Chapter 30 Chapter 29 Worship

The elevator stops on the 8th floor.Wei Jiong stepped out of the car, looked left and right, and went straight to a door on the right. Dark green iron security door.A piece of torn warning tape was still attached to the door frame.Wei Jiong looked at the keyhole and took out a brand new key from his pocket. When inserting the key into the lock, it feels very stiff in the hand.After finally inserting it fully, the key could not be turned.While paying attention to the movement around him, Wei Jiong repeatedly adjusted the angle of the key.Finally, with a "click", the bolt moved. The anti-theft door was opened, and Wei Jiong quickly stepped in.After closing the door, he began to look at the one bedroom and one living room in front of him.

All the windows were shaded by thick cloth curtains, and the interior was dimly lit.There is still a faint sour smell floating in the air.The furnishings in the room are relatively old, and the furniture is still in the style of the 1990s, heavy but durable.There are only sofas, coffee tables and TV cabinets in the living room, which looks extremely spacious.The bedroom seemed much narrower, with not much space left except for the double bed, chest of drawers and wardrobe. Wei Jiong walked around the room, then went to the kitchen, stared at the oil-stained kitchen utensils and the dusty stove for a while, and finally set his sights on the knife holder.He stepped forward, pulled out a bone-chopping knife, brought it close to his eyes for a closer look, and inserted it back into the original place.

Back in the living room, Wei Jiong sat down on the sofa.Judging from the material, this is a pigskin sofa, which has been severely worn, with large and small cracks all over the leather surface.Some of the rips had been sloppily glued in with scotch tape, and the rest showed the sponge.Wei Jiong sat for a while, feeling his nose itchy from the dust floating in the air.He opened his backpack, took out an unopened box of Jian brand cigarettes, opened it, took out one, and lit it with a lighter. He took a puff cautiously, and immediately coughed from choking.The shaking body and violent breathing stirred up the surrounding dust, and he sneezed several times before calming down.

Wei Jiong stared at the cigarette in his hand and took another puff. Although the itching in his throat was still there, he could barely bear it.In this way, he smoked the cigarette slowly, put out the cigarette butt, looked around the whole living room again in the misty smoke around him, and finally turned his eyes to the bathroom. There were no windows in the bathroom, and the room was dark.Wei Jiong found the light switch and pressed it, but there was no response.He shook his head and opened the door all the way. With the help of the faint light coming in from the living room, Wei Jiong looked at the narrow space of less than five square meters.The four walls and the ground are covered with white tiles, and the ceiling is also made of white aluminum-plastic panels.Because of the age and lack of cleaning, the edges of the tiles and aluminum-plastic panels have begun to turn yellow, and black mold spots have grown on the corners.Soap, toothpaste, and two discarded toothbrushes were placed on the edge of the washbasin.There are still some water stains in the basin, mixed with dust, which looks extremely dirty.Under the wall on the west side is a single-person bathtub, made of ceramics, and the inside of the cylinder is also full of water stains, and it seems that it has not been used for a long time.Wei Jiong propped his hands on the edge of the bathtub, leaned down, and carefully examined the bathtub, then turned his head to look at the opposite bedroom.

He walked out of the bathroom quickly and went straight to the bedroom. After looking around, he lay down on the floor and looked under the bed.There was nothing under the bed except a thick layer of dust.Wei Jiong got up on his knees, clapped his hands, thought for a while, and went to the living room again. There was nothing under the sofa in the living room except half a pill box.Wei Jiong stood up and began to search every corner of the room.Due to the simple interior furnishings, the inspection was completed quickly.Even after opening every door of cupboards and wardrobes, what he was looking for was still missing.

