With the connection to Bai Zhujing, Mao Jieming and I quickly became familiar.
He insisted on treating both Fatty and me to a meal, saying he'd properly host us for the next few days.
However, I declined. My visit to Shangdu wasn't for leisure; I had other matters to attend to.
Politely refusing Mao Jieming, Fatty and I returned to our lodgings that evening.
"Brother Xiang! Amazing! Truly amazing!" Fatty lavished praise.
Seeing his flushed face and thick neck, I knew he'd had quite a bit to drink.
"If you can't hold your liquor, drink less," I advised.
"That was Maotai! It would be a waste not to have a few sips," Fatty replied.
"Then you should also consider your own capacity."
Fatty chuckled, "Brother Xiang, compared to Fu Honglang, this Mao Jieming is genuinely a good person..."
"Don't get any funny ideas. Fu Honglang is Fu Honglang, and Mao Jieming is Mao Jieming. Since we promised Fu Honglang we'd help him, we have to see this through."
Fatty grinned, "Of course. But you know, since we helped him find his wife's whereabouts, he should at least cough up some money, right?"
I shot him a look, "I wish I could make you cough up some blood..."
"Huh? What blood do I have to cough up?"
"All this fat on you, isn't that blood?"
"Brother Xiang... Please don't. What use is this blood? I find it stinks myself."
Fatty's teasing made me laugh. "Alright, if you're really short on cash, I'll find you a way to make money later. Besides, you've been following me, and I haven't made you spend a single cent."
"Thank you, Brother Xiang."
Seeing that it was still early, I didn't plan to sleep. Instead, I called Fu Honglang and asked him to come over.
Upon hearing that I had won the verbal duel, he rushed over without hesitation.
"Little brother Xiang, how did it go? Did you find out?"
As soon as he entered, Fu Honglang burst in, full of questions.
I explained the situation to him. After listening, Fu Honglang's expression changed. "It's over!"
Seeing his demeanor, I asked, "What's wrong, Brother Fu?"
"Alas! It's all because of that damned Dead Sea Scroll!"
How did this get connected to the Dead Sea Scroll?
I was somewhat puzzled.
Fu Honglang continued, "Little brother, I won't hide it from you. That Dead Sea Scroll is actually a treasure map, though I never believed in such things. Years ago, my uncle and I found a treasure map in a tomb. It took us over two years to find the location, only to find nothing. Since then, any treasure map is just scrap paper to me."
"Are you saying Sister-in-law went looking for treasure based on the Dead Sea Scroll's records?"
Fu Honglang nodded weakly, "It seems so... The Dead Sea Scroll recorded the coordinates of an ancient tomb. Gui Zhi had consulted numerous texts and found the location, somewhere in the Qianzhong region..."
I still couldn't quite grasp it. The Dead Sea Scrolls were foreign artifacts from over two thousand years ago; how did they end up in Asia?
Could it be that over two thousand years ago, a branch of the ethnic group that wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls migrated to Asia?
That wasn't impossible. Take the Wa Kou country, for example. Many of their people believe they are descendants of the Hebrews.
The reason for this belief is that the pronunciation and meanings of the Wa Kou language and Hebrew are largely similar.
This matter remains unexplained. The only theory is that thousands of years ago, Hebrews traveled to the Wa Kou country, influencing their language.
Considering this, the Hebrews lived in Israel. Traveling to Asia from there is no small distance. And how did they manage it over two thousand years ago?
I stopped pondering this and continued to listen to Fu Honglang's account.
He said that after his wife discovered the coordinates, she became obsessed.
This was the real reason for their argument: Mao Guizhi wanted to go to that place, and Fu Honglang disagreed.
Fu Honglang looked at me with a hint of embarrassment, "Little brother Xiang, I am truly ashamed. I lied to you earlier..."
"You're too kind, Brother Fu. There's no need for such words. Now that you know where Sister-in-law has gone, you can rest assured. I believe she'll return in a while."
Fu Honglang's expression grew serious. "No, that place is too dangerous. I have to go find her."
"Dangerous?"
"Indeed. Those foreign ancient tombs are the strangest. The traps inside are no ordinary matter. If that place is truly a foreign tomb, it will be very troublesome..."
Fu Honglang took a deep breath, looking at me with some hesitation.
Seeing his urgency, I quickly asked the question I wanted to know.
"Brother Fu, I want to meet the Young Miss. How can I get in touch with her?"
My true purpose for helping him in the first place was this.
I had to see Sister Ying again. I wanted to figure out if she was truly in trouble.
After all, I couldn't stand idly by regarding her affairs.
Also, what exactly was she looking for, and was what Wang Yang said true? All these questions needed answers.
"You want to meet the Young Miss?" Fu Honglang was taken aback.
I nodded.
He hesitated. Seeing this, I knew he could indeed contact Sister Ying!
"It's not impossible for you to meet her, but..."
"But what?"
"But the method of contacting the Young Miss is something only my wife knows."
I froze, unable to fully process this.
Fu Honglang rolled up his sleeves, revealing a distinctive tattoo on his arm: "My wife and I got together back then because of this tattoo... My parents passed away early, so I didn't quite understand the meaning of this tattoo. It wasn't until I met Gui Zhi that I understood..."
So, both he and his wife were people of Sister Ying!
I had wondered how his wife, an intellectual, would end up with such a rough character as him.
Turns out, there was this connection.
"Little brother Xiang, I presume you have such a tattoo as well?" Fu Honglang asked.
I shook my head. "I don't have this tattoo."
Fu Honglang was surprised. "You don't? Didn't Gui Zhi say that everyone who works for the Young Miss has this tattoo?"
I replied, "My relationship with Sister Ying is a long story... If you trust me, Brother Fu, please don't ask further."
Fu Honglang nodded thoughtfully. "I understand... Alright, little brother. I'll have someone properly host you. As for the one million you spent for me, I'll find a way to repay you later..."
Saying this, he stood up to leave. I asked, "Brother Fu, where are you going?"
"To find Gui Zhi."
"Leaving now?"
"Yes... I must find her quickly. I'm afraid she might be in danger." Fu Honglang's face was filled with worry.