sin drinker

Chapter 4 Two Dismemberment Cases (1)
care is chaos
After noon, the heat on the food stall was steaming with the sound of cooking pots. Zheng took a pair of disposable chopsticks and stroked them back and forth. When the burrs were scraped off, his fried noodles were just on the table.

"You just eat this?" The familiar voice swayed from far to near, and finally settled on the opposite side of Zheng Que.It was the third child again, and he raised his head, distracted for a while.

"What's wrong with this?"

"It's not nutritious. Look at you."

As if to increase the weight of contempt, the third child's long legs stretched across the entire table to his feet, and the brand-name basketball shoes were bright and shiny.Zheng Ke picked up a piece of noodles with chopsticks, took a big bite in retaliation, and his mouth was bulging: "I added two eggs. There are also ham sausages."

The third child smiled: "It's so delicious." He turned around and waved his hand at the boss: "Boss, here's a bowl of the same thing!"

"okay!"

When the third child's meal was on the table, the two of them had nothing to say, they just buried their heads in swallowing.Zheng Que finished eating first, wiped the oil from his mouth and got up to leave, when suddenly his eyes met something, and he sat down with his back bent.

The third child turned his head following his line of sight. A girl was passing in front of them. Her small round face was half hidden in her hair, and a little colorful skirt was exposed at the hem of the school uniform. Seeing the third child looking over, she turned her head and accelerated The footsteps are gone.

The third child turned around and smiled meaningfully: "Want to soak?"

The uncommonness in his smile made Zheng Que uncomfortable.

"Don't talk nonsense."

"That's what I want." The third child was so excited that he stopped eating the noodles, and knocked on the edge of the bowl with his chopsticks, "Is it possible, you, have you talked about it before?"

"I want you to manage."

"Hey, I guess you didn't either. I didn't mean you. With such long, sloppy hair, which girl would like you." The third child threw down his chopsticks and stood up. Cut."

Zheng Que shrank subconsciously when he heard about the barber shop.It’s not that he’s afraid of cutting his hair, what Zheng is afraid of is the tools in the barber shop, razors, scissors, clippers, the white and sharp blades are held in other people’s hands, it always reminds him of the bad things in the past - dripping with blood bedrooms, dying family members.Two heavy words - suicide.

Seeing that he didn't move, the third child became impatient: "Why, you still want me to carry you there."

Zheng Que didn't want to show cowardice, so he found an excuse casually, but as soon as the words came out, he realized that it was just showing cowardice intensified.His face was flushed, but his voice had already reached the third child's ears: "...I have no money."

The third child raised his eyebrows, but he didn't smile.What surprised Zheng even more was that he didn't say that stupid thing that Zheng really thought he would say—isn't it just money, I'll pay for it.

What the third child said was: "Then come here, and I will cut it for you."

The students in No. 23 Middle School are all children of the railway, and the family area is separated from the school by a wall. At noon, they all go home for lunch, and the classrooms are so empty that they can run like horses.The third child dragged a stool and put it on the podium. While turning his head to the reading corner to search for old newspapers and scissors, he did not forget to urge Zheng Que who was standing still at the door: "Why are you still standing there, sit down."

There was an irresistible pressure in his voice.Zheng Que dawdled in the door, looking around the classroom that didn't belong to him: the third child is already a high school student, and everything here seems to be the same as the third child, spacious, bright, and an adult's world.

The third child unfolded an old newspaper, put a hole in Zheng Que's shoulder, and covered it tightly. "You're too skinny." He stroked Zheng Que's bangs with his fingers, and seeing the scissors approaching, Zheng Que frowned and flicked back.

"Don't move." The third child slid his hand to the back and pressed the back of Zheng Que's head, "Close your eyes and recite the text."

Zheng Que was stunned: "What are you carrying?"

"Just recite what was taught in the last Chinese class. What have you learned recently?"

"...The Book of Songs."

"Just carry that."

Zheng Chue didn't know what to do, he was in a dilemma, he simply closed his eyelids, and memorized every single word.The text is new and not proficient. Fortunately, his memory is not bad, and he can remember everything after reading it once.