There was no disappointment on Wei Jiong's face, only a little doubt.He sat back on the sofa, leaned his elbows on his knees, and bowed his head in thought.Nearly an hour had passed since he entered the door.Realizing that there was no need to look any further, Wei Jiong began to organize the things he carried with him.After cleaning up the cigarette ash, wrapped the cigarette butt in a paper towel and put it in his pocket, he got up and walked towards the door. There was silence in the corridor.Wei Jiong stepped out, was about to lock the door, but stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

He entered the room again and walked straight across the living room to the bedroom.Standing in front of the two-meter-high wardrobe, he looked up and down, then returned to the living room, and dragged a chair from the dining table. Standing on the chair, Wei Jiong's head was still quite a distance from the top of the wardrobe.He stood on tiptoe, reached out, and groped on top of the wardrobe.The tentacles are full of thick dust that has accumulated for many years.Suddenly, his hand stopped and his eyes widened.Immediately, he removed a long object from the top of the wardrobe. It was wrapped in newspaper, with yellow tape on both ends, and was also covered in a thick layer of dust.Wei Jiong picked it up and shook it, and a large cloud of dust fell down.The font on the newspaper was also exposed, which was "People's Daily" on October 29, 1992.

The newspaper was yellowed and brittle, and would crumble if pulled.Something dark brown appeared under the newspaper, and it felt as cold as metal to the touch.Wei Jiong's breathing became rapid, and he tore off the newspaper three times, and the whole thing finally showed. It's a handsaw. Du Cheng parked the car, hurriedly crossed the road, and looked up at the signboard of the shop in front of him: LeoCafe.He turned on the sidewalk and walked toward the entrance.As soon as he took two steps, he saw Luo Shaohua on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling glass window. Luo Shaohua sat at the table with a cup of untouched coffee in front of him.There was a cigarette in his hand, and the ash had burned into a long piece, falling on the table at hand.He didn't seem to notice it, he just stared blankly at the steam coming out of the coffee cup, his whole figure was like a wooden sculpture made of clay.

Du Cheng sighed deeply in his heart, opened the store door and walked in. Sitting opposite Luo Shaohua, Luo Shaohua seemed to come back to his senses, forced a smile at Du Cheng, and raised his hand to extinguish the cigarette butt that was burning to his fingers. Du Cheng asked for a glass of water, and after dismissing the waiter, he began to look at Luo Shaohua carefully. He had lost a great deal of weight, and his cheeks had sunken horribly.A thick stubble spreads all over his chin, and his hair is long and messy.Only two bloodshot eyes were shining brightly, looking around vigilantly from time to time.When meeting Du Cheng's gaze, Luo Shaohua would quickly avoid it.

"I came here by myself, and I didn't bring any recording equipment." Knowing his intentions, Du Cheng took out his mobile phone and put it on the table, "Don't worry." Luo Shaohua grinned in embarrassment, picked up the coffee cup and took a sip, while still not forgetting to look left and right. "Old Luo, this is the end of the matter, so I won't play around with you anymore." Du Cheng cut to the chase, "You and I both know that Lin Guodong is the murderer." Luo Shaohua trembled, his whole body shrank.After a while, he raised his head and smiled at Du Cheng.

