You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 575: Meet Two Reporters Again

The cafeteria was bustling with activity, the sound of footsteps echoing alongside the clinking of cutlery as people left and new diners came in. Hot steam filled the air, mingling with the aroma of food, creating a unique atmosphere.

Qin Zhi seemed unaffected by the clamor around him, gracefully picking up the dishes before him, occasionally raising his gentle eyes and finding the right moment to engage Tang Yin in conversation. His every move exuded an indescribable calmness, as if he were performing a carefully choreographed performance.

Tang Yin matched Qin Zhi's pace, repeating the story he had previously fabricated to the police officer. He deliberately slowed his speech, trying to infuse his voice with a hint of fatigue and helplessness, attempting to portray the image of a down-and-out urbanite defeated by life.

Qin Zhi maintained a respectful smile, nodding in agreement from time to time, his eyes flickering with a subtle, scrutinizing glint. This behavior, in turn, made Tang Yin's heart tighten—this man was a hundred times more cunning than the simple police officer. Every smile and every question he asked might hold a hidden meaning.

Tang Yin began to wonder if he was too sensitive, but his intuition told him that the gentle man in front of him was not as simple as he seemed.

After breakfast, the two walked back to the police station together. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Qin Zhi suddenly stopped and turned to Tang Yin.

"Tang Yin, why don't you try moving to Baifeng Manor?"

This sentence struck Tang Yin's heart like a bolt of thunder. This was exactly the proposal he had been waiting for, but he had to suppress his inner joy and maintain his composure.

The police officer beside him frowned slightly, tactfully expressing his concerns, but his words were tinged with fear, and he didn't dare to be too forceful. Qin Zhi was ostensibly discussing the matter with the police officer, but in reality, he had already made up his mind. With that nonchalant expression, how could he tolerate any interference?
After a fierce confrontation, the policeman finally lost and handed the decision to Tang Yin himself.

"Tang Yin, is this okay?" Qin Zhi had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes held a firm tone. At this moment, Tang Yin was finally convinced that the elders of Baifeng Manor were indeed not ordinary people.

"...Well, it's really a hopeless situation." Tang Yin said with feigned gratitude.

"You can move in right away, but... the place is a little far away." Qin Zhi added casually.

Tang Yin's heart skipped a beat. What on earth was this man planning? But he still maintained his composure.

"I don't mind. Where is the location?"

"Okay, okay, I'll explain it to you slowly... Oh, come to think of it, someone is going there." Qin Zhi looked over Tang Yin's shoulder and into the distance.

Tang Yin understood in his heart that those two people were indeed related to this matter.

"Come with me." Qin Zhi made an inviting gesture, his face still covered with a harmless smile. But Tang Yin had seen through the disguise. This man was clearly trying to send him to some remote village.

Sunlight streamed in through the police station's glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Tang Yin hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Um, about the procedures."

Qin Zhi stood by the window, his silhouette appearing particularly deep in the backlight, a faint smile still hanging on the corner of his mouth. "Regarding the household registration and other formalities, we can talk about it later. I have acquaintances outside, I can just ask them to handle it for me."

His tone was relaxed and casual, as if he were discussing the weather rather than someone's household registration. When he turned to face Tang Yin, the sunlight outlined his elegant profile.

"No matter what, we must first have a place to live. It's not convenient to live in the police station all the time, right?" Qin Zhi's voice was filled with some concern, but it made Tang Yin feel a little chill inexplicably.

Qin Zhi straightened his collar and continued, "I'll go and inform the people who are traveling with you. Don't worry, they are also from the city." His eyes flashed with an elusive light.

Qin Zhi, who was standing by the window, looked at his watch and frowned slightly: "...Ah, I still have to say hello to the people below. Time is a bit tight, but it should be done before noon."

"Okay, then I'll take my leave." Before he finished speaking, Qin Zhi had already turned and left, his leather shoes making a crisp sound on the floor, and he quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor. This unilateral way of ending the conversation further demonstrated his unquestionable attitude.

Watching Qin Zhi's departing back, Tang Yin whispered, "What a good person you met." There was a hint of bitter irony in his tone. At least on the surface, this did seem like a kind act of helping outsiders.

