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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 6: The Sharp Bribe
Chi Zhi Ping noticed my unusual demeanor and quietly asked what was wrong.
I waved my hand, exhaling deeply, and replied, "Can we talk privately?"
We stepped outside.
Chi Xinrong did not follow us; she rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the tormented Zuna. Although she offered no words of comfort, her expression betrayed her. She felt sympathy for Zuna but was reluctant to openly show her emotions.
Chi Zhi Ping closed the door behind us.
He led me toward the living room but did not stop there; instead, he headed straight for his room.
Chi Zhi Ping's room was adorned with antique furnishings and filled with collections.
To me, it was a facade typical of hypocrites; he presented himself as a learned man, pretending to be a sage while clearly lacking genuine interest. He displayed these items to elevate his status, making others believe he was cultured and knowledgeable—a well-versed individual in both literature and geography.
We took our seats, the host and guest.
"How is she doing?" he asked.
I avoided his question and softly said, "I want to hear about what happened to her before and after this incident."
Chi Zhi Ping nodded, lost in thought, and slowly began to recount the events involving Zuna.
It was after Ji Xiaoying's funeral that Chi Zhi Ping hesitated over whether to follow my instructions and take Zuna to the Songling Cemetery in the middle of the night with Ji Xiaoying's Spirit Tablet.
This matter had not yet been brought up.
Suddenly, he heard Zuna arguing with his daughter.
Chi Zhi Ping hurried over to see what was happening.
Zuna appeared calm and composed as she watched.
Chi Xinrong, with tears in her eyes, accused her, "How dare you throw away my mother's Spirit Tablet? Go pick it up for me!"
Zuna was Chi Zhi Ping's new favorite, and her growing favoritism had made her bold enough to disregard Chi Xinrong's feelings, quietly discarding Ji Xiaoying's Spirit Tablet.
"What’s going on with Zuna?" Chi Zhi Ping asked as he arrived.
Chi Xinrong scoffed, "It's all your fault for spoiling her. She threw away Mom's Spirit Tablet."
"Zuna, is what Xinrong said true?"
"Zhi Ping, I've told you before, with her around, there’s no place for me. Once someone is dead and buried, does a broken Tablet bring good fortune to the house?" Zuna replied assertively, not even glancing at the furious Chi Xinrong who was stamping her feet.
“Dad… look at her…”
Chi Zhi Ping had little emotional connection with his daughter, Chi Xinrong. Many times, he took the fall for others (though he never mentioned it himself; I learned this from Wu Shengxiu). His daughter was sent to a relative's home by Ji Xiaoying for foster care, and he only brought her back after returning. Chi Xinrong's name was changed later on.
At first, Chi Xinrong didn’t call him “Dad,” and they lived together like strangers, going through the motions of eating and drinking. It took many years for them to gradually develop any feelings for each other.
However, later on, he fell in love with Zuna and became distant towards Ji Xiaoying.
His daughter held a grudge against him and felt helpless towards Ji Xiaoying.
What Chi Zhi Ping said might have been my overthinking; it sounded like Chi Xinrong resented her parents. Was it because they left her with relatives, or was it because Chi Zhi Ping was secretly involved with another woman, betraying his first wife? But I noticed that Chi Xinrong turned a blind eye to what her father did; otherwise, Zuna wouldn’t have appeared at Ji Xiaoying’s funeral.
I had my doubts but didn’t interrupt Chi Zhi Ping. I continued to listen quietly.
Realizing he had strayed off-topic, Chi Zhi Ping quickly reined in his thoughts and smiled apologetically. “Sorry for digressing. That night, Zuna had an argument with Xinrong, so I asked Nana to retrieve the Spirit Tablet and clean it up to place it on the Altar Table, so she could apologize to Xiaoying.”
Nana didn’t dare refuse; she felt wronged doing it. Unwilling to accept it, she got up in the middle of the night and considered throwing away the Spirit Tablet when she suddenly saw a girl standing in the darkness.
She shouted, “Zhi Ping…”
“You heard the shout and ran out?”
