Chapter 3 third chapter

Ru Xin didn't return to the island that night, she stayed overnight in the hotel. Get up early in the morning, join Xiao Xu, and rush to the university laboratory. I bought a daily newspaper on the way, and that part of the notice has also been published. Shangguan was waiting for them, and when he saw Ru Xin, he looked strange. He immediately greeted him, "The computer has already reported." Ru Xin knew it well, and looked at Shangguan silently. Xiao Xu couldn't help but said, "Let's find out quickly." "You two, it has been confirmed that they are human ashes."

Even though Ru Xin was mentally prepared, she still couldn't avoid a buzzing sound in her ears. Of course Xiao Xu was even more shocked, he whispered: "My God!" Shangguan said, "Let's sit down and talk." Ru Xin immediately asked, "Do you know men and women?" Shangguan replied: "Science has not advanced to that level. If there are bones, they should be identifiable. At this moment, our evidence is just a pile of ashes." Ru Xin let out a long breath. "This ring was indeed incinerated at the same time." Ru Xin raised her head, "At that time, it might have been worn on her left ring finger."

Xiao Xu hurriedly said, "It's really scary." Ru Xin was quite calm, "At that time, the owner of the ring was of course dead." Shangguan said: "We don't often put the ashes at home, so once we see them, we are very surprised." Ru Xin said, "No, the ashes are not scary, but the ashes of unknown origin are scary." "Who is this guy with the diamond eternity ring?" "From the size of the ring, it's a woman." Ru Xin took the ring and put it on her ring finger, it was just right, it was number five, "Well, this lady is of medium build, slightly thin."

At this time, Xiao Xu stood up, "Shangguan, thank you, the matter has come to an end." Shangguan stopped him, "Hey, keep investigating, you will inform me of the truth, don't make me feel itchy." Xiao Xu said, "I am not the person involved, and I have no right to disclose the facts." Ru Xin hurriedly said: "Don't worry Shangguan, I will definitely report to you." Suddenly having two more friends, Zhou Ruxin felt that she gained a lot. In the car, Ru Xin asked, "Why did you leave in such a hurry?" "Go home and listen to the phone."

"You do not have to go to work?" "I've already taken a leave of absence, otherwise, who would those people contact when they see the notice?" Ru Xin felt a little embarrassed. Xiao Xu smiled slightly, "I should have been on vacation long ago, but I have no excuse." From morning to noon, there was only one phone call. It was an old woman with a slightly hoarse voice, "How much is the low salary?" "A hundred flowers." "Can it be increased to five hundred?" Ru Xin said: "Ma'am, then you have to see if the information you know is detailed."

"I was the private secretary of Mr. Li Zizhong of Yilushen Island from 1955 to 1960. I lived in the guest room facing the north of the villa on the island. The window faced the swimming pool and there was a row of Douglas blue firs. Tree." She described it well. Ru Xin immediately decided, "Five hundred is five hundred, ma'am, what is your name?" "My surname is Mai, and my name is Mai Jianzhen." "Where are we supposed to meet?" But Ms. Namai said to herself, "I never thought that someone would mention Yilushen Island today. Who are you?"

"I am Zhou Ruxin, the new island owner." "Where's Li Zizhong?" She was surprised, "What happened to him?" "Ms. Mai, let's talk after we meet." "Is he dead?" "yes." "Otherwise, he wouldn't sell Yilushen Island," Ms. Mai said after a pause, "Miss Zhou, I would like to come to the house, and I will be there on time at three o'clock in the afternoon." Ru Xin told her the address of Xu Zhai. After that, the phone never rang again. "It seems that Ms. Mai Jianzhen is the only one who has news."

"There should be more than one person." "Some are dead, some are Puerto Ricans like Fernandez, they've gone back home, some haven't read the newspapers, some don't care about the world." "So we're lucky." Ru Xin smiled, "We'll just wait for Ms. Mai." "She seems to care a lot about the pay." "Maybe the economy isn't doing so well." "When we meet, we will know." At about three o'clock, Ms. Mai arrived. As soon as the door opened, Ru Xin saw a little old lady, dry and thin, wearing an outdated but cleanly laundered suit, an old-fashioned handbag, and old leather shoes.

