In the darkness, the figure grew increasingly distinct.
Lu Qingqing's heart pounded. She turned to look at Hu Jia, who also frowned.
"Hahaha... I thought you two were so brave, but it turns out you're nothing special!" the shadow spoke. As soon as Lu Qingqing heard the voice, she felt an urge to hit him.
Damn it!
Ouyang!
It was this persistent nuisance again!
Perhaps sensing a human voice, Xiao Tao, who had been trembling moments before, immediately stopped shaking. Instead, she curiously stretched out her neck, scrutinizing the dark figure.
"You know him?" Lu Qingqing clearly noticed the change in her.
"No, I don't know him," Xiao Tao denied repeatedly.
"You're a mouse crawling on a cat's nose—looking for death? What if I actually fired?" Luo Wenwu, seeing it was Ouyang Wen, looked displeased.
"That's why I spoke up immediately," Ouyang said with an innocent expression.
Seeing it was Ouyang, Hu Jia also got out of the car.
"What? You stole my job, and you won't even say a word?" Ouyang asked with a smile.
"I just want to investigate the case," Hu Jia replied calmly.
"Hmph, investigate! Yes, a zombie biting people, who wouldn't want to investigate such a bizarre case..." Ouyang feigned a sigh.
"You're also very clever, knowing to lie in wait here," Hu Jia remarked.
"Can't help it, who told you you have such a good assistant?" As he spoke, Ouyang glanced at Luo Wenwu.
Luo Wenwu rolled his eyes but said nothing.
However, Lu Qingqing keenly caught the word: zombie?
Lu Qingqing suddenly understood. No wonder this man wanted to take Xiao Tao away. How could someone obsessed with solving cases let go of such a strange case?
"Were you injured by a zombie?" Lu Qingqing asked Xiao Tao.
Xiao Tao nodded, describing the zombies as having green faces and fangs, with long fingernails, and walking with a hop. "All the scratches on my body were made by them."
"Oh..." Lu Qingqing responded indifferently, though she didn't take Xiao Tao's words seriously. No wonder Luo Wenwu said Xiao Tao was talking nonsense; she must have been terribly frightened.
Looking at Hu Jia and Ouyang, they clearly also dismissed it as nonsense.
"Let's go! We'll take her home first, and then see what kind of evil spirit is at play," Hu Jia said, turning onto a small path.
This was the path leading to Xia Jiezhi Village, Xiao Tao's home.
Seeing Hu Jia walk ahead, Ouyang quickly followed.
They walked side-by-side, and suddenly, Hu Jia stopped. This made Lu Qingqing and Luo Wenwu instantly tense, looking around, ready to draw their guns.
"The notebook says to stay away from you, you walk ahead," Hu Jia stepped back.
Ouyang's expression changed: "Scram!"
With that, Ouyang strode forward resentfully, muttering as he walked, "I'll tear up all your notes sooner or later."
This stunned Lu Qingqing. Her intuition was correct; there was something wrong with Ouyang and this group of people.
How to put it? They didn't get along, yet there seemed to be some camaraderie.
No animosity, but sharp rivalry.
Bickering, but seemingly without gunpowder.
She nudged Luo Wenwu beside her, "What's going on between them?"
Luo Wenwu pursed his lips: "They're like toads playing with frogs—ugly and promiscuous. It's their own business, let's not interfere."
Their own business?
Lu Qingqing narrowed her eyes. No, what toads playing with frogs? Luo Wenwu, why are you so verbose?
...
Xia Jiezhi Village was not far from the main road, about half an hour away.
Although it was completely dark, it was still early, around 9 p.m. As Hu Jia and the others entered the village, they began asking around about any recent unusual occurrences. They even specifically mentioned zombies, which puzzled everyone. The villagers seemed indifferent, and some immediately closed their doors as they approached.
This made them wonder: where were the zombies? Why were these villagers so nonchalant about something so bizarre?
"Xiao Tao, why are your villagers so aloof?" Lu Qingqing asked.
"They don't really welcome outsiders," Xiao Tao's words surprised everyone. "Because it was outsiders who brought the zombies here."
Zombies again?
Everyone exchanged glances.
At this moment, Ouyang spoke, "Miss Xiao Tao, it's late at night, and it's inconvenient for us to return to the city. Could you find us a place to stay?"
"Yes! Let us stay the night," Hu Jia seconded.
Lu Qingqing knew that these two were just using an excuse to stay in the village. Only by entering a villager's home could they pry open their mouths.