"Thank you for that night." "You have to figure it out, just because I let you go doesn't mean I allow you..." "I'm not thanking you for letting us go, but thanking you for stopping us." Luo Shaohua lowered his head again, "I look back and think about what I have to do that day, it's terrible." Du Cheng looked at Luo Shaohua for a few seconds, and his tone softened a lot: "Shaohua, I know you are not that kind of person." "It doesn't matter anymore." Luo Shaohua sighed, "I used to be a policeman, but I made such a fatal mistake." "It's still too late to correct it." Du Cheng leaned forward, speaking earnestly, "That's why I asked you out today." Luo Shaohua was silent for a while, then whispered, "Cheng Zi, I know what you want." "If you give me the evidence, Lin Guodong can go to court." Du Cheng paused, "As for you..." "I'm sorry, Cheng Zi." Luo Shaohua raised his head, with a mixed expression of pain and guilt on his face, "I can't give it to you." His refusal was to be expected.Du Cheng asked the second question calmly: "Well, then at least tell me how you found out he was the murderer." "I can't." Luo Shaohua also did not hesitate, "I can't tell you anything." Du Cheng was taken aback.Originally, he didn't expect Luo Shaohua to hand over the evidence to himself, but if he could truthfully tell the whole story of Lin Guodong's investigation, it might be helpful to collect evidence.However, Luo Shaohua's decisive attitude made all his hopes come to nothing. "Then let him get away with it? Do you want to watch him continue to kill people?" Du Cheng exploded, "Just so that you can enjoy retirement in peace and security?" "Chengzi, I haven't lived a peaceful day for more than twenty years." Luo Shaohua smiled wryly, pointing to his head, "His appearance is engraved here. Every dead person, including Xu Mingliang, is here." "Then why didn't you hand over the evidence?" Du Cheng stood up, holding the table with his hands, and looked down at him, "Even if you can be convicted of bending the law for personal gain, the statute of limitations has expired—are face and honor so important? " "You think I'm doing it for myself?" Luo Shaohua shook his head, "There are too many people involved in this case. If it is exposed, our bureau, the old director, the deputy director, Ma Jian, the brothers who worked together back then, and the procuratorate And the courts—which one will get away?" "Then what do you say?" Du Cheng's tone was aggressive, "Cover up this mistake with a bigger mistake?" "I don't know." Luo Shaohua covered his face with his hands, trembling slightly, "I don't know." Luo Shaohua's fragile posture made Du Cheng's heart soften a little.He sat down, lit a cigarette, remained silent for a long time, and said in a low voice: "Shaohua, we all know that Lin Guodong will kill people." Luo Shaohua was speechless. "He deserved to die twenty-three years ago. Could it be that he still needs to take a life to bring him to justice?" The other party remained silent, like a stone statue that never spoke. "Shaohua, you can't die anymore." Du Cheng stretched out a hand and put it on Luo Shaohua's shoulder, "You must help me." Du Cheng paused: "I beg you." After a long time, Du Cheng felt the stone statue under his palm move.There was a glimmer of hope in his heart.However, the first sentence after the stone statue opened its mouth completely chilled his heart. "You go." Luo Shaohua's eyes were empty, "Don't force me anymore." After Du Cheng left, Luo Shaohua sat alone for a while, staring at the street outside the window in a daze.Things were completely out of his control.Where it will develop, Luo Shaohua has no way of knowing.As for what kind of ending will be presented in the end, he doesn't even want to think about it. After smoking another cigarette, Luo Shaohua took out his wallet and prepared to pay the bill.As soon as he stood up, he felt a hand on his shoulder.He turned his head subconsciously, and saw Ma Jian with a livid face bypassing him and sitting across the table. "You..." Luo Shaohua immediately responded, "How do you know that Du Cheng asked me to meet here?" "He followed me, so I won't follow him?" Ma Jian waved the waiter who came over to leave, "What did he tell you?" Luo Shaohua lowered his eyelids: "I want the evidence in my hand." Ma Jian snorted and seemed not surprised by this: "What about you?" "I didn't say anything." Luo Shaohua shook his head, "It's impossible for me to give him the evidence." "Yeah." Ma Jian got up immediately, "Let's go." "Let's go?" Luo Shaohua raised his head with a look of surprise, "Where are you going?" "Go home. Shopping, cooking, taking a walk—do whatever you want, and be your retired old man with peace of mind." Ma Jian smiled at him, but there was no kindness in his eyes. Forgive me for so many years." Luo Shaohua stared at him blankly: "Old Ma, what do you mean?" "I don't mean anything." Ma Jian looked away and looked out of the window full of