Chapter 9

After eating, Lu Zheng said to Xia Tianxing, "I feel a bit stuffy, I want to go for a walk. Uncle Xia, would you like to come with me?"

Xia Tianxing hadn't met anyone willing to chat with him in all these years, and he had a good impression of this young man, so he nodded happily in agreement.

Seeing Lu Zheng and Xia Tianxing getting together, Lu Xiaoping muttered softly, "Two rebels!" Now, with the ongoing campaign to eliminate the remnants of the turmoil, young people deeply detested the rebels, and Lu Xiaoping naturally considered Xia Tianxing a class enemy, and Lu Zheng wasn't much better. Originally, she felt that Lu Zheng, who was fostered in her home, was inferior because he ate and drank at her expense.

Just as Lu Zheng and Xia Tianxing were about to leave the residential area, footsteps sounded behind them. It was Tong Susu who had followed out. She pointed to the southern street and said, "Uncle Xia, it's too dark. I'm going to the convenience store to buy something. Would you accompany me?"

Xia Tianxing had a good impression of Tong Susu. She was the daughter of a high-ranking official in the city, yet she was very approachable and never looked down on people from the countryside.

Xia Tianxing was about to agree, but Lu Zheng pointed north and said, "Uncle Xia, let's go for a walk by the river." Then he said to Tong Susu, "Susu, ask Zhou Ge to accompany you. We're not going the same way."

Without waiting for Tong Susu's reaction, Lu Zheng walked north, and Xia Tianxing hesitated for a moment before following.

The residential area had few streetlights, but every household had lights on, so the alley wasn't dark. Xia Tianxing said, "That girl, Susu, is quite nice. Zheng, do you seem to be avoiding her?"

Lu Zheng inwardly sneered, but he realized that despite Xia Tianxing's taciturn nature, he was very observant. No wonder he had been in the police for over twenty years; he was indeed quite capable.

However, Xia Tianxing couldn't have guessed that Lu Zheng wasn't avoiding Tong Susu, but rather avoiding her joining them, as it would make their conversation inconvenient.

Sighing, Lu Zheng said, "When I was a child, I was a rebel, and I even led the children to criticize and struggle against her. Now, she is surrounded by admirers, so I think it's better for me to have less contact with her, Uncle Xia, don't you think?"

Hearing the word "rebel," Xia Tianxing's eyelids twitched, and he nodded heavily in silence.

"Uncle Xia, I heard you are an old police officer?" Lu Zheng probed.

Xia Tianxing shook his head, clearly uninterested in the topic.

Lu Zheng tried a few more times to steer the conversation, but Xia Tianxing remained silent.

As they gradually approached the north end of the residential area, they crossed a lime road and reached the moat. Willows lined the riverbank, and the moon reflected on the water, creating a shimmering effect.

Lu Zheng took out a cigarette, offered it to Xia Tianxing, and then lit it for him.

Both of them smoked in silence.

Lu Zheng had hoped to get some information from this old police officer, but it seemed he would need to change his strategy. Old Xia was unusually sensitive and cautious, and it wasn't easy to get him to talk. Lu Zheng had thought the rebel would be more straightforward and cautious due to career setbacks, but this person was completely different from what he had imagined.

After some thought, Lu Zheng broke the silence, "Uncle Xia, I actually came today not just to visit family, but mainly to meet you."

Xia Tianxing was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Meet me?"

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, "Uncle Xia, do you know about the June 15th case? You must have heard about it. We've been keeping it under wraps to avoid panic. In fact, since last summer, there have been three dismemberment and disposal cases, and from the methods used, it's preliminarily determined to be a serial killer."

"I am the deputy leader of the June 15th task force. My name is Lu Zheng, the deputy political commissar and head of the public security department of the county bureau. Uncle Xia, you should know me, right?"

The old police officer, who must still have some attachment to his position, might have heard about Lu Zheng from old friends in the county bureau, especially since his arrival in Guangning last year caused a significant stir within the police system.

Stunned by the series of revelations, Xia Tianxing stared at Lu Zheng for a while before nodding slowly, "Ah, right, Lu Zheng, I remember the name. So it's you. But why are you looking for me?" He frowned slightly, "Do you think I'm a suspect?"

Lu Zheng laughed, "How could that be, Uncle Xia? You forget, I was also a rebel back then. I wouldn't demonize myself."

Xia Tianxing remained silent.

