But I feel this is not a dream, because everything was too real.
I stumbled deeper and saw a grand hall, where singers and dancers perford and people drank and made rry.
I was invited to join, they asked many questions, and I asked so too.
I can’t recall the specifics of our conversation; just rember we talked for a long ti and drank a lot, until I finally passed out.
When I awoke, I found myself lying in a tent in the camp.
Doesn’t it sound like "The Peach Blossom Record"?
Tan Wenbin nodded: "Indeed, and just like the narrow path opening up suddenly into a bright scene, the subsequent developnt is similar too, with the chatting and the generous offer of food and wine."
Xue Liangliang asked, "Then, did you report this upwards?"
"Of course, I reported it. But there were quite a few reports those days, so saw soldiers in ancient armor in the passage, others saw strange won in ancient dress.
"And what of the investigation afterward, and that crack?"
"Afterward, the water level rose, and the project was subrged. It seems sothing happened to those key areas, and not everyone made it out. As for more detailed specifics, I’m not aware.
Our mission was essentially halted midway, and there’s been no follow-up to my report."
Xue Liangliang: "Do the superiors not believe it?"
Luo Tingrui shook his head: "It’s more likely they do believe, but still think it’s unimportant."
Tan Wenbin said: "Then it’s not like ’The Peach Blossom Record’ anymore, what you tell sounds sowhat eerie, whereas ’The Peach Blossom Record’ is a beautiful story."
Li Zhiyuan chid in: "Maybe the place ntioned in ’The Peach Blossom Record’ isn’t ant for the living."
"Xiao Yuan, why would you say that?" Luo Tingrui curiously looked at the boy again.
"I was just inspired. Could you share more details, teacher?"
"Details? Sure, do you have paper and pen? I’ll draw."
"I have!" Tan Wenbin quickly fetched his notebook and pen and handed them over.
Luo Tingrui began to draw; his ticulous stroke work captured the fine details, first a piece of clothing, then a knife, and lastly a set of armor.
Clearly, this incident, though many years passed, still lingered in Mr. Luo’s mind, ruminating occasionally, otherwise he couldn’t possibly rember with such clarity.
All four leaned in to look, but to the other three, it was just ancient artifacts; they couldn’t make much else out.
Li Zhiyuan after a glance remarked, "Korea?"
Luo Tingrui crossed his arms, and seriously asked: "Xiao Yuan, have you really not considered switching your major?"
The boy imdiately shook his head.
"I’m just afraid of burying your talent." Luo Tingrui reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair, "What all is packed into this brain of yours?"
Tan Wenbin voiced his confusion: "What is ’Gao Gou Li’?"
Xue Liangliang provided: "That’s a mispronunciation of ’Korea.’"
Tan Wenbin realized, "Oh, I see, I know it now. Good thing history exams don’t test pronunciation."
Luo Tingrui continued, "Later, I sketched so things I saw in the dream, and after much inquiring, only barely started to uncover so clues."
This northeastern regi, Korea, had a significant presence over a long duration, fad particularly as a backdrop during the eras of Emperor Yang of Sui, Tang Taizong, and Tang Gaozong. Generally, our nationals are less interested in its cultural aspects, whereas it’s more favored in South Korea as part of their heritage.
This is why Luo Tingrui was so astonished when Li Zhiyuan recognized it.
"Later, for work and personal reasons, I made several trips to Ji’an, including my last two visits to experts specialized in Korean cultural studies and visiting their museums, which confird that my dream was not fictitious, as I had never encountered anything about Korea in reality. How could I have possibly imagined it?"
Xue Liangliang inquired, "What about that project, teacher?"
Luo Tingrui lit a cigarette, taking a puff, "I looked back two years ago and found that the issues with that project were far more severe than I knew, but all relevant information and files were sealed and inaccessible."
Tan Wenbin jokingly said: "You really can’t forget it, like treating it as your unrequited love."
Even Luo Tingrui laughed to the analogy: "Indeed, I was young back then, and started working early, was barely older than you guys now.
In fact, in my later work, I encountered several even graver and more bizarre events."
Tan Wenbin eagerly urged, "Tell us about those."
"I can’t, for the Korea incident, I have no right to access the files, and the latter cases are part of the records ant to stay classified."
"Ah, what a pity," Tan Wenbin sighed disappointedly.
"These things will co your way in ti, and you’ll also be expected to keep them secret.
Let’s focus on the current topic, forget the underground palaces, just the underground river you discovered is enough onDataChange Team Leader Ma’s proposal."
Xue Liangliang spoke, "Actually, this isn’t really about Team Leader Ma..."
"The higher-ups are aware, but when problems arise, soone must be accountable. Of course, he won’t be severely punished; much depends on whether he can recover from it.
I don’t want to see his tearful ss, nor am I interested in comforting him. Since the founding of the nation, countless roadside monunts to martyrs have been erected, I’ve witnessed many myself, and the best consolation for them is to keep building our holand."
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