Xia Weiliang hadn't expected things to go so smoothly when she entrusted them to Zhao Cheng!
Perhaps due to their shared living environment and past, Meimei was no longer on guard with Zhao Cheng, and her small face finally showed a smile.
"I'll help you clean the yard," Xia Weiliang said, getting up and offering to help.
Little Shuai was also busy, piling up firewood in the corners where the sun shone.
Meimei stared at the food in her bowl, and tears suddenly began to fall in large drops.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Cheng quickly asked, "Are you... missing your mom?"
Meimei nodded. It was the first time she had been so open in front of others.
"Sigh, I miss her too. But what can we do? They have their own lives to live, we can't just stop living because of us, can we?"
Meimei wiped her tears, "Mhm."
Hearing this, both adults felt a pang in their hearts.
Xia Weiliang walked over, took her bowl back to the kitchen, then crouched in front of her and asked, "Auntie wants to help you and send you to school outside the village. Are you willing?"
Because of Zhao Cheng, Meimei was no longer as resistant, but she still shook her head seriously, "I can't leave. I have to stay here. My dad said he'll be back with money soon. My mom... she visits me often too. If she can't see me, she'll be sad."
Zhao Cheng said nothing, just furrowed his small brow.
Xia Weiliang smiled, "Okay, then you don't have to go."
She never brought up the matter again.
As the group walked back, they saw a luxurious SUV parked in the middle of the narrow road as they exited the alley.
Little Shuai picked up his camera without a word. His professional instinct told him that in a specific environment, the less likely people or objects to appear, the more stories there were to uncover! See, that's how excellent handsome guys are!
Just then, angry shouts came from the yard next door: "Get out! All of you, get out! Take your dirty money and get out!"
This booming voice could only belong to Shen Chunhua. Then, a pile of gifts was pushed out, and among them were several stacks of cash! Two men in suits and ties were ushered out of the gate, looking quite disheveled.
"Mrs. Ding, please calm down, this is a good thing! Our village will benefit from it too!"
"Go to hell!" Shen Chunhua grabbed a broom and chased them.
Xia Weiliang, afraid she would be at a disadvantage, was about to go over when Zhao Cheng grabbed her arm, "I'll go."
The boy was quick, running forward in a few strides, "Auntie Hua, what's wrong?"
Shen Chunhua put her hands on her hips, "Nothing! Just a few shameless people who wanted a beating!"
Seeing that there were outsiders, the two men seemed hesitant. They said something to Shen Chunhua, asking her to reconsider, then quickly got into their car and drove backward out of the alley.
Little Shuai filmed the car for a long time, especially the license plate, which he captured very clearly.
Xia Weiliang then ran over, "Sister Hua, who were they?"
"Sigh!" Shen Chunhua sat down angrily, drank a bowl of water, and then said, "They're called Yi De Construction, or Construction Yi De. They want to build a wastewater treatment plant in our village."
Yi De... The name sounded so familiar, as if someone had mentioned it to her before.
Shen Chunhua continued, "Two years ago, they came here to set up a factory. The factory site is not far from here. Villagers from our village and many surrounding villages worked there. But later, things took a turn for the worse. Villagers who worked there fell ill every few days, and some were even carried home!"
Zhao Cheng, at his age, was most interested in such suspenseful opening lines, so he quickly asked, "Why, why?"
"Later, there were rumors in the village that the place was cursed. The factory owner heard about it and quickly found a feng shui master to check it out. Guess what happened? The feng shui master said that the place was an execution ground in some dynasty, and many people were executed there!"
Zhao Cheng's mouth formed an 'o' shape, "Could it be... really haunted?"
Xia Weiliang patted his little head, "Where are there so many ghosts and spirits? You have to believe in science, believe in truth." As she spoke, she turned and asked, "Then we should hold a ritual! Invite a virtuous monk to build tombs and erect monuments for these departed souls, and properly guide them. Perhaps that will break the curse!"
Zhao Cheng: "..."
Liang Niang, you seem to know quite a lot, but what about the science you mentioned?
"They did! The ritual was quite a big event, and the whole village knew about it. Everyone who went to work also returned. Later, some people said they saw white figures near that place, and at night they could hear very tragic crying, and it was a man!"
Xia Weiliang quickly rubbed her arms, goosebumps rising.
"In short, it's said to be quite scary. Everyone is afraid to go near that place now, and they even detour when passing by!"
Xia Weiliang asked, "So, you didn't agree because they want to build a wastewater treatment plant here?"
"Do you think your Sister Hua is that shortsighted?" Shen Chunhua leaned closer and whispered, "My Da Yong said that the factory is not simple. Who knows what they are producing? So many people falling ill like that? He told us to stay far away! He's educated, and what he says has never been wrong!"
Zhao Cheng: "Could it be a biological factory?" He analyzed seriously, "One person getting sick could be a coincidence, but if a majority of people get sick, it's intentional! And the only place they all went to was this factory, so maybe they're producing secret biochemical weapons inside, or researching some kind of virus!"
*Slap—*
Xia Weiliang slapped him again, "Stop watching so many movies!" Turning back, she said seriously to Shen Chunhua, "I second that."
Ding Yong, upon hearing this, quickly ran home, "Chunhua, are you alright?"
"What could happen to me! If they dare to come again, I'll break their legs!" Shen Chunhua was so angry because these people were threatening and trying to bribe her! They explicitly stated that even if the village chief disagreed, they had plenty of ways to get the permit! In that case, they wouldn't get a single cent, so it would be better to be sensible now and happily accept the money! How could Shen Chunhua tolerate that temper? Compared to her, Ding Yong appeared worried.
During dinner, Xia Weiliang told Xiao Yi about it.
"Yi De Construction?"
"Yes! Sister Hua said they built a factory here."
Xiao Yi's handsome face was thoughtful. Soon, he smiled at her again, "Sister Hua refused, so there won't be any problems."
"Really? But those two didn't look very willing when they left."
As they were talking, Xi En glanced up, then discreetly looked away. Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder. It was Lin Zhuonan.
"Heh heh, one-sided love!" Xi En was not very fond of his overly familiar nature.
"Who are you talking about?" Lin Zhuonan winked at him, "Heh heh, of course, I'm talking about myself. I wouldn't be talking about you, Brother En, would I."