Chapter 11 Check His Brother

1. New breakthroughs

Qin Chuan leaned against the cold wall of Room 1303, the cigarette burning to the end. The burning pain startled him awake, and he extinguished the cigarette butt in the rain-soaked water on the windowsill. The air was filled with cheap tobacco and an invisible, suffocating anxiety.

Exposed.

This thought, like a cold steel needle, repeatedly pierced his nerves. Huang Qiang's final, cold, scrutinizing glance was no accident. He and Ouyang Lanlan, the two observers who were supposed to be hiding in the shadows, had been completely exposed to their prey. Continuing to lurk around Huang Qiang was not only futile, but also like dancing on the edge of a knife, prone to the possibility of an unpredictable and frenzied counterattack at any moment.

We must change our strategy and find a new way forward.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down, and, like countless times before when faced with a deadlock, he reorganized all the clues in his mind. The smoke seemed to help him dispel the fog in front of his eyes, allowing the details from deep in his memory to emerge.

Ouyang Lanlan testified terrified but resolute: "A man and a woman! Both spoke in low voices..."

Huang Qiang's locked inner room, where a strange conversation was heard: "...Can you trust that guy outside? Isn't he talking too much..." "...What are you afraid of...I know what I'm doing...It's useful..."

Memories of Longdu’s former director and classmates Sun Wei and Zhou Qian: the brother who protected him, had a scar on his brow, fought for him, and might even have argued with his father for him - Huang Chao.

Huang Qiang dropped out of junior high school. After his family was burdened with a huge compensation debt, his brother Huang Chao also dropped out of school and disappeared.

All the fragments seemed to point in the same direction—Huang Qiang wasn't alone. The "brother" Huang Chao, who existed in conversations and memories, was most likely more than just a childhood protector. Perhaps he was even an accomplice? Or at least an insider?

This thought sent a chill down Qin Chuan's spine. If it were a man and a woman working together, it would be rare enough. But if it were brothers, their stealth, tacit understanding, and brutality would be beyond imagination. Was Huang Chao's disappearance simply a matter of leaving home for work, or was he trying to escape something? Or was there a deeper, darker secret?

He snapped his eyes open, his gaze sharp as a knife again. Regardless of Huang Chao's identity, finding him would be the most likely key to breaking the current deadlock. This line of inquiry must be investigated further.

2. Difficult Tracking

Over the next few days, Qin Chuan became more cautious. He stopped trying to get close to Huang Qiang and instead focused all his energy on investigating Huang Chao's whereabouts. This was like looking for a needle in a haystack; a person who had deliberately hidden himself for years would leave very little trace.

He once again weaved among the riders, but the topic cleverly steered clear of Huang Qiang and shifted to more general small talk. Passing a cigarette, he casually inquired, "Hey, I heard Qiangzi had a brother who also lived here? They look alike, don't they? Why haven't I seen him?"

Most of the riders shook their heads, indicating they didn't know. Then one day, when Qin Chuan "accidentally" asked about it again, an older rider named Lao Li, also from Northeast China, squinted his eyes, took a puff of his cigarette, and mumbled vaguely, "Oh, you mean Chaozi? There is such a person. I think he came here a while ago, maybe the year before last. He looked stronger than Qiangzi, and had a scar on his forehead, which was quite intimidating. He didn't talk much, but he seemed to be very protective of Qiangzi."

Qin Chuan's heart tightened, but he remained expressionless: "Oh? What happened next? Didn't you find some work here?"

"He stayed for a short time and then left." Old Li puffed out smoke rings. "I think he took Qiangzi to see a doctor for some illness, but I'm not sure what it was. He was very mysterious. I haven't heard from him since. What? Do you know Chaozi?"

"No, no, I just heard someone mention it, so I'm just asking casually." Qin Chuan waved his hand quickly and changed the subject, but he kept the key information "seeing a doctor" in his mind.

See a doctor? What's wrong with Huang Qiang? Physical? Or... psychological?