She had a very small face, which, because of the wrinkles, looked like a walnut. Ru Xin didn't want to wait too long, and hurriedly greeted her. Ms. Mai was also polite, and ordered: "Give me a cup of coffee, slightly stronger, and add two spoons of milk." Then she looked Zhou Ruxin up and down: "You bought Yilushen Island?" Ruxin is noncommittal and only promises. "Give me the reward first." Ru Xin immediately counted the banknotes to her. Ms. Mai breathed a sigh of relief and fell into deep thought. After a while, she said, "Li Zizhong was handsome and unrestrained back then, with an extraordinary bearing." This was her opening remarks.

Ru Xin didn't know when she was going to talk about it, so she said gently: "Ms. Mai, how about it, I ask, you answer, okay?" Ms. Mai nodded, "You think I'm nagging." "No, I'm afraid you've missed the information I want to know." "go ahead." "Ms. Mai, you have been on the island for six years, have you met Mr. Li's female companion?" Ms. Mai was taken aback, then smiled sadly, the bitterness in the corner of her mouth hadn't diminished in the slightest after thirty years had passed. After a while she asked back, "You mean Miao Hong, right?"

Ah, Miao Hong, like a heartbeat. Red, R, is her, it must be her. It turned out that red was her name. Ru Xin said, "Ms. Mai, I want you to identify something." She took out the ring. Ms. Mai only glanced at it, "This is Miao Hong's ornament, how did it become like this?" Ru Xin sighed. Ms. Mai asked, "They're finally married, aren't they?" "No, they didn't." Mai Jianzhen was taken aback, "What? But, the flowers and champagne have been transported to the island, everything is ready, the posts have been sent out, the wedding announcement was published in the newspaper, and they are not married after all?" "No, Mr. Li will live alone forever." Mai Jianzhen stood up tremblingly, "What about others?" "He is dead." Mai Jianzhen's voice trembled, "Where is Miao Hong?" "We believe she is no longer alive either." Ms. Mai sat down on the sofa again. After a while, she took out a photo from her handbag, "Please look." Ru Xin suddenly remembered that there might be a photo book on the island, and she almost wanted to go back and look for it immediately. Now Xiao Xu also came closer to look, and saw three people in the photo, Li Zizhong was sitting in the middle, he was wearing a white shirt with rolled up sleeves, he was very chic, on his right was Mai Jianzhen from back then, with a delicate and beautiful face, but The woman on the left of Li Zizhong is a beauty, and her eyes in a small black and white photo give people a feeling of radiance. Ru Xin asked, "Is this Miao Hong?" "yes." "Are they a couple?" "yes." Ru Xin put down the photo, "What about you, are you just a secretary?" Mai Jianzhen raised her head and said slowly: "No, I am his most loyal friend." "How do you say that?" "Miao Hong lied to him. I warned him again and again, but he just ignored him. He smiled and said: Jianzhen, I know you are doing it for my own good, but I know my affairs..." Ru Xin bowed her head and remained silent. Ms. Mai's care and admiration for Li Zizhong has been fully revealed. After waiting for a while, Mai Jianzhen asked, "Are you all right?" "Why did you leave Yilushen Island?" "Zizhong's wedding date has been fixed, it's not interesting for me to live here, so I resigned." "In your opinion, what kind of person is Li Zizhong?" "Enthusiasm, generosity, care, no pretensions to others, first-class cultivation and knowledge, know how to enjoy life, have a sense of humor and compassion." Well, almost perfect. "He has one flaw, he trusts people too much." "In your opinion, how did Miao Hong deceive him?" Mai Jianzhen replied very simply: "Miao Hong has another lover." If you don't say a word. After a while, Mai Jianzhen asked impatiently: "Is there any problem?" Ru Xin said, "I've finished asking." Mai Jianzhen breathed a sigh of relief, "Then, I can tell my story from the beginning." "No," Ru Xin hurriedly stopped her, "No need, I just want to hear so much for now." Ms Namai was disappointed. Ru Xin stood up to see off the guests. Ms. Mai had no choice but to walk to the gate lonely. Xiao