Chapter 589: Starting from 589
Shao Hongming was organizing the work, which itself had a certain ritual to it.
Su Yuanyuan watched from the side. Although she didn’t share the Zeng Family’s devotion, nor the archaeologists’ enthusiasm, she still felt this was a rather sacred task.
She thought that perhaps she enjoyed listening to stories? Otherwise, why would she like this?
Village Chief Yu brought all the village’s laborers with him. They all brought their own tools.
This was actually to appease everyone, so the requirements were quite high.
In fact, the villagers had no ill intentions or other thoughts; they were just happy if their lives could improve.
Each member of the archaeology team took several villagers to work with them, fearing they might destroy something.
The approximate location of the tomb had already been preliminarily determined.
Were it not for the Zeng Family, they wouldn’t be so sure. Many things were indeed complementary. This cooperation was feasible.
Su Yuanyuan initially wanted to join in the work. But there were too many people on the first day, so she wandered around instead.
She finally held a map contributed by the Zeng Family. She thought to herself, this tomb chamber could rival that of any noble, couldn’t it?
This also proved the Zeng Family’s status at the time. However, Su Yuanyuan couldn’t quite understand. All this grandeur after death only benefited the tomb raiders.
Back then, the idea was to be buried with many things so that the afterlife would also be a rich life.
Many hands make light work. By noon, they had already dug about a meter deep into the large tomb chamber.
At noon, they all went back for lunch, just like everyone else.
Su Yuanyuan munched on a steamed bun, and at this time, Zeng Hongling came over.
"Yuanyuan, this food is too terrible."
"I agree. I wonder if we can get a better cook."
"Of course, it would be great to change. Seriously, how hard is it to make the food taste good?"
"Yeah, maybe they fear if it’s too good, we’ll eat too much?"
"Could that be the case?"
"I think so; why else would it taste so bad? This bun seems undercooked."
The two girls complained as they ate.
Actually, everyone felt the same way, and Shao Hongming was used to it. He didn’t mind much, but he kept an eye on Su Yuanyuan, seeing her grimace, and guessed why.
So in the afternoon, he replaced the cook. In the evening, they had steamed buns again, but they were much better this time, at least cooked.
"Yuanyuan, the leader really considers everyone’s well-being."
"Actually, he eats with us, so he must’ve found it too awful as well."
"Today’s progress was quite speedy. I guess we might not need the laborers by tomorrow?"
"Yes, that would be nice. Everyone earned two yuan, and there will surely be more work in the future.
After all, what’s below is yet unknown, and too many people indeed make it inconvenient."
"Yeah. If there are no treasures, it’s alright, but if there are real treasures, it’ll be troublesome if there’s a scramble."
"Absolutely. That’s the case."
The speed slowed down a bit the next day, and it was even slower by afternoon. This was mainly due to changes in the soil, and the archaeologists were thrilled, almost as if they’d been pumped with adrenaline.
The two of them were indeed right. By evening, Shao Hongming directly gave money to the village chief.
"If we need people in the future, we’ll come to the village. But from now on, it’s all delicate work, a professional’s job. So there mustn’t be any damage."
Village Chief Yu didn’t say much and understood; this was probably just two days’ work, but the two yuan earned was still income.
The night patrol was intensified, especially around the old tomb-raiding holes.
Su Yuanyuan also took a walk outside during the night.
The next day in the daytime, it was their turn to work.
Su Yuanyuan joined the men in hauling earth upwards; it was indeed exhausting.
By night, it was the same old soil. They had already dug more than two meters deep, but it was still the same kind of soil.
Su Yuanyuan thought there was still quite a distance below; she suddenly thought of using her mind to see.
Focusing her attention, she indeed guessed right.
She estimated it was more than a meter before they would see the stone below.
The stone seemed rather strange. She couldn’t see what was beneath it. Clearly, this stone was something significant.
"Su Yuanyuan, what’s up?" Shao Hongming walked over to her, noticing her in a daze.
"Nothing, just wondering how grand the funeral must have been back then?"
"Well, it’s a family, not lacking money nor people."
"I really admire the owner of this tomb, but didn’t they say it was dangerous? We haven’t found anything yet."
"That’s probably true. Tomb raiders are highly skilled."
Su Yuanyuan nodded, indeed. They called them Tomb Raider Captains, what a grand name.
The next day was another full day of excavation, and they finally saw the stone by the third afternoon, exciting everyone.
Su Yuanyuan finally witnessed the passion of professionals firsthand.
At night, Shao Hongming and Su Yuanyuan were on duty, taking turns for the first and second half of the night.
To be honest, Su Yuanyuan felt it was a bit of a fuss. Would her future work be night shifts?
Su Yuanyuan was responsible for the latter half of the night that day. Once she got up and took a turn, she found nothing unusual. Sitting on her bed, she snacked on some fruit.
Suddenly, she laughed. Oh boy, what nerve they had. She washed her hands and stepped outside.
While they were quite covert, they met Su Yuanyuan.
She felt a bit excited. In her eyes, the Zeng Family didn’t measure up to high-caliber tomb raiders; she wanted to see Tomb Raider Captains like those in novels or TV shows.
These people came solely for the treasure. They wanted to get there first.
Su Yuanyuan watched the six who sneaked over, all fairly young, the oldest appearing around thirty.
She headed in their direction, greeting the patrol.
By then, those six had spotted her, but they ignored her.
They knew that there were two young women here and didn’t regard her as a threat.
Su Yuanyuan focused on them, thinking, nice, they underestimated her.
Alright then, maybe she wasn’t intimidating enough. Her pace was neither fast nor slow; the six men ignored her even after the patrol had passed, continuing to move cautiously.
Su Yuanyuan suddenly turned around, realizing that if she confronted them now without concrete evidence, it wouldn’t pose much of a threat; she wouldn’t really catch them, would she?
The six men watched as the female left. Only then did they relax and start preparing.
Su Yuanyuan observed, wow, their equipment was even more advanced than the archaeologists’. Clearly, they were the real professionals, weren’t they?