Ke Xue: I picked up a bottle of sherry at the beginning.

The trees on both sides of the road were covered with white snow, like a warm quilt. Occasionally, a breeze blew, and the soft snow fluttered down. These are all natural beauties that cannot be seen in Tokyo.

"Ah, such a beautiful snow scene, full of romance, it's the best place for lovers to visit. Don't you think so, Hui?" Shiyu looked at the snow scene outside the window with an intoxicated look on her face.

Hui, who was also looking at the beautiful scenery outside the window and was intoxicated by it, was reminded by Shiyu. Her gaze drifted to Bai Quanyi who was driving, and a blush appeared on her face.

"Yeah. So happy."

Seeing Hui and Shiyu looking at Baiquanyi in the driver's seat with admiration, Eriri couldn't help but mutter, "What's so good about Baiquanyi? Everyone likes him, but I'm different. I just don't like him, humph!"

Upon arriving in Kitazawa Village, Niigata, and gazing up at the vast expanse of snow-capped mountains and fields, Shiraizumi felt even more strongly that this was a place of pure beauty. However, he still needed to uncover the hidden secrets buried beneath this pure white snow.

"Wow! There's so much snow! That's the snow mountain!" As soon as she jumped out of the car and stepped on the thick snow, Eriri excitedly pointed at the snow mountain in the distance and shouted like a little kid.

"Let's decide on a place to stay first and put our things away before we go out to play." Sayuri Sawamura gently reminded everyone.

Remarks

Finally, the car stopped in front of a rather elegant-looking hotel. Bai Quanyi and the others pushed open the wooden door. The woman busy at the counter immediately looked up and said with a smile, "Welcome. How many guests are there and how many rooms do you need?"

Although the woman was wearing framed glasses and had a simple hairstyle, it couldn't hide the exquisiteness of her facial features.

Shiraizumi said, "I heard that Kitazawa Village's 5th anniversary celebration is coming soon, and there will be a snow festival, so I put aside my busy work and brought them here from Tokyo."

"Ah, so you're visiting from Tokyo. The festivities will officially begin in a few days. The Snow Festival has already begun, and you can go to the snow-capped mountains to participate later. I hope you have fun," the beautiful lady with glasses told the tourists with a professional smile.

Meddling in other people's affairs can easily lead to being beaten.

"Excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mizuki Tono, the manager of this hotel," Ms. Tono said enthusiastically to the guests. "The hotel I work at is very comfortable, so don't hesitate."

Seeing that Miss Tono was so enthusiastic, Baiquan Yi booked a room in this hotel.

Then, together with four other people, we moved the luggage into the room.

After packing their luggage, the group put on their down jackets and went out to play.

Everyone is dressed warmly and wearing earmuffs. It is hard to imagine that it is still summer vacation.

"Wow, it looks like a fairy tale world, Mom, come and see." Eriri looked at the silver-white snow with longing eyes. The sunlight spread a thin layer of golden light on this silver-white world. It really looked like a fairyland on earth, like a beautiful fairy tale world.

"As long as you like it, Eriri." Sayuri Sawamura looked at her daughter lovingly.

"Quanyi! What is that? It looks delicious." Shiyu pulled Bai Quanyi and pointed to the food in the small room not far away.

"It looks like shaved ice," Hui said.

"Do you want to eat?" Bai Quanyi walked over with Shiyu and Hui.

"It's topped with juice! I want the sour plum flavor!" Hui said.

"Then I want chocolate flavor." Shiyu said.

"Then I'll have the vanilla flavor."

Bai Quanyi ordered three servings according to their respective flavors.

Then, the three of them went to ask Sayuri Sawamura and Eriri if they wanted it.

As it turned out, Sayuri Sawamura was afraid of the cold and didn't want it. As for Eriri, Sayuri Sawamura was worried that her daughter would catch a cold, so she didn't allow her to eat shaved ice.

However, eating shaved ice on a snowy day does make you feel cold. When Hui and Shiyu were eating shaved ice, they rubbed against Baiquanyi to get warmth from him.

Seeing that Eriri was unhappy because she didn't get to eat shaved ice, Sayuri Sawamura took her daughter to eat barbecue.

Kasumigaoka Utaha giggled and said, "Eriri really acts like a little child!"

