Twenty-one years ago.
It was early autumn, and a heavy snowfall coated the mountains. Withered branches and fallen leaves were buried beneath the snow, crunching underfoot with each step.
A trail of tiny footprints stretched across the snowy ground. Ah Dou ran ahead, turning back to call a boy behind him. “Ah Xue, hurry up!”
He was wearing an old jacket, patched with more than a dozen crooked stitches, cotton stuffing peering through the gaps. His sister had sewn it for him when she was still alive, and upon closer inspection, faint bloodstains that couldn’t be washed away were still visible. His cloth shoes were already soaked through with snow, and the exposed part of his calves were red from the cold, just like his face. Yet his eyes were bright, and his though childish voice, was filled with joy. As he spoke, large puffs of white mist escaped his mouth.
Panting heavily, Ah Xue said in a soft, delicate voice, “I can’t run anymore…Slow down, be careful not to fall…”
“No way! What if they catch up if we slow down?” Ah Dou turned and ran off again.
Ah Xue pounded his aching feet and muttered softly, “It’s not like we’re escaping today, Ah Dou…”
When he looked again, where was Ah Dou in front of him?
The strong breeze whipped up the snow, and the howling wind filled the air. Ah Xue stared ahead blankly, shouting loudly for Ah Dou, but obtained no response.
He took a few steps back, then stopped, suppressing his fear as he walked forward. In the midst of the snowstorm stood a cliff, where Ah Dou had vanished. He crouched down and shouted hard toward the bottom, “Ah Dou! Ah Dou, did you fall?”
“Ah—Xue—” Ah Dou’s voice was no longer lively, weak as though it were about to be swallowed up by the heavy snow. “Help—”
“I’ll be right down!” Ah Xue couldn’t see Ah Dou, so he turned his back and carefully started climbing down the cliff. But soon, he stopped. Sharp rocks pierced through his cotton coat and hands while the cotton stuffing flew out like snow, stained red with blood. Terrified, he couldn’t stop crying, yet despite the pain, he climbed back up.
In the place hidden by the fog and snow, Ah Dou was still calling his name. That tone, he had heard many times before, just like when his sister died. Her stomach had been torn open, and the sound seemed to come from the deep of her lungs as she called out to him, “Ah Xue, it hurts so much.”
He quickly wiped away his tears. “Ah Dou, wait for me! I can’t go down! I’ll go back and call for help! You have to wait for me!”
Ah Dou’s voice seemed to be fainter. “Ah Xue, please save me…”
He turned and ran, but after a few steps, he turned back. It was unclear whether he was encouraging himself or Ah Dou. “Don’t die, we’re going to the south together!”
A group of men, with fierce expressions and dressed in combat gear, cursed as they made their way up the mountain. One of them grabbed Ah Xue by the arm like picking up a chick. Through his tears, Ah Xue cried out, “Ah Dou is over there! He fell!”
At the edge of the cliff, the man threw Ah Xue to the side and attached a climbing rope to begin descending. Ah Xue kept his eyes fixed on the spot below. Soon, the man returned, raised his arm, and slapped him across the face.
He fell to the ground and opened his mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
“He escaped.” The man kicked Ah Xue again, then ordered someone to lift him up, carrying him back to the village.
After that day, Ah Xue and many other children in the village were locked up, confined in chicken cages. Even the occasional chance to go up to the mountain for fresh air was no longer possible. Since Ah Dou had escaped, the remaining children had to ‘share’ the punishment.
Ah Xue didn’t hate Ah Dou. Ah Dou must have gone to see the spring in the south.
.
The spring in the south wasn’t as beautiful as imagined; it was always raining, relentlessly. Ah Dou had been ‘wandering’ in Xiarong City for three months. Earlier, he could still find some leftovers in the trash cans, but with the rain never stopping, the food he found was all spoiled.
It had been half a year since he got separated from Uncle Wei. He regretted not listening to Uncle Wei and waiting patiently at the hotel.
He feared waiting. From childhood to adulthood, waiting had only ever brought misfortune. He couldn’t let the people from the mountains find him. Only by running constantly did he feel a sense of safety.
