10

Ever since I was a kid, the area around Qingnian Road in Chengguan City has become a night-time snack street. At 10:30 p.m., when the last shift of urban management officers leaves, street vendors begin setting up shop.

The placement of night snack stalls is a skill, and they are usually marked with a marker. As a result, the open-air stalls have spontaneously acquired names such as Acacia Tree Grilled Lamb Skewers, Qiaotou BBQ, Xinjiekou BBQ, and so on.

Today, the old locust tree at the entrance to the alley is still vibrant, and the barbecue stall beneath it is still open, though the owners have long since changed. They're now a young couple, perhaps a couple. The man is bent over grilling skewers; the woman, probably in her thirties, has a simple blush on her cheeks and is neatly dressed. As I approach, she warmly invites me to sit down and hands me a plastic-wrapped menu.

I sat down at a plastic table under a tree, pretending to examine the menu while watching the man grilling skewers from the corner of my eye. He sprinkled a handful of cumin and slapped the lamb skewers against each other. Excess fat dripped into the red-hot charcoal, sizzling and sparking, illuminating the man's face—a thin, long, horse-like face with a sinister expression.

Although I haven't seen him for many years, I know he is Zheng Kun.

Finally found it, I thought to myself, what a long journey.

Like the policewoman named Xu Wenjing, I think the key to the problem lies in this person named Besi. His connection to Li Xueqiang's murder is too deep. Regardless of whether he is the murderer or not, he must know some truth.

While finding him presents a significant challenge, I possess a valuable clue unknown to others: the deep connection between the thug duo, Zheng Kun and Zhang Zhihao. They were once incredibly close, a symbiotic relationship like that of a crow and a wolf. It's hard to imagine Zheng Kun hasn't even once, in all these years, secretly contacted Zhang Zhihao. It's uncharacteristic of him to so easily abandon such a valuable tool.

It should not be difficult to find Zhang Zhihao, and it should be even easier to pry information out of him.

So, I optimistically asked for a week's annual leave from the company (I hadn't asked for leave in five years, and I used this to reason with the general manager and forced him to get it), and embarked on a journey to find someone.

But the first problem almost made me give up. Thirteen years had passed, and things had changed. The building where Zhang Zhihao's family originally lived had long been demolished, and no one knew what had become of him or her.

Fortunately, I was a local and had many old friends and family. I tried asking around, but after being mistaken for a scam countless times, I finally stumbled upon the occupation and identity information of Zhang Zhihao's former neighbor. The problem was, the family had long since moved away, and I had no contact information.

In desperation, I had to personally search for the suspect elsewhere. The ensuing experience was like searching for a needle in a haystack. One piece of information often yielded five derivatives, two of which were false, two of which were disconnected, and the remaining one might not even be useful. I deeply understood the true meaning of Officer Xu Wenjing's remark that "98% of a criminal police officer's work is wasted searching the wrong places." So-called deductions and flashes of inspiration rarely come into play; endless interviews and inquiries are the core of a criminal police officer's work.

After repeatedly extending my vacation and visiting seven cities, I finally tracked down Zhang Zhihao. Thanks to his parents' connections, he, who hadn't even graduated from high school, now ran a sizable renovation company. His waistline had grown considerably larger, the skin on his face had completely slackened, but a cunning glint began to flicker in his eyes.

I feigned a chance encounter, drawing on our long-standing friendship in an attempt to extract information. But as the general manager, he was incredibly smooth-talking, practically impervious to any snippet of information. I feigned a friendly gesture, offering my business card and discussing business partnerships, and then treating him to a meal. After three rounds of drinks, a red-faced Zhang Zhihao finally revealed the truth: Zheng Kun had indeed contacted him several times over the years. Each time, it was to borrow money, and the sums were increasingly large. He had long been dissatisfied with Zheng Kun.

He easily revealed Zheng Kun's whereabouts—he was operating an unlicensed barbecue stall under an old locust tree in Chengguan City. It was incredible that Zheng Kun had dared to come back. Did he really think the most dangerous place was the safest?

After nearly a month, like finishing a game of Monopoly, I returned from the end point to the starting point, arriving in Chengguan City. Li Zitong still hadn't been freed. But I checked the news on my phone. Unlike the case of the missing jewelry, there was no negative news about her anywhere. As far as the general public knew, she was probably still filming on a set somewhere.

The third "videotape murder" also remained largely unnoticed, with only a few scattered local news reports, attracting no more attention than a typical murder. Perhaps the film's investors, realizing this was undeniably negative news, banded together to suppress the news.

The truth remains unknown. However, tonight I have a feeling I can personally put an end to this series of cases. If the man grilling mutton skewers before me is really Zheng Kun.

I pulled out my phone, thinking of calling the police, but hesitated. The locust tree obscured the streetlights, and the sparks from the grill alone made it difficult to see the man's entire form.

