Chapter 78 Weird Man
Hey, don’t be fooled by the fact that the people in the investigation team that Shi Qiu Shui assembled are all children. Although these children are small, they are very smart.
They are quite organized and well-planned.
Shi Qiushui's small group, including herself, numbered twenty people. She divided them into four groups, each taking turns to stake out the alleys at dawn, noon, and dusk, observing suspicious individuals. She also exploited adults' vulnerability to children, instructing them to periodically seek information from others in the alleys.
What are you asking about?
Find out who has long nails.
Because the nail that punctured Yang Zhiqiang's motorcycle tire was extremely long and thick, it was not the type of nail commonly found in people's homes.
"The Malan flowers bloom twenty-one, twenty-eight, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-five, twenty-seven..."
Shi Qiushui, Li Xi and Zhao Ran were jumping rope while looking towards the entrance of the alley.
Humph, don't think that she is just playing skipping rope. She is not. She is using skipping rope as a cover. In fact, her eyes are always on the people coming in from the alley entrance.
Seeing a strange man pushing a bicycle coming into the alley, Shi Qiushui's eyes lit up instantly, and she said to Zhao Ran and Li Xi: "Puchi Puchi."
Zhao Ran and Li Xi took her hint and came over immediately.
"What happened to Xiaoqiu?"
Shi Qiushui whispered, "This man looks unfamiliar to me. Could he be the bad guy who punctured the tire?"
Li Xi glanced at the man warily, and said seriously with a stern face, "Well, maybe!"
Shi Qiushui: "Then let's follow him and see what he's going to do!"
Li Xi and Zhao Ran nodded.
The three children put away their skipping ropes and tiptoed to follow the strange man who had just come in. The man pushing the cart did not notice that the three children had followed him. He walked quickly, crossed the alley in a hurry, turned into the main road on the left, and then disappeared.
Watching his departing figure, Shi Qiushui lowered her head in disappointment: "So he's just taking a shortcut..."
She waved her hands weakly: "Let's go, let's go back to the alley entrance and continue squatting."
"All right."
Li Xi and Zhao Ran are two very qualified younger brothers, and they obey Shi Qiu Shui's words.
The three kids returned to the entrance of the alley and continued jumping rubber rope. Oh, no, they used jumping rubber rope as a cover to continue stalking.
There were quite a few people coming in from the alley at this moment. From time to time, there were people riding bicycles or walking home side by side. But they were all familiar faces, not a single stranger.
Shi Qiushui stared at the passers-by with eager eyes, and began to sing in a crisp voice: "The Malan flower blooms on the twenty-first..."
"Boss Shi, Boss Shi!"
Shi Qiu Shui was jumping rubber rope when he heard a child in the alley running towards him while shouting.
When the man ran closer, Shi Qiushui pulled him aside, frowning and saying, "Shut up! What did I tell you before? Didn't I tell you to keep a low profile outside in case the bad guy who punctured the tire finds out we're investigating him? Why are you still yelling at me so loudly?"
Maomao, who ran over, was so frightened by Shi Qiu Shui's serious face that his nose started to snot.
He sniffed and whispered, "Yes, sorry, boss, I forgot..."
Shi Qiushui: "It's fine this time, but don't do it next time! Otherwise I'll kick you out of our organization!"
Mao Mao looked at Shi Qiu Shui pitifully and whispered, "Well! Boss, don't worry, I won't do it again next time. Please don't kick me out of the organization."
Shi Qiushui waved his hand: "Alright, alright, this is the first time. I was just warning you, not saying I'm going to kick you out right now."
Maomao said gratefully, "Thank you, Boss."
Shi Qiushui: "Oh, by the way, is there something you want to talk to me about?"
"Yes! Boss, I have a clue to report!" Maomao spread out his clenched fist. "Boss, look, I found this!"
Shi Qiu Shui looked down and saw that Maomao was holding a nail in his hand, the same one that punctured the tire of Yang Zhiqiang's motorcycle.
