CH 137

Previously, Grandma Li divided her family's treasures into three parts, one for each of her grandchildren. He Songbai's share was handed over to her granddaughter-in-law, who would take care of it. Now, as she talked, she took out a piece of paper and handed it to her grandson.

"I heard that your father-in-law likes Jinshi playthings. This is the very precious Jinshi merchandise that your grandfather had bought from others."

"Although they are not worth a few yuans now, they will slowly increase in value after a few years. After you dig it out, Grandma will help you choose one and let you take it back to the G City."

Speaking of here, she was a little sad. Who knows how long the current liveliness can last. Her grandson and granddaughter-in-law are both doing business, and it's impossible to be stuck in the countryside.

Businessmen can't avoid running around, which is similar to the situation when her husband and son were still alive. She looked at the young in front of her. He had grown from a quiet man full of inferiority complex to a man who can now stand by himself.

Granny Li also realized that he was leaving her side, just like a young eagle will one day leave the nest and spread its wings to fly towards the blue sky and open up a new world.

He Songbai heard his old grandmother's worries. He smiled and said, "Grandma, come with us."

"Didn't you said that you would teach my children by herself? Tang Tang and Dahai still can't speak now, but Granny can look after them."

"You said just like you taught me, you will teach them..."

"If we are going to G City, how do you teach Tang Tang and Dahai? The development in G City is fast, and the customs are very good. Lanxiang and I have discussed buying a house with a yard, which is more than enough for my grandma to live in. If you like to raise chickens, let's raise chickens. If you like to grow vegetables, we will grow vegetables. If you like to wake up and see the mountains, we will live in the suburbs."

He Songbai was full of longing and whispering about the future plan. After listening to him, Grandma Li's eyes were hot.

She murmured, "Yes, I promised you to teach Tang Tang and Dahai... Teach them Chinese language, arithmetic, painting... just like I taught you."

"I will teach them everything in my head."1

He Songbai squeezed his grandmother's dry, branch-like hands and looked at her with encouragement and warm eyes.

...

Soon, He Songbai took the "treasure map" given by his old grandmother and took his brother-in-law, Li Dali, and his friend, Liang Tiezhu, to dig the ancestral treasures.

Grandma gave him five maps. The first three are not difficult to find, but the hard ones are the treasures buried in two places near Niujiao Mountain. The landslide that year destroyed this majestic mountain and destroyed the terraced fields that everyone worked day and night diligently. After the landslide, the mountains were devastated and full of cracked ground, like spider webs. Wild grass has grown at the cracks, and there is a thriving image in front of them. When they looked back, they have to sigh.

Li Dali suffered a life-and-death disaster here, but he survived.

After they entered the mountain, they saw the memoir stone of the members who passed away here a few years ago. This mountain is the resting places of the few victims whose remains were never found, and they disappeared completely.

The earth has overgrown with weeds. If it wasn't because the deceased's family members come from time to time to clean the graves, probably the weed has grown as tall as a person.

The three stared at the memoir for a long time, bowed and paid respect, and then carefully walked up the mountain from this curved road. Niujiao Mountain is huge. What collapsed at that time was only the part of the reclaimed terrace on the mountainside. It still has a main peak and two companion peaks.

He Songbai carefully explored the terrain and found points along the map given by Granny. He recalled the grass and trees of Niujiao Mountain in the past and comparing it with the changing environment today. It took a long time to draw out the most likely hiding points.

He Songbai said, "After the reform of the land system, the village now could contract a mountain. I have to contract this mountain. There are also hills buried with our ancestors' things. So we have time to dig slowly."

Liang Tiezhu patted his head, "My brother, how much do you have to pay for these hills? Can Brother Bai's treasures worth the money?"

He hasn't mixed with He Songbai like Li Zhong in the past few years, so he did not know how this brother was going. After the reunion today, he immediately heard this big talk.

But Liang Tiezhu remembered his face was slapped many years ago, and now he was numb. The couple was unexpectedly capable, so Liang Tiezhu only needed to do blind obedience.

Li Dali has not left the village in recent years. Although the People's Commune has disappeared, his captain's title has survived.

However, because he led the members to press their red handprint and made a fortune to promote the family contract system, his status amongst the villagers could not be shaken. He was elected as the village chief of Hezi village a year ago.

He lighted a cigarette and said steadily, "I have also stamped the contract. This mountain belongs to the village collectively. Then I will open an auction later. You just need to go through the process."

He Songbai probed the treasure point of Niujiao Mountain and checked on several others. When the old landlord of the He family buried his ancestors' treasures that year, he had found the right place.

He Songbai found another mountain treasure spot. The three dug a dozen pits and spent a whole day digging out two treasure spots.

Liang Tiezhu is holding a box as tall as half a person. If he hadn't been struggling to improve his arm strength by cooking in recent years, he probably couldn't lift this big box.

He glared and asked He Songbai, "Can you open it and let me see the world."

He Songbai nodded happily.

Liang Tiezhu rubbed his hand and lifted the axe to slash the lock. After a bit of spark, he opened the box and lifted it up with his big palm. Inside is a thick box of straw covered with a whole box of ash.

There were no golden or gleaming darlings. All they could see were a pile of black ash and rotten straw. Anyone who sees this pile of things will not think there is a treasure.

Liang Tiezhu chuckled.

Li Dali reached down with his hand and touched a stone as big as a fist, which was mixed with ash to look like charcoal. He wiped it with his clothes, washed it with water, and gradually they could see a little outline.

The night was getting dark, but the beautiful jade showed itself. The flashing mutton-fat-colored jade alone is enough to make Liang Tiezhu's eyes sharp. Although jade and precious stones are not worth much these days, the top-quality goods of this color and luster are popular in any era. They are priceless.

He quickly closed the box, and his heart jumped, "It's really a treasure!"

He Songbai said immediately, "When the sky is dark, let's carry the box down the mountain."