Huang Ying looked at her in surprise, "What's wrong with me?"
"I told you long ago, he is Hong Yu jie jie's man. Look at you these past two days..."
Huang Ying clearly didn't realize there was anything different about her gaze. "He helped me out, so I'm grateful to him. Besides, I know he's Hong Yu jie jie's man, and I don't have any intentions in that direction."
Shen Ziyan sighed, "You, it's best if you don't."
Meanwhile, Chen Xiaobei had already turned and left. Looking at his retreating back, Huang Ying suddenly felt a sense of loss. It was at this moment that she suddenly realized, alas, had she truly fallen for Chen Xiaobei?
In the blink of an eye, a day of teaching ended, and Huang Ying returned to her room.
On the table in the room lay the stone Chen Xiaobei had given her on the mountain. It had been hollowed out and looked like a stone jar.
And it was clear Huang Ying was still not satisfied. She poured a little liquid from a porcelain bottle.
He took a bit of cotton, dipped it in the liquid, reached into the stone jar, and smeared some on the protruding stones.
Chomp chomp chomp. The stone made a sound, followed by a puff of white smoke.
Huang Ying picked up a hammer and chisel nearby and began to tap away inside, then overturned it, letting out a pile of stone debris.
After holding it in her hand and examining it carefully, Huang Ying still wanted to chip at it.
Du Juan, standing nearby, smiled and said, "Miss, if you keep chipping, I'm afraid you'll carve through it. Why don't you show it to Village Chief Chen first?"
Huang Ying nodded and then stopped.
"Let's go to jie jie's house for dinner and show it to Xiao Bei Ge while we're at it."
As soon as they entered Chen Xiaobei's yard, before dinner, Huang Ying took out the stone jar she had finished.
"Xiao Bei Ge, look, is it okay if the stone is carved like this?"
Chen Xiaobei took it and examined it in his hand. It was quite meticulously done, even better than he had anticipated. The most important thing was that the opening was small enough.
Excellent. If it was packed with gunpowder, the explosive power should be immense.
Of course, he couldn't waste this opportunity for an experiment. This opportunity was reserved for Sima Wushuang.
After all, if the experiment went well, it would send him to heaven. If it failed, he wouldn't suffer any great loss.
"Alright, I'll experiment with it the next time I go up the mountain."
At this moment, Chen Qiaoer came over and took the stone jar from his hand, smiling, "Gege, what are you using this for? Could it be for drinking?"
Chen Qiaoer's remark caused everyone to burst into laughter. Cui Hongyu also looked puzzled, "Husband, I can't tell what this thing is for."
Chen Xiaobei held it in his hand and explained to everyone, "I'll fill this with gunpowder, seal it tightly, and if it's ignited, it will explode. The shattered stones can injure the enemy."
"Yes, yes, that way it will have great power," Huang Ying added from the side.
Shen Ziyan looked at the stone and asked a profound question, "What if other materials were used? Would the lethality be even greater?"
"Oh, what do you suggest we use instead?"
"Many things. Iron, ceramics, or I can make one for you with mud, mixed with broken stones."
Although Shen Ziyan's idea was a bit wild and imaginative, it also reminded Chen Xiaobei. Yes, he shouldn't be so fixated on stones. Any material could be tried.
However, the prerequisite for experimentation was having enough gunpowder.
It seemed that the thirty catties of saltpeter he ordered from Li Ji General Store were not enough.
So, he had to order more.
"Huang Ying, I'm going up the mountain tomorrow. You prepare more gunpowder at home. If you lack ingredients, ask your jie jie. She knows where to buy them."
After making arrangements, Chen Xiaobei's mind began to wander again. The few large firecrackers he had made were now dried. He could use this opportunity to test them and see if they could be seen from the foot of the mountain if ignited at the Mountain God Temple.
"Also tomorrow, at this time, you all look towards the mountain. I'm going to set off a large double-rocket firecracker on the mountain. See if you can see it."
Chen Xiaobei not only reminded Cui Hongyu about this matter but also specifically went to the large locust tree to remind Chen Dachun.
Having more people keep an eye out then would ensure they didn't miss it.
Meanwhile, Liu Rumei and Liu Ce were also having their final discussions.
Liu Ce introduced his plan to Liu Rumei, "Chen Xiaobei will hand over the captured person as soon as possible."
"My plan is to enter the village at dusk. At this time, there will be many people in the village, and naturally, many will see."
"After a brief interrogation, you will immediately dispatch your men to escort the person to the capital overnight."
"If the informant wants to contact the outside, they will have to leave the village. I have stationed men in all the streets and alleys. Anyone leaving the village will be recorded."
Liu Rumei nodded slightly after hearing his arrangements.
"Your plan is meticulous, but have you considered what if they have other means of communication, and the informant doesn't leave the village?"
Liu Ce smiled slightly, "That's very simple. If no informant is found, the escort team heading to the capital will disappear out of thin air. At that time, the informant's message will be inaccurate."
Liu Rumei couldn't help but chuckle at Liu Ce's words.
"You're right. If the information is inaccurate once, twice, or thrice, then this informant will be useless and will no longer be trusted by their master."
"Yes, Sima Wushuang, the top Taoist priest. We can give him at least two chances. As long as we play our part well, we won't be afraid that he won't take the bait."
The next morning, Chen Xiaobei was to lead people up the mountain.
Cui Hongyu was very reluctant and saw him off again and again, all the way to the foot of Qing Niu Mountain.
Chen Xiaobei smiled and said, "Alright, you don't need to see me off further. I'll only be on the mountain for three days, and I'll be back soon."
The village defense team members nearby couldn't help but tease, "Yes, Hong Yu meizi, don't worry. Village Chief Xiaobei isn't going anywhere."
Cui Hongyu's face flushed slightly, and she turned and ran.
As they watched him leave, everyone burst into laughter.
Under normal circumstances, the sun would still be high when they reached the Mountain God Temple, but he needed to wait there until dark.
So, he let the village defense team members Chen Daqiang and the others lead the way up the mountain, while he lagged behind.
...
Today, Centipede Ridge also became lively.
The main reason was that they had received the news of Sun Jian's death.
And that he was killed by Chen Xiaobei, which made Yang Zhi and the others even more overjoyed.
La Er Duo, even though he was not feeling well, ordered wine and food to be prepared to celebrate.
At noon, the banquet was set. Yang Zhi, La Er Duo, and Yang Chun were soon tipsy.
At this moment, Chen Ermao came with a bowl of dishes and two steamed buns to deliver food to Xiong Fei.
Seeing Chen Ermao arrive, Xiong Fei pointed towards the Hall of Gathering Heroes, "Ermao, what's going on in there? It's so noisy."
"Oh, it seems like one of their enemies was killed, and they're celebrating."
Hearing Chen Ermao's words, Xiong Fei's small eyes darted.