There were many people gathered at the door of Chen Pingchuan's house to watch the excitement. Meng Zhoushan scanned the faces, some unfamiliar and some familiar, and finally slowly fixed his eyes on the corner near the stairs.
There stood a man wearing a cap. His collar was turned up high, covering the lower half of his face. Only a pair of eyes were exposed, as sneaky as a mouse in a hole. He did not go close to watch the excitement like others, but just stood far away in front of the crowd and watched. When he found that Meng Zhoushan was staring at him, he immediately turned around and went upstairs.
Seeing this, Meng Zhoushan slowly put his hands into his pockets, kicked Yan Yuezhao with the tip of his leather shoe, and whispered to him to follow and see: "Fish."
Upon hearing this, Yan Yuezhao glanced upstairs, stood up from the steps, and patted the dust off his butt: "You can let me catch up, but you have to tell me first why you want to investigate the person with the red birthmark on the palm of your hand."
Things in past lives obviously cannot be explained.
Meng Zhoushan could only make up a lie to deceive people: "When the case happened, I saw a suspicious person wandering around, with a red birthmark on the palm of his hand."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Yan Yuezhao muttered to himself, and immediately turned around and followed the man in the cap. He was wearing plain clothes and had been hiding in the dark all morning. He did not reveal his identity as a policeman, so he was not afraid of being discovered.
The quarrel at the door of Chen Pingchuan's house finally died down after the neighbors persuaded them to stop. The young girl who sold insurance upstairs pulled Chen Pingchuan away from the police and said kindly: "Brother Chen, the police are also serving the people, so calm down. Look at you, you drank so much, your wife will be angry again if she sees you."
Grandma She on the sixth floor had been a widow for many years and had a strange temper. She was very sharp-tongued and liked to stir up trouble for no reason. Her daughter-in-law was severely tortured by her. Seeing that there was no excitement to watch, she ate melon seeds while provoking, "Chen Pingchuan, don't give in today. The police have bullied you, and you are still swallowing your anger?"
The young police officer beside her blushed when he heard this, and regardless of his companions' pulling him away, he stepped forward to argue with her: "What do you mean by bullying? Explain yourself clearly!"
Upon seeing this, Granny She immediately raised her voice and slapped her thigh, saying, "Ouch! Ouch! Come and see, the police are coming to beat an old lady like me. Come and see, this is so unjust!"
She likes to find faults whenever she has nothing to do, and it has become a pathological behavior. The neighbors were very interested at the beginning, but now they are tired of watching. The old woman has a shrill voice that hurts people's ears. The more people gather around her, the more excited she becomes. Seeing this, they all leave their homes.
Meng Zhoushan saw everyone dispersed, and thought of Sui Yuesheng in the room. He was about to turn around, but he saw Shao pushing a wheelchair out without knowing when.
"uncle,"
Chen Pingchuan was not far away, but Sui Yuesheng's eyes were always on Meng Zhoushan. She looked up at him and said softly, "It's getting late. I should go home."
Meng Zhoushan actually didn't like children very much. He had helped take care of Yan Yuezhao's son before, but that boy was too naughty and not as well-behaved and lovable as the boy in front of him.
Sui Yuesheng is probably an exception.
Meng Zhoushan slowly squatted down: "Okay, if you need anything, come find me anytime."
Seeing the police leave, the screaming old lady She was ready to go upstairs. However, before she took two steps, she suddenly saw Sui Yuesheng and exclaimed in surprise: "Yuesheng, why is your leg still paralyzed? It's getting better now, have you seen a doctor? But it's useless. I heard someone say that if your legs are too paralyzed, you won't be able to stand up."
Sui Yuesheng lowered his head and said nothing when he heard this. His face turned pale, and he looked extremely embarrassed. He clenched his knees with his fingertips, and the force was so strong that it almost sank into his flesh.
At this moment, a bony hand suddenly opened his fingertips. The palm was warm and dry, with a thin callus. On the wrist was a men's watch, and the silver chain strap pressed against Sui Yuesheng's skin, which was cool.
Sui Yuesheng raised her eyes, but met Meng Zhoushan's calm gaze: "Don't pinch yourself."
After Meng Zhoushan finished speaking, he slowly stood up and looked at Grandma She. He lit a cigarette with a lighter. Perhaps because he was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, he looked more serious and his words were inexplicably convincing. In the swirling smoke, he said, "In fact, there is a disease that is more terrible than paralysis."
