The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 435: Chapter 435: Jinshan Bay Museum

Han Xiaorui said to Officer Li, ”I’ve already reported everything I know. What happens next is up to the various departments. I need to get back to my baby; he doesn’t drink formula.”

Officer Li said with admiration, ”Ms. Han, thank you.”

Han Xiaorui replied, ”You don’t have to thank me. It’s my duty. To be honest, I didn’t know about any of this either. It was only by accidentally finding these long-lost treasures that my suspicions were confirmed. Those foreign investors, trying every trick in the book to get their hands on a few unassuming little islands, had ulterior motives.”

Han Xiaorui explained that she only wanted to build a water park and an aquarium, not to take possession of the artifacts that the revolutionary martyrs had given their lives to protect.

Just as her boat returned to the docks, she saw two companies of soldiers waiting on the pier.

Yang Zhigang was there too. The soldiers were preparing to charter his fishing boats to go to the islands.

”Xiao Rui, what on earth is going on?” Yang Zhigang asked.

Han Xiaorui answered, ”Uncle Yang, on the islands we leased, there are cultural artifacts that our revolutionary martyrs seized from the Jap devils’ ships. People from the Cultural Relics Bureau, the museum, an archaeology professor, the police, and the Shencheng Film Studio have all gone over already.”

”They’ve confirmed the location of one stash of treasure. The martyrs’ notebooks mention other hiding spots, so Officer Li reported it up the chain and requested military support.”

As soon as Yang Zhigang heard this, he said, ”Comrades, get on board. This boat of mine isn’t for fishing anymore. It’s for the military to use.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I have more boats, use mine. Comrades, hurry and get on board. Some foreign businessmen have already set their sights on these islands, and they must be after this treasure.”

”Comrades, you must be on high alert. Do not allow anyone suspicious to approach the islands under any circumstances. This isn’t just about protecting those artifacts; it’s about safeguarding the heroic deeds of our revolutionary martyrs.”

Captain Zhang stepped forward, saluted Han Xiaorui, and said, ”Thank you, Ms. Han. We will definitely protect the islands and the treasure.”

Everyone boarded the boats. The two vessels headed straight for the islands.

Over two hundred people, with several dozen stationed on each island, stood guard with live ammunition.

Han Xiaorui specifically left a large boat for them and also lent them her smaller boats to make communication easier.

News that treasure recovered from the Jap devils during the War of Resistance had been discovered on the islands of Jinshan Bay immediately spread through Shencheng’s upper echelons.

The military, the police, and various government departments all began paying close attention.

Warships were also dispatched to patrol the surrounding waters.

When the Japanese got the news, they stopped mentioning their plans to build a water park on the islands. They bought plane tickets to leave Shencheng that very night but were stopped.

Although they weren’t detained, their freedom was restricted. They were not allowed to leave and were awaiting further investigation.

The district leadership broke out in a cold sweat.

If they had helped the Japanese investors secure those islands, they would have been labeled traitors, even if they weren’t intentionally acting as such.

Director Zhao was incredibly grateful to Han Xiaorui. ’Thankfully, she said what she did to me back then,’ he thought. ’That’s why I kept avoiding those people.’

He had dragged his feet again and again, and in doing so, dragged the truth into the light.

Director Wu said to Director Zhao, ”Director Zhao, you will continue to follow up on the development of the Jinshan Bay islands. Fully assist Comrade Han Xiaorui with the construction of the water park and aquarium, and give her every preferential policy our district can offer.”

Director Zhao assented, ”Yes, Director.”

Meanwhile, the national security department followed the trail and caught many spies and several corrupt officials.

The evidence against them was ironclad. The higher-ups were now waiting for the other side to request negotiations, ready to seize the opportunity to bargain for more related technology and equipment.

It could be said that it was Han Xiaorui’s selflessness, quick wits, and meticulous nature that had found the ”magic weapon” for this crucial victory.

The recently completed Jinshan Bay Collection Museum was now designated as the repository for the Jinshan Bay treasure.

Not only was it now under heavy guard, but the discovery had also caused a massive public reaction.

Professor Xu and Director Tang led their teams in a flurry of activity, organizing the artifacts, labeling them, and sorting them into display cases and onto exhibition stands.

The military also took the matter very seriously. While searching the islands, they unexpectedly discovered three foreign surveillance devices in the water.

In addition, following the notebook’s clues, search teams found more treasure in other locations.

Among the findings were a full thirty-eight tons of gold. Everyone was overjoyed, but also heartbroken—what the Jap devils had stolen back then was far more.

However, none of this had much to do with Han Xiaorui anymore.

Her main concern now was the Jinshan Bay Museum. ’Can it hold all the artifacts?’

Furthermore, security and future maintenance work would all have to be arranged by government departments.

She could let the government’s cultural heritage department use the venue she built for free, but thirty percent of future ticket revenue would go to her.

”Director Li, once I’ve recouped the construction costs for this museum, I will no longer take a share of the ticket revenue,” Han Xiaorui said. ”All proceeds will be used to maintain these artifacts or be handed over to the state.”

Director Li laughed. ”Deal. After all, you built such a fine, large museum; every brick and tile has a cost. Our public-private partnership is a win-win. Once you’ve recouped your costs, you won’t take any ticket revenue. Perhaps in the future, as the economy grows, we won’t even charge for tickets, to attract more people to visit Jinshan Bay.”

Han Xiaorui deeply agreed. ”It’s a cultural exhibition, meant to help our countrymen understand the artifacts and our history. If it’s free, the audience will be much larger.”

If the government was making it free from the outset, Han Xiaorui would have waived her share immediately, but the time for that hadn’t come yet.

Director Li asked, ”Ms. Han, I heard from Director Tang that you want to fund a movie about this treasure?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ’This is something that has to be done,’ she thought.

She felt that the story of those heroes was even more important than the artifacts themselves.

Without those martyrs, these precious artifacts would have been stolen and scattered overseas long ago.

”Yes, I want to make it. I want this thrilling and moving story to be widely known. I want the people of Hua Country to know that our ancestors once sacrificed their precious lives for our nation’s independence and to protect our cultural heritage.”

”Of course, I have my own selfish reasons too. I want to take this opportunity to promote the Jinshan Bay Museum, promote these artifacts, and also promote tourism in Jinshan Bay. After the movie is finished, I also plan to restore the caves where the treasure was found and turn them into a tourist attraction.”

As Director Li listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. ”Excellent! That’s wonderful! That’s exactly what we should do. This is a great initiative with multiple benefits. Our Cultural Tourism Bureau will provide all possible assistance to help make this film a success.”

”Thank you, Director Li. This film won’t just be released nationwide; it will also be screened continuously in the Jinshan Bay Museum. Every person who comes to the museum can watch the movie for free...”

Director Li found Han Xiaorui’s series of suggestions to be very novel, yet highly effective for promoting tourism.

Director Li jotted down her suggestions, thinking they could be promoted in other places as well.

Zhang Yong, a screenwriter from the Shencheng Film Studio, got a photocopied version of the notebook and read it from beginning to end, not missing a single word.

He also followed the archaeology team from start to finish, recording videos and taking photos, documenting every last detail.

Based on the names in the notebook, they began searching for their unit designations and organizations.

After organizing the relevant materials, he made a special trip to visit Han Xiaorui.