NIP #514 - The people who talk about the Hidden Mist Village
#514 - The people who talk about the Hidden Mist Village
Just then, the old woman, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, her voice trembling with a hint of vigilance: "Lina, what were you doing at the Shenge River last night?"
This sudden question took Wang Lina by surprise, her eyes flickering as if she were considering how to answer. Finally, she slowly said, "How should I put it, it was probably a premonition, after all, what happened the day before yesterday, I couldn't sleep."
Wang Lina's answer seemed to touch a nerve in the old woman's heart. The old woman's face suddenly turned pale, and a trace of fear flashed in her eyes. She trembled and said, "So that's it, he really is a Yellow Spring person!"
As soon as the old woman finished speaking, the old man next to her immediately stopped her: "Don't say anymore, Granny Rong!" The old man's tone was stern, and his eyes were full of warning.
This series of conversations made Tang Yin feel even more confused and uneasy. He began to carefully think about the information he had just heard. From the conversation between Wang Lina and the two old people, he speculated that something major might have happened in this village before he arrived. Moreover, that matter seemed to be very similar to his situation of getting lost.
Tang Yin recalled Wang Lina's previous mention of "that child," and a bold guess formed in his mind—could it be that before him, another child had gotten lost near the Shenge River? This idea sent a chill down his spine.
He also remembered Wang Lina once saying that the Shenge River area was a "place with stories," a place where the dead return to the world. This description seemed particularly eerie and unsettling at this moment. Tang Yin couldn't help but suspect that he had inadvertently become involved in some extraordinary event.
Looking at the serious expressions of the two old people, Tang Yin realized that these two people would likely determine whether he could continue to stay in the village. Their attitude and decisions would directly affect his situation.
Just as Tang Yin was lost in thought, the stern-looking old man suddenly turned to him and asked coldly, "Hey, where are you from?"
Tang Yin was startled by this sudden question, but he quickly calmed down and answered truthfully, "I'm from the city next door."
After hearing this, the old man narrowed his eyes and continued to ask, "How old are you?"
Tang Yin felt like he was being interrogated, but he still remained calm and replied, "Twenty-four years old."
Hearing this answer, a mocking smile appeared on the old man's face. He sneered and said, "Then you look older than Wang Lina, letting a girl younger than you explain things for you?"
The old man's words were full of obvious sarcasm and disdain, making Tang Yin feel both embarrassed and annoyed. He realized that he had been in a passive position from the beginning, and it was indeed inappropriate to let Wang Lina explain the situation for him alone.
However, Tang Yin also understood that he had to act cautiously in this unfamiliar environment. He didn't know the rules of this village, nor did he understand the interpersonal relationships here. Rashly refuting might make the situation worse.
Just as Tang Yin was hesitating how to respond, he noticed Wang Lina cast a comforting look at him. This look seemed to be telling him: stay calm, let me handle it.
Tang Yin took a deep breath and decided to remain silent for the time being, letting Wang Lina continue to lead the situation. He realized that in this mysterious village, Wang Lina might be the only one willing to help him. Moreover, she seemed to have a deeper understanding of the village's situation.
At this time, the atmosphere in the cafeteria became even more tense. The old man's questioning was like a sharp sword hanging over Tang Yin's head. Wang Lina stood aside, her face both nervous and firm. The old woman—Granny Rong—still looked terrified, her eyes moving back and forth between Tang Yin and Wang Lina. And the cafeteria owner stood aside, her expression complex, seemingly hesitating whether to intervene.
Tang Yin realized that the following conversation might determine his fate in this village. He had to be careful and cautious, and at the same time, he had to find a way to figure out the secrets of this village. Because he vaguely felt that only by understanding the truth could he truly escape danger.
……
Tang Yin took a deep breath, realizing that he had to explain the situation himself. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "Okay, I'll explain it myself. My name is Tang Yin, and I had a car accident near the Shenge River and then got lost. After all, I'm a foreigner, and if I say something wrong, it will definitely cause trouble for everyone, right? That's why I asked Wang Lina to help me explain, I hope everyone can help me. I will leave here immediately, can you please let me off?"
His tone was sincere, and his eyes showed a genuine plea. Then, he added, "Also, can you please not blame Miss Wang Lina?"
These words caught Wang Lina off guard, and she looked at Tang Yin in shock, hurriedly reminding him, "Wait, Mr. Tang Yin, what are you talking about?"
Tang Yin ignored Wang Lina's surprise and continued to explain calmly, "Wang Lina brought me here, which should be a violation of the rules here, right? The high school students I met this morning were also very surprised."
The owner didn't say a word after hearing this, but her silence seemed to confirm Tang Yin's guess.
Seeing this, Tang Yin continued, "I am an adult and will take responsibility myself, and will try my best to make up for the losses. So... please!"
