When the brigade leader announced that a movie projectionist would be coming to screen a film, the entire brigade erupted with excitement.
Movies held a special place in the hearts of people of this era.
Everyone was curious about new things. While radios, which only produced sound, were immensely popular, movies—with both visuals and sound—were on another level of fascination.
Though the weather had turned cold and snow had yet to fall, it did nothing to dampen everyone’s burning enthusiasm for the movie.
People carried heavy portable stoves—simple devices made from old small jars or enamel mugs, woven with bamboo strips into a basket-like design that could be carried around.
When going out, they would place some charcoal inside the jar and carry it wherever they went. Set by their feet, it warmed both hands and toes, providing comfort as long as the charcoal lasted.
Nearly every household in the area used these.
When not warming the kang (heated brick bed), everyone gathered around the charcoal fire. Besides, who could stay on the kang all day?
Whenever they went out, they carried these small stoves. Unless it was snowing heavily, folks would stroll around, visit each other, share gossip, and enjoy lively conversations.
Now, with the movie screening announced, everyone immediately dug out the small stoves they had stored away all summer and prepared the charcoal.
Song Wei was also curious. On the day of the screening, not only did their brigade turn out, but people from neighboring brigades who had heard the news arrived early in the morning, bringing their own small stools.
Long before the projectionist arrived, the threshing ground was already packed. Those who couldn’t find seats stood, but no one was willing to leave.
It was clear just how popular the movie was.
Most people had small warming stoves placed beside them.
The projectionist received the best treatment—the brigade leader provided a large heating stove for them to warm themselves.
When Song Wei arrived to take a look, she was astonished.
An elderly woman who was friendly with her immediately called out, “Over here, Comrade Song! We can squeeze together and make room for you. Why are you so late? When it comes to watching movies, you can’t afford to be late. How could you not be enthusiastic about this?”
Song Wei thought to herself, I’m just here to take a look.
She was genuinely interested in watching the movie, but she also wanted to check on the giant serpent in the mountains and see what would happen to the spies.
So, she had to choose between the two.
With a heavy heart, Song Wei gave up the movie.
After all, she could always watch movies later by buying tickets at the city cinema.
But witnessing spies and a giant serpent in action was a rare opportunity—perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime event.
“I’m just here to take a look. Lin Zhen and I have something to attend to, so we have to go.”
“What could be more important than watching a movie? Look at Fourth Lin—even his bedridden mother isn’t as important as this movie to him.”
Song Wei followed the woman’s pointing finger and saw Fourth Lin squeezed into the crowd with his wife and children.
They weren’t too far away and seemed to have overheard. Fourth Lin turned around with a dark expression.
Song Wei and the elderly women weren’t afraid. So what if they were gossiping behind his back? They’d even gossip right to his face!
Fourth Lin turned away. He wouldn’t bother arguing with these short-sighted women!
Song Wei crouched among the elderly women, pulled out some sunflower seeds, and handed them over.
“Enjoy the show. Let’s chat when I get back.”
With that, she stood up and left.
She had mainly come to soak in the atmosphere of the movie screening.
It was truly popular.
Brushing off her hands, she headed home.
Lin Zhen had already prepared everything.
Bows, arrows, and guns.
That’s right, including guns—pistols, to be precise. These had also been requisitioned from the police station.
“Can you handle this?”
Song Wei took the gun, a delighted smile spreading across her face. “Of course.”
“Take this dagger too. It’s for close combat if needed.”
“And these—these are medicines I got from Old Ji. Some are specifically for snake venom. They can neutralize minor toxins, but for severe poison, they’ll only alleviate the effects. There’s also insect-repellent powder…”
He had clearly thought of everything.
Being with Lin Zhen was such a relief—she hardly needed to use her brain at all.
Once equipped, they went to rendezvous with the police comrades.
Meanwhile, Widow Hu and the others seized the opportunity to set out as well.
Zhao Yuyin was among them, clutching a hand-drawn map.
“According to what they said, Dabei Mountain should be right here.”
She had worked hard for the treasure, even mapping out the location of Dabei Mountain.
“Remember our deal—I get a share of the treasure when we find it.”
But in her heart, Zhao Yuyin was thinking, Once you’ve finished killing each other off with those snakes, all the treasure will be mine.
“Naturally,” replied a middle-aged man with a thin mustache, his Chinese awkward and stilted.
“Miss Zhao, I look forward to a successful collaboration.”
His eyes gleamed with cunning. Foolish woman.
Everyone in this group had their own hidden agendas.
They set off along the route Zhao Yuyin had drawn.
Not far behind, Lin Zhen and the others trailed them.
Using binoculars, they followed at a distance where they couldn’t be seen, each of them skilled in stealth.
Some comrades had already taken up positions near the tomb entrance, while those tracking the spies were the most agile, tasked with gathering intelligence.
“It’s definitely them—the ones from that country. Those bastards just surrendered, and already they’re causing trouble again.”
“Did you really expect them to stay quiet? Well, it’s just as well. There are quite a few of them, and several speak fluent Chinese. They must be spies planted in our country. This is a good chance to take them all down in one go.”
“That educated youth, Zhao Yuyin, is playing with fire. Does she really think those spies will share the tomb treasure with her? How naive.”
Song Wei dropped down from where she’d been hanging upside down from a tree. “She doesn’t just think it—she’s aiming even higher. Zhao Yuyin is banking on the spies and the tomb snakes wiping each other out. She wants them to trigger all the traps so she can swoop in and claim the treasure for herself.”
The others fell silent.
Now that’s truly wild fantasizing.
Had it never occurred to her that the spies might use her as a pawn?
People blinded by greed often act recklessly and illogically.
And Zhao Yuyin was never particularly clever to begin with.
Following Zhao Yuyin’s route, they finally reached their destination after a grueling journey.
The middle-aged man, initially skeptical of Zhao Yuyin, now seemed convinced.
He had tested her along the way—her first time here was clearly genuine.
“Is that it? Is that the cave?”
Zhao Yuyin looked disheveled but was electrified with excitement at the sight of the cave.
Finally, I’ve found it! The treasure in the royal tomb was rumored to be vast enough to rival a nation’s wealth. If she could secure it, she would rise above everyone else!
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