Chapter 434 Road Construction
"Is this the ore we're after?" I asked, dropping my heavy backpack and squatting next to Elliot to pick up a similar small ore for a closer look.
Just then, a local guy strolled over, lugging a big bag full of the same kind of ore. "Elliot, check these out. Are these the stones you mentioned?"
Elliot and I leaned in to peek into the bag. Most of the stones looked like the ones we had, each marked with different numbers using some special pen, probably some kind of code.
Pointing to a few big pieces, Elliot asked the local guy, "Where'd you find these? Are they marked right?"
"Yep, I remember exactly where I got each one." The local guy set the bag down, plopped next to Elliot, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket.
The notebook had a rough map, matching the numbered stones with the numbers on the map. Elliot was impressed; the guy had followed his instructions perfectly.
Grinning at Elliot's praise, the local guy asked, "Elliot, since we found so many, are you planning to start mining here?"
"Depends on the reserves. If the ore's scattered and not much, mining's a no-go. But if there's a lot and it's concentrated, then yeah, we might have a shot." Elliot replied, weighing a piece of ore in his hand.
The local guy leaned against a rock, his smile fading, "Well, if we can't mine, building a road would be great too. With a road, the kids could go to school, and we could sell our crops. Every year, they just rot on the ground; it's such a waste."
His words hit both Elliot and me hard. The lines on his weathered face, the calluses on his hands, and his stooped back told a story of a tough life.
Honestly, my family had it pretty good, and I'd never really struggled. Seeing stuff like this on TV never really hit home.
But seeing this guy and the hope in his eyes made me realize how clueless I was about real hardship. Some things were way more impactful in person than on TV.
Elliot put away the ore, turned, and sat down next to the local guy, picking a relatively clean spot, and started chatting with him.
As a girl, I found it harder to talk to strangers, so I just sat next to Elliot and listened.
To find the ore, Elliot wore a dark blue work suit, carried a big bag, and had a sizable toolbox. This getup made it easier for the local guy to open up to us.
The local guy said that even though this place wasn't super remote, it was still over 200 miles from the nearest city.
The best road was gravel, and the rest were dirt. Especially the last few dozen miles near the village, the road was awful because of all the traffic from people and livestock.
When it rained, it was impossible to go out; every step would sink into deep mud. It was really tough for villagers to get to the city.
There were elementary and middle schools around here, but they were far away and shared with a bunch of nearby villages.
The teaching resources were pretty scarce, making it tough for the kids to get a decent education.
Lots of families wanted their kids to study in town, but the adults didn't have the time to take them. The road to town was rough, and they couldn't trust the kids to go alone.
"If we had a proper road, the kids could leave the mountains and find a better future. We can't be stuck here forever," the local guy said, his words hitting us like a ton of bricks.
This heaviness was a whole different kind of weight compared to what Jenny made me feel. Her problems seemed so small in comparison.
"Why so quiet?" Elliot asked, turning to me.
I gave a faint smile, drawing in the dirt with a stick to hide my feelings. "I just feel bad and don't know what to say."
"Because of what he said?"
I nodded. "Elliot, can't they really build a road?"
"It's not that they can't or don't want to. This area gets hit by natural disasters a lot, which makes maintaining a road tough. Plus, there might be rare species in the mountains, and overdevelopment could mess up the ecosystem. I heard the government is looking into it, and the plan is to find a good spot for the villagers to move to."
"That sounds like a good idea. I hope it happens soon. If they could move to town, the kids would have schools to go to." For the first time, I really understood what it felt like to worry deeply.
Before we left the mountains, the local guy gave us a tip about another nearby mountain with lots of the stones we were looking for. He even drew us a simple map to help us find them.
He acted as our guide and helped us out a lot. Elliot paid him $1,000, and the guy left gratefully, telling us to find him if we needed anything. His house was the first one at the village entrance, easy to spot.
By the time we got back to the hotel, it was already very late. Elliot carried the bag full of stones, and I had the toolbox. We were both covered in dust, with dried mud on our shoes.
When we walked into the lobby, we got a lot of stares. Most people looked at us curiously, while some sneered, clearly thinking we didn't belong in a fancy hotel.
I didn't care. Everyone had their own way of living and chasing their dreams; no one should judge anyone else.
"Elliot, put your stuff away, freshen up, and call me. We'll go out to eat."
"Okay, just leave the toolbox at my door. After you clean up, check with Professor Evans and the others. If they haven't eaten, we can all go together."
The elevator was on the 23rd floor, and Elliot and I waited patiently at the elevator entrance.
"Jane." A woman's voice suddenly called out from the lobby.
I tensed up.
The voice was so familiar it made me feel sick. I didn't bother to acknowledge Jenny, pretending I didn't hear her and refusing to turn around.
"Did someone call you?" Elliot asked, looking around for the person who called my name.
I shrugged. "Someone called me? Are you sure it was a person?"
Elliot, being sharp, quickly caught on that I was doing it on purpose and chuckled. He said I might seem weak, but I was actually pretty tough.
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