"Why aren't you saying anything? Weren't you looking for me just now?"
At this moment, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai felt incredibly tense but eventually forced themselves to slowly turn and face the old woman. To their relief, they realized that it was indeed the village elder standing before them, with no signs of being an imposter or disguised.
It seemed they had simply been scaring themselves. How could someone like the elder be impersonated so easily?
“Granny, where did you go just now?” Liu Hai asked, trying to cover his earlier fright. “We called for you several times, but you didn’t respond. Suddenly appearing behind us like that—it nearly scared us to death.”
The old woman chuckled softly, a bit embarrassed by the situation. She hadn’t expected Zhang Nu and Liu Hai to show up at her house so unexpectedly. She thought they would be investigating the disappearance of the children, not suddenly appearing at her doorstep.
“I was napping and didn’t hear you,” the old woman explained. “I thought I was dreaming when I heard voices. So I came out to check, and it turns out you two were actually here.”
“Since you’re here,” she added, “why don’t you come inside? Have a seat and tell me what brought you here.”
Relieved, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai followed the village elder into her house. Upon entering, they noticed how simple and modest her home was. There was little furniture, and it was clear she lived alone.
“Granny,” Zhang Nu began, “why did you choose to live here alone? This place is so isolated. If anything were to happen to you, there would be no one nearby to help.”
The elder could see the concern on both of their faces. While their worry touched her, she couldn’t share the real reasons behind her choice of residence. Doing so might reveal secrets about the village that she was sworn to protect.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m old, and I prefer the peace and quiet of a place . That’s all.”
Then, steering the conversation away from herself, she asked, “But let’s not talk about me. What brings you two here today?”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai exchanged glances, deciding it was best to be honest with her. They were deeply curious about the man they had seen at the children’s funeral and wanted to know more about him.
“Well, Granny, we noticed a young man at the children’s funeral,” Zhang Nu began. “He seemed very cold and emotionless. We couldn’t help but wonder who he was. What’s his story? Why didn’t he show any sadness when everyone else was grieving?”
The elder immediately knew whom Zhang Nu was referring to. She sighed deeply before speaking, her tone heavy with empathy.
“Ah, I know the young man you’re talking about,” she said. “He’s one of our village’s own, but his life hasn’t been easy. He lost his parents at a young age, and none of his relatives wanted to care for him. They all saw him as nothing but a burden.
“The boy has grown up with little affection. No one has ever truly cared for him, save for a few of us elderly. Occasionally, we’d give him some food or offer a bit of help, but we could never be there for him all the time.”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai listened silently, their hearts heavy. It wasn’t difficult to understand why the man was so indifferent. The world had treated him coldly, and in turn, he had withdrawn from the world. Still, Zhang Nu couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this man than the elder was letting on. His lack of emotion wasn’t just a product of neglect—it seemed deeper, more calculated. The man’s apparent indifference to the village’s plight hinted at something more sinister.
“I see. His story is truly heartbreaking,” Zhang Nu said. “Granny, do you know where he lives? Perhaps we can talk to him. Since we’re outsiders, he might be more willing to open up to us.”
The elder considered this for a moment before nodding. “Yes, I suppose you might have better luck speaking with him. If anyone can get through to him, it might be someone his own age. If you can help him come to terms with his feelings, it would bring great comfort to us elderly.”
She paused, then added, “He lives in the southeast part of the village. You’re welcome to visit him. If you can help him find some light in his life, it would be a blessing for us all.”