Uncle Er's words made me feel a bit impassioned. The expression on the face behind the dark sunglasses changed, even Lin Sanshui's face twitched slightly. He probably didn't know Uncle Er's background and may have thought that this person was asking for trouble.
This unprecedented insult did not seem to offend Black Three, who still wore a gentlemanly smile on his face. He said, "It's normal that this gentleman hasn't heard of me, After all, I am just an insignificant pawn. I don't care about fame. I came today with sincerity."
Uncle Er was straightforward in his refusal last time, so this time Black Three's target was also Uncle Er. There was no way to avoid the conflict. Uncle Er didn't flinch at all, saying, "There's nothing to talk about. I told you yesterday, if you leave now, it's not too late."
Uncle Er's words were more severe than Fatty's spirited cursing. They nearly provoked all the Black Scorpion tattoos.
But even after all this, Black Three still remained unruffled. He seemed like a different person compared to yesterday. However, I understood that for a real negotiation both sides needed bargaining chips. Black Three was wary today, partly because of Lin 2's factor and more so because they couldn't find the red coffin.
The clan of tomb raiders could not find the location where Uncle Er buried the red coffin.
Black Three pulled out a notebook and said, "How much money do you want? Give me a figure. Cash or check?"
I swallowed hard. If it were me, I would have definitely asked for a sky-high price. After all, someone was willing to pay such a high price for something useless to us.
"Let your elders come and talk to me. I don't have the habit of talking to children," Uncle Er said at this moment.
Even though Black Three seemed refined, at that moment an inexplicable anger flashed across his face.
Uncle Er looked up at Black Three with a half-smile and said, "You don't agree?"
Black Three immediately shifted from fury to a smile, but I saw him tense up, clenching his fists. It seemed like he was trying hard to suppress his anger. He sneered, "A little bit."
The next scene flashed before my eyes. I didn't even know what was happening. Uncle Er appeared in front of Black Three at the same position just moments ago.
One slap.
Two slaps.
Three slaps.
Black Three's head swayed from side to side, and his body quickly moved backward. After the third slap, he fell to the front door. When I looked again, Uncle Er had already returned to his original position.
"Are you convinced now?" Uncle Er said with a slight smile.
Black Three's face was flushed. I couldn't tell if it was from the humiliation inflicted by Uncle Er or from the three slaps. He glared at Uncle Er, shrugged off the two Black Scorpions who were trying to help, spat out some blood, and said, "I will remember these three slaps, Uncle Er. We'll meet again!"
"Don't bother," Uncle Er waved him off.
"We're leaving!" Black Three glared at everyone present before leaving. After they departed, I quickly locked the doors for fear that the villagers outside would come in. When I returned to the courtyard, it was silent.
Uncle Er had finally taken action, but I wasn't very happy about it. His actions had turned a secret known only to me into something public. Everyone was looking at him, seeming very incredulous. Uncle Er glanced at all of us, seeming to wonder why we were looking at him like that. Then, without saying anything, he entered the room. Didn't he realize he needed to explain to everyone?
"I never knew, Baqian is quite skilled. Okay, everything is settled. Let's all get back to our own business," my father came out to smooth things over.
- Lin Sanshui left with a group of men in black, but a piece of news spread like wildfire: the people Lin Sanshui brought back were here for the red coffin and had offered an exorbitant price, enough for a family to spend for generations.
"Bad news, Xiaofan, it's a big problem," Fatty said, hearing everyone discussing the situation. I didn't understand at first, but soon I realized the power of public opinion. They were saying that because our family wanted a higher price, the deal didn't go through. If someone explained that it was the grave of our Lin family ancestors and that's why it wasn't sold, there would be people mocking, saying, "Are you kidding me? Do you even know how much they offered? A sackful! Do you know how much?"
"No, you said what? Just now you said this belongs to our Lin family's ancestors? Right! This belongs to our Lin family ancestors, not Lin Yutang's ancestors! Why should he be able to sell it, and we can't?!" Another meddler said.
This argument gained traction. The honesty and integrity of Lin Family Village finally succumbed to the lure of money, and we were now facing not only the backlash from Black Scorpions but also the threats from the villagers of Lin Family Village.
