Reborn in 97, I solved a cold case at the Municipal Bureau

Chapter 470 Sunrise and Sea of ​​Clouds
The entrance to Yunxia Mountain Scenic Area already has the appearance one would expect from a scenic area.

In the center of the wide, flat square is a three-meter-high boulder that was moved down from the mountain, with the words "Yunxia Mountain" carved in vermilion on its front.

On the back are two lines of poetry by a renowned deceased writer: "Clouds and mist roll and swallow the vast sea, mountains stretch across the sky and reach the heavens."

“I saw this writer’s name on my high school exam paper, but I never imagined that he wrote these two lines of poetry,” Lu Xiaoshuang said in surprise.

Zhou Yi said with a smile, "That's the kind of person he is, but whether he wrote those two lines of poetry, I don't know."

Creating legends, special features, and stories is a common tactic used by tourist attractions. After all, tourists are basically one-time visitors; they can fool one person at a time, and over time, they'll start to believe it.

Take Emperor Qianlong for example. He left behind countless legends in scenic spots all over the country. It seems that this guy did nothing but travel all over the country to "empower" people.

A developed scenic area means it is safe and well-regulated, with stone steps leading up the mountain, beautiful scenery, platforms for rest, and even public toilets.

Therefore, Zhou Yi didn't quite understand why those college students insisted on climbing wild mountains.

If it's a professional backpacker, that's fine; these people are at least well-equipped and have ample wilderness survival skills.

But those college students didn't seem to have the ability at all; they were just bored and had nothing better to do.

Since it's only the beginning of summer vacation and the peak tourist season hasn't arrived yet, there aren't many people going up the mountain, and the mountain paths and stone steps are sparsely populated.

Zhou Yi carried camping gear, while Lu Xiaoshuang had her food and water in her backpack.

For him, these burdens were nothing, after all, he was only twenty-three years old.

Climbing the mountain fully activated the functions of his young body, making him feel very refreshed, after all, it was a feeling he hadn't had for many years.

At first, he was quite worried about Lu Xiaoshuang, since she had never climbed a mountain before.

But as it turned out, his worries were unnecessary.

Lu Xiaoshuang wasn't the kind of delicate woman who grew up pampered; he had almost forgotten that she used to be a strong-willed person who could endure any hardship.

They held their own when climbing mountains.

The part of Yunxia Mountain that has been developed is the eastern part, firstly because the terrain is relatively flat, which makes it easier to carve out mountain roads.

Secondly, the sun rises in the east, and only from the eastern mountains can one witness the spectacular sight of the sea of ​​clouds and the rising sun.

While they stopped to rest halfway up the mountain, some staff members overheard them discussing watching the sunrise and kindly told them that they could go up to Yunlai Peak on the south side, which is the best place to watch the sunrise. There is also a developed platform there, which is flat and has railings, making it very safe.

After resting for a while, the two continued climbing in the direction indicated by the staff.

The higher they climbed, the lower the temperature became in the mountains, but they had prepared warm clothes in advance.

Finally, Lu Xiaoshuang took the lead and climbed the stone steps.

Immediately afterward, Zhou Yi heard her exclamation of joy.

"Brother Yi, at this moment I finally know what it means to stand at the top of the mountain and look down on all the other mountains." Lu Xiaoshuang, who had climbed to the top of the mountain, ran to the edge of the platform and looked down at the magnificent view in front of her.

Zhou Yi walked over, leaned on the railing, and stood at this height, where he could see almost the entire surrounding landscape, as well as some sparse clouds and mist.

In fact, most people are like Lu Xiaoshuang, having not seen much of the world. Many people have never even seen a mountain or the sea in their entire lives. This is the reality of the masses.

"It's almost noon now, and there aren't many clouds left. We should be able to see a sea of ​​clouds tomorrow morning when the humidity is higher," Zhou Yi said.

Lu Xiaoshuang closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and savored the fresh air.

Zhou Yi suddenly asked in a low voice, "What did you call me just now? Why did you change how you address me?"

Lu Xiaoshuang blushed and said shyly, "Oh dear, that's too cheesy. I won't say that next time."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Let's find a place to sit down and eat something first."

After looking around, Zhou Yi felt that the platform at the top of Yunlai Peak was originally flat, and it was only artificially constructed. Otherwise, it would be difficult to flatten the mountain just to build a platform, not to mention whether it was necessary, it would also be technically difficult to achieve.

