Chapter 3, Coincidence

Sun Wei agreed quite readily. I hung up the phone and continued to ponder the two murder cases. Would there really be a series of murders like in the Republic of China era? Each method of death was quite horrifying. I knew that the two new girls in their team had not spoken up again this time. I smiled, puzzled at how I could think of this. I gave a wry smile. The afternoon sunlight lazily spilled into the room. I knew that the two new girls in their team had not spoken up again this time. I smiled, puzzled at how I could think of this. I gave a wry smile. The afternoon sunlight lazily spilled into the room. I sat in the interplay of light and shadow, as if I were on the boundary between yin and yang. Sometimes I often indulge in a fantasy. If I could see and interact with those who have died, would I be able to know more things?

Da Meng sighed: "Are you daydreaming again? I always feel like you know something. How about this, after work, I will come find you"

I am a bit puzzled: "Then why don't you go home to see them? There is no one here either"

I pressed further, asking: "Who! What is their name, and where do they live?"

Turning back to the old woman, I said, "Ah! There is a funeral procession. Look, those paper money offerings are so beautifully scattered, as if little yellow flowers have bloomed in the sky." However, the old woman had already vanished without a trace. I scratched my head, unable to understand how she could have run away so quickly. In the blink of an eye, she was gone. At that moment, the funeral procession had approached. I inadvertently glanced at the photo held by a man dressed in deep mourning. In an instant, he too had disappeared. The funeral procession had come closer, and I casually looked at the photo the man was holding. I was taken aback; the old woman in the photo looked exactly like the one I had just seen. I was greatly alarmed. What was going on? I hurried back home and told my grandmother about this incident. She looked at me and frowned, saying, "Don't talk nonsense." But I was very serious, even swearing that what I said was what I had seen. My grandmother became angry and told me to be quiet. I felt very wronged.

Da Meng's voice was heavy: "Another case has come up, just as you guessed. This is a beheading case. The captain is already furious, throwing a fit in the conference room..."

I smiled and said: "Hehe, we are all classmates. If you don't help me, who will? I'll treat you to a meal another day. What have you discovered?"

The next day, I found that I could remember nothing at all. These events were later recounted to me by my cousin. When I asked my grandmother, she remained silent and was unwilling to discuss the matter further. Moreover, since then, my father's attitude has also changed; he no longer refutes the talk of supernatural forces. This only deepened my curiosity about these matters. Later, I went to find the one-eyed temple keeper, but he had vanished, and I had no idea where he had gone. My grandmother often murmured, "He was a good person, always helping others without expecting anything in return. What a pity! What a pity!"

Sun Wei snorted: "It better not be a blank check!"

Upon hearing Da Meng's words, I was taken aback. I asked, "What did you say?"

Since childhood, I have harbored such thoughts. Moreover, this idea seems like a nightmare, persistently haunting me. It was not until I was ten years old, during a visit to my hometown in the countryside, that I encountered an old woman while catching crickets at the foot of a mountain. The old woman sat under the shade of a tree, her face kind yet filled with melancholy. As I stood there watching her, she noticed my gaze and smiled at me, saying, "Child, what are you doing?" I replied, "I am catching crickets. And you?"

I still do not understand. Suddenly, a sound of suona came from over the mountain, the tune was sorrowful and heart-wrenching, making one feel a deep sense of sadness. A group of people dressed in white approached. As they walked, they scattered paper money into the sky. The man at the front, holding a photograph, cried out loudly. I knew this was a funeral procession

I solemnly declared: "Rest assured, I will keep my word. Let's have seafood. I will treat you to seafood."

Sun Wei said slowly, "What is the rush? Let me explain it to you gradually. The person's name is Huang Xiaobin, and he was released from prison a few years ago. He lives alone at No. 15, Qingshui Hutong"

As I was making this record, I nodded. Suddenly, I looked at the name and found it very familiar. I asked on the phone, "What did you say his name is?"

I put down the phone and slumped into the large armchair, feeling deeply exhausted. After sitting for a long time, I finally jumped up from the chair. I rushed to the bookshelf and found the book "Records of Cases from the Republic of China," flipping to the section about the Huang Er case to read it again. First, I confirmed one point: the case from the Republic of China also occurred here in our city, which has a long history. During the Republic of China era, this incident was quite sensational. However, the case only provided a brief account of the "skinning" incident. I confirmed again that the case from the Republic of China also took place here. Our city is indeed historically rich, and this matter was quite a sensation at that time. Yet, the case only mentioned the "skinning" incident without going into detail about the previous cases, which were merely glossed over without thorough explanation. I also do not know the order of those cases. However, I truly cannot connect the two current cases with those past cases. If one person committed these acts, how old would that person be? If it were a descendant of that person, I find it hard to imagine that anyone would pass down such matters.

I sighed: "Alright. But no more drinking."

In the evening, I began to have a fever, feeling utterly confused and disoriented. My family was in a state of panic. My father gave me some medicine and sought out the village doctor. I received an intravenous drip, but it was of no use at all. Finally, my grandmother said, "You all needn't worry so much. I know what the problem is. I will go to the temple at the edge of the village to find the priest. This child is likely possessed by a spirit."

