He must take stock; whether living or dead, one must find someone.
Lin Ya nodded slightly without saying much and directly provided a clue: “The person you are looking for is about thirty meters from your home.”
“My home… nearby?!” The old man recalled that during the time his grandson went missing, there hadn’t been any changes around the house.
“Master, could you elaborate? I’ve looked countless times around my home and still haven’t found anything.” The old man was agitated; he hadn’t even mentioned what he wanted to inquire about, yet the master seemed to know he was looking for someone, indicating he must have met someone capable.
“There is nothing on the ground. Have you looked underground?”
“It has something to do with water.”
…
After sending off the old man, who hurried back home without paying, Lin Ya didn’t mind; he considered it a good deed.
Thinking of the old man’s features, Lin Ya had clearly seen his fate.
If he hadn’t met him, the old man would have leaped off the bridge today.
A dozen days ago, the old man was napping with his grandson at home while his son and daughter-in-law were at work. The two of them were the only ones at home, and the old man, being deep in sleep, didn’t notice when the child ran out.
It wasn’t until the old man woke up in the afternoon that he started searching; in these days, he had searched all the way from the outskirts of the county to the city, believing his grandson had been kidnapped.
In reality…
The child had gone out to play and had quarreled with a neighbor’s child. The neighbor’s child accidentally knocked the old man’s grandson unconscious, and when the old neighbor discovered it, he mistook him for dead and threw him, tied up with a stone, into the latrine.
Thus, the child drowned in the latrine.
Most importantly, the latrine was shared between the two families, and without an adult opening the back door, it would be very difficult for a small child to fall into the pit from the front small hole.
The latrine was deep enough to mask the odor of decay, which is why it remained undiscovered until now.
If not for Lin Ya, this case would have only surfaced after a flood years later when the toilet was submerged and discovered during demolition.
By that time, the old neighbor would also have passed away from illness.
The two families had initially had a good relationship, and with kinship ties, when the child went missing, no one suspected foul play; everyone thought he had been kidnapped.
Lin Ya glanced at the sky, noticing that it looked like it might snow soon. He then began to pack his things, preparing to find a suitable spot before leaving the bridge.
Not far away, a car was parked.
Squinting, he saw a young man dressed in vibrant colors walking at the front and couldn’t help but show a hint of disdain; had they met for the first time, he would surely not have approached someone dressed like that.
“Master!”
Zhang Run’s face beamed with a bright smile as he jogged over, his flattering demeanor rivaling that of certain individuals.
“Master! I’m here for that, um, post-service you mentioned!”
“You’re closing up? How timely! It’s almost dinner time. Could I invite you to have a meal? My parents want to thank you…” He rushed over, chattering away; Lin Ya felt as if there were hundreds of ducks quacking in his ears.
“Closing up, meal, no thanks needed.”
Lin Ya shouldered the folding stool and table, following him while greeting his parents.
Not only did he enjoy a delicious dinner, but he also received a thousand yuan in his pocket and a large mobile phone that could make calls.
When they expressed their desire for a safety talisman, Lin Ya didn’t refuse; however, he couldn’t draw yet and lacked the tools, so he made arrangements to send it to them after the New Year.
After reluctantly bidding farewell to Zhang Run and his companions, Lin Ya headed straight for the train station.
Due to ticket shortages during the New Year period, he could only purchase a standing ticket, standing for about ten hours until he got home.
Lin City and the original owner’s hometown, Baishui City, weren’t too far apart. Besides the long train journey, he had to take a bus to the county seat and then another ride back to the village, during which there were still considerable distances to walk.
The day Lin Ya arrived home was already New Year’s Eve, with the next day marking the New Year.
Battling against the dark night, Lin Ya only put the items he bought onto his back as he reached the village entrance.
At this time, most families were still awake, sitting by the fire waiting to celebrate the New Year.
In this remote rural area, there were no electrical lines yet; every household was lighting candles. Some children took advantage of the darkness, searching for firecrackers left by adults, often stumbling upon some unlit ones.
“Huh? Why are there people coming in at this time?”
“Who is that? I don’t think I’ve seen them before.” The children huddled together, both curious and cautious.
“Dad! Mom! Someone’s coming! A stranger!”
Chapter 37: The Master of Mystical Arts in the Eighties (Part Three)
This shouting in the quiet village was akin to a bolt from the blue.
One by one, family members rushed out, moving towards the door to catch a glimpse of the visitor.
The newcomer was dressed in a large black cotton coat, wearing black leather boots, a leather hat, and a scarf obscuring their face, all while carrying a large sack on their back.
“Who is it? What is this…?” The adults whispered among themselves, their eyes fixated on the figure slowly trudging through the snow and mud.
“Uncle, it’s me, Shui Cheng!”
As the person approached, they greeted with a smile.
“What?! Chengzi? You, you’re back?!” The elderly man with graying hair squinted, stunned for a moment upon hearing that familiar voice.
“Chengzi is back?!” The woman beside him was equally astonished; hadn’t he gone missing? How had he returned?
But thank goodness he was back, she lamented, “It’s great you’re back! Where have you been these years? Did you have a good life?”
Lin Ya raised his eyebrows; how did the others not know the original owner had been in prison?
“It’s been okay; I just wonder how things are at home…” He skillfully dodged this question as he adjusted the heavy sack on his back.
The woman was also a relative of Shui Cheng; seeing his movement reminded her of Lin Yumei and her mother, who had never smiled in recent years, along with her difficult-to-communicate aunt, prompting her to hurriedly say, “We can chat later, let’s hurry! It’s freezing out here, and you’ve come such a long way. You must be cold. Come on home! Your parents and wife are waiting for you!”