heart poison

In a meeting where more than 43% of men accounted for more than [-]%, [-]-year-old Zou Mei wore a slim professional dress with exquisite and elegant makeup, her hair was not messed up, and she talked logically, gentle yet tough. An extremely captivating layer of light.

Her attire perfectly fits her actual age, and even the lip color and eyebrow shape, which can be sculpted with effort, are not deliberately leaning in the direction of "pretending to be young".In the corners of her eyes, when she smiled, she could even see the natural wrinkles.

But even so, she is still the most eye-catching presence in the entire conference room.

Men in suits and leather shoes looked at her dignified face.Some people were attracted by the content of her words, and their eyes showed extreme admiration, while some people's expressions became contemptuous and greedy, and they turned sideways and whispered to their companions beside them.

Even in a modern society that talks about "gender equality", the difference between men and women in the workplace is still obvious.

For example, if a man succeeds, he is successful. People will praise his courage, persistence, and talent.If he is born poor, then his success depends on his own practicality and ability, and he will become the goal of countless people.If he was born rich, his success still depends on himself—not being extravagant and lustful, having strong self-control, and an innate cleverness.

But when a woman succeeds, people are used to spying on the people behind her and guessing what led her to success.On the same condition, if she was born poor, people would say that some noble person must have given her a hand, maybe this noble person begged for her body.If she was born rich, people would say, then her success is simply too easy, relying on her father, with a rich father, who wouldn't be successful?

It is a man who relies on talent, persistence and hard work.

It is women who rely on their bodies, looks and luck.

In the workplace, a woman with outstanding appearance and ability undoubtedly attracts the attention of countless people.

But these gazes are not always with good intentions.

Zou Mei seems to have long been used to those gazes of admiration or blasphemy.

She continued to expound her point of view frankly, without even changing her tone.After she finished speaking, she stared at everyone, showing a calm, slightly aggressive smile.

That was a confrontation she only occasionally showed.

After the meeting was over, Zou Mei stepped on her high-heeled shoes, left the eyes of everyone behind her, and left quickly.

There is a misconception in society about men that they don't like gossip like women, but it's just because they have the right to speak all the time.

Women rarely get together to gossip about the size of a man's crotch, but men can talk about women's breasts, thighs, and buttocks in public.

Whether the other party is a young and sweet receptionist, or a high-ranking company executive.

And consider this behavior as a harmless joke.

Some people even say that you should feel honored and happy to pay attention to your body.

For them, a woman is just a "sex symbol".

They talked about Zou Mei, and even lusted after Zou Mei.On the one hand, she looks down on Zou Mei, and on the other hand, she wants to conquer Zou Mei. She is contradictory without knowing it, obscene without knowing it, and feels excellent and romantic.

Their gossip starts with sex and ends with sex. They don't know what kind of woman the real Zou Mei is.

Zou Mei returned to the office, and the moment she closed the door, the mask she wore on her face was cracked and fell off like powder.She propped her trembling hands on the edge of the table, panting rapidly, and a lock of her combed hair hung down, making her look a bit embarrassed, no longer as capable and calm as she showed in front of people.

The pretenders only saw her brilliance on the outside, but only the police saw clearly the dark world hidden in her heart.

??

Ming Province, Manxi Town.

Due to its location at the border, the buildings here have a distinctly exotic style.The women with strong bodies were wearing plain clothes and shuttled on the street. All of them were dark-skinned, and they could even be described as gray-headed and dirt-faced.Among them, some were pushing small trucks full of items, some were carrying heavy bags with both hands, and most of them had dull and dazed eyes.The men are much more relaxed, some gather in the teahouse to play cards, some stand on the side of the road and chat.

This place is poor, very poor, and quite backward—this is what Liu Zhiqin first knew when he arrived.

At this time, he had just come out of the courtyard of a residential house, holding a mobile phone in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other, walking quickly on the bluestone streets, with the mobile phone stuck to his ear.

On the other end of the phone is Hua Chong.