Granny She was intrigued. Seeing Meng Zhoushan dressed neatly, she inexplicably restrained her previous vehemence and asked with great interest, "What's wrong?"
"Talking cancer."
Meng Zhoushan flicked the cigarette between his slender fingers. His eyes were squinted by the smoke. "This disease is more common in the elderly. Talking too much can easily lead to cancer. It is a malignant tumor disease. In the late stage, the mouth and tongue will rot. The best way is to keep your mouth shut and not talk for the rest of your life."
After he finished speaking, he didn't even look at the confused Grandma She. He grabbed the armrest of Sui Yuesheng's wheelchair and pushed him to the door of his house.
At that time, the woman who sold insurance upstairs was sitting in the house, persuading Chen Pingchuan not to quarrel with the police. At the same time, she was subtly selling her own insurance, and the temptation of benefits led Chen Pingchuan into deep thought.
"Brother Chen, I have said everything I need to say. You must think carefully about it. It's getting late, so I'll leave first."
The woman got up from the sofa and left. When she saw Sui Yuesheng at the door, she smiled in an ambiguous way, then she noticed Meng Zhoushan behind her, her eyes fell on the man's gentle and handsome face, unable to move away.
Meng Zhoushan didn't even look at her, but pushed Sui Yuesheng straight to the door.
Chen Pingchuan had never seen Meng Zhoushan before. Seeing an unfamiliar man standing at the door, he stood up and frowned: "Who are you?"
Meng Zhoushan put out his cigarette, and the spark went out. He didn't want to explain too much: "Neighbor next door."
After he finished speaking, he lowered his eyes and looked at Sui Yuesheng. Just as he was about to say something, he saw that Shao was also looking at him, making it difficult to tell what kind of complex emotions were hidden in his eyes.
"Then I'll go first."
Meng Zhoushan spoke in a gentle voice, feeling a little sorry for the poor living environment of his children.
Sui Yuesheng quietly loosened her grip on his shirt and asked cautiously, "Can I come to you next time?"
Meng Zhoushan: "Of course."
Sui Yuesheng finally smiled when he heard this, and a faint light appeared in his dark eyes. It was so clear in this dangerous building, like the last bit of starlight when all the lights went out.
When Meng Zhoushan left, Sui Yuesheng stared at the man's back for a long time until he could no longer see him. He was about to push the wheelchair into the house when he saw a red advertising leaflet stuffed under the threshold.
This flyer was very small, and was covered with footprints, so ordinary people couldn't find it at all. Sui Yuesheng was sitting in a wheelchair, and his vision was low, so he saw it.
He grasped the armrest of the wheelchair with one hand, leaned over slightly, and picked up the flyer.
Seeing Meng Zhoushan leave, Chen Pingchuan kicked the glass bottles at his feet in annoyance and frowned at Sui Yuesheng, "Where did you hang out last night? You didn't even mop the floor or cook. You're here now, so I can't control you, right?!"
Sui Yuesheng smelled a pungent smell of cigarettes, and sure enough, saw a pile of cigarette butts on the floor. Silently, he pushed his wheelchair into the house, found a rag, and prepared to clean up.
Chen Pingchuan couldn't control his temper, walked over and kicked his wheelchair: "It's already time to order, but you're still cleaning. Hurry up and cook. You're just like your aunt, you're crazy!"
Sui Yuesheng paused when he heard this: "Uncle, there is no food at home."
Chen Pingchuan frowned: "Then buy it."
Sui Yuesheng said softly: "No money..."
Chen Pingchuan was even more annoyed when he heard this. His drinking affected his work, and the company had recently fired him, and he would not be paid until the middle of next month.
"They are all debt collectors!" Chen Pingchuan rummaged in his pocket for a long time and threw a crumpled five-dollar bill on Sui Yuesheng's legs, "Hurry up and buy some groceries and cook!"
Sui Yuesheng collected the money, responded, then pushed the wheelchair into the house and found the cloth bag that was usually used to carry vegetables in the small compartment inside.
Chen Pingchuan started watching his game again, but the TV signal was bad and there was a crackling sound.
There was a blue flower pot on the windowsill of the compartment, warmed by the sun, but the weather forecast said it would rain in the afternoon. Sui Yuesheng brought the flower pot in, poured a small half cup of water into it, and stroked the edge of the flower pot with his fingertips, his eyes filled with a rather gloomy tenderness.
He didn't know what he was thinking, his movements slowly paused, he took out the red flyer he picked up at the door, and then spread it out carefully.