Guan Guan Jujiu, in the continent of the river. A gentle lady, a gentleman is so charming.

Staggered Nymphaea, left and right.Fair lady, I long for it.

Zheng Que's attention was all on the text, and he would frown and tilt his head to think about words and sentences that he couldn't remember clearly.The third child's fingers pulled his chin from time to time: "Come back, it's all crooked in a while." His breath was very close, and Zheng Que's ears were itchy.

When Zheng Que finished reciting "Guanju" and "Jianjia", the breath of the third child also disappeared.His voice came from not far away: "Okay, clean up yourself and wash your face. By the way, remember to clean the hair on the ground."

Zheng Que breathed a sigh of relief, opened his eyes, squatted down and slowly put his hair back into the newspaper, he squinted his eyes and looked at the third child, his eyes were a little unaccustomed to the light after cutting off his bangs. "How do you know how to cut your hair?"

"I have a younger brother." The third child raised his feet on the table, "Just like you, I am most afraid of going out to cut my hair, saying that my ears will fall off. Stupid!"

"Is he at the same school as us?"

"He..." The third child suddenly paused, and it took a while before he finished speaking, "He died."

Zheng Que's eyes felt inexplicably hot, he closed his mouth, cleaned the floor in a hurry, and went to the toilet to wash off the broken hair on his neck and face.When he raised his head, he glanced in the mirror. He couldn't tell what had changed, but he seemed to be more energetic.Shall I go back and say thank you?Zheng Que thought, he still wants it, maybe he will be happier.Zheng Que recalled that before he left the door, he cast a hesitant glance at the third child, and the other party uncharacteristically looked away, and the sudden gloom behind him made him both startled and frightened.

When he returned to the classroom, there was another person next to the third child, a girl, laughing and joking with him, with a strand of red hair dyed flamboyantly swaying behind her ears.The third child put his hand on her back, looked up and saw Zheng Que, the third child did not move, the girl turned her head, saw someone at the door, flung his hand away coquettishly, and punched the third child in the chest .

Zheng Que hurriedly turned around and left.

争执
After lunch the next day, Zheng Yuan packed his backpack and stepped out of the office, only to be stopped by a voice behind him. "Xiao Zheng, where are you going?"

Zheng Yuan shrank his nose and turned around: "Director Zhuo."

"You still know that I'm the director!" Zhuo Yibo was holding a canned tea mug, squinting at him from above the glasses, "What topic are you talking about recently?"

"The case of Qualcomm Plaza, the murderer's side..."

"I know, I know," Zhuo Yibo pressed his palm, "I'm not worried about your kid's intelligence skills. But didn't I tell you before? Now the higher ups require positive energy, be active, understand? The Ma Jiaxin case that Southwest worked on before, the murderer was written one-sidedly, good-looking is good-looking, it seems to sympathize with him, and the higher-ups are not happy, so they report criticism! Look at this, a young man who saved people came out, how wonderful , the major newspapers are following up..."

"We followed too." Zheng Yuan glanced at the wall clock impatiently.Ordinarily, Zhuo Yibo shouldn't be here at this time, the editorial department will cut off the version at two o'clock, and checking the manuscript for signature is the top priority.But when he looked at Zheng Yuan to the side, he could see that there were a few gloating eyes on the desk in the corner, they collided lightly in the air, and then moved away calmly.Those who are capable but have no friends will be squeezed out sooner or later. The so-called office politics is nothing more than that.

"You're following. Did you write that manuscript? I didn't say you. It's not impossible to let interns do it. You should prioritize it. Look at what was posted! Ah? People over there Mobilize readers to make up the wedding for the young couple who are righteous and courageous, what about us? A piece of hard tofu, do you still need this month's salary!"

Seeing that Zhuo Yibo was impatient, Zheng Yuan had no choice but to lower his head: "Director Zhuo," he thought for a while, then softened his tone again: "Teacher Zhuo..."