Kato Megumi said, "Yeah... isn't it cute?"

Shiraizumi Mashi said, "Then let's separate from Sayuri and Eriri for a while and go somewhere else."

Sayuri Sawamura took her daughter to eat barbecue, and Masushi Shiraizumi took Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha for a stroll.

Before they knew it, the three of them arrived at the Beize Village Committee Office.

Bai Quanyi suddenly remembered that he still had important business to attend to, so he walked into the Beize Village Committee Office.

Shiraizumi Masu explained his identity and started chatting with the office staff. Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumi were studying a map of Kitazawa Village.

"Young man, you are amazing. You brought two such beautiful girlfriends out to play. I didn't have that ability when I was young." The staff member was an uncle with a friendly smile.

"Uncle, you have been living in Beize Village all the time, right? You must be a little reluctant to leave after the original village was demolished and you moved out." Bai Quanyi wanted to know the real thoughts of the villagers of Beize Village on the demolition and relocation for the construction of the dam.

The uncle told Bai Quanyi: "Building the dam is a good thing, and everyone will understand. Now this new village is also very nice to live in. Look, it's the fifth anniversary."

Everyone will understand? This means there are indeed villagers who oppose the village relocation for the dam. Who are those villagers? Where are they now? Were there any radical actions during the dam relocation five years ago? These are all things Quanyi wants to know, but the man from the village office seems to be speaking in a very official manner. If he doesn't continue to inquire carefully, he will definitely not get any information.

Just as Bai Quanyi was about to ask something further, a man's loud voice came from behind him: "Uncle, bring us two maps of Kitazawa Village. It's a new village and we don't know the way around."

"Bingchuan, I didn't expect you didn't know the way. I thought you would be more familiar with it." Another man with a lower voice said to Bingchuan who was lying carelessly on the consultation desk of the office.

Hikawa raised his eyebrows proudly and smiled: "I don't live in this small place for a long time. To be honest, if you have money, who would want to stay in a mountain village like this? Of course, you still have to go to Tokyo or something to enjoy yourself. Don't you agree, Yamao?"

Shanwei, who was called by Bingchuan's name, flashed a barely perceptible sneer at the corner of his mouth. He did not respond to Bingchuan's words and asked the uncle in the village committee office: "Uncle, please give me a map of the old village before the dam was built and a new map of the current village."

"A map of the old village? What's the use of it? There's a dam now. How can we find the houses from that time?" The uncle frowned in confusion, thinking to himself why the guys who came to ask for maps today were weirder than each other. But since it was a customer's request, the uncle turned around and went to find an old map of the village for Shanwei.

In response to the uncle's doubts, Yamao just remained silent with a gloomy expression and said nothing. But Hikawa, who was grinning strangely beside him, seemed to be proud of knowing the reason, and his eyes flashed with a cunning light.

Bai Quanyi raised his gaze from the map and fixed it on Shanwei beside him, curiously examining the man who had specifically requested the old map from before the dam reconstruction. Shanwei, sensing Bai Quanyi's gaze, turned slightly to look at Quanyi, only frowning without saying anything.

The glacier next to Shanwei poked its head out from behind Shanwei and stared at Baiquanyi with great interest for a long time, until Shanwei nudged him and said, "Hey, your map, hurry up and get going."

Shanwei's push shook Bingchuan, who was not paying attention. The contents of his pocket fell to the ground with a loud noise. Izumi looked down, squinting in surprise at the objects on the ground, then looked up at Bingchuan, who was grinning widely.

Is this a stun gun that can knock people out? Why would this tourist who came to the village office to get a map carry such a dangerous item?

At this time, Bai Quanyi said, "Why do you two still want a map of the old village? Isn't there a dam there now? And why do you have a stun gun?"

Yamao frowned slightly, put the map in his pocket, and explained, "I just want to know where my old hometown is now. What's so strange about that?"

Bingchuan raised his eyebrows and said, "As for why I carry a stun gun, it's for self-defense, of course. Speaking of which, you have a lot of questions, don't you?"

Bai Quanyi chuckled and said, "It's indeed a bit much. Actually, I still have some questions I want to ask."

Shanwei and Bingchuan exchanged a glance, then warned Baiquanyi, "Kid, if you ask about other people's private affairs outside, you'll easily get beaten."

