We visited several households with Branch Secretary An, which gave me a headache. All of them spoke highly of Li Feng, painting him as an exemplary figure. I wasn't trying to uncover Li Feng's dark side; I just wanted to know what kind of person he truly was. However, it became clear that these meetings were all arranged by Branch Secretary An.
Doctor Chen was a slip-up by Branch Secretary An, but since Doctor Chen needed a medical certificate, he was still within Branch Secretary An's control, which is why I got to meet him. I believe everyone else I met would have praised Li Feng.
This was my fault. Before coming, I had stated my business partnership with Li Feng. This led Branch Secretary An to unilaterally believe that my investment was due to our friendship. If anyone spoke ill of Li Feng and damaged our relationship, my promised investment would fall through.
Money can indeed make the world go 'round, but sometimes, too much eagerness from the "ghosts" can also backfire.
...
After pondering for a moment, I nudged Branch Secretary An. "Branch Secretary An, I have a stomachache. Take me to the restroom."
"Alright!"
Branch Secretary An led me away. I spotted a secluded corner and quickly pulled him there, speaking to him sternly and earnestly. "Branch Secretary An, you're being foolish!"
"I... I suppose I am getting old."
My words confused Branch Secretary An. His expression turned awkward, but he still tried to flatter me.
"I'm talking about serious matters!"
If I maintained a stern expression, Branch Secretary An would become nervous. As expected, he directly asked, "Is there something you're not satisfied with?"
Instead of answering directly, I piqued his curiosity. "Can your phone access the internet?"
This maneuver left Branch Secretary An bewildered, but he had to follow my lead. With a puzzled look, he said, "My phone can't do that. Even if it could, I wouldn't know how to use it."
"Then watch this."
I considered using his phone primarily because he might think I was a fraud if I used mine. I hadn't anticipated his phone being so outdated, so I had to use my own.
Chang Dachun, Da Huang, and Fatty, in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, had done remarkably well, from Yellow Pages to portals, and now group buying. Their success was easily verifiable online.
I pulled up a majestic photo of Chang Dachun from the internet and handed it to Branch Secretary An. He looked utterly astonished. "This is? Master Chang?"
"This is my elder brother," I replied playfully, observing his surprised expression and trying to gauge his thoughts.
"Ah~ So he's not a driver?"
He finally seemed to understand, which prompted me to retort, "Have you ever seen a driver like this?"
"What about the investment?"
"The investment is mine. But my elder brother heard that your village has many local specialty products. If these products are listed on their website and sales channels are opened, do you understand what the future would look like?"
It was all a tactic: first, intimidate, then appeal to emotions and reason, and finally, seal the deal with benefits.
"What would it look like?"
"The villagers would become prosperous, you'd become famous nationwide, and everyone would know that your local products are pure and eco-friendly. At that point, wouldn't the country build roads for you? And once the roads are built, what would follow?"
"What would follow?"
"You truly are a blockhead! Once the roads are built, with your picturesque scenery, your village could rival a 5A tourist attraction. People would come to your village for a farm-style meal and a vacation. Then, you, Branch Secretary An, would be remembered in history for your contributions to the village."
Branch Secretary An stared blankly for a moment, then slapped his head and ran off.
"Where are you going? Where's the restroom?" I deliberately shouted after him. He was too sincere to look back. "It's over there. General Manager Tang, you go ahead. I can't let President Chang think the locals are too cold."
A good public servant, upon hearing about benefits for the village, changed his tune faster than a Sichuan opera performer. I chuckled and muttered softly, "He's also wasting my time."
...
I didn't need to use the restroom, and I knew my disruption had foiled Branch Secretary An's plan. With the years of unspoken understanding between Chang Dachun and me, he would surely realize I had employed some tactics when Branch Secretary An's attitude changed. He would then help me manage Branch Secretary An.
Without Branch Secretary An's borrowed authority, I could act more freely.
...
I made inquiries at a small shop. The person in this village with the deepest connection to Li Feng was Aunt Qin. Aunt Qin was a widow and the most talked-about woman in the village. A widow's house is often the center of gossip, and most of it was about village affairs.