"You still know that I'm your teacher!" Zhuo Yibo paused for a while, with a look of resentment, "I said, Xiao Zheng, you've been following me on the news since you graduated, although there was a break for a few years, right? Ordinarily, he is also a veteran, why is he so obstinate when it comes to the critical moment? Do you know that the establishment is so hard to deal with, and layoffs are everywhere. I spent a lot of effort to get you in. You still make me such an old face You can also hang on a little..."

"Mr. Zhuo, I know." Zheng Yuan stared at his toes: "I will follow the line of being brave for justice."

"Hmph, you can figure it out, anyway, it's not coaxing me, it's coaxing yourself." Zhuo Yibo sighed, and finally let it go: "Do your job well, and I don't care what you like to do at other times. By the way , is your son okay?"

"Very good, the mid-term exam is coming soon."

"Well, it's difficult for you to take care of a son by yourself. I understand all of this. Although this middle school is not a provincial priority, it is my old comrade-in-arms relationship. It is considered a good one in the system. You should pay more attention to him and take the high school entrance examination. With good grades, it’s easy to talk about wherever you go.”

Zheng Yuan nodded, still stood upright, and waited until Zhuo Yibo was far away before turning and walking towards the elevator.

Downstairs, Zheng Yuan walked towards the subway station absent-mindedly, the horn on the curb blared annoyingly.He frowned and quickened his pace, the sound of the trumpet seemed to have grown feet, chasing him, without any intention of weakening.

It wasn't until the sound was very close that Zheng Yuan noticed that there was still a human voice in it: "Hey, let me tell you, you kid is determined to pretend to be deaf to me, right?"

It was only then that Zheng Yuan noticed that there was a car beside him, an old silver-gray GTI, and Wang Shiqi in uniform poked his face out.

"How did you come?"

"Why, I can't come?"

"No. I'm going out now..."

"What a coincidence, I'm about to go out too." Wang Shiqi turned the steering wheel, the front of the car tilted, brushed Zheng Yuan's toes and stopped, "Get in the car."

Zheng Yuan didn't move.

"Why, wait until I handcuff you." Wang Shiqi grinned.Zheng Yuan's face turned gloomy: "Stop making trouble, I have business to do."

"Isn't it just writing about Qualcomm Plaza? What else can you do?"

"...I screwed up."

"I know, I came to you just for this matter. I said what's wrong with you, you look like a kid when you're old. You are really capable of beating prisoners!"

"I've been beaten, what else can I do?"

"What can you do? Come with me to the detention center and apologize to the director. You're lucky. He's my buddy. It's a matter of a few soft words. Hurry up."

Zheng Yuan hesitated for a while, and finally spit out four words: "I'm not going."

Wang Shiqi's eyes widened: "Hey, aren't you?"

"Anyway... Lao Zhuo also asked me to change direction, saying that it is too risky to dig out the murderer now."

"Do you listen to what Zhuo Yibo says?" Wang Shiqi raised his eyebrows, "Old Zheng, you don't look like you anymore."

When Zheng Yuan heard this, his displeasure was already written on his face.He simply walked around the front of Wang Shiqi's car and walked away.

"Old Zheng? Old Zheng! Zheng Yuan!" Wang Shiqi yelled again, and when he realized that something was wrong, he slammed the car door and chased after him. "Hey, this case is not something you can just withdraw as soon as you say it."

"Why can't I withdraw, I'm just a reporter."

"What's wrong with the reporter? When we were born and died, you didn't regard yourself as a reporter."

"Now I will be, I want to be, can I?"

"What are you doing in front of me?" Wang Shiqi reached out to grab Zheng Yuan's backpack strap, "Let's go."

Zheng Yuan was furious, threw Wang Shiqi away, and raised his voice: "I'm not leaving! Can you still tie me up!" Wang Shiqi's anger also flared up: "Zheng Yuan! Now that you think about it, you're like a turtle Right! Let me tell you, there’s no way! I don’t care if you want it or not, you have to climb to the end if you start from this point!”

Before Wang Shiqi finished speaking, Zheng Yuan turned around and punched him in the face unexpectedly.

Wang Shiqi rubbed his cheek, the corners of his mouth were a little bit broken, he was not annoyed, instead he let out a "hum" laugh, Zheng Yuan suddenly felt his scalp tighten.

