Chapter 2: Was It Merely a Simple Robbery?

A murder case that once caused a sensation erupted in the small mountain village, casting a shroud of fear and unease over a life that had always been peaceful. The sort of scenes once only seen in television dramas had now come shockingly close to home—leaving the simple villagers at a loss, unable to quite comprehend or respond. Gone were the usual lively exchanges of idle chatter, and the laughter of children playing at the village entrance at dusk. Before darkness even fell, doors and windows were locked up early, and not a soul could be seen on the streets.

“If that fool really saw a beautiful young lady, I doubt she’s from this village,” Xiao Wang analyzed. After days of investigation, apart from the ramblings of that half-witted villager, they’d found nothing of value. “I think so too. Most of the young people here have gone off to work in the city; those left behind are mostly the old, the sick, or the infirm. There’s certainly no beautiful young lady among them,” Wang Xiang agreed.

“How long has this Teacher Li Ming been in the village? If his social ties here aren’t complex, then the investigation must turn to his background elsewhere,” Su Tianmu said, glancing at Wang Xiang.

“Three months. He’s only been here three months. He was supposed to leave with this rotation, but the children liked him so much and couldn’t bear to see him go, so he stayed a few extra days.”

“Alright then. It seems our focus ought to return to the city,” Su Tianmu said, returning to the city with Xiao Wang and a mind full of questions. What was hiding behind this seemingly straightforward case of robbery and murder?

Li Ming's social relationships at the school were not complicated. He was a homeroom teacher for the fifth grade, with an excellent reputation over the years—there seemed no reason to suspect any personal enmity. Was it really just a simple case of robbery and murder? If so, what did the pattern left beside the victim signify? And what about the beautiful young lady the fool claimed to have seen?

“Do the students really like Teacher Li?” Su Tianmu inquired of other teachers, glancing at the school’s honor roll, where Li Ming’s class was listed.

“Absolutely, the kids adore him! He has his own unique ways of handling conflicts, but the children respect him,” said a plump female teacher, pushing her glasses up her nose with a sheepish smile. “For instance, when that new transfer girl, Ding Beibei, was bullied, Li handled it so well that the child forgave her bully without hesitation.”

The teacher spoke with admiration.

“Yes, he really does have a knack for it. No wonder the children like him—he clearly has a personal charm,” Xiao Wang chimed in.

“Could you point out that child to me?” Su Tianmu walked over to the classroom window and asked the teacher to identify her.

“Of course. She’s the little girl with the two pigtails over there.”

Following the direction of her pudgy finger, Su Tianmu saw a thin, petite girl who seemed quite introverted. It must have taken considerable effort for Teacher Li to win her trust.

“Thank you very much,” Su Tianmu said, taking his leave. With no obvious leads, all he could do was continue to investigate the peripheral connections, bit by bit.

Winter was approaching, and the fallen leaves along the streets were turning brittle and yellow. Ever since Xia Wuyou helped Su Tianmu solve the kidnapping and murder case, she had fallen gravely ill herself. Perhaps it was because she had let a tormented soul possess her for the first time—the force was overwhelming, and Xia Wuyou struggled to withstand its impact.

“It’s all because Su Tianmu didn’t warn me in advance so I could mentally prepare. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state!” Xia Wuyou, only just recovered, grumbled to Fina at work, vowing never to speak to him again.

Fina squinted at her, a sly look in her eyes. “So you’ve eliminated that handsome officer? Does that mean I can have whatever slips through your fingers?”

She even pretended to wipe drool from her mouth.

“Heh, you really are shameless—always looking for an opening!” Xia Wuyou was not so muddle-headed as to let such a juicy opportunity slip away.

Fina burst out laughing; it seemed only the two of them were still oblivious to the fact that no third party could ever fit between them.

“But seriously, you were ill for days—didn’t he come to see you at all?” Fina suddenly grew serious.

“Tell me about it! He’s largely responsible for my illness, you know!”

Xia Wuyou feigned indifference, leafing through the documents on her desk, her mind clearly elsewhere.

“Ring—”

Her phone rang at just the right moment.

“Su Beggar.”

Fina glanced at the caller ID and, with a flourish, snatched up the phone. “Speak of the devil! You just said you didn’t want to talk to him—should I hang up for you?” She raised her other hand, threatening to end the call.

“Give it back! Mind your own business!” Xia Wuyou cried, and the two women burst into laughter, playfully scuffling over the phone.

“Hello? What is it?” Xia Wuyou finally retrieved the phone and walked to the window.

It had been so long since they’d last spoken that both were a little nervous, neither knowing quite how to begin.

“Oh, you… are you alright now?” Su Tianmu stumbled over his words, feeling guilty for not visiting her—he’d been busy with the murder case and hadn’t found the time.

Xia Wuyou was amused by his awkwardness, restraining herself from teasing him.

“I’m fine,” she replied, not saying another word.

And so the two introverts stood in silence, each waiting for the other. Anyone watching would have been exasperated on their behalf.

“By the way, there’s been another murder,” Su Tianmu blurted out, his emotional intelligence apparently in the negatives.

He really was enough to make the God of Love throw up his hands in despair; if that old deity were watching from above, he’d have long since changed professions to sell sweet potatoes instead.