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墨書 Inktalez
The small town of Daxing'anling seemed to be under a spell of severe cold, with ice and snow blanketing the ground, and the biting wind cutting through every inch of land like a knife.
Zhang Qi and the monkey huddled together in a dilapidated little house that looked as if it could fall apart at any moment. The gaps in the walls were wide enough to fit a finger, and the few pieces of furniture inside were worn and battered, resembling two elderly men trembling in the chill of winter.
The cotton clothes worn by Zhang Qi and the monkey had been washed so many times that their original colors were unrecognizable, patched over and over like irregular maps telling tales of hardship through the years.
At that moment, they sat in a dimly lit tavern in town, filled with the pungent smell of smoke and alcohol.
The tavern was sparsely populated, with flickering yellow lights swaying in the cold night, as if they might extinguish at any moment.
Several rickety wooden tables were scattered about, their surfaces uneven and marked by the scars of time. A group of burly men clad in heavy cotton coats sat around a table in the corner, their voices rough and loud, echoing through the quiet tavern.
In front of Zhang Qi and the monkey lay a pot of cheap liquor, its murky liquid exuding a sharp, pungent aroma. Two chipped porcelain cups stood askew on the table, as if sharing their own stories of weariness.
“How are we supposed to live like this? Every day we work like dogs, yet our pockets are emptier than our faces,” the monkey said with a furrowed brow, his expression filled with sorrow and helplessness. He raised his cup and downed its contents in one go, liquor spilling down his chin. He didn’t bother to wipe it away but simply wiped his mouth roughly, an action laced with bitterness and frustration.
Zhang Qi stared blankly at his cup, the liquor inside swaying slightly, mirroring his chaotic thoughts at that moment.
“Who can argue with that? Prices are skyrocketing like they’ve taken off on a rocket. Our wages barely cover our needs,” he replied in a low, hoarse voice that carried an endless weariness and despair.
Just then, the loud conversation from the neighboring table drew their attention like a magnet.
“Hey, have you heard? There’s a village in Daxing'anling where the villagers dug up an ancient tomb while digging a cellar. It might be filled with treasures!”
A man with a large black mole on his face, from which a few coarse hairs sprouted, spoke mysteriously, his eyes wide open and gleaming with greed.
"Is it true? If we could get our hands on it, we'd strike it rich," said another thin man, his cheeks sunken but his eyes surprisingly large. At that moment, those eyes were filled with excitement and desire, as if he could already see countless treasures beckoning to him.
"Am I lying to you? This news has spread; many people are trying to figure out how to sneak a peek," the man with the mole raised an eyebrow, the flesh on his face shaking slightly, looking quite pleased with himself.
Zhang Qi and the Monkey froze in place as if they had been hit by a spell.
Their gazes met, and the Monkey's eyes suddenly sparkled like the brightest star in the night sky, filled with surprise and anticipation.
He leaned closer to Zhang Qi, almost knocking over his drink in his eagerness. Lowering his voice but unable to hide his excitement, he said, "Bro, did you hear that? It's real! There are treasures in the ancient tomb. If we could get some of it, we wouldn't have to live this miserable life anymore. We could live in a big house, eat well, wear warm clothes—no more suffering."
Zhang Qi furrowed his brow deeply, a frown forming between his eyebrows as hesitation and fear flickered in his eyes. Images of stern police officers and cold handcuffs flashed through his mind, as if he could already see himself locked away in a dark, damp cell.
"This isn't a small matter. Tomb raiding is illegal; if we get caught, it's over. Our parents are counting on us to take care of them in their old age; we can't do something so foolish," his voice trembled slightly, filled with struggle and resistance.
The Monkey waved his hands anxiously, almost knocking over the wine jug on the table.
"Bro, why are you so timid? We’ll be careful—no one will know! Besides, look at our lives; when will this poverty end? Right now we’re barely scraping by; we can't even afford a thick winter coat. Do you really want to live like this forever?" His eyes were fixed on Zhang Qi, filled with urgency and a hint of reproach.
Zhang Qi bit down hard on his lip until it almost bled. He was caught in an intense internal struggle, as if two little figures were battling it out in his mind.
One little figure said: "This is illegal; we can't do it. It will harm ourselves and our families."
Another Little Man shouted, "Let's do it! This is the only chance to change our fate. If we miss it, there won't be another."
He thought of his elderly and frail parents at home, their bent backs and wrinkled faces, still toiling in the cold wind for the sake of the family’s livelihood. He remembered his patched-up cotton coat, which had long lost its warmth, making him shiver every time he stepped outside. He recalled the braised pork that he could only dream of eating, its rich aroma lingering in his nostrils.
Under the immense pressure of poverty, his heart wavered like a small boat lost at sea amidst raging winds and towering waves.
"Alright, let’s gather some information first, but we mustn't act recklessly," Zhang Qi finally made up his mind. His gaze held a hint of determination, but more so, it was filled with anxiety and fear.
The Monkey excitedly slapped the table, creating a loud bang that made the wine glasses jump.
"Great! I knew you would have a plan. If this works out, we’ll live a good life!" His face beamed with a bright smile, filled with hopes and dreams of a better future.
However, behind their excitement and anticipation, they remained blissfully unaware of the perilous and unknown whirlpool they were about to be drawn into.
This whirlpool was like an invisible hand slowly pulling them toward a dark abyss, while they naively believed it was a golden opportunity bestowed by fate to change their lives.
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