people, "I'm here to solve this matter. From now on, it has nothing to do with you." Yanglong Cemetery is located on the outskirts of City C, and it is the resting place for most of the deceased in this city.The cemetery covers an area of ​​about 400 acres, surrounded by mountains and rocks, green grass everywhere, and the scenery is quite elegant.Although the cemetery is more than 30 kilometers away from the urban area, there are many people who come here to worship their relatives and friends all year round.Even on weekdays, there are still long queues at the gate of the cemetery. A middle-aged man got out of a red taxi, walked around to the back of the car, opened the trunk, took out a folded wheelchair, opened it, and put it next to the back door.Immediately, he opened the car door, leaned in, picked up an old man with gray hair, and put him on the wheelchair.After the old man sat down in the wheelchair, the middle-aged man closed the door, and the taxi quickly left the cemetery. The middle-aged man pushed the old man into the cemetery, gradually blending into the crowd who came to worship.After bypassing several farewell halls, the two walked straight to the columbarium.At the shopping place at the door, they stopped.The middle-aged man took a few banknotes from the old man, turned around and entered the shopping mall.When he came out again, he had two bouquets of flowers in his hand.The old man held the flowers in his arms, and the middle-aged man pushed them into the columbarium.Soon, the middle-aged man came out alone, leaned against the door, first looked around boredly, and then took out a cigarette to smoke. The old man stayed in the columbarium for a long time.The middle-aged man gradually became restless, peeping into the columbarium from the door from time to time, and the expression on his face became more and more impatient.After a full hour, the old man slowly walked out of the wheelchair.His head was hanging down, his face was sad, and his whole body seemed to be smaller.The middle-aged man seemed eager to get out of here, so he immediately stepped forward and grabbed the handrail, pushing him towards the exit. Behind them, a young man stepped out from the side of a column in the cloister.He looked at the columbarium standing silently, and at the backs of the two people who were drifting away, with complicated expressions and thoughtful thoughts. C City Normal University, library. Yue Xiaohui came out of the bathroom, and walked towards the reading room while shaking the drops of water on her hands.When passing a square table, she seemed to catch something out of the corner of her eye, and turned back to stare at a backpack on the table. Then there is the water glass next to the backpack.Yue Xiaohui raised her head, scanned the reading room, turned around and walked out. After checking several reading rooms in a row, the person she was looking for was still missing.Yue Xiaohui stood in the corridor on the top floor, thought for a while, and then turned her gaze to the small door leading to the rooftop.She walked up the steps and tried to push, but the door was ajar. Yue Xiaohui pushed open the door, and the wide roof terrace appeared in front of her eyes.A boy stood with his back to her, standing by the fence of the roof, as if looking down downstairs. "So you're here!" Yue Xiaohui felt relieved, but her tone was quite annoyed, "I finally found you." Wei Jiong turned around, saw her, was taken aback for a moment, then walked to a concrete bench next to him, and stuffed a few pieces of paper in his hand into a thick cowhide file bag. "Why are you here?" Wei Jiong sat down with the cowhide file bag, smiling reluctantly, "What do you want from me?" "What's your situation? You don't respond to your WeChat messages, and you don't answer your phone calls." Yue Xiaohui walked over, and suddenly found that Wei Jiong was still holding a cigarette case in his hand, "Oh? You started smoking?" "Suck and play." Wei Jiong scratched his head, his expression becoming more and more embarrassed, "Do you want one?" Yue Xiaohui snatched the cigarette case in his hand, which was half a pack of Jian brand cigarettes: "Why are you learning this? It's not good for your health - you got it from Lao Ji?" Wei Jiong smiled, without answering, and motioned for Yue Xiaohui to sit down too. As soon as Yue Xiaohui touched the cement bench, she jumped up: "Oh, it's too cold." Wei Jiong hurriedly took out the cowhide file bag under his body and handed it to her: "Put this on it." Yue Xiaohui took the portfolio, put it on the bench, and sat down. "What are you up to lately? I can't see you?" Yue Xiaohui played with the cigarette case in her hand, "You didn't go to the environmental law class this morning." "If you're not interested in that class, go out for a walk." Wei Jiong didn't look at her, but stared at the empty rooftop and the gradually darkening sky. Yue Xiaohui stared at the boy's side face, his cheeks began