The story of Qi Yan concludes here, a tear-jerking tale that is truly tragic!
A once happy and harmonious family was brutally torn apart by that scoundrel Han Guangyao, leaving them in ruins. His mother was imprisoned and raped, his father was beaten to death, and when his mother was later released and witnessed the scene, she left behind a blood-written letter and hanged herself, following her husband in death!
Only the Qi siblings were left, orphaned and cared for by their aging grandparents.
Such a tragedy ignites burning anger, a heavy mountain of a rock pressing down on one’s heart, making it difficult to breathe.
In the private room, everyone’s emotions were low. Even though this incident did not happen to them personally, such a tragedy still evoked great anger.
“Sister Yan, what happened afterward? Did you and your brother just live with your grandparents, raised by them?”
Li Xiangcao couldn't help but ask, her eyes red.
“Yes, from then on, my brother and I were raised by our grandparents!”
Qi Yan’s voice was ethereal as she fell into memory again.
“But when I was eight years old, my grandfather passed away. He was already in poor health, and after enduring such hardship, his condition worsened year by year. He simply passed away!”
“Only my grandmother was left to raise us!”
“Later, when I was ten and my brother was thirteen, he could already take care of himself. My grandmother also left us, and from then on, it was just the two of us siblings, relying on each other.”
“That blood-written letter was something my brother and I found by accident while sorting through our grandparents’ belongings. After repeated verification, we confirmed the truth of the matter.”
“Then my brother and I left Nantai Village and embarked on our path of revenge!”
Qi Yan paused slowly at this point, ceasing her narrative.
Although everyone was very curious about the rest of the story, such as where she learned her skills and what hardships she and her brother endured, since Qi Yan did not continue, they felt it inappropriate to ask further.
The story had already conveyed enough up to this point!
“Miss Qi, your story is very sympathetic. Please rest assured, I will investigate everything as quickly as possible. Afterward, it will be the beginning of our cooperation.”
Qin Chuan raised his wine glass and gestured.
“Then I will await your efforts!”
Qi Yan also picked up the wine glass on the table. The two drank it down. After finishing the drink, Qi Yan staggered slightly, and Li Xiangcao, who was standing nearby, quickly helped her.
Qi Yan had drunk a whole bottle of foreign wine while telling the story, and she was already a bit tipsy.
“Qin Chuan, I am helping Sister Yan now. Don’t think I’m truly cooperating with you.”
“The grievances between you and me can never be resolved in this lifetime.”
Li Xiangcao said to Qin Chuan.
Qin Chuan grinned, “Then I’ll await your revenge!”
Li Xiangcao snorted coldly, and supporting Qi Yan, she left. Only Qin Chuan and the other three remained in the private room.
Watching the two women depart, Yao Dong couldn't help but ask, “Boss, do you believe this story of Qi Yan?”
The others also looked intently, awaiting Qin Chuan’s answer.
“Qi Yan just said that Nantai Village is less than a hundred miles from Longcheng. We will go to Nantai Village tomorrow. Whether the facts are as Qi Yan described, I believe the people there will give us an answer.”
Qin Chuan said.
Everyone nodded, feeling that this decision was reasonable. They would know the truth by visiting Nantai Village.
Even though many years had passed, such a significant event would surely be known by some of the elders in the village.
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Qin Chuan and the other three drove to Nantai Village.
Nantai Village is located south of Longcheng. After more than an hour, they reached their destination.
What greeted their eyes was a scene of utter desolation. The land was black, the houses were black, the river was black, and even the sky was black, with black particles floating in the air.
As far as the eye could see, the entire world was covered in black particles. This was the environmental pollution caused by coal mining. The place was barely suitable for human habitation.
In the distance, a massive coal washing plant was built right in the center of the village and was still in operation, with coal miners, all covered in black, working tirelessly.
Rows of large trucks were parked on the road, waiting to be loaded with coal for transport.
Without a doubt, this coal washing plant must belong to the Han family.
“Boss, it seems like no one is living in this village anymore!”
Sitting in the car and looking at the current state of Nantai Village, Zheng Chengdao said.
“Who says so? This is hardly a place for people to live. Living here long-term would absolutely lead to diseases like pneumonia and lung cancer.”
Qin Yang also said, wondering why a factory would be built in the center of a village, completely destroying the local ecological environment.
Within a ten-mile radius, it was probably unsuitable for growing any crops, and the villagers would undoubtedly suffer from various ailments.
Qin Chuan pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s drive around. Perhaps there are still people living here?”
Yao Dong started the car and drove into the village along the rough and uneven road. As they passed by, the doors of the houses were all dilapidated, clearly having been uninhabited for a long time.
Even the cleaner-looking houses had large locks, indicating that the owners were not present, only returning occasionally to clean.
The car passed by the entrances of more than a dozen houses and found all of them locked. Just as everyone was frowning in disappointment, suddenly, a distant cough was heard.
“Someone?”
The four people in the car all heard it and quickly looked in the direction of the sound.
Finally, they saw an elderly person in a courtyard, walking slowly, coughing a few times every two steps, their gait faltering, looking extremely aged.
Qin Chuan quickly told them to stop the car, opened the door, and got out.
“Old man!”
In the courtyard, the faltering elder slowly turned around upon hearing the voice, revealing a very aged face.
Seeing a few unfamiliar young men, the elder asked, “Young men, what can I do for you?”
“Oh, elder, it’s like this. We are here to find a distant relative.”
“But we found that almost no one lives in the entire village, and we couldn’t even find a local to ask for directions. We heard you cough just now, so we hurried over!”
Qin Chuan explained.
“Our village was completely abandoned several years ago. Except for old folks like me who have no children, everyone else has moved to live elsewhere!”
The elder replied, “By the way, who are you looking for?”
“Uncle, the distant relative we are looking for is named Qi, Qi Yuanhe. About seventeen or eighteen years ago, he was the village head. Do you perhaps remember this person?”
Qin Chuan asked, Qi Yuanhe being the name of Qi Yan’s father.
“Qi Yuanhe? You are relatives of Qi Yuanhe?”
Upon hearing the name Qi Yuanhe, two sharp glints appeared in the elder’s once cloudy eyes. He scrutinized Qin Chuan and the other three from head to toe.
“Yes, we are relatives of Qi Yuanhe. This time, on the instructions of our parents, we have come to Nantai Village specifically to find them. Please tell us their whereabouts, uncle!”
As Qin Chuan spoke, he motioned for his elder brother behind him to take a pack of cigarettes from his bag and offer it to the elder.
Seeing the expensive Huazi cigarettes, the elder quickly waved his hands in refusal, saying they were too valuable for him to accept.
Qin Chuan, however, pressed them into the elder’s hand, his expression sincere, “Uncle, shall we go sit in your house?”