Tao Shengli looked ashen. Right now, he only hoped this mountain patrolman would not take him away. As for what he had panned, he could hand it over.
It was only May. He could always find something to eat in the mountains and would not starve. Given enough time, he could still pan more gold.
If he was taken away and locked up, though, he would be in serious trouble.
Li Long looked around again, saw nothing else, and asked:
"When did you come into the mountains?"
To him, it was an ordinary question, but to Tao Shengli, it was an interrogation.
"In late April."
"Did you already know how to pan for gold before you came in?" Li Long asked again. "Or did you start sometime after coming into the mountains?"
"No, I originally came to dig fritillaria, but there were quite a few people in the outer mountains, so I went farther in. After reaching this area, I didn't find much fritillaria, but I discovered placer gold in the stream, so..."
"Didn't I just ask you whether you knew panning for gold without permission was illegal?"
"N-no, I didn't." Tao Shengli actually knew, but how could he dare admit it now? Knowingly breaking the law made the offense even worse!
"Well, now you know." Li Long smiled, then pointed at the wooden pan in Tao Shengli's hands and asked:
"Did you make that yourself? Why didn't you make a bigger one?"
"No, no, I didn't make it myself. I found it in the mountains..."
"Found it?" Li Long paused. Were there other people panning for gold in these mountains?
"Bring it over. Let me take a look," Li Long said.
Tao Shengli stepped out of the river and handed the wooden pan to Li Long.
The wooden pan