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42. Luoyang Blade

Li Muquan cut off the vines near the grave and approached

with Chen Ming. He lowered his head and began to murmur piously, apologizing

to his grandfather.

The dust on the ground was dry, and it didn’t look like a damp environment

with waterlogging. But Chen Ming was still confident. He picked up the

shovel and put the extension pole on it.

The tool’s professional name was Luoyang Spade.

The shovel was utterly different from that of an iron shovel. Its

surface was curved towards the center and formed half a cylinder. The

rod was thin and long, long enough to reach Chen Ming’s chin.

It was invented for tomb robbers to explore the ground since ancient times. It was convenient and would not make a loud sound when being used. Even archaeologists loved it and developed  an

electric version.

After the preliminary preparation, Chen Ming stood with his feet turning outward and was about to dig the ground when stopped by Li Muquan, “Come

and greet my grandfather.”

Chen Ming was so pissed that his mouth twitched,

“What?”

“Just tell me what you’re doing.”

Li Muquan wanted him to explain politely in case he disturbed

the one underground. But Chen Ming was reluctant to do so. He said,”

Let’s get started and dig a hole,” and then began digging.

Li Muquan exclaimed and hurried to apologize.

Chen Ming put half of the shovelhead in, rotated for half a

circle, and pulled it out with some dry soil. The bottom was damper. He knocked

the earth down and firmly plunged into the small hole.

Rotated for half a circle, pulled it out, and knocked the earth

down. He repeated this process until the finger-long hole was deeper. The soil

was wetter, and the dirt color gradually changed from yellowish-brown to

muddy-brown. Li Muquan and Zhou Nan were stunned.

The sound of the last plunge was weird, and when Chen Ming pulled it off,

everything was clear. What was left was mud water and could not be shovelled out.

Chen Ming stood leaning against the Luoyang shovel, sighed with

relief, and smiled proudly at Li Muquan, “What do you say, little

brother?”

“This…” Li Muquan paused for a moment and quickly

apologized to Chen Ming, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s the first time that

I learn about these things.”

Chen Ming didn’t take it and poked his forehead, saying,

“Don’t be so cocky if you know nothing about it. It’s my profession, and I

am not a liar, Ok?”

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault…” Li Muquan repeatedly

apologized, “I… I’ll pay you the taxi fare. What do you think?”

Zhou Nan immediately predicted that Chen Ming would

accept happily. But he refused, “It’s not easy for you to make money, save

it. There’s no need to pay the remaining money in a hurry. Take your time. No interest.”

Li Muquan was stunned for a while before he understood. He quickly

bowed and thanked him, “You’re a good guy. Thank you, thank you…”

“You should clean up your grandfather’s grave. I’ll leave

first. Don’t see me off.” With that, Chen Ming left.

However, he still decided to save money by walking home.

There was no one on the country road, and Chen Ming said to Zhou

Nan, “How about that? I’m not stingy, am I?”

All this time, he had been called stingy, and he should’ve been accustomed

to it. But after Zhou Nan said it a few days ago, he felt uncomfortable for the

first time and had been finding examples to refute it.

It was quite inexplicable.

“Not stingy, not stingy. But if you spare

that one thousand yuan, it will be better.” The first half sentence was how Zhou Nan truly felt, and the second half was a joke.

But Chen Ming took it seriously and said, “That’s

impossible. I also need to make a living. I am mot a philanthropist, and these

are all I can do. Li Muquan is a healthy man, and it will only take him time to pay

the remaining money. Kindness is not turning a capable laborer into a lazy

beggar.”

Zhou Nan was surprised. He didn’t expect Chen

Ming to be so serious. But after carefully pondering Chen Ming’s words, he couldn’t

help but feel dwarfed: “Alas, for the first time, I find you to be so positive!”

It was a compliment, but Chen Ming’s focus was different:”Delete ‘for the first time’! I’ve always been positive!”

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