Whether Aunt Qin was a good or bad person remains to be seen, but she was quite good to Li Feng. She gave him whatever he needed from the village and compensated for what she lacked. When villagers' clothes didn't fit Li Feng, she would mend them, and she was always the first to bring him cotton-padded clothes in winter.
"So, do you think Li Feng is Aunt Qin's son? Oh, boss, give me another pack of cigarettes, the expensive ones."
I bought drinks and then cigarettes, all to ask more questions.
"You outsider, you're quite imaginative. That's impossible."
The boss said as he gave me my change, without looking up, his gaze unwavering. It seemed like he was just stating a fact, not lying.
"Why?" I pressed further, and the boss casually replied, "Aunt Qin isn't from here. When she was young, she was sold. The Liu family bought her. The Liu family had three sons. They were poor and bought one wife. The three sons tormented one woman, and in the end, she didn't get pregnant with anything substantial. Besides, Aunt Qin had affairs with several men, but I never saw her pregnant with anyone's child."
"Where does Aunt Qin live now?"
"She's old and unattractive, nobody pays attention to her anymore. She lives at the foot of the mountain on the west side of the village, guarding the graves of the Liu family."
"Graves?"
"Yes. She's a black widow. All three of the Liu's grown sons died tragically."
Hearing about deaths made me nervous, so I quickly pressed on.
"Why?"
"I don't know that. Some say it's because Old Liu committed sins, not only buying a girl but treating her like a dog. Secondly, Aunt Qin has a heavy destiny; she brings misfortune to her husband."
...
I didn't grow up in this village, and I don't read many rural novels. But I'd heard that feudal superstitions were quite prevalent in villages, and I was surprised to find such beliefs here.
I couldn't get any more information from the shop owner. So, I went to the "black widow's" house.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. In the hearts of the common people, the western mountain is the graveyard.
The black widow's house was situated at the foot of the west mountain, with a large locust tree at the entrance. The independent courtyard beneath the tree had a deep ambiance. I called out, but no one answered. Peeking inside, I saw a woman in a storage room chopping wild vegetables for chickens and ducks. She was in her fifties, with a weathered face, but based on the bone structure of her features, she must have been quite beautiful in her youth.
"Aunt Qin, hello!"
I called out louder this time. Aunt Qin peered out in surprise. I smiled, and she came out.
"Who are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for you."
"Wh-what is it? Are you a new cadre in the village? Have you found out about my pension readjustment?"
Because I had to meet the branch secretary and was posing as an investor, I habitually wore a shirt and trousers. In a village setting, such attire would likely belong to a newly arrived cadre.
Hearing Aunt Qin's question, I seized the opportunity. "I want to ask you something. If you tell me clearly, I'll help you sort out your pension."
"Okay!" To be honest, Aunt Qin was quite straightforward.
"I want to ask about Li Feng?"
"Did Li Feng get into trouble outside?" Her question indicated concern for Li Feng, and her tone was filled with genuine worry.
"Ah, no. He's planning to invest in our village, isn't he?"
Aunt Qin paused, then smiled. "Child, you're talking nonsense with your eyes open. How much money can Li Feng make working as a kitchen hand in the city?"
I was taken aback. I had already visited several families, and none of them knew what Li Feng did in the city. I hadn't expected Aunt Qin to know Li Feng's affairs so clearly. It seemed I had come to the right place this time.
"Are you in contact with Li Feng?"
"Somewhat."
"You haven't been in contact recently, have you?"
"No, not recently."
"It's about recent matters. Li Feng and I are opening a restaurant together. I'm providing the capital, and he's providing the culinary expertise. I heard about things in this village and decided to invest in your village's fish ponds. Auntie, do you understand?"
"I understand. You mean you're a wealthy person."
"You can understand it that way. In fact, I'm not here for an inspection; I'm here to get justice for Li Feng."
"Justice for what?"
"The matter with Doctor Chen."
I had cleverly steered the conversation back to Doctor Chen. I had a hunch that the murderous intent Wang Ren had sensed was connected to Doctor Chen.