Qian Province.
Since ancient times, Qian Province had many mountains. There was a saying, "Eight mountains, one river, and one field."
A long time ago, this place was known as Nanman.
Most of the witchcraft and witchcraft in novels originated from Qian Province.
Although there were no world-famous mountain ranges in Qian Province, there were countless mountains and forests.
Since the reform and opening up, batches of mountain people had moved out of the deep mountains, but there were still a large number of mountain people gathered in the deep mountains and forests, self-sufficient and isolated from the world.
…
Stone Ridge.
This was what the villagers called themselves. The origin of the name was simple. It came from the largest mountain in the area. There were many rocks on the mountain.
Stone Ridge was located in the Miaoling mountain range. The Miao and Han lived here, and it was hard to say whether the locals were pure Han or Miao.
In the past few years, under the push of the government, groups of mountain people who relied on the mountains to make a living gradually moved out of the mountains.
Even if they did not move out, other than the villagers living in the forests, the ordinary villagers were also moving out.
Perhaps in a few years, these villagers who had lived in the mountains for generations would completely assimilate into this new era.
End of May.
It was almost June. At this time, the weather was extremely hot. Summer was about to arrive.
But in Qian Province, the weather was pleasant as if it was still spring.
It was not just the weather. Qian Province had many mountains and trees. There was not much progress in industrialization, and the air was extremely fresh.
The closer they got to the mountains, the fresher the air.
Both sides of the winding road were lined with shady trees. The undulating road was like a ribbon dotted with greenery.
In Pingchuan, in Shanghai, in Beijing …
All these years, Li Dong had been to many places. Big cities, small cities, and foreign cities.
The things that left the deepest impression on Li Dong were the tall buildings and the pale sky.
But in Qian Province, blue skies and white clouds could be seen everywhere.
On both sides of the roads, there were all kinds of hills.
Such a scene could be seen in Jiangbei, but it was usually limited to a small area.
But in Qian Province, this was the norm.
Of course, to the local officials, they might be hoping that this beautiful scenery could be turned into factories. This would make the air in Qian Province more polluted, and one could see chimneys rising into the sky.
Li Dong's mind was wandering as he looked out of the car window.
Li Dong didn't stay at home for long after he put down the company's matters. He put on his backpack and started his journey.
The journey from Jiangbei to Qian Province spanned thousands of miles. At the end of May, Li Dong arrived at the Stone Ridge.
Just when Li Dong was distracted, the car slowly stopped by the side of the road. Tan Yong said softly, "General Manager Li, we have reached the intersection."
Not far in front of the car, there was a fork in the road. There was a sign stuck in the fork, but the words on the sign were no longer clear due to the wind and rain.
However, upon closer inspection, one could still make out the words "Stone Wood Stockade" written on it.
In Qian Province, there were many villages with the word 'stronghold' in their names. Most of them were located in the mountains. Only when there were mountains would there be strongholds.
When Li Dong heard Tan Yong's words, he came back to his senses and let out a sigh of relief.
After walking and stopping along the way, they finally arrived at their destination.
All these years, Li Dong was rarely afraid of anyone. Whether it was those second-generation heirs or the feudal officials, there were times when he would revere them, but there was never any fear.
However, after all these years, there were still times when Li Dong was afraid.
For example, that old man who cleaned up neatly.
Li Dong didn't treat his relatives too badly. Of course, that was on the premise that he was satisfied.
Be it Li Qing or Cao Feng, even if these people weren't rich or powerful, Li Dong didn't really care about them. Their lives were considered good.
For the current Li Dong, it could be said that when a man achieved the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascended to heaven.
Over the years, Li Dong had also provided financial aid to the older generation of Chen Jiawan, including the tuition fees of their children. Li Dong had also subsidized them.
Strictly speaking, these people weren't Li Dong's closest relatives.
However, his grandmother's family could definitely be considered close relatives.