Xiao Tao seemed hesitant, as the villagers were unwilling to interact with outsiders, let alone host them.
Just then, a flickering light appeared in the distance; someone was carrying a torch.
"Grandpa Lu?" Xiao Tao was overjoyed to see the approaching person. "Try talking to Grandpa Lu; he's very approachable."
It was an old man with a long beard. His eyes were piercing, and his face was extraordinary. Despite his age, he looked vigorous, possessing an air of scholarly grace.
"Heh heh, it's Xiao Tao..." the old man said kindly. "What are you doing here?"
"Grandpa Lu, I have a few friends, but they have nowhere to stay," Xiao Tao said with a smile.
"Oh?" The old man looked at Hu Jia and the others, who quickly greeted him.
"Come with me, my old place has a few empty beds," Grandpa Lu was very straightforward, unlike the other villagers.
Hearing Grandpa Lu's words, Xiao Tao was overjoyed. After bidding farewell to everyone, she went home alone.
The group followed Grandpa Lu, with Hu Jia walking silently at the back.
The village was still quiet. In the darkness, only the sound of their footsteps could be heard. Occasionally, Ouyang chatted with Grandpa Lu, and soon, they arrived at Grandpa Lu's courtyard.
The courtyard was located at the end of the village. As soon as they pushed open the door, they saw two small dishes and a plate of peanuts on the table. Everyone had driven out directly from work, and mentioning food made them hungry.
"Come, come, you must all be hungry. The dishes on my table haven't been touched. I was just about to go pull a few green onions from the field when I bumped into you," Grandpa Lu said enthusiastically, ushering everyone to sit down. He then turned back to add a few more wine cups: "We're all grown men, let's have a few drinks."
"Oh, uncle, you're too kind. However, I have a stomach problem and can't drink," Ouyang was the first to politely refuse.
Lu Qingqing glanced at the man, tsk, she didn't expect him to be a lightweight at drinking parties.
And Luo Wenwu, who had already picked up his chopsticks, put them down.
Lu Qingqing was not a pampered young lady who grew up in the city; she didn't have such reservations. After all, the world is big, and filling one's stomach is the most important thing.
Just as she reached for a piece of potato, another pair of chopsticks also picked up the potato slice she had chosen.
She looked up and saw it was Hu Jia!
Lu Qingqing didn't think much of it and turned to pick up another piece. But Hu Jia, unexpectedly, chose the same piece again.
Lu Qingqing glanced sideways, about to express her displeasure, but then she suddenly thought of something. "Oh, I envy you guys. I can't eat too much at night; it makes me fat."
After saying that, she also put down her chopsticks.
Grandpa Lu was taken aback and, ignoring everyone else, began to eat.
"Uncle, what's going on with those zombies?" Ouyang asked, serving Grandpa Lu, and striking up a conversation.
"Zombies?" Grandpa Lu's expression changed. The man who had been chatting and laughing moments before suddenly shifted his attitude: "Don't talk while eating, don't talk while sleeping. We can talk about it tomorrow after we wake up."
"But..." Ouyang started to say more.
Grandpa Lu, however, raised his wine cup: "Young friend, would you like a drink?"
Lu Qingqing endured her hunger and quietly watched Ouyang and Grandpa Lu. She guessed that this trip would yield no results.
Just then, Hu Jia got up to go to the outhouse. Seeing this, Lu Qingqing followed him. She didn't want to stay at the dinner table; for someone hungry, it was torture.
"You're very clever," Hu Jia said, looking at Lu Qingqing behind him.
"Of course. The title of Jiangjin's number one detective isn't just for show," Lu Qingqing raised an eyebrow. Indeed, the first time Hu Jia and she picked the same potato, she thought it was a coincidence. But when they both reached for the second one simultaneously, Lu Qingqing realized that Hu Jia was trying to stop her from eating.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but admire the tacit understanding among these three. Ouyang must have been able to drink, but because he lied and said he couldn't, Luo Wenwu, who had already started eating, put down his chopsticks.
"Don't sleep too deeply tonight," Hu Jia warned. Although they didn't know Grandpa Lu's or the villagers' intentions, it was always good to be cautious.
"Okay!" Lu Qingqing nodded. "By the way, where did that old man slip up?"
This was something Lu Qingqing hadn't figured out.
"Do you remember the clothes Xiao Tao was wearing?" Hu Jia asked.
Clothes?
Clothes...
Clothes!
Lu Qingqing: So that's how it is!