After saying that, Shanwei and Bingchuan left.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumi came over and asked, "Is there something wrong with them?"

Bai Quanyi shook his head and said, "Nothing, it's just my occupational disease."

Watching the figures of Bingchuan and Shanwei gradually blend into the red snow world, Baiquanyi silently memorized the background of these two people in his heart.

Wait until Eriri grows up a little

Shiraizumi Masu, Kato Megumi, and Kasumigaoka Utaha returned to the hotel and immediately recognized the person walking around in the store as the hotel manager Tono Mizuki, whom they had met today. Shiraizumi Masu asked Tono Mizuki if Sayuri Sawamura and Eriri had returned first.

As a result, Mizuki Tono told the three that Eriri had eaten too many random foods at the Snow Festival and had an upset stomach, so her mother took her to the village clinic.

So the three of them went to the village clinic again.

"Sayuri, is Eriri okay?" Shiraizumi Makoto poked his head into the ward.

Sayuri nodded, but before she could say anything, a gentle voice came from beside them: "Are you worried about your friends and came all the way here? Don't worry, I've already diagnosed the girl. She probably has a stomachache from overeating. I've prescribed some medicine. Take it on time when you go home. She'll be back to full health soon."

"This is nurse Fuyumi Tatehara from the village clinic. Thanks to her help, Eriri seems to be much better now." Sayuri pointed to the female nurse with a gentle smile and introduced her to Izumi and Conan who had just arrived.

Tachihara Fuyumi, whose voice and smile are so gentle and beautiful, makes Shiraizumi feel that such a person is indeed suitable to be a nurse and can make patients feel at ease.

Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, "Eriri, why did you get an upset stomach? What did you eat?"

Kato Megumi jokingly said: "Isn't it the same as a child? When you see something you haven't eaten before, you want to eat it, and then eat it without any care. Hehehe..."

Ying Lili blushed slightly and said, "I don't know how I got an upset stomach."

After Yinglili took some medicine and rested for a while, her stomachache went away, and then everyone went back to the hotel together.

"Goodbye, Nurse Tatehara!" Eriri said goodbye to Tatehara Fuyumi loudly and energetically, waving her hands vigorously.

"Goodbye." Standing at the door of the village clinic, Renyuan Xiangmei waved to Eriri with a gentle smile on her face.

Only after Eriri and her companions were completely swallowed by the darkness did Tachihara Fuyumi slowly lower her waving hand. The smile that had graced her cheeks a moment ago gradually faded, and a look of loss spread across her eyes that flickered in the darkness. Looking deeply saddened, Tachihara Fuyumi turned and walked towards the innermost room.

Pushing open the heavy door and turning on the light, the room instantly became bright. Under the light, the young man, whose face looked even paler, lay quietly on the bed, breathing evenly, as if he was just tired and fell asleep peacefully.

Tachihara Fuyumi sat sadly beside the boy, silently looking at his face, gently holding his hand, and praying over and over in her heart that the boy would wake up soon.

"Did you hear that? I really want to hear your laughter when I hear those kids laughing just now. Also, this year's Snow Festival has already begun. It seems to be very lively, with lots of delicious food and fun things to do. Wake up soon and go to the Snow Festival with mom, okay?" Tachihara Fuyumi murmured in a low voice, reaching out her hand to gently straighten the bangs of the boy who was so calm and expressionless.

Fuyumi Tachihara looked up at the photo on the table, then looked at the bloodless face of her son who had been in a coma for eight years. Crystal tears welled up in her eyes and fell silently.

If the accident had not happened 8 years ago, my son would be a 15-year-old boy, almost a man. For 8 years, while my son's friends were growing up and learning new things, he could only lie quietly in the hospital bed. He could not open his eyes to see the changes in the village, could not hear what I said to him, and could not laugh when happy or cry when sad like other children.

The truth of what happened eight years ago is still sleeping in the darkness with her son. But she will keep waiting, waiting for the day when her son wakes up and the day when the truth is revealed.

Tachihara Fuyumi wiped away her tears, slowly stood up, turned around and left.

