Chapter 69: Return to the Village

“Yo! Cheng Zi is back! What is that thing above your eyes…”
“Where have you been making money all these years? What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Where did Cheng Zi go all these years? He only just returned…”
After the New Year greetings, everyone in the village knew that Shui Cheng had returned and that there was something wrong with his eyes.
The villagers were quite simple-hearted, mostly well-intentioned. Many were curious about where he had been all these years, saying he had been away for too long and hadn’t sent a letter, causing everyone to think something bad might have happened to him.
Lin Ya could only awkwardly smile, saying he had been busy working far from home.
He somewhat embarrassingly escaped the clutches of aunts and relatives, using Da Niu and Er Niu as shields, and after a brief walk, hurried back home.
“Go play,” he told the two kids. Looking at the groups of children afar lighting firecrackers, they weren’t scared at all and were eager to join in, so Lin Ya let them go and enjoy themselves.
“Yumei, after the New Year, let’s go to the city.”
Lin Yumei, for the first time wearing a brand new, warm, and colorful thick coat, carefully walked on the muddy ground, trying hard not to dirty her shoes. At his words, she looked up in a daze for a while.
To the city…
A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes. Upon returning to that shabby room, looking at her reflection in the palm-sized mirror, touching her aging and rough cheeks, she suddenly felt a bit anxious.
Lin Yumei could hardly remember what her former self looked like, but she could vaguely see the traces of hardship etched in her brows and eyes over the years.
Of course, she wanted to go to the city, whether for the sake of her two kids’ future or to escape the painful countryside.
Seeing her silent, Lin Ya understood she wished to go, so he reassured her that money wouldn’t be an issue; he would take care of it.
On the eighth day of the New Year, the weather was great, sunny and bright.
Lin Ya took them all the way to the town, then they took a bus and eventually a train to Lin City.
They only had a bag of food, leaving behind most of their tattered belongings in their old home. Dressed in new clothes and shoes, they set off.
It was Da Niu and Er Niu’s first trip far from home and their first train ride; the green train made a clattering noise, and the two little girls were surprised and delighted.
“Sis! Look over there! Wow… so many houses!”
“Look there! People look so small from far away, the train is going so fast!”
“Wow!”
“…Ugh…”
“Mom—! Sis is going to throw up!” After looking at the scenery for too long, Da Niu felt dizzy and almost spilled everywhere.
Lin Ya pulled out a pack of sour plum candy and handed it to them; after eating some, they felt a bit better. He also realized he forgot to buy motion sickness medicine in advance.
Ever since they decided to go to the city, Lin Yumei had been teaching them to call her and Lin Ya “Mom” and “Dad” directly.
After a few days of practice, the two kids gradually got used to it. Da Niu, although still a bit wary of Lin Ya, called him “Dad” without hesitation, clearly accepting him as their father in her heart.
When mealtime came, the train attendants pushed carts back and forth, selling snacks and meals.
Lin Ya brought over two mugs of hot water and placed them on the table, then went to buy four meals. He had bought three sleeper tickets, allowing the two kids to share a bed. Although the sleeper seats were a bit expensive, it was more comfortable for traveling with kids. Lin Yumei felt a bit pained about the money but said nothing.
Lin Ya thought the food on the train was not particularly good, but the three of them ate heartily. At least there was some meat, which was considered great for people of that era. The other passengers around sniffed the delicious aroma and couldn’t help but buy some meals from the dining car, quickly filling the carriage with the smell of food, waking those who had been sleeping.
It was indeed a bit of misfortune.
Opposite them sat two men, one appearing to be in his twenties and the other looking older, about forty. They had climbed onto the train and fell asleep immediately, heavy dark circles under their eyes indicating their fatigue.
This was evident by the thunderous snores they produced while asleep.
However, Lin Ya noticed the bags they held tightly and how they immediately woke up at the slightest noise; he turned his head thoughtfully. Even without using his Qi-refining technique, he could guess their identities.
Both men exuded a sense of righteousness, their tired eyes still sharp and vigilant. When lying down, they subtly shifted their bodies to one side, clearly indicating something was concealed behind them.
When they first saw Lin Ya getting onto the train, their expressions were as if they were looking at criminals.
They were either military personnel on a mission or police officers.
Given their appearances, it was clear they were on a mission.
Their destination was also Lin City, but it remained unclear whether they were originally from Lin City or just on official business.
Lin Ya pushed the slightly smelly blanket to the bottom of his feet, covering himself with his large cotton coat and closing his eyes.
The carriage was dark and very quiet.
After several hours of travel, the train finally arrived at its destination.
Lin Ya and Lin Yumei held one child each and followed the two men off the train.
“Master, we didn’t catch anyone again this time; the director will definitely scold us.” Zhou Ying walked out of the station with a dejected expression, voicing his fear of being reprimanded, but in truth, he was worried about the serial killer who had escaped capture and might strike again.
Having failed to capture anyone this time, the next lead would likely come when another crime occurs.
When he thought about how someone else would suffer, Zhou Ying couldn’t feel at ease and felt distressed.
His master, Li Ping’an, was an old detective with over a decade in the police force, having solved numerous cases and received many second-class awards.
Speaking of this, Li Ping’an also felt troubled. He sighed without saying a word, rubbed his fingers, and resisted the urge to smoke. After standing outside for a while, he took Zhou Ying back to the vehicle that the bureau sent to pick them up.
They were tracking a serial killer whose latest crime spree had lasted three years so far. The perpetrator struck every few months, specifically targeting vulnerable women, randomly killing them by dragging them into a field and strangling them after assaulting them.