I pretended to take a beer from the plastic basket and took a few steps closer to the grill. Realizing someone was approaching, the man looked up at me in confusion, squinting his eyes as if remembering something.

"Just wanted a beer," I explained.

I immediately regretted my words; my voice betrayed me. The man's pupils suddenly dilated, and the skewers in his hands fell to the dust. Without even taking off his apron, he turned and ran. A moment later, he had already disappeared into the alley west of the locust tree.

The proprietress pushed aside the diners who had stood up to watch the excitement and squeezed over to ask what was going on. I didn't have time to explain before I chased after her.

The narrow alleyway led to the old city, a place untouched by renovations for years. Its roads were as narrow and complex as a spiderweb. Although I was only a few seconds behind, I had completely lost sight of Zheng Kun. Trying to keep my distance, I chased him for several intersections, and at one point, I saw his back again.

"I'm not trying to hurt you!" I yelled. But instead of stopping, he ran even faster, repeatedly entering the narrow paths that snaked around the old residential areas. Luckily, I'm also a local, and I managed to maintain my sense of direction in the maze-like pursuit. I finally caught up with him near the former state-owned textile factory staff dormitories.

There used to be a small path leading to the cafeteria on the side of the dormitory, but it was now blocked by barbed wire, and several buckets of kitchen waste were piled up. When I arrived, Zheng Kun was climbing up the barbed wire with his feet on the bicycle seat. I grabbed his pants by the waistband and pulled hard, and we both fell to the ground.

Zheng Kun landed on his back, knocking over a trash can. He grabbed a beer bottle and smashed the bottom, revealing the sharp glass corners. "Don't push me!"

Although I am not afraid of him if he uses force, I didn't intend to do so from the beginning. When a rabbit is angry, its bite can be very painful.

I took a few steps back and casually spread my hands to show I had no hostility. "I don't intend to do anything to you. I just want to chat and catch up. Remember me?"

"Of course I remember," Zheng Kun spat on the ground, "Nothing good ever happens when I meet you."

"That's because you've encountered bad luck, and I want to help you. Of course, you've heard about it from your father, right? In the Xu Lan case, if I hadn't helped to deduce the existence of the third murderer, you and your son would have been kept in the dark until now."

He groaned, "Let's not talk about the past anymore."

"The past is like wind, better not to mention it—I'd like to say that if I could. But you've heard, another person has died. Same room, similar modus operandi. It's only a matter of time before the police reopen their investigation into Li Xueqiang's case. Maybe they're already doing it in secret."

He narrowed his eyes, seemingly not surprised by the news. "Who is Li Xueqiang? What does his case have to do with me?"

"Stop pretending. I was the one who stumbled upon the scene of Li Xueqiang's death. I'm fully aware of the progress of the investigation. Didn't your father leave his work permit from the Power Supply Bureau at the crime scene?"

"After all these years, I thought it was safe... I didn't expect they would find it after all." Zheng Kun lowered the beer bottle in his hand. "Did you come all the way here to tell me this?"

"Besides that, I'd like to advise you to surrender yourself. You destroyed the scene by moving the body," I advised sincerely.

"Let you go!" The beer bottle, like a venomous snake in suspended animation, raised its neck again and aimed at my throat. "Now that things have come to this, you're talking about turning yourself in again. What does all the suffering we've endured in hiding for so many years mean?"

"Things are different now. You've seen the attention the 'videotape murders' have received on the news, right? The current case remains unsolved, and sooner or later it will become a major news story again. The police force and resources devoted to the investigation will surely be beyond imagination. With today's technological advancements, it's only a matter of time before we find you."

"Nonsense, haven't I been hiding here for so many years?"

"Really? Then how did I find you?"

Zheng Kun's eyes were obviously shaken.

"For all these years, neither you nor your father have been listed as wanted criminals for murder. This proves that there has never been direct evidence pointing to you. Today's legal system advocates the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'. As long as you have a clear conscience, you will definitely be safe." I urged them, "I will also help prove it."

"you?"

"That's right. I proved to your father back then that you simply stumbled upon a fabricated crime scene. As for your father, although I once suspected that he was the one who attacked Li Xueqiang, you can see from your adult experience that he valued your future more than his own life. For this reason, he didn't hesitate to hide the truth from you and attacked me. After learning the truth, he was willing to let me go for the same reason, despite the risk of being exposed. I don't think he would really kill Li Xueqiang, an important insider of the case. Even if his life was in danger, he would find a way to save Li Xueqiang's life to prove your innocence."

Zheng Kun sighed and threw the bottle aside. "I understand. I'll seriously consider turning myself in. Before that, I'll treat you to a barbecue and a few drinks together."

The way back to the barbecue stall is long and winding. I really don’t know how we got here just now.