Xu asked kindly: "Do you want your family to pick you up?" Ms. Mai replied sadly: "I am alone, I have no family." she left. Xiao Xu asked Ru Xin, "Why don't you let her tell the story?" Ru Xin smiled, "That said, three days and three nights are not enough, besides, Ms. Mai didn't know the crux of the matter, the important thing happened after she left, the role she played was just Li Zizhong's admiration Or, she is very prejudiced against Miao Hong." But they have already gained a lot. From Mai Jianzhen, they knew that the heroine on Yilushen Island was named Miao Hong. "Go and check whether there is a record of Miao Hong in the death registry." "We are going at once to the Robson Square Government Register of Births and Deaths." They drove out as if obsessed. The old files were not canceled, but Miao Hong could not be found. Xiao Xu said, "Maybe she died in another province." Ru Xin raised her head, "Yes, it is also possible that the news of her death was not made public." "Ru Xin, what do you mean?" "She died on the island and was cremated, which is unknown and unrecorded." Xiao Xu's hairs stood on end, "Ru Xin, how could you have such a terrible assumption?" "If you have seen that Mr. Li Zizhong, you will have the same idea." "He looks weird?" "No, he has the style of a king. He speaks as if ordered. He completely ignores the world's conventions. On the island, I believe he will do whatever he wants." Xiao Xu cautiously speculated this time, "In your opinion, did Miao Hong die naturally?" Ru Xin changed color with fright, "Xu Zhongzhi, your hypothesis is even bolder and astonishing!" "Think about it, if he died in an accident or illness, why not send him to the hospital for treatment? Ru Xin, I think we should notify the police." Ru Xin pondered for a while, "It was thirty years ago." "Still an unsolved case." "I am the owner of the island, and I have my own opinions on the affairs of the island." Xiao Xu said nothing, no wonder Li Zizhong chose Zhou Ruxin as his heir, it seems that the two are indeed similar, very weird. After a while Xiao Xu asked, "You have a great impression of Li Zizhong, don't you?" "Yes," Ru Xin admitted bluntly, "He even gave me the Yilushen Island as a gift, so I should naturally give something in return." Xiao Xu declined to comment. "I will return to the island by seaplane, if you have any news, please contact me immediately." Xiao Xu immediately went to book a plane. "Xu Zhongzhi, I will not use your time and energy for nothing." Xiao Xu turned his head and finally said, "It's not about money." Ru Xin was taken aback. Xiao Xu suddenly sighed and continued to contact the aircraft company. That night, Ru Xin returned to the island alone. It was past eight o'clock, the sky was not yet completely dark, and the silver-purple sunset covered the entire sky, and the color was too gorgeous to be true. I don't know who said that if people pass through the fields and turn a blind eye to purple, God will be angry. Anyone who has no feeling for the purple color of the sky should be punished now. Ru Xin returned indoors, opened all the drawers and cabinets in the study to find photos, letters and diaries. But she got nothing. All five rooms were empty. Ruxin called Maguli. "Are there no pictures in the house?" "No, we didn't see any photos when we came, and Mr. Li didn't show them." Ru Xin was disappointed. It seemed that either he had destroyed the photos or moved them elsewhere. Marguli withdrew. Ru Xin was sitting on the terrace, and the orange sun finally set into the sea. Li Zizhong does not intend to hand over the past to Zhou Ruxin to inherit. The desk has six drawers, all of which are empty. The stack of paper and the bunch of pens are still on the table. It is conceivable that there must be several versions of what happened on the island that year, so why not write them all down. Ru Xin gently spread out the pen and paper. All of a sudden, she heard soft music in her ears. It was a brisk old tune called The Stranger in Paradise. Does this refer to Zhou Ruxin? She blurted out, "Who, who played the music?" Maguli opened the door and came in, "Miss, are you calling?" "Who's playing the music?" "No one, no