However, all these years, Li Dong rarely had contact with his grandmother. It was because of this old man that he was a little afraid of.
To this day, Li Dong couldn't forget what the old man said to him on the first day they met.
"How was your previous life?"
This sentence alone made Li Dong's hair stand on end. From then on, he stayed away from this old man and didn't dare to contact him again.
When you felt that it was the biggest secret in your life that no one knew, only you and the heavens knew, and then suddenly someone said, "I know everything about you." That feeling was even more terrifying than running naked.
The old man was a little strange and often said things that others couldn't understand.
For others, they would forget it as soon as they heard it.
But for Li Dong, even now, that sentence made him unwilling to come into contact with this old man.
With Li Dong's current status and wealth, he could totally take the old man to his place to enjoy his old age.
But Li Dong didn't. Of course, the old man wasn't willing either.
Regardless of whether the old man was willing or not, in fact, even if the old man was willing, Li Dong probably wouldn't spend time with him. It was more likely that he would hand the old man over to his parents, no matter how much money he had to pay.
Li Dong didn't lack filial piety.
If it was an ordinary old woman, even if Li Dong hadn't seen his grandmother for many years and didn't have a deep relationship with her, he would still do his filial piety.
However, Li Dong subconsciously resisted this nagging old woman.
This fear lasted for many years.
Therefore, all these years, Li Dong had never come to Qian Province. Far away from Qian Province, he had also made arrangements there.
Li Dong had visited many places. Southwest, North, East, North, Central …
He had been to most of these places.
Even Sichuan, which was extremely dangerous during the earthquake, he had gone there. He wasn't too afraid.
However, he didn't come to Qian Province even once.
He subconsciously wanted to stay away from that old woman. Every year, even if Li Dong wasn't busy, he would at most ask Cao Feng and the rest to rush back with big and small gifts. He was unwilling to come over.
Cao Feng and the rest didn't think much of it because Li Dong was very busy. It was normal that he couldn't leave.
For a period of time, Cao Fang had wanted Li Dong to come to Qian Province to take a look. Cao Fang had the same wish as well.
Her son, Cao Fang, had a bright future. She wanted to let those relatives and friends who she hadn't seen for many years know that her son had a bright future. This was a very simple idea of the older generation.
However, Li Dong had always been busy and didn't take the initiative to bring this up. Cao Fang had mentioned it once. Li Dong meant that he could just bring the old man over. He could even send a convoy to pick him up at his doorstep. It was convenient.
Since her son had said so, Cao Fang didn't force him.
In the past few years, a few of Li Dong's uncles, including that old woman who was on her period, had also come to Pingchuan during Li Dong's wedding.
Only that old man hadn't returned to Great Plains since the last time he had left.
Cao Fang had returned to Qian Province to visit a few times. She had also tried to persuade the old woman to come to Pingchuan and enjoy a happy life with her. However, the old woman wasn't willing, and the matter was left unsettled.
After a few years, Li Dong finally made up his mind to come to his mother's hometown and see that old woman. He also hoped that the old woman would be able to answer his questions.
In the past few years, Li Dong had gradually thought things through.
The old woman might not really know anything. Li Dong had also been paying attention to strange people, strange things, and strange gossip.
In the past, he had really wondered if there were mysterious forces in this society that he didn't know about, just like the ones in the novels.
However, with Li Dong's enormous financial resources, many of the strange gossip and strange things that had spread like wildfire were ultimately just jokes behind the scenes.
Li Dong didn't give up. He felt that he might be ignorant, or that it was difficult for him to come into contact with this field.
Hence, Li Dong couldn't help but ask Du Anmin about it.
In the end, Old Du looked at him as if he was an idiot. At that time, Old Du probably felt that he was really an idiot for believing in such things!
As for Li Dong's question about the Dragon Group, Old Du almost choked to death on his saliva!
At Old Du's level, it could be said that he was really at the top of the mountain.
