Imperial Treasure
Chapter 240 - 175: The Missing Xiao Dao, The Secret Part 2

Chapter 240: Chapter 175: The Missing Xiao Dao, The Secret Part 2

Sui Yi and her group were not in a hurry, but Li Jingyan and the two Yangs were secretly suspicious—could the other party be wanting to raise the price?

After a while, Mao Gang came over with a resigned face... Eh, they really did want to raise the price?

"I’m very sorry, Miss Sui, just now Old Lady Mao San said... she won’t sell for five thousand."

"What?" Li Jingyan and Yang were just about to say something.

"She says it’s too expensive, these bamboo carvings aren’t worth that much... Actually, I also feel that, your price is too high, maybe you feel sorry for us mountain people... You have a kind heart, but we can’t rip you off, so... would one hundred be okay? One hundred is already very good... We’d be very satisfied, if you are willing to pay that in the future..."

Lin Yun thought she had misheard.

But Sui Yi actually laughed, placing the money for three carvings on the table.

"Then you tell Third Granny, I am a person of principle, I won’t buy for one hundred, I only buy for five thousand."

Li Jingyan, Yang, and Lin Yun were dumbfounded, Mao Gang was dumbfounded, and Old Lady Mao San was tugging at her ear.

What did he just say?

-------------

Is there anyone more stubborn than Sui Yi?

Either sell for five thousand, or I won’t buy, but if you don’t sell, that won’t do either.

Mao Gang was in pain, suddenly feeling that this girl was more troublesome than those second-rate businessmen from previous years, but in the end, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree to the deal, comforted by the fact that Old Lady Mao San was persuaded in the end, all because of one sentence from Sui Yi.

"Third Granny, don’t you have a grandson named Xiao Dao? Kids are expensive, aren’t they, especially with schooling in the future..."

Sui Yi was in business, if she wanted to buy, then she would undoubtedly buy a lot, but the people of Mao Bamboo Village had been swindled badly in the past, and bamboo carvings were seldom sold afterward, either Mao Gang persuaded them to keep hidden, or they were forced to change their livelihoods, and now there is very little stock. So now Mao Gang had to go and collect other people’s bamboo carvings as well as set a cooperation intent with Sui Yi, agreeing to supply her with any bamboo carvings in the future...

Since it was settled, this trip up the mountain was considered fruitful. Lin Yun was fascinated by one of the bamboo carvings, but she casually asked, "Old lady, don’t you have a grandson? Where’s the child?"

"Grandson? No, it’s a granddaughter... Xiao Dao, she’s gone wild in the mountain, I don’t know where she’s run off to play, she should have been back by now usually..."

No sooner had Old Lady Mao San called out than Sui Yi saw Mao Gang, who had gone out to collect bamboo carvings, running back in a rush, his face ashen, followed by an older-looking man. The two men rushed into the courtyard, and once they saw Old Lady Mao San, they seemed unsure what to shout, but Mao Gang caught Sui Yi’s eye.

Sui Yi got the hint and stepped out. In a corner of the courtyard, Mao Gang’s lips were pale, "I’m sorry, Miss Sui, what we just discussed has to be postponed, the child is missing now."

The child?

"Xiao Dao? Isn’t she just out playing?" Sui Yi asked instinctively, while the man beside her also had an ugly expression, "I saw her running in the mountain this morning, but after turning the corner to look for her, she disappeared, and I was afraid she’d run off, so I looked everywhere, and I couldn’t find her... Usually, she plays around in those few places, and now there’s no sign of her... I looked with other uncles, and fearing to worry Third Granny, I didn’t dare to make a fuss, I wouldn’t have said anything if Ah Gang hadn’t come..."

"I know, we can’t tell Third Granny, Old Master Mao San went missing just like this... Let’s go look quickly... Miss, your matter can be put on hold for now..."

Sui Yi understood that this seemed to be not just a simple issue of a child having too much fun and getting lost.

"Hmm, no worries, with a child missing, we can help to search as well... The more people, the greater the chance of finding them," Sui Yi said.

"But that place..."

"We cannot delay."

Li Jingyan and the two Yangs had seen the signs earlier and had made an excuse to see the village situation with the old lady and walked out. Hearing what Mao Gang said, they were surprised.

"What’s so dreadful about that place? Let’s go and have a look."

In order not to arouse Old Lady Mao San’s suspicion at the courtyard gate, the group left the courtyard together and headed towards the mountain, Mao Gang explaining the village’s taboos as they walked.

"Actually, Old Master Mao San’s bamboo carving skills are the village’s crowning glory. Back in the days of the war, even the People’s Liberation Army praised Old Master’s carving skills as first-rate... Old Lady learnt her skills from him, but sadly, when he was young, he just disappeared in these mountains."

"Disappeared?" Sui Yi and the others had been very alarmed about the disappearance of Xiao Dao, because normally, a child gone missing while playing on their home turf wouldn’t cause so much fear, unless...

"Yes, Old Master just vanished like that! Afterwards... some people, also vanished just like that..." Mao Ju, grinding his teeth, said, "My second uncle, such a strong man, and he just disappeared, leaving his newlywed wife... They searched for over half a month, but couldn’t find him at all, as if he’d been snatched away by ghosts... "

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Before he could finish, Mao Gang scolded him harshly.

Lin Yun was startled, particularly seeing Mao Gang, who had previously been very amiable and easy to talk to, now with a cold, fierce expression. She couldn’t help feeling unsettled.

How could the scenic Mao Bamboo Mountain have such frightening occurrences?

By that time, the group had already climbed the mountain, with Mao Ju pointing towards a corner of a bamboo thicket, "There, that spot, I was working on the opposite side, just so happened to see Xiao Dao playing here, she even called out to me and I told her not to run off, and that she should go back with me later, and she agreed, but after a short while, she was gone..."

Mao Ju was still feeling shaken. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation votes or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)