds of people talking next door.

"That woman is too overbearing. It was indeed they who taught us how to make earthenware. The people in the neighboring village must learn from us. What does it have to do with us?

We can’t just do the work for them. We’ve already finished the work they asked us to do, but they still don’t allow us to do some private work. No one in the factory is as domineering as them.”

"That's right. The experts didn't say what kind of clay figurines they wanted. If they accept them, the people in the next village can sell them, and we can sell them too. Why shouldn't she allow us to do so?"

"The experts don't want it anymore, and the neighboring village can't sell it now either."

"So this time they asked us to go and find out about Hexi Village for them, why didn't they go there themselves? Didn't that woman bring a lot of people with her?"

"Hey, didn't the boss say that their people are too conspicuous, so we won't attract attention if we go there? Besides, didn't the boss give us money?"

"How much money is that? I heard that they want to sell the things collected from Hexi Village to foreigners to exchange for US dollars. I heard that one dollar is worth several dollars from us. Just, just, just give us a few dollars, who are you trying to fool?"

"Secretary, why don't you say something?"

After a long while, an old man's voice came from next door: "What do you want me to say? He is a big boss, didn't you see he brought those people with him? If we provoke him, how can we, a farmer, be safe? If we can get a small profit, it's good enough. Don't bite off more than you can chew, or he will punish us later."

Next door it was much quieter. After a long while, the old man said, "We are only paid for running errands. Whether they sell the collected goods to foreigners or not is none of our business. Hurry up and eat. We have to go back after eating. You have been out here for so long. Don't you miss home? Hurry up and eat and leave after eating."

A young man's voice came over: "Uncle, I heard that they are antiques, different from the clay figurines and clay pots we made. Why don't we go back and collect them ourselves before they come to collect them? It's better to sell them later than to eat at the mercy of others."

The young man suddenly uttered an "ouch" and shouted, "Uncle, why are you hitting me? What did I say wrong?"

The old man's voice came out again: "I'll beat you to death, you little bastard. You're the smartest person in the world, do you think others are fools? If they knew we had the things, would they let us go? Besides, we're just farmers, where can we sell the things? What if no one wants the copper lump and the pottery jar? Can we take them home as night pots?"

There were several more noises coming from next door.

"Uncle is right. Let's just earn some money quietly and don't mess with the big boss. Have you watched TV dramas? Those people are not easy to mess with. Let's just stay quiet."

"I think what the waiter said is right. Nowadays, the brave ones will die of exhaustion while the timid ones will die of hunger. We are just being worked for by others like this. When will it end? And have you noticed that the female boss said that she will not let us make earthenware in the future? The experts on site also said that they will not accept us. The female boss does not want us, and the experts do not want us either. So how can we make a living in the future? Are we just waiting to starve to death?"

"But we can't afford to offend those people. How can we fight them head-on?"

"That's not right. There are so many young and old people in our village, and we have only one mu of land of our own. How can we let him bully us to death? Even if he has more people, there are only a dozen of them. How can he defeat all the young and old people in our village?"

"That's true. How about we go back and raise some money? We don't tell them about this yet. Let's go get some money first."

"I think this is a good idea, uncle, what do you think?"

After a long time, the old man's voice came: "How about we get some first, and then tell them the news. They don't know how much there is? Okay, let's do it. Eat quickly, so that we can go back and get the money after eating."

Du Ruo and Li Anze here looked a little solemn.

Lin Anze's brows were furrowed. He lowered his voice and whispered to Du Ruo, "Tell me the truth. Did you touch anything in the village?"

Du Ruo shook her head solemnly. She sat down next to Li Anze and whispered in his ear, "The experts will be here soon. I think I can't move those things easily. I also didn't move anything in the village."

Li Anze could feel the subtle fragrance of orchid in his ears, which made them feel hot. He collected his thoughts, lowered his head and thought in silence. Something was wrong.

Du Ruo asked quietly: "Have you reported it yet? Or..."

There were some things she was embarrassed to ask, especially those related to Li Anze's work.

Li Anze's face was very serious. "After I dealt with the experts, I immediately reported the matter. I didn't dare to delay for a moment. They are all national treasures. I dare not treat them lightly."

Based on Du Ruo's understanding of Li Anze, he was not lying, but it has been so long, why hasn't he arrived yet?

"Then have you heard that the higher-ups are going to send someone down?"

"I really didn't notice it. Now I think it's not right. Even if the superiors can't spare any manpower, they would send a few people down to check. Why is there no movement at all? What's going on?"

Du Ruo pondered and said, "Why don't you go back and ask around? I'm afraid it's too late. From what those people said, someone wants to trade these things with foreigners. This won't work. We can't let these things fall into the hands of those people."

Li Anze was in a dilemma. There was no movement from above, and the items had not been identified. He didn't understand the situation and he couldn't act rashly.

If this group of people went to rob a grave, he could arrest them, but they went there to buy something, just some old things, could he still arrest them?

Du Ruo patted Li Anze on the shoulder and said, "I'll find a way to deal with this matter and tell you later. But you still have to report to your superiors. There must be a big tomb in that place. These bits and pieces are trivial matters. The big tomb is the most important thing."

The two of them had no appetite and left in a hurry after paying the bill.

After sending Du Ruo back to Yuan's family, Li Anze hurried back to the county.

When Du Ruo walked to the small garden, she saw Yuan Tingchuan still playing badminton with the children. In the past few days, the two little guys have been obsessed with playing badminton. Whenever they have time, they will ask Yuan Tingchuan to practice with them. Every time they are beaten until they are sweating profusely, the two little guys still enjoy it.

In fact, the two children were just picking up the ball for Yuan Tingchuan.

Seeing Du Ruo coming back, the two boys were in a dilemma as they wanted to play badminton but also wanted to act coquettishly with Du Ruo.

Yuan Tingchuan waved to the bodyguard not far away, threw the badminton racket in his hand to him, and followed Du Ruo into the room.