Chapter 9 chapter eight

As soon as Chao Chen entered the restaurant, a waiter who knew him warmly greeted him. "Officer Chen, you haven't been here for a long time! What would you like to eat today?" "Let's have some, but don't have too much, it's enough for two people to eat." Super Chen said with a smile. "How about the special set menu for two?" "OK, let's make another pot of tea and make it stronger." While waiting for the food, Chen Chao began to try to think about the thesis again.Perhaps it is not enough to analyze only one or two works.If he could show that such thematic inconsistencies are common in classical love stories, it would perhaps be an original and valuable research topic.So he had to select a few more stories to analyze.Chen Chao wrote down this new plan in his notebook.

As soon as he closed his notebook, he saw Shen Wenchang walking into the restaurant tremblingly, leaning on a cane with a dragon's head.This is an old man in his eighties. Although his beard and hair are white, he is hale and hearty. He is wearing a Tang suit and black cloth shoes.Chen Chao quickly stood up and helped the old man to sit at the table. It can be seen that Mr. Shen does not have a good impression of the Public Security Bureau.Today, Yu Guangming happened to be on an emergency mission and was not in the bureau, so Liao Guochang received him.Captain Liao said that he had already consulted many old tailors, and his lukewarm attitude made Shen Wenchang a little unhappy.

Chen Chao thought to himself, apart from Liao Guochang's attitude, there may be other reasons for this.He was the one who sent Mr. Shen to the bureau, and Captain Liao obviously misunderstood.Of course, there was really no need to explain to the old scholar all the nonsense in the Bureau. "You don't need to worry about Captain Liao, he has a donkey temper, and sometimes he does things without thinking. Tell me about the history of the development of the cheongsam, and I will listen with all my ears." Chen Chao said, pouring a cup of tea for Shen Wenchang.At this time, the waiter brought the dishes.

Shen Wenchang took a bite of tofu mixed with shallots, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Why do we call this kind of clothing Qipao now? There are many theories. One theory is that Manchurians, regardless of gender, wear brightly colored robes. The Manchurians were divided into eight banners, so their clothes were called cheongsam. It was not until the 1920s and 1930s that this kind of ethnic minority clothing became popular across the country without knowing it.'Cultural Revolution 'Before, many people liked to wear the cheongsam. It became popular again in the mid-eighties, and now it is spread all over the world. Hollywood movie stars wear it at the Oscars. People think that there is no dress like the The cheongsam can better outline the beautiful curves of women..."

The opening remarks were quite lengthy, but Chen Chao listened with great interest.There is no doubt that the cheongsam is the symbol of the murderer in this case. As a policeman, he must know more about it. "Speaking of the cheongsam Captain Liao showed me, it should have been made some years ago, maybe more than ten years ago." Shen Wenchang said while taking out some photos, "It's been a long time, the sewing thread The color of the cheongsam has turned yellow. The fabric of the cheongsam is a fine printed brocade, which may be older. The buttons are also, only used by tailors in the 1960s or earlier. Since the early 1980s, they used The plastic zipper is gone, and that thing is more comfortable and fit than buttons. The style of cheongsam is also old-fashioned, look at the whole sleeve. Nowadays, fashionable people prefer single-piece sleeves, because single-piece sleeves are more suitable for outlining curves, and the workmanship It's also simpler..."

At this time, the waiter brought several main dishes, interrupting Shen Wenchang's eloquent introduction.Among them was a plate of drunk prawns. The prawns soaked in wine were still bouncing, but the movements were getting smaller and smaller. Shen Wenchang said: "This dish is quite fashionable, but it is also an old dish." For an octogenarian, he has a pretty good appetite.He picked up a shrimp that was still twitching and put it into his mouth, Super Chen also picked up one and ate one.This drunken shrimp tasted a little sweet, and Super Chen didn't like its creamy texture.

