Chapter 65: Encounter on the Return Journey

  I thought about it and yes, even if we don't consider the possibility of running into police, just carrying so much cash on the bus could also lead to trouble.

  "Why don't we find a place to discuss it first?"

  Let's take a look at the time, it's almost noon. We haven't even had breakfast yet and we're already feeling a bit hungry. So I asked the driver to find a slightly better restaurant for us to eat in while we discuss things.

  The driver who was driving might have thought that the two of us were a bit strange, and didn't say much more. After driving for another period of time, he stopped in front of a hotel that looked very luxurious.

  I got off the car with Liangzi, looked up and found that it was actually an international hotel. I thought to myself: This driver is really good, I just said to find a slightly better place, no need to be so good!

  Liangzi was very satisfied, pulling the trunk and walking inside. A doorman-like man ran over to help Liangzi with the box, but he quickly waved his hand and said: "No need, no need, I'll do it myself."

  We ordered a private room and two of us walked in under the waiter's differential gaze.

  The room isn't that big, but it's decorated very luxuriously. I took a look at the menu and the prices are simply outrageous, with even the cheapest dishes costing 50 yuan per plate.

  Having been poor for a long time, I suddenly couldn't accept it for a while, and was considering whether to change to another one when Liangzi patted my shoulder and then pointed at our wallet.

  I took a look and felt ashamed, I'm really worthless, guarding so much money, still caring about the price of dishes. So I straightened my back, ordered eight dishes in one breath, and also asked for a small bottle of low-alcohol white wine.

  After the waiter left, Liangzi quickly opened the cash box, took out two bundles of money and put them in his pocket for use, then pulled the box back again.

  While waiting for the dishes, Liangzi said: "Originally we wanted to make some money and buy a car to drive back, at least we should buy a better one than Liu Bao's, but neither of us has any documents, this is a bit difficult."

  "What's to be done then? Are we supposed to buy a black car or carry the money back on foot?"

  Liangzi thought for a moment and said: "Now there is one last way, which is to take a taxi..."

  Well, this is a good idea. Taking a taxi is convenient and safe. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to arrive in Shenyang by midnight tonight.

  After two people decided, they started serving dishes. Wine must be drunk less, but such expensive dishes can't be wasted, and there's no more nonsense, formally starting dinner.

  When it was time to pay the bill, it came out to be over 900. Liang Zishu took out ten 100-yuan bills and said, "Keep the change," then strode out with his head held high, carrying a large suitcase.

  I secretly laughed in my heart: This is also the most generous time I've known him so far.

  There were many taxis waiting for customers in front of the hotel. I asked several cars in a row, and as soon as they heard that we wanted to go to Shenyang, they all shook their heads and refused to go.

  I thought so too, two big men like us pulling a heavy-looking trunk to such a far place, the driver must be afraid to go.

  Just as I was at a loss, an older driver stopped his car in front of us. Liangzi handed me the money box and went to negotiate the price. It didn't take long before they reached an agreement, and surprisingly, the driver agreed to go.

  The two of us sat in the back row and put the money box in the middle. It was only then that I knew the master's hometown was actually Shenyang, and my mood finally felt much more at ease.

  Officially starting the return journey, both of us are in a great mood. Liang is chatting non-stop with Master Shi about Dashan, and I'm preparing to take a nap first, then wake up and switch with Liang - there must be one person who's awake at all times.

  ……

  I don't know how long it's been since I suddenly felt a bit dizzy and woke up.

  Turning back, I found that Liangzi was also asleep on the money box. The sky outside had already darkened, and I really didn't expect to sleep for such a long time.

  Looking ahead in the morning, the driver was quietly and seriously driving the car, without any problems, but I didn't know where we were heading to. The road seemed very uneven, and the car was shaking violently.

  "I asked somewhat strangely: 'Master, where have we arrived? Why is this road so bumpy?'"

  The master turned his head and looked at me with a kind smile, then turned back and said: "You're awake, it's okay, we didn't take the highway, this national road is probably under repair, it will recover in a while."

  "Why don't we take the highway? It's so slow on the national road!" I said somewhat discontentedly.

  "Hey, you rich people don't understand, I agreed to take you back, not just because we're from the same hometown, but also because you paid more. We work hard for our money, and taking the highway can save us a lot of expenses."

  As soon as I heard him say that, my previous annoyance disappeared. What kind of rich people are we? I quickly said: "Okay, it's okay to take whatever road, no need to rush, just pay attention to safety."

  The master turned back and smiled at me with gratitude, but didn't say anything else, continuing to drive carefully.

  As I looked out of the car window this morning, it seemed that this place was relatively remote and basically couldn't see any lights.

  After driving for a while, I suddenly felt a bit urgent to pee. I thought that I had slept all afternoon and hadn't been to the toilet yet.

  Then let the master find a place to pull over and stop the car, ready to go down and relieve himself.

  Before long, the car slowly came to a stop. I woke up Liangzi, who asked me drowsily what was going on. I told him to wait in the car and then opened the door and got out.

  Unexpectedly, the driver also came down and walked with him to the side of the road. After looking around and finding no one, they began to relieve themselves.

