Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1284 609: Dark Star Ripple (Nuclear Energy)
After the meeting dispersed, Li Banfeng returned to his office, pondering Shen Jingye's whereabouts.
Did Shen Jingye really go to Gourd Village?
The people who go to Gourd Village all have endured unbearable hardships in life. What hardships did Shen Jingye endure?
He's the head of the Dark Star Bureau; even taking the elevator requires someone holding the door for him. If he dares claim hardship, ninety-nine point nine percent of people would find life unlivable.
Li Banfeng called Chen Changrui to the office: "What's with the scars on Shen Jingye's face?"
"Director Li, when are you referring to?"
"Just a couple of days ago, he had bandages on his face and told me a bump was squeezed open by his wife."
"Uh, I'm not too sure about that..."
Li Banfeng frowned: "Director Shen is missing, and you're still playing dumb with me?"
Chen Changrui carefully chose his words: "I've seen it when Director Shen was changing his bandages. It's a long knife cut; according to my guess, it should be caused by his wife."
"Does this situation happen often?"
Chen Changrui nodded slightly: "We talked about this before; his wife has mental illness, and this isn't the first time she's hurt Director Shen."
Li Banfeng had a rough idea: "Gather everyone for a city-wide search, three shifts a day, without pause."
Chen Changrui was stunned for a long time, then said in a lowered voice: "Director Li, if Director Shen really entered Gourd Village, we won't find him in the city."
Li Qi frowned: "Who told you he went to Gourd Village? What did I say at the meeting? Director Shen is investigating the whereabouts of Gourd Village but got trapped in The Unnameable Place.
What is The Unnameable Place? You ought to know, right? I don't know what it's called in the Outside Provinces; anyway, find The Unnameable Place, and you'll find Director Shen. Quickly carry out the operation!"
Chen Changrui hurried to organize the manpower.
How to find The Unnameable Place? Chen Changrui didn't know how to find it either.
Hidden Form Space, Dark Dimension Space, Antimatter Space, Vector Space, Asymmetric Space, all can be called The Unnameable Place. In the Outside Provinces, there is no clear definition for The Unnameable Place.
Fortunately, Chen Changrui understood Li Qi's intent; the key work now is to make a big fuss.
Making a big fuss allows those above to know that the Dark Star Bureau is looking for Shen Jingye, not just waiting for him. Shen Jingye likely didn't enter Gourd Village.
As for whether he did or not, this matter can only be checked by visiting Gourd Village.
Li Banfeng left the Dark Star Bureau, found a secluded street, and took off the jade pendant around his neck, clutching it in his hand.
Ah Yi had said that as long as you let go of the matters at hand, you could find the entrance to Gourd Village.
Current matters are short-term issues; as far as the present situation is concerned, Li Banfeng didn't feel there was anything worth worrying about.
But after two attempts, Li Banfeng couldn't enter Gourd Village.
What's happening? Who am I worrying for?
He tried to adjust his mindset, attempting to forget the current matters, and after six complete attempts, finally saw the village path leading in.
A gust of cold wind blew, carrying the scent of smoke; it seemed something major had happened in the village.
Li Banfeng hurried into the village, seeing Alon catching fish in the river, holding a fish spear, calm and collected, as if nothing serious had occurred, while many farmers in the distance were working as usual.
Boom! A loud explosion sounded, and the ground slightly trembled.
Li Banfeng asked Alon: "What's going on?"
Alon replied: "The village chief and his wife are fighting!"
Li Banfeng was shocked: "Fighting to this extent?"
Alon looked undisturbed: "They often do this. The village chief drives a tank, trying to kill his wife with a shot, while she crawls into tunnels and finds opportunities to fire at him."
Li Banfeng sighed: "You tell me, what can't two people talk over between themselves? Why resort to using a tank?"
Alon also found the matter absurd: "Exactly! The last time my wife and I fought, I threw two grenades, she fired a burst from a submachine gun, and after that, we reconciled. Isn't that what being a couple is about?"
After a few casual chats, Li Banfeng encountered Ayun: "Has anyone named Shen Jingye come to Gourd Village recently?"
Ayun nodded: "Yes! This person is quite pretentious; from his demeanor, he seems to have been an official, but his rank wouldn't be higher than our village chief.
On the first day, he signed the Contract Book and is now staying at Gourd Waist."
"He's signed the Contract Book?"
This situation with Little Shen was unlike what Li Banfeng imagined.
Ayun guided Li Banfeng to find Shen Jingye; Shen Jingye was by the well, fetching water, not noticing Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng could tell Shen Jingye wasn't used to the task.
He is a cultivator, likely with significant cultivation level, but his center of gravity was unstable when fetching water, spilling quite a bit.
Ayun whispered: "Fetching water is one of the better things he does. You haven't seen his farming stance—those awkward movements, it's hard to watch, which is why he definitely couldn't become village chief."
This isn't Shen Jingye's fault; how could a director from the Dark Star Bureau have ever farmed?
But seeing the bandages still wrapped around his face, probably injured by his wife before leaving, it's precisely the hardship he endured from his wife that likely made him chosen by Gourd Village.
Ayun asked Li Banfeng: "Do you want me to say something to him?"
Li Banfeng shook his head: "No, it won't help. How long has he been here?"
"Today is the fifth day."
Ten days remain before two weeks are up; whether to stay or leave must be Shen Jingye's own decision; it cannot be forced.
"Where did Shen Jingye come from?"
Ayun glanced through the ledger: "He left a mark when he entered; to exit, he must go out from where he came in. I can take you to see it."