There is a saying in the society, called "big Chinese New Year".
Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival. New Year's Eve is undoubtedly the most important day of the year. The Spring Festival holiday is also a refuge for countless people to escape from reality.
It seems that when the bell rings at zero, all bad luck, bad luck, and suffering will be left behind in the past year, everything in front of you is brand new, and the future is promising.
But there are also a small number of people who do not have a good Spring Festival.
Dongcheng District, Fanglong Alley.
There are many old houses in this area, the policy has been adopted, and the whole house will be demolished in another year.
In big cities, demolition is undoubtedly a big happy event, and usually means instant riches.
This year is likely to be the last Spring Festival where the decades old neighbors of Fanglong Alley gather together. As early as the beginning of winter, Chen Hongbing and other dozen eldest sisters who are keen on square dancing have been discussing the festival.
Before the New Year's Eve, the old sisters had been together for several times. On the day of New Year's Eve, someone moved the mahjong table outdoors at noon, the women played mahjong with melon seeds, and the men hung lanterns to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner, trying their best to show themselves in front of outsiders. How to spoil your wife.
At seven or eight in the evening, the whole Fanglong Alley became more lively.
It is not allowed to set off firecrackers without permission in the urban area, but Chen Hongbing has a sweet mouth, pulling a few old sisters to move with reason and understanding, saying that this place will be demolished next year, and everyone grew up in this area. There are regulations prohibiting fireworks and firecrackers. Without the sound of firecrackers, this year will not be festive. In the last year, why should I leave some memories.
As soon as the chengguans summed up, they followed up with a report. The superiors considered that their demands had some truth, and Fanglong Alley was on the edge of the city, and it belonged to an area where they could "turn one eye off", so they really gave it to them. A small clearing was set aside, where they were allowed to set off firecrackers, but kept silent.
Firecrackers are packed in vans and pulled from a small county town specializing in fireworks and firecrackers to Fanglong Alley. At ten o'clock, almost all the residents living in the alley come out, except for the young people who don't like it. .
Chen Hongbing has a fiery personality and used to act like "people are crazy" when he was young. Now that he is almost 50 years old, he is more open. He organizes mahjong games in the afternoon, and holds a small red flag at night to maintain order at the front of the open space, just like the director of the neighborhood committee in Fanglong Alley.
"Sister Hongbing, Sister Hongbing!" Yang Guizhen, who was dancing the square dance together, shouted loudly, "Come here!"
Chen Hongbing was a little unhappy and squeezed past the crowd, "What's up?"
"Why are you alone?" Yang Guizhen looked around, "Where's your family? Xiaoming didn't see it either."
Like many women of this age, Chen Hongbing has tattooed eyebrows and lips, but the tattoos are not ideal. The eyebrow shape and lip color are now outdated. In order to cover their shortcomings, Chen Hongbing will be very thick every time he goes out. Makeup, from today's toss up during the day, the makeup—especially the eye makeup—has been spent, and the eyeliner and brows are smudged, making her staring look extra funny.
"My man is staring at the pot at home! I have to entertain relatives tomorrow, so I have to prepare the dishes tonight." Chen Hongbing's expression was a little unnatural, "Xiao Ming is too big, he doesn't like to join in the fun with us, and he will run away in the afternoon. Say what... go listen to the New Year's bell with your girlfriend!"
"Yo!" Yang Guizhen was surprised, "Does Xiaoming have a girlfriend?"
Chen Hongbing raised her eyebrows proudly, but the tip of her right eyebrow was already melted, so she couldn't lift it.
"Then you're in a good mood." Yang Guizhen's tone unknowingly contained a bit of mockery, "Xiao Ming is already a sophomore in high school. You don't worry about his grades, and you dare to let him have a girlfriend."
Chen Hongbing pretended to laugh: "Xiao Ming has his own sense of proportion. Besides, when my son is older, I'm always taking care of him as a mother, and maybe he will be hated by others. He can hand it over if he wants. Good grades!"
Yang Guizhen rolled his eyes.
Chen Hongbing said again: "Where is your family Binbin?"
"Well—" Yang Guizhen pursed his lips, "I set off firecrackers with his dad."
Chen Hongbing smiled but didn't smile, "It's still good for Binbin, kissing you guys, not like our Xiaoming. Alas, the only thing Xiaoming makes me feel at ease is the grades..."
