"I've told you everything, but you must keep it a secret for me," Zhu Li said with a smile.
Though he said that, I could tell he didn't care if we blabbed about it. After all, we were outsiders, and even if we told people, they might not believe us. Moreover, it was ancient history; who would care about something like that?
I suddenly felt fortunate that I wasn't blinded by greed for the chest of gold. If Granny Gu had gone to find that person, it might have led to more trouble. It was good that I had told Zhu Li about the situation...
Thinking this, the fatty and I exchanged glances. I saw in his eyes that he seemed to be thinking along the same lines as me. However, his eyes also held a trace of disappointment, likely because the chest of gold turned out to be fake.
Zhu Li looked at me and said, "But this matter, you can go tell that woman..."
"Hmm?" I asked, confused.
"Otherwise, how will you report back to her?" Zhu Li chuckled. "I'll also have a word with her lover, the Beihe mine owner. He didn't get his share of the river section this time, so he must have some grievances with Ah Gui. I'll use this opportunity to have a good talk with him and offer him some compensation."
"Compensation for what?"
"That's none of your business," Zhu Li said. "You're about to go to Jinzi Mountain. I'll handle things here."
"Uncle Zhu, I've caused you trouble," I said with some shame.
"What trouble is this? Han Xue's father was my elder brother. If it weren't for him back then, I might have been buried long ago. Although he's gone now, I'll never forget his kindness. You are Han Xue's friends, so you are naturally our own people. Don't be polite with your own people."
Hearing Zhu Li's words, I stood up and clasped my hands in a deep bow. This was an old martial world courtesy, perhaps outdated now, but for people like Zhu Li, it was naturally recognized.
Seeing my respectful gesture, Zhu Li quickly helped me up and said, "You can rest assured about Ah Shui; that kid is trustworthy. However, you still need to be cautious on your trip to Jinzi Mountain. Safety first."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhu."
That evening, back at the river mouth, I felt a sense of unease. Zhu Li had gone to meet the Beihe mine owner, while I paced restlessly in the original makeshift shelter.
"Master Xiang, what are you waiting for? Hurry and tell that woman," the fatty said with schadenfreude.
"Fatty, why don't you go?"
"Me? What would I do? She didn't ask me to help her smuggle gold," the fatty retorted, emphasizing the word "smuggle."
"Master Xiang, just do it quickly. We might leave tomorrow, and if you don't clarify things with that woman, she might cause trouble for you before you leave, delaying our journey."
"Can you shut your mouth?" I glared at the fatty.
The fatty covered his mouth, a sly grin on his face.
I took a deep breath, feeling that this matter had to be dealt with sooner or later. Lingering on it wouldn't help. So, I left the shelter and went to Ni Li's residence. When I arrived, the small bamboo house was still lit. I knocked on the door. When she opened it and saw me, she was momentarily stunned, then looked behind me and pulled me inside.
"Why are you here? Has the gold been dealt with?"
I sat on the bamboo couch nearby, took out a cigarette, and didn't know how to start. Ni Li poured me a cup of tea. "What if someone sees you coming to find me so openly?"
Seeing that I remained silent, she seemed to sense something and frowned. "Did something happen?"
I looked up at the uniquely beautiful young woman and slowly exhaled smoke. "Did your husband say anything to you before he left?"
She pondered for a moment. "He only told me where the gold was hidden."
"Anything else?"
"No, nothing else."
I licked my lips. "Did he tell you that the chest of gold he hid was fake?"
Upon hearing this, Ni Li was first taken aback, then her expression changed, and she looked at me coldly. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I said the chest of gold is fake."
"Impossible!" Ni Li gritted her teeth.
Her gaze flickered uncertainly. After a moment, she looked at me. "Are you trying to embezzle my gold?"
"I'm telling the truth. That chest of gold is fake. Haven't you seen it before?" I asked.
"It can't be fake!"
As soon as she finished speaking, I noticed her take two steps back, moving towards the wooden cabinet. Before I could figure out what she was doing, she suddenly opened a drawer and pulled out a gun!
The dark muzzle was pointed directly at me. "Did you embezzle my gold!"
This sudden turn of events caught me off guard. "Put the gun down, don't be agitated..."
"Answer me!!"
"I'm telling the truth. It's fine if you don't believe me," I said, staring at her. "If I had embezzled your gold, why would I come back to find you?"
Hearing my explanation, her gaze wavered, and the hand holding the gun softened. After a moment, her emotions became agitated. She lowered the gun, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Suddenly, she fell to her knees before me. "I beg you... please, I'm begging you... as we agreed before, you take seventy percent, and I'll only take thirty percent... If you're not willing, just give me ten percent..."
"Please get up," I quickly walked over, trying to help her up.
But she refused to get up, tightly clutching my thigh. "Mr. Xiang, I beg you... Please forgive me if I offended you in any way before. Please don't hold it against me... Just consider it a good deed, a charity. I don't want that gold anymore... Just give me a little, enough for my daughter to live..."
Hearing her plea, I felt a pang in my heart. "Please get up and listen to me, okay?"
I had intended to tell her everything Zhu Li had told me, but seeing her like this, I didn't know how to proceed. She was convinced that the chest of gold was not fake; she believed her husband, and all this was for her daughter's future. I wasn't a person prone to excessive sympathy, but seeing this woman cry, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity.
"As long as you agree... I'll do anything... Mr. Xiang, please... please..."
I took a deep breath. "Please get up, okay?"
She looked up, her eyes meeting mine timidly. Her pathetic, pleading look was both pitiful and sorrowful.