……

When the group returned to the hotel, the hotel manager, Tono Mizuki, was busy having the kitchen prepare dinner for the guests. Seeing Eriri had recovered, he smiled at them with relief and said, "Mr. Bai and everyone else, please take a seat and enjoy dinner."

"Ms. Tono is really a talented lady who can both work in the kitchen and out of the parlor! It's so delicious!" said Baiquan Yi.

Ms. Tono gave him an awkward smile and said, "I'm just taking your orders. I don't cook the food myself. Our chefs are all very skilled. I hope you enjoy your meal."

Shiyu pinched Bai Quanyi's ear and said unhappily, "Please stop chatting with me."

Kato Megumi patted Baiquan Yi's shoulder in dissatisfaction: "That's right, you already have us, but you're still thinking about other girls."

Sayuri Sawamura giggled and said, "Shiraizumi Masaru, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you should be content."

Bai Quanyi shook his head and said, "People... never know how to be content. 'Human greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant, haven't you heard that?'"

Sayuri Sawamura said, "When Eriri grows up a little, I'll betroth her to you. Is that enough?"

Ying Lili said angrily: "Mom, don't make fun of others."

Shiyu and Hui looked at each other. And now there's Eriri...

"Lovely!"

"Scumbag!"

Bai Quanyi quickly defended himself, "Aunt Sayuri was just joking, you two shouldn't take it seriously!"

While enjoying the local specialties, Bai Quanyi fell into deep thought.

Nothing suspicious seemed to be happening yet, and the only suspicious person was Hikawa, who carried a stun gun. As for the others, Yamao, who had been away from home for many years, seemed a bit eccentric, but otherwise normal. Miss Tono, who was diligent and responsible at work, and Officer Tachihara, who was kind and gentle, seemed to have nothing unusual about them.

Izumi decided he needed to study the map further. He'd first try to find out from the village office or local residents which families had been the most vocal in opposing the dam's relocation. With this little information, he could notify Inspector Megure and his team to conduct a detailed investigation. Perhaps they could find the perpetrators of the threatening letters and the bombing. At the moment, this was the only clue they could pursue.

Because there is only this clue, we may be constrained in our thinking, and perhaps we should consider other possibilities. However, based on the construction and political achievements since Governor Asakura entered politics, the most likely suspect is the dam construction project in Kitazawa Village.

Bai Quanyi was lost in thought. Everyone had already finished dinner and was discussing what to cook tonight.

"Why don't we go to the place that sells local specialties? Maybe we can buy something interesting." Shiyu, who was eager to shop, excitedly suggested to Hui and Eriri.

Hui thought about it and thought it would be a good idea to go shopping in the evening, so she smiled and nodded: "That's a good idea, let's go shopping, the specialty gift shop is nearby anyway."

"I think this is great." Ying Lili also nodded.

The three girls went shopping, and Shiraizumi Masaru and Sawamura Sayuri did not go with them. The two of them enjoyed the hotel's family hot spring together.

The hot spring was emitting white steam, and in the mist, two figures merged together in the dim light.

"Izumi, I feel so comfortable." Sayuri Sawamura smiled sweetly.

"Sayuri——" Baiquan felt the same.

Choose a gift

The three girls went to a specialty store that specializes in selling specialties from the north. Ms. Mizuhi Kana, the clerk at the specialty gift counter, enthusiastically introduced various gifts suitable as souvenirs to Hui, Shiyu, and Eriri.

"Thank you, Miss Mizuta. We can just choose the items ourselves from now on." After thanking the enthusiastic Miss Mizuta, Hui walked towards the specialty gift area with Shiyu and Eriri.

In the brightly lit shop, children, unaffected by the cold, looked at the various souvenirs with great interest.

"This one looks good, but that one seems cute too. It's so hard to decide." Hui picked up a specialty, looked at it, put it down, then picked up another specialty and looked at it carefully, looking like she couldn't make up her mind.

"Oh, Shiyu, do you think a mug is a good gift? Well, there's a pair of swans painted on it, which is quite cute." Eriri took the mug from Shiyu. Although she thought it was okay to give it as a gift, she really couldn't see anything special about it.

Hui held a cute snow doll and asked Shiyu: "Shiyu, what do you think of this?"

Hui, completely unaware of the significance of Shiyu's question, casually looked at the local specialties and asked in confusion, "How about what?"