Chapter 1973

Chapter 1973

The Next Day. Early Morning.

It was just past six o’clock in the morning. As the sky barely brightened, laughter filled a room in the county committee residential compound. Dong Xuebing was jolted awake by his own laughter, realizing he had been dreaming. With his eyes just opening, he realized he had been smiling in his sleep, his cheeks aching from laughing for so long. He quickly forced a serious expression and rubbed his lips and cheeks to ease the discomfort.

It was time to get up.

Brushing his teeth and freshening up.

Even though he had returned late the previous night, spending hours at Qingluan Mountain, Dong Xuebing felt no sleepiness. His thoughts were elsewhere, still occupied with the ancient tomb excavation on Qingluan Mountain. So he got up early to have breakfast, feeling surprisingly energetic. He treated himself to an indulgent breakfast, with a mix of dry, wet, salty, and sweet dishes—meat and vegetables alike—making for a hearty meal.

Ring, ring, ring.

The phone rang.

Dong Xuebing let out a satisfied burp as he picked up. “Secretary, you’re awake?” It was his secretary, Su Yan.

“I woke up early. What’s up?” Dong Xuebing asked.

“I just came down from Qingluan Mountain. A few more artifacts were unearthed,” Su Yan reported with excitement. “Counting yesterday’s copper mirror and sword, we’ve excavated seven artifacts.”

Dong Xuebing snapped his fingers. “Well done. By the way, how did you get up so early? Who’s responsible for the excavation work this morning?”

Su Yan explained, “It’s Professor Mu and Professor Chu. I stayed at the nearby hotel last night, and at around four o’clock, Professor Mu and his team came over to the hotel. They wanted to get up early to examine the tomb’s surroundings in daylight, do some marking and measuring. I didn’t understand their professional jargon, but you’d told me last night to leave everything to the three experts. So I went up with them and a few staff. I was going to report to you, but it was just around four or five o’clock in the morning, and I didn’t want to disturb you because I thought you were still resting.”

Dong Xuebing’s concern showed. “Su, once you’re down, don’t go back up. Rest a bit at the hotel, don’t wear yourself out.”

Su Yan laughed. “I’m fine, full of energy!”

Dong Xuebing said, “Just take care of yourself.”

Checking the time, it was already past seven. Dong Xuebing said, “I’ll go up there now.”

Su Yan said, “I’ll get some breakfast for the professors. We staff don’t mind, but we can’t make things tough for them.”

Dong Xuebing nodded approvingly. “Good, get it sorted.”

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing quickly packed up and headed out. He called for his driver, Xiao Wang, to take him to Qingluan Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain.

The car arrived, and some vehicles from Jiaoling County were still parked there.

Dong Xuebing knew his way around, so he didn’t bother asking for directions from the local villagers. He quickly ducked into the mountain path and jogged up, treating it like morning exercise. Breathing in the fresh forest air, Dong Xuebing felt invigorated—just the kind of good news lifted his spirits.

Ten minutes later, he was almost at the site.

Suddenly, Dong Xuebing’s ears perked up. He heard raised voices from above, and the shouting sounded heated. It seemed like something was wrong—someone was causing trouble.

Dong Xuebing’s face darkened instantly.

On the mountain.

At the excavation site.

The turf was already stripped away, leaving numerous pits on the ground, some deep, some shallow. Seven to eight artifacts lay quietly nearby, all carefully encased in protective bags. Not far off, numerous small flags of different colors had been inserted into the ground as markers, delineating various areas. These were the fruits of Professor Chu and his team’s early morning labor. The excavation site was taking shape and looked very professional. Without the leadership and organization of the experts, the folks from Jiaoling County would have been out of their depth.

But now, a group of people had stormed in.

It was a bunch of officials from Yanbei County. One after another, about a dozen inspectors arrived. Without a word, they surrounded the workers from Jiaoling County, including Professor Mu and Professor Chu.

“Stop it all!”

“Who gave you the right to dig?”

“This is Yanbei County’s territory!”

“Take your tents and get out, or we’ll throw them away, understand?”

The dozen inspectors looked menacing. They did not bother to ask questions, just charging in to forcefully drive everyone away. One inspector even pulled out a gun.