He immediately began investigating all the major hospitals in Linzhou. It was a tedious and desperate process. With only a name and a vague timeline, and without official support, the difficulty was immeasurable. He was forced to once again employ unconventional methods and his previously accumulated, less-than-stellar connections.

A few days later, a vague message came back: about two years ago, a patient named "Huang Qiang" had a medical record in the psychiatric department of Linzhou No. 7 People's Hospital.

The Seventh People's Hospital! Specializes in treating psychological and mental illnesses!

Qin Chuan immediately rushed to the Seventh Municipal Hospital. The air inside was filled with disinfectant and an oppressive, uneasy atmosphere. After much effort, he finally managed to see the middle-aged male doctor who had been treating him. The doctor wore gold-rimmed glasses, had a serious expression, and was extremely sensitive to protecting his patient's privacy.

Unable to reveal his true intentions, Qin Chuan lied and claimed to be Huang Qiang's distant cousin, whose family was concerned about his condition and had come to inquire about his condition. The doctor examined him for a long time. Perhaps the eagerness and fatigue in his eyes didn't seem fake, or perhaps the fact that Huang Qiang's case itself had left a deep impression on him. After repeatedly emphasizing confidentiality, the doctor finally opened the thick medical file and cautiously revealed some information.

"Patient Huang Qiang's chief complaint at the time was long-term gender identity distress and extreme anxiety." The doctor adjusted his glasses, his tone calm yet heavy with professionalism. "After preliminary evaluation, he met the diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria disorder. He displayed a strong and persistent aversion to and disapproval of his biological gender, a desire to live as a woman, and even strongly requested gender reassignment surgery."

Despite his mental preparation, Qin Chuan's heart sank. Huang Qiang had been forced to be raised as a girl during childhood, then violently "corrected" back to male during adolescence. This extreme distortion and conflict ultimately took root in his heart in the most brutal way, blossoming into evil.

"Did he come alone?" Qin Chuan asked cautiously.

The doctor recalled for a moment and shook his head. "No, there was a man accompanying him during one of his follow-up appointments. He was older than him, quite tall, and he had what looked like a scar on his brow, so I remember it quite clearly. The two of them had a heated argument in the corridor."

"Quarrel?" Qin Chuan immediately caught this detail.

"Yes," the doctor nodded, as if he had a deep impression of the argument. "The voice was very low, but the emotions were very excited. The man who came with him seemed to be worried about money, mentioning words like 'the mine,' 'not enough money,' and 'we'll find a way.' The patient, Huang Qiang, was very emotional at the time, repeatedly saying 'there's not enough money for surgery' and 'I don't want to live like this, half-dead, half-ghost.' The man finally seemed very angry, but helpless, and slammed the door and left."

At the mine! Money! Not enough for surgery!

Every word was like a hammer, hammering down on Qin Chuan's heart! Huang Chao! He was indeed connected to Huang Qiang! And he seemed to be struggling to pay for the huge surgery, and the source of the money seemed to be related to the "coal mine"!

The information was crucial enough. Qin Chuan didn't ask any more questions, thanked the doctor, and left the hospital immediately.

When he walked outside and felt the cold wind, he immediately took out his cell phone and called Wang Yang. This time, he had a clearer direction.

"Wang Yang, it's me. I need to trouble you again. Please focus on one person: Huang Qiang's brother, Huang Chao. He's listed in the household registration, and there should be a noticeable scar on his brow. His final possible whereabouts are related to coal mining. Check if there are any coal mines in Longdu or the surrounding areas in recent years that have this person. Or check Huang Chao's high-speed rail, flight, and hotel travel records!"

Wang Yang on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, obviously realizing the seriousness and urgency of the matter: "Huang Chao? Coal mine? Is there a new clue?"

Qin Chuan briefly recounted how both he and Ouyang Lanlan had been exposed, and also emphasized why the direction of the investigation had been adjusted.