The policeman standing nearby touched the back of his head and said hesitantly, "...Well, I guess so..."

From the policeman's slightly furrowed brow and flickering eyes, Tang Yin could tell he was fully aware of the situation and clearly expressed dissatisfaction. Even so, this law enforcer, representing the law, could only silently bow his head in the face of the elder's decision.

Tang Yin finally understood why Wang Lina had never held any expectations of the police. In Baifeng Village, a unique land, even these violent organizations had to submit to the authority of the elders.

The sunlight gradually grew glaring. Tang Yin leaned against the wall and began to process his current situation. After deep thought, he was almost certain that he would be sent to the Hidden Mist Village. This arrangement was either out of ill will towards outsiders or an isolation measure to avoid conflict with other villagers.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridors of the police station, but Tang Yin's thoughts drifted further afield. This arrangement, made without the consent of the parties involved, was truly egregious. No wonder the police officer had been trying to persuade him not to stay here; now it all made sense.

However, it was Qin Zhi's behavior that was most concerning. From the moment he proposed the proposal to the moment he began implementing it, his eagerness and aggressiveness were suspicious. Ostensibly, this was to resolve the accommodation issue as quickly as possible, but considering he already knew about the Huangquan Ji Banquet, the timing of this decision inevitably raised questions about his underlying motives.

The sky outside the window began to darken, and dusk was approaching. A hint of dampness hung in the air, foreshadowing the imminent arrival of a thick fog. The sudden move of an outsider to Wuyin Village at this peculiar moment made Tang Yin wonder: Did Qin Zhi, or perhaps the elders of Baifeng Manor, truly understand the implications of this decision?
……

The outline of the Hidden Mist Village loomed in the mist. As Tang Yin set foot on this unfamiliar land, he unexpectedly encountered two familiar figures. Xia Hui's neat short hair swayed gently in the breeze, while Zhou Zhengxiong, still with his unapproachable demeanor, stood a little distance away with his hands in his trouser pockets.

They were the two reporters who were killed at the beginning of the last reincarnation.

Xia Hui's eyes lit up, and she quickly stepped forward. "By the way, have you read Xiao Q's article?"

Faced with this sudden question, Tang Yin touched his nose awkwardly: "Um, sorry."

Zhou Zhengxiong stood aside, silently sizing up Tang Yin, his face full of vigilance.

Feeling the other person's cold gaze, Tang Yin bowed slightly: "...Hello, please give me your guidance."

"Hello," Zhou Zhengxiong replied coldly, his voice distinctly distant. This attitude made Tang Yin chuckle inwardly; it seemed this guy was still as difficult to get along with as ever.

The roar of a car engine could be heard in the distance, and Qin Zhi appeared at the village entrance. Tang Yin had to admit that this elder's efficiency was truly astonishing. It wasn't even noon yet, but he had already returned, chatting with the driver who had tried to trip him up.

Looking at the figures of Xia Hui and Zhou Zhengxiong, Tang Yin understood in his heart that they were indeed these two.

Xia Hui's voice interrupted his thoughts: "Qin Zhi has already contacted the Hidden Mist Village. Tang Yin, are you ready?" There was some anticipation in her tone.

Tang Yin frowned slightly: "Well...are you guys okay?" "Of course. If we can get there by noon, we won't have to go hungry." Xia Hui said with a smile, revealing a row of white teeth.

Tang Yin thought thoughtfully: "I see, your original plan was to go there later when it was convenient for them."

"Right, right. I heard it's better to avoid their lunch break." Xia Hui nodded, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes. "Actually, I originally wanted to interview them about their daily eating habits. So, I'm really lucky this time."

Hearing this, Tang Yin suddenly felt uneasy. The people of Baifeng Manor were reluctant to reveal their daily lives to outsiders, which was consistent with their usual style. However, if they really didn't want to be disturbed, wouldn't they just refuse the interview?

A darker thought flashed through his mind – was he unable to refuse out of personal affection, or was he deliberately accepting the interview to appear open-minded? Or perhaps, from the very beginning, he had no intention of letting the reporters leave alive?

Tang Yin shook his head violently, trying to shake off the terrifying thought. This couldn't be the case, could it? Killing a Kirigakure resident or someone from an unknown place like him in the mountains might be possible, but if these two clearly identified journalists disappeared in Baifeng Village, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar.