The next second, Zheng Yuan was slammed into the wall, and his arms were twisted behind his back. When he heard the sound of the not-so-familiar lock, Zheng Yuan yelled angrily: "Wang Shiqi! You bastard! Let go!" Fuck me! You are abusing your power!"

His cry only attracted a group of excited onlookers.Wang Shiqi grabbed the back of his neck and lowered his throat: "You are assaulting the police! Isn't it embarrassing enough?"

Zheng Yuan realized that this was the ready-made people's livelihood news downstairs of the newspaper office he worked for, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone pulling out his mobile phone.He pressed his face against the concrete wall, wishing he could punch a hole and hide in it.

"Whatever you are looking at, what you are looking at, and you are performing official duties, get out of the way." Wang Shiqi has rich experience, and he dragged people into the car in three steps and two steps. On the car door, Zheng Yuan didn't say anything, and Wang Shiqi didn't apologize either.

Half an hour later, Wang Shiqi's car was parked in the parking lot.He turned off the ignition, took out the key, walked to the passenger side and opened the door.Zheng Yuan leaned on the car seat, turned his exhausted face to him: "Do you have any cigarettes?"

Wang Shiqi knew he was fine.He lit one and put it in Zheng Yuan's mouth, then lowered his head and uncuffed his hands.Zheng Yuan's hand was pulled out from behind to hold the cigarette holder, a red circle was pressed out on the wrist, and five uniform white lines below protruded from the skin, crossing the artery, it was the mountain of death.

"I don't remember so much before." Wang Shiqi frowned.

"I went to Jinzhou and tried two more times, but it didn't work. I found out later that I really wanted to die, and it was hard to save." Zheng Yuan took a puff of cigarette slowly, and sneered, "But I reckon I might I don't want to die that much either."

That smile stung Wang Shiqi.

He saved him, and more than once, Zheng Yuan's blood soaked his newly bought coat.When sending him to the hospital, he also smiled like this: "Wang Shiqi, can you not come so fast next time."

"You still want to have a next time!" His hands were sweaty, slipping on the steering wheel, "I didn't save you to see you die again! Believe it or not, I will tie you up!"

He walks the talk.After being discharged from the hospital, Zheng Yuan was locked up in his house for three months, and Wang Shiqi even cut his nails.In the end, he finally forced him to let go: "Let me go, I will live. I promise."

His assurances are bullshit.Wang Shiqi stared at those scars and hated his teeth: "If you want to die, you can't die. What will your son do if you die?"

"You help me raise it."

"Your plan is pretty good, kid." Wang Shiqi patted Zheng Yuan's head, causing him to drop a pile of soot in his pants, "I won't raise you for you. If you die, I promise to find you. Don't worry, I'm better than you." If there is a way, you must die thoroughly."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zheng Yuan looked at Wang Shiqi and found that he was not joking.

"Zheng Yuan, I know it's hard for you to live, and it's not easy for anyone to live. Do you think I'll have a better day since Xiaoye's accident? But it's better to be alive than dead... At least living is just a thought, and death is nothing It's all gone."

He was right, Zheng Yuan knew it.Why doesn't he want to live, no one has tried more ways to keep himself alive than him: he quit his job, sold his house, stayed away from his hometown, severed all ties with the past, drug intervention, a psychiatrist, a mutual aid society, but death His shadow always chased after his heels.After ten years, he was tired from running and wanted to rest.

Zheng Yuan lowered his eyes and crushed the soot bit by bit with his fingers. "I don't know what reason to live for."

"Everyone has a reason, and you will find a reason." Wang Shiqi pinched the handcuffs in his hands, and the blunt serrations slowly ate into the flesh. "Just... just try to live first, okay?"

Zheng Yuan was amused by his almost begging tone: "Don't tell me, this reason is to force me to investigate this case with you."

"At least I can give you something to do, don't think about it all day long." Wang Shiqi rolled his eyes, took the cigarette butt from Zheng Yuan's hand, and snuffed it out on the wall, "Can we go now?"

Zheng Yuan wiped his face and followed Wang Shiqi out of the parking lot.

(End of this chapter)