Wang Yang listened and said, "Okay, I understand. Regarding this kid, I'll immediately check the household registration system and some internal notices, and notify you as soon as I have any news."

The waiting time was excruciating. Qin Chuan chain-smoked, his inner unease growing stronger. Huang Chao's job didn't seem simple; it might be to raise money for his brother's sex change surgery. But for some reason, he felt a sense of foreboding.

A few days later, Wang Yang called. His voice was electric, carrying a kind of fatigue that came from distance and affairs, but more of it was solemn.

"Brother Chuan, there's something fishy about Huang Chao, the person you asked me to investigate." Wang Yang went straight to the point.

"What do you mean?" Qin Chuan's heart was lifted.

"The household registration system shows him as a missing person, reported missing several years ago. His only direct relative is his younger brother, Huang Qiang." Wang Yang paused, as if looking through some information. "I followed the direction of the coal mine you gave me and asked someone to inquire with some of my friends in Yadong. They heard there's a small private coal mine in Yadong called Fuyuan Coal Mine. A few years ago, there seemed to be a man there with a scar on his brow, who looked quite sullen. But we haven't heard anything about him since. I can't explain the details."

"Fuyuan Coal Mine..." Qin Chuan silently recited the name and memorized it in his heart.

"Brother Chuan, I have to warn you," Wang Yang said in a serious tone. "Yadong isn't like Longdu, let alone Linzhou. The rules are different, and the situation is different. Especially with a private mine like this, the waters are very deep. The owner is Hu Laifu, a local bully with a ruthless heart and isn't easy to deal with. You're unfamiliar with the area, and if you rashly go in to investigate, I'm afraid you'll suffer."

Qin Chuan remained silent, knowing that Wang Yang was telling the truth. Cross-regional investigations, especially sensitive matters like this, were impossible without local resources.

Wang Yang seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and changed the subject, "But don't worry too much. I happen to have a connection who's the village chief in a village below Yadong, and he's quite influential. I've already contacted him, and his son, Zhao Meng, is a very down-to-earth man who also runs a transportation business in the county and knows the area well. When you get to Yadong, you can contact him and say he's my friend. It's better to have someone to look after you. But I'm not sure if he can be of much help with the mine."

"Thanks, brother! You've been a great help!" Qin Chuan felt warm in his heart. This friendship of helping in times of need seemed particularly precious.

"We're brothers, why be polite?" Wang Yang sighed. "Anyway, be careful! Don't be too aggressive. If you feel something's wrong, retreat immediately. Safety first! If there's anything else I need to check, feel free to call me."

"clear."

3. Go together

After hanging up, Qin Chuan felt a mixture of emotions. The clues seemed to point to a clear location—the Fuyuan Coal Mine—but Huang Chao's specific circumstances were shrouded in mystery. Only the word "missing" and the name of a local bully remained. The road ahead was uncertain, and the danger was palpable.

He told Ouyang Lanlan this limited and vague information. When she heard "missing persons," "several years ago," "Fuyuan Coal Mine," and "no news since then," the color drained from her face, and she was gripped by a gnashing of teeth, a desolate sadness, and a fear of the unknown.

"He's been missing for several years..." she murmured, her voice trembling. "Could it be that he is the murderer from back then and disappeared on purpose?"

"Don't let your imagination run wild." Qin Chuan interrupted her, his tone deliberately calm, but his eyes sharp and determined, "So Yadong must go. He needs to meet someone in person for the job, and there must be a definite explanation. Besides, there are always other people at the mine, colleagues who worked with him back then, and maybe someone knows something."

He paused, looked at Ouyang Lanlan, and said firmly: "The situation over there is unclear and there is a high possibility of danger. You stay in Linzhou. I will go there as soon as possible to find Zhao Meng that Wang Yang mentioned and find out the situation first."