The sound of firecrackers was deafening, instantly drowning the women's "swords and swords". The singing and dancing were peaceful and lively, and all the open and secret struggles put on a coat of mutual love.
Everyone laughed and said "Gong Xi Fa Cai", but in fact everyone hopes that others have no fortune.
Chen Hongbing and Yang Guizhen are the organizers and lead dancers of the square dance in Fanglong Alley. Chen Hongbing was beautiful when she was young, and she often participated in literary and artistic programs in the factory. Now, most of the women of the same age are bloated, but her figure is maintained very well, so although she is not as good as Yang Guizhen, she is the first dancer by virtue of her figure.
Chen Hongbing's son Xiang Haoming is the same age as Yang Guizhen's son Xu Binbin. The two grew up together. When they were in elementary school, they couldn't see anything. After entering junior high school, Xiang Haoming always overwhelmed Xu Binbin in terms of looks and grades. This made Yang Guizhen unable to raise his head in front of Chen Hongbing.
Now Chen Hongbing also said that Xiang Haoming made a rich girlfriend and went to the city center to listen to the bells and watch the fireworks together. Yang Guizhen couldn't take this breath even more.
Even if she was crushed by Chen Hongbing, why did her son not live up to his expectations
Exaggerated laughter came from diagonally forward. Yang Guizhen saw that Xu Binbin was holding a string of firecrackers, and he was out of breath.
She stomped her foot hard, and felt even more embarrassed. She didn't know what her son was laughing at. He was such a big man, his grades were not good, and his brain was still stupid, so he knew how to make a fool of her.
The open space designated for setting off firecrackers is on the west side of the alley. The street lights on the east side of the alley are broken and dark. There are only a few windows in the old houses on both sides, one of which is Chen Hongbing's home.
She didn't tell Yang Guizhen the truth.
Tomorrow, no relatives will come to her house, her husband Xiang Lin is not busy cooking, and her son Xiang Haoming is not going to the city center to listen to the New Year's bell, even if Xiang Haoming has a girlfriend is a lie she made up temporarily. .
At this moment, Xiang Haoming was locked in his room doing the quiz—not voluntarily, of course, but forced by her. Xiang Lin didn't come back yesterday, and he didn't know where he had gone.
Chen Hongbing has lived for most of her life. She loves vanity and compares everything with the women around her. She cares about her own face the most. As for Xiang Haoming, she has been creating a "personality" in which her son is smart, talented, and can get good grades without much study, so as to gain the greatest psychological advantage in chatting with Yang Guizhen and the like.
The sound of firecrackers and clamor from the other end of the alley could not be blocked even if the windows were closed tightly. Xiang Haoming threw the pen irritably, crumpled the scrap paper into a ball, and smashed it hard on the ground.
There is a family photo on the writing desk. It was taken many years ago. In the photo, he is still very young and wearing a red scarf. Chen Hongbing insisted on putting the family portrait on the table. Every time he was upset when he was doing his homework, he was even more upset when he saw it.
He wanted to smash the frame and rip the photos to shreds.
The only thing this hypocritical family happiness can make him feel is nausea.
It was still a while before the early morning, and Xiang Haoming couldn't read books for a long time. He knew Chen Hongbing very well, this woman - he could no longer call her mother - would not come back until everyone was gone.
Xiang Haoming decisively changed his clothes when he went out. He looked at the class group on WeChat. The group was very lively. Almost all of the classmates were playing outside. The last time they had a New Year's Eve dinner at a relative's house, he was the only one, who was still the only one who was slaughtered. Closed at home doing homework.
For a boy of sixteen or seventeen, once his rebelliousness is stimulated, he basically cannot take it back. Xiang Haoming took out more than 800 yuan from the drawer, which was the teaching and auxiliary fee he deducted. He stuffed the scarf and gloves into the school bag, and closed the door and left without looking back.
There was a damp smell in the corridor, he covered his mouth and nose in disgust and hurried past.
He really didn't understand what the poor people in this whole alley were messing with? Chen Hongbing went door-to-door to collect money a while ago, saying that he wanted to buy materials for the New Year's Eve dinner, red lanterns for decoration, and the carload of firecrackers.
