I saw that Guan Zhenwan wanted to speak with me privately, so I followed her alone to a tent. As for Fatty and the others, they were arranged in a tent next door.
Upon entering the tent, I found an electric heater inside, which was unexpected. In addition, there was also electric lighting. Although the beds were simple wooden planks, the bedding was not simple; the quilt, at first glance, was made of silk.
Rich people are truly different. To be able to arrange such good conditions while tomb raiding, I’ve certainly broadened my horizons.
“Boss Guan, your place is truly a sparrow, small but complete,” I said, looking around.
She poured me a cup of hot tea and smiled, “I thought Mr. Xiang had already left.”
“I was about to leave, but I heard about your situation last night and was curious to take a look,” I said, picking up the teacup and taking a sip.
“And then?”
“Hmm?”
She said, “After looking, do you have anything to say?”
I pondered for a moment and said, “The world is indeed full of wonders; this is my first time seeing a human head and bloody water dug out.”
She smiled, “That’s not bloody water, just water that’s been reddened by a mutation in the underground mineral deposits.”
“Oh? Then what about the human heads? What’s the deal with those human heads?” I asked with great interest.
“Mr. Xiang, you shouldn’t be unaware, should you?”
“Is it a sacrificial burial pit?”
“It should be.”
“Then that means you’ve found the entrance to the ancient tomb?” I asked.
She smiled, “We found it, but to enter, we still have to wait for people to arrive.”
“Wait for people to arrive? What people?” I was a bit confused.
“Naturally, the archaeological team.”
I was taken aback, “You’ve notified the archaeological team?”
She calmly nodded, “When an ancient tomb is discovered, it’s natural to notify the archaeological team.”
I looked at her with disbelief. She smiled, “Mr. Xiang, please understand one thing. I am here to find the Kanto Army’s treasure, not to be a tomb robber.”
“Is there a difference between the two?”
“Of course, there is. The Kanto Army’s treasure is something left by the Japanese pirates, but the ancient tomb is different; it belongs to the country.”
I suddenly felt I couldn’t quite see through this woman.
She continued, “I do legitimate business. Although I occasionally collect funerary objects, I have my own principles.”
I suddenly felt like laughing. Principles? When you bribed Da Kui to oppose Old Man Qu earlier, where were your principles then?
“I see,” I said, feigning understanding. “Then I can only wish Boss Guan finds the treasure soon.”
“Mr. Xiang, can you do me a favor?” she asked.
“What can I do for you?” I smiled. “I’m just a folk treasure appraiser. From what I see, you have so many experts and capable people around you; you don’t need me to appraise anything, do you?”
Guan Zhenwan smiled slightly, “Could Mr. Xiang stay here for another day?”
“Stay another day?” I looked at her, a little confused.
“That’s right. The favor I need you to do is to stay here for one more day.”
I was a bit baffled by what this woman wanted. To have me stay here for another day?
What did she want?
“Is there any point in staying here for another day?” I asked.
She smiled and said, “Whether there is a point or not, as long as Mr. Xiang agrees, you will know.”
“Okay, I can stay here for another day.” I was curious to see what this woman was up to.
Staying here for an extra day wasn’t a big deal for me.
Upon returning to the village, Fatty was about to pack his things. I told him not to, saying we had to stay here for another day.
Fatty asked why, and I explained what I had agreed to with Guan Zhenwan.
“What does that woman want you to stay an extra day for?” Fatty was also bewildered.
I shrugged, “Who knows? Never mind her. Another day is another day. I’m curious to see what she’s up to.”
“Brother Xiang, do you think she might do something to you?”
“What could be bad? So many people are here, and what could she do to me?” I said.
Fatty replied, “That’s true. Let’s see what that woman is really up to then.”
“Huh, where’s Brother Song?” I asked, not seeing Song Bing.
“He said he had to go to Mohe for something, and he left in quite a hurry. He asked me to pass on a message to you.”
“When did he leave?”
“Just as we were returning to the village. Er Mao left with him,” Fatty said. “Oh, they didn’t take the car.”
“They didn’t take the car, how did they leave?”
“There are passing vehicles going to Mohe, and they took one.”
I became even more confused. Why would Song Bing suddenly go to Mohe?
After dinner that night, Fatty and I stayed put. I took out Chen Shang’s notebook again, looking for any useful information.
Not only that, but I also flipped through my father’s notebook twice, but still found no new discoveries.
Around one in the morning, I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I heard people talking in the courtyard, and the voices sounded quite familiar.
When I got dressed and went out, I saw Wu Tingxiu and Bai Hanyan standing in the courtyard wearing down jackets. Song Bing was standing beside them.
Seeing them, I was stunned and didn't quite react.
“You guys…”
“Xiang Fei!” Bai Hanyan exclaimed, rushing over. “How is it? Quite a surprise, isn’t it?”
“Why did you come all the way here?”
Wu Tingxiu smiled, “Let’s go inside first.”
Upon entering the house, Fatty was also bewildered when he saw Wu Tingxiu and Bai Hanyan, looking at me with questioning eyes. I was also completely clueless.
It turned out that Wu Tingxiu and Guan Zhenwan knew each other, and the clue about the Suihou Pearl she mentioned was given to her by Guan Zhenwan.
I just didn’t expect to encounter Guan Zhenwan in the Greater Khingan Range this time. Now I finally understood why Guan Zhenwan had asked me to agree to stay for an extra day.
And that guy Song Bing, he didn’t even tell me in advance that he was picking someone up.
“How do you know Guan Zhenwan?” I asked.
Wu Tingxiu said, “My grandfather and her maternal grandfather were old friends and had some contact. You also know my grandfather liked collecting, and many antiques were bought from her family’s place.”
“Then what about the Suihou Pearl?”
“I asked her about the decoded map you gave me. She said she happened to have a copy. I proposed to buy it from her. She was abroad at the time and said we could discuss it after she returned to China.” Wu Tingxiu continued, “She returned to China and came to the Greater Khingan Range. She originally planned to find me after finishing her business here, but then she met you. She asked me about you a while ago, and I was curious how she knew you. As for what happened later…”
At this point, I had pretty much figured it out.
“And you? Why did you come here?” I looked at Bai Hanyan.
She puffed out her cheeks, “Look, Boss Wu asked me to come. How was I supposed to know what I was coming here for?”
I looked at Wu Tingxiu curiously, and she smiled slightly, “I invited Hanyan to help with the feng shui.”
“What feng shui in the middle of these mountains…”
Before I could finish speaking, I suddenly realized.