Chapter 77: Underground

Yang Qing kidnapped the old lady to suppress the evil god.

He didn't care about the old lady's property.

However, if he could bring it down, that would be even better.

Waiting for Chen Hong Niang and her younger brother to come over, then move in directly; relying on their family's background, he believed no one would say anything.

Most importantly, Yang Qing himself didn't know whether he could get out.

If he got out, it would definitely affect the Chen family.

Having the status of a big household can also ward off some petty troublemakers.

Of course, in Yang Qing's heart, he didn't want the mother and son to come over; the next decade or so would be a bit too dangerous.

At least in the village there were clan elders looking after them; if he came here and something happened to him, they wouldn't know what the outcome would be.

Or let Chen Hong learn from some people and report himself.

Thereby avoid a worse outcome?

But this method's damage to human nature is extremely severe; I don't know whether Chen Hong will accept it, nor whether she can get past that mental hurdle.

He walked while muttering softly.

"Or, I could think of a way to change my classification during the 1963 re‑examination of family background?"

This isn't Yang Qing talking nonsense; it's real—there were three re‑examinations of family background in 1963, 1968, and 1978.

Some people whose earlier background was bad but later actively accepted reform saw their situation improve.

Many people's status changed from petty bourgeoisie and rich peasants to middle peasants and workers.

No one knows how many people's fates were changed.

Many who have experienced this history or heard it from their elders should be able to personally feel the heart‑pounding gratitude and cheers when hope arrives, unable to stop kowtowing in thanks.

However, by 1968 some people were knocked back to their original status.

In 1978, after redress, they were restored.

"Even if I changed my classification in 1963, could I dodge the 1968 purge?"

Yang Qing asked himself again.

That was the craziest time; whenever someone caused trouble, he might not be able to escape.

For example, Elder Yi and the Jia family.

Yang Qing walked along, thinking a lot; even though he was trying hard to change his circumstances, he still felt helpless.

Fate is too perplexing; wanting to change one's destiny, how difficult it is..

Yang Qing, his mind full of worries, returned to the Siheyuan and once again saw the group basking in the sun; he greeted them enthusiastically.

"Those aunties and grandmas basking in the sun."

The deaf old lady felt extremely embarrassed seeing Yang Qing; yesterday's incident really made her feel unable to face people.

Yi Da Ma then recalled what Yi Zhonghai had said yesterday.

She ignored Yang Qing.

Others, having heard the message, merely nodded briefly and said nothing more.

Yang Qing clearly sensed everyone's oddness, but he wasn't in the mood to quarrel.

He went home, picked up a basket, left the house, and inside the basket he carried a bundle of rope and a flashlight.

Watching Yang Qing walk away, someone finally couldn't help but speak.

"He's probably off to catch frog‑snakes again; he should have replied just now—maybe Yang Qing could bring our little brat along; if he can't catch snakes, catching a few crickets would still improve our lives."

The others also wore a look of regret.

The deaf old lady still didn't know what was going on.

"Then why didn't you say anything just now?"

A group of people glanced at Yi Da Ma.

The deaf old lady also suddenly understood.

It seems Yi Zhonghai couldn't swallow this anger.

But doing this is too hasty; it would easily provoke everyone's resistance.

After all, Yang Qing now is not the same as before; previously he was easy to bully, but now he not only gave up space for everyone to build toilets—a kindness—and yesterday he also distributed fried crickets to their children.

The people's hearts are no longer the same.

The deaf old lady glanced at Yi Da Ma and didn't say more.

But in her heart she looked down on their family much more.

They still don't know that Chen Hong went to the Street Office; otherwise they'd be even unhappier.

After all, the Street Office now wields great power.

Its influence exceeds imagination, covering food, clothing, housing, transportation, raising children, education, work, life, and even marriage and funerals.

Every detail of your life is inseparable from the Street Office.

Now you can offend anyone, but you must not offend the Street Office staff.

Yang Qing made his way to that ruin, carefully observed and saw no one following, then reached the well again.

He took out the rope, tied it to the bamboo stick, and Yang Qing descended once more.

He looked around and confirmed that no one had come down before.

Only then did he take out the candle and light it with a match.

Thereafter he held the candle and began to crawl along the hole into it.

The entrance was very narrow, but after going inward ten or so meters it began to widen.

Then after a turn, it became wide enough for a person to stand and walk.

The cave walls were still brick-laid, covered with moss.

The candlelight was very bright, indicating that the ventilation inside was good.

Yang Qing, who was a bit claustrophobic, had a racing heart, thump thump thump.

Going further forward, the cave began to wind downward.

The brick stone corridor gradually disappeared, turning into a rock cave.

Moreover, as he went deeper, the caves became more numerous; some were only the size of a hand, while others were wide enough for several people to walk side by side.

Judging by the condition inside the caves, these caves were natural, with only some traces of artificial modification.

Yang Qing proceeded along the cave that bore artificial traces.

After several hundred meters, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

Yang Qing turned on his flashlight and saw that ahead was a huge cavern, over a hundred square meters in size.

Around the cavern, there were several other holes.

It was unknown where they led.

This is hardly a treasure vault; it's clearly a complex underground pipe network.

I heard that during the Kangxi-Yongzheng period, the emperor set up a special organization, the Adhesive Rod Office, which was specifically responsible for gathering intelligence.

And the Adhesive Rod Office, it is said, dug many tunnels for intelligence.

Later, the Yong Prince's Palace was abolished, and many tunnels were sealed.

It seems this is one of them.

Yang Qing, who had lost all hope, held a flashlight and casually looked around in the cave.

On the left stone wall, he suddenly discovered a stone chamber.

Yang Qing, holding his flashlight, felt his way inside.

The stone chamber was very small, only about ten square meters.

There were a stone table and stone stools, plus a stone bed.

Under the stone bed were several holes; in those holes, Yang Qing discovered several jars.

Yang Qing dragged out one and found it full of silver coins.

Yang Qing's heart jolted.

"I really found a treasure."

It seems the owner of that residence also discovered this tunnel and, following it, found this place.

Moreover, he must have confirmed that no one had come here for a long time, so he stored these silver coins here.

As a result, they possibly died in the war, causing these silver coins to become a treasure as well.

Yang Qing grabbed a handful and examined it.

It was the portrait of Yuan Datou, a whole jar, likely several hundred pieces.

He also dragged out the ones from other places and then took another look.

Inside were Guangxu silver coins, Great Qing silver coins, and Xuantong silver coins—three types of silver coins.

Moreover, the further inside, the older the age.

"This wasn't hidden all at once; it was hidden in many batches."

It looks like they were saving money.

Yang Qing could understand doing that.

After all, since ancient times, we have had the habit of saving money.

This is one way of preserving a family's accumulated wealth.

However, I think this is only a small part of it.

Because the tunnels here are too complex, leading who knows where, the risk is too great.

Although when he discovered it, no one came.

But who can say for sure what the future will hold?