CHAPTER 443: CHAPTER 305: CULTURAL PERFORMANCE, BACK TO MAO BAMBOO VILLAGE

"An auction? Jewels?" Xiao Xianting was dealing with official documents when he learned of the news. He raised his eyes, furrowed his brow, removed the glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Boss, I always feel there’s something strange. The jade jewelry from Sui Tang Square, although top grade, had just undergone two major sales not long ago. How could they restock so quickly? Furthermore, just jade isn’t generally enough to warrant holding an auction unless the jewelry holds exceptional value and significance that could attract wealthy bidders, or unless... they have other cultural relics available for auction."

Xiao Xianting and Gong Jiu alike had many capable people under them. This seemingly ordinary scholarly young assistant analyzed the situation very precisely.

Cultural relics?

Xiao Xianting’s fingers tapped on the tabletop. His desk was very clean, with few items on it, and everything placed in a very precise manner, not exhibiting the chaotic mess that appears when some people are busy. This could be due to his near obsessive-compulsive tidiness, or perhaps one of his assistants has obsessive-compulsive disorder.

However, to the left of his hand was a stack of data about one centimeter thick, pinned together, page by page... the footers were somewhat worn, seemingly frequently referenced.

That was Sui Yi’s information. The assistant beside glanced at it, silently agreeing.

"The latest news here only mentioned that there’s an inexplicable new person around her, planning to mine in the Kunlun Mountains. But there’s no mention of whether she has any cultural relics..."

As Xiao Xianting spoke, the assistant bowed his head, "It’s my incompetence."

"Rather, it’s because she herself is too mysterious... and rather difficult to deal with, unlike ordinary women," Xiao Xianting slowly said, finishing his sentence, he suddenly rapped his fingers on the table and raised his eyebrows.

"Schedule our store opening on the same day..."

"Huh?" The assistant was bewildered, but quickly nodded, "Yes."

However, he was muttering to himself, feeling it strange. Although it was consistent with his boss’s domineering and sharp style, it felt contrary to the safest and most profitable approach. The boss surely couldn’t be unaware of Sui Tang Square’s strong capabilities. If it’s so forceful...

Never mind, the boss must have his own reasons.

————————

And a week before the cultural festival holiday, Zuo Wei received a call from Gong Jiu.

"Xiao Xianting is really fast with his movements, and wild too, to have picked the same day as us!"

"Hm."

"Honestly, did you provoke him?"

"Hm?"

"Is that a rhetorical question or an admission?"

"He came to me... wanting to invest in the mine... I refused him."

"There you go, good you refused!"

The mine had already become something Gong Jiu and Flower Demon would fiercely protect as it projected them to another peak in their lives; Xiao Lang wanting a bite would instantly turn these two into ferocious beasts...

However...

"Hey, Sui Yi, are you changing the subject.."

"Yes."

"...Damn it.."

"Don’t swear."

"Crap! What’s that noise over there, so loud.. are they playing a horror movie in the classroom?"

"No... they’re rehearsing for a cultural performance."

"!!!"

Before Gong Jiu could shatter his phone, Sui Yi hung up and turned to gaze at the vast indoor dance stage... and sighed softly.

How had she agreed to come here?

About a week ago, teacher Qin Sang had come to her directly and openly.

"I remember you thanking me half a month ago for speaking up for you"

"Yes."

"So, about that thanks—could we make it substantial?"

Then she found herself here, turning to see a throng of wildly costumed characters...

She didn’t know how to describe these people... There was Sun Wukong from ’Journey to the West’, a certain princess from ’Romance of the Western Chamber’, a grandmother from ’Dream of the Red Chamber’, and...

Dongfang Bubai.

Gently pressing a temple, Sui Yi walked over and sat down, "Just tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Qin Sang actually smiled. She had originally expected this always outwardly solemn and demure yet inwardly elegant and composed girl to have a fierce reaction upon seeing such a scene...

It seemed she had underestimated her poise.

"You already know about the cultural performance. Our school must participate. I’m the chief directing teacher. I picked some students with the talent for performance and the arts from the school, but Yunfeng always differs from other schools; the students have a high degree of autonomy. They decided on the theme themselves and I can only provide professional guidance. I can’t interfere too much... and then you saw..."

The rest went unsaid, deeply understood by Sui Yi.

She simply leaned back in her seat, watching the students on stage giggling in their elaborate costumes.

"The costumes are quite successful; I almost can’t recognize who is who."

"Seems like you never could recognize who was who," Qin Sang laughed.

Sui Yi glanced at her, "At least I recognize you."

"I’m extremely honored," Qin Sang said with a smile that lifted the tips of her hair, her laughter clear and causing many to turn their heads. But upon seeing Sui Yi, they were all very astonished.

Was she also coming to attend the performance?

"Having said that, what would you have me do?"