to thin, and a thick beard protruded from his chin.He looked preoccupied and worried.Although still taciturn, the Wei Jiong in front of her felt strange to her. "Is there any news from Du Cheng?" "Not yet." Wei Jiong shook his head, "It's too difficult to collect evidence from 23 years ago." "That's right. I've read the textbooks on Evidence Law several times in the past few days, and the more I read it, the more I feel unconfident." Yue Xiaohui smiled suddenly, "If I had the energy at that time, I would definitely get full marks." Wei Jiong also laughed.However, that smile was fleeting. "Old Ji should thank you." "Hey, there's nothing to be thankful for." Yue Xiaohui still had that carefree look, "Lao Ji and Du Cheng, these two old men deserve our help." Wei Jiong was silent for a while, and asked, "Are you still planning to investigate your mother's case?" "Of course, that goes without saying!" Yue Xiaohui's tone was firm, "No matter where he is, as long as he is still alive, I will definitely find him!" "Yes." Wei Jiong seemed to be talking to himself, "We will definitely find him." "So, helping Lao Ji is actually helping myself." Yue Xiaohui looked at the concrete floor, "He must have something to do with Lin Guodong." "what?" "The murderer is almost imitating Lin Guodong. Although I don't know his motive yet, I will figure it out sooner or later." Yue Xiaohui shook her hair and smiled at Wei Jiong, "At least I learned something when I was helping Lao Ji and Du Cheng. A lot of things." Wei Jiong looked at her: "I will help you too." "Hey, don't you dare to help me." Yue Xiaohui's face was reddish, her eyes were bright and lively, "Hey, how about we become policemen together in the future?" Wei Jiong was a little surprised: "Police?" "Yes, it's so majestic." Yue Xiaohui tilted her head, "It can also help others—catch all those villains." "You think far enough." "It's not far. We'll graduate in a year or so." "Far away. Let's think about the things in front of us." Wei Jiong stood up with a smile, "For example, our stomachs—let's go to the cafeteria, or it will be too late." "OK." "I'm going to the reading room to get my schoolbag." Wei Jiong raised his foot and walked towards the door, "Wait for me for a while." "Yeah." Yue Xiaohui sat still, "By the way, bring mine up too, it's on the table diagonally behind you." Wei Jiong responded, walked through the small door, walked down the steps, and went straight to the reading room on the second floor. After packing his schoolbag, Wei Jiong followed Yue Xiaohui's instructions and found that table.He was also very familiar with the purple Nike schoolbag. After packing the books and stationery, he picked up her water glass and walked towards the rooftop again. Just as he walked up to the top floor, Wei Jiong suddenly thought of something and quickened his pace.When he got up the steps to the roof, he almost ran. Opening the small door, he saw Yue Xiaohui was still sitting comfortably on the concrete bench, and the kraft paper portfolio was still lying flat under her body. The girl heard his footsteps, turned her head, and took a cigarette that was about to burn out from her mouth. It was getting dark.In the slight spring breeze, Yue Xiaohui's long hair flew up.Half of her face was hidden in the shadows, only her eyes were shining brightly. Yue Xiaohui smiled at him, stood up, and threw the cigarette case over. "Let's go to the cafeteria." After all, she flicked her middle finger lightly.The cigarette butt rolled and flew out, carrying a string of swaying sparks, and landed on the concrete floor a few meters away, flickered a few times, and went out. Ji Qiankun heard a knock on the door. He took off his glasses and said "come in" towards the door. The door opened.Yue Xiaohui walked in, and then closed the door behind her back. "It's you, come in quickly." Ji Qiankun was a little surprised, "What's going on with you and Wei Jiong recently, you always act alone." "I went shopping and passed by here." Yue Xiaohui put her backpack on the bed, "I came to see you by the way. Why, you are not welcome?" "Haha, of course you are welcome." Ji Qiankun put down the file in his hand, shook the wheelchair and walked over, "Have you eaten yet? We have ribs and lotus root soup today." "Eat it, don't worry about it." Yue Xiaohui sat by the bed, looked Ji Qiankun up and down, "Old Ji, you've lost weight again." "Really?" Ji Qiankun touched his cheek, "I haven't slept well recently." He put down his hand, his expression darkened: "I know that Lin Guodong lives in this city and breathes the same air as me. But, I can't do anything." "He will be punished." Yue Xiaohui paused, "Everyone who does evil will." Ji Qiankun looked up at her.The girl returned a sweet smile: "Let's shave you again—it's so long." Same as last time, ten minutes later, Ji Qiankun was comfortably lying on his back in the wheelchair, with a hot towel covering his face.There was the sound of shaving