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Chapter Seventy-Six [Man-Made Disaster]
Encountering the funeral procession heading up the mountain, both cars immediately stopped and pulled to the side of the road to make way.
From the car in front, Chairman He had already gotten out and stood by the roadside watching the funeral procession. He then walked forward and exchanged a few words with some elders in the procession before standing by the roadside to watch them pass.
Chen Yan and Chu Keqing also got out of the car and waited by the roadside.
The procession passed by, with firecrackers going off along the way, filling the air with smoke. Chen Yan stared at the funeral procession, his face showing a strange expression.
Turning his head, he saw Chu Keqing adjusting his glasses and frowning: "Who holds a funeral in the afternoon?"
The people of Dragon Country have a set of rituals for the burial of the deceased. Whether in the city or the countryside, it’s customary to go up the mountain in the morning.
The burial ceremony is traditionally held in the morning, at the latest before noon.
But now, it was around four in the afternoon. In winter, the sun would soon be setting at this hour.
Chen Yan squinted his eyes as he watched the procession slowly pass by. When he saw a filial son holding a small urn, he averted his gaze.
With the ash from cremation, the essence of the body is gone in the fire, and Qi Observation Skill cannot detect anything.
Chu Keqing and Chen Yan slowly walked to Chairman He’s side. Chu Keqing whispered, "Chairman He, I saw you talking to someone in the procession earlier. Do you know them?"
"Yes, they’re from the same village," Chairman He shook his head and sighed. "Someone from the Ding Family on the west side of the village has died."
"The Ding Family?" Chu Keqing asked casually.
"Yes, they are non-family members who moved to He Family Village generations ago. Although they don’t carry the surname He, they’ve intermarried with the He family and put down roots here. In He Village now, more than half have the surname He, but a quarter have the surname Ding."
Pausing, Chairman He shook his head. "The deceased was named Ding Youquan—technically, I should call him my distant uncle. He died seven days ago. I was swamped with my own affairs but still managed to pay my respects."
Chen Yan thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Recently in He Village, aside from this Ding Youquan, has anyone else passed away?"
His sudden inquiry as a "young disciple" was somewhat improper and audacious—considering that Chu Keqing, his acknowledged elder, hadn’t spoken, it wasn’t his place to ask around.
Chairman He glanced at Chen Yan. As a wealthy and urbane man, he bore no arrogance. Though puzzled, considering Chu Keqing’s presence, he nodded and answered, "Recently, the Wang Family also lost someone—the Wang Family is another non-family in He Village. I’m not related to them, so I didn’t visit, but I did send a gift."
Chen Yan nodded and fell silent.
After the funeral procession had passed, the group got back in the car and headed to He Village.
Upon returning to the He Family Mansion, before getting out of the car, Chen Yan instructed Chu Keqing’s female assistant: "When you leave later, say you’re buying something. Then go around the village and inquire about the recently deceased Ding and the recently deceased Wang that Boss He mentioned.
Find out their situations—how they died, when they died.
Also, see if there have been any other recent deaths in the village.
Be discreet when asking around."
The female assistant, hearing this, instinctively looked at Chu Keqing. Chu Keqing frowned, "What Mr. Chen Yan says, goes. Do it with diligence!"
The female assistant got out of the car, and Chu Keqing glanced at Chen Yan, "Senior, you suspect the recent deaths..."
Chen Yan nodded, "Yes, I have a theory."
After getting out of the car and returning to the hall, Mrs. He, Sun Chen, greeted them and had someone bring tea.
Chairman He, with a serious expression, didn’t bother with small talk and spoke to Chu Keqing, "Teacher Chu, about the mountain..."
Chu Keqing nodded, "Chairman He, shall we talk here or in your study?"
Chairman He pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Everyone, leave the room."
He then glanced at Assistant Zhao, "You stay outside and ensure no one approaches."
Assistant Zhao immediately nodded and led the household staff out.
Even Mrs. He, after a glance at her husband, hearing him say, "You too, please step out," complied. With her soft nature, she showed no discontent, squeezed her husband’s hand, and whispered, "Don’t worry, since Teacher Chu is here, we’ll find a solution."
With that, she also departed.
In the hall, only Chairman He, Chu Keqing, and...
Logically, when Chairman He asked everyone to leave, it meant discussing important matters with Chu Keqing. Chen Yan, as a "young disciple," staying seemed out of place.
However, Chen Yan sat calmly by Chu Keqing’s side, and even Chu Keqing didn’t object. Although Chairman He raised an eyebrow in puzzlement, he said nothing.
When the door closed, Chairman He slowly took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, glanced at Chen Yan, and then focused on Chu Keqing. "Teacher Chu, can you now tell me? What happened to my mother’s grave? How did her body disappear? Was it stolen?"
Chu Keqing shook his head, "Chairman He, just this short visit isn’t enough to solve this matter."