Luckily, I t a kind-hearted Qiaoqiao, otherwise I really couldn't figure it out.
However, according to logic, young people like Qiaoqiao at her age should be working outside, so why is Qiaoqiao coming back?
After New Year, people who go out to work should only have just left, it's very rare for soone to co back so soon.
"Why are you still wearing a mask and glasses? We're already on the bus. Besides, although it's not very prosperous here, the air quality is absolutely good."
Ling Zhenfei smiled and had to take off his mask and glasses.
Qiaoqiao said with a smile, "Exactly, that's better. My mom taught from a young age that it's not appropriate to talk to others while wearing sunglasses and a mask."
Ling Zhenfei said, "Auntie really gave you a good upbringing."
Qiaoqiao looked Ling Zhenfei up and down and said, "You look familiar. What are you doing here?"
A young person like Qiaoqiao should be surfing the internet, and anyone who does would have seen news about Ling Zhenfei.
It's unimaginable to find such a big celebrity on such a small, rundown bus in such a small town.
But feeling a sense of familiarity after seeing Ling Zhenfei was perfectly normal.
Ling Zhenfei replied, "I'm just here to find soone. That person only gave their na and address, so I ca. I didn't expect this place to be so remote."
Qiaoqiao said, "Well, go and look for them, then. There aren't many households in Official Hat Village, but it's already noon. If you can't find anyone, make sure to go down the mountain early, it's too dangerous at night."
Ling Zhenfei said, "I really appreciate your help. By the way, you probably work in the Capital City too, right? Why did you co back so soon?"
Qiaoqiao's expression seed a bit strange, but she said, "There's sothing at ho, so I ca back."
As they were talking, Uncle Li, who was driving, suddenly asked, "Qiaoqiao, how's your mom's illness now? Did sothing happen since you ca back now?"
Qiaoqiao's face didn't look too good, but she said, "It's nothing, just the sa as before."
Since Qiaoqiao said that, Uncle Li couldn't ask further.
Ling Zhenfei realized that Qiaoqiao had returned to see her sick mother.
Chatting casually with Qiaoqiao along the way, she didn't say much about her mother's illness.
But from Qiaoqiao's words and actions, Ling Zhenfei could tell that Qiaoqiao ought to have received very good education, and her manners showed her upbringing.
She had ntioned before that her mother taught her from a young age what was right and wrong, yet it's unexpected that her mother fell ill.
Perhaps her education during her formative years taught her not to show sorrow or sadness in front of others, so even if she was deeply sad, she wouldn't show it.
The bus crawled along the road for a long ti, entering deep into the mountains, until finally a mountain village ca into view.
The village was at the foot of the mountain, and its size could be considered not small, with at least a hundred households.
Uncle Li stopped the bus at an open space.
"Qiaoqiao, we've arrived."
Ling Zhenfei and Qiaoqiao got off the bus.
"Thank you, Uncle Li. Co visit us if you have ti, here's the fare for now."
Qiaoqiao handed fifty yuan to Uncle Li.
Considering the distance traveled, fifty yuan for the fare was quite cheap.
After all, this remote small town naturally can't compare to sowhere like the Capital City.
Qiaoqiao carried her luggage and pointed to a distant path, saying, "Follow that path up the hill, and you should find a small mountain village, that's Official Hat Village.
There aren't many people there. If you can't find anyone, hurry down the mountain; the nights in the mountains are not so pleasant."
Ling Zhenfei thanked Qiaoqiao and headed up the path.
The path is small, with trees on both sides, and on the road, sheep and cow dung can be seen, but it doesn't make the road seem dirty; rather, it feels harmonious.
As Ling Zhenfei walked on it, he didn't hesitate at all, feeling like it was no different from the rural paths he used to walk on as a child.
He kept walking along this path, covering a great distance.
The path wound up the mountain, and it was very rugged, yet it didn't pose much of a problem for Ling Zhenfei.
After walking for a long ti, Ling Zhenfei reached halfway up the mountain and finally saw a small mountain village.
It really was a small mountain village, nestled halfway up the mountain, with a large mountain rising behind it, creating a high protrusion.
It looked like a girl's bun or an ancient official's hat, which must be why the village was nad Official Hat Village.
Ling Zhenfei was delighted and headed towards the small mountain village.
They say no one lives in the village anymore, but as he approached, Ling Zhenfei could still hear the sound of chickens crowing.
If one were to select the most representative rural feature, the crowing of chickens and barking of dogs in the mountain village would certainly be it.
Especially in such a mountain setting, with the crowing of chickens and barking of dogs, the ambiance feels rather profound.
Where there is the crowing of chickens, there are often people living there.
Entering the village, many houses have indeed been left vacant, and it seems like fewer people walk the village paths, but not none at all.
In one rundown house, where half of the roof has collapsed, there's the sound of sheep bleating, suggesting it's been repurposed as a sheep pen.
In the distance, there's the sound of flowing water, and as he heads over, he sees a small waterfall cascading down the mountain.
The sound of the waterfall is rushing and quite magnificent.
Nearby the waterfall, there's a house.
While the surrounding houses are very dilapidated and seem uninhabited, that particular house is very beautiful, as if it was built only a few years ago.
And judging by its size, it resembles the ho of a well-off family from ancient tis.
Ling Zhenfei had no idea what place it was, but he walked towards the house.
The house was constructed in the style of an ancient courtyard, judging by its size, it was at least a three-tiered complex.
Ling Zhenfei saw the back door from a distance, near the waterfall, and upon opening it, there seed to be a terrace with stone tables and chairs under a small thatched pavilion.
The scenery in this place was certainly impressive, no wonder soone was reluctant to leave this small mountain village.
Such a large household might be Xue Mingtang's residence.
Ling Zhenfei suspected this for several reasons; firstly, Xue Mingtang had been hiding out here for years, and this house was new, perhaps just a few years old.
And then there's the scale of the house; building such a house halfway up a mountain is impossible without money.
Before retreating from public life, Xue Mingtang had amassed quite a fortune, so he might have built a house here.
Additionally, there's the location and design of the house.
Considering how accomplished Xue Mingtang was, surely his taste and preferences must be unlike ordinary people's, building such a house would make sense.
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