In the spacious and bright living room on the first floor of the villa, Wei Ran, who was sitting on the sofa, suppressed his surprise and swiped the screen again with his finger.
In the fifth photo, it is an M548 crawler transport vehicle. The cargo compartment of this vehicle is filled with Agent Orange barrels one after another.
Continuing to scroll back, in the sixth photo, there is a table full of cameras and various lenses in moisture-proof boxes!
These cameras include a Nikon Big F, a Leica M3, a Minolta SRT-101 camera, and an early waterproof Nikonos camera.
These four items were almost the most common “weapons” in the hands of field reporters who accompanied the army during the Vietnam War.
But in addition to these four cameras, there were two huge medium format cameras placed on the table.
Just looking at the iconic shapes, you can tell that these two almost identical cameras are Pentax 67s. Not only that, most of the various lenses installed in moisture-proof boxes on the table and even under the table are also the same as these two cameras.
Camera adapted.
Thanks to the clear enough photo taken on the tablet, Weiran can easily identify one of them after zooming in. One of them is a third-generation Pentax 67, and the other is a fourth-generation Pentax 67II.
There is no doubt that these two cameras were impossible to participate in the Vietnam War. Even the relatively early third-generation camera did not start production until the late 1980s, while the other one would not be launched until the late 1990s.
What's more, it's rare for an exam-specific pencil to carry such a large weight to the front line to take pictures. It's just like jumping in line at the gate of the Palace of Hell.
However, because of this, Wei Ran judged that the original owner of these cameras was most likely a war reporter, and it was very likely that he continued to make a living in photography after the war.
He could also see that this man was a wealthy man with plenty of money in his pocket, whether before, during or after the war.
Sure enough, without him asking, Zha Xifeng took the initiative to explain, "The owner of these things is Zach Kidd. He was sent to the front line as a war correspondent in 1967. In 1970, he returned to the United States
.”
After a pause, Zha Xifeng continued, "During the crisis, he made a friend, Li Youfu, who was Zach's translator and guide, as well as his photography assistant. In 1968, they were still with the army.
I was captured while filming.
Later, Zach escaped from the prisoner of war camp and returned to the United States successfully with the help of his friend Le Huu Phuc, but Le Huu Phuc chose to stay and join the Viet Cong."
"Join the Vietcong?" Wei Ran raised his eyebrows.
"right"
Zha Xifeng nodded, "The last contact between the two parties was after the end of the Vietnam War, which was already the autumn of 1976.
Mr. Zak, who had returned to his hometown to run a photo studio, received a package from Saigon, which contained the camera he used when he was captured, his pistol and watch.
Zach was very sure that those were sent by his friend Li Youfu, but in the rest of his life, he went to Yue Di many times, but never found or contacted his friend."
"How can he be sure that his friend is still alive?" Wei Ran asked after pondering for a long time.
"Those Buddhist items were sent to Mr. Zak from Saigon or Da Nang one after another after 1976."
As Zha Xifeng spoke, she lit up the tablet screen again, called up the second photo, and re-displayed the rather beautiful Buddhist knick-knacks, "This thing here was sent last Christmas.
"
Looking at the position of the other person's finger, it was a magic pestle that looked a little thicker than a cigarette. Judging from its color, it was most likely made of silver.
"Are you still sending gifts last year?"
Wei Ran was stunned for a moment, then swiped the tablet screen again, pointed at the Buddha statues in the fourth photo and asked, "Are these too?"
"These are not"
Zha Xifeng shook his head, "These are all souvenirs that Mr. Zach bought when he went to difficult places to visit his friends."
"Can't you find it through the logistics information?" Weiran asked.
"Cannot be found"
Zha Xifeng shook his head, "Every time I send a gift, the address and contact information are fake. Even if the identity information is true, it is basically stolen."
After reaching out and swiping on the screen a few times, Wei Ran pointed at the things in the other photos and asked, "What's going on with these things?"
"Except for the two largest cameras, which were used by Mr. Zak when he ran a photo studio after returning to the United States, the rest were sent to him by Li Youfu after the war."
Zha Xifeng explained one by one, "Except for his own sidearm, he bought all the other weapons, equipment and vehicles at a charity auction organized by VN15."
Having said this, he added as if he just remembered, "I forgot to mention that Comrade Channing, who introduced us to us, is also a member of VN15, and all the charity auctions of VN15 in recent years have been organized by Channing for free.