But now, forget about a sense of safety, his life was about to slip away. He was very hungry, unable to find food, and cold. His sister had said that spring in the south was full of vibrant colors, yet why all he had found was the cold and damp that burrowed into his bones?
He came to the brightly lit ‘glass building’ again, swallowing hard as he eagerly watched the adults and children inside.
The table was filled with food–golden-fried chicken, fizzy drinks bubbling away. Even through the window, he seemed to catch a whiff of the aroma, making him lick the corners of his mouth hungrily.
The corners of his mouth had been cracked for days, refusing to heal. The taste of blood on his tongue made him feel a bit dizzy. Ah Xue would faint at the sight of blood and burst into loud cries, but he wasn’t like that. He wouldn’t faint at the sight of blood. Tasks Ah Xue couldn’t finish, he would do for him. Now, he was just too hungry, which was why his vision was full of overlapping images.
No one had ever told him that the ‘glass building’ was a paradise for children, but he longed for it nonetheless. It was because he saw many kids inside who were about his age. He really wanted to taste that golden chicken.
However, life taught him not to indulge in fantasies. He was just following his usual routine of taking a look before heading off to fight stray dogs and homeless people for food. As his vision cleared a bit, he suddenly noticed a boy by the window staring at him.
Ah Dou didn’t find it strange. Every time he came, there were always children who stared at him. They would point at him and say something to their parents, who would then also look over, sometimes with pity, sometimes with disgust, and sometimes with mockery.
Yet that boy was different. How should he put it, although the boy was wearing a clean shirt and a cardigan, his gaze was similar to that of other street urchins he had encountered along the way.
There was no pity, no disgust, nor mockery. The boy looked like a respectable and kind young master.
The boy spoke with the two adults for a moment, then looked at him again. The woman gathered the food on the table and placed it into the plastic bag. The boy took it, then quickly ran towards the store’s door.
Ah Dou’s first instinct was to run.
“Hey! Hey—” The boy called out while chasing after him. “I brought you chicken legs!”
The warm aroma spread through the damp, chilly rain as Ah Dou stopped in his tracks, turning warily towards the boy. The boy lifted the plastic bag to show him. “Are you hungry? I have lots of chicken legs, wings, and burgers. I can’t finish it all—Can you help me eat them?”
They stood under a tree, the new spring left shielding them from the rain–or perhaps the rain had already stopped, as the light showers in Xiarong City were always intermittent.
The boy opened the cardboard box and pushed it in front of Ah Dou.
Ah Dou knew that a pie wouldn’t just fall from a sky, and eating it could be dangerous, but he was too hungry. He snatched it and shoved into his mouth, crumbs of golden, flaky crust falling all over him.
The boy was stunned and said, “Slow down, I’m not eating. It’s all for you.”
Ah Dou didn’t have time to speak or even savor the taste. By the time the gnawing hunger that had torn at his insides faded, he had already devoured every last bit of food.
He lifted his head, slightly on guard.
The boy tied up the plastic bag. “Don’t you have a home?”
He thought for a moment, then nodded.
The boy looked around, as if trying to figure out the direction, then pointed to the north and said, “You can go to an orphanage. Just keep walking north, there is Linglan Xiang Orphanage. Once you get there, you won’t go hungry.”
“Chengcheng!”
There was a shout not far away. The boy turned around, waved his hand, and said, “They’re calling me. I’m going back. Are you still hungry?”
Ah Dou muttered Linglan Xiang and Chengcheng under his breath, before shaking his head.
The boy smiled and said, “Goodbye then. Good luck.”
Ah Dou stood under the tree until the boy and the adults got into the car and left. Later, the rain trickled through the tree branches and fell onto his head. Only then did he step out from under the tree, looking around aimlessly at the crossroads before heading north.
01
“Is that traditional drum troupe on a tour? They’ve come three times in just half an hour.”
At dinner time, about ten people were sitting in a private room on the second floor of Nongjia Restaurant, all of them were criminal polices from the City Bureau’s Major Crimes Unit.