If there really was such a thing, even if Old Du didn't know the details, he would have heard about it.
In fact, other than scolding him as an idiot, Old Du also wanted Li Dong to read less nonsense. At the same time, he reminded his daughter to persuade Li Dong.
Many people in high positions didn't believe in such things when they were at the bottom, but the higher their position, the more they believed in such things.
Or rather, it was not that they believed in such things, but that they were unwilling to let go of power and money, and were willing to believe in such things subjectively.
It was actually more difficult for a fraud to deceive ordinary people than to deceive the rich and powerful.
The richer one was, the more afraid of death they were. The more powerful they were, the more afraid they were. The rich and the powerful cherished their lives. This was all true.
Old Du didn't believe in such things, and he didn't want Li Dong to indulge in such things. Later, he called him several times to dissuade him.
At this time, Li Dong felt that he was really thinking too much.
He was the richest man in the world, and Old Du was a person at the peak of power.
If even they didn't know about such things, then even if there really were immortals, it had nothing to do with them.
If the people who held power and wealth had never experienced such things, could the supernatural things that ordinary people talked about be credible?
Unless those people really didn't exist in this world, a rich man like him and a high-ranking official like Old Du would definitely know some inside information.
Therefore, ever since that incident, Li Dong felt that his grandmother might not be as scary and mysterious as he had imagined.
But after all, this incident had left a shadow in his heart. No matter how much Li Dong thought about it, he felt that he still had to figure it out.
…
All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind.
Li Dong quickly composed himself, opened the door, and got out of the car. He stretched his body and said, "Let's go up the mountain!"
His grandmother's family didn't move to the county town not far from the foot of the mountain. Although Old Cao's family didn't lack money now, and many of the younger generation had already bought houses in the county town, the older generation, like Li Dong's grandmother and two uncles, still lived in the original mountain village.
Li Dong's uncle wanted to move to the county town, but he was old and didn't want to go there.
His two uncles were straightforward and didn't want his mother to stay in the mountain alone, so they still lived in the village halfway up the mountain.
After Li Dong finished speaking, he stepped onto the winding path in front of him.
Tan Yong hurriedly carried the gifts and followed. Behind him, seven or eight men in plain clothes followed.
They didn't wear black suits. Usually, when attending important events or public occasions, Li Dong still had many bodyguards in black suits.
But in private, these people weren't so serious. Otherwise, if they were seen by others, they might think that they were filming a movie.
The path up the mountain wasn't too steep. Although it wasn't paved with cement, there were still some stones and bricks padded on.
Under the wind and rain, these bricks gradually merged with the soil. Coupled with the fallen leaves, it was easy to walk up.
As Li Dong walked, he thought about something.
Tan Yong followed step by step. He felt a little strange. The boss was just looking at his grandmother, why did he seem a little distracted?
But he generally didn't want to get involved in such family matters, and he didn't want to ask too much.
Everyone was silent as they walked forward along the path.
The stone ridge where Stonewood Village was located wasn't high above sea level, but it wasn't low either. It was more than a thousand meters above sea level.
Under the cover of the trees, the village in the mountains couldn't be seen from the foot of the mountain.
But a mountain ridge that was a thousand meters above sea level wasn't too high. After walking for more than ten minutes, they could vaguely see some scattered houses ahead.
On the mountain path, there were also some other figures.
It wasn't as mysterious and isolated as outsiders thought.
The old people on the mountain path didn't pay much attention to Li Dong's group when they saw them. Over the years, backpackers and backpackers had traveled all over the mountains and rivers. The people of Stonewood Village had seen many backpackers from other places go up the mountain to view the scenery.
Some of the more enthusiastic ones would even greet them when they met them. "If you're not going down the mountain at night, come stay at my house. It has the authentic mountain flavor!"
Of course, they had to pay.
Nowadays, the mountain people would also do some part-time work in rural tourism.
