Eric Bennett was quite surprised; he hadn’t expected Grace Clark to think of this so quickly, and couldn’t help but praise, “The young lady truly is clever.”

Grace Clark smiled sweetly, clearly pleased. Daisy, standing to the side, couldn’t help but mutter, “Who are you to judge? Does the young lady’s cleverness need your evaluation?”

As a servant, it was unwise to comment on the young lady in such a way. Grace Clark immediately realized that Eric Bennett had overstepped his bounds, but felt that Daisy was making a fuss over nothing. She quickly said, “You insisted on lending me a string of coins to buy those copper coins, so you must believe they’re worth more than a string, even if Mr. Turner and everyone else disagrees?”

Eric Bennett hadn’t expected that this young lady, besides being formidable against her enemies, also possessed such keen and agile insight. After a moment of silence, he replied, “That’s right.”

The copper coins he bought from Howard Grant might seem useless to most people, but he knew that for him, they were definitely a chance to turn his life around!

The opportunity lay in the trace of red on the coins—a mark that even Mr. Turner hadn’t noticed.

That red mark was cinnabar!

Cinnabar, also known as dan sha, is a natural mineral.

Why would there be cinnabar on the copper coins?

Eric Bennett wasn’t sure about other uses, but he remembered an old archaeological saying from his studies: “Mercury in Qin tombs, cinnabar in Han tombs; green paste and charcoal guard the tombs of the underworld.”

This phrase summarizes the anti-corrosion features of tombs from various dynasties. Of course, it’s not absolute, but cinnabar was a distinctive anti-corrosion material in Han dynasty tombs. If there’s cinnabar on the coins, it means they were likely taken from a Han tomb.

If even someone like Howard Grant could find these shovel coins, then as a professional, Eric Bennett was sure he could find something worth more than a string of coins.

When he cast his line, he knew that whether he, a servant, could turn his fate around and become a master depended on this chance!

Chapter 11: Cupid’s Wasp

Eric Bennett had always wanted to get some good equipment and make a grand entrance in Ye City. What losers lack is never imagination, but the determination and action to truly strive. He didn’t want to be a loser, nor a servant, and had always been on the lookout for opportunities.

Opportunities are always for those who are observant.

This time, the chance of success was definitely not small, so of course he wouldn’t give up. But as for how to proceed, he wasn’t in a hurry—he could afford to wait.

When Grace Clark heard Eric Bennett’s answer, she was a little surprised, and after a moment asked, “May I ask what the real value of these shovel coins is?”

The real value wasn’t the coins themselves, but the tomb chamber they came from. Eric Bennett knew the answer, but only smiled, “I need a few days to verify my judgment. I’ll tell you then, all right?”

“Who cares.” Grace Clark felt a bit displeased.

In the past, whenever she asked others questions, which young master didn’t try to show off to win her favor? She would usually ignore them, but this Eric Bennett treated the question like a treasure.

At this moment, the carriage had stopped in front of the Cao residence. Grace Clark got out and said coolly, “Eric Bennett, I just hope you haven’t misjudged. After all… I paid for that string of coins.”

“From today on, all your wages will be withheld until you’ve paid back the young lady’s string of coins, plus interest,” Daisy added, putting on airs.

Eric Bennett just smiled, “Actually, the young lady’s money wasn’t spent in vain.”

“How so?” Grace Clark stopped in surprise.

“That Howard Grant really seemed to be in trouble, otherwise he wouldn’t have acted that way. By saving his life, the young lady has already gained the greatest value from that string of coins,” Eric Bennett explained.

“You just don’t want to pay me back, do you?” Grace Clark couldn’t help but laugh. “I only saw Howard Grant thanking you—he didn’t thank me.”

“Then I’ll thank the young lady,” Eric Bennett said with a smile.

For no reason, Grace Clark’s heart skipped a beat. She saw Daisy’s jaw nearly drop to the ground—she’d probably never seen a servant dare speak to the young lady like that. Blushing, Grace Clark spat, “Who cares.”

She hurried toward the Cao residence, afraid that Eric Bennett or Daisy would see her blushing. Suddenly, she heard Eric Bennett call out, “Young lady, watch out!”

Watch out for what?

Grace Clark was startled and turned to look, only to see Eric Bennett leap in front of her, his arm sweeping past her cheek.

“What are you doing?”

Grace Clark was both shocked and angry; the goodwill she’d just built up vanished in an instant. Instinctively, she raised her delicate hand and slapped Eric Bennett hard across the face.

Eric Bennett was stunned by the blow.

Grace Clark’s heart trembled slightly, and then she felt a sting in her fingers. Her eyes flashed, and she saw a yellow-and-black wasp fall to the ground.

Eric Bennett had seen the wasp coming and rushed over to protect Grace Clark, but she misunderstood and he ended up getting stung instead. Frowning, he grabbed Grace Clark’s arm.

Grace Clark realized she had misunderstood Eric Bennett and anxiously asked, “Hey, are you all right? Does it hurt?”

Why does this woman talk so much at a critical moment?

Eric Bennett saw that although the wasp was dead, its stinger was still lodged in Grace Clark’s index finger. Without another word, he pinched it out with his fingernails.