The boy, seeing her rude attitude, naturally didn't want to talk to her anymore. They were used to being domineering, so how could they tolerate someone bossing them around like that?
Just as Xiao Tong was about to unleash a few threatening words, Song Tantan grabbed him. The other boy was three inches taller than Song Tantan, but he was lifted three centimeters off the ground, and the collar tightened around his neck. He could only kick his legs and struggle, his face turning red, but he couldn't utter a single word.
"Take us to see your manager, or I'll snap your neck," Song Tantan said impatiently.
With his life at stake, the boy dared not have any more troublesome thoughts. He nodded with difficulty, hoping that the evil spirit would let go quickly, lest he accidentally strangle him to death.
Having witnessed the power of the newcomer, the boy, now free, dared not put on airs anymore. He looked dejected and obediently led the way.
Song Tantan and Ye Moxun followed the boy into the inner room, then through a corridor, and after a few steps they arrived at a door. The boy knocked on the door.
A somewhat hoarse male voice came from inside, "Is this Zhang Da? Didn't I tell you not to bother me unless it's important?"
"Shopkeeper, yes, someone is looking for me." The boy, Zhang Da, stammered, his eyes constantly scanning the two people behind him, afraid that they might suddenly attack him.
The boy was quite cunning; his stammering was obviously suspicious to the people inside. The shopkeeper's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he quickly took out a dagger with three gems inlaid on the hilt from the drawer.
He acquired this dagger two years ago from a young master from a once-powerful but now impoverished family. The young master was in dire need of money, so he forcibly pawned the dagger for only three taels of silver, and has been using it for self-defense ever since.
The shopkeeper, holding a dagger, was about to go to the door to listen for any noise when, just as he stood up, the door was kicked open from the outside.
With a loud bang, the thick wooden door was kicked and wobbled precariously, and then two handsome young men walked in.
The first one to enter was shorter, holding a gleaming broadsword in his hand. He had round, bulging eyes, and a fierce expression on his overly pale face. He pointed the sword at him and said, "Are you the owner of this shop?"
He desperately wanted to deny it, but it was clear that denying it wouldn't work, so the shopkeeper could only feign composure and say, "I am the shopkeeper of this store. May I ask what advice you two young gentlemen may have?"
"Have you seen this jade before? Think carefully before you answer. For example, who tried to pawn this jade before, and why did they fail?" Song Tantan didn't beat around the bush and directly took out the pig-shaped jade and asked him.
The shopkeeper glanced at it and recognized that a woman had once pawned the jade. He had tried to keep it for a mere tael of silver, but he hadn't succeeded.
Now, two years later, these two teenagers have returned with gifts, looking aggressive. Could it be that they've come to settle scores with him?
After all, he had hired someone to beat that woman half to death, but she still managed to escape. It was a real miscalculation. The shopkeeper's mind was racing, but he didn't show it on his face.
Despite Song Tantan's loud and boisterous demeanor, she is actually very perceptive. She could count how many times the shopkeeper's eyes darted around, and she noticed every subtle change in his expression. Don't think that just because his face twitched a couple of times, she wouldn't notice the strange look on his face when he saw the jade.
No matter how well he tried to cover it up, he still slipped up. Now we'll see if he's willing to tell the truth.
"Too many people come to pawn things at the pawnshop every day, and I'm not always there to guard it. I really can't remember if anyone has pawned this before." The shopkeeper's smile was just right, and his words were flawless.
“We want to hear the truth. You’d better tell us everything you know.” Song Tantan adopted an aggressive stance.
"Young master, what do you want me to say? I really don't know anything," the shopkeeper continued to argue.
Ye Moxun, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised his hand. The shopkeeper smelled a faint scent of fresh grass. In a few breaths, his mouth suddenly stopped working and his mind went blank. He blurted out everything that had happened two years ago.
After saying this, the shopkeeper collapsed to the ground, terrified. What were these two people's identities? How could they possess such potent drugs? He had only inhaled a tiny bit and was completely controlled by them, forced to say everything he should and shouldn't have.
“If we cooperate a little, we won’t be so tense. Look how scared this old man is. It’s terrible, he even peed his pants,” Song Tantan said, wrinkling her nose and clicking her tongue as she saw a puddle of water on the ground.
"Huh, what's this?"
That was the dagger the shopkeeper had been hiding in his sleeve. It fell out of his sleeve and Song Tantan quickly scooped it up.
"What a beautiful dagger, so jeweled!" Song Tantan was almost blinded by the three quail egg-sized gems on it. "It's a fine piece, I like it. Since we're so destined to meet, consider this a gift from you. Thank you very much, shopkeeper."
He spoke politely, but his tone was perfunctory. His mannerisms and behavior were just like his own. The shopkeeper felt a pang of heartache. This dagger was a treasure. Not only could it cut through iron like mud, but it was also inlaid with gold and silver.
The scabbard was made of gold and inlaid with small gemstones. The hilt was also made of gold and inlaid with three gemstones. This dagger was not only valuable for self-defense, but it was also worth a fortune if it were sold. If that family hadn't been desperate, how could they have pawned such a valuable item?
Song Tantan was overjoyed to have obtained the treasure. Actually, double-crossing was quite satisfying. Should she get some other valuable items as well?
"Someone's coming, let's hurry up and go." Ye Moxun pulled her along and walked out slowly.
The shopkeeper dares to be so heartless, daring to oppress the people in broad daylight. He must have a powerful backer. Whenever something happens in the pawnshop, his informants will report it to his patron.
The reason why Song Tantan and his companion blatantly and swaggered in through the main gate, and engaged in all sorts of provocations and intimidation, was to lure out the person behind them.
All their efforts paid off; the wolves behind the scenes did indeed send reinforcements.
After finding the pawnshop, Song Tantan and Ye Mo quickened their pace and rushed into an empty alley. They threw all their belongings into their spatial storage, removed their disguises, changed their clothes, and then swaggered back into the scene.
After they came out, the two saw a crowd gathered in front of the pawnshop, so they pretended nothing had happened and went over to watch the excitement with the crowd.
"Those two lads, one carrying a big knife and the other with poison on him, just left the pawnshop. They couldn't have gone far. Search them immediately, dig three feet into the ground, find them for me." The shopkeeper's face was ferocious, and the wrinkles on his old face turned into wavy lines.
"Shopkeeper, don't be anxious. Tell me what those two people look like first, and it will be easier to find them."
The speaker was a young man in his twenties, tall and strong. Even in loose clothes, you could feel his well-developed muscles, making him someone not to be underestimated.
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