"Zou Mei is considered a legend in Manxi Town. The townspeople have compiled several versions about her. I have been to the police station and the town government, and I have contacted some townspeople. What happened back then is similar to that of Manxi Town. I have almost understood the situation." Liu Zhiqin said as he walked, "The cases of murdering girls in Ming Province all happened in Manxi Town. This place is no longer the kind of patriarchy we understand, it is simply a 'hatred' '. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, women in Manxi Town were equivalent to animals, with only obligations and no rights. In recent decades, although the status of women here has gradually improved, it is different from normal places, even places that favor boys over girls. In comparison, their lives are still quite miserable, basically they are still appendages of their mother’s family and husband’s family. Zou Mei’s real name is Mei Si, the plum of plum blossoms, and the four of one, two, three, four.”

Hua Chong thought quickly, "Because she is the fourth daughter in the family?"

"Yes. Except for the first daughter, none of the other women in the Mei family have a decent name." Liu Zhiqin said, "Mei Si... No, Zou Mei is the first woman in Manxi Town to be admitted to university, and she is also The one with the highest score among all the candidates in Manxi Town, but back then, she almost couldn't go to Star City to study."

Hua Chong asked: "Stopped by family members and townspeople?"

Liu Zhiqin sighed, "There is still school. What I know now is not too detailed. What is clear is that Zou Mei's family has three older sisters at the top and a younger brother at the bottom. Zou Mei is only more than one year older than the only younger brother." As a "young daughter", Zou Mei has been the least favored and least expected person in her family since she was born, but she is very smart. Like many border towns, Manxi Town enjoys the national education support policy, Going to school does not cost money, but the level of teachers and the quality of teaching in the school cannot be guaranteed, and it is absolutely incomparable with key high schools in big cities. However, Zou Mei's grades are outstanding. The other three daughters of her family married early and did not live at home. After the college entrance examination, her parents forced her to exchange the admission letter from Star City University to her younger brother."

"Can it be changed?" Hua Chong was puzzled: "I've never heard that the number of places admitted to the college entrance examination can be changed. And isn't Zou Mei one year older than her brother? They are in the same class?"

"Well, they enrolled in the same year. Manxi Town is not too strict about the age of admission." Liu Zhiqin went on to say: "As for the change of places, parents in backward villages and towns, because they have no education and experience, probably what You can imagine it. Zou Mei's younger brother's grades are very poor. He got more than 200 points in the test and it was difficult for him to pass the "three books". Zou Mei's parents were ignorant and knew that their son should study more, so they forced Zou Mei for no reason. Flower team, can you imagine how serious the patriarchal situation in Manxi Town has become? In their eyes, female college students are heterogeneous, even "unclean". They frantically stop Zou Mei, Zou Mei's The sisters also contributed to it."

"Her sisters?" Hua Chong frowned.

"Well, and I heard that it's not the men in the town who push Zou Mei the hardest, but those married women who have become housewives." Liu Zhiqin returned to the car, "I can imagine them What they have been instilled since childhood is that women should obey the family and give everything for the family, and there is absolutely no reason to leave home to study. Zou Mei has become the most special woman among them. I saw what I once wanted to be. Zou Mei was a thorn in their side and a thorn in their flesh. They could not allow such an independent and outstanding woman to appear around them. Zou Mei was only 17 years old at the time. It is not an exaggeration to say that she was in dire straits during that time."

Hua Chong asked: "Then did she finally report to Star University on time?"

"I have registered, and my studies have not been delayed. In the four years at Star City University, she has not missed classes, and she has not been embarrassed by people in her hometown." Liu Zhiqin said: "Because the officials of the town government have come forward to coordinate many times. But this Coordination is only a short-term solution. Solving the immediate problem is tantamount to pushing the problem to the future. After coordination, Zou Mei was able to go to Star City University to study, but the prerequisite was the promise to 'return to Manxi Town after graduation'. Zou Mei did not There is no choice."