"Now let me talk about the workmanship of this cheongsam," Shen Wenchang smacked his lips and said, "it is 100% handmade. Only experienced Hong Gang old tailors spend at least a week to make such a cheongsam. Look at those high-end shopping malls today. The workmanship of the so-called high-priced cheongsam is not top-notch at all. The things made by those machines are not at the same level as the cheongsam Captain Liao showed me." "That is to say, this cheongsam was made at least ten years ago, and the fabric and style may even be from the 1950s and 1960s." Chao Chen said while writing these clues in the notebook, "In other words, the murderer Have to get the fabric from a long time ago, and then find a way to find an old tailor to make it?"

"I can't do anything about it," Shen Wenchang said, "but I also found some problems with the way the victim wore the cheongsam. The beauty of the cheongsam comes from subtle sexual hints. For example, the slits show the curves of women's legs but I want to talk about it. The looming thighs can arouse people's infinite reverie." "Just like Chinese classical poetry, the so-called 'still holding a pipa and half covering your face'." Chen Chao said. "That's right. This feeling is completely different from topless and backless. For example, those tall and plump American actresses wear the 'improved cheongsam' like the miniskirt with backless back. In my opinion, it loses embellishment but The exposed back has completely lost its hazy beauty, and those long bare legs are more like ivory."

"Mr. Shen, your association ability is still so strong." "Looking at it from another angle, cheongsam shows the inner beauty of the wearer. It is sexy, subtle and gentle. Not just anyone can wear it." Shen Wenchang said. "That's true. There's really a lot of knowledge in it." Super Chen echoed. "The length of the slits is another subtle feature of the cheongsam. For women from wealthy families, the slits are usually modest to show their modesty. Strictly speaking, women who wear cheongsam take very small steps when walking , there will be nothing inappropriate in posture. Fashionable girls may choose higher slits for dancing and walking convenience. And those who are in the world will choose slits as high as possible to show their sexy Thighs and even buttocks. To some extent, the slits in the cheongsam are a hint. In the thirties, in the sex scene, it might attract business."

"That's right, wearing a cheongsam is also a kind of etiquette." Super Chen said.He was devouring a drunk shrimp whole.It was a bad decision and he got stuck in the throat.The taste of this stuff is really not very good. "In addition, elegant ladies will wear stockings and high heels when wearing a cheongsam, but you don't have to dress so well at home. But look at the deceased, no bra, no shoes, no underwear and the hem of the cheongsam was pulled down to the groin. This is not only disrespectful to the deceased, but also an insult to the cheongsam.” Shen Wenchang paused, then continued, “I heard that she was raped and murdered, but this The cheongsam is so old, it looks like you got it by accident. And it's a very conservative garment, women don't wear it to have sex. It doesn't make sense.”

"There are many things that don't make sense in this case." Chao Chen cleared his throat and said. "Captain Chen, I don't know anything about your case, I just know a thing or two about cheongsam." Shen Wenchang said doubtfully. "Thank you, Mr. Shen. Your guidance is very helpful for us to handle the case." In fact, Chen Chao didn't say anything about it—it's not so much that Shen Wenchang's introduction helped solve the case, but it brought more doubts to the case.This cheongsam, which Shen Wenchang believed to be very old, was not a popular dress when it was made.No matter who the author of the cheongsam is, making such a cheongsam at that time was an act against the trend.This may lead to something buried deep in history, bringing more puzzles to this case. When Shen Wenchang picked up the last shrimp, Chen Chao's cell phone rang.Shen Wenchang seemed taken aback, the shrimp on the chopsticks fell back into the bowl.The shrimp jumped up, as if trying to escape death. The caller was a reporter from Wen Wei Po, who wanted to hear Chao Chen's opinion on the red cheongsam murder case. "Sorry, no comment. I'm on vacation and writing my literature thesis." After speaking, Chao Chen hung up the phone.He kind of regretted that he said something about the thesis.While this is true, it is always a source of curiosity. "Really, are you writing a thesis on literature?" Shen Wenchang seemed very interested, and asked slowly, "You are a scholar who is useless. You see, there are scholars like me everywhere. But like you It’s hard to find such a good policeman.” Chen Chao smiled, but did not speak.He stood up and helped Shen Wenchang walk towards the door of the hotel. Near the entrance of the restaurant, there are some fish and shrimp in several large glass tanks.They all swim happily in the water, but they are completely unaware that their fate may change because of the arrival of the next diner.