His sincerity seemed to touch the two old people in front of him. Gao Zhiwei and Granny Rong looked at each other, their eyes showing a hint of wavering.
The old man was silent for a moment, then turned his head and asked, "What do you think, Granny Rong?"
Granny Rong frowned, looked Tang Yin up and down, and finally said, "I don't like people who dye their hair brown."
Hearing this, Tang Yin's heart sank. He realized that his appearance might bring him trouble. The elders in his hometown would definitely not like his appearance either.
Gao Zhiwei next to him sneered, "Foreigners are like this, just let him leave as soon as possible."
Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, Wang Lina quickly introduced, "This old man is Gao Mei's grandfather, Gao Zhiwei."
Gao Zhiwei continued to stare into Tang Yin's eyes and asked, "Did you have an accident in the Shenge River area?"
Tang Yin replied helplessly, "No, I asked the clerk at the convenience store for directions, but I accidentally fell off a cliff, and the tires slipped..."
Gao Zhiwei was obviously not satisfied with this explanation and continued to ask suspiciously, "Then why didn't you go back the way you came, but instead stubbornly walked to the Shenge River area?"
At this moment, Tang Yin suddenly realized an anomaly that he had never noticed before: why didn't he feel any passage of time from the car accident to meeting Wang Lina?
This sudden realization made Tang Yin feel dizzy. He tried hard to recall the details of the accident, but found that there were large blanks in his memory. He remembered asking for directions at the convenience store, and he remembered the moment when the car skidded and fell off the cliff, but after that, his memory became blurred. Then, he met Wang Lina.
Tang Yin's expression became confused and警惕. He didn't know how to answer Gao Zhiwei's question, because he himself didn't know the truth of the matter. This realization made him feel panicked, but he tried to remain calm, not wanting to show any flaws at this critical moment.
Seeing Tang Yin's silence, Gao Zhiwei frowned even tighter. His gaze became sharper, as if he was scrutinizing every subtle expression on Tang Yin's face.
Wang Lina noticed the change in the atmosphere and hurriedly interjected, "Grandpa Gao, Mr. Tang Yin may have been frightened by the accident, so he doesn't remember the details very clearly. We should be considerate of his situation."
Hearing this, Gao Zhiwei snorted lightly, but didn't continue to press the issue. He turned to Granny Rong and said in a low voice, "What do you think?"
Granny Rong's eyes wandered over Tang Yin, and finally she sighed, "Since he's already here, let him stay for one night. He must leave early tomorrow morning."
Gao Zhiwei nodded and said to Tang Yin, "You heard that. You can stay tonight, but you must leave at dawn tomorrow. Remember, don't run around, especially don't go near the Shenge River."
Tang Yin breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly, "I understand, thank you very much for your tolerance. I promise to leave early tomorrow morning and will never cause you any trouble."
Just then, Wang Lina finally spoke, "In that case, let him stay with me. I'll keep an eye on him."
Gao Zhiwei and Granny Rong looked at each other, and finally nodded in agreement to this arrangement.
The crisis was temporarily resolved, but the doubts in Tang Yin's heart grew deeper and deeper. Why was his memory of the aftermath of the accident so vague? What was so special about the Shenge River? Why were the villagers so wary of outsiders?
More importantly, Wang Lina seemed to know something, but she was unwilling to say it clearly. Her attitude and behavior were full of contradictions.
Tang Yin decided that before leaving, he had to figure out these questions. But he also knew that in this village full of secrets and警惕, rash action could bring danger.
……
Gao Zhiwei pondered for a while, and finally proposed, "I'll go with Gangzi to investigate near the scene of the accident." His tone was decisive, as if he had made up his mind.
However, just then, Granny Rong suddenly interjected, "Gangzi still has to farm, right?" Her voice was soft, but the concern and opposition contained within it could not be ignored.
Gao Zhiwei turned to look at Granny Rong, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and explanation, "Granny Rong, I'm doing this to help him leave as soon as possible." He pointed at Tang Yin, his eyes revealing a hint of urgency.
Just as the two old people were talking, a tall and burly figure appeared at the entrance of the cafeteria. Tang Yin immediately recognized this person—it was the tall farmer he had seen in the fields before.
This man's name was Zhao Gang, and he was muscular, obviously as a result of long-term agricultural work. He looked about thirty years old, with a hint of fatigue on his face, but his eyes were still bright and energetic.
Wang Lina saw this and immediately stepped forward to explain the situation to Zhao Gang. She spoke quickly, but clearly, obviously wanting to let Zhao Gang understand the situation as soon as possible.
After listening, Zhao Gang sighed deeply, then turned to Granny Rong and said, "Granny Rong, I'll help him get the car back, the pesticide has already been sprayed, I'll go mowing as soon as I get back." His tone carried a hint of firmness, as if he had made a decision.
Hearing this, Granny Rong's eyes flashed with a complex emotion, and she sighed again, "Gangzi, you are too kind." Her tone contained both praise and a hint of helplessness.