That manner of death is truly bizarre. Could it really be that a ghost is responsible for this? As I was lost in these thoughts, the phone rang. I quickly picked it up. From the receiver came the voice of Sun Wei: "Lu Long, I have gone to great lengths for this matter concerning you."

I smiled and said, "It's nothing, I can still look at it." I returned to the office with the newspaper, and out of boredom, I opened the front page. A profile picture caught my attention, but then I gasped in shock.

I still did not make a sound when Da Meng suddenly raised his voice: "Hey!"

My father, being an intellectual, certainly does not believe in such things. No matter what, he insisted on taking me to the hospital in the county. However, my mother is someone who resorts to all kinds of remedies in times of illness, and since there were no vehicles to the county at such a late hour, it was worth a try. Before long, my grandmother brought in a man who was blind in one eye. He looked at me with his only eye, pulled my grandmother aside, and the two of them whispered a few words. My grandmother called everyone else out, leaving only me and the one-eyed temple keeper. The man lit incense, drew talismans, and busied himself for quite a while before finally burning the talisman, placing it in a small bowl of clear water, and giving it to me to drink. Before long, my fever subsided, and I stopped babbling. I fell into a quiet sleep.

I only heard about the beheading. I didn't catch the rest of the conversation, and I had no interest in how their captain lost his temper. The joy of having found a clue was instantly shattered. However, I couldn't recall when I had ever shared such speculation with Da Meng. After a while, noticing my silence, Da Meng asked, "How did you know there would be such a series of cases?"

At the very least, I hope it is like this. However, if it is a single person, then the clues regarding this matter would be interrupted. Huang Xiaobin has become the key. I quickly picked up the phone to call Da Meng, but the phone was turned off. I thought they must be in a meeting. I had no choice but to hang up and wait for Da Meng to find me. A sudden thought struck me. If Huang Xiaobin is a single person, could his death be related to his involvement in trafficking? I had no choice but to hang up and wait for Da Meng to find me. A sudden thought struck me. If Huang Xiaobin is a single person, could his death be related to his involvement in trafficking? This could be considered as finding a motive for the murder, right? Perhaps investigating along the river route would yield some results, and in this way, I would also be helping Da Meng.

Sun Wei said, "How can your ears be so bad at such a young age?" He then repeated loudly, "Huang Xiaobin, No. 15, Qingshui Hutong..."

Da Meng muttered, "Perhaps drinking a bit would be better," and then hung up the phone

The sound startled my ears with a buzzing noise. I was taken aback and came to my senses, exclaiming: "What are you shouting about? What is going on?"

In my mind, images of kelp from spicy hot pot and grilled clams flashed by, which I couldn't help but find amusing. Sun Wei said, "The conditions you provided are not very clear, but fortunately, there are not many human traffickers here. Only one person meets your criteria."

I put down the phone, feeling a bit dazed. Huang Xiaobin, isn't he the same name as the victim in the peeling case that Da Meng showed me? I don't recall Da Meng telling me the address where that case occurred. However, I clearly remember that it was a siheyuan associated with the library. And Qingshui Hutong is indeed a siheyuan. Could it just be a coincidence of names?

The old woman's face was once again etched with desolation, as if responding to me, yet also seemingly speaking to herself: "I cannot go back, I cannot go back. I can only watch from here. Alas!"

The old woman smiled and said, "I have nothing to do, just sitting here and watching my children."

Although I do not remember this matter, I have an unwavering belief in the existence of spirits and deities. Later, when I mentioned these matters to my classmates, they all accused me of spreading feudal superstitions. Therefore, I stopped bringing it up. Now that I suddenly recall this incident, I find it somewhat interesting. However, regarding this particular case, I always feel that it is beyond human capability.

I pondered for a long time, to the point where my head ached, yet I could not come up with any reasoning. I sighed, got up, and made myself a cup of tea. I lit a cigarette, burying myself in the rising steam of the tea and the smoke of the cigarette. However, I still had no clue. Suddenly, the thought of finding that person with the surname Huang resurfaced. Since I could not make sense of this matter, I decided not to delay other things. I picked up the phone and called my classmate Sun Wei, who was at the First Prison in the city. Suddenly, the thought of finding that person with the surname Huang resurfaced. Since I could not make sense of this matter, I decided not to delay other things. I picked up the phone and called my classmate Sun Wei, who was at the First Prison in the city.

Upon reconsideration, I felt that something was amiss. If Huang Xiaobin is indeed a trafficker and someone harbors hatred towards him, why did they not act sooner? Why resort to such methods? Furthermore, what is the connection to today's beheading case? Could it be that the deceased was also a trafficker? Countless questions flooded my mind, leaving me in a state of confusion, unable to find answers. At that moment, the doorbell rang. I thought it was Da Meng arriving, and I rushed out, only to find it was the neighbor. He smiled at me and said, "Lu Long, your newspaper was misplaced. It ended up at my house. But it’s from the day before yesterday."