The platform wasn't very big, only about twenty meters in diameter, and it was covered with many ancient trees that looked quite old. There was a pavilion in the middle where some people were resting.

There were already two tents nearby, which also looked like people coming to watch the sunrise.

Zhou Yi chose a relatively flat spot and, with Lu Xiaoshuang's help, set up the tent.

The tent entrance faces the mountainside, so you can see the scenery from inside the tent.

The two ate and chatted, a gentle breeze blowing and clouds drifting by. This was the most leisurely time Zhou Yi had had since his rebirth.

Here, there is no good or evil in human nature, no cruel jokes of fate, only gentle breezes, white clouds, and lovers.

After a while, the two had almost finished eating, and Lu Xiaoshuang put away the remaining food.

Just then, an old man carrying a basket on his back walked over. The old man had dark skin, was thin, and his face was wrinkled like layers of rock.

"Would you like some corn? Cooked?" the old man asked cautiously as he approached.

Zhou Yi immediately smelled a strong corn aroma and said, "Uncle, give us two."

Upon hearing that he wanted to buy it, the old man immediately smiled and said okay, then put the basket on his back on the ground.

You could tell from the way he put it down that the basket was very heavy.

The old man opened the lid of his basket, took out two ears of corn still with their husks on, and handed them to the two men.

When Zhou Yi held it in his hand, he found that it was still warm.

After asking about the price, Zhou Yi found that it was about the same price as the boiled corn he usually bought, and it wasn't much more expensive just because it was in the mountains.

So while paying, he asked, "Uncle, did you cook this yourself from the foot of the mountain and carry it up here to sell?"

"Yes, these are all corns grown on our own, without any pesticides, so you can eat them without worry."

"Then why not sell it for a higher price? It must have been hard for you to carry this basket of corn up here." Zhou Yi looked down and saw that there was still more than half a basket left, which meant that not many had been sold.

The old man smiled and said, "Hey, it's not easy for anyone to earn money, how could I take more money from them? Besides, I've been climbing this mountain my whole life, I'm not tired."

The old man smiled, but the wrinkles on his face deepened, resembling undulating mountains.

Lu Xiaoshuang had already peeled the corn in her hand, taken a bite, and said, "Brother Yi, buy a few more, this corn is really delicious."

Zhou Yi nodded and bought four more.

When paying, the old man thanked the two people repeatedly.

Zhou Yi reminded the old man to watch his step when going up and down the mountain. The old man kept saying that good people are rewarded, and then went to sell his corn to others.

The old man is probably around the same age as my maternal grandfather. If he were to fall while going up or down the mountain one day, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But that's just how the masses are; everyone is living life to the fullest.

The corn is golden yellow when peeled, with plump kernels and a wonderful aroma.

Zhou Yi, who was already full, ate two more.

Turning his head, he saw Lu Xiaoshuang holding the corn in both hands, slowly munching on it.

"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?" Zhou Yi could tell what she was thinking at a glance.

Sure enough, Lu Xiaoshuang said pitifully, "I feel that this old man is working so hard. Shouldn't he be enjoying his retirement at home at such an advanced age?"

Young people, no matter how smart, are always naive because they are inexperienced in the ways of the world.

They are either simply compassionate or simply cynical.

Lu Xiaoshuang is a typical example of the former.

"Yes, it is indeed hard work, but everyone has their own life and destiny. Society is complex, and people are the most complex creatures in the world. This world cannot become a utopia where everyone can live and work in peace and contentment, because utopia itself is a false proposition that cannot exist."

Looking at the rolling clouds, Zhou Yi said with emotion, "People should just live life to the fullest, be optimistic and move forward, and be true to themselves and their families. A simple and peaceful life, and good health, is actually the greatest happiness. Look how happy the old man was when we bought six ears of corn. At that moment, he felt no hardship at all."

Lu Xiaoshuang took a deep breath and looked at Liu Yun, murmuring, "Brother Yi, sometimes I feel that you are not like a young person at all."

These words made Zhou Yi's heart skip a beat, and he didn't reply.

“Your thinking is particularly mature, like that of a middle-aged person who has experienced many hardships and seen through the coldness and warmth of human relationships.” Lu Xiaoshuang turned to look at Zhou Yi and said, “Just like my high school Chinese teacher, he should be... fifty-two this year.”

"Is it because you're a police officer and have witnessed too many of the joys and sorrows of this mundane world?"

Lu Xiaoshuang's gaze made Zhou Yi feel uneasy.

