Chapter 59: Yongni

  I didn't sleep well that night, my mind was filled with those eerie eyes. The gaze still makes me break out in cold sweats to this day. I ended up staying awake all night, and when the sky was just starting to lighten, I got out of bed. I checked my phone and it wasn't even 4am yet. Getting up now would probably disturb others, so I can only lie back down for a bit.

  Just when I was about to put down my hand, a message came in. I took a look at the sender and it was Ma Si Zhe.

  I immediately sat up and quickly opened it, and there were only three short words on the message: 'I'm fine'

  I didn't think much of Ma Si Zhe at first, but this text message seems to have a hint of being overly defensive. I quickly called back, and the phone was turned off. This means that after sending me the text message, he immediately turned off his phone, mysteriously. What's going on with Ma Si Zhe?

  No doubt, our breakfast was still instant noodles. After eating, the boss assigned tasks to us for today. Cao Ke Rui and I went to find the local girl who discovered the mysterious person on the mountain to understand the situation. The boss and Lu Huan went to ask the old man in the village about the Ghost Valley Marsh.

  All the way Cao Ke Rui was bouncing along, looking like he was in a good mood.

  "Why are you in such a good mood?" I asked.

  "It's great if you can go with me", Cao Ke Rui said this sentence and I was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

  I gave her a sideways glance 'shameless'

  "Sun Gu Dong, my grandfather doesn't even say that word anymore," Cao Ke Rui said with a pout. "Right, let's get down to business. Do you think we'll be able to understand what she's saying later?"

  I remembered the last time I saw that girl. The language problem was really a difficult hurdle, and at that time there was always an interpreter next to her, so I could barely understand the general idea. Now it's just the two of us left, probably enough to get by.

  According to the address left by Lao Da, we turned left and right, inquiring along the way. We finally found the girl's home. As soon as we entered the yard, we saw the girl hanging clothes to dry.

  She saw us, was stunned for a moment, and then quickly reacted, saying something as she invited us to sit in the house. I followed Cao Ke Rui and walked into the house under the guidance of the girl.

  The girl brought over two small stools for us to sit on and sat down herself. A pair of harmless big eyes looked at the two of us.

  I pointed towards the mountain and raised my voice, 'What time did you go up the mountain that day?' After saying it, I felt a bit ridiculous myself. She wasn't hard of hearing, why was I shouting so loudly?

  The girl said something, and both Cao Ke Rui and I looked at her with a confused expression. I took out my phone, found the photos of the mountain inside, pointed to the phone and then to her: "That day, what time did you go up the mountain?"

  The girl seemed to understand what I was saying, pointing at the photo and talking a lot, I rubbed my temples. What can be done, there is no way to communicate. In fact, generally speaking, someone of her age should have studied and should know some common language, but I couldn't exchange words with her at all.

  Cao Ke Rui took my phone and pointed at the girl on the mountain, who nodded.

  Cao Ke Rui picked up the backpack from the corner of the room and put it on his back. "You" then looked down at his watch, "what time", and then started performing in the house as if climbing a mountain. From time to time, he would wipe the sweat with the back of his hand, acting very into it.

  The girl opposite suddenly couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

  Cao Ke Rui put down his backpack, pouted and said to me "I don't understand what you're saying, ask something else". I also sighed, if we can't even get this clear, it's likely that nothing else will be figured out either.

  The girl suddenly stood up and ran out. Cao Ke Rui and I thought she still had something to do, so we waited in the house.

  "It's all over, I'll definitely get scolded when I go back later." Cao Ke Rui supported her chin with her hand.

  I yawned and took a look around the room.

  This is a very poor home, with gray hanging on the walls. Two backpacks are placed on the ground, one of which has a broken shoulder strap. There's no one else in sight, does this little girl live here alone?

  I was watching, and that girl came back again. She pulled someone over.

  It was as if I had seen a savior, and I stood up to shake hands with that person. He was Yang Ge, the big brother who helped us translate that day, and it turned out that the girl had gone out to find him.

  With the help of translation big brother, things went smoothly, and about what the girl saw that day, there was also a more detailed version.

