Chapter 17: A Chance Encounter

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The two people being discussed were a man named Yao Wence and a woman named Yao Yumen.

Old Sun explained the situation to them, and Captain Wang also shared his thoughts.

After listening, Yao Yumen nodded and said, “Captain Wang, you’re right. It aligns closely with what we’ve been thinking. The living person couldn’t have just vanished into thin air. It’s very likely they fell somewhere below.”

Captain Wang’s voice grew serious. “Miss Yao, are you saying there’s space beneath the western ear chamber? Then why didn’t Old Third find anything on the surface earlier?”

Yao Yumen shook her head. “Not necessarily, Captain Wang. Look.”

She pulled out paper and pen and sketched a cross-shaped diagram on the blank sheet.

Pointing to the cross, she said, “Captain Wang, this is the common layout of Western Zhou tombs. You’ve said that aside from the east and west ear chambers, the front passage is blocked and no main burial chamber was found, correct? So, this isn’t a perfect cross but rather a T-shape, right?”

Captain Wang studied the rough sketch thoughtfully. “You mean... the front section has sunk down? But if that were true, how could it be invisible?”

The woman shook her head, her face cold. “Captain, have you ever heard of soul burial or the ‘Sheep Intestine Maze’ burial method?”

“‘Sheep Intestine Maze’!” I exclaimed in disbelief. “How is that possible? That anti-theft burial method wasn’t invented until the Han Dynasty! This is a Western Zhou tomb!”

The woman glanced at me, probably surprised at my youth. After hearing my words, she seemed somewhat taken aback.

Then she shook her head and smiled. “Young one, you’re quite knowledgeable, but I have to tell you, your statement isn’t entirely correct. The ‘Sheep Intestine Maze’ was popular in the Han Dynasty—note the word popular, not invented then.”

“This method already appeared in embryonic form in the late Shang period and was applied in the early Western Zhou. The Han Dynasty’s version is nothing compared to the Western Zhou’s...”

Her words shattered my knowledge gaps. This wasn’t mentioned in any books I’d read. I even suspected she might be bluffing, but since Captain Wang had brought her along as an expert, I dared not underestimate them.

A man wearing sunglasses, who had been silently observing, spoke up.

He shook his head. “You might be looking in the wrong direction. You’ve only checked the sides and overlooked the stone wall straight ahead.”

Captain Wang opened his mouth. “I believe you. In that case, shall we act tonight? You came in a hurry and probably didn’t bring enough tools. What do you need? I’ll have someone prepare them.”

The man shook his head. “No need for tools. We’re prepared. We don’t know what’s down there, so bring plenty of rations—better safe than sorry. Once it’s dark, we’ll descend.”

“Alright,” Captain Wang said, turning to me. “Yunfeng, get some fresh water and compressed biscuits. Be back before dark. Tonight, you and Old Third will follow these two and listen to their orders. You’re going down to find Old Second.”

“Ah, Captain, aren’t you coming?” I asked, puzzled.

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He shook his head. “I can’t. I have a feeling someone has noticed the inn these past two days. For the team’s safety, I must stay above and coordinate the whole operation.”

“Oh, okay,” I nodded, half understanding.

Captain Wang was generous with money. He gave me a thousand yuan to buy rations and supplies and told me to get some of the best waterproof flashlights and small knives. He said the operation might take a while, and if the headlamps failed, we’d have backups. We couldn’t work blindly in the dark.

That afternoon, I took the money and rushed out to buy the gear. About two hundred meters behind Shunde No. 3 High School, there was a large hardware store—the biggest in Shunde.

I told the owner I wanted the best waterproof high-intensity flashlights.

The owner, a middle-aged man, was surprised. “Young man, the best waterproof flashlights are German military-grade products. They’re not cheap—over two hundred each.”

I immediately pulled out a wad of cash. “I’ll take four.”

“Four!” The owner’s eyes widened. “You’ve got money, kid. Wait here—I’ll get them for you.”

“Xiang Yunfeng!”

A familiar voice called from behind. I turned to see Li Jing and a female classmate.

Seeing the thick stack of cash in my hand, Li Jing said in surprise, “Xiang Yunfeng, you’re so rich... What kind of business do your parents do?” Her classmate also looked at me curiously.

“I... I...” I stammered, blushing deeply, at a loss for words. I hadn’t expected to run into Li Jing here.

I waved my hand and lied, “Nothing much. My parents just do some clothing business, haha.”

“Oh, really?”

Li Jing ran out of the hardware store, looked around, and waved me over. “Xiang Yunfeng, come here. I need to talk to you.”

“What’s up, Li Jing?” She pulled me into a corner.

Unexpectedly, Li Jing suddenly grabbed my hand.

She looked up at me with watery eyes. “Xiang Yunfeng, I know your family is rich. Can... can you lend me fifty thousand yuan...” Her voice grew softer at the end.

Before I could reply, Li Jing bit her lip. “If you lend me the money... I’ll be yours...”

“Ah?” I felt as if struck by lightning.

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She suddenly hugged me tightly, crying. “I beg you. The debt collectors came again last night. They even hit my mother and said that if I don’t repay the money, they’ll throw her into the river.”

It was my first time holding a girl, but never did I expect it to be like this.

Li Jing’s sobbing grew more intense; she was truly terrified. After all, she was not even eighteen then.

Seeing me casually pull out a thousand yuan, she assumed my family ran a big business.

When I hesitated, Li Jing bit her lip and said, “If you don’t want to help, then I’ll sell myself. I’ll become a prostitute! I’ll sleep with old men!”

I was shocked and quickly said, “Don’t do that! I’ll help you.”

Upon hearing my promise, Li Jing stopped crying and held my hand. “So... when can you give me fifty thousand?”

“Can it wait a week?” I was thinking of going down the pit first. After finding Second Brother, I would ask Captain Wang for the money.

Li Jing immediately urged, “No! Those people gave us only three days! Two days have already passed! I need it tonight!”

After bidding farewell to Li Jing, I carried the supplies home, my mind heavy. I didn’t know how to bring this up with Captain Wang.

Because I had no money—let alone fifty thousand yuan.

But Li Jing and her mother had saved me once.

“You’re back, Yunfeng. Did you get everything?” Captain Wang asked when I returned.

“Yes, all bought,” I nodded and placed the bag on the table.

Captain Wang sat in a chair, sipping tea and blowing on it.

I opened my mouth several times but couldn’t bring myself to speak.