Zombie Bodyguard

Chapter 1699 - 1696: Searching for a Needle in the Ocean

"I’m not quite sure I understand?" Lin Tian tilted his head slightly, looking at Wang Wanxi, a look of confusion on his face.

Wang Wanxi didn’t answer immediately but asked in return, "Is your grandfather’s name Hang Yuanming?"

Lin Tian nodded, still puzzled, "Yes."

Last time when he met Jiang Xiu Ying, she asked his grandfather’s name. At that time, they were at the Yun Family, so it wasn’t surprising Wang Wanxi knew it. Lin Tian just didn’t understand why Aunt Wang was asking this.

"We went to the village where you lived and inquired. Hang Yuanming is not a native of that village, did you know that?" Wang Wanxi asked again.

Lin Tian shook his head, frowned slightly, "I didn’t know. My grandfather was quite reputable in the village, so I never thought about it." There were also other surnames in the village.

"When we asked about your grandfather, we could also tell from the villagers’ tone that he was indeed well-respected. As an outsider in the village, he achieved that because of his medical skills. He helped villagers, so they respected him," Wang Wanxi said, sharing what she had found.

"However, none of the villagers knew where your grandfather came from. Over a decade ago, when you were still an infant, Hang Yuanming appeared outside the village carrying you. He was already in his sixties, and the villagers saw that it wasn’t easy for him, so they let him stay."

"The villagers were kind and didn’t care about Hang Yuanming’s origins, so they didn’t ask much, and you and your grandfather started living in the village. When Hang Yuanming first appeared carrying you, you didn’t have a name. Later, the old village head said for the sake of convenience when you study, you should take the village’s surname."

"Because it was a Lin surname village, you took the surname Lin." Wang Wanxi paused here, looking at Lin Tian.

Lin Tian’s expression was changing; some of the things Wang Wanxi said he knew, but some he didn’t. He knew the reason for his surname Lin, as Wang Wanxi stated, but was unaware of how his grandfather initially appeared in Lin Village.

The village was called Lin Village because locals had the surname Lin. The villagers had a shared genealogy and ancestral hall.

But even after hearing Wang Wanxi’s account, Lin Tian still couldn’t get any useful information. He still didn’t know about his own origins.

Seeing Lin Tian’s confusion, Wang Wanxi continued, "I got something from the old village chief..."

She said as she took out a small cloth bundle from her waist and handed it to Lin Tian. Full of doubts, Lin Tian took it. The cloth bundle was new, but upon opening it, Lin Tian found something old inside.

The old item was also a piece of cloth. Lin Tian carefully unfolded it; the cloth was indeed a bit worn, and he was afraid that a little force might tear it.

"This is a towel that was wrapped around you over a decade ago," Wang Wanxi explained.

"Aunt Wang, do you mean this towel was what my grandfather wrapped me in when he appeared?" Lin Tian asked curiously.

"Yes, exactly the towel that was originally wrapped around you," Wang Wanxi confirmed.

Lin Tian examined the towel closely, frowning, "After my grandfather passed away, I also investigated my origins, and asked the old village head. At that time, he didn’t mention keeping these objects."

He somewhat doubted the authenticity of the towel but couldn’t think of a reason for Wang Wanxi to fabricate this. Besides, what value would an old childhood towel have to warrant forgery?

Wang Wanxi naturally saw Lin Tian’s doubts. She explained again, "As far as I know, the old village chief is quite aged, especially in recent years, and his memory has deteriorated significantly. Sometimes he even shows signs of Alzheimer’s. He only remembered suddenly and brought out the old items."

"He also said that he kept the items on a whim back then, thinking they might be useful someday, not expecting they actually would be." Wang Wanxi smiled, feeling quite fortunate.

"Useful?" Lin Tian was taken aback and even more confused, "What use does an old towel have?"

Wang Wanxi smiled silently, reaching out to take the towel from Lin Tian, then lifting a corner to show him, "Look, isn’t there a mark here?"

With Wang Wanxi’s reminder, Lin Tian looked more carefully and indeed saw a mark, which he previously thought was just a design on the towel. After all, it had been over a decade, and the towel’s print was blurred—who would care about a blurry pattern?

"What kind of mark is this? Could it be a family emblem?" Lin Tian couldn’t help thinking if he was the offspring of some aristocratic family lost to the outside world. But even he felt this idea was unreliable.

"I know what you’re thinking. It’s not some aristocratic family emblem, but what it represents is no less significant than those of aristocratic families," Wang Wanxi shook her head, breaking his illusion. "This is the symbol of Xinghai Hospital!"

"Xinghai Hospital? Why does that sound so familiar?" Lin Tian’s expression changed, suddenly realizing why that name was so familiar to him.

"Dean Miao, I remember, Dean Miao is the head of the Xinghai Hospital branch in Xikou City, is the hospital you mentioned the same one?" Lin Tian asked uncertainly, for he couldn’t be sure, given it was a hospital from over ten years ago.

Wang Wanxi nodded, giving him a certain answer, "You’re right. They are indeed the same hospital. This towel came from Xinghai Hospital."

"So, does that mean I was likely born in Xinghai Hospital?" Lin Tian asked, both surprised and delighted.

"I can only say it’s possible. My investigation ends here for now, but it’s tough afterward. There were countless male infants born in Xinghai Hospital eighteen years ago. Plus, could your exact age be eighteen? Maybe it’s actually seventeen? Or nineteen?"

"This would widen the search over more years. Back then, computers and the internet weren’t as developed, and some data files were still on paper. Finding a matching male infant with you is like looking for a needle in a haystack, assuming none of those archives are lost."

Wang Wanxi observed Lin Tian’s expression, trying to use a soothing tone to analyze the situation. Actually, hearing this analysis, anyone would feel disappointed.

Lin Tian just gave a faint smile and said, "Aunt Wang missed one thing: what if this towel just accidentally ended up wrapped around me, and I wasn’t really born in Xinghai Hospital? Then all the investigation would be in vain."

"As long as you understand, I am relieved. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to accept it," Wang Wanxi saw that Lin Tian wasn’t disappointed or upset but rather surprisingly calm, and she admired his demeanor that seemed beyond his age.

"I still have to thank Aunt Wang for everything you’ve done for me. No matter the result, I can accept it. After all, it’s been so many years. Besides, I’m not alone now. I have Aunt Wang, Xiao Tian, Miss, Second Miss, and many friends. My life is not grey," Lin Tian said with a slight smile, sincerely expressing these words.