I’m Really Scared
Chapter 162: Those Who Know, Know

Guan Shan wasn't foolish enough to chase blindly. He still had his Shadow Clone in Baihe Village, monitoring the situation through its perspective.

As they approached the village entrance, they immediately drew the attention of nearby villagers. Those further away quickly dropped what they were doing and ran off, presumably to alert others.

The remaining villagers eyed them with suspicion and wariness. The deep-seated distrust was palpable.

Compared to Han's Village, which had been somewhat modernized, this truly isolated mountain village exemplified the phrase "rural and cunning."

Soon, a group of people approached, including Ba Dian, the village chief, and his son-in-law Ba Jiang, both of whom Guan Shan had observed through his Shadow Clone.

"You must be Li's friends," Ba Dian greeted them warmly. "She told us about you. You're from the newspaper, right? We've arranged a house for you. You'll stay at Ah Yang's place. It won't be easy for city folks like you to adjust here, so take your time."

Ba Dian pulled over a young girl with braided hair and patted her shoulder. "If you need anything, just tell Ah Yang. She's small but smart and very sensible."

Ba Dian's appearance matched the stereotype of a simple mountain villager: dark skin, short and sturdy build, a kind smile, and heavily accented Mandarin.

If Guan Shan hadn't overheard his secretive conversation with Ba Jiang, he might have been deceived by this facade.

It seemed Ba Dian didn't know that Li Zhiying was the head of the newspaper, only that she was a former teacher.

Guan Shan put on a "sincere" and "naive" smile. "Sir, are you the village chief?"

Ba Dian nodded. "Yes."

Guan Shan continued, "Do you know why we're here in Baihe Village?"

Ba Dian hesitated before nodding again. "To do some news about poverty in rural areas. We understand. People have come before."

Guan Shan shook his head and spoke seriously, "That's just a small part of it. Before being Li's friends, we are part of a national geological survey team."

Ba Dian and the others were taken aback. Even Bian Jie and Lin Shuman were surprised.

"We are?" they thought, bewildered.

As a journalist, Guan Shan was adept at adapting and changing his story. "The country suspects there might be significant coal deposits here and wants to develop the area. But since there's a village here, if resources are found, you might need to relocate."

Ba Dian didn't fully buy it but was unsure. "We can't move. We've lived here for generations."

Guan Shan softened his tone. "I said 'if.' If resources are found, then you might need to move. If not, there's no need. We're here to investigate."

He introduced Bian Jie, "This is Guan Shan, and this is Stephen Chow, our geological expert who studied abroad."

Bian Jie, tall and thin with glasses, looked the part of an intellectual. He nodded blankly, internally puzzled by Guan Shan's smooth lies.

Guan Shan explained in the headset channel, "Just play along. This village has secrets. If they think they might need to move, they'll reveal something."

Ba Dian, now more convinced, stammered, "Mr. Chow, we are simple folks. We can't just take your word for it."

Guan Shan flashed his Special Security Group ID—an intimidating prop given to him by Xia Lei. "See this? It's a central government seal. Those who know, know. If you don't, it's pointless to explain."

His superior, arrogant demeanor was modeled after Jiang Siyuan, an annoying but effective strategy.

Ba Dian, now fully convinced, nodded and bowed. "How long will the investigation take?"

Guan Shan pondered, "Not long, three days at most. We're professionals. Just go about your daily lives. We need someone familiar with the mountains to guide us."

Ba Dian exchanged a look with Ba Jiang and said, "My son-in-law has been a hunter for decades. He knows the mountains well. He can guide you."

Guan Shan nodded. "Good. We'll stay as arranged. Where is Li?"

Ba Dian's eyes flickered. "She's staying next door but is often busy visiting students or going into the mountains. You might not see her."

"We just saw her," Guan Shan thought. "Maybe she's avoiding you."

After some polite conversation, they followed Ah Yang, a quiet girl who seemed to have some cognitive issues, to her home.

The house was shabby, with dirt walls, chickens and ducks in the yard, and an unpleasant mix of manure and mud smells. But Guan Shan, seasoned by the simulator, didn't mind.

Through the Shadow Clone, he saw Li Zhiying behind the next house, talking to a young boy. Guan Shan approached and squatted beside her, noticing the boy's crippled legs.

"This is..."

Li Zhiying sighed. "This is Ba Ping, the child of one of my former students."

Guan Shan was stunned. "Your student..."

Li Zhiying continued sadly, "Seven years ago, my oldest student was no more than ten."

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