Except for the families of Lin Xiaoqiang, Lin Erda, and my family, who had a very good relationship, everyone else rallied outside our house. Even some people who were usually friendly with our family joined in. One even set up a banner in the town.
"Lin Family Village Ancestral Relics Handling Representative Assembly"
The meeting took place right outside our house because the villagers did not want to break the last layer of face with us. They elected several representatives, and Fatty and Mother White-Eye were among them. They made impassioned speeches, so we could clearly hear them. They celebrated the discovery of a great treasure beneath the graves of our Lin Family Village ancestors. They said it was a great legacy left for them by our ancestors, a gift from our ancestors.
Then they loudly discussed how to handle the red coffin. It was the common property of the village, so they argued that they should all have a stake in it, whether it was sold or kept. Mother White-Eye said a few "fair" words, suggesting that since Lin Yutang found it under the grave of Uncle Er, and because Lin Yutang and Xiaofan were so busy with it, after selling it, Lin Yutang's family should get a larger share.
Naturally, a group of righteous people below the stage applauded fiercely to show their approval.
I sat in the courtyard with my dad, smoking my cigarette while he smoked his pipe. Neither of us spoke. This was the most difficult situation. When outsiders come, we can fight back. Lin Erda, Uncle Er, and Fatty would be enough. But what do we do with the villagers? They were now caught up in a frenzy, and it was understandable. They were poor and had finally seen money. Who wouldn't be envious? Besides, what they said was really hard to argue against.
Who could prove that the red coffin was ours?
If it was found in the family tomb, why should we be able to sell it, and others not? Even if we don't sell it, why can't others sell it?
"Dad, should I go out and talk to them?" I asked.
"No use. I've lived in this village my whole life. Do I not see what's happening? People's narrow-mindedness and attachment to money are human nature. What I'm thinking about now is that it's fortunate it was found in our village's ancestral tomb. Had it been elsewhere, several villages would probably be at war with each other," my father said.
"So what do we do now? They are speaking against us outside today, and tomorrow they'll probably barge into our yard looking for trouble," I said worriedly.
"Take it one step at a time," my father said, puffing on his pipe.
"The best solution is to have some people die!" Fatty interjected.
"Some people die? You don't intend to kill them, do you?" I was shocked by Fatty's words.
"They should die at the hands of the red coffin. Even if they don't die, they should be scared. It's the only way to deal with these troublemakers. Don't forget how much effort I put in regarding the red coffin!" Fatty frowned.
I didn't respond. This method would definitely work against the villagers, but did we really have to go that far? I stood up, took my cigarette, and went to Father and Uncle Er's room. The most important thing now was to find out what was in that red coffin.
When I entered, Uncle Er was lying on the bed, resting his eyes. "Uncle Er, why did you suddenly intervene today?" I asked to steer the conversation.
"Because they can't hide it, they are determined to obtain it. At this moment, I am shaken," Uncle Er said.
I instantly understood that Uncle Er intervened at this moment because he was afraid that Lin Er, a skilled person, couldn't suppress the Black Scorpion by himself, so he deliberately revealed his strength.
"What is in the red coffin that they want so much?" I asked, seizing the opportunity to inquire.
"It holds all the answers to the questions the Fat Guy has. It is also the lifelong plan your grandfather made for you," Uncle Er said.
After saying this, he continued to pretend to sleep, indicating that he wanted to keep me at a distance. I left the room, and just then the Fat Guy approached me and pulled me aside, asking, "Did he say what's inside?" The Fat Guy was quite clever, instantly figuring out the reason why I sought out Uncle Er.
"He said it holds all the answers to your questions," I replied, looking at the Fat Guy. What questions could the Fat Guy have? Uncle Er's words to me, I immediately told the Fat Guy, hoping he could come up with something for me.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Fat Guy said, "Did that guy, Uncle Er, say that?"
I nodded.
The Fat Guy lit a cigarette, furrowed his brow, and paced back and forth, seemingly pondering. After a while, his expression suddenly became clear.
He clapped his hands and exclaimed, "I get it, damn! What a grand plan!"