music, miss, you misheard me." Ru Xin listened carefully, but there was no sound. She raised her head, ah, Suspicion had hallucinations. "Miss," said Marguli, "you are tired, go to rest." But then another call came in. "Ru Xin, I'm Zhong Zhi, listen, a lady Hong Xiaoxia said that she also worked in Yilushen Island." "Why are they all ladies?" "Maybe ladies are more careful, seeing the notice in the newspaper." "Have you asked her to meet?" "Yes, go to her home and discuss in detail." "I'll be out early tomorrow morning." "She lives in Victoria." "That's better, you wait for me at the pier there, see you at nine tomorrow morning." "It's a deal, yes, did you find anything in the house?" Ru Xin was very disappointed, "There is nothing." "Not even a single word?" "Not a single picture." "That's good, you can live there with peace of mind." How can I feel at ease. At night, Ruxin had a dream. She saw herself getting up from the bed, looking out the window, and saw the moon in a foreign land shining like a silver plate, and the wind blowing through the treetops, rustling. To describe. She heard someone call her name again: "Zhou Ruxin, come down to play, Zhou Ruxin, come down to play." Although Ruxin is young, she has acted like an adult since she was a child. She goes to bed early and gets up early, behaves dignified, and lives a normal life. She has never tried to go out at night, so she can't help being moved. She looked down from the window and knew very well that this was just a dream, but she saw the young Li Zizhong and Miao Hong calling her downstairs. They greeted each other with smiling faces and held hands, Ru Xin wasn't afraid at all, instead she was happy for them. She asked loudly, "Has the misunderstanding been cleared up?" Li Zizhong nodded, "We will never be separated." Ruxin was sincerely happy, "That's great." "Ru Xin, come down, let's talk." Ru Xin was about to go downstairs when she suddenly woke up. The alarm clock rang loudly, she quickly pressed it and got up to wash up. Ma Guli went to sea with her and prepared breakfast for her on the boat. Ru Xin felt that she was used to the life of this special class, and it might not be easy to be an ordinary person again. When the boat arrived, Xu Zhongzhi was already standing on the pier waiting. He waved to her. They searched for the address given by Ms. Hong, and it turned out to be a Chinese medicine store in Victoria Chinatown. Ms. Hong Xiaoxia, who is nearly 60 years old, came out to meet guests with a baby in her arms. She explained: "The child's parents have gone to work, and now I will take care of the child." Ru Xin smiled and asked, "Is it grandson?" "This is the youngest one, the older one has gone to college." Ru Xin said, "Thank you for calling." "You're welcome, that advertisement was seen by my eldest daughter, and she said, Mom, the owner of Peach Blossom Island is looking for you. The eldest daughter visited that island as a child, and she was deeply impressed. She still remembers it, and she called it Peach Blossom Island. " "What year is that?" "Please sit down. Let me think about it. It was more than 30 years ago. The third daughter was just born. Well, it was 1965. I remember that I was waiting for money, so I went to the island to work as a servant. clean." Ru Xin responded, "Who are there on the island?" "There are Mr. Li, Ms. Miao, a secretary named Mai, and three other servants." "Did you encounter any weird things while you were on the island?" "I have only been here for more than seven months, and the atmosphere on the island is very bad. Mr. Li and Ms. Miao said they were preparing for their wedding, but there was a lot of noise every day. Mr. Li often scolded loudly and threw things. We all hid and cleaned up after the fight. Seeing that all the precious decorations were smashed to pieces, seeing how wasteful the master's house was, and saving enough money for emergencies, I resigned from my job." Ru Xin tilted her head and thought, "In your opinion, is Mr. Li a good person?" Ms. Hong shook her head, "The temper is so rough..." "Where's Miss Miao?" "It's very wronged, it seems that Mr. Li has a handle, and he looks like he has to marry. He