deltrittennovels #575 - Meet two more reporters
#575 - Meet two more reporters
The cafeteria was bustling with noise, the sounds of footsteps rising and falling, accompanied by the clatter of cutlery. People were constantly leaving, and new diners were walking in. Hot steam filled the air, mingling with the aroma of food, creating a unique atmosphere.
Qin Zhi seemed completely unaffected by the surrounding hubbub, elegantly picking at the dishes in front of him. He occasionally raised his gentle eyes, timing his moments to converse with Tang Yin. His every move exuded an indescribable composure, as if he were performing a carefully designed act.
Tang Yin cooperated with Qin Zhi's rhythm, repeating the story he had fabricated for the police officer earlier. He deliberately slowed his pace, trying to inject some fatigue and helplessness into his voice, attempting to create the image of a down-and-out city dweller defeated by life.
Qin Zhi maintained a polite smile throughout, nodding in agreement from time to time, his eyes flashing with a subtle light of scrutiny. This behavior made Tang Yin's heart tighten – this man was a hundred times more cunning than that simple police uncle. Every smile, every question, might conceal hidden intentions.
Tang Yin began to wonder if he was being too sensitive, but his intuition told him that the gentle and refined man before him was definitely not as simple as he appeared.
After finishing breakfast, the two walked back to the police station together. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Qin Zhi suddenly stopped and turned to Tang Yin.
"Tang Yin, how about moving to Baifeng Village to try it out?"
This sentence struck Tang Yin's heart like a thunderbolt. It was exactly the proposal he had been hoping for, but he had to restrain his inner joy and maintain a calm facade.
The police uncle beside him frowned slightly, expressing his concerns in a roundabout way, but his words contained a hint of fear, and he never dared to be too forceful. Qin Zhi appeared to be discussing it with the uncle, but he had already made up his mind. With that nonchalant demeanor, how could he allow others to interject?
After some back-and-forth, the police uncle finally gave in, handing over the decision to Tang Yin himself.
"Tang Yin, is this okay?" Qin Zhi had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes conveyed a sense of refusal. At that moment, Tang Yin finally believed that the elder families of Baifeng Village were indeed no ordinary people.
"... Yes, it's like finding a boat in despair," Tang Yin said, feigning gratitude.
"You can move in right away, but... that place is a bit far," Qin Zhi added casually.
Tang Yin's heart skipped a beat. What exactly was this man planning? But he still maintained his composure on the surface.
"I don't mind. Where is it located?"
"Alright, alright, I'll explain it to you slowly... Ah, speaking of which, someone is going there anyway." Qin Zhi's gaze passed over Tang Yin's shoulder, looking into the distance.
Tang Yin understood in his heart that those two people were indeed related to this matter.
"Come with me." Qin Zhi made an inviting gesture, his face still wearing a harmless smile. But Tang Yin had already seen through this facade; this man was clearly going to send him to some remote village.
Sunlight streamed in through the glass windows of the police station, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Tang Yin hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Um, about the procedures."
Qin Zhi stood by the window, his silhouette appearing particularly deep against the light, a faint smile still on his lips. "Household registration and other procedures? We'll talk about it later. I have acquaintances outside who can take care of it for me."
His tone was light and casual, as if he were discussing the weather, not a person's important household registration matters. When he turned to face Tang Yin, the sunlight outlined his elegant profile.
"In any case, you need a place to live first. It's not convenient to keep staying at the police station, is it?" Qin Zhi's voice carried a hint of concern, but it made Tang Yin feel a chill for some reason.
Qin Zhi straightened his collar and continued, "I'll go inform the people who are traveling with you. Don't worry, they're from the city too." His eyes flashed with some kind of elusive light.
Standing by the window, Qin Zhi looked at his watch and frowned slightly. "... Ah, I still need to say hello to the people below. Time is a bit tight, but I should be able to get it done before noon."
"Alright, then I'll take my leave first." Before the words were finished, Qin Zhi had already turned and left, his leather shoes making crisp sounds on the floor, quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor. This one-sided way of ending the conversation further showed his unquestionable attitude.
Watching Qin Zhi's departing back, Tang Yin said softly, "I've met a good person." His tone carried a hint of bitter sarcasm. At least on the surface, it did seem like a kind act of helping a stranger from out of town.
