Global Collapse

Chapter 48 Today's Title

After asking all the necessary questions and saying goodbye to the old man, Gu Mian and the others visited the residents near the plastic factory and learned that it was indeed originally a textile factory.

Yuwen Hao organized the materials in his hands:
"Mingliang Plastics Factory was originally a wasteland. In 1978, the reform and opening up sparked a wave of factory construction, and Shenghong Textile Factory was established."
Then in 1990, the reform of state-owned enterprises triggered a nationwide wave of layoffs, and many factories could not survive and went bankrupt.

Shenghong Textile Factory also failed to survive and went bankrupt in 1991;
A year later, in 92, the site was bought again. The already small textile factory was bulldozed and a plastics factory was built in its place—the current Mingliang Plastics Factory.

The Bright Plastics Factory was built that year and started operating immediately, but it caught fire just three years later—you know, the fire that killed everyone at sea.

Gu Mian nodded; they all knew what happened after that.

In 1995, a fire broke out at the Mingliang Plastics Factory, and Yu Hai was burned to death in that row of offices. Later, those offices were demolished and workshops were built in their place. Zhao Wen and Zhou Guanglei worked in these newly built workshops.

It is believed that Yu Hai, who was supposed to be dead, lingered on that land, and thus became entangled with Zhao Wen and Zhou Guanghai.

Yuwen Hao then looked at the few sheets of paper in his hand: "I found out that the original Shenghong Textile Factory also seemed to have had a fire, which burned a woman to death."

He couldn't find out the specifics because it had been more than a decade, and the residents in the area had changed many times over, so no one knew what had happened back then.

“I heard that the textile factory used to build a staff dormitory nearby. If that dormitory is still there, we should be able to find some of the old employees from the textile factory.” Yuwen Hao shrank his neck a little uncomfortably.

The sun was high in the sky, but he felt cold all over. The feeling of being watched had not disappeared; on the contrary, it had become even stronger.

Qinghuan kept turning around, feeling like there was something sticking to her back.

Huang Yu was alright; he didn't dare go near the phone, so he didn't receive any scary calls during the day.

Gu Mian looked at the two pale-faced people and asked, "Why are you reacting so strongly today?"

Their faces weren't this pale yesterday.

Yuwen Hao shook his head slightly: "I'm a little scared. Although I can't see where it is, I feel like it's very close. It's like if I close my eyes and open them again, it will be right on my face."

Qinghuan also spoke slowly: "I think so too... I don't know why, but I always felt that the thing behind us was moving faster today..."

As he spoke, he looked back anxiously, but there was nothing behind him; he couldn't see anything.

Seeing this, Gu Mian stroked her chin: "It's probably because we're close to finding the source."

It seems that finding the source of the curse is indeed useful; otherwise, the ghosts following behind wouldn't have sped up their pace.

"Let's find that apartment building quickly," Gu Mian said, glancing up at the high-hanging sun. "Otherwise, at this rate, you'll all be wiped out tonight."

Yuwen Hao quickly pulled out a piece of paper: "No one knew where the family building was, but a resident nearby said he remembered it a little and drew a picture for me based on his memory. Take a look."

Gu Mian looked up at the map in his hand.

It has to be said that this map is too rudimentary; it's just a bunch of boxes, which probably represent buildings.

A line weaves through the gaps between the frames, ending with a small cross. Gu Mian drew this kind of map when she was in elementary school.

He pointed to the largest box on the map: "This should be the plastics factory. The line starts from here. Let me see, this direction is... first go west."

The sun was already beginning to set in the west, so the group didn't delay and quickly headed west.

On the way, Huang Yu still asked with great concern, "If we find the source of the curse, what do we need to do?"

How can I stop the vengeful ghost from chasing me?
Yuwen Hao spoke uncertainly, "I don't know either. Maybe we should pay homage to the source, or perhaps we should fulfill its regrets from its lifetime?"

It seems that Yuwen Hao was deeply influenced by modern ghost stories.

The few ghost stories Gu Mian had read all followed this formula: a ghost kills someone, the protagonist survives, the protagonist investigates and discovers the ghost's injustice, and then, while being chased by a vengeful ghost, helps the ghost clear its name. The ghost is moved and is then reincarnated.

These are all very positive ghost stories; those that aren't so positive are usually taken down by some mysterious force.

Gu Mian felt that these positive ghost stories were all unreliable and not very realistic.

If a ghost truly wanted to kill him, he would never defend it; instead, he would risk his life to saw off the ghost's head.

I don't care what injustices you suffered in your life. Since you want to kill an innocent me, then of course I can't let you go either—that was Gu Mian's thought.

The group followed the map for nearly half an hour, stopping and starting along the way to repeatedly confirm the turning directions, and finally stopped in front of a building.

Yuwen Hao looked up at the building in front of him: "This should be it."

This is a very old building, yellow in color, with a light pink band painted around the top. A sign hangs in front of the central entrance that reads "Hongsheng Apartment".

This looks familiar. Yes, this is where Gu Mian lives.

Qing Huan was also dumbfounded. He had been here with Gu Mian before, so he knew that Gu Mian lived here.

Yuwen Hao looked at the two people with unusual expressions with some confusion: "What's wrong with you two?"

Gu Mian glanced at him: "I live here."

Yuwen Hao was clearly taken aback by these words, and he asked incredulously, "You live here?"

"Yes, I live here."

As Gu Mian spoke, he stepped into the stairwell. He had been to the landlord's house yesterday, so he knew the way very well now.

When the white-haired landlady saw Gu Mian again, she was somewhat surprised: "Little Gu, what brings you here again? And with so many people..."

I've remembered everyone's donations; I'll add extra chapters once it's officially released.
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(End of this chapter)