"No!" Ouyang Lanlan interrupted him abruptly, her eyes extremely firm. "I'm going too!" She took a deep breath, trying to make her reasons sound more convincing. "I'm worried about you going alone. More people means more care. And if, if I need to deal with the locals, I'm a woman, so sometimes I might be less alert. Besides, I don't dare stay alone in Linzhou."

Qin Chuan saw the unquestionable determination in her eyes and knew he couldn't stop her. More importantly, deep down, he was worried about leaving her alone to face the possible threats.

"Okay." Qin Chuan finally nodded heavily, "But you must obey me in everything. You absolutely cannot act on your own."

"I know." Ouyang Lanlan nodded vigorously.

4. Walking together on the mountain road

The long-distance bus from Yadong City to the mining area was bumping along the winding mountain road.

Outside the train window were rolling, desolate mountains, the vegetation withered and yellow in the depths of winter, a stark and oppressive scene. The carriage was filled with a complex odor: a mixture of cigarette smoke, sweat, and a certain earthy smell.

Ouyang Lanlan sat by the window, her fingers unconsciously scratching the worn leather of the seat. She looked out the window at the scenery rapidly passing by, looking a little nervous and uneasy. Traveling alone with Qin Chuan, going to a completely unfamiliar and potentially dangerous place, made her feel full of uncertainty.

Qin Chuan sat beside her and could sense her tenseness. He knew he needed to say something to ease the suffocating silence and awkwardness, but he didn't know where to begin. Past traumas, present crises, and the complex and unspoken relationship between them all stood like an invisible wall between them.

He pulled out his phone and swiped clumsily across the screen until he saw a collection of brain teasers he had downloaded when he was bored. He cleared his throat, trying to sound more relaxed:

"Ahem, well, how about a brain teaser?"

Ouyang Lanlan didn't turn around, but just said "hmm" in an almost inaudible way as a response.

Qin Chuan began to read to himself: "Xiao Hong, Xiao Hei, and Xiao Bai are riding in a car together. Who will get carsick?"

After waiting for a few seconds and getting no answer, he revealed the answer himself: "It's Xiaobai. Because the little white rabbit (vomits)."

Ouyang Lanlan's shoulders seemed to move slightly, but she still didn't respond.

Qin Chuan was a little embarrassed and found another one: "Why don't crocodiles sleep at night?"

This time, Ouyang Lanlan finally turned her head slightly and glanced at him. Her brows were furrowed, but the corners of her mouth seemed to be unable to help but curl up. She muttered in a low voice: "You are so childish."

Qin Chuan seemed to be encouraged and laughed: "Because it will cause (crocodile) nightmares!"

He laughed a few times, then quickly flipped through his phone to find the next one: "Pheasant, partridge, turkey, who gets beaten more often?"

Ouyang Lanlan seemed to be aroused by her curiosity. She turned her gaze back to the back of the seat in front of her, thought for a moment, and said uncertainly, "Pheasant?"

"No!" Qin Chuan shook his head and revealed the answer, "It's turkey! Because of the lighter (chicken)!"

"Tsk..." Ouyang Lanlan finally couldn't help herself and laughed very softly, then immediately suppressed it, but her tense shoulders visibly relaxed a little. "They are all puns, boring."

"Then what about something that's not a pun?" Qin Chuan got excited and quickly searched. "All the pigs in the world died. What's the title of a song? This one's definitely not a pun!"

Ouyang Lanlan pondered this seriously. The carriage was swaying, the desolate mountain scenery outside the window, and the noisy voices inside the car, but this little guessing game seemed to carve out a strange, temporary space that was detached from reality.

Suddenly, Ouyang Lanlan's eyes lit up slightly, and she turned to look at Qin Chuan with a hint of uncertainty and challenge: "At least there is still you?"

Qin Chuan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized - if all the "pigs" were dead, wouldn't that mean "at least there's still you"?!

"Pfft... Hahaha!" He was stunned at first, then burst into a hearty laugh, pointing at his nose, "Right, right, right! At least there's me! Hahaha! You're so smart! This answer... is amazing!"

