This afternoon, although we didn’t walk far, everyone felt generally tired.
After dinner, Uncle Geng's wife boiled a pot of hot water. Professor Ye Rongguang, Professor Wen, and Ye Xianqian took off their leggings, took turns washing their faces and burning their feet, and immediately got on the kang to rest. There are still twenty or thirty kilometers to go tomorrow, so we must recharge our batteries.
Wang Ke and Gu Maolin didn't rest. One carried water, the other helped knead the noodles, and they were helping Uncle Geng's wife make dry food for tomorrow.
After all the work was done, the kettle was filled and the dry food was packed. The two of them sat on the stone mill in the yard and started chatting again under the bright moonlight.
"Platoon leader, the box in the grave..."
Gu Maolin thought about what happened in the afternoon again. Wang Ke stopped him with his hand and turned to look at the west wing. Then he turned back and said in a low voice: "Maolin, wealth is a good thing and a bad thing. It can make people work hard and make them good. Makes people greedy.”
"Platoon leader, I understand the truth, but that is not an ancient tomb, it was hidden by someone. And judging from the tomb, it is at least several decades old. The owner must be dead. We also need to report this ownerless wealth to the government. ?"
In theory, it is necessary to report it. It is not shameful to find gold, let alone find wealth without an owner!
But Wang Ke then thought about it, did Gu Maolin pick up too many things? Almost all the treasures he found were handed over, and the only colored collar jar from the Han Dynasty was taken back to the school by Professor Wen. Now there is nothing left in my hand except for the bit of snake stone, yes, and the little black donkey and the treasure in its belly.
"Maolin, what do you think about it?"
"Platoon leader, I admire you the most. According to what I saw, there are good things in that box. If we dig it out, we will expand the scale of your godfather Dong's donkey-hide gelatin factory in the future. I will also give us various supplies in Nanshao." Let’s build a small yard, hehe..."
Gu Maolin was immersed in his wonderful fantasy, but did not see Wang Ke's face change slightly.
What is this kind of wealth called? It's called unjust enrichment. Haven't you ever heard of such a sentence? Gentlemen love fortune, in a proper way. However, does this wealth that has been buried deep underground by someone for decades not be considered "Tao"? For example, when you are walking and kick a stone, you pick it up and see that it is a nugget of gold. What should you do?
Wang Ke didn't think about it well, but Gu Maolin did. This is God's favor, or God's "reward" to yourself.
"Well, maybe his descendants are guarding him."
"There are no descendants. If there were any descendants, they would have been dug up long ago."
This is true. Who would bury their ancestral wealth deep in a grave?
Seeing Wang Ke's confusion and silence, Gu Maolin spoke: "Platoon leader, this matter has nothing to do with you and you don't know. Besides, our current task is to assist two great professors in their inspection. Such a small matter is not worth sharing with us. Heart, right?"
Wang Ke nodded, that's right. If they interrupt again and talk about the graves in the wilderness, it will also create a problem for Godfather Wen and Uncle Ye.
"Okay, tomorrow you remember to remind me to borrow a kettle from the interference group, buy a few washbasins and drinking cups from their service agency, and then buy a hat and a few umbrellas for each member of the expedition team... "
When Gu Maolin heard this, he immediately dug into his pocket for money.
"What?"
"Platoon leader, I'll collect the money for you. Where will you get the money to buy so many things?" Gu Maolin thought about Wang Ke who had just sold the lamp and wanted to get back the fifteen yuan he had been defrauded of, plus his own allowance. , I already have more than 20 yuan, but fortunately I don’t have any money to spend, so I will take it out now to meet an urgent need.
But Gu Maolin didn't know that Wang Ke had just received two hundred yuan from Ye Qianpian.
"Yes, yes, as long as you have the heart, I have the money." Wang Ke stopped Gu Maolin.
"Platoon commander, do you really have one?"
Under the moonlight, Wang Ke nodded. The two soldiers traveled far and wide and chatted for a while before returning to the house to take off their clothes and sleep on the kang. But they didn't expect that an oil lamp would be lit in a cave within a cave less than a kilometer away from them.
Under the oil lamp, an old man sat there blankly. If Wang Ke were here, he would be shocked, because this old man is none other than the old salesman.
Previously, the old salesman held the oil lamp in his hand and looked at the hole carefully, even knocking on every inch of the wall and every patch of ground.
He had been looking for this house for decades. He firmly believed that his father could not leave something behind for him? Even a hint.
But there was nothing. He put the lamp in the lamp socket on the wall next to the stone bed.
This was his home for the time being, and his father had lived here for a short time, because he recognized this lamp, which was brought out by his father. When he saw it for the first time, it was no exaggeration to describe it as "ecstatic", but he held back.
This lamp contained too many secrets, and he needed to know where the People's Liberation Army in front of him got the lamp. Without any effort, he knew the cave and it would be easier to find it.
The old salesman once thought that buying this lamp for fifteen yuan would be a lunatic. Although he didn't know why the little brother from the People's Liberation Army asked for this price, this was his only thought and concern. Seeing that the People's Liberation Army had given him food many times, he still gritted his teeth and bought the lamp.
He lay down on the stone bed where his father once slept, and stared quietly at the ceiling of the cave.
The dancing flames flickered, and suddenly the old salesman sat up straight because he also saw the painting on the top of the cave wall. That's right, that's right, this is a letter from his father. Others can't understand it, but he can.