often weeps on his back." Huh, that's weird, it's a completely different version. "Where's Miss Mai?" "Miss Mai is just an employee, but it can be seen that she has ambitions. She likes Mr. Li, but Mr. Li doesn't care about her." "When you left, was Ms. Miao sick?" "Oh, after you reminded me, I remembered that Ms. Miao suffers from asthma. When she gets nervous, she can't breathe. She needs to smell a small bottle of medicine. Every time Mr. Li stimulates her, she will get sick." "Has any doctor ever been to the island?" "Yes, but most of them take Ms. Miao out by boat." "However, when I left, Miss Miao was still fine." "She also saw me off at the pier. She is a beauty, and she has a hard life." If you don't say a word. Contrary to Mai Jianzhen's point of view, Hong Xiaoxia must have failed Miao Hong because of Li Zizhong. "Miss Miao treats her servants very generously. When she sees my eldest daughter, she often gives her candies and toys." Ru Xin was curious, "What is it?" "A doll that blinks and a box that opens to music." "You think she's unhappy?" "It doesn't take a very smart person to figure it out." "Do you have a crush on Ms. Miao?" "Of course, they are so good-looking and kind-hearted, but they are sick. Yes, what happened to them then?" Ru Xin regretfully said, "Both of them passed away." "Hey, you shouldn't be that old." "Yes, it's a pity they didn't live to be old." Hong Xiaoxia also sighed. Her little grandson is very well-behaved. He is about eight or nine months old. He can already recognize people. He looks at people with his fingers in his mouth and eyes wide open, but he feels very safe hiding in his grandmother's arms, so he is not afraid of people. Ru Xin took out a red envelope and said, "Buy candy for the children." Ms. Hong did not refuse, and said generously, "Thank you." "Ah, yes," Ru Xin remembered, "Does the island treat guests all the time?" "Yes, there are always several banquets every month, all of which are held by the swimming pool, and the chef and waiters are brought in from outside to prepare...but Jinyi's delicious food can't make a person happy." She is right. Her old age was very good, and it had nothing to do with wealth. I wish to say goodbye. "See, Xu Zhongzhi, happiness is a state of mind, and the difference between heaven and hell is actually only one thought." Ru Xin felt infinitely emotional. The big boy hesitated, "What kind of person is Li Zizhong?" If you don't say a word. "Then Miao Hong, is she a victim?" No one can answer. They went back to the boat and sat on the deck drinking cold drinks. Ru Xin stretched her waist, in this bright weather, it is inappropriate to mention anything except reverie. She closed her eyes, "That's probably all that outsiders know." "Perhaps, someone else will come and tell us more." "It's been a long time, and what the servant knows is just a piece of good fortune. You see, the house is far away from the workers' dormitory, and even the sound can't be heard." "I found some information about Li Zizhong for you." He took some clippings from his briefcase. Ru Xin is very interested in reading. It turned out that Li Zizhong was born in Penang, Malaysia. He was the only son. He was the heir of several tin mines. He studied in the UK since he was a child. Ru Xin raised her head and said, "It seems to be quite normal." The information does not mention Miao Hong himself. "After his father passed away, Li Zizhong's life changed a lot. He gradually devolved the company's business, and began to live a semi-reclusive life uncharacteristically." Ru Xin said, "Just buy Yilushen Island at that time." "Yes, I lived on the island for almost six months in the first year. The old playmates found it new at first, and they came to visit sometimes, and then they became estranged." "No competition with the world, how free." "I've always felt that humans are social animals and we enjoy the company of our friends." He was right, Ru Xin liked him to be with her. When she returned to the island, Xiao Xu said goodbye to her. Back in the study, Ru Xin couldn't bear it any longer, spread out a pen and paper, and wrote down the topic: What I know about Li Zizhong and Miao Hong's story.