cream being stirred.Immediately, he heard the sound of the razor being opened and rustling, as if Yue Xiaohui was gently brushing the blade with his thumb. "You know, Lao Ji, sometimes, when I see you, I think of my father." "Oh? He's about my age?" "Smaller than you." Yue Xiaohui's voice gradually approached, "After my mother passed away, he didn't marry again, and raised me alone." "Your parents must have a good relationship." "Yeah." Her voice was closer, "My father still keeps my mother's relics, and he is reluctant to throw them away." "Oh." Ji Qiankun sighed, "He is also a persistent person." "Perseverance brings him nothing but pain, endless pain." "Oh?" "He drank heavily. Probably had to get himself so drunk that he could forget my mother's death." Ji Qiankun was silent for a while: "However, at least you are with him." "It's useless." Yue Xiaohui chuckled, "I look like my father—I'd rather be like my mother." There was a rustle of clothes rubbing against each other.Immediately afterwards, there was the sound of a towel wiping the blade. "Old Ji." "Ok?" "Is it really possible for a person to be so persistent?" "Maybe, me and your father are good examples." "Are you willing to destroy yourself?" "Ok." "Even to destroy others?" Ji Qiankun stopped talking.After a while, he asked in a low voice, "How did your mother... die?" It took a while for Yue Xiaohui to reply: "A car accident." "Oh." Ji Qiankun twisted his body, "Xiao Hui, the towel is a little cold." "Oh." Yue Xiaohui reacted as if waking up from a dream, "I'm sorry, sorry, I'm too busy chatting." She removed the towel from Ji Qiankun's face.After applying the shaving cream evenly, she gently pressed Ji Qiankun's cheeks, and started to shave from the beard on the upper lip. The girl's focused face was close at hand, and the hot and humid breath sprayed on his face.Ji Qiankun closed his eyes, quietly feeling the tingling sensation of the blade cutting off his beard. "Old Ji." "Ok?" "If Lin Guodong was right in front of you, what would you do?" "Now?" "right." Ji Qiankun didn't answer, but his body gradually tensed up.Yue Xiaohui continued with her hand movements, and after shaving off her beard, the blade moved to his cheeks.Wherever the sharp blade went, the muscles on the old man's face could be felt slightly protruding—he was gritting his teeth. "I will kill him." The razor paused on Ji Qiankun's chin for a second, then continued to walk slowly. "why?" "Then do you still need to ask?" Ji Qiankun opened his eyes and clenched his fists, "He killed my wife in such a cruel way and completely ruined my life. Why can't I take revenge?" "Don't move, I will hurt you." Yue Xiaohui held him down, "Sorry, I asked such a question." Ji Qiankun relaxed a little: "It's okay, I've been thinking about this too these days." "Oh?" "It's been more than twenty years, and it's impossible for Du Cheng to collect enough evidence." Ji Qiankun's voice was low, and then became high-spirited, "I won't just let it go." "If you kill him, you'll go to jail too." Ji Qiankun's cheeks have been cleaned, and the razor has been moved to his neck. "I understand the truth." Ji Qiankun smiled softly, "As long as I can get revenge, I don't care about anything." "at all costs?" "At all costs." Ji Qiankun repeated, "After my wife died, every second of my remaining life was dedicated to this matter." The razor slowly cleaned the stubble remaining on the neck, and finally, it stopped above Ji Qiankun's Adam's apple. "So, you never planned to take Lin Guodong to court from the very beginning, did you?" "right." "In other words, you just need to find him. As for how to deal with Lin Guodong, you have already thought about it." Yue Xiaohui's voice began to tremble, "You used Wei Jiong, Du Cheng, and me." Ji Qiankun was silent.After a long time, he said with difficulty: "I know this is very unfair to you. But, Xiao Hui, please believe me, as long as there is any chance for Lin Guodong to be punished by law, I will not use this method of self-destruction .But……" He couldn't continue, and Yue Xiaohui didn't speak anymore. Only the razor shone. A full minute later, the girl's voice rang in Ji Qiankun's ears again. "Old Ji, have you done anything wrong?" "Huh?" Ji Qiankun didn't expect her to ask such a question, "Of course." "Everyone who has done something wrong deserves a chance." The pressure on the neck suddenly disappeared.It was only then that Ji Qiankun realized that the razor had been pressed against his throat. He opened his eyes, just seeing the ceiling, his eyes were blurred again——Yue Xiaohui covered his face with the towel again. "Wait a few more days." Yue Xiaohui's voice became distant, "What you want, what we want, will come." Ji Qiankun lay on his back in the wheelchair, waiting for her to continue speaking or make some moves.However, there was always silence all around.After a while, he took off the towel from his face and turned over to sit up. The room was empty.