Her eyes widened and she asked, "Maomao, where did you find this nail?"
Maomao: "I found it right in our alley."
He added, "I found it near the door of the new house that moved into the courtyard at the very back of the alley."
Shi Qiu Shui touched his chin and thought, suspicious, very suspicious.
They had just moved in and had the tools used in the crime, which was really suspicious.
She had to go and investigate.
Shi Qiushui waved Zhao Ran and Li Xi over and said, "I think the family Maomao mentioned is very suspicious. I've decided to go over and investigate. Do you want to come with me?"
"go!"
"Xiao Qiu, of course we have to go with you!"
Zhao Ran and Li Xi nodded without hesitation.
Shi Qiushui: "Okay! Let's go!"
She waved her hand and led the three children to run towards the courtyard inside the alley, but before they took two steps, they bumped into someone.
"Ouch!"
The person who was hit was none other than the disliked older member of their investigation team - Niu Xiaobei.
At this moment, there was a girl standing next to Niu Xiaobei, his girlfriend Zhao Li.
Before the college entrance examination, the two children's premature love was concealed in front of both families. After the college entrance examination, the two children started to talk about love more openly.
Niu Xiaobei felt truly pathetic. He had thought he'd be free to go out with his girlfriend after the Gaokao. But right after the exam, his mother assigned him the task of playing house with the children. He had to watch over all the kids, leaving him with no chance to see his girlfriend, let alone go out on a date.
There was no other way. In order to meet his girlfriend, he could only ask his girlfriend to have a date near his home.
He had just met his girlfriend when he saw the group of kids his mother had assigned him to look after trying to run away. That wouldn't do. If these kids got lost and couldn't be found, his mother would definitely skin him alive!
So Niu Xiaobei hurriedly brought Zhao Li out, but unexpectedly ran into Shi Qiu Shui.
Shi Qiu Shui was considered taller than other children of the same age, and her head just reached Niu Xiaobei's waist. Niu Xiaobei felt as if the hammer she hit him right on his waist, which hurt so much that he grimaced and couldn't speak.
"hiss--"
Niu Xiaobei complained about the pain, and Shi Qiu Shui also complained about the pain. Although she was the one who bumped into Niu Xiaobei, she was also hit hard on the head and it hurt too!
In the end, Shi Qiu Shui recovered first. After all, the head is stronger than the kidneys.
Shi Qiushui rubbed his head, looked at Niu Xiaobei with a resentful look, and asked, "Brother Xiaobei, what are you doing? You suddenly stood up and hit my head."
Niu Xiaobei: "..."
The corners of his mouth twitched. "How dare you say that? I haven't even mentioned my kidneys... No, my waist. Yeah, my waist. You've almost bruised my waist."
Shi Qiushui pursed his lips and muttered softly, "That's because you suddenly came over. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have..."
"Hey, is this my fault?" Niu Xiaobei said speechlessly with his eyes wide open.
Shi Qiushui: "That's how it is..."
“Puff—”
Zhao Li couldn't help laughing. It was the first time she saw her boyfriend being humiliated.
Hearing the voice, Shi Qiushui's eyes fell on Zhao Li, and her eyes lit up with gossip. She asked curiously: "Brother Xiaobei, who is this sister...?"
"Ahem." Niu Xiaobei cleared his throat and said, "Let me introduce you. This is me, your Brother Xiaobei, and my girlfriend, Zhao Li. You can call her Sister Zhao, Sister Li, or Sister Zhao Li."
Shi Qiushui squinted his eyes and said meaningfully: "Oh - it's your girlfriend -"
Niu Xiaobei tapped her forehead with his finger, then frowned and said deliberately seriously, "Stop making trouble and call someone."
Shi Qiushui rolled her eyes at Niu Xiaobei, then turned to Zhao Li with a bright smile and said sweetly, "Hello, Sister Zhao."
The eldest sister had already spoken, and Zhao Ran, Li Xi, and Maomao behind her also obediently shouted in unison: "Hello, Sister Zhao."
