A Journey to Discover My Origins
I. The journey begins. Sunlight filters through dappled leaves, illuminating the path Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing walk on. After realizing that Lin Wanqing's background might hold a significant secret, the two resolutely embark on this unknown journey of discovery.
"Ayu, I always feel that all of this is like a fog. I must find the truth and see who I really am." Lin Wanqing's gaze was firm, her eyes filled with both fear of the unknown and a yearning for the truth.
Ah Yu gently held Lin Wanqing's hand, giving her strength: "Don't be afraid, no matter what the outcome, I will always be with you."
Their first stop was Lin Wanqing's vaguely remembered hometown. After a bumpy journey, as the town's outline came into view, a complex mix of emotions welled up in Lin Wanqing's heart. Everything here was both unfamiliar and somehow familiar. The ancient streets and old houses seemed to be telling stories of the past.
II. Initial Search for Clues
The two entered the town and rested briefly in a small teahouse. Ah Yu asked the teahouse owner about the fire from many years ago. The owner frowned, thought for a moment, and then slowly said, "That fire many years ago was terrible; many families were affected. But for details, you can ask Grandpa Li at the village entrance. He's lived here his whole life and knows a lot."
Following the shopkeeper's directions, they found Grandpa Li's house. Grandpa Li was sitting at the door, basking in the sun. When he saw the two of them arrive, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes. Ah Yu respectfully explained their purpose. Grandpa Li remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "That fire was indeed strange. I heard that someone deliberately set it on fire, but no one can say for sure who it was after all these years. I only remember that a little girl from one family disappeared in that fire. Everyone thought she was gone. Could it be you?" Grandpa Li looked at Lin Wanqing, his eyes full of curiosity.
Lin Wanqing's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "Uncle Li, do you remember the specific details of that family? For example, what are their surnames, and who else is in their family?"
Grandpa Li scratched his head: "That family's surname is Lin. The man's name is Lin Zheng, an honest carpenter, and the woman's name is Su Mei. They are both very nice people. They only have one daughter, and she is very clever."
Hearing the familiar surname, Lin Wanqing's heart began to race. Could she really be the missing daughter of the Lin family?
III. Revisiting the Place
After saying goodbye to Grandpa Li, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing decided to visit the former site of the Lin family's residence. The site was now nothing but desolation, overgrown with weeds. Standing before the ruins, Lin Wanqing closed her eyes, trying to dig out more clues from the depths of her memory.
"I seem to remember there was a small courtyard here, with an osmanthus tree growing in it. Every autumn, the whole courtyard was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus," Lin Wanqing said slowly, tears glistening in her eyes.
Ah Yu accompanied Lin Wanqing as they searched carefully through the ruins, hoping to find some objects that could prove Lin Wanqing's background. Suddenly, Ah Yu discovered a small, rusty box under a rock. He carefully opened the box, and inside was a yellowed photograph. The photograph showed a little girl and a couple; the little girl was smiling brightly.
Lin Wanqing took the photo, her hands trembling uncontrollably: "This...this is me when I was little, these are my mom and dad." Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces in the photo, tears welled up in Lin Wanqing's eyes.
IV. Interruption of Clues and Turning Point
However, this photograph alone was far from enough to unravel all the mysteries. They continued their search throughout the town, trying to find more people who knew the truth. But as time went on, the clues seemed to dwindle; many of the former neighbors had moved away, and those who remained knew very little about what had happened back then.
Just when the two were feeling hopeless, Lin Wanqing suddenly remembered that she had a very close childhood friend named Azhen. If they could find Azhen, perhaps they could learn more about what happened back then.
After making inquiries, they learned that Ah Zhen had married and moved to a neighboring town. The two rushed to the neighboring town and, after some twists and turns, finally found Ah Zhen's home.
When Ah Zhen saw Lin Wanqing, she was first stunned, then her eyes flashed with surprise: "Wanqing, is it really you? Where have you been all these years?"
Lin Wanqing held Ah Zhen's hand tightly: "Ah Zhen, I've also been searching for my own background. Do you still remember that fire back then? What exactly happened?"
Ah Zhen's expression turned serious: "The things that happened back then were too complicated. I remember a few days before the fire, the Lin family seemed to have had a dispute with someone, but I don't know the specific reason. Then the fire happened, and everyone was busy putting out the fire, so no one paid much attention. However, I think I heard my parents say that the fire might be related to a local bully who had always wanted to seize the Lin family's land."
V. Conduct an in-depth investigation of the bullies
Upon hearing this clue, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing decided to investigate the bully further. They returned to the town and inquired about him from some of the older residents. It turned out that the bully's name was Wang Mazi, and he had been terrorizing the town for years, committing numerous crimes. However, shortly after the fire, he suddenly left the town and never returned.
“We have to find this Wang Mazi; he must be involved in what happened back then,” Ah Yu said firmly.
After much effort, they finally learned that Wang Mazi might be staying somewhere in the city. The two immediately packed their bags and headed to the city. In the city, they inquired everywhere about Wang Mazi's whereabouts, and after countless setbacks and disappointments, they finally found traces of him in a dilapidated alley.
Wang Mazi is no longer the imposing bully he once was; the years and the hardships of life have left him haggard and worn. When Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing found him, he was lying on a tattered bed, looking at them listlessly.
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