The courtyard was pretty huge, and there were a lot of people gathered here yet absolute silence dominated the entire area. An oppressive aura suppressed them. They didn't dare utter a word lest they provoke the Old Father's ire.
The name 'Jiang Yi' was banned within the Jiang family, and no one was allowed to mention it. Whoever mentioned this name would suffer a destructive hit. 12 years ago, someone in the family had mentioned this name, and as a result, he's still stuck in the same position even after a decade. It was quite difficult to imagine that a child of such a powerful, influential family hadn't got a promotion after such an extended period of time. It was clear that his official career was finished.
But though some felt resentment in their hearts, none dared to say anything as the consequences would be terrifying.
The old man circled within the courtyard thrice and waved his hand after seeing that not a single one of them spoke, "Leave. Don't stand here like idiots and go back to your works."
All of them responded to him, "Old Father, we'll be leaving then."
The old man didn't turn back and sat down on the rattan chair. His gaze fell on the rattan tree before his eyes, a trace of sadness flitting through them. A lonely feeling overcame him in this empty courtyard, but that sadness in his eyes turned into anger quite quickly.
The voice of his unfilial son echoed at his ears: Don't act so high-sounding. You only give me face if I help you attain your goals. If I do anything to make you lose face, you chide me like you are doing now.
I'll decide who I'll marry, no one can stop me, not even you. If you really want to prevent me, then I'll leave the Jiang family and make a clear dividing line.
I can live very well, and even better than when I lived at the Jiang family!
BANG!
The precious purple clay teapot was thrown to the ground and broke into pieces. It was said that there were only 5 of these left in the world.
The tea flowed onto the ground noiselessly.
A well-aged, refined secretary who wore a Chinese tunic suit arrived inside the courtyard and shook his head while sighing, "It's a pity. It was a good purple clay teapot." He crouched down and picked up the pieces.
"Didn't I set a marriage for his son?"
"I've forgotten many things after getting old."
The secretary replied, "Old Sir is still quite healthy. Just look at the teapot you have thrown down. It won't be possible to even mend it…" The reason Jiang family was able to have close dealings with a big family like the Nangong family was due to the engagement so there was no way he could have forgotten it and was just acting as if it wasn't anything significant to remember.
"Send someone to meet that youngster…"
"Jiang Yi won't agree to it."
The old man's brows rose up in ager, "He was just a child in diapers back then, but he's older now and already studying in university. Not everyone is an idiot, and even an idiot should understand which choice to select between the Jiang family and a useless father."
"Since Jiang Yi had rebelled against me, why can't his son rebel against him?"
"Alright, I'll arrange it." The secretary replied.
After paying the fees, Jiang Xiu went over to the department building together with his classmates. Zhou Jin studied the Lu Ban's Lock then said, "In archaeology, there's frequent contact with tombs, and there are many anti-robber mechanisms in those tombs. Therefore, having the skills to solved a Lu Ban's Lock is the bare minimum requirement. 12 Links Lu Ban's Lock is too difficult. I can only solve 8 of them."
"That's better than me. I can't even solve a single link. I'm more interested towards the history. Nothing to worry about, we can search online. The omnipotent internet will surely have a lecture course." Zhang Yiwen commented.
"You can try looking, but you won't find any as such information is considered a secret."
"Aaah? Then it's quite difficult. I have also heard about the ancient desert city project. The degree of danger is quite high as they are going to enter the desert. I hear they have also invited a lot of specialists and even the members of the exploration team are quite nervous. They are waiting for a few important guests and will set off once they arrive. Jiang Xiu doesn't have much time."
"Indeed. There are not many people who can solve this lock inside the team as well. Qiu Yinru is just making things difficult. It's not like he asked her to become his girlfriend. Why's she so serious?"
Many people arrived at the department building along with a few types of equipment. The students went to help them quite zealously. Professor Xu greeted them, "Mr. Qian, you arrived 2 days earlier than we had expected."
The expert had finally arrived.
Jiang Xiu took a look at this man who seemed to be in his forties. This person was Qian Deshen, a Chinese American and a famous archaeologist as well as a historian.
"I found it quite difficult to sleep after hearing that this time's project is an ancient city. I was planning to go to one for the past 3 years, and I finally have the opportunity to do so."
"It's all due to Little Qiu's support or else who knows how much longer we would have had to wait."
"I only handled the internal affairs." Qiu Yinru replied solemnly.
Qian Deshan smiled in response. He wasn't meeting her for the first time. This girl was earnest about her work and respected archaeology a lot. "Little Qiu, are you participating this time?"
"Naturally!"
"Good then. You're a real match to men. We must restrain the no. of people this time. The desert is different from other places. It's best to have a total of 18 members. I have four at my side."
"There's no need to worry about that."
They chatted on for a long time.
Jiang Xiu went to greet Qiu Yinru as she left, "Classmate Qiu, do you have time? I want to invite you for a cup of coffee…"
"I'm busy."
She refused him quite bluntly.
Though her face was pretty, her expression was cold, seemingly indicating to strangers that they must not go near her.
Jiang Xiu followed her. It appeared as if she was going to the administrative office to report regarding the exploration team. "I won't take much of your time."
Qin Yinru simply ignored him!
Jiang Xiu followed her into the elevator, "I wonder if Classmate Qiu remembers your words? You said that you will allow me to come with you if I can solve the Lu Ban's Lock."
"Did you unlock it then?"
She didn't believe he could have. He had just received it recently, and even if he spent 10 to 100 hundred days on it, he still wouldn't have been able to unlock it.
"Mhm!"
Jiang Xiu took the lock out then crouched down. His slender fingers deftly fiddled with the links as if they sentience. In a blink, the Lu Ban's Lock was unlocked, and the 12 components were all placed on the elevator's floor.
"You…"
Qiu Yinru's eyes grew wide open, shock filling her eyes. His speed was too quick. She could only see the after images of his slender fingers on the Lu Ban's Lock, and in a moment, it was already unlocked.
"How about it? I should have passed, right?"
Actually, he was planning to disassemble it at the coffee shop as that would have been smoother and not in the elevator.
"Have you solved it before?"
Jiang Xiu shook his head. On the Immortal Martial Continent, there was an occupation called as Puppet Master. He could easily dismantle complicated mechanisms which utilized over a hundred thousand parts, let alone a little 12-link lock.
Jiang Xiu's hands operated fast as he assembled the 12 parts on the floor back together then returned the Lu Ban's Lock to Qiu Yinru. "You'll deliver your promise, right?"
All of a sudden, the elevator plunged down quickly. Qiu Yinru screamed loudly as it fell. The elevator went pitch-black after stopping.
"Is anyone outside? Save us…"
Qiu Yinru shouted in alarm, acting entirely different from her usual calm demeanor. She was completely hysterical at the moment.
Jiang Xiu's eardrums began to hurt due to her screams.
Jiang Xiu noticed her pale face in the darkness. She was scared dumb. He really felt this was funny when compared to her usually grim face. This girl was a real actor. Only, if she didn't act so gloomy to keep the flies away from her, those boys would pester her all the time.
"Save us, somebody save us…"
Qiu Yinru stopped shouting for help after hearing Jiang Xiu laugh, "Our life is at risk right now. We'll die if the elevator falls down."
Her voice quivered.
"Someone will quickly come to repair it, don't worry."
He reached out to press the alarm button, but there was no reaction. It seemed like the electric circuit inside had burned out.
"It doesn't matter. The people outside will report it after noticing that the elevator is stuck."
Qiu Yinru leaned back on the elevator wall while trembling. Soon after, Jiang Xiu saw her fall down to the floor. She had actually become unconscious.