The only female member of the Major Crimes Unit in Xiarong City, Xi Wan, got married six months ago but hasn’t even had time to hold a wedding. After wrapping up a case last week, she finally had a chance to catch her breath and quickly invited her colleagues for a casual meal.
The restaurant was located on the bustling food street in the Beicheng District, and it was a lively period of day. Just as the Major Crimes Unit took their seats, the sound of thunderous drumbeats filled the air. Forensic Docter An Xun jokingly said, “Sister Wan, did you hire a traditional drum troupe?”
Xi Wan laughed and said, “Did you see the restaurant across the street, Jianghu Restaurant? They’re opening, and they hired a traditional drum troupe to make a scene.”
An Xun: “Then let’s take advantage of the celebration.”
The sound of the drum was festive for a while, but after an hour, it became a headache. Luckily, the police were all good eaters and knew each other well, so there were no formalities at all. The meal ended swiftly, like a gust of wind, sweeping through.
Before leaving the restaurant, Xi Wan reminded everyone not to forget their things. As she walked to the window, she looked down at the street. The traditional drum troupe had ‘patrolled’ back to the area beneath Nongjia Restaurant. A group of retired aunties, dressed in gold and red silk traditional Chinese robes with colorful ribbons tied to their wrists, were playing drums and cymbals.
At some point, a trend began in Xiarong City where restaurants would hire a traditional drum troupe for their grand openings. The troupe was usually made up of retired women, though occasionally, a retired man could be seen. As Xi Wan was about to turn around, she suddenly caught sight of a distinctive figure in the traditional drum troupe through the corner of her eyes.
The person was also dressed in a gold and red silk robe, with two buns tied on her head in matching silk ribbons. Her cheeks were painted with two patches of bright pink, an eye-catching sight. ‘She’ walked at the front of the troupe, tall and slender, as if wearing high heels, yet ‘her’ feet were in a pair of sneakers.
Xi Wan grew more and more surprised as she watched. The ‘woman’ hit the drum with great enthusiasm, her arms extended, the ribbons flying, almost as if she were dancing.
As a trace inspector in the Major Crimes Unit, Xi Wan’s sharp eyes could be called ‘fiery eyes’. In an instant, she realized that it wasn’t ‘her’ at all, but ‘him’.
It was a young man dressed in a women’s clothes, sporting a bun, was happily beating a drum along side the older ladies!
No one knew who did the man’s makeup, but those two patches of blush were probably smeared with lipstick, which was absolutely ridiculous.
Even so, the man’s striking bone structure was undeniable. With his face cleaned up and the buns undone, he would surely be a refined handsome guy.
“Still not leaving?” A deep voice came from behind. Xi Wan turned around and hurriedly called out, “Boss, come quick! There’s a man cross-dressing in the traditional drum troupe.”
Ji Chenjiao, the captain of the Major Crimes Unit, walked to the window upon hearing this and immediately spotted the man Xi Wan mentioned.
Xi Wan said, “This is my first time seeing a man play the traditional drum. What do you think he’s thinking?”
Thanks to his tall figure and long arms, the man played beautifully. Despite the hilarious makeup, the overall look was unexpectedly harmonious.
“Not surprising.” Ji Chenjiao’s gaze fell on the two buns on the man’s head. “Playing a traditional drum demands strength. Young men, being more energetic, are actually the most suitable than them.”
Xi Wan only wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but didn’t expect Ji Chenjiao to answer so seriously. She joked, “Then boss, why don’t you join the traditional drum troupe too?”
Just as Ji Chenjiao was about to speak, the man seemed to sense the gaze from the upper corner and looked up toward the window. Xi Wan quickly stepped aside, and as Ji Chenjiao’s eyes met the man’s, he furrowed his brows slightly.
The man wore a painted face, with a smile still lingering at the corner of his lips, as if he wasn’t bothered by being started at. After a brief moment, he averted his gaze and continued walking forward with the older ladies.
