Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
Jiang Lixing couldn’t persuade Ning Huanxin to do otherwise, so he gave up and drove her back to Zhang Clan Town.
Today, the production team was resting, and everyone was busy with their own matters. Many of them had headed to town to take some photos for keepsake. Zhang Clan Town had a century-long history, and many buildings in the town depict old architecture creating a feel of historic antiquity to it, making them very suitable for photographs for keepsake.
While Jiang Lixing drove off to park the car, Ning Huanxin alighted from the car first and quickly headed into the innermost room in the Siheyuan.
Auntie Zhang lived in the innermost room.
All these years, the villagers staying in Zhang Clan Town were not entirely cut off from the rest of the world, but it could be said that they have been very self-sufficient. There were large fields outside the town, and most residents of this town relied on farming to sustain their livelihoods.
However, Auntie Zhang’s family was different. Apparently, her in-laws were the wealthiest family in town other than the family of the town chief. Hence, after her husband died because of illness, Auntie Zhang inherited his property and a considerable sum of money, which also included this huge Siheyuan.
Therefore, Auntie Zhang didn’t have to work very hard, like others. In recent years, more and more people came to this town for filming. Many residents ostracized outsiders in the Zhang Clan Town, but Auntie Zhang was different from the others and was willing to rent her house to outsiders. Therefore, the house didn’t have to stay empty all year round, and she could earn a decent income as well, which can be seen as killing two birds with one stone.
…
“Auntie Zhang!”
Ning Huanxin knocked on Auntie Zhang’s door.
After a while, Auntie Zhang finally opened the door. She looked at Ning Huanxin with a face of caution.
“Auntie Zhang, I wanted to speak with you.”
Ning Huanxin’s voice was solemn. However, after hearing her words, Auntie Zhang’s eyes flickered. “You don’t have to ask me any more questions. I won’t tell you anything.”
As she spoke, Auntie Zhang was about to close her door. However, Ning Huanxin quickly sneaked into her room with a swift movement of her body.
This made Auntie Zhang flustered. The expressions on her face turned anxious as well. “What exactly do you want to know!”
“I want to know the truth. The truth… about your cousin’s death years ago, the truth that everyone in the entire Li Clan Village was burned and buried alive!”
Ning Huanxin spoke calmly, with persistence. Her eyes were gazing sternly at Auntie Zhang.
“You… How did you know?”
Auntie Zhang took a few steps back as she looked at Ning Huanxin in disbelief.
“I saw it.”
Ning Huanxin sighed. “I saw the past. I saw you and your cousin performing that ritual in that river. I also saw the village that was set on fire by someone. That village was called Li Clan Village, right? I saw… that the people who set it on fire were people from Zhang Clan Town!”
“Ah!”
When Ning Huanxin mentioned that incident, Auntie Zhang’s face turned pale as a sheet.
Twenty years, it had been already over twenty years, but even to date, she would occasionally dream about that huge fire and that heartrending horrifying scene of midnight.
“Did you really see it?”
This time Auntie Zhang finally believed Ning Huanxin’s words. “Since you’ve already seen it, why did you still come to look for me?”
“I only saw bits and pieces here and there. I still feel that I’ve missed out on the most crucial part. I believe that… you know about that missing part. Everyone in the Zhang Clan Village… also knows about it. Am I right?”
Ning Huanxin’s eyes were clear and bright.
As Auntie Zhang looked straight back in her eyes, she finally nodded and spoke, “Alright then, since things have reached this stage, there’s no harm telling you about it either.”
All these years, she had only pushed that incident deeper inside her heart. It filled her heart with grief and pain, but she could never tell anyone about it, especially after everyone in the entire town decided to forget that incident as if nothing happened, Zhang Yunshu’s heart became even more uncomfortable.