When they were near the end of the path, Li Dong saw a small supermarket on the side of the mountain path. Yes, a small supermarket.
The reason why he could tell it was a supermarket was because there was a sizable signboard — Stonewood Supermarket.
In that instant, Li Dong's previously absent-minded and worried state of mind suddenly dissipated by more than half.
Sure enough, people liked to scare themselves.
He had never been to Stonewood Village before. Many times, when Li Dong thought of that old man, he liked to think more.
For example, was the mountain where the old man lived strange and mysterious, with all kinds of snakes and insects everywhere?
For example, if he went there, would he attract countless people's surprised gazes? Would people look at him as if they had seen a ghost?
Or would someone suddenly appear in front of him like a mysterious expert, sizing him up without saying a word, and then saying, "You shouldn't have come here."
Unfortunately, there were none of these!
At the end of the mountain path, the small supermarket didn't look like a supermarket at all, but it was indeed a supermarket, or more accurately, a small store.
There were a few motorcycles parked at the entrance of the supermarket, and a few white-haired old people were eating melon seeds and chatting. It wasn't much different from Li Dong's hometown.
Seeing Li Dong walk over, a middle-aged woman asked in not very common Mandarin, "Big brother, do you need a tour guide? It's 100 yuan a day. If you want, I can help you find someone. We can also eat here. It's all grown and raised in the mountains, and it's all green and pollution-free. We also have authentic Maotai, not the kind sold outside. If you don't like it, you don't need to pay … "
The woman said these words in a practiced tone, obviously not the first time she said it.
In an instant, all the mysteries, all the unknowns, and all the fear suddenly dispersed from Li Dong's heart.
So, they were all ordinary people!
Just like his uncle and aunt, just like Cao Feng and Cao Yu. They were all ordinary people, simple and honest with a unique shrewdness.
Even that old man who had always terrified him. At this time, when Li Dong thought about it, it seemed that apart from those few strange words, there was nothing different about him!
Li Dong let out a light breath, and a smile appeared on his solemn face. He asked aloud, "Big sister, is Cao Yunhai's house in front?"
"Cao Yunhai …"
The middle-aged woman was slightly stunned. Just when Li Dong was about to buy something and ask again, the woman was not so snobbish. She said with some realization, "You mean Dahai's house?"
"His house is inside. Just walk forward, the newly built two-story building in front is his house."
As the woman said, she looked at Li Dong's group and suddenly said, "You are from the county? Or are you Feng's friends? Dahai's family is great now. People from the county come here every two or three days. Feng came back this year and even drove a car. I heard that he made a big fortune outside … "
The woman was a little long-winded, but she still enthusiastically pointed the way for Li Dong's group.
Cao Yunhai was the name of Li Dong's eldest uncle. His house was in the village in front and was very conspicuous.
It was a newly built two-story building with a white outer wall. The difference between it and some of the wooden houses in the village or the tile-roofed houses with green bricks and red tiles could be seen at a glance.
Of course, there were other small buildings in the village. Stone Tree Village did not have these small buildings in the past, but since life became better, young people went down the mountain to earn money. Some people came back from working in other places and learned to build buildings outside.
It lost some of its traditional taste and destroyed some of the village's beauty. But for modern people, living well was the truth.
So this mysterious grandmother's house in Li Dong's imagination was no different from the small buildings that could be seen everywhere in the countryside.
Li Dong laughed a little and thanked the woman for a while. Then he led the group to the small building not far away.
Some things, you have not seen or experienced, the unknown will make you afraid.
But when you experience it and see it with your own eyes, these feelings of fear will disappear instantly.
An ordinary small village in the mountains, ordinary villagers, everything was so ordinary. The only unusual old man was perhaps just a little unusual in Li Dong's imagination.
With this feeling of relief or disappointment, Li Dong led the group to the new building.
In front of the small building, there seemed to be an old man sunbathing at the door.
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