Zhao Li smiled and said, "Okay, good for you guys too."
She quietly tugged at the corner of Niu Xiaobei's clothes and asked in a low voice, "Who are these kids..."
"Oh." Niu Xiaobei pointed at Zhao Ran, Li Xi, and Shi Qiushui and said, "These three are the children from our neighborhood. Xiaoqiu Shi Qiushui, Ranran Zhao Ran, and Xixi Li Xi." Then he looked at Maomao and said, "This is the kid from our alley, Maomao."
After introducing Zhao Li, he turned around and looked at the four little kids seriously, asking, "By the way, I haven't asked you yet, where were you trying to go just now?"
Shi Qiushui raised her little face and said crisply, "Keep it a secret!"
Niu Xiaobei glanced at her and asked, "Hey? Keep it a secret? What do you have to keep secret from me?"
Shi Qiushui pouted and didn't want to tell Niu Xiaobei, but Niu Xiaobei pulled her arm and said, "Xiaoqiu, hurry up and tell me the truth. If you don't, I won't let you go."
Shi Qiushui pouted: "Okay, okay, I'm telling you, we have to investigate the bad guys. Just now, Maomao..."
She recounted her suspicions about the family at the end of the alley, and with her large, distinct eyes, she said to Niu Xiaobei: "Brother Xiaobei, we agreed before that you can't interfere with our normal investigation!"
Niu Xiaobei nodded: "Yes, we agreed before that I will not interfere with your normal investigation."
He changed the subject: "But you don't have to go to the one at the end of the alley."
Shi Qiushui was anxious: "Why! Why don't you let us go? We are just conducting a normal investigation!"
Niu Xiaobei: "Stop, I'm not telling you not to go, I'm saying you don't have to go. Because I know the family that just moved in, they're in the carpentry business, so it's not surprising to have such a long nail. Also, the day the bicycle tire in our yard was punctured, their family wasn't home."
After all, his mother was in charge of the hospital and was well-informed about the news in the alley. He knew a little about what his mother was mumbling at home.
Shi Qiushui looked at Niu Xiaobei with suspicion: "Are you serious?"
Niu Xiaobei: "Hey, why would I lie to you about this? My brother's bicycle tires were punctured. If there were any clues, how could I not let you investigate? I know there's nothing wrong with him. Even if you go over to investigate, it will be in vain. Don't I want you to waste your energy?"
"Okay..." Shi Qiushui lowered his head dejectedly: "I understand."
Seeing her mood suddenly drop, Niu Xiaobei was a little at a loss. Mao Mao, who came to report the news, also apologized embarrassedly: "Boss, well, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come to report to you without knowing that they are in the carpentry business..."
Although Shi Qiu Shui was disappointed, she was not really that sad. Seeing Maomao apologized carefully, she felt a little embarrassed.
She waved her hands and said, "Oh, it's nothing. Maomao, you just want to catch the bad guys..."
She bit her lip and wanted to say something to comfort Maomao, but when the words came to her lips, she really didn't know what to say.
Because she was indeed a little frustrated, she angrily pulled together this investigation team and led everyone to investigate for more than two days, but no clues were found. She felt guilty towards these younger brothers.
Shi Qiushui was feeling depressed with his head down when he heard Shi Yue's voice calling from the courtyard: "Xiaoqiu, Xiaoqiu——"
Shi Qiushui looked up: "Hey!"
Shi Yue: "Xiao Qiu, come back. The meal is ready. Let's eat!"
"Oh, here they come!" Shi Qiushui shouted inside, turned around and waved goodbye to the children: "I'm going home to eat first, and I'll play after dinner."
She ran into the yard and returned home. As soon as she entered the door, she smelled the fragrance. She asked curiously, "Dad, what delicious food did you make?"
Shi Yue: "I made clay pot rice."
Shi Qiushui: "Claypot rice? What is that?"
