Chapter 11

Jiang Aiguo was in a dilemma. “But I don’t know the phone number of the relevant department! I have to report it to the commune first, and then the commune will report it further up.”

Lan Xiruo glanced at Sun Yuqing, and when she saw her nod, she said, “Comrade Sun can contact people at a higher level. Captain, please take her to the brigade office to make a call.”

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Sun Yuqing in surprise, making her blush with embarrassment, unsure of how to explain.

Lan Xiruo smiled to ease the situation. “Alright, I know you’re all as surprised as I am by Comrade Sun’s humility.

But since she had a reason for keeping quiet before, let’s not dwell on it. Right now, we should focus on making the call and getting someone here to handle this hot potato first.”

Captain Jiang immediately nodded. “Yes, yes, this is urgent.”

With that, he called for Sun Yuqing and Uncle Jiang He to go to the brigade office to make the call.

The brigade office was about 200 meters away from Jiang Aiguo’s house, so it would take some time to go there and back.

Meanwhile, Lan Xiruo and the others were invited inside by Jiang Aiguo’s wife, Sun Lanhua.

Sun Lanhua poured water for them and, noticing that Lan Xiruo was still holding onto the cloth bundle while drinking, she curiously asked,

“Comrade Lan, is that thing in your bundle the same as before? There’s no one else here, why don’t you put it on the table and rest your arms?”

Lan Xiruo shook her head and held it even tighter. “No need. This thing is too delicate. If it gets bumped or damaged, we can’t afford the consequences.”

Hearing this, Sun Lanhua said no more.

Delicate? Easily damaged?

A’Dong and the other two twitched their mouths in disbelief. It was just a bone, harder than a rock, yet Comrade Lan was making it sound so fragile.

Lan Xiruo gently stroked the bundle in her arms with a soft smile, as if she were soothing a baby.

Seeing this, A’Dong and the others exchanged glances, their eyes darting back and forth before they silently got up and walked to the doorway.

Then they huddled together and whispered:

“Comrade Lan is really bold, hugging such a creepy-looking bone and still smiling so gently.”

“Is this even normal?”

“I don’t know… but probably not?”

“Do you think that thing she’s holding has some kind of eerie power and has enchanted her?”

They thought they were speaking quietly, but inside the room, both Sun Lanhua and Lan Xiruo heard them clearly.

Sun Lanhua glanced suspiciously at Lan Xiruo, subtly shifting her feet closer to where a large pair of trousers was hanging.

Lan Xiruo’s forehead twitched. She was afraid that before A’Dong and the others could even bring her some “boy’s urine” for exorcism, she’d already have a pair of trousers thrown over her head.

At that thought, she shuddered and quickly called out:

“A’Dong, Heiyu, if you have something to say, come inside and say it to my face. Stop whispering behind my back.”

Sun Lanhua, hearing how clearly Lan Xiruo spoke, stopped moving toward the trousers and instead picked up a cloth to wipe the wall.

When A’Dong and the others came back in, they looked a little embarrassed.

Lan Xiruo rolled her eyes at them. “How many times have I told you? This is an ancestor, an ancestor!

The country banned superstitions after the founding of the nation. Where would these bizarre ideas even come from?”

Then she lowered her voice. “You guys better be careful with your words. If someone overhears you, you could be accused of spreading feudal superstitions.”

A’Dong, Jiang Dazhu, and Hei-Yu turned pale and quickly promised not to say anything more.

A’Dong stared at the bundle in Lan Xiruo’s arms and, noticing that she kept patting the same spot—right where the hollow eye sockets were—he couldn’t help but ask in a hushed voice:

“Comrade Lan, why do you keep patting its eyes? It’s kind of creepy.”

Lan Xiruo looked down and realized she had accidentally packed it upside down in her haste.

So she placed the bundle on the table and unwrapped it.

“Ahhh—GHOST!”

“THUMP!”

Sun Lanhua had been curious about what was inside Lan Xiruo’s bundle. But since Lan Xiruo said it was fragile, she had held back her curiosity.

Now, seeing Lan Xiruo place it on the table and open it, she rushed over—only to come face to face with a skull, its dark hollow eyes staring right at her.

She screamed and collapsed onto the floor.

Lan Xiruo and the others were startled by her reaction and quickly rushed to help. “Aunt Lanhua, are you okay?”

Sun Lanhua flinched and pushed Lan Xiruo’s hand away, her voice trembling. “You… you… stay away! That… that…”

Lan Xiruo felt a little awkward and quickly waved her hands. “Alright, alright, I won’t come any closer. Don’t be afraid.

That’s not a ghost. It’s the skull of a prehistoric ape-man from hundreds of thousands of years ago. It’s a national treasure.”

Sun Lanhua didn’t believe her and was about to say more when suddenly, a loud voice came from outside the door.

“Lian Laidi! What are you sneaking around in front of my house for?”

Lian Laidi?

Lan Xiruo’s expression changed, and she quickly ran to the window.

She only caught a glimpse of a dark figure disappearing into the night.

She had no idea how much Lian Laidi had overheard, but her gut told her that this woman was going to stir up trouble.

Right now, she could only hope that Sun Yuqing had successfully made the call.

Lan Xiruo turned her gaze toward Jiang Aiguo and the others, who were walking toward the entrance, and asked, “Captain, Yuqing, did you get through?”

“Mhmm. Let’s talk inside.” Jiang Aiguo responded and stepped inside—only to be pounced on.

“Husband, save me! They… they actually brought a dead man’s bones back as a treasure!”

Jiang Aiguo awkwardly pried her off. “So many people are watching! What nonsense are you saying? That really is a treasure. Stand properly!”

Reluctantly, Sun Lanhua let go but still stayed close behind him, never more than a step away.

Once they sat down, Sun Yuqing smiled and said, “I called my grandfather. When he heard we had found an ape-man skull, he was ecstatic and immediately called the Cultural Relics Bureau.

The officials there were so excited that they’re sending a team overnight. If all goes well, they should arrive the morning after tomorrow.”

Lan Xiruo frowned. “The morning after tomorrow? That could be a problem.”

Seeing their confusion, she sighed. “Lian Laidi was eavesdropping earlier. I don’t know how much she heard, but I’m worried she’ll cause trouble.”

“She wouldn’t dare!” Jiang Aiguo cursed angrily. “That troublemaker! She can’t stand a day without stirring up something.

Over the years, how many people has she gotten into trouble with her reports? How many families has she ruined? And she still isn’t satisfied?”

Lan Xiruo let him vent and then asked, “Did you call the commune?”

Sun Yuqing shook her head. “No, we didn’t. The officials in Beijing told us not to, saying it’s best to keep this under wraps to avoid leaks and unnecessary trouble.”

Lan Xiruo let out a frustrated sigh. “Even if we want to keep this quiet now, I doubt we can.

I originally thought that since it’s already dark, no one would notice what we were bringing in.

Who would’ve expected Lian Laidi to be lurking outside, eavesdropping?

We can’t just lock her up for two days to stop her from spreading the news, can we?”