Unexpected clues
Chapter 1: The Shadow of the Fire
In that old and somewhat eerie town, Zhong Hua was an unusual figure. He was thin, but his eyes held a resolute and unwavering determination. For years, a fire in an abandoned factory on the edge of town had hung over him like a dark cloud. The fire had taken his friend, A-Qiang, and left an indelible scar on his heart. From that moment on, Zhong Hua was determined to uncover the truth behind the fire.
Zhong Hua worked as a reporter at the town's only newspaper during the day, using his job to gather information. At night, he often stayed alone in his cramped rented room, poring over old documents related to the fire. The documents contained limited information; they only stated that the fire broke out suddenly, and by the time the fire department arrived, it was already out of control. A-Qiang's body was found in the ruins. The official investigation concluded it was an accidental fire, but Zhong Hua felt things weren't so simple. Just days before the incident, A-Qiang had excitedly discussed some strange things he'd discovered at the factory; how could he have suddenly died in an accidental fire?
That day, Zhong Hua arrived at the newspaper office as usual. The editor-in-chief called him into his office and gave him an assignment: to interview Uncle Lin, a retired policeman, and write a report about his career. Zhong Hua was somewhat reluctant; he would rather spend his time investigating the fire, but he couldn't refuse the editor-in-chief's arrangement, so he had no choice but to agree.
Chapter Two: First Encounter
Following the address given by the editor-in-chief, Zhong Hua arrived at Uncle Lin's house. Uncle Lin lived in a quiet corner of the small town, his yard filled with various flowers and plants, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere. Uncle Lin appeared to be a kind and amiable old man, with gray hair and a benevolent smile on his face. He warmly welcomed Zhong Hua into the house and made him a cup of hot tea.
Zhong Hua began asking Uncle Lin about his police career, following his prepared questions. Uncle Lin reminisced at length, from the various cases he handled in his youth to witnessing the town's development and changes. Zhong Hua listened politely while mentally planning how to steer the conversation towards the fire from years ago. Finally, when Uncle Lin mentioned several factory safety accidents he had handled, Zhong Hua seized the opportunity to ask, "Uncle Lin, I heard there was a fire at that abandoned factory on the edge of our town. Were you involved in the investigation?"
Uncle Lin's smile faltered slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Yes, I remember that fire. But the investigation at the time concluded it was an accidental fire, nothing special." Zhong Hua noticed Uncle Lin's unusual expression and pressed on, "But I've heard some different versions of events. My friend A-Qiang died in that fire. I always felt things weren't that simple." Uncle Lin glanced at Zhong Hua, seemingly weighing something, then said, "Young man, some things are best left in the past. Don't be too attached. Perhaps the truth isn't what you want to see." With that, Uncle Lin changed the subject, no longer willing to discuss the fire.
After the interview, Zhong Hua left Uncle Lin's house filled with doubts. Uncle Lin's reaction made him even more convinced that there must be a hidden secret behind the fire.
Chapter Three: An Unexpected Discovery
Back at the newspaper office, Zhong Hua had no heart for organizing the interview transcripts. His mind was filled with Uncle Lin's words and his strange expression. Suddenly, he remembered seeing some documents about the abandoned factory while sorting through old files in the newspaper's warehouse. Although a long time had passed, he decided to try his luck at the warehouse.
The newspaper office's warehouse was dark and damp, piled high with all sorts of old newspapers and documents. Zhong Hua searched through it for hours, sweating profusely. Just when he was about to give up, he found a tattered folder in a dusty corner. It was labeled "Related Information on Abandoned Factories on the Outskirts of Town." Zhong Hua was overjoyed and quickly opened the folder.
The folder contained old photos of the factory, past production records, and a handwritten document. The paper was yellowed and the handwriting was somewhat blurred, but Zhong Hua could still barely make out the contents. This document turned out to be a safety inspection report from before the fire. The report pointed out serious safety hazards in the factory, especially aging electrical circuits, and mentioned that several reports had been made to higher management, but had remained unresolved. However, what shocked Zhong Hua was a line of small red ink on the last page of the report: "This matter involves significant interests and must be handled with extreme caution. It must not be publicized."
Zhong Hua realized that this document might be the key to uncovering the truth about the fire. He carefully put the document away and decided to start with it to further investigate the fire from that year.
Chapter Four: Following the Clues
Zhong Hua's first thought was to find people who had worked at the factory back then, perhaps they could provide more information about the document and the fire. Through his connections at the newspaper, he contacted several former employees. Most of these employees had retired and lived in different parts of the town.
Zhong Hua visited each of them individually, showing them the document and asking if they remembered the events of that year. One of the older employees, an elderly man named Mr. Li, looked at the document with a grave expression. He recalled that the factory did indeed have many problems back then; everyone knew the electrical wiring was severely outdated and prone to fire. Moreover, it seemed the factory was involved in some secret transactions, with strangers frequently entering and leaving. However, he wasn't clear on the specifics of these transactions. He only remembered overhearing several men who appeared to be leaders arguing in an office, seemingly about whether or not to address the safety hazards. One of them said that addressing them would affect the interests of some important figures.
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