Chapter 69
"I'm not sure, so far they've only dug out one box."
Gu Jinshui patted Song Jianshe on the shoulder with a smile, "You guys are too impatient. Didn't I say before that it wouldn't be too late to dig after the Public Security officers arrive? Are you in such a hurry to make a contribution?"
Song Jianshe gave a forced smile, his eyes fixed intently on Gu Jinshui.
Director Zhou smiled and nodded, "These comrades are very thoughtful, but now that we're here, you can leave these matters to us. One small team, step forward."
"Yes!"
Five or six policemen immediately came forward. They took out entrenching tools they had prepared beforehand and got to work much faster than Song Jianshe and the others.
At dawn.
Lin Wenxiang had just gotten up and practiced Tai Chi in the yard for half an hour, sweating profusely. Just as he was about to call his wife to go out and buy breakfast, he saw his son, Lin Bohu, stumbling in from outside, calling out, "Dad, Dad..."
"What are you shouting for? What have I taught you all to stay calm and composed? How can you hide your thoughts like this? You'll only get slaughtered in business."
Lin Wenxiang picked up a towel, wiped his sweat, and scolded his son.
"Yes, yes, but Father, this time something really big has happened! They've unearthed treasure from that old house!"
Lin Bohu, catching his breath, quickly said.
Lin Wenxiang was taken aback. "Which old house?"
"The old house that swindler wanted," Lin Bohu said. "I heard from people in the city that the police went to dig it up last night, and this morning they carried out seven or eight boxes. People from the Cultural Relics Bureau also went there, and I heard they found some antiques from the Tang Dynasty."
"What?"
Lin Wenxiang suddenly stood up.
The news that treasures and antiques were unearthed from the old house spread throughout Xi'an.
Xi'an has been known as a place of auspicious geomancy since ancient times, with countless ancient tombs and antiques unearthed there. Even in the countryside, which family hasn't found something of significance, like ancient coins or the like?
But the treasures and antiques still attracted most people's attention.
Since everything was at the Public Security, no one dared to go and look around, but the Public Security was still quite lively today.
When Lin Wenxiang and his group arrived, Director Zhou was bringing Director Lin of the Cultural Relics Bureau, who had a long beard, to meet Gu Jinshui and his group.
"Comrades, you've really worked hard. We've checked it. The jewelry on top is from the Republic of China era, and the ones behind it have some history, probably dating back to the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. You've made a tremendous contribution to this archaeological work."
Director Lin shook hands with each of them, deeply moved.
Gu Jinshui smiled and said, "Director Lin, you're too kind. This is what we should do, and besides, we haven't been of much help."
"Who said you didn't help? If you hadn't reported it, how would we have known?" Director Zhou looked at Gu Jinshui approvingly, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "If it were anyone else, knowing there were so many treasures in that house, would they be willing to hand them over? You guys are really magnanimous. I've already discussed it with Director Lin, and we'll apply for a commendation for you, and give each of you a reward of two hundred yuan!"
"Oh, thank you so much, I can't accept this!"
Gu Jinshui said with a smile.
He looked at Song Jianshe and the others and said, "Jianshe, the bureau chief and the others are really nice. Why aren't you saying anything?"
What could Song Jianshe and his group say?
They were even tempted to kill Gu Jinshui.
Damn it, it's only a 200 yuan reward. The stuff in the first box they dug out is worth at least tens of thousands!
Even if each person only takes one share, they can still earn over ten thousand.
Now, it's 200 yuan per person. Is that even enough for the round-trip fare?
Song Jianshe forced a smile, but it didn't come through.
Tom couldn't hold back any longer. "I don't want a reward! That house is mine, and everything we dug up should be mine too!"
Tom was excited. He was already excited about digging up the capitalist's stuff, but to dig up an antique from the Tang Dynasty was like a double celebration!
But this joy was stolen from me.
"This..." Director Zhou looked at Tom with some surprise.