As the Major Crimes Unit descended the stairs, the traditional drum troupe had already moved further away. Ji Chenjiao instinctively glanced in the direction of the troupe.
“Captain?” An Xun called out, “What are you looking at?”
Ji Chenjiao withdrew his gaze and caught up with the group. “Nothing. Do you want some coffee? My treat.”
.
Around 7 o’clock, the traditional drum troupe gathered outside the Jianghu Restaurant. The leader, Qiang Chunliu, scanned the payment and happily distributed them to the members. She was well-organized, and her troupe was strong. In just a year, the Chunliu Traditional Drum Troupe had made a name for itself in the Beicheng District, even receiving several bookings from the southern region.
“Xiao Ling, come here, I’ll pay you.” Qiang Chunliu called out to Ling Lie. Ling Lie took out a phone similar to the older ladies’ and received fifty yuan.
“Thank you, sister.” Ling Lie put his phone into a tacky waist pouch after receiving the money. Qiang Chunliu glanced at his phone, then at his waist pouch, and couldn’t help but start nagging, “Xiao Ling, why don’t you get a new phone? And maybe change that pouch too?”
Ling Lie looked puzzled, picking up the waist pouch and examining it from all angles. “It’s not damaged, though.”
Qiang Chunliu was even more worried. “This kind of pouch is something only us older women use when we go shopping. I think it’s tacky! You, a young guy, using it looks so shabby. And the phone too, I see kids your age using iPhones and Huawei. Yours… doesn’t look like something a young person would use.”
Ling Lie wasn’t the least bit flustered. He smile gently and said, “But I’m poor.”
Qiang Chunliu, “……..” Alright, that one sentence completely shut her up.
Jianghu Restaurant provided a mean, and the older ladies all headed inside. Qiang Chunliu asked, “Xiao Ling, why don’t you eat before going back?”
Ling Lie said, “I won’t eat. I’ll just wash my face and leave.”
Qiang Chunliu watched him head toward the sink before joining the sisters at the table. To her, Ling Lie was a bit odd. Over two months ago, he suddenly asked to join their traditional drum troupe, giving her a unique scare. She even thought it was some new kind of scam targeting their troupe’s money.
But Ling Lie took drumming seriously and looked decent. Ever since Ling Lie joined, their business had flourished quite a bit. Everyone quickly accepted this strange young man.
Thinking of this, Qiang Chunliu snored jealously. In fact, the Chunliu Traditional Drum Troupe’s business used to be even better. Which restaurant opening far and near could do without them? It was only when the Hongyun Model Team suddenly introduced a glaomorous ‘Hats Queen’ that their spotlight was stolen.
Can’t figure out what those bosses are thinking, opening a business without traditional drum performance and hiring a bunch of older women to walk around like models–dressing up like young girls at their age, isn’t that embarrassing? While Qiang Chunliu looked down on it, she stil followed the ‘Hats Queen’ on the video platform Muyin, often leaving a couple of scolding comments while secretly learning her makeup and style.
Today, their makeup was copied from the ‘Hats Queen’, but it seemed they didn’t quite capture the essence. Qiang Chunliu planned to strengthen the drum troupe’s learning and find time to practice catwalking. After all, they couldn’t let others steal the spotlight forever, right?
Luckily, she still had Ling Lie as her trump card, if only Ling Lie could attend every event.
Qiang Chunliu couldn’t help but wonder. Ling Lie occasionally attended events, but even when he came, he didn’t eat. He’d take the money and leave, saying there was food at home. Ling Lie should be short on money, so why didn’t he take advantage of a free meal?
Ling Lie washed his face clean, and the buns on his head were undone. His shoulder-length black hair was damp with water, a few strands sticking to his face. As the cool breeze blew, the chill seeped into his skin. It was as if he reveled in the cold that most people would dislike, gently tilting his face up and taking a deep breath.
After getting off the bus, Ling Lie headed straight for the Moonflower Kindergarten. It wasn’t until he saw the tightly locked gate that he remembered the kindergarten closed at six everyday.
Common sense, yet it wasn’t remembered.
