Chapter 66
Chapter 66
With that, the group dispersed on a sour note.
Chief Zhou shot a fierce glare at Deputy Team Leader Niu before leading Hua Jiunan and Chen Daji toward the parked car.
“I didn’t handle this well today, boys. I’ll take you back to school now.”
“Next time, I’ll treat you both to a proper meal at a restaurant!”
Professor Ma followed closely behind the three of them, apologizing incessantly.
Though they hadn’t known each other long, Hua Jiunan knew the old man was a selfless scholar. He took out a protective talisman made of incense ash and pressed it into Professor Ma’s hand.
“Keep this on you, just in case.”
Protecting one’s own was an excellent tradition passed down through generations in the East. Whether it was immortals or mortals, the nation or the individual, it was the same. No matter how unruly one’s own children were, they couldn’t let outsiders bully them!
After Hua Jiunan and the others left, Chen Fu, feeling that his son had been wronged, began to lose his temper.
“Damn it! I paid out of my own pocket to host you all with good food and drink, and let you use my excavators and bulldozers for free, but it wasn’t because I’m afraid of anyone!”
“It’s because you’re here on state business.”
“I might not have much schooling, but I know that national affairs are the most important and shouldn’t be delayed!”
“But look at you lot! Not only do you not show any gratitude, you even fucking bully my son!”
Chen Fu grew angrier as he spoke, kicking a thick pile of snow.
“To hell with you! You think I’m some pushover?!”
“From now on, I’m not lending you any of these machines!”
“Aren’t you all so capable? Dig it out with your bare hands!”
After finishing his rant, Chen Fu pulled the keys from the various machines and drove away.
He left the group of “experts” from the provincial and municipal levels standing there, staring at each other in stunned silence.
However, the fallout wasn’t over yet.
The laborers doing the heavy lifting at the archaeological site were all villagers recruited from the surrounding area. More than half of them were actually former mine workers. These people had received no small amount of help from Chen Fu over the years. Whenever a family struggled, an elder fell ill, or a child needed school fees, Chen Fu would generously open his wallet. Now, seeing this benefactor and his son bullied by outsiders, they were all filled with righteous indignation.
“To hell with this! We’re quitting too!”
“Let’s go, let’s go! Everyone, go home and have a drink!”
“Don’t these outsiders look down on us mountain folk? Let them dig it out with their own fingernails!”
In a matter of moments, the archaeological site, which had been bustling with activity, became as quiet as a graveyard.
Professor Ma shot an annoyed look at Deputy Team Leader Niu and turned to head back inside.
“Is this the result you wanted?”
“Clean up your own mess. I’m done!”
Old Daoist Zhou looked at the bewildered Deputy Team Leader Niu and sighed. He then hurried after Professor Ma.
“Old Friend, don’t be angry! I really didn’t know things would turn out like this!”
On the way back to school, Hua Jiunan still couldn’t stop worrying about the ancient tomb. He was mainly concerned that if the things inside escaped, they would harm the nearby villagers. As for those high-level “experts” who only knew how to talk big, they had nothing to do with him. He wouldn’t lose any sleep over how many of them died.
In fact, everyone in the car was worried about the same thing.
“Sixth Brother Hui, I must trouble you to keep a secret eye on the situation at the tomb.”
“We can’t let a real disaster break out!”
Old Sixth Hui was clearly still annoyed. He gave a cold snort and said, “Don’t worry, young master physician. That old Daoist just now has some skill. If he can’t handle the filthy things inside, it won’t be too late for us to step in then!”
“That way, we can truly show off your brilliant methods, young master physician!”
Chen Daji was most worried about his father. Of course, he didn’t know yet that Chen Fu had already walked off the job.
“Old Imm-Sixth Master Hui, my dad is still there. I’m really worried…”
Old Sixth Hui looked at Hua Jiunan. Seeing the latter nod slightly, he spoke up.
“Don’t worry, Young Friend Daji. I’ll head back now to protect him.”
Chief Zhou didn’t know Old Sixth Hui, let alone his true identity.
“Friend, once we drop Jiunan and the other off at school, we can head back together.”
Old Sixth Hui chuckled. “No need to trouble yourself. Just pull over and let me out.”
“To be honest, this iron contraption isn’t even as fast as my own two legs!”
Chief Zhou watched as Old Sixth Hui vanished in the blink of an eye, muttering to himself, “A true master!”
“Since meeting Jiunan’s family, I’ve certainly had my eyes opened!”
Chen Daji chimed in, “I’ve had my eyes opened too!”
“Big Brother, I’m definitely going to study hard once we’re back at school!”
“If I don’t work hard, not only will I be unable to write a love letter, I won’t even understand when people are insulting me. It’s too embarrassing!”
Chen Daji thought for a moment and continued, “Oh, right. Big Brother, can you teach me kung fu?”
“I don’t ask for much-just enough to beat up that little punk who bullied me today!”
Hua Jiunan nodded solemnly. “If you want to learn, I will teach you.”