Thousands and tens of thousands of dollars, why not improve the living environment, but use it to engage in those vain activities
They are just a group of bugs living at the bottom of society, eagerly looking forward to the demolition.
Xiang Haoming felt that the "playing house" of the bugs was really ridiculous.
But what's even more ridiculous is that he was born here, and he is also a weak bug.
Thinking of this, Xiang Haoming couldn't wait to flee from Fanglong Alley immediately, his footsteps could not help speeding up, from walking quickly to running.
"what-"
An unpleasant cry appeared along with the dull pain in his chest. Xiang Haoming frowned and saw that it was Xu Binbin who bumped into him.
"Hey! Xiaoming, are you at home?" Xu Binbin was so naive and stupid, "Then why didn't you come and set off firecrackers with us just now?"
Xiang Haoming doesn't hate Xu Binbin, but he doesn't like it either. In his eyes, Xu Binbin is a fool.
Xu Binbin followed Yang Guizhen. At this moment, Yang Guizhen's strange gaze was falling on Xiang Haoming.
Xiang Haoming immediately understood what Yang Guizhen was thinking.
This superficial woman, doesn't she love to "compete for beauty" with Chen Hongbing
Xiang Haoming was very happy to embarrass Chen Hongbing, so he pulled out a dry smile, "I've been at home, but my mother insisted that I do my homework at home."
As soon as these words came out, Yang Guizhen couldn't hide the smile on her face, "Aiya, Sister Hongbing told me just now that you and your girlfriend went to the city center to listen to the bell."
Xiang Haoming shook his head, "I don't have a girlfriend."
Yang Guizhen seemed to be thoroughly pleased, her facial features twisted when she smiled.
"I won't tell you. Before my mother comes back, I want to feel the festive atmosphere." Xiang Haoming said badly, "Aunt Guizhen, don't tell my mother that she saw me here."
Yang Guizhen waved his hands one after another, "Go, go, auntie doesn't say anything!"
Xiang Haoming had a smile on his face, but when he passed by Yang Guizhen's mother and son, the smile disappeared in an instant.
At 2:00 a.m., the New Year celebration finally came to an end. The open space was full of red confetti. After 0:00, Chen Hongbing led the old square dancers to dance a few dances and received countless applause.
Although tired, Chen Hongbing enjoys this pursuit very much.
When he got home, there was no light coming out of Xiang Haoming's bedroom. Chen Hongbing expected his son to fall asleep, and cursed Xiang Lin in a low voice while removing his makeup.
She wished that Xiang Lin would die, so that when the demolition was carried out, the demolition fee would be paid by her and her son.
Chen Hongbing in front of the neighbors and Chen Hongbing in front of the family are completely two people. Chen Hongbing turned off the lights and went to bed after scolding. He wanted to wake up in the morning and cook glutinous rice balls for his son, but because he was too sleepy, he didn't wake up until near noon.
"Xiao Ming?" Chen Hongbing knocked on the bedroom door, "Have you eaten breakfast? Let's go out to eat at noon."
There was no movement.
Chen Hongbing was very puzzled, Xiang Haoming has always been very good and would never ignore her.
"Mom is in." Chen Hongbing pushed open the door, only to see that the curtains bulged and the room was empty.
Fanglong Street Police Station.
All the police were on duty last night, and now some of them are going back to rest, and some are still sticking to their posts.
"Don't worry, explain the situation clearly." The female police officer Xiao Wang wore a pair of dark circles under her eyes and comforted Chen Hongbing exhaustedly, "When did your son leave the house, what is his mobile phone number and social network number? Which middle school to study in... You have to tell us this basic information before we can check it down."
Chen Hongbing was in a state of impatience. He was usually such a eloquent person. When his son was lost, he lost all his senses, and he didn't explain things clearly for a long time.
After discovering that Xiang Haoming was not at home, she first called Xiang Haoming and then sent a message, but Xiang Haoming had turned off the phone, and "the other party is typing" never appeared on WeChat.
She had the phone numbers of several of Xiang Haoming's classmates and the head teacher. She called them one by one to ask, but the other party said that Xiang Haoming had not contacted her.
She called Xiang Lin, but Xiang Lin turned off the phone too.
Unable to think of where Xiang Haoming could go, Chen Hongbing had to call the police.