Lu Zheng continued, "Uncle Xia, it's like this. Our task force has found a breakthrough, which is the principal of No. 1 High School, Zhang Guoliang. I reviewed Zhang Guoliang's past records and found that Uncle Xia had also investigated him. I hope Uncle Xia can help me by telling me about the situation back then." He exaggerated the breakthrough to avoid making Xia Tianxing too cautious.

Xia Tianxing was taken aback, then shook his head, "Past events, I have nothing to say. You can check the records."

Lu Zheng knew he still wouldn't talk, so he thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Xia, you are an old police officer. I believe you still have a fire in your heart, a fire to catch criminals and protect the people. In that fervent era, we don't need to talk about who was right or wrong; it was all due to the political climate. But we shouldn't be so forward-looking that we ignore the events of that era, especially when it might mean a murderer goes unpunished."

A hint of confusion flashed in Xia Tianxing's eyes, but he just shook his head and flicked the cigarette butt into the river, saying, "Let's go back."

Lu Zheng was getting anxious, realizing that Xia Tianxing was as stubborn as a stone in a latrine, both smelly and hard.

He reached out to stop Xia Tianxing, who was about to turn back, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Uncle Xia, I won't hide it from you. I'm investigating Zhang Guoliang on my own. The task force has identified the suspect as Li Weijun, who is about to be sent for prosecution. But he might be innocent."

"Uncle Xia, after so many years in the police, you understand. Li Weijun is just three characters, but behind those three characters is a living, breathing person with a family that is devastated. Can you let him be wrongfully executed while the real culprit laughs in the dark?"

Xia Tianxing was truly taken aback, looking at Lu Zheng with disbelief, "You're investigating Zhang Guoliang on your own?"

Lu Zheng gave a bitter smile, "To be honest, my situation in the bureau isn't good. Although I'm the deputy leader of the task force, I'm just a minor player and can't influence the progress of the investigation. But I feel this case is too suspicious, so I'm investigating it in secret."

Xia Tianxing stared at Lu Zheng and said calmly, "Don't you know that even if you find the truth, you'll offend all your colleagues in the bureau, and it might not lead to a good outcome? Sometimes, the truth isn't important."

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, "I know."

Xia Tianxing smiled, the young man in front of him reminded him so much of himself when he first joined the police force, full of passion and determined to uncover the truth.

Xia Tianxing finally nodded, "Alright, what do you want to know?"

...

Xia Tianxing went back first, and Lu Zheng smoked a few more cigarettes by the river before slowly returning.

Xia Tianxing told him that when the principal's wife hanged herself, there were many suspicious points. During the autopsy, a large amount of undigested sleeping pills was found in her stomach. It was hard to believe that someone would use two different methods to commit suicide. Moreover, the principal's wife had an affair, and the principal had a strong motive to kill her.

During the interrogation of the principal, he alternated between laughing and crying, cursing his son, and began to confess in a deranged manner. Although his statements were incoherent, the vague threads of his words could have been used to break his psychological defenses. However, society suddenly changed, and all work was temporarily paralyzed, leading to the dissolution of the task force, and the case was ultimately left unresolved.

Now, the principal's suspicion was growing, but it was all speculation. Where was the evidence? Where should he start?

When Lu Zheng returned to the residential area, the neighbors were watching TV. All three households now had televisions, but they still followed the old tradition. Lu Guobin moved his TV to the courtyard, and the three families sat on small stools to watch, just like watching an outdoor movie in the countryside.

"Open your eyes, look carefully, who would willingly admit to being a slave?"

The familiar theme song of "Huo Yuanjia" was clearly audible from outside the courtyard. The Central TV was broadcasting three episodes of the Hong Kong TV series "Huo Yuanjia" every night. Watching the screen, Lu Zheng felt a ripple of nostalgia. When he first saw this TV series, he was so captivated.

Lu Zheng didn't join the others in watching TV but went to the side room. The large courtyard had two side rooms, originally used as a shared storage room. Now, Ma Cuihong had cleaned out the eastern room for Lu Zheng to stay in.

It was slightly damp, but Ma Cuihong had clearly put a lot of effort into it, cleaning it thoroughly and making the bed with a thick, new blue bedspread embroidered with peonies and cranes.

Ma Cuihong soon followed in, saying apologetically, "Zheng, you'll have to bear with it for one night. I'll tidy it up better tomorrow. Now that the weather is warmer, it's good to live here for ventilation. I'll think of something for the winter."

Lu Zheng nodded and said, "We'll see. I have a place to stay now."

"Really? Where are you staying?" Tong Susu appeared from behind Ma Cuihong, looking at Lu Zheng with a smile.

"At the county guesthouse."