Ling Lie volunteered at this kindergarten, and the canteen served his dream filled buns—braised pork buns—three days a week. He missed it today.
Ling Lie didn’t mind much. Across the street from the kindergarten was a McDonald’s. The only downside to McDonald’s compared to his braised pork buns was that it cost money.
Half an hour later, Ling Lie returned to his rented old house, carrying a McDonald’s package.
The building was from the last century, without an elevator, and the soundproofing was terrible. The good part was that it was cheap, and there were no rules for street vendors. Small stalls were set up everywhere, full of energy and bustling, and any kind of food could be bought.
Ling Lie liked it.
Before entering the house, there was a small incident. On the fourth floor, two apartment doors were wide open. A woman in her fifties had a voice like gong1 
, shouting the names of the children, telling them to do exercises in the hallway. When she saw someone passing by, she showed no intention of moving aside.
Ling Lie sidestpped and walked past the adult and children, reaching the door of 4-2. Just he was about to open the door, a child shouted, “Wow! It smells so good! I want to eat!”
The child reached for Ling Lie’s package. In an instant, Ling Lie lifted his arm, and the child missed. Immediately, he ran to the adult and complained, “He won’t give me any!”
The woman cast an unhappy glance at Ling Lie, but he ignored them, smoothly opened and closed the door in one go.
The woman shielded the child and said, “If he won’t give it, then fine. Don’t bother him. He’s unemployed, just a good-for-nothing…”
“What is a good-for-nothing?”
“He’s a bad guy, one who would eat children.”
Ling Lie heard the conversation outside clearly. He snorted lightly, didn’t care, and then washed his hands, opening the package and box. When he saw the chicken leg sandwich and chicken wings, a simple smile appeared in his eyes.
.
Half a month later, spring returned to the Earth.
The old trees, with countless years of history, spread their branches and leaves, reaching into the gray, corpse-like old building. Wang Lifen, after buying groceries with her grandson, once again opened the door wide, sat on a small stool at the entrance, and began to peel beans, allowing her grandson ran through the hallway.
“Grandmother! I want to eat McDonald’s!” Since the last time he saw the man from 4-2 carrying a McDonald’s package, her grandson seemed to be almost bewitched, wanting McDonald’s every day. Their family wasn’t rich, so having it once on the weekend was fine, but how could they afford to eat it everyday?
Wang Lifen cursed 4-2 in her mind, glancing sideways in that direction. Her grandson pounced on her, crying and throwing a tantrum. “I don’t want beans, I want chicken legs!”
“Eat, eat, eat! Eat your old mother!” Wang Lifen scolded, “Go see if that good-for-nothing will give you some!”
The grandson sobbed for a while before actually heading toward 4-2. He cautiously peeked through the crack in the door, but unexpectedly, it was suddenly pushed open. Scared of being spotted by the ‘bad guy’, he quickly darted away.
After waiting a few minutes without any movement, his courage grew. Driven by curiosity, he approached 4-2 again.
Sunlight poured in through the door, and the curtains billowed in the wind, casting a wave-like shadows on the floor.
The grandson’s eyes fixed on the person sitting at the center of the sunlight. He wore gold and red silk traditional Chinese robe, with two buns tied on his head and a drum strapped to his waist. The sunlight made his face looked deathly pale, like an uncolored sheet of paper. His robe was soaked, and the dark liquid seeping through which appeared like blood.
The grandson stepped back, quivering so much that his teeth chattered.
Wang Lifen finished peeling the beans and called for him repeatedly, but he didn’t respond. Cursing as she came over to grab him, she yelled, “How did I end up with such a useless brat like you? Your father…”
The scolding abruptly stopped. A few seconds later, the clatter of pots, pans, and the noise of the TV in the building were drowned out by Wang Lifen’s earth-shattering scream.
“De-dead–there’s a dead person!”
TN: Welcome to another new project of mine~ I’ve been wanting to pick up a criminal investigation novel as a project for so long and I stumbled across this one which seems to be interesting~
This novel will be my side project for now as I focus on IPDAOLR as my main project.