Zheng Kun remained silent throughout the journey, seemingly lost in thought. When they were almost there, he suddenly spoke up: "Actually, proving whether my father was a murder suspect is pointless. He's been dead for two years."

I was speechless for a moment, and it took me a long time to utter, "My condolences."

"It was his own fault, I guess. He smoked too much, a pack a day. But the way he died was a little tragic. He had advanced lung cancer and only lasted six months from the time it was discovered. Before he died, he insisted on returning to visit his hometown. I was so disheartened at the time, and I happened to meet my current partner, so I ended up staying here... Well, let's not talk about this useless stuff anymore. The real focus should be on his last words."

I listened carefully.

"His last words... No, let's start from the beginning," he said, speaking in the tone of a retired general recounting a past battle. "In the early morning of the day Li Xueqiang had the accident, I had just recovered from my illness and was sleeping soundly. My father suddenly woke me up in a panic, sweat drenched. He said things were getting serious and we had to escape as quickly as possible, the farther the better. I asked him why, but he refused to say. With only our carry-on luggage, we boarded a train heading south."

"Life wasn't easy in the first few years after arriving in Guangdong. It was humid, the food was unfamiliar, and the people speaking on the street hardly made sense. Luckily, there were many ways to make money, and as long as you worked hard, you could make a living. My father changed his old ways and started working seriously. He first took me to do odd jobs, and after saving enough money, he opened a breakfast stall, and our life finally stabilized. As time went by, I naturally couldn't help but ask him what happened that day and how Li Xueqiang's death had anything to do with us. But he either shook his head or changed the subject. If I asked too hard, he would lose his temper and get violent. It wasn't until he was lying on his deathbed that he told me the truth. After all, he had no choice but to tell me."

At this point, he paused, raised his head, and sighed deeply. Then, in the third person, he narrated the final words in their entirety, describing the bizarre experience Bessie had the day before the murder, filled with hints and possibilities. After listening to this, I remained silent for a long time.

"It's hard to believe, isn't it?" Zheng Kun sighed. "There are so many coincidences, and so many things that can't be explained. It seems like a made-up story."

I snapped out of my thoughts and shook my head in denial, "I don't think so. If it were a lie, it wouldn't be so bizarre, nor would it include inexplicable details. Instead, it would seem like something that really happened."

His eyes lit up, "So, do you think the police will believe it?"

"Well...I don't know."

"That's right." He sighed and continued walking ahead, sighing, "It's amazing. Just because I stole a box of videotapes, my whole life was shattered. But on second thought, even if that didn't happen, what would have happened if I had gone to culinary school? Now I can only open a barbecue stall, and at most I can get an additional business license. People like me will always end up in a mess no matter how hard I try, while you and Zhang Zhihao are destined to wear suits and ties."

I just happened to be wearing a suit jacket today. Everyone’s life is a mess. I thought so, but finally didn’t say it out loud.

Returning to the entrance of Huaishu Alley, they saw a surging crowd. In the center of the crowd was Zheng Kun's girlfriend, anxiously explaining something to two men in police uniforms.

Seeing this, Zheng Kun turned around and tried to leave, but two policemen surrounded him from both sides, making it seem like he couldn't escape.

He put his arm on my left shoulder, acted like a close brother, and leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Don't talk nonsense. Just pretend you know nothing."

"Didn't you just agree to turn yourself in..." Before I could finish my sentence, I realized that something sharp had penetrated my clothes and slightly pierced the skin on the back of my neck.

It was a broken beer bottle. This guy actually had something else to hold back. I could feel him trembling and terrified. I didn't dare move a muscle in this situation.

There were two policemen, one tall and one short. The taller one asked immediately, "Are you the owner of the barbecue stall?"

"Yes."

"What's going on? Someone just called the police and said you were being held hostage?"

"Oh my, it was a misunderstanding. He's an old friend of mine, but he went to a big city to develop his career and hasn't been back in years. We were a little excited to see each other again, so we had some fun. I didn't expect it to be misunderstood and even alert the police. I'm so sorry."

The tall policeman didn't respond, instead looking us both in turn with a suspicious gaze. He then interrogated us about our identities and relationships, and Zheng Kun answered every question fluently.

The tall man whispered to the short man, "It seems to be fine." The short man nodded.

The tall man coughed, turned around and waved his hand to signal us to leave, while also giving him a few words of advice, "You are grown up, don't do this kind of tricks in public anymore."

I said nothing and as I walked past the short policeman, my right arm was suddenly grabbed.

"I remembered it when I saw his profile." His grip was very strong, but his tone was still gentle. "We've met before, right?"

I had to admit that I had just been to the police station a month ago, and the two policemen exchanged meaningful glances.

"Please come back to the bureau and cooperate with the investigation." said the tall man.