Night had fallen. After dinner, the dishes were just cleaned up. Celine and her brother Eleanor walked out of the house one after the other.
Celine walked at a calm and steady pace. Eleanor also didn't rush.
Eleanor carefully held an old wooden box in his arms. The box wasn't big, but it seemed heavy and important. He held it tightly with both hands, walked steadily, and kept his eyes on it, as if he was afraid it might fall.
At the entrance of the village, near a patch of thick trees, two sneaky figures were hiding in the shadows.
They were Uncle Yu and Grandpa Yu. Earlier during the day, their eyes were caught by the sight of a gold bracelet.
They crouched low, using tree trunks to hide themselves, and stared eagerly at the two figures getting closer.
"Dad, did you see that? That girl really went outside the village" Uncle Yu whispered, his voice full of excitement and greed.
But in the countryside during summer nights, mosquitoes were everywhere, especially in thick trees like these.
Uncle Yu was only wearing a tank top and shorts. His arms and legs were bare, and mosquitoes quickly started biting him.
Soon, he couldn't stop scratching. He slapped his arms, scratched his legs. The sound of slapping and rustling was very clear in the quiet night.
"Stop moving!" Grandpa Yu was already annoyed. The noise made him angrier. He raised his hand and lightly slapped the back of Uncle Yu's head.
The slap wasn't hard, but it still made a sharp sound.
Uncle Yu was almost fifty years old. Being slapped by his seventy-year-old father made him feel very embarrassed. He mumbled, "Dad, the mosquitoes are eating me alive. I didn't mean to move so much…"
His voice was full of frustration.
"Useless fool" Grandpa Yu glared at him. His spit almost hit Uncle Yu's face as he scolded, "You can't even handle a few mosquito bites and you want to get rich? If your noise scares them away, just wait and see what I'll do to you"
He raised his hand again like he was going to slap him.
Uncle Yu quickly pulled his neck back and stepped aside, barely avoiding the second slap.
This little argument between father and son happened in the dark, and they tried to keep their voices low. But Celine and Eleanor still heard everything clearly.
Thanks to the crystal cores.
They didn't just make Celine's family stronger and healthier. They also improved their senses, especially their sight and hearing.
They could clearly hear Grandpa Yu's angry whispering, Uncle Yu's complaining, the buzzing of the mosquitoes, and even the sound of the slap on skin.
Eleanor gave a faint cold smile and looked at his sister.
Celine's face showed no expression. Her eyes were calm and steady, like she was just watching two bugs moving around in the dark for no reason.
Because she had already expected this.
Now, it was time to show something even more tempting.
When they reached the edge of the dark trees, Eleanor lowered his voice. But he also made sure it was just loud enough for the people hiding nearby to hear.
"Celine, how much do you think this box of treasure is worth?"
Celine, walking in front, stopped for a second and quickly turned around. She raised her finger to her lips, making a "shh" sign. Her eyebrows tightened a little, and she spoke in a soft scolding tone.
"Eleanor, keep your voice down"
She paused, like she was thinking or remembering something. Then she spoke again, sounding like she was talking to herself, but also trying to make her brother feel more confident.
"If we really sell it, it should be worth at least this much"
She quickly held up five fingers. Then she lowered her voice even more.
"Just to be safe, maybe thirty to forty million. Don't forget. Last time, just two pairs of Qin Banliang coins that our big brother and I sold brought in eight million"
"Eight million..."
A short loud gasp suddenly came from the trees. It was like a sudden clap of thunder in the quiet night.
It was Uncle Yu.
He was completely shocked by that number and forgot to stay quiet.
But before he could say more, a strong old hand quickly covered his mouth.
"What was that sound?"
Celine immediately stopped walking. She quickly turned her head toward the trees. Her face showed just the right mix of alertness and confusion.
"Second brother, did you hear that?"
Eleanor stopped and hugged the wooden box tighter. She pretended to listen carefully and guessed.
"Hmm? It sounds sharp. Maybe wild cats are fighting somewhere?"
Before Celine could answer, from deep in the forest came a dry, hoarse, strange "meow meow" sound, loud and forced.
That sound did not really sound like a cat. It was more like an old man with a sore throat trying to copy a young male cat. It was awkward and funny.
"..."
Even though Celine was strong-willed and Eleanor was acting well, they almost laughed out loud at this bad imitation.
They quickly looked at each other, both trying not to laugh.
"Probably. Third brother, let us go quickly. Professor Li is still waiting!"
They did not stay any longer and walked faster into the night. It was like they were really fooled by the bad cat sound.
After they heard the footsteps go far away, Grandpa Yu let go of his son's hand suddenly.
"Cough cough. Dad! You almost made me choke!" Uncle Yu coughed hard and gasped for air. His face was red.
But his pain did not hide his excitement. He grabbed Grandpa Yu's arm. His voice was sharp and loud like a scream.
"Dad! Dad! Did you hear that? Eight million!"
"That girl said it herself! Last time they sold for eight million! Oh my god!"
He was so excited that he stamped his feet and spat everywhere.
"No wonder! No wonder Eleanor suddenly had money to buy such a good car!"
"No wonder Shenan's leg, which was crippled for many years, can now be treated at a big city hospital!"
"No wonder Celine dares to wear such thick, shiny gold bracelets!"
"So this is it! They found a gold mine! They made a huge fortune!"
"Enough! Stop shouting!"
Grandpa Yu shook off his hand but his voice still shook with shock.
"My ears are not deaf! I heard it clearly!"
He looked in the direction where Celine and Eleanor disappeared.
His usually cloudy old eyes now shone brightly. They were full of shock and a more complicated feeling.
Eight million!
Just from last time!
Then what about what is in the box now? Thirty or forty million?
Maybe even fifty million?
This number hit Grandpa Yu's heart hard like a heavy hammer.
After the shock, wild anger and bitterness grew inside him like weeds.
Good!
Such good grandchildren!
They are all grown up!
Their wings are strong now!
They made so much money but hid it completely.
If others do not say, it is fine. But he is the head of the Yu family!
He is their own grandfather!
Do they still respect him as an elder?
This is selfish!
Too selfish!
Grandpa Yu felt a fire rush to his head, burning his whole body.
This money, this great wealth, how dare they keep it all to themselves?
How could they?