I almost wanted to ask, do you know that I was reborn?
But I held back. Even if I had said it, people would have just thought I was joking.

After all, he can't predict anything other than murder cases and major political events.

He chuckled vaguely, "Yeah, maybe... We detectives have seen too many upsetting things. It probably has some influence."

In fact, logically speaking, this statement has many flaws, considering how long he has only been transferred to the Municipal Bureau.

But Lu Xiaoshuang didn't say anything more and continued to eat her corn.

After a while, she turned back and said with a bright smile, "Brother Yi, you were my sun before, dispelling the gloom in my life. Since I met you, my life seems to be full of hope. Let me be your sun from now on. If you encounter any cases that make you feel bad, come to me and I will give you a hug."

Zhou Yi looked at her smile, with half a corn kernel still stuck to the corner of her mouth.

He reached out and wiped the corn kernels off Lu Xiaoshuang, saying, "Silly girl, you always have been."

……

In the afternoon, Zhou Yi and Lu Xiaoshuang took a nap in the tent. When they woke up, it was getting dark.

There were far fewer tourists, but several more tents appeared.

Zhou Yi looked around and saw that most of the people there were young couples or spouses, but there was also a middle-aged couple with an eight or nine-year-old boy.

After dark, as it is a developed scenic area, lights were lit in the pavilion in the middle, bringing a glimmer of light to the darkness.

The temperature in the mountains dropped quickly, so Zhou Yi took out the thick clothes he had brought from his bag and gave them to Lu Xiaoshuang to wear.

I don't know who went and collected a lot of branches, and then lit a fire in an open space.

As the campfire was lit, people gradually gathered around, and then some began to share the food they had brought. It was then that Zhou Yi realized that he seemed to be "a little short of money," because everyone else had brought a lot of food, and someone had even brought out a watermelon.

Zhou Yi was both amused and exasperated. It seemed that even after living two lifetimes, he still didn't have the foresight of his grandmother.

There was also a guy who was about the same age as Zhou Yi, with long, flowing hair and a melancholic air.

Suddenly, he pulled out a guitar and started playing and singing, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Zhou Yi thought to himself, "What the hell? Bringing a watermelon to climb a mountain and watch the sunrise is one thing, but bringing a guitar is another?"

To be fair, this guy sang quite well; it was probably folk music, with the guitar playing softly alongside his singing.

The group gradually left and returned to their tents only after the campfire had died down.

Zhou Yi and Lu Xiaoshuang returned to the tent, spread their clothes under the tent, and then crawled into their sleeping bags.

After saying goodnight to each other, the two closed their eyes and prepared to sleep.

But perhaps because he had taken a nap in the afternoon, Zhou Yi wasn't sleepy.

A little while later, something awkward happened.

From the nearest tent came some embarrassing sounds.

This was something Zhou Yi hadn't expected.

He felt a little embarrassed and rolled over in his sleeping bag.

Hearing the sound of someone turning over, Lu Xiaoshuang suddenly called out, "Brother Yi."

"You're not asleep?"

"I think I slept too much this afternoon..."

Zhou Yi discovered that when he spoke, it seemed to cover up the sounds outside.

"Let's chat then," he thought to himself. These kinds of things usually fizzle out after a short while.

Lu Xiaoshuang gave a soft "oh".

Then the two fell into silence again.

After all, in situations like this, forcing a conversation will only make it harder to find topics to talk about.

So the two of them remained silent, listening to the humming and moaning sounds outside.

Fortunately, after only a few minutes, the sound became more and more urgent, and then suddenly stopped.

Then a woman's voice complained, "What's wrong with you?"

The man replied awkwardly, "Maybe... I'm a little tired from climbing the mountain today..."

"What a disappointment, time for bed!"

Then, the surroundings became completely quiet.

Zhou Yi quickly said, "Go to sleep."

"Okay, time to sleep."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Lu Xiaoshuang turned around, her back to Zhou Yi, and touched her face, which was burning hot, like the fiery clouds at dusk.

Fortunately, it was pitch black and I couldn't see anything.

About half an hour later, Zhou Yi heard noises coming from next door again.

Fortunately, Lu Xiaoshuang's breathing has become very even.

Zhou Yi sighed, turned over, and went back to sleep.

The next day, before dawn, Zhou Yi woke up.

I checked the time on my phone; it was almost five o'clock.

Feeling that it was about time, he decided to wake Lu Xiaoshuang up.

Using the light from his phone, Zhou Yi glanced at Lu Xiaoshuang, who was fast asleep beside him.

