Chapter 1001: Revisiting the Tomb Tunnel Exam

Chapter 1001: Chapter 966: Revisiting the Tomb Tunnel Exam

Lin Sijin had already reconciled with her daughter, so naturally, there was no reason to stay in Jizhou. She said she’d meet them at the pier in an hour.

After Xu Chunliang got the news, he started preparing the yacht for the return trip.

Wang Jinwu, who had just woken up and was still feeling the effects of his hangover, staggered over to tell them they needed to wait a bit longer. Apparently, he had promised Xue Anning last night to check out the smuggler’s cave at the distillery hot spring on Weishan Island.

Xu Chunliang said, “Do you really take things said while drinking seriously? The person who said it might not even remember.”

Wang Jinwu replied, “Why wouldn’t she remember? She just sent me a message.”

Xu Chunliang looked at him, puzzled.

Wang Jinwu said joyfully, “She asked if I was awake. Do you think she’s interested in me? Otherwise, why would she care?”

Xu Chunliang sighed, “She’s probably not interested in you,” knowing very well that Xue Anning was intrigued by the smuggler’s cave at the distillery hot spring.

Wang Jinwu said, “Can’t you wish me well for once?”

At that moment, Lin Sijin and her daughter arrived, with Xue Anning in tow.

Wang Jinwu quickly went up to them, trying to help Xue Anning with her large bag, but Xue Anning slung it over her shoulder, showing no intention of letting him assist.

Meanwhile, Xu Chunliang helped Ye Qingya with her suitcase and noticed Lin Sijin was still limping a bit. Concerned, he asked, “Godmother, is your leg alright?”

Ye Qingya replied, “How could it get better so quickly?”

Lin Sijin smiled, “It’s fine.”

Ye Qingya helped her to the cabin to rest. Xu Chunliang followed and asked Lin Sijin her opinion. Lin Sijin wanted to take a look at Weishan Island.

Seeing the mother and daughter finally reconciled, Xu Chunliang genuinely felt relieved, realizing his tactics hadn’t been in vain.

On the deck, he saw Wang Jinwu chatting with Xue Anning. Xu Chunliang didn’t interrupt and walked away, but Xue Anning called him back, “Xu Chunliang.”

Xu Chunliang stopped and smiled, “What advice do you have for me, Sister Xue?”

Xue Anning said, “I heard you’re an expert in oracle bone inscriptions.”

Xu Chunliang smiled, “Heard it from your brother?”

Xue Anning didn’t deny it, “He really admires your abilities in that area.”

Xu Chunliang silently pondered, not knowing how Xue Anliang spoke about him behind his back. This guy might have been forced into submission due to the powerful antidote Xu gave him, need to take Xu’s Red Flame Pill regularly. Who knows if he’s shared this with his family?

Despite Xue Anning now being a nationally certified and licensed archeologist, Xu Chunliang considered that dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats will know how to dig holes.

Xu Chunliang humbly smiled, “Actually, my knowledge of oracle bone inscriptions is very average, but the so-called experts in the field have such low standards that compared to them, I seem competent.”

Xue Anning lightly smiled, “Maybe you haven’t encountered any real experts in your field.”

Xu Chunliang said, “That’s probably true. Coming from a family of doctors and working in the healthcare system, I don’t have many opportunities to meet experts in this area. Speaking of dragon bones, they used to be just an ingredient in medicine.”

Xue Anning replied, “Using dragon bones as medicine is like cattle eating peonies. It’s ignorance that destroyed so much historical and cultural wealth.”

Xu Chunliang said, “There wasn’t much choice back then; no one knew it was valuable. Once we found out, my grandfather donated over a thousand dragon bones from our family.”

Xue Anning commented, “Your grandfather had a grand perspective.”

Xu Chunliang said, “We aimed for the bright moon, but unfortunately, it shone over a ditch. The dragon bones we donated were destroyed in a fire at Dongzhou Museum just days later.”

Xue Anning said, “In this case, it might have been better not to donate at all.”

Xu Chunliang explained, “Back then, my grandfather trusted Professor Bai Mushan.”

Xue Anning raised an eyebrow; Bai Mushan was her brother Xue Anliang’s mentor. Xu Chunliang’s words were clearly meant for her.

Wang Jinwu had been standing nearby, unable to join the conversation. Finally, he found an opening: “Could it have been a play directed by Bai Mushan?”

Xue Anning glared at him, “Can’t believe you’re into conspiracy theories. Don’t you think the police would have found out in such a big case? If Professor Bai orchestrated it, would he still be calmly working as a university professor?”

Wang Jinwu said, “Everywhere has its missed fish. I’ve met Bai Mushan; he doesn’t seem that impressive.”

Xue Anning said, “He’s one of the country’s top experts in ancient scripts.”

Wang Jinwu retorted, “So he knows a few more characters; it’s not that impressive.”

Xue Anning, tiring of the conversation, abandoned them and headed to the cabin.

Wang Jinwu, bewildered, said, “Why is Bai Mushan’s name offending her?”

Xu Chunliang explained, “Bai Mushan is her brother’s teacher. Dismissing Bai Mushan’s skills is like saying her brother isn’t competent. If it were you, would you be happy?”

Wang Jinwu said, “My brother-in-law is Bai Mushan’s student?”

Xu Chunliang thought to himself that nothing was set in stone yet. He whispered in Wang Jinwu’s ear, “This woman isn’t as simple as she seems, you need to be careful.”