Ouyang Lanlan looked at his untidy smile, the tiny wrinkles that appeared at the corners of his eyes, and his rare, unclouded laughter. Her tense heartstrings unconsciously relaxed, and the corners of her mouth curved into a real, relaxed arc.

Along the way, the awkwardness and tension gradually dissipated thanks to these brain teasers, some childish and some clever. Time seemed to pass faster amidst the bumps and occasional laughter.

5. Zhao Meng

It was already evening when the bus stopped at the Kaoshantun Bus Station, which was filled with the smell of coal ash.

The sky was gray and the air was dry and cold, with a rough feeling unique to industrial towns.

At the exit, a young man wearing an old military coat, with dark skin and a strong build was waiting, holding a sign with the words "Qinchuan" written crookedly on it.

This is the local acquaintance that Wang Yang contacted through his connections, the son of the village director, named Zhao Meng.

"Brother Qin, right? Brother Wang greeted me!" Zhao Meng spoke in a loud voice with a thick local accent and a simple smile. He reached out and shook Qin Chuan's hand vigorously, his eyes curiously scanning Ouyang Lanlan beside him, "This is..."

"My colleague, Ouyang." Qin Chuan introduced briefly, "Excuse me, Xiao Zhao."

"Hi, no trouble! Brother Wang's friends are my friends, just call me Mengzi!" Zhao Meng was very straightforward, revealing a mouthful of white teeth that formed a sharp contrast with his dark skin.

He enthusiastically offered to help Ouyang Lanlan with her luggage, but when she politely declined, he didn't mind. He cheerfully led them to a reasonably clean Wuling Hongguang van. "Our place is small, not as big as your big city, but it has everything. Let's go, I'll take you to the 'Yue Lai Inn' to settle you down. Don't be fooled by its name, it's just a small hotel run by my uncle. It just needs to be clean and warm! Then we'll prepare some authentic food to welcome you home!"

The car was bumping along the bumpy road, and outside the window was a gray sky and endless barren mountains.

Zhao Meng expertly dodged pitfalls while introducing the mine like a dedicated tour guide: "Fuyuan Coal Mine... Humph, it has a nice name, but it's actually a shady mine! The owner is Hu Laifu, a tyrant in Yadong. He's ruthless and ruthless, even the passing geese will be plucking their feathers! A few years ago, well, some inexplicable things happened, but they were all suppressed." He glanced at Qin Chuan in the rearview mirror. "I heard that Huang Chao you're looking for also worked there?"

"There is such a letter. We haven't been able to contact each other for many years. The elders at home are worried about them, so they asked us to come and see them on the way." Qin Chuan answered cautiously, his body swaying with the car.

"Those guys at the mine are more talkative than turtles in the river! They just don't know anything and don't understand anything," Zhao Meng curled his lips. "Those thugs hired by Hu Laifu are even worse. They're like gangsters. They'll interrogate any stranger who gets close to them for a long time. But don't be too scared," he said, changing the subject with a little pride. "After all, I've been around town for so many years, I know a few people from all walks of life. I have a distant cousin who also worked at the mine. If you can't find out anything, I'll see if I can secretly ask him for you later. But first of all, you have to be extremely careful. That place is very dangerous."

Ouyang Lanlan looked out the window at the low brick buildings passing by, the mountains of coal gangue piled up on the roadside, and the occasional miner walking by, their faces covered in traces of fatigue and coal dust. Her mood grew heavier. The air here seemed to be filled with a sense of roughness and oppression.

The inn was just as Zhao Meng had described: simple but clean. After dropping off their luggage, Zhao Meng led them to a popular but greasy restaurant next door called "Lao Yang's Home Cooking." Upon entering, a strong aroma of stew, oil smoke, and garlic greeted them.

"Uncle Yang! As usual, prepare some hearty dishes for me! Here come our distinguished guests!" Zhao Meng called out with familiarity, leading them to sit at a table against the wall and wiping the already shiny plastic tablecloth with his sleeves.