The workers from Jiaoling County were instantly shaken.

The cultural bureau staff had never encountered such a scene before and stayed silent.

However, the two workers from Jiaoling County who were left behind were instantly furious. “Who do you think you are?”

Looking coldly at them, the leader replied, “Who do you think we are? What’s it to you? We are from the Yanbei County Public Security Bureau. Get off the mountain right now, or don’t blame us for being unkind!”

The worker from Jiaoling County retorted, “Unkind? We could be unkind too! This belongs to us in Jiaoling County. Since when did it become part of your county?”

The leader from Yanbei County laughed. “Good. How dare you excavate our county’s tombs and steal our artifacts without our permission? You have a lot of guts. If you don’t get off, I’ll charge you with stealing cultural relics.”

Professor Mu laughed in anger. “Young man, think before you speak.”

The leader sneered. “Who asked you to speak? Who do you think you are, looking for trouble?”

A nearby inspector recognized Professor Mu and quickly pulled the leader aside, whispering something.

The leader furrowed his brows, glancing between Professor Mu, Professor Chu, and Professor Meng. “Oh, so you’re experts in cultural relics. I thought you were from Jiaoling County’s cultural bureau. I’m sorry about this. But excavating our county’s things without our permission isn’t right—no need to say anything more. Out of respect for the faces of the professors here, please go back for now. If we need help later, Yanbei County will contact the experts. But for now, we need to stop.”

Professor Meng snorted coldly. “We’re working for the nation and history. We’re not hired hands for Yanbei County. If you want us to leave, we’ll leave. If you want our help, we’ll help. Who do you think you are?”

Professor Chu’s laughter turned bitter with rage. “Treating us like little minions, summoning us whenever you like and dismissing us whenever you want.”

Though Professor Mu and Professor Meng weren’t experts in archaeological digging, Professor Chu was a genuine member of the national archaeological team, leading many excavation projects and even serving as the vice director of the Institute of Ancient Cultural Relics. Being treated like they were there to dig up ancient tombs for a quick buck was absurd and insulting.

Professor Chu’s expression darkened, and he stood against the dozen inspectors. “I think it’s time for you lot to get lost. This is an archaeological site; keep out!”

Hey, old man!

You’re asking for trouble, aren’t you?

The leader from Yanbei County lost his patience. If he’d had any to start with, he wouldn’t have been smashing things and shouting as soon as he arrived. So, without looking at the three professors again, he ordered, “If they won’t leave, arrest them!”

Seeing the newly unearthed seven to eight artifacts lying on the ground, the leader from Yanbei County walked over and ordered, “Take the artifacts back with us.”

Professor Chu exploded. “Who dares touch a single one?”

Professor Mu retorted, “Are you destroying the archaeological site? Can you handle the consequences? These are artifacts from over a thousand years ago!”

The inspector laughed. “These are our county’s artifacts. We don’t need outsiders worrying about them.”

“Our county’s artifacts?” Professor Meng fumed. “These are historical artifacts; they belong to the nation!”

“Get off!” Seeing the leader from Yanbei County trying to grab the artifacts, a worker from Jiaoling County stepped up to stop him.

The leader from Yanbei County lost his temper and slapped the worker across the face. “Arrest him!”

Yanbei County’s group was numerous and domineering.

Professor Mu held back his anger, looking at the destroyed site, smashed tents, and spotlights. Turning to a worker from Jiaoling County, he said, “There’s no signal here. Go quickly and get Secretary Dong.”

The worker was about to run down the mountain but stopped, suddenly smiling with relief.

No need to call him; Secretary Dong was already here. Walking up, he surveyed the chaos and the fallen members of Jiaoling County. With a subtle, serene smile when he opened his eyes again, Secretary Dong’s presence sent a chill down everyone’s spine. Seeing Secretary Dong arrive, everyone exchanged glances, and a weight lifted off their shoulders.

Secretary Dong had arrived.

These people from Yanbei County were definitely in trouble now. How could they not know that the county’s secretary was no ordinary person, a notorious troublemaker? Arrogantly bullying, hitting, and yelling at them—it was like they were asking for their downfall.

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