Chapter 223: Even Kongming Can't Work for Free

My grandaunt, what else could it be? It's the product of being bored stiff, and Ye Cheng's heart almost jumped out.

He quickly snatched it up, threw it into the trash, then brought the girl out—otherwise he really couldn't take it; even with his thick face, he almost blushed just now.

The other three men were much steadier; they just took a look in Ye Cheng's courtyard.

"Brother Zhao, you came without saying a word and even launched a surprise attack." He sat down and complained to Zhao Zhiming.

Zhao Zhiming pointed at his own dark circles: "Damn! You think I want to? I was also dragged out of bed by them."

Old Li chuckled, looked apologetically at Ye Cheng and said: "This visit is also abrupt; I've had bad luck with salvage lately, so I came to ask you to come out of retirement and help."

"Still haven't salvaged it?" Ye Cheng asked curiously. "By rights, that area isn't big; it shouldn't be hard."

Old Li shook his head: "Yes, we've searched the main cave thoroughly, found nothing; we suspect it's in a side passage."

Our divers pulled a rope and found a few shallower caves, but as soon as they went into the deeper ones they felt dizzy and couldn't bear it.

Having said that, Old Li looked solemnly at Ye Cheng: "So I came today especially to ask you to come out of retirement and help us; I don't know what conditions you have, whether money or anything else, we can discuss."

This old man spoke so formally and sincerely, it reminded Ye Cheng of his middle school teacher.

Back then he said the same thing: as long as you don't disturb other students' class, you can set any conditions.

Back then, the condition Ye Cheng set that he still remembers was borrowing the teacher's set of Heavenly Dragon Eight Volumes; the teacher insisted on lending him How the Steel Was Tempered, truth be told, Ye Cheng back then had no interest in steelmaking.

Now this old man's sincerity makes Ye Cheng feel a bit embarrassed.

Old Zhao beside him tugged at him: "Enough already, you're not some precious person."

Ye Cheng gave him a white-eyed look: "Damn it, I am precious, okay."

Of course, that's not the main reason.

"Old Li, I can go, but the timing must be up to me—I'll decide which day to go, okay?"

Ye Cheng meant to wait until his Luck Value is high before going; otherwise, for such a deep cave, he couldn't guarantee safety.

Also, that mysterious giant sea turtle—would it become invisible if his Luck Value is low?

"Are you feeling unwell? We have a professional doctor." Old Li misunderstood.

"No, I'm waiting for the right opportunity, the right moment." Ye Cheng pointed at the sky.

Seeing Ye Cheng's gesture, Xiao Rou quickly answered, "Are you going to tell fortunes?"

Ye Cheng's hand stopped mid‑air, which is kind of like fortune‑telling, except the system just gives the result directly.

He nodded, "I guess so."

Hearing Ye Cheng say that, Old Li, though not fully agreeing, still nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then we'll wait for you."

Seeing the two reach an agreement, Zhao Zhiming was about to make a celebratory move, but Ye Cheng added a sentence,

"Also, let's get this straight first—I want money."

"Damn!" Old Zhao burst out a swear: "I was just about to say you're so conscientious, and then you come out with a demand for money."

"Nonsense, of course I need money for work—otherwise I'd be working for free." Ye Cheng didn't care; if you come once, I'll just help you for free, you're dreaming.

What nonsense about Liu Bei's three visits to the thatched cottage, then Kongming came out of retirement to work for free.

That's all baloney.

Kongming's family—his older brother Zhuge Jin was in Eastern Wu, his younger cousin Zhuge Dan was under Cao the Traitor, and he himself was originally meant to serve under Liu Bei; for the Zhuge family, you can't put all your eggs in one basket.

This isn't just a matter of being moved and then coming out to work.

If the three visits truly were that moving, then surely the electronic factory boss would have already gone into the mountains to move the oxen and horses.

"Tch, you miser, Ge Lang Tai." Xiao Rou looked at him with contempt.

"No problem, the survey team will put up 20,000—this 20,000 is available whether we find anything or not. Then, if we find it, I'll personally add another 10,000." Old Li was very straightforward.

Ye Cheng looked at the old man a bit surprised—being able to personally put up 10,000, wow, he's rich.

"If we find it, the Cui family will add another 20,000." Cui Shuran also followed, saying the reward is too high.

Now it totals 50,000, making Ye Cheng want to set off right away.

Everyone's gaze turned to him; he didn't speak, just looked at Xiao Rou and Zhao Zhiming, making the two feel creeped out.

Xiao Rou looked herself up and down, puzzled, and said, "What do I have on me?"

Zhao Zhiming also foolishly rubbed his face, as if there was nothing dirty, but upon seeing Ye Cheng's sly grin, he instantly understood.

He suddenly stood up, pointed at Ye Cheng and shouted, "Holy shit! You're not trying to get us to chip in more money for you, are you?"

"Huh? Ye Cheng, you actually want me, a girl, to chip in more money?" Xiao Rou pretended to look pitiful at Ye Cheng, "My money is supposed to be for my dowry."

"Fine, treat it as your dowry then—who knows whose it might be."

Ye Cheng turned his head to look at Zhao Zhiming, gave a hehe laugh, "Still, Brother Zhao, you're brilliant."

"Brilliant my ass! I'm not chipping in." Zhao Zhiming turned away haughtily.

"If you won't chip in, how about you come eat at my place at noon, and you cover the food and drink costs?" Ye Cheng raised his eyebrows at Zhao Zhiming.

Just mention eating, and Old Zhao's heart moved.

He moved his throat, spoke stubbornly: "Having a meal? No problem, I'll cover the food and drink costs."

"Then what should we eat at noon?"

Seeing Old Zhao drooling, Xiao Rou curiously looked at him and said, "Brother Zhao, Ye Cheng is pretty good at cooking, right?"

"Not that great, but the grilled fish last time was really good—do we have any today?"

"Yes, the boss said we have everything, plus that—guaranteed you'll want more after eating." Ye Cheng pointed to the 20‑catty crayfish over there.

Damn, he must have known we'd be eating mala today, that's why he came.

"What is this? Shrimp?" Zhao Zhiming had indeed never seen this; Old Li put on his glasses and looked, but didn't recognize it either.

As for Cui Shuran and Xiao Rou, being rich kids, there's no need to say more.

"Ah, this is expensive shrimp—30 yuan per catty, here we have 20 catties, that's 600 yuan."

What shrimp, still 30 yuan per jin—I said it upfront: if it's not tasty, I won't pay.

Zhao Zhiming now looks at Ye Cheng with suspicion and growing distrust—who knows what ill intentions this guy harbors?

Don't worry—if it's not tasty, it's on the house.

Have a seat, I'll get someone to help.