Yes, if I remember correctly, the tracked armored vehicle and the jeep in the photo are the collections he sent for the photo."
Hearing this, Wei Ran turned off the screen of his tablet computer, leaned on the sofa, closed his eyes and thought secretly.
To this day, his transport truck, which serves as a safe, contains a statue of Mazu cast in gold and a statue of Mazu carved in mutton-fat jade.
The former comes from the private collection of the little Japanese on the island in the Pacific where he was trapped with his friends on the Johnston. The latter comes from the suitcase that Ryukyu journalist Yukio Sometani kept in his love letter apartment in Jinmen.
He also remembered that when Jia Ya came to visit, she said that there were only 23 gold statues in total, and only five of them were still alive. There were only three statues of Mazu carved from mutton-fat jade, but only one of them was still alive.
carving.
So the headless statue in the photo is matching the head sculpture?
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! So, whose hands is that head sculpture? In the hands of Jia Ya’s boss?
He still remembered that just the golden statue made Jia Ya promise that her boss would do his best to help him if she encountered unsolvable troubles.
So what about this headless statue of Mazu?
If that golden statue is a life-saving talisman, wouldn’t the one in the photo be a life-saving talisman plus?
From this point of view alone, the reward alone is enough for him to take the risk.
Admittedly, he didn't know how powerful Jia Ya's boss was. In order to avoid misunderstandings, he even specifically reminded the Katenka sisters not to take it upon themselves to investigate that dangerous woman and everything behind her.
But being unclear doesn't mean that you don't understand. Not to mention the few words vaguely revealed by Qin Er's beast before, Brother Yang not long ago seemed to have brought enough "shock" to Cha Xifeng sitting opposite.
What's more, since Greva got involved in the tropical fruit business, they have never encountered any trouble in Papua New Guinea.
If someone hadn't said hello to me, let alone making a lot of money by transporting the fruit back, there would be a question mark as to whether the transport plane could fly back in one piece.
At least let's see if the headless statue of Mazu is real...
Thinking of this, he finally opened his eyes again, looked at Zha Xifeng sitting opposite and asked, "Do you have any detailed information about Li Youfu?"
"not much"
While Zha Xifeng was speaking, she picked up the tablet computer between the two of them again. After rummaging around for a while, she found a colorful photo and handed it to Wei Ran, "This is Li Youfu and Mr. Zac in Nha Trang in 1967."
The group photo taken.”
Taking the tablet again, Wei Ran couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. In this colorful photo, the background was a beautiful coastline, and there seemed to be some soldiers in fourth-class uniforms playing volleyball in the distance.
At the focus of the camera, on the left is a short Asian man wearing a British-style field shirt, shorts, and American jungle boots.
On his head was a Jones hat that was popular at the time, without any military rank or armband, but around his neck were a Minolta SRT-101 camera and a waterproof Nikonos camera.
There were not only cameras in pairs, but also two American-style water bottles on his belt. In addition to these loads, he seemed to be carrying a lightweight metal carrier on his back. On the bottom side of the carrier, there was also a handful of
The handle of the troubleshooting knife.
In addition, in his hand, he also held a MAT49 submachine gun produced in France and using 9mm Paragon bullets.
Look at the white man next to him who is much taller than him and has a strong build, more like a boxer than a reporter.
He was wearing a fourth-class horse uniform without any markings and a helmet wrapped in camouflage cloth.
There seemed to be a bottle of insecticide and a dark cylinder fixed on this cool helmet with a black elastic band.
In addition to these, a white anti-war symbol can be vaguely seen on this helmet.
Likewise, there are two cameras hanging around his neck - the Nikon Big F and Leica M3 cameras seen in previous photos.
Hanging on his belt were two relatively lightweight plastic water bottles, a canvas holster containing a 1911 pistol, a first aid kit and an L-shaped flashlight.
On his back, he was carrying a small, lightweight, but bulging M1961 backpack.
"The white man in the photo is Mr. Zak, and next to him is his friend Li Youfu."
Zha Xifeng made an unnecessary introduction, "According to Mr. Zak's will, he hopes that Li Youfu will inherit part of his estate."
"Does Mr. Zucker have any family members still alive?" Wei Ran turned off the tablet screen and looked up at the other party and asked.
"He had a daughter."