A plump old man with an apron and a ruddy face poked his head out of the kitchen. "Little Mengzi is here! All right! A pot of pickled cabbage, pork, and blood sausage? A plate of ribs with new sauce? And a whole pot of sweet and sour pork, right? And some smashed cucumbers and some mixed rice noodles to help with the greasiness?"

"Of course! You decide! Just order a bigger size!" Zhao Meng said with a smile, then turned to Qin Chuan and Ouyang Lanlan and said, "Uncle Yang's place is delicious, but the food is absolutely authentic! It's better than those big restaurants in the city!"

While waiting for the food, Zhao Meng broke open a pair of disposable chopsticks, smoothed the burrs off them, and said, "We're just like that in Yadong. We live off the land, and we live off the coal. The good mines have been almost empty these days, and life is even harder at the small mines. People like Hu Laifu are even harder...sigh." He sighed, his eyes a little helpless, but then they brightened up again. "But, no matter how hard life is, we still have to eat, drink, and have fun. The people here are honest and simple-minded. You'll understand once you get to know them."

Soon, the dishes arrived. In a large stainless steel basin, sauerkraut, white meat, and black sausage were stewed, steaming hot and fragrant. The braised pork ribs were glossy and the meaty aroma was fragrant. The golden pot-fried pork was drenched in a sweet and sour sauce. The home-cooked cold dishes were refreshing and delicious...

"Come on, come on, pick up your chopsticks! Don't be shy! It's like being at home here!" Zhao Meng greeted them warmly, picking up a large piece of bone and gnawing on it. His mouth was full of oil and he looked very satisfied. "Hmm! Uncle Yang is really good at it! Sister Ouyang, don't just stare, eat! This pot-wrapped pork should be eaten while it's hot and crispy!"

Ouyang Lanlan's originally heavy mood was slightly relieved by this lively atmosphere and Zhao Meng's generous and enthusiastic influence. She picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and took a careful bite. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect sour and sweet taste. It was indeed delicious. I hadn't eaten it in a long time.

Qin Chuan also picked up his chopsticks and looked at Zhao Meng who was eating heartily. He asked, "Mengzi, in your opinion, if we want to find out about the people who used to work at the mine, where would we start to be more reliable?"

Zhao Meng put down the bone, wiped his mouth, and lowered his voice: "It's definitely not possible to go to the mine openly. I'll go talk to my cousin first when I get back and feel him out. Besides, the miners are not all in one. Some of them are too old to work, or have been injured and returned home. They occasionally come to the small restaurant in town to drink a little. If they drink too much, they might talk more, but this matter can't be rushed. We have to take a chance and it depends on our luck."

He picked up the beer bottle and poured it for Qin Chuan, then filled it up for himself. "Brother Qin, Sister Ouyang, since you're here, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Eat and drink enough first, and get a good sleep. In this area of ​​Yadong, I, Zhao Meng, may not have any other great abilities, but I guarantee that no one dares to bully my friends openly! Let's take our time to find out."

His words were filled with a kind of sincerity and righteousness that instilled a sense of trust in people. The small restaurant was bustling with people, the sounds of finger-guessing games, cooking, and laughter intertwined, forming a vivid and authentic picture of a small northeastern city, temporarily dispelling the heavy fog that had shrouded Qin Chuan and Ouyang Lanlan's hearts.

6. Preliminary Exploration

The next morning, Zhao Meng drove a van and took Qin Chuan and Ouyang Lanlan straight to Fuyuan Coal Mine.

There were huge coal piles, crude work sheds and towering derricks. The smell of coal dust in the air became stronger and almost suffocating.

There was a simple guardhouse at the entrance of the mine. Several men in dirty security uniforms and with fierce eyes were squatting there, smoking and looking at the out-of-place van.