The old shopkeeper held up the lamp in his hand and leaned over, slowly looking at the picture carved on the top of the cave. Moreover, he was not looking directly at it, but looking sideways. Following his gaze, he was no longer a picture. The person sitting there was not playing with the snake, but he was sitting alone under a "roof", with the pipe in his mouth facing the "roof". He thought of the group of people in the cemetery, the group squatting by the flat bridge. man, a smile slowly bloomed on his face.
…
Early the next morning, Wang Ke was first awakened by a slight "squeaking" sound. He reached out and touched the bed beside him. Gu Maolin had already gotten up, and he must be the one sweeping the yard outside now.
He fumbled to get up, put on his clothes, and then got off the kang. He formed a habit every day and helped the fellow villagers do something they could do.
When we came to the yard, it turned out to be Gu Maolin. The water in the two washbasins had been filled and the water tank was full.
"Platoon leader, what are you doing up so early? There's nothing else to do." Gu Maolin held the broom in his hand and smiled apologetically to Wang Ke, but his voice was still a bit loud.
"Now that we're all up, let's wash up, have breakfast, and set off early." The door creaked open behind him, and Professor Wen stood at the door, fastening his buttons, and said to the two soldiers.
"Daddy Wen, I woke you up."
"I woke up early, but it wasn't you who woke me up, it's because I'm getting older and sleep less." Godfather Wen picked up his mouthwash cup and started to wash up.
At this time, the lights in the three rooms were on and everyone got up.
Even Uncle Geng's wife got up to make breakfast. Breakfast is relatively simple, a pot of stick porridge, and the rest was prepared last night, corn tortillas and pickles.
While they were having breakfast together, Gandy Wen said to the landlord, Uncle Geng: "Old Geng, there was something I haven't told you yesterday. It's the riverside of your cemetery. There is a water-avoiding beast on the north side, which is a bit weird. , there may be some articles in my judgment. Can you report it? We need to take it apart and take a look. Do we need to report this?"
"Are you going to open up the riverside?" Uncle Geng asked.
"Well, it needs to be peeled off, but it won't be big, about one meter square. After peeling it off, we will restore it to its original state."
"Well... I'm afraid I need to ask for permission. Otherwise, when I'm done with my work these days, I can report it to the management office. I think it's not a big problem."
"Well, I'm sorry to bother you, Geng." Professor Wen was very happy when he heard this. Don't be afraid of being late if you have a good meal. Anyway, I have something to do these days. As for which water-avoiding beast he is, no one knows, so it doesn't matter how many days he waits.
After breakfast, everyone put on leggings, Gu Maolin carried all the dry food on his back, and Wang Ke carried two water bottles, and the group set off in the morning light.
Uncle Geng and Godfather Wen walked side by side at the front of the team. Professor Ye Rongguang and Dr. Viper Xiao Zhang followed one after another. Ye happened to come again. She insisted on walking in front of Gu Maolin with Wang Ke on her arm.
"Platoon leader, please let me go in front." Gu Maolin shouted from behind. He really didn't want to follow behind and be a "big light bulb".
Wang Ke deceived himself to let Gu Maolin walk in front. He knew that he would encounter something difficult again today. This leaf happens to be "hob meat", which means "ghosts are not entangled". This mountain road is not wide to begin with, but it still carries you on its back. He was wearing a military uniform with a girl on his arm, which was really unreasonable.
"I don't have good eyesight. Who is looking at you so early in the morning?" Ye Qianqian seemed to be the roundworm in Wang Ke's stomach, and he could kill you with just one sentence.
"Teacher Xiaoye, can you walk well?" Wang Ke was dragged around by her. If he walked like this, he would die from being a burden.
"Okay, then let me walk in front." Ye Xianqian finally let go of his hand and ran in front of Wang Ke, walking twisted and twisted.
Following her, Wang Ke thought that she really couldn't give one of the pair of red agate bracelets Gu Maolin bought to her. If they did, there would definitely be another uproar. Until now, the relationship between the two has been working. Wang Ke has never regarded her as a couple, let alone the slightest idea of falling in love with her.
However, Wang Ke felt that the biggest problem was that this Ye was so stubborn that he insisted on taking charge of the family for himself. Not only did he deduct the rewards, but he also forcibly took away some of his collections. These are all troubles in the future.
"Brother Bing, what are you thinking about? The road here is wide. Please walk faster. I will discuss something with you." Ye Ye shouted again in front of him.
Wang Ke took a look and saw that the road here was indeed much wider, so he quickly took a few steps and stood shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Brother Bing, now that the situation in the south has eased, do you have any desire to go to university? And my father said that both their research institute and Uncle Wen's research institute welcome..."
As soon as he heard Ye Xianxian came again, Wang Ke immediately waved his hand. He really didn't want to discuss this issue now. Let alone being emotionally reluctant to leave the army, even if you are willing to do so, once you take off your military uniform, it means that you have to accept the reality that you have a relationship with Ye Qianqian, and there is no way back. My ideals and ambitions were all in vain.
"Teacher Xiaoye, the situation in the south has only eased, not calmed down. And I have just acted as the platoon leader. It is too unrealistic for us to talk about these things." Wang Ke gritted his teeth. The long-term pain was worse than the short-term pain, and he still expressed his true thoughts. Said it again.
"Well, I know your ideals and ambitions." Ye Pian showed rare tolerance. Then she sighed and said, "When our inspection is over, can you ask for leave and go to Tianjin?"
"What?"
"Come to my house for a visit. My mother wants to have a talk with you."
"This..." Wang Ke really had no way to answer this.
"Hey, you two brats, walk faster." From a distance, Professor Wen turned around and shouted.
Wang Ke took a look and saw that the two people were indeed lagging behind and were already a long way away from the team.