  The girl's name is Yongni, she is eighteen years old and belongs to the Tujia ethnic group.

  Yongni never saw his parents since he was a child, and grew up with his grandfather. His grandfather was bedridden due to poor health, and they relied on the villagers' support to barely make ends meet.

  Yongni usually goes to the mountain to pick some medicinal herbs. If they really encounter any precious medicinal herbs, the two of them can live a comfortable life. That day, Yongni went to the mountain to pick medicine. Coincidentally, the gastrodia elata on the mountain was growing well, so Yongni picked some.

  Suddenly, I heard the sound of someone talking on the back of the mountain. Yongni felt a bit strange, as it was rare for people to come up this mountain. Those who came to pick herbs usually did their own thing and wouldn't make so much noise. Yongni slowly approached, hiding behind a tree to observe them.

  All I saw was those people moving something out of a hole, a crowd of people surrounding and examining the things.

  "What is that thing?" At this moment, I was most curious about what those people had moved out of the tomb.

  Yang and the girl whispered a few words, then looked up and told us 'it's just a rock'

  "Is that a rock? The thing they've been struggling to carry up from downstairs is actually just a rock? I'm having trouble understanding. What kind of rock?"

  It is a square stone

  According to Yoni's description, what she saw at that time was a rectangular and very regular stone. According to Yoni's description, I guess the stone she mentioned should be a monument, and it is very likely that Lao Da has seen that monument before.

  But why did that monument disappear out of thin air later on?

  Those people discussed for a while, then carried the stele away. Yongni hid behind a tree for a while and only came out after everyone had left. Yongni felt something was off, so he went home and told the village chief about it.

  The village head led people up the mountain to take a look the next day, and sure enough, they saw a thief's cave at the foot of the mountain. They then quickly reported it, which is how we had our later experiences.

  'Did you see them take the monument away or abandon it on the mountain?' Yongni shook his head.

  "What about those people after they came down from the mountain? Did they leave directly or stay in the village for a while?" Cao Ke Rui continued to ask.

  Yang said 'The village rarely has outsiders, so if there are outsiders coming, everyone will know. But the village is very peaceful recently, and I've never seen any strange people.'

  It turns out that it's not just after going down the mountain, but also before going up the mountain, those people have never set foot in the village.

  The boss let us understand the situation, but basically nothing is understood. After all, it's still that matter. There is no gain at all.

  I haven't given up yet, and I continued to ask 'Think again carefully, is there anything else you haven't told me?'

  Yongni shook her head again. It seemed she really didn't know.

  I and Cao Ke Rui had to temporarily leave, go back and see if there was any news from Lao Da and Lu Huan. Yang Ge sent us out all the way, chatting while walking.

  "How come Yuni didn't study at such a young age?"

  "It's hard enough just to have a full meal, where would the money come from for studying? The money is all spent on buying medicine for her grandfather."

  "What about Yang Ni's parents?" Cao Ke Rui asked.

  "I don't know, when Grandpa Yongni brought Yongni to our village, she was still a little girl. No one had seen her parents. Not even whether her grandfather was her real grandfather or not. She's also a poor child."

  "Where are you living now? Are you still on the mountain?"

  No, it's too inconvenient to live on the mountain, I stayed overnight at the foot of the mountain with my luggage yesterday.

  "Oh? Whose house are you living in?"

  Cao Kesui said 'It's just from the road down the mountain, the first house you see. The one with a red gate'

  Yang's expression changed 'You live in Zhao Di's house?'

  That's right, it's Zhao Dianjia's home.

  I looked at Yang's face and saw that something was off, so I asked, 'What's wrong with Zhao Di's family?'

  "Ah, never mind. You can take your luggage and go find the village chief tomorrow, the village chief's house has more space."

  I saw Brother Yang wanting to say something but hesitating, but since he didn't say anything, I didn't ask. What's wrong with asking about the Zhao family? Thinking back to last night's events, it seems like I also have some doubts.

  "Alright, I'll send you off here. Tonight, I'll mention it to the village chief, and tomorrow you can take your things and go live at the village chief's house."

  Yang brother mentioned this matter again, making me more suspicious in my heart.