"Xiao Shuang, wake up."

"If you sleep any longer, the sun will be shining on your bottom!"

Lu Xiaoshuang groggily opened her eyes and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's almost five o'clock, now is the perfect time to watch the sunrise."

After Lu Xiaoshuang finished dressing, Zhou Yi unzipped the tent.

Suddenly, a cool, refreshing breeze, unique to the mountains and forests, swept in from outside, instantly invigorating everyone.

Zhou Yi looked outside; it was already getting light.

He looked around and saw that the long-haired guy who played guitar and sang last night was already up. The two nodded to each other as they looked at each other.

The tent closest to them was completely silent.

Lu Xiaoshuang tightened her clothes and walked to Zhou Yi's side.

What was once a wide-open view is now shrouded in mist.

"Come here," Zhou Yi said to Lu Xiaoshuang, opening his coat.

Lu Xiaoshuang smiled and snuggled into his arms, then Zhou Yi wrapped her tightly in his coat.

A few minutes later, faintly, a golden crack seemed to appear at the end of the clouds.

Golden sunlight burst forth from the crack, shattering the thick fog.

"Wow, a sea of ​​clouds!" Lu Xiaoshuang couldn't help but exclaim.

As the fog dissipated, the field of vision suddenly opened up.

A vast sea of ​​clouds appeared before their eyes.

The golden light, like a wildfire, quickly spread across the sea of ​​clouds, illuminating one mountain peak after another from afar.

As the red sun slowly rose from the eastern horizon, Lu Xiaoshuang felt warm all over, and everything seemed to come alive.

It was as if, at this moment, she was completely embracing her new life.

……

After watching the sunrise, Zhou Yi and Lu Xiaoshuang packed their things and descended the mountain contentedly.

Meanwhile, there was still no movement from the tent next to it.

If it weren't for the sound of a man snoring coming from inside, Zhou Yi, with his Conan-like personality, would have gone up to see if the person inside was still alive.

When Zhou Yi turned his head, he found Lu Xiaoshuang looking at him and smiling. The two smiled knowingly and then held hands as they walked down the mountain.

Not long after we walked, we saw a familiar figure coming towards us.

The old man who sold corn yesterday.

He was still carrying that basket on his back, and as soon as he walked up to me, I could smell the aroma of corn.

"Uncle, so early?" Zhou Yi asked in surprise.

"I'm getting old and can't sleep, so I get up early," the old man said with a smile. "Did you see the sunrise?"

The two nodded.

"Uncle, give me six more ears of corn, I haven't eaten yet." The pancakes Grandma brought were cold and hard, so she didn't eat them. Zhou Yi said she would go to the small shop halfway up the mountain to buy some bread for breakfast.

The old man immediately put down his basket and chuckled as he handed the two corns.

After paying and saying goodbye, the old man continued climbing the mountain with his basket on his back.

Holding a steaming hot corn in her hand, Lu Xiaoshuang watched the old man's figure slowly disappear into the distance and calmly said, "Brother Yi, you're right, a simple and peaceful life is just fine."

Zhou Yi said with a smile, "I hope that when I'm seventy or eighty years old, I'll still have the ability to climb such a high mountain."

“It’s okay. If you can’t climb, I’ll help you and we’ll climb slowly. When you get tired, we’ll sit on the steps and I’ll bring you some corn.”

Lu Xiaoshuang's words made Zhou Yi feel dazed, as if time and space overlapped, allowing him to see the scene Lu Xiaoshuang was talking about.

But the next second, the sudden ringing of his cell phone interrupted his daydreams.

He picked up the phone and saw that it was Ni Jianrong calling.

Why would he call himself at this hour?
Suddenly, a sense of foreboding washed over him. Had something happened to Wu Yuemei? Or had something else gone wrong?

"Hello, Director Ni, this is Zhou Yi."

"Zhou Yi, have you gone back? Are you still at your maternal grandmother's house?" Ni Jianrong's voice was anxious, clearly indicating that something had happened.

Zhou Yi quickly replied, "Yes, I'm here. I climbed Yunxia Mountain yesterday and just finished watching the sunrise. I'm about to come down the mountain."

"Alright, it's good that you're still here. Where did you come from? I'll send someone to pick you up now."

"Director Ni, what exactly is the matter?"

Ni Jianrong said on the phone, "A group of college students went hiking in an undeveloped area of ​​Yunxia Mountain, and now something has happened!"

(End of this chapter)