Hearing this, Zhao Gang laughed heartily, "What is this, I can solve it with one hand."
Taking advantage of the time when everyone was eating, Granny Rong continued to carefully remind him, "This village is not a good place." Her eyes revealed a hint of warning, seemingly hinting to Tang Yin not to have too many expectations for this village.
Hearing this, Tang Yin immediately asked, "What do you mean by not a good place?"
Granny Rong glanced at Tang Yin and slowly said, "We are not good at getting along with foreigners, nor do we like getting along with foreigners, you should leave as soon as possible." Her words were straightforward, but they revealed a deep sense of alienation.
Tang Yin nodded after listening, "That's what I think too." His tone carried a hint of helplessness, but more of understanding and acceptance.
After this small episode, Tang Yin had a new understanding of the power relations in Wuyin Village. From the perspective of power relations, Gao Zhiwei seemed to be the most influential person, and his opinions were often valued by others. However, Granny Rong also had a say in this village, and her opinions also carried considerable weight.
Zhao Gang was the one responsible for solving the substantive problems in this village. His strong physique and practical style made him an indispensable force in the village. And Granny Rong was more like the spiritual and moral leader of the entire village. Although her words did not always directly influence decisions, they could influence the thoughts and behaviors of the villagers.
When an enlightened decision had to be made, Zhao Gang seemed to play the role of persuading Granny Rong, in order to maintain the balance of power in the village. His attitude and behavior showed that he knew how to deal with people and how to behave in different situations.
Tang Yin noticed that Wang Lina seemed to rely on Zhao Gang very much. Whenever she encountered difficulties or needed support, her eyes would always unconsciously look at Zhao Gang. This dependence may stem from Zhao Gang's reliability and problem-solving ability, or it may be because of Zhao Gang's status and influence in the village.
……
Just then, a fragrance wafted over, and the owner came over with a plate of steaming dishes. She had a gentle smile on her face and said softly, "Please enjoy."
Zhao Gang smelled the fragrance and immediately perked up, excitedly asking, "Ah, Sister Chen Xiang, have you packed my rice?" His eyes were bright, like a child waiting for food.
Chen Xiang replied with a smile, "I packed it, I packed a big bowl, you've worked hard all morning..." Her tone carried a hint of concern and gratitude.
Hearing this, Zhao Gang laughed heartily, "It's nothing, as long as it's for Wuyin Village, Granny Rong, and Sister Chen, this kind of thing is nothing at all." His words were full of enthusiasm and dedication.
Tang Yin silently observed the interaction between the two, and thought to himself, Chen Xiang might be a couple with Zhao Gang. The two of them looked very well-matched, and their ages were also very close. The natural and intimate atmosphere between them could not help but lead to such speculation.
At this time, Chen Xiang turned to Tang Yin and asked kindly, "Guest, shall I get you a bowl of rice too?"
Tang Yin quickly declined, "No, thank you, I've already eaten."
Chen Xiang didn't mind and continued, "Then have some tea, I'll go to the kitchen to heat up a few rice balls for you." Her enthusiasm made Tang Yin a little overwhelmed.
Just then, Wang Lina suddenly interrupted the conversation, "Sorry, Chen Xiang, we have something urgent. Can we make a phone call?"
Chen Xiang was slightly stunned upon hearing this, then nodded, tacitly granting Wang Lina's request.
Wang Lina said gratefully, "Thank you! But this is very urgent. Let's go, Mr. Tang Yin." Her tone carried a hint of nervousness and urgency.
Tang Yin followed Wang Lina out of the bustling cafeteria area and into the depths of the cafeteria. There was a wooden staircase here that looked a bit old, leading to the living area above. Each step of the staircase creaked, as if telling of its age.
They went up the stairs to the second floor and came to a narrow corridor. On both sides of the corridor were closed doors, and the air was filled with a faint musty smell of wood. At the end of the corridor, Tang Yin saw an old-fashioned black telephone that was almost extinct. The telephone stood there quietly, as if it had traveled from another era.
Wang Lina walked to the phone, turned around, and explained to Tang Yin, "Because the mobile phone signal is not good, this phone is the only phone in Wuyin Village."
Tang Yin looked at the old-fashioned telephone, his heart filled with questions. In this era of such developed mobile communication, why is Wuyin Village still using this kind of old-fashioned telephone? Is it because of the geographical location, or is the village deliberately keeping its distance from the outside world? This simple telephone seemed to become part of the mysterious veil of Wuyin Village, making Tang Yin even more curious about the secrets of this village.
Wang Lina reached out and picked up the telephone receiver and began dialing. As the dial rotated, the phone made a clicking sound, as if telling people about its age. Tang Yin stood aside, watching Wang Lina wait for the call to connect with a serious expression, and couldn't help but wonder who she was calling and what she was going to say.