At 10:00 AM on November 18th, 4221 of the Cangli calendar, it was cloudy.
Winter came a little early to Tanhua City this year. In early November, the roadside trees had already lost their green leaves, making the place look particularly desolate.
The entrance to the new construction site of Sifang Construction was particularly lively. A long cordon cordoned off the entire gate, and passersby stopped to watch and take photos with their mobile phones.
A young-looking but impatient police officer in light blue uniform walked over and shooed them away, saying, "Stop taking pictures! Stop taking pictures! They've been taken away. You can all leave now!"
"Officer, what's going on here?"
"Has someone died? Why is there a police cordon?"
The young policeman said, "Don't believe or spread rumors. Nothing's wrong. It's just a worker who fainted. Let's disperse..."
In the crowd, a tall man, wrapped tightly in winter clothes, wore sunglasses, a mask, and a thick windproof hat, making it impossible to discern his expression.
Upon hearing the young policeman's words, the man turned and left. Just then, his cell phone beeped with a message.
The man took out his phone, entered the password through his leather gloves to unlock it, and saw a notification on the screen that read:
"Current Affairs News: A major criminal case occurred at Tanhua City Normal University on the 17th of this month, where a third-year female student was tragically murdered in the school's plum blossom grove. The Yunmeng County leadership has ordered the Anding Division to solve the case as soon as possible, apprehend the murderer, and restore clear skies to the citizens of Tanhua City!"
Immediately afterwards, another push notification appeared.
"Tanhua City Anding Division: Following instructions from our superiors, our division has established Task Force 1117 to investigate the murder case at Tanhua City Normal University. The task force leader is Li Nan, a rising star police officer from the Anding Division. Our division promises to solve this case and apprehend the perpetrator in the shortest possible time!"
The second half of the news article included a photo of the leaders of the An Ding Division of Tanhua City and members of the special task force.
Behind the crowd dressed in green and black, the usual slogan was displayed: "Violations will be investigated, and murder cases will be solved!" This was officially announced by the An Ding Division of Tanhua City.
Looking at the nameplate on the young man's green suit in the photo—Li Nan, head of the 1117 task force.
The man chuckled to himself, thinking, "Heh, they're all acquaintances, Li Nan. Consider this case a gift to you!"
The man habitually touched his left earlobe and walked across the road.
Suddenly, my eyes caught sight of a woman in a light yellow down jacket waiting at a traffic light at the intersection not far away. Her figure seemed somewhat familiar.
The man tightened his hat brim and strode forward to look at it. "It really is you. Even more interesting! Looks like I can start preparing that big gift for you now."
A strange red light flashed in the man's right eye, and his figure gradually disappeared into the early winter street scene.
...
At 11:00 a.m. on the same day, the 1117 task force of the Anding Division of Tanhua City.
"Captain Li, the autopsy report is ready. Please take a look."
The woman in the white coat handed Li Nan a document and continued, "The cause of death is clear: a severed carotid artery and excessive blood loss. Judging from the strength of the wounds, the murderer approached the victim from behind, holding a knife in his right hand. The weapon was likely a common fruit knife, and the victim died with a single blow. Apart from a line of poetry on his back, the victim had no other wounds or signs of struggle."
"Has the deceased's social relationships been investigated?" Li Nan asked as she took the report and flipped through it.
Ma Jie, a young man on one side of the conference table, immediately added: "The deceased was named Li Yan, a local resident, a third-year student at Tanhua City Normal University, and the vice president of the school's Honghu Club. Apart from attending classes, she spent most of her time working on the club."
Ma Jie paused for a moment and then said, "There's another crucial point: her boyfriend happens to be Liu Xiangdong, the president of this Honghu Society."
Ma Jie continued to recount his preliminary investigation findings, but Li Nan's gaze lingered on a close-up photo of the deceased's back in the autopsy report.
On the deceased's already pale back, a blood-stained poem was etched.
"Where the orioles sing in spring at the gate of the hall, I feel like I've seen this phrase somewhere before, it feels very familiar. The Honghu Society, the club founded by Brother Gao, I didn't expect it to still be around." Li Nan thought to himself.
"Captain Li, this is the information we have at the moment."
Li Nan was very satisfied with the young man's investigation and nodded, saying, "Xiao Ma did a great job, and everyone did a good job! This case seems simple, but its social impact is not good. We need to solve the case as soon as possible and catch the murderer!"
Including forensic doctor Qin Wen and young man Ma Jie, another man and woman said at the same time: "Don't worry, Captain Li, the murder case will be solved!"
"Now I'll assign the tasks!"
"Xiao Ma and Qin Wen, you two form a team and continue investigating the deceased's connections, especially her boyfriend and the Honghu Society. Lao Yang, you're an old hand, go with Li Nan to the school's administrative office to see the school leaders. I feel this case isn't an isolated incident; there should be more shady characters uncovered behind it. Especially this line of poetry, 'Where the orioles sing of spring at the hall's gate!'"
"yes!"
"Old Li!" After the meeting, Qin Wen slowed down and whispered to Li Nan.
"Where the orioles and sparrows sing of spring at the hall gate, isn't this the last line of Brother Gao's poem, 'Plum Blossom Falls at the School'?"
Qin Wen's words were like a sudden awakening for Li Nan.
"Yes, Honghu Society, isn't that the Plum Blossom Academy written by Brother Gao?" Gao Siming's image reappeared in Li Nan's mind.
"Old Li, there's something else I need to tell you first!"
The two walked out of the conference room and into Li Nan's office. Qin Wen closed the door and continued talking.
"Just this morning, another murder occurred in the city."
Are you talking about the Sifang construction site incident?
"Old Li, this matter is probably not as simple as an accident."
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