Zha Xifeng put away the tablet and said, "His daughter was also a member of VN15, but she and her boyfriend died in a strange car accident about ten years ago."
"A strange car accident?" Wei Ran raised his eyebrows.
"As I just mentioned, there are many Vietnam War veterans who do not want to talk about Agent Orange, especially those who personally spread the 'rainbow herbicide'."
"Like the guy who tried to hire me for $2.88 million?"
"Who knows?"
Zha Xifeng spread his hands, "In short, Zach's daughter and her boyfriend are dead. At that time, the Ford sedan driven by her boyfriend rear-ended a container truck and rushed off the viaduct.
The results of the police investigation revealed that the young man who was also a member of VN15 and Zach’s daughter both overdosed on the drug, and nearly 100 grams of the drug was found in the wreckage of their car.”
"It's so old-fashioned and easy to use," Wei Ran couldn't help but muttered.
“It’s really old-fashioned but it’s really useful”
Zha Xifeng also mocked, and then said in an outsider's tone that "it's none of my business", "I know about this much, Victor, 150,000 U.S. dollars, plus Mr. Zach's warehouse
Are you interested in those collections?"
"I..." Wei Ran opened his mouth, but was unable to answer the question.
Is he interested? Of course he is!
But just being interested in the headless statue of Mazu, as well as the Vietnam War and the talking tree, it is an unforgivable sin even if you think about it.
"I want to see the relics he left behind first."
In the end, Wei Ran couldn't resist the temptation of "Life-saving Talisman PLUS" and gave an impeccable answer with extra caution, "I want to take a look at what he left behind to see if there are any valuable clues before I can make a decision.
Decide."
"this..."
What he didn't expect was that Zha Xifeng looked embarrassed, "Frankly speaking, this is a bit difficult."
"What difficulty?" Wei Ran raised his eyebrows.
"I can't bring those things to Kazan. His belongings are sealed in the house where he left them. I'm not even a member of VN15 and have no right to take those things out."
Zha Xifeng said apologetically, "What's more, some of them that seem to be valuable have been deposited in a bank safe in advance by the lawyer hired by Zach before his death.
So if you want to see his relics, I'm afraid you have to go to the United States with me. Allentown, Pennsylvania, is not too far from New York."
Going to the United States? At this time?
Wei Ran hesitated again. Just a few months ago, they staged a play in which Gorman's wife, Mrs. Uma, faked her death in Kiev, and a few months later, they also asked Gorman to fake his death.
Is it too arrogant to go to the United States at this time?
But thinking about it on the other hand, if I am invited to go to the United States at this time, it seems that it can dispel some of the doubts that have accumulated in me.
After thinking for a moment, Wei Ran pretended to be apologetic and said, "Mr. Cha, I'm afraid I can't give you an answer so quickly whether I'm going or not. You know, I just came back. I'm afraid I need to rest for a few days and take care of the backlog of things on hand.
Just work."
"Of course, I understand, this matter is not very urgent." Zha Xifeng quickly replied.
"If it's convenient, why not send me those photos first."
Wei Ran made a new request, "Whether I go or not, I can at least try to see if I can find any clues through the photos."
Naturally, Zha Xifeng would not refuse this request. After he sent the photo, the two of them made a tacit agreement not to continue this topic.
While Wei Ran called Suisui to tell him that guests were coming to the house, Zha Xifeng also summoned his wife and daughter.
In the subsequent chat, Wei Ran also learned that in addition to being an investigator for VN15, Zha Xifeng's wife was also a Chinese teacher.
But what is even more outrageous than this woman's career is that Cha Xifeng's daughter Daofeng, a beautiful girl whose English name is Cecilia, has learned something so off the charts that she has never heard of it.
Even after hearing about it, people will inevitably doubt the existence of "canine hemp cultivation"!
When asked by Wei Ran why she chose such a major, this young girl who had just entered college gave an impeccable answer as a matter of course, "The tuition is cheap, only 800 US dollars per semester, and Americans definitely
I will become more and more inseparable from Inuma."
It's really worthy of the name Knife Bee...
Wei Ran couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. From a certain level, what this little girl was studying was much more "interesting" than what her father was studying.
Just imagining the moving scene of this girl planting canine and hemp all over every farm in North America in the future, a certain historian could not help but feel excited, wondering if he would find an opportunity to secretly invest a start-up capital for this girl in the future.
