The weather was fine and sunny, with clear mountains and beautiful waters.


    Qingliu Vige truly was a perfect ce for an outing. Xu Shuo walked from the end of the vige to the entrance, surveying every nook and cranny.


    At the same time, he also noticed that many people in the vige seemed to show extra respect to him, the young Acting Vige Chief.


    Initially, Xu Shuo thought his position in the vige would be quite awkward.


    After all, his father, the Old Vige Chief, had disappeared without a trace and was still not found, while he himselffortably upied the position of Vige Chief. There should have been many who disapproved, or perhaps the more senior nsmen would oppose his authority.


    But none of that happened; this was a peaceful and amiable little vige.


    After casually strolling around the vige, Xu Shuo turned around to head back.


    Underneath the whitewashed wall at the entrance of the vige, the girl who had been daydreaming with a paintbrush was no longer there, and as he passed through the center of the vige, he was stopped by the female reporter.


    "Vige Chief!" The female reporter jogged over, her face bearing a professional smile, "What should I call you?"


    "Just call me Acting Vige Chief," Xu Shuo replied.


    The reporter kept her smile and, showing her press card, said, "Acting Vige Chief, I''m a reporter from the local television station. The vigers must have told you that I will be collecting some materials and conducting interviews here for the next few days, and then we''ll promote your vige on our television station. Is that all right with you? Are there any taboos I should be aware of?"


    Xu Shuo nced at her bogus credentials, shed an even brighter smile, and nodded, "Of course, there are no issues at all. It''s an honor for Qingliu Vige that a television reporter is willing toe here for interviews!"


    Upon hearing this, the female reporter''s eyes lit up, and she took out a long pole from her backpack, then mounted a portable camera on top of it.


    She walked up to Xu Shuo, and standing side by side, they faced the camera lens. As if pulling a magic trick, she produced a small microphone and, with a smile, said, "Acting Vige Chief, actually after hearing the legend of ''Green-Faced Fangs'' from your vige, many outsiders are skeptical. What are your thoughts on this legend?"


    Xu Shuo quickly got into the role of the interviewee, seriously stating, "The legend has been passed down from a long time ago, and as descendants, we naturally cannot discern its veracity. One can only say, if you believe it exists, it does; if not, then it doesn''t!"


    "But I''ve heard that recently, there has been activity traceable to ''Green-Faced Fangs'' in Qingliu Vige, and many vigers have imed to have seen its true form. What''s your opinion on this, Vige Chief?"


    "I''m not too sure about that. Though I think I might have seen something strange at night, something with a bizarre shape."


    "So you''re saying there really is a monster like ''Green-Faced Fangs'' here?"


    "Not necessarily, perhaps I was just seeing things in the dark. After all, there aren''t really ghosts in this world!"


    "They say quite a few vigers have witnessed it. Some im the monster steals crops, others say it steals money, and there are even those who say they''ve seen the monstermitting murder!"


    "Well, many of our folks haven''t been exposed to much of the world, so they might exaggerate over things they don''t understand, spreading rumors. There are no ghosts in the world; if there are, they''re just ancient legends."


    "I noticed there are statues of ''Green-Faced Fangs'' in your fields. Are they made based on what the vigers have seen?"


    "Those are built because people worry that ghosts might bring misfortune, so we thought of erecting a statue as a totem in the fields. For us vigers, our crops are the most important. As for the appearance, it''s just roughly based on the legend; I don''t know what it actually looks like."


    The female reporter nodded, seemingly understanding, then narrowed her eyes and asked unabashedly, "Vige Chief, I heard your father has been missing for several months now and that this incident may also be rted to ''Green-Faced Fangs.'' Was he taken away by the monster?"


    Xu Shuo''s smile faded, and he furrowed his brow as he said, "Everyone in the vige knows that my father left to go on a long trip a few months ago. I don''t know what he was going to do, but there has been no word from him since then. I''ve been quite troubled by this issuetely. So it''s probably unrted to ''Green-Faced Fangs'', which is, after all, just a baseless legend. You guys really shouldn''t take it too seriously."


    "Okay, I understand. Thank you very much for epting my interview."


    At this point, the female journalist also knew when to stop and ended the topic there.


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    She packed away her mini microphone and camera into her backpack, then looked at Xu Shuo again with a smile and said, "Vige Chief, I''ll be in the vige capturing some material for a while longer. If you have any events, feel free to let me know, as it would help promote the vige."


    Xu Shuo calmly nodded and responded.


    The female journalist politely smiled before turning to leave, heading in the direction of the vige entrance and the farmhouse B&B.


    In the past couple of days, other than her, the only other visitor staying in the vige was probably the Trench Coat Detective. Other visitors seldom stayed overnight, usually just enjoying a country meal, fishing, and walking in the greenery before leaving.


    After all, the lodging conditions in the vige are not exactly appealing. For city dwellers, it''s quite basic. Even the farmhouse B&Bs are still a farmhouse environment and not formal hotels.


    Xu Shuo watched her leaving figure for a moment, then shifted his gaze and walked towards his own home.


    Passing through the square, several children were ying games, their cheerfulughter creating a lively atmosphere.


    In this day and age, there aren''t many entertainment activities for children in the countryside, other than ying hopscotch, pping ying cards, or ying eagle catches chicks.


    As Xu Shuo passed by, the children sweetly greeted him with "Hello, Vige Chief," their cleverness and cuteness on full disy.


    "Uncle Dai, do you want some fruit?" At that moment, the little girl with double buns came over, her fair and plump little hand holding up a yellow fruit.


    Qingliu Vige is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with bamboo forests and various fruit trees nted among the hills.


    However, there aren''t many mature fruit trees this season, nor is it the time for harvesting. Still, most households have a loquat tree in front of their houses or in their backyards.


    The little girl had been sitting on the steps under the eaves, just staring longingly at the other children ying without joining in. Upon seeing Xu Shuo passing by, she suddenly got up and scurried over.


    Seeing this, Xu Shuo scooped up the little girl as she approached, reminiscent of when Xu Xi was a child, equally fragrant, soft, and irresistibly cute.


    He smiled and epted the loquat the little girl had picked, popping it into his mouth to chew.


    Well, although it was sweet after biting into it, it was also quite astringent.


    "Uncle Dai, is it good?" the little girl asked, tilting her head.


    "It''s pretty good." Xu Shuo smiled. He didn''t know whose child she was, but the vigers nearby didn''t seem surprised to see them getting along so well.


    "Do you want toe y at uncle''s house?"


    "Yes, I want cookies and candy," the little girl whispered softly, clinging to his neck as if afraid someone woulde to snatch her away.


    Charmed by her cuteness, Xu Shuo''s smile grew wider as he pinched the little girl''s cheek again.