"Cultural guidance, specifically advising on their attire choices, speech patterns, and some essential cultural knowledge."

"It seems like you are the language teacher, and also the guide," she remarked.

"So, will you help or not?"

Half an hour later, Sui Yi got up to leave, leaving behind a piece of paper filled with graceful and elegant script for Qin Sang.

After looking at it for a while, Qin Sang’s smile deepened, her eyes curving.

————————

Yun Family.

Yun Junyan saw his father come out of Yun Li’s room, his face expressionless.

"Father"

Yun Hai waved his hand to indicate his son should not speak, just gazed solemnly out of the window. After a while, he listened as his son cautiously asked, "Grandfather and the others have all joined forces, my uncle he..."

"It’s not promising."

Yun Junyan’s face relaxed momentarily, then immediately turned worried again, "Then my uncle would be..."

"Let’s not talk about this matter for now. How is Sui Yi doing in school?"

"It’s still the same..." Yun Junyan clenched his teeth. He had never endured such humiliation before. Because of Yun Li, he was forced to give way to Sui Yi in school, which made many people laugh at him, even people like Li Yifeng did so in private.

Thinking of those people who were inferior to him laughing, Yun Junyan wished Yun Li would drop dead; this way, he could become the greatest hope of the Yun family... and later, rightfully and unobstructedly, become the heir of the Yun family.

"Father, we can’t always indulge that Sui Yi; otherwise, where will our Yun family’s dignity be? After all, since uncle has already... we can’t bear it any longer,"

Yun Hai did not respond; Yun Junyan panicked briefly, but then he felt a surge of hope.

There was no response, but there was no denial either!

————————

One day before the cultural performance, Sui Yi returned to Mao Bamboo Village after receiving a call from Mao Gang. It was only a few short sentences, and he seemed evasive, hesitant, and exuded some unnamed yet unspoken terror.

So, a visit to Mao Bamboo Village was necessary, whether to see the simple villagers there or because of Mao Gang’s cryptic conversation...

Of course, this also meant she had to take another leave of absence.

This time, the person accompanying her was not Team A but Zhang Wei.

The taciturn Sui Yi and the silent Zhang Wei together meant absolute quiet, which was broken when they encountered the anxious and fretful Mao Gang halfway up the hill.

"Miss Sui, Boss Sui, you... you finally came!" he nearly blurted out recklessly.

Upon seeing Sui Yi and another figure, Mao Gang was eager to run down from the rather open part of the hillside. Sui Yi noticed three burly men behind him.

Oh?

"What happened in the village?" Sui Yi asked directly, touching on their sensitive nerves as their faces changed dramatically.

Especially Mao Gang, who was nervously frightened, "You, how did you know!"

Sui Yi glanced at them, "You told me."

Mao Gang, who was pacing up and down the hill alone at night and in the early morning, showed such fear. From his standing position and the three men behind him, all of them displayed an overwhelming state of terror.

"Let’s go; speak once you’ve collected your thoughts..." Sui Yi walked on her own, and the others had no choice but to follow.

Perhaps Sui Yi’s composed demeanor could soothe their spirits, Mao Gang after a while started to talk as they walked, "Miss Sui, forgive my lack of composure, it’s just... this matter is too terrifying."

"Ghosts or demons?" Sui Yi remembered that encounter with Wei Huan, and could not help frowning. Could it be that someone was seeking revenge against him from behind the scenes?

"I can’t explain it clearly; it started off just being weird..." Mao Gang carefully chose his words, "Ever since you left, our village’s days have been getting better and better, life worry-free. Hearing the news, some even hurried back, wanting to return to their old work because earning money outside is not easy, nowhere like making a living at home with a skill... Actually, one Mao Dafeng, a relative of mine, whose family all passed, had long since gone out to make a living outside, never really made it, and was one of the earliest to return to the village...

But a month ago, he disappeared."

Disappearance again!

"And then?"

"We naturally went searching for him... You know about Master Mao San’s situation... Ever since that happened, we no longer thought of the mountains as filled with spirits and demons, so we searched non-stop for three days, finally finding him in a mountain stream corner, muddled and emaciated, muttering something unknowable... We were happy, hurriedly carried him back, consulted a doctor, and he drank some medicine, only to find out he was just drained; thankfully, he was alright, we were all very grateful... but that very night, an incident occurred,"

Mao Gang’s face darkened, "He was gone."

Hmm?

Sui Yi frowned, "But he was conscious at the start?"

"No, he was just weak at the time, could still respond to us, even called my name..."

Sui Yi observed the expressions on the faces of Mao Gang and the other three; it seemed there was more to it than just a disappearance.

"If it were just a case of disappearance, you wouldn’t be this terrified..."

"It’s... not just him who’s disappeared,"

(To be continued. If you like this book, you are welcome to vote for it and recommend it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)