Director Lin seemed unfazed, having likely seen this kind of thing many times before. He coughed and cleared his throat. "Sir, you may not be aware of the situation in China. National laws stipulate that anything dug up from the ground belongs to the state, and these things don't belong to you in the first place."
"But that house is mine, and these things are mine abroad!"
Tom was so excited that his face turned red. He hadn't slept all night, and now his eyes were dark and bloodshot, a far cry from his usual refined demeanor.
"You're right, but I'll remind you again, this is China."
Director Lin smiled, but his attitude was firm. "Even if you are an overseas Overseas Chinese, you must abide by the rules of China."
"You, you..."
Tom was so angry he almost fainted.
Clearly, as Overseas Chinese, he had received various special treatments since returning to China, and this was the first time he had been so bluntly humiliated.
Gu Jinshui then smiled and said, "Mr. Tang, I know what you mean. You probably feel you've been taken advantage of. Well then, how about this: didn't we sell that house to you before? Now we'll buy it back."
He looked at Shanhu.
Shanhu took out a bag he had brought beforehand, Gu Jinshui handed it to Tom, saying, "This is the money you gave us, not a penny more, not a penny less. Would you like to count it?"
Tom's eye twitched.
He looked at Gu Jinshui with a surprised and uncertain expression.
Chapter 78 The Seventy-Eighth Day of Being Eavesdropped On
"What... what do you mean by this?"
Tom looked at Gu Jinshui warily. If he had regarded the people in the mainland as fools before yesterday, then after last night's blow, he realized that there were smart people in the country as well, and they didn't show off their talents.
"It's nothing," Gu Jinshui said with a friendly smile. "Isn't it because you're unhappy that what you dug up doesn't belong to you? We'd be happy to accept that. Why don't you just sell the house to us? Besides, you're leaving tomorrow, so there's nothing you're doing with the house."
Gu Jinshui shook the bag in his hand and said meaningfully, "You can take the money in here back with you. Buy whatever you want."
The muscles around Tom's eye were twitching.
He was silent for a moment, then somehow said to George, "Give the money back and return the keys to them."
George hesitated for a moment, then Tom hissed, "What are you waiting for? Get going!"
George's face darkened, and he had no choice but to step forward and exchange with Gu Jinshui.
Gu Jinshui laughed and said, "Isn't that good now? You see, your losses have been recovered, and we've gotten the house back. We don't care if the comrades from the Cultural Relics Bureau study the house; we just need to level the land back down."
The Cultural Relics Bureau unearthed antiques and suspected that there might be more in other parts of the house, but they haven't taken action because the house is too big and they don't have enough time.
Director Lin said happily, "Thank you so much for your cooperation!"
You're too kind.
Gu Jinshui shook hands with Director Lin.
Lin Wenxiang and the others waited outside until almost noon before Gu Jinshui and the others came out. Lin Bohu quickly helped his father upstairs and asked, "He Fei, Jin Shui, what happened?"
He had barely finished speaking when he saw Tom and the others following him out.
Lin Bohu immediately shut his mouth.
Gu Jinshui, "We haven't eaten all day. Why don't we come to your house and talk while we eat?"
He clutched his stomach, having not eaten a single bite since last night. If it weren't for wanting to see the matter resolved, Gu Jinshui would have been unable to hold back any longer.
"Yes, yes, come to our house, we have everything."
Lin Wenxiang quickly greeted him.
Tom walked over, his face contorted in a grimace, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes, and a cane gripped tightly in his hand. The crowd became wary and took a step back.
"Gu Jinshui, you've got some nerve! We'll meet again someday, you just wait!"
You're too kind.
Gu Jinshui cupped his hands in greeting, his smile carrying a hint of roguishness, and said, "I will definitely wait for you."
"Hmph!" Tom was furious. Thinking of those boxes of jewelry and the antiques that had just been unearthed, he felt like killing someone.