Shi Yue: "It's Chinese sausage steamed rice. But don't underestimate this Chinese sausage steamed rice. This is the Chinese sausage that my colleague from the factory brought back from Guangzhou. It's authentic Cantonese Chinese sausage. This clay pot rice is also made in the Cantonese style. I specifically asked them how it was made. How is it? Isn't it delicious?"
Shi Qiushui nodded vigorously: "Mm, it smells good!"
Shi Yue: "Hurry up and get a bowl, and eat quickly."
"Okay!" Shi Qiu Shui quickly went to get a bowl to eat.
It must be said that Shi Yue's clay pot rice today was really successful. It was different from the sausage steamed rice he made before. When steaming the rice today, he deliberately poured a circle of oil on it. The steamed rice grains were distinct and shiny, with a scent of oil and Cantonese sausage.
What surprised Shi Qiu Shui even more was the rice crust at the bottom of the pot. It was crispy and had a strong rice aroma. It was really delicious.
Shi Qiu Shui ate two large bowls of food and was so full that he couldn't stand up.
She slumped back in her chair, dazed.
Shi Yue found Shi Qiushui's dull expression amusing. He asked for conversation, "Hey, Xiaoqiu, did your investigation team find any clues? Do you know who punctured the tire?"
Shi Qiu Shui looked at Shi Yue sadly, lowered his head and said nothing.
have to.
When Shi Yue saw this reaction, he knew that Shi Qiu Shui must not have found any clues.
He comforted the little girl, saying, "Well, if you don't find any clues, then you don't find any clues. What's the big deal?"
He said, "Maybe the bad guy who slashed the tire isn't from our neighborhood. It's normal that you can't find any clues."
Shi Qiushui shook his head: "No, if he wasn't from our area, why would he puncture the tires of our courtyard?"
Shi Yue leaned back lazily on the back of his chair, his arm resting on the chair next to him, his posture quite comfortable. He said, "Maybe, maybe he just happened to walk into our yard, and suddenly he had nothing to do and punctured our tire."
Shi Qiushui pouted and said, "How can there be so many coincidences?"
Shi Yue chuckled and said, "That's what I meant. I just wanted to tell you that maybe this was just a coincidence. It's normal that you can't figure it out."
Shi Qiushui: "What if that bad guy comes to slash the tire again?"
Shi Yue raised his eyebrows: "Hey, can you just hope for something better?"
Shi Qiushui glanced at Shi Yue and muttered softly, "That's not something I can just hope for."
Shi Yue: "Hey..."
Without waiting for Shi Yue to say anything, Shi Qiushui jumped off the stool and ran out, saying as she ran, "Dad, I'm going out to play..."
The little girl's mood changed very quickly. After a brief moment of melancholy, she quickly regained her optimistic attitude, went out to look for her younger brother, and began to stare at the pedestrians at the entrance of the alley.
She stared at the girl like this until around eight o'clock in the evening. It was getting dark and there were more and more mosquitoes outside. Shi Qiu Shui kept waving the big palm-leaf fan he brought from home, trying to fan away the annoying mosquitoes around. But unfortunately, it didn't work. The little girl was still bitten by a series of big red spots on her arms and legs.
Gao Cuifen, who was sitting nearby, couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Xiaoqiu, stop scratching. I'll go get you some toilet water."
Shi Qiushui shook her head: "Grandma Gao, no need, I just applied floral water."
Gao Cuifen: "You applied floral water, but you still got so many bites?"
Shi Qiushui nodded with a bitter face: "Yeah!"
Gao Cuifen: "Tsk tsk, it turns out that children's flesh is still sweet. Even with the floral water applied, it still attracts mosquitoes. For old models like us, the flesh is bitter and mosquitoes don't even bother to bite us."
"Go away, you're the one who's biting your eyes." Li Xiuying, who was also sitting there, was unhappy. She rolled her eyes and said, "You weren't bitten, but I was. This shows that mosquitoes know that my flesh is not bitter."
Gao Cuifen curled her lips: "Are you still proud?"