Chi Zhi Ping asked in surprise, “How did you know I ran out?”
I waved my hand dismissively. "That's not important, you can continue."
"Chi Zhi Ping said, 'I ran outside and saw her half-kneeling on the ground, looking like she was in a lot of pain, clutching one arm. I asked her what was wrong. She saw Rongrong standing in the shadows and then shouted. Rongrong rushed forward angrily and grabbed her.'"
I nodded, finding it somewhat amusing what Chi Zhi Ping described. Chi Xinrong was as weak as a kitten; how could she possibly have the strength to grab Zuna?
"Zuna keeps saying she has an injury on her hand. Did you see her wound?"
Without hesitation, Chi Zhi Ping nodded. "Yes, I saw five clear scratch marks at that time. But when I went to ask Rongrong, she was sleeping, looking lazy and not pretending at all. Logically speaking, if Rongrong was asleep, how could she have scratched Zuna and then gone back to pretend to sleep?"
"What if I told you that the one who scratched Zuna wasn't your daughter at all, and it wasn't just one person? Would you believe me?"
Chi Zhi Ping fell silent for a moment, then stood up with something in his hand. It was a dagger. He placed it on the coffee table in front of me. "This dagger was given to me by a friend; it can cut through iron like mud. If you help me find out who set the Seven Fiends Nails and what happened with Zuna, I'll give you this dagger along with a big red envelope."
"I'm not interested in the dagger; it's too ominous, and I'm afraid it might hurt someone. The big red envelope is fine, and I'll investigate these matters slowly. I'll give you an answer." I stood up to take my leave, but as I did, I sensed someone at the door.
My hearing was as sharp as a cat's.
I could hear the breathing of someone outside the door. I turned to Chi Zhi Ping and said, "There's someone at the door." He quickly walked over and opened it—
There was no one outside.
He looked at me. "No one."
Knowing full well who had been eavesdropping just now, I chose not to expose it. Instead, I replied indifferently, "It's nothing. I'm heading back. I'll let you know when I have news." As I was leaving, I handed Chi Zhi Ping a talisman.
He took it, his eyes filled with skepticism as he asked, "How do you use this?"
"Place it under your pillow."
"What good method does Zuna have to stop her from screaming in the middle of the night?"
"Purification Talisman." I handed Chi Zhi Ping another talisman and added bluntly, "Hang a red envelope."
Hanging a red envelope means sealing it with a Red Envelope.
Chi Zhi Ping chuckled noncommittally and casually pulled out his wallet, taking out three red bills and handing them to me. "What good is a Red Envelope? Just this."
I accepted two of the bills. "That's too much." As I walked into the living room, Chi Xinrong was watching television.
With everything happening at home, she seemed oddly relaxed, like an outsider. She had a cold demeanor towards both Zuna and Chi Zhi Ping, and when she called out "Dad," it sounded stiff and unnatural, as if she were trying to put on an act.
As I reached the door, Chi Xinrong stood up and said to Chi Zhi Ping, "Dad~ I'll see him back."
I was a man; it seemed there was no last bus now, but I couldn't keep having someone escort me back and forth. Politely, I replied, "No need. Just consider it exercise; I'll run a lap and be home."
"Don't be ungrateful."
"Is this a threat?" Chi Xinrong asked.
I remained silent and turned to walk out of the room. I heard Chi Zhi Ping saying something to her, and then I saw her quickly exit, her expression cold and aloof, like a princess. If my Mi Li were like her, hmph—she wouldn't be worth any sympathy at all.
"Get in the car."
"I don't need to," I insisted, refusing to get in as I walked past the vehicle.
Chi Xinrong slowly drove alongside me, rolling down the window and angrily shouted, "Sparrow, get in the car."
Damn, I didn't even know where she picked up that nickname. Frustrated, I shot her a glare before stopping, opening the door, and getting inside.
The car drove away from the gate. I turned my head to look back and saw Chi Zhi Ping standing at the entrance, lost in thought as she gazed at the rear of the car.
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