Qingfeng Longying Xianfei Jue

Chapter 232 The Mystery of the Town: A First Arrival

Lin Yue dragged her heavy suitcase along the winding country road. Her hair was soaked with sweat and clung to her cheeks, her eyes reflecting exhaustion and confusion. This place, called Peach Blossom Town, was where she would stay for the foreseeable future.

"I never expected to come to a place like this," Lin Yue muttered to herself, looking around. Wildflowers bloomed freely by the roadside, and several farmers were working in the fields not far away. Everything seemed so peaceful and serene, a stark contrast to the bustling city she had lived in before.

Lin Yue is a young journalist who offended some powerful figures with a report exposing the dark side of society. Forced to leave her original city, she came to this remote town in search of peace. She rented a small, dilapidated house at the entrance of town, but the rent was cheap.

After packing her luggage, Lin Yue decided to go out and familiarize herself with the surroundings. She strolled along the main street of the town. Most of the shops were traditional wooden structures, with faded paint on their signs, exuding a sense of age. Passing by a general store, Lin Yue went inside, intending to buy some daily necessities.

"Young lady, are you new here?" The owner of the grocery store was an elderly man with gray hair, who greeted her warmly.

"Yes, I just moved in," Lin Yue replied politely.

"Welcome! Taoyuan Town may be small, but the neighbors are all very harmonious. Please feel free to ask if you need any help," the old man said with a smile.

Lin Yue thanked the old man, bought her things, and left. At the edge of the town, she found an abandoned factory. The factory gate was tightly closed, and weeds grew all around. Through the rusty iron gate, she could see the dilapidated factory buildings inside. The factory looked somewhat eerie, out of place with the tranquil atmosphere of the town. A sense of curiosity welled up in Lin Yue's heart, and she decided to find some time to go inside and explore.

A few days later, one evening, the setting sun cast its golden rays upon the earth, bathing the entire town in a golden cloak. Taking advantage of the still-light, Lin Yue arrived at the abandoned factory. With considerable effort, she squeezed through a crack in the iron gate.

The factory was filled with a musty smell; the floor was littered with debris, and moss covered the walls. Lin Yue walked carefully, each step kicking up a cloud of dust. Suddenly, she heard a soft noise, like someone whispering. Startled, Lin Yue stopped and cautiously looked around.

"Who? Who's there?" Lin Yue shouted, her voice echoing in the empty factory.

No one answered; only the intermittent whispers continued to drift in. Lin Yue's heart raced, and she began to regret her rash action. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a dark shadow flashed past her.

"Ah!" Lin Yue couldn't help but scream and ran towards the door. However, when she got to the door, she found that the iron gate had been closed at some point and she couldn't open it no matter what she did.

"Help! Is anyone there?!" Lin Yue desperately pounded on the iron gate, shouting for help.

Just as she felt helpless, a voice came from behind her: "Little girl, don't be afraid, it's me."

Lin Yue turned around and saw that it was the owner of the grocery store. The old man held a key in his hand, walked over unhurriedly, and opened the iron gate.

"Grandpa Wang, what brings you here?" Lin Yue asked, still shaken.

“I knew you might be in danger when I saw you coming this way. Some bad things happened at this factory before, so everyone keeps strangers away,” Grandpa Wang explained.

"What happened?" Lin Yue asked curiously.

"This... it's best not to ask. Just know that you shouldn't come here again." Grandpa Wang's expression turned serious, and he turned and left after saying that.

Lin Yue watched Grandpa Wang's retreating figure, her heart filled with questions. What secrets did this factory hold? Why was Grandpa Wang unwilling to tell her? With these questions in mind, Lin Yue returned home.

Back home, Lin Yue lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Her experience at the factory left her shaken, but also ignited a deep curiosity within her. She was determined to uncover the secrets behind the factory.

The next morning, Lin Yue received a mysterious letter. The letter was unsigned; only her name was on the envelope. Lin Yue opened the envelope; inside was a yellowed piece of paper with a few lines written on it: "If you want to know the factory's secret, I'll be waiting for you tonight at ten o'clock in the woods behind the factory. Don't tell anyone."

After reading the letter, Lin Yue felt both nervous and excited. She knew it might be a trap, but she didn't want to miss this opportunity to uncover the truth. After some internal struggle, she decided to go to the appointment.

At ten o'clock in the evening, Lin Yue arrived at the woods behind the factory on time. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Lin Yue walked cautiously, her eyes constantly observing her surroundings.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind a large tree. Lin Yue was startled, and upon closer inspection, she saw it was a young man. The man appeared to be in his twenties, wearing a black jacket, and his eyes held a hint of wariness.

