836. Family Feud

836. Refusing to Pay

Although they had torn into each other in a fierce argument, it hadn't been a fight to the death. In the end, the archaeological team still arranged food and lodging for the students' parents.

The Western Xia Imperial Tombs site at the foot of Helan Mountain was far from any village or town. Without cars for transportation, finding a restaurant or inn more than ten kilometers away would have been nearly impossible.

There was no way to prepare meals for so many extra people at such short notice, so they had to buy several hundred pounds of plain boiled mutton from the nearest Farmhouse Restaurant and serve it with dipping sauce. The meal was rushed and simple, but it had its own flavor and, at least, filled everyone's stomach.

The temporary shelters with colored steel roofs, hurriedly built to accommodate the rescue personnel, came in handy. Two or three people could share each room without feeling too cramped. The two rows of shelters were just enough to house everyone, and sleeping mats, blankets, and sleeping bags were provided.

Few people used the newly built shelters. Instead, the large tent that served as both kitchen and dining hall stayed lit all night.

Beyond the basic lighting outside, everything was pitch-black. The night wind howled like wailing ghosts, making people shiver involuntarily as their hair stood on end.

After dinner, Hong Bin's and Jin Xiaoqing's families gathered in the dining tent. No one knew what they were discussing. They didn't disperse until two or three in the early hours of the morning, then returned to their assigned shelters to rest.

The archaeological team's students noticed something was amiss and reported it to Professor Zhu.

But Professor Zhu Chaoye didn't give it much thought. After all, the archaeological team