Chapter 151: President Lu Helps! Latest Technology Used for Tomb Excavation

A eunuch who made significant contributions and died of natural causes during the reign of Zhu Di. That narrowed the possibilities down considerably.

Before she could explain the fabric’s origin, the graduate students were already engrossed in examining the geological formations and rock features. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhengyi was busy studying the Phoebe Coffin.

Gu Shengsheng: "..." ’Seriously? Does no one care about this cloth?’

She said, "Mr. Zhang, there’s more to this cloth than meets the eye."

Zhang Zhengyi held a finger to his lips, shushing her.

Then he started winking and making faces, but Gu Shengsheng couldn’t figure out what he meant. She just scratched her head, completely baffled.

’Is Mr. Zhang’s eye twitching?’

Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Zhengyi said calmly, "It’s just a piece of cloth. You should take it home and keep it as a memento. I’ll talk to the authorities and get the paperwork processed for you."

Gu Shengsheng finally understood. ’The old man is helping me!’ He knew she liked it, so he was helping her secure it.

However, Gu Shengsheng felt that acquiring something so valuable would surely involve a lot of complications down the road.

’But... he’s already helped me this much. I can’t let Mr. Zhang’s efforts go to waste, can I? Besides, even if I can’t take it home in the end, I might be able to leverage this to negotiate for other benefits.’

The others around them didn’t understand either. ’Isn’t it just a piece of yellow cloth?’ They’d seen red and blue cloth before. In ancient tombs, you could find all sorts of fabrics.

To them, it was just material for a research paper or historical record. It was the same for any artifact; all they needed for their research were rubbings and photographs.

’Anyway, Shengsheng has done so much and has become our linchpin. If it doesn’t go to her, who else deserves it? The idea of it going to that museum bunch who just sit around and collect things... they can dream on!’

So, everyone chimed in, "Sister Gu, you should just take it."

"There are so many artifacts here. We can sort it out once we’re outside."

"Alright." Gu Shengsheng nodded and accepted it for now. They could discuss the rest later. Then, she got busy working with the others.

Just as everyone was about to wrap up their investigation, there was a loud RUMBLE.

A young man in glasses ran in, his face a mask of astonishment. "Great news!"

"The survey team from outside has located us! And they brought ten excavators! They were all express-shipped here."

Zhang Zhengyi looked puzzled. "That’s strange... Our rescue team is capable, and so is the survey team. But I don’t think they’re *this* efficient!"

Just then, the two people who had gone missing crawled out of the hidden passage. "We’re okay," they announced.

They were indeed alright, aside from some cuts and scrapes. One of them had a minor fracture from the sudden fall; his bones just couldn’t take the impact.

They were still a bit worked up. "We were just exploring that tomb. We didn’t find anything, but at least we didn’t get seriously hurt."

Zhang Zhengyi nodded. "That’s good to hear. The passage is open now. Let’s move the artifacts out, collect any samples needed for research, and then hand the site over to the excavators and the survey team."

With that, the group began packing everything up. The rescue team was also there, helping them carry everything out piece by piece.

Once they were outside, Gu Shengsheng’s phone finally got a signal.

She was standing with Zhang Zhengyi, asking about the excavators, when her phone rang. It was Lu Shijing. When she looked closer, she saw she had 54 missed calls...

"Shengsheng." His voice on the other end of the line was urgent.

"...Mr. Ryan? What is it? I was just down in the tomb; there was no signal," Gu Shengsheng explained, assuming he needed her for something.

Lu Shijing let out a sigh of relief. "As long as you’re okay. Are you hurt?"

"I’m not."

Just then, the excavator operator explained, "Mr. Zhang, the reason we got here so fast is that the LG Group sponsored the operation. That’s right. These excavators are state-of-the-art foreign models. They were airlifted here."

Gu Shengsheng: "..." ’Now I get it. This was all Lu Shijing’s doing.’

Fortunately, she was still on the phone with him.

She then asked, "Thank you. But how did you get everything ready in advance? You were even faster than the local survey team."

He sounded like he was rubbing his brow in resignation. "I happened to be at your house that day when you rushed off. I figured if you were going to a tomb, you’d probably need this kind of equipment."

"So you started making arrangements right then?"

"Yes. I’m just glad I could help."

Gu Shengsheng thanked him again, her heart filled with a complicated mix of emotions. It felt so good to have a friend who cared this much about her.

Just as she was feeling a little flustered, Zhang Zhengyi leaned in.

Holding an iPad, he said, "This LG Group... they must be the ones you’ve worked with before. Shengsheng, you’ve really done us a huge favor this time."

"Now that we know the exact location of the tomb complex, I can map out the entire terrain. If we use their precision equipment for the excavation, I think we can get twice the results with half the effort!"

Zhang Zhengyi was genuinely excited now. "A week at most! In just one week, we can have this entire tomb site cleared and processed."

"Shengsheng, we really have your boyfriend to thank for this! I just never imagined your boyfriend was with the LG Group. His background is formidable."

Gu Shengsheng quickly explained, "He’s not my boyfriend. He’s the president of LG. We’ve just worked together on a project before."

"Besides, Mr. Zhang, I have a husband. I’m married," Gu Shengsheng stressed.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m not some out-of-touch old codger; I get it. I bet your grandmother would support you finding someone new, too. The other day, Zhao Dehai and I ran into your grandmother at a banquet, and she actually asked us to help find a match for you."

"And look, here one is!"

Gu Shengsheng was speechless. ’I don’t even know what to say anymore.’

’It seems he’s made up his mind. There’s no explaining this to him.’

Gu Shengsheng felt too tired to explain anymore and decided to just let it go. But then, Zhang Zhengyi continued, "Shengsheng."

"But when things get serious between you two, you need to be careful. Don’t let some man pull the wool over your eyes. Even if he’s from LG and very capable, it means nothing if his character is bad. When the time is right, Zhao Dehai, Director Gao Liu, and I will all help you vet him."

"...Don’t worry, Mr. Zhang. That won’t be happening anytime soon."

Gu Shengsheng said quickly, "I’m going to go help move the artifacts. They need to be transported to the museum."

She was far more concerned with her artifacts—and her own earning potential—than with matters of the heart.

...

「The next day」

The artifacts, along with the research rubbings and the epitaph, were all at the museum.

The head of the Archaeological Survey Department, Zhang Zhengyi, and many others were gathered there.

Members of the media were all around, constantly taking pictures, and Gu Shengsheng had started her live stream as well.

It was, in effect, a press conference marking the conclusion of the archaeological dig.

As an online celebrity, Gu Shengsheng naturally became the center of attention.

But of course, the most excited people were the ’Treasure Buddies’ in her live stream chat:

"OMG, Sister Gu! I could just die! Today’s press conference is being broadcast live on CCTV!"

"Other appraisal streamers are just in it for the money, but she’s on a whole other level—getting more and more mainstream and patriotic! And that look in her eyes is more determined than anyone’s."

"You can never go wrong with being patriotic. I’m a die-hard fan for life!"