Global University Entrance Examination

Chapter 17: Allocating Rooms

•Guess Who I Am

The man in the leather hat who led the way was the village chief. He called this place "Chars Village" and there was a total of eighteen households.

The village was located close to the border. During the war, the black widow came over with several other Russians and they decided to stay.

The stone monument was engraved by her but even the village chief didn't know the meaning behind those words.

The crowd followed him along the dirt road towards the village.

To one side of the road was a river covered with a thick layer of ice. On the other side were houses. They were all concrete houses and some still retained traces of brickwork but, no matter what it was made of, their roofs were of the exact same dark red colour.

"Didn't you say eighteen households?" Yu Wen muttered quietly, "Just these houses alone look like there's more than eighteen?"

The village chief continued to walk ahead while wrapped tightly in his military coat. It was as if he didn't hear him.

"Hey, don't walk so fast. We're asking you a question old brother!" Even at a time like this Old Yu didn't forget to refer to him politely.

The village chief was startled by his pat on the back. He stopped his steps and mumbled incoherently: "In the past there were certainly more than eighteen. Some died, some left and gradually there are only a few of us left."

He raised his hand and pointed at two of them: "Like that one, and that one there. You can tell in one glance that it isn't being used."

Old Yu was about to nod when You Huo interjected: "Can't tell. To me it looks like all those houses are uninhabited."

The village chief was surprised: "Why would you think that?"

You Huo: "Too quiet."

As soon as he said that, everyone's footsteps stopped.

With the sound of footsteps ceasing, the strange silence became even more obvious.

It really was too quiet.

Despite clearly being early in the morning, there wasn't even a sound of people talking. There was no collisions between pots and pans or the sound of doors opening and closing..........

There was nothing.

Everyone felt goosebumps forming. They all looked warily over at the village chief.

A hint of fear could be sensed from the village chief. After hesitating for a moment, he let out a long sigh: "There really are people living there. It's just..........Everyone is too afraid to go out. They would usually try to sleep as long as they can."

"Too afraid to go out? Why?"

The village chief glanced carefully into the distance.

Everyone's eyes followed. On the other side of the river were several low houses of a very different style. It was grey and inconspicuous, and even the roof was black allowing it to almost blend in with the woods behind it.

The village chief appeared to be afraid of being overhead by someone and he whispered quietly: "It's not safe at night. If you stay here please remember not to go out at night. Even if you hear something, don't open the door."

"What do you mean?" Everyone was scared and confused.

But the village chief no longer dared to speak. He quickly waved his hand and continued to lead the way with his head tucked in his clothes.