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墨書 Inktalez
"Back in the days of the locust plague..." Seventh Uncle shook his head with a sigh, "Your father—oh no, your ancestors exchanged three measures of grain." The old man suddenly lowered his voice, "But according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, if not redeemed after twenty years, it belongs to the current owner. The Zhou family..." Before he could finish, a red light suddenly flashed from the system:
【Danger Approaching! Zhou Liangzhang is 200 meters away with officers.】
Cui Xiaoman swiftly rolled up the family tree and stuffed it into the stove. "There's no time!" She pushed Lin Dahe towards the back window, "Climb out through the vegetable garden!"
"What about you..."
"I have my ways!" Cui Xiaoman had already grabbed an embroidery frame, quickly brushing the needle through her hair and lowering her head to start stitching. In the blink of an eye, that "demonic book" was hidden within a peony entwined pattern.
The loud crash of the courtyard door being kicked open sent dust falling from the beams. Just as Lin Dahe climbed out of the window, he heard Zhou Liangzhang's sinister voice: "Search! Don't let even a mouse hole escape!"
He pressed against the wall and moved to the west window, peeking through a gap to see three Yard Officers rummaging through boxes. Zhou Liangzhang stood beside Cui Xiaoman, his eyes fixed on the embroidery frame in her hands: "What skilled hands you have, my lady; this pattern..."
"If you like it, Grain Chief," Cui Xiaoman replied without looking up, "I can embroider a calculator case for you another day." The needle danced across the fabric, clearly outlining the contours of the two acres of land that the Zhou family had seized!
Zhou Liangzhang's expression changed drastically as he reached out to snatch the embroidery frame. Seventh Uncle suddenly raised the family tree: "Officer! I want to accuse the Zhou family of land encroachment!"
All eyes turned to that yellowed booklet. Taking advantage of the distraction, Lin Dahe crouched low and slipped away but unexpectedly bumped into someone at the corner—Aunt Ma stood in the vegetable garden holding a torch, her face illuminated by its eerie glow.
"I found it..." Her lips were as red as blood, "The demon is..."
Her words were abruptly cut off. The goose that Cui Xiaoman kept suddenly charged out from somewhere and bit Aunt Ma on her backside. The woman screamed as she fell into a pile of manure, and the torch rolled away, igniting some dried vegetables laid out to dry.
"Water's coming!"
In the chaos, Lin Dahe felt something being shoved into his arms. Looking down, he saw it was that embroidered notebook; on its front page was a line of delicate script: "Meet at the chaotic burial ground at You hour—don't bring glowing powder!"
In the distance, Zhou Liangzhang's roar mixed with the sound of gongs for fire control: "Wanted throughout the city—Lin Dahe! Alive or dead!"
Underneath the withered locust tree at the chaotic burial ground, Lin Dahe covered his head and face with a raincoat, peering through a hole towards the official road. The dew of Yin hour soaked his shoes and socks while distant howls of wild dogs echoed. The embroidered notebook in his arms emitted a faint scent of mugwort—Cui Xiaoman had apparently fumigated every page with insect repellent.
"Thud."
A small stone hit near his feet. Cui Xiaoman peeked out from behind a grave mound, her face smeared with soot and a shiny pig-killing knife tucked at her waist.
"Follow me." Her voice was barely above a whisper, "The old soldier is waiting."
The two moved stealthily along the shadows between graves; every hundred steps Cui Xiaoman would crouch down to inspect the ground. Lin Dahe then noticed she had scattered buckwheat husks along their path—stepping on them made less noise than dry leaves but left clear footprints behind.
Inside an abandoned charcoal kiln, an one-armed veteran was sharpening a knife. The firelight illuminated scars on his face while an empty sleeve was tied around his waist with grass rope. Upon seeing them enter, he kicked aside a burlap sack at his feet—inside was a thin man dressed in official robes; it was none other than yesterday's searching Counselor.
"Take a look for yourself," said the veteran as he used his knife tip to lift up a rolled-up document.
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