"Are you Lin Yue?" the man asked.

"Yes, who are you? Why did you ask me to come here?" Lin Yue asked in return.

“My name is Su Ran, and I’m the son of the factory owner. I know you’re interested in the factory, so I’d like to tell you some of the truth,” Su Ran said.

"Really? Then tell me quickly," Lin Yue said impatiently.

“This factory used to be the largest enterprise in town, mainly producing chemical products. However, a few years ago, a serious accident occurred at the factory, resulting in the deaths of several workers. To evade responsibility, my father concealed the truth of the accident and even bribed local officials. Since then, the factory has been abandoned, and the families of the deceased workers have been looking for an opportunity to seek justice for them,” Su Ran said slowly.

"So that's how it is. Then why did you tell me all this?" Lin Yue asked.

“Because I don’t want my father’s crimes to be covered up forever. I hope you can use your position as a journalist to expose this matter and let the truth come to light.” Su Ran’s eyes were filled with determination.

Lin Yue was deeply moved by Su Ran's words. She decided to help Su Ran uncover the truth behind the accident. However, unbeknownst to them, their conversation had been overheard...

After returning from the woods, Lin Yue began collecting evidence about the factory accident. She visited survivors and relatives of the victims, learning many previously unknown details. During this process, Lin Yue also felt pressure from various parties. Some warned her not to meddle, or she would be in danger. But Lin Yue did not back down; she firmly believed the truth would be revealed.

Meanwhile, Su Ran was also secretly assisting Lin Yue. He used his identity to find some documents about the accident in his father's study, which became key evidence to reveal the truth.

However, their actions caught the attention of Su Ran's father. Su Ran's father, Su Jianguo, was a ruthless businessman. He was furious upon learning that his son and Lin Yue were investigating the factory accident and decided to stop them.

One evening, Lin Yue was organizing documents at home when she suddenly heard a knock at the door. Thinking it was Su Ran, she opened it. However, standing outside were several unfamiliar men.

"You're Lin Yue?" the leader of the group asked menacingly.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Lin Yue asked warily.

"Stop talking nonsense and come with us!" the man said, and then reached out to grab Lin Yue.

Lin Yue struggled desperately and cried for help. Just then, Su Ran arrived. Seeing the scene before him, he immediately rushed forward and began fighting with the men.

"Lin Yue, run!" Su Ran shouted as she fought.

Lin Yue knew she couldn't hesitate any longer. She turned and ran out of the house, heading towards the town. Seeing Lin Yue run away, the men stopped bothering Su Ran and turned to chase after Lin Yue.

Lin Yue ran desperately in the darkness, her heart pounding, feeling like her lungs were about to burst. Just as she was about to give up, she saw lights ahead. It was Grandpa Wang's grocery store. Lin Yue felt a glimmer of hope and used her last bit of strength to run to the store's entrance.

"Grandpa Wang, help!" Lin Yue pounded on the door.

Grandpa Wang quickly opened the door and, seeing Lin Yue's disheveled appearance, immediately understood what had happened. He pulled Lin Yue inside and then closed the door.

"Who are those people? Why are they chasing you?" Grandpa Wang asked anxiously.

Lin Yue told Grandpa Wang what had happened. After listening, Grandpa Wang frowned and said, "Su Jianguo is too ruthless. He's capable of anything. You can't go home now. You should hide here for a while."

Lin Yue nodded gratefully. She knew she had fallen into a dangerous vortex, but she would never give up and was determined to reveal the truth.

With Grandpa Wang's help, Lin Yue temporarily evaded Su Jianguo's pursuit. She and Su Ran continued to gather evidence, preparing to expose Su Jianguo's crimes to the public. After much effort, they finally compiled all the evidence and wrote a detailed report.

Lin Yue decided to publish the report on a well-known news website. She knew that once the report was published, it would cause a huge uproar, but she was prepared.

The report, as expected, attracted widespread attention. Major media outlets reprinted it, causing a public outcry. The police also launched an investigation, conducting a comprehensive inquiry into Su Jianguo.

Under intense public pressure and a police investigation, Su Jianguo finally confessed to his crimes. He was arrested according to law and received the punishment he deserved. The families of the deceased workers finally received a just outcome.

Lin Yue and Su Ran became heroes of the small town. With their courage and perseverance, they uncovered the truth and sought justice for those innocent lives. After this incident, Lin Yue also fell in love with the town and decided to stay, continuing to record its stories with her pen.

The abandoned factory was transformed into a memorial park under the government's plan to commemorate the workers who died in the accident. Whenever people come to the park, they are reminded of that little-known history and the efforts Lin Yue and Su Ran made to uncover the truth.