Zhao Meng stopped the car, handed over a cigarette, and explained his purpose with a smile, saying that he just wanted to find out about a fellow villager who had worked here before.

A security guard who looked like a leader looked at Qin Chuan and Ouyang Lanlan in the car with his eyes slanted. Especially when he saw Ouyang Lanlan, his eyes lingered for a few seconds with an uncomfortable scrutiny.

"Huang Chao? I've never heard of him! There's no such person here!" He gruffly retorted, his tone impatient, "Get out of here! This is a restricted area in the mine, no entry for outsiders!"

Before Zhao Meng could say anything else, a security guard nearby stood up and took a step closer with malicious intent, weighing a rubber stick in his hand.

Qin Chuan grabbed Zhao Meng and winked at him. Rushing in was definitely not an option.

Zhao Meng understood and backed away in frustration. But they didn't go far, instead winding around to a relatively secluded downwind area at the rear of the coal mine. There were a few low-slung sheds, and some miners, exhausted and battered from their night shift, were emerging, preparing to return to their sheds for rest.

Zhao Meng stopped two miners who had just finished get off work and whose faces were covered in coal dust. He handed them cigarettes and said with a smile: "Brother, I want to ask about someone, Huang Chao. He has a scar on his forehead. He used to work here. Have you seen him?"

One of the miners took the cigarette, looked away, and shook his head vaguely: "I don't remember... There are so many people coming and going in the mine, I can't remember clearly."

The other one seemed to be scalded. He waved his hands repeatedly, lowered his head and walked away quickly without saying a word, as if the name "Huang Chao" was an ominous curse.

Undeterred, they tried questioning several miners squatting in corners, eating or basking in the sun. Their responses were remarkably consistent: either they shook their heads blankly, or their faces faltered slightly, and they eyed them warily for a few moments before offering vague, perfunctory answers like, "I think I did, but I quit a long time ago," or "I don't know where I went," before hurriedly departing. This veiled, evasive attitude was even more eerie and depressing than an outright denial. An invisible fear seemed to hang in the air, silencing these rugged men.

At this time, Qin Chuan fixed his eyes on an old miner who looked friendly and was squatting in the corner. He handed him a cigarette and asked again.

"Uncle, looking at your hands, you are an old hand, right?"

The old miner took the cigarette and put it between his ears. "I've been working here for over ten years!"

"I want to ask you about someone. My younger brother, Huang Chao, used to work here!"

The old miner's cloudy eyes glanced around warily, and he lowered his voice: "Huang Chao? ... There seems to have been a young man like this before. He didn't like to talk much, but he worked very hard. He had a scar on his brow, right?"

"Yes! Do you know where he went later?" Qin Chuan asked hurriedly.

The old miner shook his head, his eyes flickering, and his voice lowered to a whisper. "I don't know. I was working there, and one day I just disappeared. At the mine, Boss Hu's people said it was him, saying he ran away and refused to pay the wages he was owed. Some people also said..." He didn't finish his words, as if he had seen something. His face suddenly changed, revealing a look of horror. He quickly lowered his head and waved his hands repeatedly as if avoiding the plague. "I don't know, I really don't know! Go away, and don't ask any more! You can't afford to offend!"

Qin Chuan followed his horrified gaze and saw three young men in leather jackets, with ferocious faces and fierce eyes, walking towards him quickly, their hands already on the bulge on his lower back. They were obviously thugs from the mine, and their eyes were even more hostile than before, carrying a direct threat.

The leader, with a cigarette in his mouth, tilted his head and looked at them.

"Hey! You guys! What are you doing here?" The leading thug spoke in a harsh tone, his eyes lingering on Ouyang Lanlan for a few seconds with ill intent. "Are you strangers? What are you asking around for?"

Zhao Meng quickly stepped forward, took out a cigarette and handed it over: "Brother, don't get me wrong, it's nothing serious. I'm just asking about a fellow villager who used to work here, named Huang Chao."