  Just as I was about to pull up my pants, I suddenly heard a woman's voice shouting: "Master, master, wait for me!"

  What the heck, what's going on? This sudden shout scared me to death. I tightened my seatbelt and turned around to look, only to see a figure in the distance running towards us from behind the car.

  I may have been a bit over-sensitive and immediately shouted: "Get in the car, let's go..."

  After shouting, I immediately jumped onto the car and casually closed the door.

  "What's wrong? What's wrong?" Liangzi asked in surprise.

  I didn't answer him and looked out of the car, that driver still hadn't gotten in, standing there looking at something.

  I quickly rolled down the car window and shouted at him: "Master, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get in the car!"

  "Hey, what's wrong with you? You look so tense, like a girl is going to get on the bus or something!"

  "What's going on?" Liang Zi asked nervously, hugging the cash box tightly.

  I heard the master say that someone wanted to hitch a ride, and I was a bit stunned. It seems that I am really sensitive, so I said to Liangzi: "It's probably nothing, it seemed like a woman rushed over just now."

  Liangzi wanted to continue asking questions when suddenly a figure rushed in front of our car, stopped and immediately bent over, panting heavily, looking extremely tired.

  The master took two steps towards her and said: "Little girl, was it you who shouted just now?"

  I took a closer look and it was indeed a girl, wearing a blue outfit with her head lowered so I couldn't see her face.

  The girl panted for a while before lifting her head and saying, "Oh dear mom, I finally caught up. Master, can I hitch a ride?"

  I thought it was just a hitchhiker, but in this desolate wilderness, at night, a woman suddenly appeared wanting to hitch a ride, which is indeed a bit eerie.

  The master craftsman also found it strange and asked: "Where are you going? Why are you alone here?"

  "I, we were inspecting a project on the nearby mountain, I have something urgent to rush back to Shenyang tonight, our cars are not here, so I came down the mountain alone and waited for the bus here."

  No way! I thought to myself: How could this be such a coincidence? We're heading back to Shenyang, and she's also heading back to Shenyang. And on top of that, she says something about inspecting a project in the mountains - this is just too ridiculous.

  Just then, the master continued to say: "What a coincidence! We are indeed going to Shenyang. I'm just driving, if you want to hitch a ride, ask the passengers in the car!"

  The girl heard that, turned her head and found that there were still people sitting in the back of the car. She quickly ran to me and said: "Brother, brother, be kind to me, let me hitch a ride, I can give you money."

  As I got closer, I took a closer look and saw that the girl was not very old, probably just in her early twenties, with a very delicate face, looking like a student who had just graduated, wearing a blue outfit.

  I cautiously asked: "Sister, what do you do, why are you alone here?"

  "Ah, I'm with the archaeological team and have been surveying in these nearby mountains recently. Today I had an urgent matter to attend to so I came to flag down a car myself."

  What... an archaeological team? This is getting stranger and stranger, a little girl from an archaeological team coming to hitch a ride with two grave robbers at midnight, haha...

  The girl saw me seemingly unbelievable and somewhat anxious, so she leaned in closer again, directly presenting her chest before my eyes.

  I thought to myself: What's going on, a beauty trap! But then I took another look and it didn't seem right, because she had a badge hanging from her chest that looked like an ID card. I walked up closer to take a careful look, and saw that it said "China Northeast National Ancient Research Investigation Team" and so on...

  I was right, it really is the archaeological team's. I was just about to go ask Liangzi for his opinion when he suddenly said: "Come on up, sis, we're all from the same place, no need to pay."

  "Great, great, thank you big brother." The girl seemed especially happy and directly opened the passenger door to get in.

  I turned my head to look at Liangzi, and saw that he had a strange expression on his face. He must have seen a pretty girl and started to transform again. Although I was very angry, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. It's just hitching a ride, after all. When we arrive, the person will get off anyway.

  Thinking of this, I didn't think much about it anymore and asked the driver to continue driving.

  After driving for a while, the car stopped shaking and Liangzi couldn't help but flirt with the girl, saying: "Hey, what's your name? Is working on an archaeological team really fun?"

  I heard you really don't know how to flirt with girls, who starts by asking someone's name.

  The girl turned around and smiled, saying: "My name is Li Rui'er. What's fun about the archaeological team? It's all mountains and mud, stones, it's suffocating."

  The girl smiled brightly, and I was a bit stunned when I saw her. She and Zhou Huan are two completely different types. Zhou Huan is the type of mature woman with inner substance, while this Li Rui'er is clearly a young girl who hasn't had much social experience and has just started working.

  "Then, will we often meet some treasures?" Liangzi continued to ask.

  "What treasure? It's already good if we can find some scrap metal. Ah, big brother, what do you guys do? Where are you coming back from?"

  I heard her ask that and found it quite amusing. Should we tell her: from now on, follow your brother around, he's a tomb raider, you can find all sorts of treasures?

  Liang Zi naturally wasn't that foolish, and with a deeply emotional smile said: "We're just doing business, we've just returned from discussing a deal outside the city, and were just preparing to head home."