Chapter Nineteen: The Engineering Chronicles—Mining

Inside the vehicle, drowsiness hung heavily over everyone. Most of them had dozed off, slumped against the sides of the truck. Zhang Qinglin glanced at Old Seven, who was sleeping with his eyes shut, then turned his gaze back to the scenery outside. By the time they reached their destination, dawn was already breaking.

Everyone climbed down from the truck and headed into a patch of woods. Once through the trees, they saw several pieces of machinery scattered across the open ground in the distance, along with a collection of hand tools. Beyond that, an unbroken line of mountains rose up, and in the nearest slope, a gaping hole had been dug into the rock, its entrance braced with a makeshift wooden frame.

As he followed the group forward, Zhang Qinglin took in his surroundings with careful eyes. Old Seven nudged him with an elbow. “Don’t stare around…” he murmured before glancing warily at the burly overseer up ahead and hurrying forward.

There were no obvious landmarks in this area. The whole group gathered near the machines, heads down as they picked up their tools, then moved toward the mouth of the cave.

“Zhang, we’re not seriously here to dig for ore, are we? This is crazy. If there’s a chance, let’s slip away!” Cheng Che set Da Zhuang down by his side and whispered angrily as he came up to Zhang Qinglin.

“What are you doing? No whispering. Pick up your tools and get to work. And you—idiot—stop nodding off and get inside!” The dark-skinned overseer barked at them.

Zhang Qinglin noticed the whip hanging from the man’s belt. He pressed Cheng Che forward toward the pile of tools, muttering under his breath, “Don’t count on leaving today. Look…”

Near the entrance, men patrolled with electric batons in hand—unmistakably their guards. If anyone tried to run, they’d taste the sting of electricity soon enough. Picking up a tool, Zhang Qinglin walked over to Da Zhuang, took his arm, and led him toward the cave.

Inside, a pungent lime smell hit them immediately. Following the others, Zhang Qinglin and his companions soon reached a fork in the tunnel—one side a finished passage, the other still half-excavated.

The overseer pointed toward the unfinished tunnel. “You two, here. Idiot, come with me.” Grabbing Da Zhuang by the collar, he dragged him toward the passage.

Zhang Qinglin hurried after them, tool in hand. “Wait. Let the fool stay here with him. I’ll go with you.”

“You work where you’re told. Don’t give me trouble—just get to work,” the overseer snapped, frowning in irritation.

Zhang Qinglin pointed at Da Zhuang’s head. “Look at him—he’ll just slow you down. It’s only clearing rocks here anyway. The two of them can handle it.”

The overseer glared at Zhang Qinglin, his eyes darting as he considered. Finally, he let go of Da Zhuang’s shirt. “Fine. You come with me. You two, listen up—these rocks must be cleared by noon, or you don’t eat.”

“Zhang, be careful. Don’t worry, I’ll watch over Da Zhuang,” Cheng Che called out, reluctant to part ways, but with no choice.

Zhang Qinglin followed the overseer deep into the tunnel, turning yet another corner until they reached a spot where several other men were already digging with their tools. The overseer pointed to a vacant space ahead.

“You’re responsible for that area,” he said, then turned and walked away.

Inside the cramped, two-meter-high tunnel, only the narrow beams of miners’ lamps cut through the darkness. Each man swung his tool desperately, carving away at his assigned section.

Zhang Qinglin aimed his lamp at the rubble before him and set to work, shoveling at the loose rock.

He was digging in earnest when suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder.

He stopped, whipping around. The others were all hard at work, none paying him any mind.

He glanced to either side and behind him, but saw nothing. He returned to his task, but after a moment, something tapped him again.

That was when Zhang Qinglin sensed something was wrong. He gripped his tool tighter, anxiety twisting in his chest.