Jinniu stayed at Zhang's house and basically didn't go out during the day. In the evening, after dinner, Zhang Fuhui would take him out for a ride on his tricycle and teach him about the topography of the county streets. When he learned about the existence of the Tian family, they would deliberately take a detour to the back street every time and would pass by the Tian family's courtyard every time they went there. With the help of Zhang Di, who was a gossipy person, Jinniu basically had a clear understanding of the situation of the Tian family.

Meng Tao was not interested in the daily chaos in the Tian family. This was expected, as their lives would only become more chaotic and decadent in the future.

Jinniu said that Tian Zhiyuan from the Tian family suddenly came back in a police car yesterday. It was said that he went to a faraway place for "travel" and was robbed on the way, but his money was kept separately and not robbed. But later, for some reason, he was bitten by a poisonous snake. Fortunately, he met a patrol team, who rescued him, sent him to a local shelter as a vagrant, and then sent him back to his hometown.

Meng Tao was speechless for a moment: there were swarms of poisonous snakes in that stream, but Tian Zhiyuan was not bitten to death. He met a patrol team and saved his life. He was also repatriated by the government, which saved him a sum of travel expenses. He was lucky.

In the county town, at the Tian family's home in Yuanbao Lane, Tian Zhigao and Tian Zhiyuan were also talking about the stream. Tian Zhiyuan looked terrified and was extremely reluctant to recall the situation at that time.

Tian Zhigao's face was filled with disappointment: "What a loser! If I had known you were so useless, I would have not let you go. Now it's over. You've ruined a good way to make money by exposing that place!"

Tian Zhigao said angrily: "How can you say that? I almost lost my life, and I didn't blame you for giving blind orders!"

"I'm giving orders blindly? You're a hopeless case!"

"If you can't help me, then don't help me! If something like this happens again, let someone else do it. Don't call me. My life is worthless, right? I still want to live a few more years!"

Tian Zhiyuan said this as he limped out.

Tian Zhigao stopped him and said, "Besides being robbed and finding that 'map', have you told anyone else about this?"

Tian Zhiyuan said angrily, "Am I the kind of person who talks too much? Besides, even if I tell others, who would be as stupid as me to believe in your nonsense and spend money and risk their lives to travel a long way to such a hellhole?"

What a hell of a place? It's obviously a treasure of inestimable value!

Tian Zhigao was so angry that his liver hurt, but he could do nothing about it. He scolded him, "When you got home yesterday, you closed the door and fell asleep. You refused to tell me anything. This is not the right attitude to do things. Now tell me: how many jade mines are there under that stream?"

Tian Zhiyuan looked back at him and laughed sarcastically: "Third brother, I advise you not to dream of getting rich in broad daylight."

"Tell me the truth!"

"No, there was nothing! Just a gray stream covered with gravel. No jade mines or stones, nothing! But there were five or six big snakes lying by the stream, the same color as the gravel. I didn't pay attention and got bitten. Fortunately, I ran fast and shouted loudly, which attracted the patrol team and saved my life!"

"Really there are no stones?"

"Whoever lies will become a puppy!"

Tian Zhigao frowned and thought for a moment, then asked, "Then how did you get down? Was there a road, or did you make your own way?"

Tian Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, then he recalled slowly and said suddenly, "Yes, there is a road, a newly opened road! Those are weeds and tree branches that were just cut down not long ago... Now that I think about it, there are large areas of weeds that have been trampled down by the stream, and the gravel is too smooth, as if it was... just broken up gravel, newly paved - I know, someone must have been to the bottom of the stream before me!"

Tian Zhigao glared at Tian Zhiyuan angrily: "Look, what did I say? You are a jerk who can't do anything good but always makes trouble! You can be robbed when you go out. Do they want the money you have? Impossible! They just want that picture! If anyone gets there first, your lifelong wealth and glory will be taken away!"

Tian Zhiyuan did not retort this time, and said to himself in a daze: "But I really haven't told anyone about this."

"Did you often take out that picture and look at it during your trip?"

"I, I watch it often, but I feel bored when I'm not in the car."

