Chapter 206: She Knows
Hearing this, Xu Youyou’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Qing Yatou, her gaze filled with doubt and uncertainty. Could it be that she knew something?
But Qing Yatou’s eyes remained as clear as ever. As she prepared to lead Xu Youyou inside, she suddenly turned toward the house’s walls in front of everyone and said, “These are my friends. Don’t scare them.”
Everyone present was stunned, some even wondering if the girl was mentally unstable.
Qing Yatou explained, “Miss Xu, I’ve already spoken to the house. It won’t harm you. You can come in now.”
Just as Xu Youyou was about to take a step forward, Xu Fang stopped her and said, “Boss, the wooden beam in the front hall fell earlier. It’s very dangerous. Why don’t I go in with her instead?”
Qing Yatou remained calm and said, “Sister, this house has a spirit. It originally belonged to my grandfather, and I grew up here. It understands me, so it won’t harm Sister Youyou.”
The people around them found her words amusing.
Xu Fang couldn’t help but say, “Little girl, are you saying that the broken lock on the front gate, the fallen beam that almost hit Miss Xu—those were all the house trying to stop us from coming in?”
Qing Yatou gently nodded, looking at Xu Youyou apologetically. “Sister Youyou, I’m sorry. At first, I thought the people coming in were bad people.”
Xu Youyou waved a hand dismissively and said, “Those were just coincidences. Don’t blame yourself.”
Though she spoke of coincidences, Xu Youyou had already started to believe her. Ever since she got the system, she had gained the ability to understand animals and even received some sort of “mystic protection shield.”
She had long suspected that the world had another layer beyond what ordinary people could perceive.
Like when she was in school, working part-time, she had begged her old, beat-up phone not to die on her. Miraculously, the phone lasted four years until the very day she had saved enough money to buy a new one—only then did it completely stop working, as if it had held on just long enough to see its owner succeed.
Qing Yatou shook her head. “This house has a special bond with me, so the fault is indeed mine.”
Xu Youyou found her stubbornness amusing and said, “Well, we forgive you then.”
Qing Yatou’s eyes immediately lit up, looking at Xu Youyou as if she had found a kindred spirit.
Xu Youyou declined Xu Fang’s offer to accompany her inside and said, “You all wait outside. I’ll go in with her.”
Xu Fang knew that once Xu Youyou made up her mind, it was impossible to change it, so she didn’t insist, though worry was written all over her face.
Surprisingly, Lu Jingyao volunteered, “I’ll go with you.”
Xu Youyou was about to refuse, but seeing the determination in his eyes, she reconsidered. Given Lu Jingyao’s wealth, even if she found something valuable, he wouldn’t be interested in taking it. So she nodded.
Qing Yatou didn’t object either and led them inside.
Xu Youyou’s surprise deepened when she realized that Qing Yatou was leading them to the small kitchen at the very back of the house—the exact place indicated by the system’s golden pointer.
Inside the kitchen, the golden pointer directed her to the hearth’s firewood compartment.
Qing Yatou stood exactly where the pointer led and said, “I think something is hidden inside.”
“You just realized this today?” Xu Youyou asked.
“I’ve known since I was little,” Qing Yatou replied.
“You were never curious about what’s inside all these years?”
Qing Yatou shook her head. “If it’s not mine, I can’t take it.”
“But this is your home,” Xu Youyou pointed out.
“Just because something is in my home doesn’t mean it belongs to me. Only things that are meant for me are truly mine.”
Xu Youyou found her words cryptic and thought this girl had the potential to be a mystic guru. Still, she asked, “If what’s inside is worth millions, you wouldn’t be tempted?”
Qing Yatou shook her head. “People and objects have their own fates. Forcing something that doesn’t belong to you will only bring trouble.”
Xu Youyou was impressed by her level of detachment. Finally, she reached into the hearth’s compartment and, within a minute, pulled out something heavy.
Brushing off the dirt, she revealed an abacus.
A golden frame, jade beads.
When she moved the beads, they made a dull but distinct sound.
“There should be an inscription on it,” Lu Jingyao suddenly said.
Xu Youyou ran her fingers over the surface and soon found two engraved characters.
Ru Si.
“Ru Si? That name sounds familiar…” Xu Youyou frowned in thought.
Qing Yatou directly answered, “Ming Dynasty merchant, Cheng Dawei. Our Cheng family is said to be his descendants.”
Cheng Dawei was a renowned figure in the history of Chinese abacus calculation. Almost every child in the region had been taught about him.
Xu Youyou immediately recognized that this abacus must be highly valuable, but she still handed it to Qing Yatou and said, “Since this is your family’s heirloom, it should stay with you.”
Qing Yatou shook her head. “My aunt already rented this house to you, which means she also gave you everything inside. This abacus has no fate with me or my aunt—it belongs to you.”
Xu Youyou had acquired many rare finds before, but this was the first time she encountered a situation like this. It was different from the time she found treasures at Aunt Li’s place in the capital.
Aunt Li simply didn’t know she had a valuable item. But Qing Yatou had always known something precious was hidden here, yet even in her difficult circumstances, she never intended to take it for herself.
Both Qing Yatou and Aunt Li were people with strong principles—once they decided something, no one could convince them otherwise. Even Lu Jingyao ended up trying to persuade her.
Feeling guilty about taking the abacus, Xu Youyou asked, “Do you want to continue your studies? I can support you. How about that?”
But Qing Yatou shook her head. “I want to learn, but I don’t have to go to university for that. I want to stay here and watch over this house.”
Seeing that she was determined not to leave, Xu Youyou changed her approach and said, “I’ll make sure you have a comfortable life, without worrying about food or money. That way, your aunt won’t be able to trouble you anymore. Okay?”