Wang Jinwu said, “What is there to be afraid of? If she’s after my money, I can give it all to her. If she wants my looks, I’m willing to serve her willingly, even till my end.”

“Good luck to you then.”

Upon arriving at Weishan Island, the first thing Xue Anning wanted was to inspect the tunnel at the distillery. On the way, she must have charmed Lin Sijin and her daughter, as they both also wanted to see it first.

Xu Chunliang instructed Zhang Haitao to go ahead and prepare.

The first phase of renovation at the distillery’s hot spring area was basically complete, and the hot spring and tunnel had been separated by a courtyard wall.

The town-level key cultural relic protection unit, designated by Xu Chunliang himself, clearly did not receive much attention from Hu Shan Town. After a busy period, the Dongzhou Cultural Relics Bureau’s archaeology team found nothing and had already left.

Bai Mushan had also come to investigate but left shortly thereafter as well.

Currently, there are very few tourists on Weishan Island, and even if there are visitors, they wouldn’t come specifically to this place.

The gate is usually locked, and if Xu Chunliang doesn’t bring people over to visit, everyone practically forgets about this place.

To the people of Hu Shan Town, this place is just a dug-up tunnel, and aside from serving as evidence for the police, it has no value.

Zhang Haitao is still working as a temporary employee at the national-level tourism resort development command center. According to the person in charge, Liu Deshun, their office point is about to be abolished soon, mainly due to the cultural tourism bureau shifting its focus and the new town leadership having complaints about them occupying the town government office building.

After Qin Zhengyang left, Hu Shan Town changed a lot. The past office point was approved by Qin Zhengyang because of Xu Chunliang. Now that both of them have returned to Dongzhou, the succeeding leaders naturally wouldn’t grant such favors.

Zhang Haitao was pondering whether to go to Dongzhou to find Xu Chunliang for help in finding a new path, when Xu Chunliang just happened to arrive.

Currently, Zhang Haitao also serves as the cultural protection officer for the distillery’s hot spring, overseeing the three ancient fermentation pools and this tunnel, though the hot spring itself is not within his jurisdiction.

Due to injury on her leg, Lin Sijin naturally couldn’t follow them to see the tunnel, so Xu Chunliang had Zhang Haitao take them to the distillery’s hot spring for a walk, where they could also soak their feet in the spring water.

Xu Chunliang, together with Wang Jinwu, followed Xue Anning into the tunnel.

Xue Anning took a high-powered flashlight out of her backpack. Just as she turned it on, the tunnel lights became bright as Xu Chunliang switched on the main light.

Xue Anning glanced at him with obvious discontent, thinking he should have mentioned there was electricity earlier.

Xu Chunliang said, “Sister Xue, you’re well-equipped.”

Wang Jinwu said, “Miss Xue is indeed an expert, not like those amateur archaeologists from the Dongzhou Cultural Relics Bureau. You’re professionals, while they are just a ragtag group.”

Xu Chunliang coughed once, noting Wang Jinwu’s ability to flatter had greatly improved after a drinking session.

Xue Anning said, “They are professionals too.”

Xu Chunliang said, “Don’t we look like a trio of treasure hunters?”

Wang Jinwu laughed, “That’s different; they’re grave robbers, we’re archaeologists.”

Xu Chunliang said, “It’s just a different name. Tomb raiders also need to have rich historical knowledge, and archaeologists should understand the techniques of tomb raiding. Sister Xue, don’t you agree?”

Xue Anning understood the underlying implication and calmly said, “The purpose is different; archaeologists aim to uncover culture and pass down civilization, while tomb raiders seek wealth. Xu Chunliang, it seems you have a prejudice against our field of archaeology.”

Xu Chunliang said, “There’s no prejudice, I was just joking.”

“Jokes aren’t meant to be made like that.” Xue Anning paused ahead, touched the wall, then put on a mask, took a small shovel from her backpack, and scraped the wall a few times.

Xu Chunliang said, “I forgot to remind you, this is a tunnel, not a relic.”

Xue Anning said, “Everything is relative. How long has this tunnel been here?”

Wang Jinwu said, “It’s been quite some time. One end leads to the distillery’s ancient fermentation pool, and the other is beneath Yu Shuqing Restaurant. Yu Shuqing had a gas explosion before, reducing the hotel to rubble…” He recounted everything he should and shouldn’t say.

Xu Chunliang did not stop him, standing aside secretly observing Xue Anning’s change of expression.

Xue Anning asked, “What does Professor Bai say?”

Xu Chunliang said, “He discovered a well in the underground cave, and claimed that the history of the city on Weishan Island could be traced back to the Song Dynasty based on that well, but there were no other discoveries. Shortly after finding that well, he left, giving a final evaluation that the archaeological value here is minimal.”

Xue Anning continued walking along the tunnel, reaching the well, circling it before collecting some soil.

Xu Chunliang deliberately asked, “Sister Xue, what do you think this well is?”

Xue Anning said, “Professor Bai is right; this well probably doesn’t hold much significance.”

Wang Jinwu chimed in, “Do you think there might be water in this well?”

Xu Chunliang said, “If there is, it’s spring water.”

After speaking, a light bulb went off in his mind, as if he had realized something—that this well might have originally been a hot spring well.

Xue Anning said, “Even if there is water, it’s deep underground. Professor Bai’s statement that the archaeological value here is not substantial is correct.”