This is a restaurant opening flyer, made of cheap and rough paper. The only difference is that on the back of the paper, someone has drawn a ouroboros pattern in red ink, with a row of scribbled words underneath:
I devour sin, and I gain eternal life.
Sui Yuesheng held the flyer in his left hand and stroked the unbudded flower in his right hand, his eyes lowered, not knowing what he was thinking. After a moment, he gently stretched out his left hand from the window and loosened his fingertips—
The red leaflet fell lightly, spun in the air, and was then blown into the streets and alleys by the wind.
It rained heavily at night, and the cold was even worse. The building stood in the wind and rain, and it seemed that it would collapse at any time.
Meng Zhoushan used to like to work in this kind of weather, because the damp rain and dark nights were the easiest breeding ground for evil. But today, because there was an unexpected guest at home, he felt uneasy.
"Da da da da da! I'm a police officer. You're already under arrest. Raise your hands and surrender!"
A seven-year-old boy held up a toy gun and fired at Meng Zhoushan, hoping that he would cooperate. Unfortunately, Meng Zhoushan did not react at all.
"'Officer Yan', I suggest you do your homework now. Catching thieves is something you will do when you grow up."
The nanny at home had requested a leave to visit her family, and Yan Yuezhao was tracking the suspect, so he couldn't spare the time to take care of this living ancestor. After picking him up from school, he could only temporarily leave him at Meng Zhoushan's house and ask him to help take care of him.
I have to say that Yan Yuezhao is quite bold. He dares to leave his child in such a dangerous place.
Yan Xiangming curled his lips when he heard this and threw away the toy gun in his hand: "Uncle, can you buy me a new toy gun? Dad won't buy me one."
Meng Zhoushan thought it was normal. Yan Yuezhao spent money lavishly, and after the divorce, he had no wife to help him manage his finances, so he was broke at the end of the month.
Meng Zhoushan put the pen aside, turned on his computer and asked, "If I buy you a toy gun, will you be quiet?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiangming immediately leaned over the table and muttered in a low voice, feeling aggrieved: "I also want a new tablet to draw on. I got first place in the last exam, and my dad promised to buy it for me, but he never bought it."
Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem. Meng Zhoushan slowly scrolled the mouse and browsed the products: "What does your father's promise have to do with me?"
Yan Xiangming pulled his sleeve and acted like a spoiled child: "Uncle, I won't bother you anymore, okay? I'm doing my homework now."
This is a spoiled child, except for his noisy personality, there is nothing wrong with him. Meng Zhoushan chose a tablet for him and bought him a simulation toy gun. Yan Xiangming really lay on the table and did his homework obediently.
Meng Zhoushan couldn't help but think of the silent young man in the wheelchair. After thinking for a moment, he placed an order on the computer and bought another new mobile phone.
There was a sound of raindrops falling from time to time, but the room was so quiet that it made people feel comfortable.
Meng Zhoushan was revising a manuscript he had previously submitted for publication. Some of the content was too bloody, and the editor said it had to be deleted or modified.
He had no way of beautifying those cruel stories, and all he could do was delete and modify them.
Yan Xiangming saw Meng Zhoushan was deep in thought and didn't dare to disturb him. After finishing his homework, he quietly leaned over to the table and said, "Uncle, I'm thirsty."
Meng Zhoushan didn't even raise his head, and poured him a glass of water from the glass bottle on the corner of the table: "Drink it."
Yan Xiangming: "...Uncle, you poured red wine."
Meng Zhoushan finally realized that he had poured the wrong glass, so he had to go up to his seat and pour him another glass of orange juice.
Yan Xiangming found a piece of paper Meng Zhoushan had placed on the corner of the table. On it was a picture of an Ouroboros. He leaned over and exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle, you can also draw this snake."
Meng Zhoushan paused when he heard this and turned to look at him: "Have you seen this snake anywhere else?"
"Ah," Yan Xiangming said, "I saw it on the wall downstairs when my father picked me up from school."
Meng Zhoushan's face changed slightly when he heard this. He was about to go downstairs to check, but suddenly he thought it was not safe to leave Yan Xiangming alone in the room, so he simply walked over and carried him out of the room.
Yan Xiangming didn't like going out on rainy days, and the eldest was reluctant: "Uncle, what are you doing?"
Meng Zhoushan wrapped him up with a muff and walked into the elevator, saying in a serious voice, "Where is the snake? Point it out to your uncle later."
