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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 Da Ming Lu, if they are not redeemed for over twenty years, they revert to the current owner. The Zhou family..." Before he could finish, a red light suddenly flashed from the system:
【Danger Approaching! Zhou Liangzhang and his men are 200 meters away!】
Cui Xiaoman swiftly rolled up the family tree and stuffed it into the stove. "There's no time!" She pushed Lin Dahe toward the back window. "Climb out through the vegetable garden!"
"But you..."
"I have my ways!" Cui Xiaoman had already grabbed an embroidery frame, quickly brushing the needle through her hair before lowering her head to start stitching. In the blink of an eye, the embroidery book vanished into a pattern of intertwined peonies.
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! Leave no mouse hole unchecked!"
He pressed himself against the wall and moved to the west window, peeking through a gap to see three Yard Officers rummaging through boxes and cabinets. Zhou Liangzhang stood beside Cui Xiaoman, his eyes fixed on the embroidery frame in her hands. "What a skilled hand you have, my lady; this pattern..."
"If you like it, Grain Chief," Cui Xiaoman replied without looking up, "I can embroider a set of abacus beads for you another day." The needle danced across the fabric, clearly outlining the contours of the two acres of land occupied by the Zhou family!
Zhou Liangzhang's expression changed drastically as he reached for the embroidery frame. Suddenly, Seventh Uncle raised the family tree. "Sir! I wish to accuse the Zhou family of land encroachment!"
All eyes focused on that yellowed booklet. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Dahe crouched low and slipped away but collided with an unexpected figure 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 in..."
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 dung, and her 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, with an elegant line added on its front page: "Meet at the chaotic graveyard at You hour—don't bring any glowing powder!"
In the distance, Zhou Liangzhang's roar mixed with the sound of a gong for fire-fighting: "Wanted throughout the city: Lin Dahe! Alive or dead!"
Underneath the withered locust tree at the chaotic graveyard, Lin Dahe covered his head and face with a raincoat, peering through a hole toward the official road. The dew of Yin hour soaked his shoes and socks while distant howls of wild dogs echoed around him. 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 Castrating Knife tucked at her waist.
"Follow me," she whispered urgently. "Old Soldier is waiting."
The two moved along the shadows between graves; every hundred steps Cui Xiaoman would crouch down to check the ground. Only then did Lin Dahe realize she had scattered buckwheat husks along their path—though quieter than dry leaves when stepped on, they left clear footprints behind.
Inside an abandoned charcoal kiln, One-Armed Veteran was sharpening a knife. The firelight reflected off his scarred face; his 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 Shiye who had come to search yesterday.
"Take a look for yourself," Old Soldier said as he used his knife tip to lift up a rolled-up document.
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