Gu Jinshui and the others ate a bowl of wide noodles at Lin Wenxiang's house, filling their stomachs thoroughly before talking about what happened last night.
Lin Wenxiang and his son were utterly astonished.
Lin Wenxiang stroked his beard and said, "That family had dealings with our elders in the past. They were incredibly wealthy. Everyone was surprised when they ran away. We never expected that they would have a backup plan in the old house."
"That's right. It's strange, really. How did Tom know about this? Could he really be a descendant of that family?" He Fei said, munching on a green garlic stalk, puzzled.
Lin Bohu said, "Maybe that's true, otherwise how would he know where the things were buried? It's really strange that Song Jianshe and the others are like that. They're not locals, and they're not related to the capitalists who used to live in that house. How did they know?"
This is one of the questions that everyone has in mind.
Gu Jinshui had already guessed what was going on, but he didn't say it aloud. He simply said, "Let's not talk about them anymore. As long as they didn't take the things, that's fine."
Unable to contain his curiosity, Lin Jiyuan leaned forward and asked, "Jin Shui, I heard that the police station brought out a lot of boxes filled with treasures. Is that true?"
"Absolutely true!"
Before Gu Jinshui could speak, He Fei interjected, "Have you ever seen Pearl this big? They're like quail eggs, a whole string of them! Damn, I was shocked when I saw them."
"There's another chest inside filled with gold. It took four people to lift it. I don't know how heavy that chest is."
Lin Jiyuan and the others gasped, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Lin Wenxiang was completely engrossed in listening and exclaimed, "Damn it, you've handed over all this stuff?!"
"We can't not hand it over, the police are here." He Fei looked at Gu Jinshui.
Gu Jinshui, "If we don't call the police, we won't get anything. Song Jianshe and Tom's gang are watching us, and they're armed. What do you think you can do with it? It's not ours anyway; if it's gone, it's gone."
Hearing these words, Lin Wenxiang felt a sense of admiration for Gu Jinshui.
This young man is very young, but he has a big heart. It's no exaggeration to say that those few boxes of stuff are enough for a family to live a life of luxury for generations. Even someone his age would be tempted by that.
But he was able to take it all in stride.
This person is truly remarkable.
With the matter settled, Gu Jinshui and He Fei were about to leave.
They asked Director Zhou to get them a few sleeper tickets, and they readily agreed. The unearthed items, while antiques, couldn't be sold, but the jewelry could be sold to raise funds. Their police station had done a good job this time, and they'd surely receive a reward from above.
Director Zhou, mindful of his roots, naturally wouldn't refuse such a small request.
Midday.
Gu Jinshui and his group arrived at the train station, which was bustling with people. Announcements frequently rang out. "Attention passengers traveling to Shanghai..."
"Attention passengers traveling to Beijing..."
"Brother Jin Shui, look over there, who's that?" He Fei, carrying a bag of guokui (a type of flatbread), saw a few empty seats and quickly rushed forward to sit down. He had just caught his breath when he noticed a few familiar figures entering the station not far away.
Gu Jinshui sat down next to him and started taking stock of the things. He had bought a lot of things for his family last night. There was a Department Store near the Guesthouse that had everything. He bought a pair of gold earrings for Yin Xing and his mother, a necklace for his wife, and a doll for his daughter.
"Who is it?" Gu Jinshui answered casually without looking up, then turned to Shanhu and said, "Shanhu, did you bring everything? Did you forget what you bought for your mother-in-law and sister-in-law?"
"No, they're all here."
"Shanhu said."
"Hey, why don't you look up?" He Fei said helplessly.
Gu Jinshui had no choice but to look up. He immediately saw Tom and his companion dragging suitcases. He paused, then chuckled, "What a coincidence! We run into them here?"
"That's right, those two bastards ran really fast. They probably realized we'd discovered their trickery by now." He Fei gritted his teeth as he recalled being tricked.
Although