Yan Xiangming said "oh".
The corridor was dark, dimly lit, and covered with small advertisements. It was not easy to find a pattern among the colorful and mottled walls.
Yan Xiangming recalled the scene when he walked in with his schoolbag on his back, looked around for a long time, and finally pointed to a corner under the mailbox and said, "Uncle, it's here."
Meng Zhoushan turned on the light of his mobile phone and looked in the direction he pointed. He saw an Ouroboros pattern next to a seal advertising sewer unclogging, with a line of words underneath:
He who stirs up sin with lies shall have his tongue pulled out.
The bright red font was hidden among the cluttered advertisements and was not easy to spot. The only thing was the snake, which was painted delicately and meticulously, like some kind of ancient totem.
Meng Zhoushan rubbed the wall vigorously with his fingertips, and the ink marks on the edge of the pattern became a little blurry, obviously it was just painted.
He stared at the light red ink marks on his hands and began to think rapidly about the meaning of this sentence.
Those who instigate sin with lies should have their tongues pulled out? What is this
Meng Zhoushan inexplicably thought of the eight levels of hell recorded in Buddhism, one of which is the Tongue-Pulling Hell. Those who were cautious in their words, insulted others, and spoke evil words during their lifetime will go to the Tongue-Pulling Hell before their reincarnation, and have their tongues pulled out by the King of Hell.
Who in this dangerous building meets this condition
Meng Zhoushan's mind suddenly popped up Grandma She who lived on the sixth floor. He quickly pulled Yan Xiangming into the elevator while using his mobile phone to call Yan Yuezhao who was watching upstairs. The call was connected after four or five beeps.
Yan Yuezhao was most afraid of being disturbed during work hours, so he lowered his voice and frowned on the other end of the phone, "Fart now!"
Meng Zhoushan said hurriedly: "Keep an eye on the sixth floor, the third door on the right side of the corridor, I suspect she is the murderer's next target!"
Yan Yuezhao was still on the second floor, staring at the man in the cap. Hearing this, he asked in doubt, "Is this true?"
The elevator opened and stopped at each floor, but there was nothing inside. Meng Zhoushan frowned and kept pressing the close button: "Whether it's true or not, you should take a look first. What if the residents have been killed?!"
Yan Yuezhao had no choice but to hang up the phone and quickly ran downstairs to Grandma She's house. He stood at the door and knocked twice but no one answered. In desperation, he could only step back and kick the door open.
"boom-"
The flimsy door panel fell to the ground with a bang, revealing the simple and cramped room inside. Grandma She was sitting in the living room picking vegetables when she suddenly saw a bearded man kicking down her door. She was so scared that she was dumbfounded.
When Meng Zhoushan and Yan Xiangming arrived, they saw Granny She grabbing Yan Yuezhao by the collar and beating him: "You bastard! You bastard! Why did you kick my door for no reason, you bastard! Pay me! Pay me!"
Upon seeing this, Yan Xiangming immediately rushed forward to join the battle and jumped over to stop her: "Why did you hit my dad! Why did you hit my dad!"
When the scene was in chaos, no one noticed that the elevator slowly rose up.
Meng Zhoushan was relieved to see that Grandma She was safe, but then he felt something was wrong. He looked up at the roof, trying to find something, but the noisy sound of rain covered everything.
Yan Yuezhao finally used 500 yuan to get rid of Granny She. When he saw Meng Zhoushan, he was furious. He was about to go up to him to settle the score, but he saw Meng Zhoushan suddenly turned around and looked at the elevator floor display screen -
The elevator stopped on the 8th floor.
Meng Zhoushan told Yan Yuezhao not to say anything, and reached out and gently pressed the elevator button. They watched the elevator slowly come down, then stop, and the door opened with a ding.
Yan Yuezhao subconsciously covered his son's eyes, feeling inexplicably nervous. However, the elevator slowly opened, but it was empty inside.
"You stay here, I'll take a look at the eighth floor."
Meng Zhoushan only said this, then turned and ran upstairs. His heart was extremely uneasy, and the sound of the wind was in his ears. He felt that something was out of his control.
There is only one resident living on the eighth floor.
Meng Zhoushan rushed upstairs and kicked the door open. It was pitch black inside. A long-haired woman was sitting on a chair with her back to him, motionless. Opposite her was a tall floor-to-ceiling mirror.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed across the sky, as if splitting the sky. The whole room was instantly brightened, and the mirror clearly reflected the woman's horrific death.