Li Xiuying: "I am just proud. I am young and I am proud."
Gao Cuifen: "How dare you say that? You're still young. Your birthday is three months older than mine, right?"
Li Xiuying raised her eyebrows proudly: "I am older than you, but I look younger than you. If you don't believe me, ask others and see if they think you are younger or me."
Gao Cuifen drooped her face and stopped talking.
She knew it without asking, it was Li Xiuying who looked younger.
Li Xiuying was prettier and more fashionable than her when she was young. When she got older, her daughter was sensible and gave her less worries. She was the only one at home besides her daughter, so she had less things to worry about and had more time to dress up and take care of herself, so she looked even younger.
Not to mention compared with people of the same age as her, even compared with people who are a few years younger, Li Xiuying looks younger.
Gao Cuifen didn't want to be boring, so she drooped her face, fanned herself twice with a large palm-leaf fan, stood up and said, "Well, I'm sleepy. I'm going back to sleep. You guys can chat."
Li Xiuying glanced at her and said with a half-smile, "Hey, Lao Gao, are you sleepy so early?"
Gao Cuifen: "Yeah, I'm sleepy."
She threw the words away, turned around and left, quickly entering the yard. Seeing her go home, Shi Qiushui also stood up. Originally, Shi Qiushui wanted to stay at the entrance of the alley for a while, but the mosquito bites made her really unbearable. She stood up and said goodbye to everyone, but after saying goodbye, she didn't go home directly, but went to the bathroom. She planned to use the bathroom before going home.
When Li Xi saw Shi Qiu Shui walking towards the toilet, he quickly stood up and followed him.
"Xiao Qiu, do you want to go to the bathroom? I want to go too..."
Shi Qiushui took Li Xi's arm and said, "Okay, let's go together."
Li Xi: "Well, let's go together."
Good friends should go to the bathroom together!
Two little girls went to the toilet hand in hand. Although it was fun to go to the toilet with good friends, the toilet still smelled bad.
The toilets in their alley are still the old-fashioned cement squat toilets, not the new flush toilets. Needless to say, the smell is unimaginable, especially now that it is summer and the weather is hot, the smell in the toilet is even worse.
Shi Qiushui pinched his nose and finished quickly, then said in a muffled voice, "Xixi, I'll go out and wait for you first, please hurry up."
Li Xi: "Well, you go out first, I'll be ready soon."
Shi Qiu Shui pinched her nose and didn't let go until she came out of the toilet. She stood under the electric pole opposite the toilet and breathed in the fresh air outside. But before a while, the unlucky mosquitoes came around her again.
She was slapping mosquitoes in circles. Just as she turned to slap the mosquito on the right, she suddenly noticed a man dressed strangely standing not far in front of her.
It was clearly a hot day, but the man was wearing a long coat and long pants, a travel hat on his head, and a cotton mask on his face. What was even more outrageous was that it was dark, but he still had a pair of black sunglasses on his nose.
The strangely dressed man was hiding behind a telephone pole not far away, staring at the people sitting at the entrance of the alley.
Shi Qiushui stroked his chin and thought: "Strange, really strange."
"Xiao Qiu, what are you wondering about?" Li Xi came out of the bathroom and heard Shi Qiu Shui mumbling here. She asked curiously.
Shi Qiushui pulled her over and pointed at the man not far away and said, "I'm talking about that man. Look at him, late at night, dressed in such a strange outfit, and sneaking around. He doesn't look like a good guy!"
Li Xi looked in the direction she pointed and saw the strange man. She nodded seriously: "Yeah, it's really strange!"
She cautiously pulled Shi Qiushui aside and said, "Xiaoqiu, let's quickly inform Uncle Shi. That man doesn't look like a good person!"
Shi Qiushui: "Yes! Go inform my dad!"
The two little girls held hands and ran into the yard quickly to complain. When Shi Yue heard what they said, he became serious. He picked up a broom and rushed out.
However, when he came out, he didn't see the man.
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