Under Xiao Wang's guidance, Chen Hongbing finally made the necessary information clear. She grabbed Xiao Wang's hand and her eyes were red: "We Xiaoming will not have an accident, right? He is very good, and he never talks to those who are indifferent. People get along with each other, and his grades are also very good, you must help me find him!"
In a big city like Dongye City, "disappearance" is all too common. A small number of disappearances are related to the case, and the vast majority of disappearances are only short-term disappearances, misunderstandings, or even pranks.
However, the police have always attached great importance to the disappearance of the juvenile. Even if the police were already exhausted, they immediately launched an investigation.
Surveillance shows that at 11:12 on New Year's Eve, Xiang Haoming walked through the east entrance of Fanglong Alley alone without being followed. Since then, he has not appeared in any public surveillance.
The communication records show that Xiang Haoming's mobile phone was turned off at around 4:00 a.m. on the first day of the new year, and cannot be located at present.
Until the evening, the police station could not find Xiang Haoming. The police asked every classmate of Xiang Haoming who could be contacted, but no one knew his whereabouts.
Throughout the Spring Festival holiday, sanitation workers take turns, and of course, there are people cleaning key places in the city center at any time, but in places like Fanglong Alley, sanitation workers are hardly seen most of the day. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Lao Xu went out to sweep the streets before dawn—it was his turn today, and he wanted to finish his work early and go home to continue the New Year.
The people who lived in Fanglong Alley brought several carts of firecrackers to set off a few days ago, and they didn't care how to clean them up.
Lao Xu was scolding and swearing, but he didn't want to care about it. He would definitely not be able to clean up such a big dirt pit by himself. It's better to wait for everyone to go to work and transport a truckload of soil to bury it on the spot.
But Lao Xu has some selfishness of his own. I heard that the firecrackers are not finished at all. If they pick them up and sell them to those who do firecracker business, maybe they can earn 180 yuan.
It was not bright for a while, so Lao Xu did what he said, and tentatively walked into the dirt pit, throwing the empty box out, and walking deep.
Suddenly, he realized that he seemed to have kicked something, and he opened the scraps of paper and took a flashlight to take a picture. When he saw what it was, he screamed in fright.
The thick fog dissipated, and a security tape separated the scene from the residents watching the lively.
Several police cars were parked outside Fanglong Alley, not only from the Dongcheng Branch, but also from the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Lao Xu's face was pale, and he couldn't get up from sitting on the bench, "Then, that person's skin has been stripped, and there are blood holes all over it. I'm scared, scared to death!"
Mingshu got out of the car and walked quickly towards the scene.
A woman with disheveled hair rushed over crying from the side, almost hitting him.
"The eldest sister's son disappeared on New Year's Eve." Police Xiao Wang said, "She is worried about the..."
Mingshu nodded, glanced at the woman, pulled off his guard and walked in.
The woman is Chen Hongbing. Her face is extremely haggard. She has been torn to shreds by these hard days. She sat on the ground and cried, fearing that the "blood man" in the pit was her son Xiang Haoming. .
If it was just an ordinary murder case, the serious crime team might not be dispatched immediately, but now is the Spring Festival, the time is special, and according to the description of the reporter Lao Xu, the scene is very strange. Buried in red confetti. In some villages and towns around Dongye City, more than a hundred years ago, there was a backward custom of peeling the skin of a living person and taking the celestial bones to pray for the elimination of diseases. The people who were killed were the poor who were in good health but of extremely low status, and the people who killed them were the wealthy and powerful to eliminate their disease for themselves.
This cruel custom, long since eradicated, seems to be reappearing in urban areas.
Mingshu took a break today, and he had planned to drive to the western suburbs with Xiao Yuan for a long time. After receiving the clue, he immediately canceled the trip and arrived in a hurry.
The red confetti and boxes in the pit have not been completely removed, and the "blood man" has been moved outside the pit.
The bloody smell at the scene was not serious, and the most obvious thing in the air was gunpowder smoke.
Mingshu put on gloves and a mask, frowned, and walked behind Xing Mu, "Really peeling?"
Xing Mu shook his head. He didn't know if it was too cold or the condition of the corpse was too bad. His voice was trembling, "It's not skinning, these injuries were caused by firecrackers."
Mingshu's eyes tightened, "Firecrackers?"