Lu Zheng shared a room with Xiao Du in the bureau's dormitory, but the hygiene conditions were poor, especially since their room was next to the shared bathroom on the floor, which had a strange smell in the summer. Xiao Du didn't mind, but Lu Zheng's mother had instructed him to take care of Lu Zheng, so he arranged for a double room at the county guesthouse. Lu Zheng had always refused, but a few days ago, he changed his mind and moved to the county guesthouse with Xiao Du.

Xiao Du didn't know the reason, thinking that Lu Zheng had been affected by the smell last summer and was moving to avoid it again.

Hearing that Lu Zheng was staying at the guesthouse, Ma Cuihong's eyes turned red. Now, besides the state-owned hotels and guesthouses, there were many private small hotels near the train station, but they were very dirty and unsuitable for human habitation. Ma Cuihong naturally assumed that Lu Zheng was staying in one of those small hotels.

"Zheng, listen to your aunt. Can you move back here? Your mother entrusted me to take care of you before she left... I, I feel guilty towards your mother. Can't you give me a chance to make it up? Please don't leave... okay?" Ma Cuihong was almost pleading, wiping away tears, thinking of the past and feeling deeply guilty for not taking good care of Zheng, which was all her fault.

" Aunt Cuihong, actually, I'm doing well now. I'm staying at the county guesthouse, and the environment is quite good." Seeing Aunt Cuihong's appearance, Lu Zheng felt a pang of sadness, remembering his adoptive mother who had worked herself to death and passed away early.

Outside, Lu Guobin's voice called for Ma Cuihong.

Ma Cuihong wiped her tears and said, "I'll come back later," and hurried out.

Tong Susu didn't leave but instead brought a three-legged chair and sat down, asking, "You're staying at the county guesthouse? Which room?"

Seeing the beautiful girl sitting on the broken chair, Lu Zheng felt a strange sensation. The stark contrast was too striking, almost like a dark and cruel program from the future.

The room was originally a storage room, with some old furniture. Ma Cuihong had picked out a few usable items, like the three-legged chair, which she had cleaned thoroughly.

"Tell me, are you lying to Aunt Cuihong?" Tong Susu rested her chin on the chair's backrest, her big eyes examining Lu Zheng.

"No, I'm not lying. I'm staying in room 309." Lu Zheng had also left his real address with Liu Xiaohui.

Tong Susu nodded and stared at Lu Zheng, making him feel uneasy.

"Hey, tell me the truth, do you have a problem with me?"

Lu Zheng was taken aback and said, "No, we haven't seen each other in years, and when we were young, I never really talked to you."

Tong Susu pouted, "You're no fun, not telling the truth."

Lu Zheng found that Tong Susu had a lot of expressions, unlike when she was with others, where she always appeared mature and reserved.

"You say you have no problem with me, but why do you avoid me like the plague? Am I a virus? Or does Uncle Xia have gold on him?" Tong Susu said, dissatisfied.

Lu Zheng, not good with girls and a rough man in his past life, had been a bachelor for most of his life. Although he had a close friend who supported him, he had only had casual one-night stands and never developed a deeper relationship.

So, facing Tong Susu's accusations, he could only remain silent.

Seeing that Lu Zheng didn't respond, Tong Susu realized she shouldn't bully an honest person. Moreover, Lu Zheng was no longer the rebellious teenager he used to be. Perhaps the pressures of life had made him lose his former charm and become a quiet, unassuming person.

Tong Susu felt a hint of inexplicable disappointment and said softly, "And, what you said isn't true. You did talk to me before. Once, when I was crying because someone bullied me, you told me, 'Life is for fighting, tears only show weakness.'"

Lu Zheng smiled, "Is that so?" He really didn't remember.

Tong Susu continued, "And another time, a bunch of scary people were trying to catch me, and you chased them away."

Lu Zheng couldn't help but laugh again, "It was just kids playing, not that serious. What scary people?"

Tong Susu's lips moved, but she didn't say it. She had wanted to say, "But do you know how terrifying they were to me back then? And you, you were like a hero from the sky."

Tong Susu didn't say anything more, left a letter, and quietly left.

The next morning, Lu Zheng found the envelope Tong Susu had secretly left on the chair. Inside was a stack of ten-yuan bills. Lu Zheng wanted to return it to her but learned from Zhou Dawei that she had already left, taking the 6:00 AM bus back to the city.

Lu Zheng felt a sense of emptiness, knowing that Tong Susu was repaying a debt of gratitude. After so many years, she still remembered, truly a girl with feelings and principles.

---

The page is filled with ads.