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 her lips, meaning that he should be quiet.
There were voices of several people talking next door.
"That woman is too overbearing. It was indeed them who taught us how to make earthenware. The neighboring village insisted on learning from us. What does it have to do with us?
We can't just work for them. We've already finished all the work they asked us to do, and they won't let us do any private work. No one else in the factory is as overbearing as them."
"That's right. The experts didn't specify what kind of clay figurines they wanted. If they accept them, and the neighboring village can sell them, we can sell them too. Why wouldn't she allow us to do so?"
“The experts don’t want it anymore, and the neighboring village can’t sell it now.”
"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?"
"That's just a small amount of money. I heard they're going to sell the things they collected from Hexi Village to foreigners in exchange for US dollars. I heard one dollar is worth several dollars from us. So, so, so, they're just giving us a few melons and dates. Who are they 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's a big boss. Didn't you see he brought those people with him? If we provoke him, how can we, a peasant family, be in trouble? We're lucky to earn a few melons and dates. Don't bite off more than you can chew, or you'll be punished later."
Next door, things got much quieter. After a while, the old man continued, "We're just being paid for our errands. Whether they sell the things they collect to foreigners or not is none of our business. Hurry up and eat. We have to go back home after we finish eating. You've been out here for so long, don't you miss home? Hurry up and eat, and then leave."
A young man's voice came over: "Uncle, I heard that those are antiques, different from the clay figurines and clay pots we made. Why don't we go back and collect them ourselves before they go to collect them, and then sell them later. It's better than having to rely on others for a living."
The young man suddenly cried out "Ouch!" and shouted, "Uncle, why are you hitting me? What did I say wrong?"
The old man's voice rang out again: "I'll beat you to death, you little bastard! You're the smartest person in the world, but do you think they're stupid? If they knew we had the stuff, would they let us go? Besides, we're just farmers, where can we sell it? What if no one wants it? We'll just use those copper lumps and pottery jars as chamber pots at home."
A few more voices came from next door.
"Uncle is right. Let's just earn some money quietly and not mess with the big boss. Have you ever watched TV dramas? Those people are not easy to mess with. Let's just stay quiet."
"I think what the waiter said is right. These days, the bold die of overeating, and the timid die of starvation. We keep working for them like this, when will it ever end? And have you noticed? The female boss said she won't let us make earthenware anymore. The experts on site have also said they won't accept it. The female boss doesn't want it, and the experts don't want it either. So how are we going to make a living? Are we just going to starve to death?"
"But we can't afford to offend those people. How can we confront them head-on?"
"That's not right. We have so many young and old men in our village, and we're on our own little piece of land. How can we let him bully us to death? Even if he has more people with him, they're only a dozen or so. How can he defeat all the young and old men in our village?"
"That's true. How about we go back and raise some money? Let's not tell them about this yet. Let's go get some back first."
"I think this is a good idea, uncle, what do you think?"
After a long while, 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 we can go back and get the money."
Du Ruo and Li Anze here looked a little solemn.
Lin Anze's brows knitted together. 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'm thinking I can't touch those things easily. I haven't touched anything in the village either."
Li Anze could smell the delicate fragrance of orchids in his ears, and his ears felt hot. He collected his thoughts, lowered his head and thought silently. Something was not right.
Du Ruo asked quietly again: "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 expression was serious. "After I finished dealing with the experts, I immediately reported the matter. I didn't dare delay for a moment. These are national treasures. I dare not treat them lightly."
Based on Du Ruo's understanding of Li Anze, he was not lying, but so much time has passed, 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 that I think about it, it's not right. Even if the higher-ups couldn't spare any manpower, they would have sent 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 they said, someone wants to trade these things with foreigners. That can't happen. We can't let these things fall into those hands."
Li Anze was in a dilemma. There was no movement from above, the items had not been appraised, and he didn't understand the situation. He couldn't act rashly.
If this group of people went to rob a tomb, he could arrest them, but they went to buy things, just some old things, so could he still arrest them?
Du Ruo patted Li Anze's shoulder and said, "I'll figure out a way to deal with this and tell you later. But you still have to report to your superiors. There must be a large tomb in that place. These little things are just minor matters. The large 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 the Yuan 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. The two little guys had become obsessed with playing badminton in the past few days. Whenever they had time, they would ask Yuan Tingchuan to practice with them. Every time they were beaten until they were sweating profusely, the two little guys still enjoyed it.
In fact, the two children were just picking up the ball for Yuan Tingchuan.
Seeing Du Ruo coming back, the two little guys wanted to play badminton but also wanted to act coquettishly with Du Ruo, and they were in a dilemma.
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.
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