Fifth Gege’s expression was rather solemn, suggesting she wasn't joking with me.
This made me feel quite frustrated. Wasn't I just asking for trouble? But given the situation at the time, I couldn't refuse even if I wanted to. Li Zuoquan, that old fox, definitely wouldn't let me leave easily.
"So I agreed to help him. It was entirely forced. If I had known the tomb he wanted to steal belonged to the Fifth Prince, I wouldn't have agreed even if he had ordered me to be shot dead on the spot. So, you can't blame me for this."
Fifth Gege nodded slightly. "I know. That's why I've come to talk with you. Otherwise, the outcome awaiting you would be this." As she spoke, Fifth Gege made a gesture of being doomed across her neck with her right hand.
I was stunned. Was this the Fifth Gege I knew? How could she have changed so much in just a few days?
In the past, no matter what, she still had the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family. Now, she seemed to have adopted the mindset of modern women. This was not a good sign.
Modern women were all corrupted by the Korean wave, becoming either "sassy girls" or "violent girlfriends."
As I was lost in thought, I felt something was amiss. Why was I thinking about this? Fifth Gege wasn't my girlfriend, nor my wife. What was I thinking about?
I slapped myself mentally, then looked at Fifth Gege seriously. "My mind is slow, and I can't guess what you want to do. How about this: just tell me what you want, alright? It'll save me from guessing and looking like an idiot. If you're truly angry because I was going to steal the Fifth Prince's tomb, you can kill me right now. I'll have no complaints." After saying this, I turned around, leaving my back to Fifth Gege, presenting myself as ready to be dealt with.
Despite my appearance of being indifferent to life and death, I was terrified inside. In reality, I was gambling with my life, betting that Fifth Gege wouldn't kill me.
If she had wanted to kill me, I would have died countless times already. Like that time with the chest-grabbing incident. Forget killing me, she could have dismembered me into eight pieces and it wouldn't have been too much.
Because I knew that ancient women valued chastity the most. Even though I didn't do it intentionally, according to ancient standards, it was a desecration of her chastity. I only had two options: either marry her or be killed by her.
However, at that time, she had slapped me, jolting me out of the dream. Afterward, apart from a slight ache in my chest, I felt no other discomfort. So, I was certain I was not in mortal danger.
"Alright, put away that righteous expression. Since you didn't truly intend to steal my father's tomb, I'll forgive you this once. But you have to agree to one condition."
I turned around and nodded vigorously like a pecking chick. "You say it, you say it. As long as I can do it, I will definitely help you."
This young lady was even more terrifying than Bai Ling'er. If I offended her, I didn't know how she would mess with me here in Mòlù Village. It was better to yield quickly and make my life here more comfortable.
"Heh heh..."
A light laugh escaped Fifth Gege's lips. "I won't ask you to do anything too difficult. When you go treasure hunting, arrange for one person to go with you."
"Arrange one person??"
I looked at her with some confusion. This wasn't a major issue, but given Li Zuoquan's vigilance, arranging for someone to join might not be easy. After all, he knew there were only two of us. If one more person suddenly appeared, wouldn't he become suspicious? I voiced my concerns. Su Dan Novel Network
"That's your problem, it has nothing to do with me. I only ask if you agree or disagree?"
Seeing her about to flare up again, I quickly agreed. "Arranging for someone isn't impossible, but you have to tell me what they can do, and whether they are male or female, right?"
"Why are you asking for such detailed information? Do you have some improper thoughts?"
I looked at Fifth Gege with a wry smile. "Big sister, what are you talking about? If I don't find out the details and directly tell Li Zuoquan that we have another person who wants to join, and then when he asks, I don't even know if the person joining is male or female, wouldn't that be awkward?"
After hearing this, Fifth Gege's two slender eyebrows furrowed. She pondered for a moment. "A female. As for what she can do, I can't tell you. She should arrive tomorrow night, so you don't have much time."
Without giving me a chance to ask any more questions, Fifth Gege's figure dissipated in the room, leaving behind only a chilling aura.
Just as Fifth Gege left, Zhang Dabiao pushed the door open and walked in, looking at me with a smile. "Brother, do you think this Fifth Gege has taken a liking to you?"
Seeing his gossipy expression, I said irritably, "She likes you. She wants me to ask if you're married and prepare to choose an auspicious day for the wedding..."
*Slap*—
Before I could finish the word "kiss," I felt a sharp pain on my face, followed by Fifth Gege's voice echoing in the room, "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart."
Scared, I covered my face with my hands, as if afraid Fifth Gege would suddenly jump out. After a good while, when I still didn't see her figure, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I cursed myself mentally, 'How could I be so stupid? Fifth Gege left just now, and I immediately spoke ill of her. How could she not hear?' I gave Zhang Dabiao a resentful look. "Brother Zhang, you're really inconsiderate. Not only did you run off and leave your brother alone, but now you've caused me to get slapped again. How are you going to compensate me?"
Zhang Dabiao chuckled slyly. "I don't have anything to compensate you with. It's your own fault for being so glib. But, did she tell you what she actually wants?"
I grunted a couple of times, rubbing my left cheek which was red from the slap. "She wants to arrange for someone to follow Li Zuoquan on the treasure hunt."
"Just that? No way?" Zhang Dabiao looked at me with disbelief.
"Believe it or not, that's what she said. We'll know tomorrow night."
Zhang Dabiao wanted to say something more, but I pushed him out of the room. What else was there to say? At the crucial moment, he ran faster than a rabbit. This slap I took felt rather unfair.
Knowing that Bai Ling'er was fine, the stone in my heart finally settled. I had originally planned to study what that Yin Tie Mu Chi (Dark Iron Wooden Ruler) was, but my eyelids were so heavy that I could only go find Duke Zhou to play chess and wait for daylight.
I slept until it was bright daylight before waking up. After washing up, I found that Zhang Dabiao had already bought breakfast and was sitting under the pergola in the courtyard, engrossed in studying the Yin Tie Mu Chi that Fifth Gege had returned yesterday, so focused that he didn't even notice me approaching.
"Brother Zhang, you're up quite early!"
Zhang Dabiao grunted, not looking up to acknowledge me, but rather staring intently at the wooden ruler as if there were flowers on it, looking so serious.
After wolfing down breakfast, I leaned closer, asking with some confusion, "What's so interesting about this Yin Tie Mu Chi?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao twirled the wooden ruler in his hand with the flourish of a swordsman and said gravely, "I feel like the wooden ruler is shorter, isn't it? And its weight seems to have decreased considerably. Try it if you don't believe me." He then handed the wooden ruler to me.
I took it with confusion and measured it. Indeed, it was about a third shorter than when I brought it back. It was originally one meter and twenty centimeters long, but now it was at most one meter long, and its weight had also decreased significantly. Before, I struggled to hold it with both hands, but now I could swing it freely with one hand.
"If you say the wooden ruler is a third shorter, it's understandable. It's very likely that the little glutton Bai Ling'er ate it again. But how do you explain the significant decrease in weight? Could she have swapped the Yin Tie Mu for something else?"
I pondered for a moment. "Isn't that simple? Didn't you say Yin Tie Mu is incredibly hard? Let's test it and see!"
I tossed the Yin Tie Mu to Zhang Dabiao, then went back into the house to get a cleaver. They say Yin Tie Mu is three parts harder than steel. If it were truly Yin Tie Mu, how could it be damaged?
I had Zhang Dabiao place the wooden ruler on the wooden table, while I swung the cleaver and chopped down fiercely.