On the other hand, if the villagers knew the banquet was about to begin, they shouldn't have been allowed in to interview them.
"I think it's almost time to set off, Zhou Zhengxiong, what do you think?" Xia Hui's voice brought Tang Yin back to reality.

"No, no," Zhou Zhengxiong replied calmly. This was the first time Tang Yin had spoken to him in his life.

"Of course. Okay, get in the car, get in the car." Xia Hui greeted enthusiastically.

An old van slowly moved along a small path in the fields, its tires clunking over the muddy road. May was rice planting season, and everywhere I looked, the paddy fields were filled with villagers bent over toiling. The clear water reflected the sky, and the rice seedlings were neatly arranged, creating a pastoral scene.

Through the slightly yellowed glass windows of the van, Tang Yin watched the figures working in the fields. The sunlight filtered through the mist, casting a shadow on their bent backs, outlining the hardworking silhouettes.

"No machinery is used." Tang Yin said thoughtfully, his eyes sweeping over the farmers who relied solely on manpower to plant rice.

Xia Hui turned around, her eyes gleaming with the sharpness of a reporter behind her black-framed glasses. "Yes, it seems that people here don't really like new things."

"Harvesters and tractors are nothing new, right?" Tang Yin frowned slightly, tapping the car window with his fingers. "I didn't expect they could handle this kind of manual labor."

Xia Hui tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and gave a meaningful smile. "They probably are too busy. I heard the big families here are already preparing to introduce heavy machinery."

"So that's it, is it the Qin family?" Tang Yin asked subconsciously.

"I heard that the Qian family is responsible for agricultural reform." There was a hint of inquiry in Xia Hui's voice.

Tang Yin chuckled: "I see, it seems they are quite rich."

"Well, I think so, although I don't know what they are doing." Xia Hui's tone suddenly became a little strange.

This wording caught Tang Yin's attention: "Name?"

Xia Hui's expression grew hesitant, her fingers unconsciously twisting together. "Hmm... well, how should I put it?" She paused, then continued, "This village's main source of income is migrant workers, right? In this mountain village with an aging population and declining population, why are the big families still so wealthy?"

"Really?" Tang Yin's eyes became sharp.

"Well, the Qian family is super big, and they drive a large imported car." When Xia Hui said this, her voice unconsciously lowered a few degrees.

"Hmm..." Tang Yin fell into deep thought. Although he could think of some reasonable explanations, the sense of dissonance was indeed hard to ignore.

At this moment, Zhou Zhengxiong, who had been concentrating on driving, suddenly said, "Little Q."

"Ok?"

This sudden nickname made Tang Yin stunned for a moment, but Xia Hui seemed remarkably natural. Zhou Zhengxiong's profile loomed in the rearview mirror, his voice remaining calm: "It's better not to make random guesses."

"...Uh, but." Xia Hui's tone was a little unwilling.

"The journalist's soul is beginning to stir?" Zhou Zhengxiong rarely revealed a teasing tone.

Xia Hui quickly waved her hands: "That's not the case."

"It's better not to meddle in other people's business this time." Zhou Zhengxiong's tone suddenly became serious, and his slender fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Is this a photographer's intuition?" Xia Hui tried to ease the atmosphere.

"Who knows?" Zhou Zhengxiong said lightly, his eyes always fixed on the road ahead.

Xia Hui sighed: "...Okay, I understand. After all, it's not my specialty."

Tang Yin watched this scene silently, but the doubts in his heart grew deeper.

"Well, forget what I just said." Xia Hui turned to Tang Yin and forced a smile.

"Oh, um." Tang Yin responded casually, thinking: How could I possibly forget such a suspicious conversation?
Xia Hui seemed to want to change the subject: "By the way, I heard you are moving here?"

"Yes." Tang Yin answered briefly.

"...Do you know where you are going?" Xia Hui's voice was filled with worry that was hard to conceal.

Tang Yin looked at her deeply and said, "I'm not sure, but I can roughly guess it."

This sentence obviously exceeded Xia Hui's expectations. Her eyes suddenly widened and her lips trembled slightly: "What do you mean?"

(End of this chapter)