Chapter 376 Don't Cause Trouble for Yourself
On the other side of the city, the old canning factory was shrouded in rain.
The cold chain truck drove in slowly, its tires rolling over the accumulated water, and the splashing water was filled with a strange oily sheen.
The car door opened, and the driver, Lao Zhang, and the porter, Xiao Wang, jumped out. The rain hit their raincoats, making a dense "crackling" sound.
“Squeak—”
With a sharp "creak", the cabinet door slowly opened. In an instant, a biting chill rushed in from the depths of the carriage, bringing with it the smell of cold and death.
The low hum of the refrigerator in the car was amplified several times, and the cold air swirled in the air, condensing into a thin layer of mist.
The frozen blood frost covered the glass wall, forming strange patterns. The reflections of the two people were reflected on the frosted glass, and their faces were instantly filled with fear.
"What is that?"
Xiao Wang's voice was trembling as he pointed at the bloody mess of flesh sticking to the glass.
Lao Zhang held up a flashlight, and the beam of light pierced through the swirling cold air.
Among the pile of frozen fish, a round object was lying quietly.
It was a human head, with eyelashes and eyebrows covered with fine ice crystals. There was a hole at the back of the head, and blood was frozen on the remaining brain skin and hair, like a layer of dark red glaze.
What’s even more creepy is that the corners of the head’s mouth are slightly raised, as if it is having an unfinished dream, or has solved a puzzle.
Lao Zhang's voice was so dry that it didn't sound like his own: "It looks like a human head."
"No...no? You put this thing in our car?"
Xiao Wang's face was pale. He backed away while staring at Lao Zhang, his eyes full of vigilance and distrust.
Lao Zhang turned around suddenly and shouted angrily, "Bullshit! Why would I install this thing?!"
Lao Zhang's flashlight was shaking, and the beam of light was dancing above the man's head. "Could it be that you were faking it?"
Xiao Wang's breathing became rapid: "Am I fucking crazy? Putting a human head on the car?"
A brief silence fell between the two of them, with only the hum of the refrigerator echoing in the narrow space.
Xiao Wang's hand reached for his trouser pocket with trembling hands. As soon as the screen of the phone lit up, Lao Zhang grabbed it with such force that Xiao Wang almost dropped the phone.
"What are you doing?"
Xiao Wang was stunned, and subconsciously glared at Lao Zhang: "Report it to the police, or else!"
"What case are you reporting?" Old Zhang almost squeezed out these words from between his teeth.
He held Xiao Wang's wrist tightly, his eyes darkened, and his voice became even lower. "The police are here, can you explain it clearly? If they ask where the lower half of the head is, can we get it out?"
When Xiao Wang heard this, he felt his whole body go numb and it felt like there was a stone stuck in his throat.
He swallowed, his Adam's apple rolled with difficulty, and his voice was smaller than a mosquito: "Then...what should we do then?"
"Cold!"
Lao Zhang gritted his teeth and said ruthlessly, "Just pretend we didn't see anything. Hurry up and unload the goods. Don't cause trouble for yourself."
Half an hour later, the assembly line in the workshop started running.
The robotic arm feeds the frozen "natural fresh meat" and synthetic frozen fish into the meat grinder, and the huge gears begin to turn, making a low roar.
At the moment the gears meshed, the dull sound of flesh and bones being torn apart was completely drowned out by the noise of the machine.
The scarlet meat paste slowly flows into the cans through the pipe. Next to the assembly line, female workers wearing masks lower their heads and numbly repeat the packaging actions.
Their eyes were empty and their movements were stiff. No one took a second look at the contents of the can, as if it had nothing to do with them.
Outside the window, the rain is still pouring down.
The rain hit the tin roof with a rapid crackling sound, like a warning or a whisper of despair.
The cold white light from the workshop's headlights made the entire factory building look bleak. The light was projected onto the factory's outer wall, and the slogan that had long since peeled off and mottled was vaguely visible:
“Natural ingredients, healthy choice.”
The rain flowed along the wall and gathered into the drainage ditch outside the workshop, carrying away a few strands of dark red liquid and seeping into the city's huge blood vessels - the sewer system... Leaning against the old family quarters of the canning factory, Han Zheng dragged his tired body through the puddles of water, splashing water on his trouser legs, and the chill climbed up his legs into his heart.
He lowered his head, his suit was wrinkled, his briefcase was tucked firmly under his armpit, and the umbrella in his hand was held crookedly, but the rain still mercilessly wet his face and shoulders.
He raised his head and looked around at the familiar and boring scene. The mottled walls, crumbling windows and rusty iron doors made him feel indescribable irritation.
Growing up, his family had lived in the shadow of the cannery.
His father, mother, and later on his brother, all became workers in the cannery, doing mechanical labor day after day.
Canned food is always present on the family's dinner table, so much so that Han Zheng now feels like vomiting whenever he smells canned food. He would never go into a canning factory.
After paying some price, he succeeded, he entered the Executive Mansion and became a glorious temporary worker in the prison system department.
"Damn prison department, they treat me like an animal every day, it's even darker than a cannery."
Han Zheng walked and complained, muttering in a low voice, his tone of resentment mixed with helplessness.
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"The canning factory at least distributes some canned food, but these leaders only know how to..."
His voice was drowned out by the sound of rain. The cobblestone road in the alley was slippery and muddy, and his leather shoes made a low "gurgling" sound as they stepped into the puddles.
The legs of his suit pants were soaked, and the rain seeped down his trouser legs onto his skin, making him feel cold and uncomfortable, but he was too lazy to stop and tidy up. He just wanted to go home quickly and put this terrible night behind him.
When he turned the third alley, his steps suddenly stopped.
A bare electric wire hung in the middle of the road, like a quietly lurking poisonous snake, swaying slightly in the wind, with tiny sparks occasionally emitting from the end, crackling in the rainy night, which was very dangerous.
The electric wires are not low to the ground, but the small puddles formed by rainwater are like traps with hidden dangers. It seems that if you are not careful, the misfortune of electric shock will befall you.
Han Zheng frowned, stared at the wire, and muttered:
"The electric poles are always in disrepair. Every time it rains, someone gets electrocuted to death. What about the people above? They never care, hum——"
He complained angrily, then took out his cell phone and wanted to call the police.
But he looked at the screen and saw only 3% of the battery left. He finally sighed and put the phone back.
"Forget it, just wait for someone to call the police."
Han Zheng said in a low self-deprecating voice, shaking his head.
"It won't electrocute me anyway."
Just as he was about to bypass the wire, a strange whistle sounded in his eardrums.
The sound seemed to come from far away, but also seemed to ring directly in my mind.
Han Zheng's eyelids involuntarily grew heavy and he staggered.
Han Zheng suddenly woke up, feeling horrified.
However, it was too late - just as he was trying to stabilize his center of gravity, his leather shoes stepped on a loose stone. He lost his balance and fell forward out of control.
At the same time, the briefcase in his hand flew out, drew an arc, and hit a telephone pole not far away.
The metal thermos in the bag rolled over, leaving a deadly splash in the stagnant water.
Han Zheng fell heavily into the water, mud splashed everywhere, instantly making his suit a mess.
He tried to get up, but felt as if he was frozen.
Fear gripped his nerves, his pupils dilated infinitely in the dimness, reflecting the slowly rolling thermos cup - the stainless steel surface reflected a cold light from the electric arc.
…………
(End of this chapter)
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