The police uncle standing next to him scratched the back of his head and stammered, "... Well, I guess so..."
From the police uncle's slightly furrowed brow and flickering eyes, Tang Yin could see that he was well aware of the current situation and clearly expressed dissatisfaction. But even so, this law enforcement officer, representing the law, could only silently bow his head in the face of the elder's decision.
Tang Yin now understood why Wang Lina had never had any expectations of the police. In this special land of Baifeng Village, even these violent institutions had to submit to the elder's authority.
The sunlight gradually became blinding. Tang Yin leaned against the wall and began to sort out the current situation. After careful consideration, he was almost certain that he was about to be sent to Wuyin Village. This arrangement was either out of malice towards outsiders or to take isolation measures to avoid conflicts with other villagers.
The subtle sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor of the police station, but Tang Yin's thoughts drifted further afield. This arrangement, made without the consent of the person concerned, was indeed egregious in nature. No wonder the police uncle kept advising him not to stay here; now everything made sense.
However, what was most concerning was Qin Zhi's performance. From making the suggestion to starting the process, the urgency and assertiveness he showed were suspicious. On the surface, it was to solve the accommodation problem as soon as possible, but considering that he already knew about the Yellow Spring Feast, this timing could not help but make one suspect the motivation behind it.
The sky outside the window began to turn dark, dusk was approaching, and the air was filled with a hint of humidity, foreshadowing the imminent arrival of thick fog. At this special moment, suddenly arranging for an outsider to move to Wuyin Village made Tang Yin wonder: Did Qin Zhi, or rather the elders of Baifeng Village, really understand the deep meaning behind this decision?
...
The outline of Wuyin Village loomed in the mist. When Tang Yin set foot on this unfamiliar land, he unexpectedly met two familiar figures. Xia Hui's neat short hair swayed gently in the breeze, while Zhou Zhengxiong was still as unapproachable as ever, his hands in his pockets, standing a little further away.
It was the two reporters who had been killed off at the beginning of the last cycle.
Xia Hui's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked forward. "By the way, have you read it? Little Q's article?"
Faced with this sudden question, Tang Yin scratched his nose awkwardly. "Um, sorry."
Zhou Zhengxiong stood aside, silently sizing up Tang Yin, his face full of vigilance. "..."
Feeling the other's cold gaze, Tang Yin bowed slightly. "... Hello, nice to meet you."
"Hello," Zhou Zhengxiong replied coldly, his voice carrying a clear sense of alienation. This attitude made Tang Yin laugh bitterly in his heart. It seemed that this person was still as difficult to get along with as ever.
The roar of a car engine came from afar, and Qin Zhi's figure appeared at the entrance of the village. Tang Yin had to admit that this elder was indeed efficient. It was not yet noon, and he had already returned, chatting cordially with the car owner who was trying to make things difficult for him.
Looking at the figures of Xia Hui and Zhou Zhengxiong, Tang Yin understood in his heart that these were indeed the two people.
Xia Hui's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Qin Zhi has already contacted Wuyin Village. Tang Yin, are you ready?" Her tone carried a hint of anticipation.
Tang Yin frowned slightly. "Um... Are you guys okay?"
"Of course. If we can get there by noon, we won't have to go hungry," Xia Hui said with a smile, revealing a row of white teeth.
Tang Yin was thoughtful. "I see, your original plan was to go later when it was convenient for them."
"Yes, yes, I heard it's better to avoid their lunch time," Xia Hui nodded, then a flash of excitement flashed in her eyes. "Actually, I originally wanted to interview their daily dietary activities, so it seems that this time I'm really lucky."
Hearing this sentence, Tang Yin's heart suddenly felt uneasy. The people of Baifeng Village were unwilling to show their daily lives to outsiders, which was in line with their consistent style. However, if they really didn't want to be disturbed, wouldn't it be enough to simply refuse the interview?
A darker thought flashed through his mind - was it because they couldn't refuse due to human relations, or were they deliberately accepting the interview to pretend to be an enlightened village? Or... from the beginning, they never intended to let the reporters leave alive?
Tang Yin shook his head sharply, trying to shake off this terrible thought. Shouldn't be like this, right? Killing a Wuyin villager or an unknown outsider like him in the mountains might still be able to destroy the body and eliminate the traces. But if these two reporters with clear identities disappeared in Baifeng Village, it would definitely cause an uproar.