"Was there anyone around when you were watching?"

"Yes... right? Someone asked me what this is?"

“…”

Tian Zhigao was disheartened. He closed his eyes and leaned tiredly against the head of the bed, not wanting to talk anymore.

"You go back and rest first." Tian Zhigao said.

"No, I've rested enough."

Tian Zhigao opened his eyes and asked, "The two hundred yuan I gave you for travel expenses, are all gone?"

Tian Zhiyuan lowered his head and said, "I put them in different places. Eighty yuan was stolen on the train, and then... I lost all my money anyway."

Tian Zhigao snorted, "In a few days, when your foot injury has healed and you can walk more steadily, I will give you another chance to travel far away."

“Where are you going?”

Tian Zhiyuan was a little hesitant. He really didn't dare to go to that kind of place again.

Tian Zhigao said, "This time we are going to Guangshi in the south. There are hot-selling items on the black market in Guangshi. They are all shipped from the sea. They are cheap and don't require tickets. You can buy some and sell them on our black market. We don't have much capital, so we can't afford expensive things such as radios, electric fans, and watches for the time being, but we can buy some fabrics, clothes, shoes, socks, towels, scarves, umbrellas, raincoats, etc., and sell them on the black market or privately. You will definitely make a profit."

Tian Zhiyuan was stunned and opened his mouth: "This, this is speculation, is it okay? What if I get caught?"

Tian Zhigao looked at him calmly, "I've said before that wealth and honor come from risk. You've messed up the jade mine, and wealth and honor are far away from you. You can only do this one thing now, it makes money quickly, and our family needs money.

If you are careful enough, who will arrest you? Go to the black market and see how many people are running around to make money. Aren't they afraid? Of course they are afraid, but in order to keep their families from starving and poverty, to live a good life, to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks, they can ignore it and be cautious.

You can choose not to do it, but look at your wife who is about to give birth, and there are so many people in the family who need to eat and drink. You know how much money I have left. How many days can it last? If you don’t fight and work hard, everyone will starve!"

Tian Zhiyuan: “…”

He lowered his head for a while and said, "But I have never been to Guangzhou, so I don't know..."

"I know a little bit. I'll teach you then. This time, let Lao Liu or Lao Qi follow you. First, they can keep you company and give you courage. Second, they can give you some exercise, broaden your horizons and increase your knowledge. They can also help you see things."

"Okay... well, let's go in two days."

Meng Tao, Shen Yu and Jin Niu returned to Linshui Village at 7pm.

The educated youth were very happy to see them come back, and many young people in the village also came to visit and play. Meng Tao took out the sugar cakes, peanuts and melon seeds bought by Director Shen and distributed them to everyone. While lighting the fire and cooking, she also cooked a large pot of rock sugar, wolfberry and chrysanthemum tea for everyone to drink. It seemed like a tea party was held in the Meng family's yard, with hearty laughter and a lively atmosphere.

Captain Bao came with his daughter Bao Dongmei. He originally wanted to inspect the canal, but when he saw his daughter had also gone out, he took a flashlight and sent his daughter to Meng's house first.

Shen Yu received Captain Bao, handed him cigarettes and lit them, and told him that he would get a marriage certificate tomorrow morning and go to the commune to register for the certificate. Captain Bao nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, yes, it's time to get the certificate. You've been engaged for so long. I'll give you the certificate at the team headquarters at six o'clock tomorrow morning. You go at seven. Cars are fast and you can get to the commune at 7:30. Wait at the door. When people open the door to go to work, go in and register immediately!"

Meng Tao brought a bowl of tea to Captain Bao. Hearing this, she rolled her eyes in her heart: We have to rush there at 7 o'clock? Are they trying to seize the hilltop, or are they afraid that the commune will run away? Shen Yu replied seriously: "Thank you for your hard work, Captain. I will go to the brigade headquarters on time at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning to get the certificate. We will definitely arrive at the commune at 7:30."

"It's settled then."

"good."

Meng Tao: “…”

I can't bear to look at these two people.

(End of this chapter)