Chapter 114 Holding Hands (1/2)
In no time, they saw the fish pond.
Under the moonlight, the surface of the water was glistening due to the lights of the car.
As for the other parts where the lights could not reach, it was pitch dark, and the summer insects were chirping in the background, making the night scene especially serene.
There were a few families by the fish pond and a few dog barks could be heard in the distance.
Which house belongs to Kong Qingping?
This place was a more desolate part of the village, unlike the earlier part where there was a snack shop they could ask for directions. At this time, the villagers were inside their own houses, so there was not a person in sight. However, if they did a turn, they would be on the path that would lead to another direction. Thus, they had to get down here.
Bai Muchuan observed the environment and got down from the car.
”Let's go over there for a look!”
”Okay.” Tang Yuanchu took a flashlight to illuminate the path.
Xiang Wan was the last one to get off the car.
The rural area in the night was too dark and quiet. It was totally like two different worlds against the brightly lit city. As the path was uneven and rough, and she happened to be wearing a pair of low heel shoes that day, it was a hell of a walk.
”Come!” Bai Muchuan's voice sounded low.
Xiang Wan paused for a while when she saw the hand extended to her.
He wanted to help and she held onto his hand weakly.
”Thank you. I'm alright, I can do this.”
”You can but I can't.” Bai Muchuan took her wrist impatiently and led her to his side. ”Time is of essence. I don't feel quite right!”
Feeling…
Xiang Wan swept a faint glance at him.
”But you didn't use to believe in feelings?”
Bai Muchuan returned a glance. He said nothing but quickened his pace.
Xiang Wan was influenced by the anxiousness he displayed and she started to feel tense. She shut her mouth up and tried to keep up her pace to Bai Muchuan as well as Tang Yuanchu who was beside him. They threaded on the path along the fish pond so as to reach the houses up ahead…
”Woof, woof, woof!”
”Woof, woof, woof!”
The sounds of dogs barking became louder.
The few of them passed by the fish pond and stood under the bamboo trees as they looked at the houses not too far away from them.
The surroundings were consisted of the modernized single family detached homes, only the one in front of them was an adobe house.
Tang Yuanchu looked at Bai Muchuan where he returned a nod at him. Tang Yuanchu walked up with the flashlight and knocked on the door of the adobe house. There was a small courtyard in front of the house.
”Excuse me, is this Kong Qingping's house?”
No one answered.
He knocked very loudly on the door.
”Is there anyone at home?”
The quiet village was awakened by his constant knocking on the door.
There was no response from this house, but the neighbor was alerted.
The neighbor came out of his balcony at the second floor for a look. ”That is Old Kong's house indeed,” he said loudly, ”there's someone at home…”
If someone was at home, why didn't anyone answer the door?
Tang Yuanchu knocked even louder upon hearing that. When the neighbor heard that, he coughed and puffed a sigh.
”Stop knocking! If no one answers the door, that means Old Kong drank too much again… Who are you people? Why are you looking for Old Kong?”
Drank too much again?
Tang Yuanchu furrowed his eyebrows. ”We're from the Criminal Investigation Unit of Hongjiang District to find out something.”
When the villager heard they were the police, he quickly came down and opened his door with a jacket over him. He looked around 50 to 60 years old and smoked tobacco with a long stem smoking pipe. He peered at them curiously while his son and daughter-in-law followed behind him. The whole family came to find out what was happening.
”Police comrades, are all of you here because of Old Kong's son, right?”
Eh? So the whole village really knew about it?