On the other hand, if the villagers knew that the feast was about to begin, they shouldn't have allowed them to come in for interviews at all.
"I think it's almost time to leave, Zhou Zhengxiong, what do you think?" Xia Hui's voice pulled Tang Yin back to reality.
"Wherever, wherever," Zhou Zhengxiong replied faintly. This was the first time Tang Yin had spoken to him in this life.
"That's for sure. Okay, let's get in the car, let's get in the car," Xia Hui greeted enthusiastically.
The old van moved slowly on the country road, the tires making a dull sound as they rolled over the muddy road. May was the season for transplanting rice seedlings. Looking around, the rice fields were full of villagers working with their backs bent. The clear water reflected the sky, and the seedlings were arranged neatly, outlining a pastoral landscape.
Through the slightly yellowed glass window of the van, Tang Yin watched the figures working in the fields. The sunlight shone through the mist and landed on their curved backs, outlining silhouettes of hard work.
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"They're not using machines," Tang Yin said thoughtfully, his eyes sweeping over the farmers who were transplanting rice seedlings purely by manpower.
Xia Hui turned her head, the eyes under her black-rimmed glasses flashing with the unique keen light of a reporter. "Yes, it seems that people here don't like new things very much."
"Harvesters and tractors are not new things anymore, are they?" Tang Yin frowned slightly, tapping the car window lightly with his fingers. "Relying on this manual labor, I can't believe they can manage."
Xia Hui tucked a stray strand of short hair behind her ear, revealing a meaningful smile. "They probably can't manage. I heard that the major families here are already preparing to introduce heavy machinery."
"I see, is it the Qin family?" Tang Yin asked subconsciously.
"I heard that the Qian family is responsible for agricultural reform," Xia Hui's voice carried a hint of inquiry.
Tang Yin chuckled. "I see, it seems they're quite rich."
"Yeah, probably, although I don't know what they're up to," Xia Hui's tone suddenly became a little strange.
This wording caught Tang Yin's attention. "What are they up to?"
Xia Hui's expression became hesitant, and her fingers twisted together unconsciously. "Um... how should I put it?" She paused and continued, "The main source of income for this village is working outside, right? In this aging and depopulating mountain village, why are the major families still so rich?"
"Really?" Tang Yin's eyes became sharp.
"Yeah, the Qian family is super big, and they drive large imported cars," Xia Hui said, lowering her voice unconsciously.
"Hmm..." Tang Yin fell into deep thought. Although he could think of some reasonable explanations, this sense of incongruity was indeed difficult to ignore.
Just then, Zhou Zhengxiong, who had been focusing on driving, suddenly spoke, "Little Q."
"Hmm?"
This sudden nickname startled Tang Yin, but Xia Hui seemed unusually natural. Zhou Zhengxiong's profile loomed in the rearview mirror, his voice still calm. "It's better not to speculate randomly."
"... Uh, but," Xia Hui's tone carried a hint of unwillingness.
"Is the soul of the reporter starting to stir?" Zhou Zhengxiong rarely revealed a hint of teasing.
Xia Hui quickly waved her hand. "It's not that bad."
"It's better not to meddle in other people's business this time," Zhou Zhengxiong's tone suddenly became serious, his slender fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"Is this the intuition of a famous photographer?" Xia Hui tried to ease the atmosphere.
"Who knows?" Zhou Zhengxiong said lightly, his eyes always fixed on the road ahead.
Xia Hui sighed. "... Okay, I understand, after all, it's not my specialty."
Tang Yin watched this scene in silence, but the doubts in his heart grew even deeper.
"Um, forget what I just said," Xia Hui turned to Tang Yin, forcing a smile.
"Ah, um," Tang Yin replied casually, thinking: How could I forget such a suspicious conversation?
Xia Hui seemed to want to change the subject. "By the way, I heard you're moving here?"
"Yes," Tang Yin replied briefly.
"... Do you understand the place you're going to?" Xia Hui's voice carried an undisguised concern.
Tang Yin looked at her deeply. "Not very clear, but I can roughly imagine it."
This sentence obviously exceeded Xia Hui's expectations. Her eyes widened suddenly, and her lips trembled slightly. "What do you mean?"