The journey that follows is smooth sailing.

Three hours later, Luo Chao finally arrived at his destination.

After getting off the vehicle, Luo Chao did not linger. He bought a map nearby, called for a car, and headed in the direction of the Gold River.

Luo Chao didn't go directly to the Gold River; instead, he rented a room nearby and bought some daily necessities. He planned to spend some time here, so renting a room was the best choice. Staying in a hotel, even though he had some savings, would soon drain his funds.

It was a small room, enough to fit a bed and a desk, with an attached bathroom.

This was what Luo Chao liked most. Since entering high school, he had to take a shower almost daily and felt uncomfortable if he didn't. Hence, having a restroom in the room made everything else negotiable.

The rent was four hundred yuan a month, which Luo Chao didn't haggle and directly paid the landlord four hundred yuan to rent for a month. He wasn't yet sure if he'd stay long-term, so he only paid one month's rent.

After an hour of organizing, Luo Chao tidied up the room, locked it, and went out. Since he decided to hang around the Gold River, he needed to gather some information about the local situation.

He had heard before arriving that this area was extremely chaotic, brimming with gangs, fights, and territory disputes occur daily. Furthermore, there was something crucial he had to do: figuring out how to dig gold?

If he couldn't solve this problem, he'd have nothing else to do.

He exited a small alley and arrived on a bustling street, which was quite lively. The street was crowded with people wearing various outfits. This place was a border area, gathering many ethnic minorities, which was not surprising.

Luo Chao walked along the street and noticed on both sides many shops advertising gold mining tools, but he didn't enter any of these shops and just continued walking.

With directions from passersby, Luo Chao finally arrived at the Gold River—a golden river about fifty meters wide. Looking across, the river was crowded, with everyone holding a small tool, scooping in the river.

The river water wasn't very rapid, and several places in the river exposed golden sand dunes. Occasionally, gray waterfowls rested on these deserted sand dunes, only to be frightened away by people.

"Is this how you mine for gold? Looks quite simple!" Luo Chao remarked, observing the gold miners on the river.

Everyone held a wooden box and a small sieve. Using the wooden box, they scooped a box full of sand and mud from the river, poured it into the sieve, and gently sifted in the water. Occasionally someone laughed aloud as they found a small golden pellet to place carefully into an exquisite small box.

Walking along the riverbank for a while, Zhou Yi saw an elderly man by the river ahead, occasionally finding one or two golden pellets to place in a delicate box in his bosom, while others around lacked his speed, clearly pointing to some knack the elder had.

Luo Chao smoothed his long hair to his ear, revealing a wholesome smile, and approached the elder.

"Hello, Uncle?" Luo Chao greeted softly beside the elder. If anyone else heard, they'd surely slap Luo Chao, for the elder looked at least seventy or eighty years old, yet Luo Chao called him uncle, wasn't that asking for trouble?

"Young man, how could you be so rude? I am old enough to be your grandfather, yet you call me uncle?" Upon hearing Luo Chao, the elder raised his head, glanced at Luo Chao, and said angrily.

However, Luo Chao noticed a spark of joy in the elder's eyes, realizing the elder actually liked being addressed this way.

"Sorry, Uncle, at a glance at your age, you'd only look to be an uncle to me, how could you resemble a grandfather?" Seeing the joy in the elder's eyes, Luo Chao felt relieved, thinking there's a chance, and said to the elder.

"You young lad, sweet-talking, but I can't be your uncle. Just call me grandpa, huh?" The elder said with a broad smile.

Upon hearing the elder's words, Luo Chao showed a peculiar expression, pondering silently: I normally only call facilities like you grandpa, not grandpa!

"What? Not willing?" The elder noticed Luo Chao's odd expression and assumed Luo Chao was unwilling to call him that, his smile fading as he spoke sternly.

"No, how could I not? I just feel sorry calling you grandpa, but since you like it, I'll call you grandpa then!" Luo Chao responded with a forced smile, even though his words were inelegant. However, judging by the elder's expression, he clearly didn't perceive any impropriety in what Luo Chao said.

"Grandpa, do you often come here to mine for gold?" Luo Chao asked tentatively.

"Yes, I come almost every day. I arrived here when I was your age at twenty and never left since. Initially, I aimed for gold and fortune, but later found I felt uneasy if I didn't mine for gold. Once a behavior becomes a habit, it's hard to break free from it. I can't seem to part with it since I got involved!" The elder replied with a smile.

"Young man, I perceive from your accent that you aren't local, huh?"

"Grandpa, you are indeed sharp-eyed; I've just arrived here. I came hoping to earn some money to return home after hearing it's easy to get rich gold mining here." Luo Chao admitted frankly to the elder.

"Nowadays, gold mining here is no longer as easy as it was. This area has been divided by various major gangs. Everyone coming here to mine, any gold found is subjected to a ten percent tax to those gangs. The area we currently reside is under control by Qingmu Society; any gold mined must pay ten percent to Qingmu Society." The elder kindly warned Luo Chao.

"Paying ten percent, isn't that robbery?" Luo Chao exclaimed. Ten percent was excessive, more ruthless than robbery.

"Keep your voice down; don't let others hear. Though everyone around seems like gold miners, many are sent by Qingmu Society to monitor. Anyone daring to pocket gold and evade tax will find themselves regretting it. Last month, a youngster about your age hid gold privately, and the next day, he vanished from the world." The elder said quietly with underlying fear.

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