"Huang Chao?" The thug frowned and slapped away Zhao Meng's hand that was holding the cigarette, and the cigarette box fell to the ground. "I've never heard of him! There is no such person in the mine! Who told you to ask questions here? Do you understand the rules?" He took a step forward, almost sticking to Zhao Meng, with a fierce look.

Another thug also came over and glanced at Ouyang Lanlan with a frivolous look: "This girl is quite pretty, she doesn't look like a local. What, are you here to have fun?" As he said that, he actually reached out to touch Ouyang Lanlan's face.

Qin Chuan's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly pulled Ouyang Lanlan behind him, and pushed away the dirty hand. His voice was icy: "Watch your mouth, and behave yourself!"

"Oh? You're quite arrogant!" The thug was blocked and felt embarrassed. He grinned, "Are you acting wildly on Fuyuan's territory? I think you are uncomfortable!" As he said that, he was about to push Qin Chuan.

Zhao Meng was also anxious and stood in the middle: "What are you doing? Let's talk it out! Why use force? We are just here to find someone!"

"Who are you looking for? I think you are here to cause trouble! Maybe it's a thief or something! Things have been missing from the mine recently!" The leading thug shouted sternly, "Take them back to the security department for a thorough interrogation!" The other two immediately stepped forward to grab the man.

The situation instantly became tense, and a conflict was imminent! Qin Chuan's muscles were tense, ready to fight. Ouyang Lanlan's face turned pale, and she grabbed Qin Chuan's arm tightly.

At that moment, a black Range Rover drove up, honking its horn, and pulled up beside them. The window rolled down, and a middle-aged man, dressed respectably but with a shrewd and calculating expression, poked his head out. He frowned and asked, "What's all the fussing about? What's going on?"

A thug quickly ran over, bowed and said respectfully, "Director Liu, these people are acting suspiciously, asking questions here and refusing to obey us. We are planning to take them back to the department for questioning."

Director Liu looked at Qin Chuan and the other two, his gaze lingering for a moment on Ouyang Lanlan, whose attire and temperament were noticeably different. He then spoke slowly, "Are you asking about something? What are you asking about? Our Fuyuan Mine is a formal unit, and not just anyone can come in and ask about it. It would disrupt production order, understand?"

Zhao Meng quickly explained: "Leader, it's a misunderstanding, it's really a misunderstanding! We just want to find a fellow villager named Huang Chao who used to work here. We haven't heard from him in years, and the elderly at home are worried..."

"Huang Chao?" Director Liu repeated the name, his face expressionless. "I don't recall him. It's pointless and against the rules for you to ask." He paused, then changed the subject, sounding quite reasonable. "How about this? Since you're still determined, come with me to my office. I'll have someone check the old employment records. They're in black and white. If they have it, they have it. If they don't, they don't. This will save you from wandering around here and getting into trouble. How's that?"

His tone was calm, even hinting at a hint of "help," but there was no warmth in his eyes. Qin Chuan's heart was alarmed, knowing this wasn't a good intention, more like an attempt to control them. But the situation was stronger than he was, and resisting it would only make things worse.

Qin Chuan and Zhao Meng exchanged glances.

"Then I'll have to trouble Director Liu." Qin Chuan said in a deep voice.

"Let's go, get in the car." Director Liu gestured.

The three of them had no choice but to get into the black SUV. It turned and headed towards a building deep within the mine, which looked like an office area. Outside the car window, huge piles of coal, roaring machinery, and expressionless miners slowly receded. The entire coal mine, like a silent maw, swallowed them all in.

Qin Chuan looked through the rearview mirror at the miners' living area and the mine gate that were gradually moving away, as well as the black mine that was crawling in the valley like a giant beast. His eyes became more and more profound.

The old miner's unfinished words, his terrified look, and the thug's undisguised threats weighed like a heavy stone on everyone's heart. Huang Chao's "disappearance" clearly concealed a huge secret. What was the mine trying so hard to cover up?

(End of Chapter 11)