Hua Chong thought of the side he met with Zou Mei in the cafe, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

At that time, he didn't realize what the woman in front of him had experienced.

"Four years later, Zou Mei graduated from Star City University, rejected offers from several famous companies, and returned to Manxi Town. I think she must have struggled, but at that time, her mother was dying of illness." Liu Zhi Qin said: "Maybe for her, although the family is indifferent and the family is a heavy burden, she still can't just let it go. After going back, she taught in Manxi Town Middle School, then got married and had a child. If it wasn't for this child If she stole it, she might spend her whole life in Manxi Town."

Hua Chong's eyes tightened, "Where boys are favored over girls, girls are easily killed and boys are easily stolen."

"Well. Zou Mei gave birth to a boy. During the hospitalization, the child was lost for no reason. Not to mention that era, even now, there are very few surveillance cameras in Manxi Town. Once the child is lost, it is basically impossible to get it back." Liu Zhiqin Anping Said: "Zou Mei's husband's family and her mother's family blamed her for the loss of the child, and her husband Liang Chao beat her hard. Not long after she was discharged from the hospital, they forced her to prepare for pregnancy, and then she became pregnant again. Liang Chao forced her to go to the hospital. B-ultrasound is the "wild B-ultrasound" examination that was especially popular in backward areas. After an investigation, it was found to be a girl."

Hua Chong felt the blood rushing to his head, "The child was aborted?"

"Zou Mei was forced to have an abortion. She seems to be desperately trying to keep the baby in her womb. But no one wants her to give birth to a girl except herself. The girl is in Manxi Town..." Liu Zhiqin paused , swallowed the words with serious personal emotions, and said: "The equipment and sanitation of the town hospital have serious problems. In addition, Zou Mei has been in poor health since giving birth. After the second child was aborted, she lost her fertility. ability."

Hua Chong gasped, feeling angry and powerless.

Liu Zhiqin continued: "After learning that she was infertile, Liang Chao divorced her and drove her back to her natal family. In Manxi Town, it is impossible for a woman to get a divorce, and she will be obstructed in every possible way. But men It’s very convenient to get a divorce. The aborted daughter and loss of fertility probably became the turning point in Zou Mei’s life. A few months later, she left Manxi Town with the help of several young village officials.”

"Where's her family?" Hua Chong counted the time, "Zou Mei has been away from home for nearly 20 years, and she no longer has the shadow of a backward village. Her family agreed to her leaving? Never asked her for anything? And That Liang Chao, hasn't he looked for Zou Mei?"

"For Zou Mei's parents, Zou Mei is superfluous. They gave birth to four daughters in order to give birth to sons, and Zou Mei was the last. In the words of the locals, she should not exist One, without her, the family would have a lot less burden." Liu Zhiqin lit a cigarette, "When she left Manxi Town, her mother had died of illness, and her father had a fight with her three older sisters, not because she couldn't bear her, Instead, he wanted her to make money to support her younger brother—at that time, his younger brother was 23 years old and was busy marrying a wife. Later, the town government came forward to coordinate. I don’t know the process of coordination. I lost contact with everyone in my hometown."

"This is a bit unreasonable." Hua Chong said: "If her family knew that she was living so well now, they would definitely come to her and ask for money."

"Flower team, if you are in Manxi Town like me now, you won't think so." Liu Zhiqin shook off a piece of cigarette ash, "This place is like a place isolated from the world. What is blocked is not only the geography They don’t believe that a woman can live a good life on her own, and they don’t bother to listen to outside news. There’s even a saying in the village—Mei Si couldn’t survive long ago and died.”

"This..." Hua Chong squeezed the space between his eyebrows, feeling unbelievable and incomprehensible.

However, as a criminal policeman, he had to understand.Because he knows better than many people that incredible things happen every day in this world.

"As for Liang Chao." Liu Zhiqin said, "Not long after Zou Mei left Manxi Town, he died and was stabbed more than a dozen times, several of which were on his internal organs."

Hua Chong stared, "Has the murderer been caught? Does it have anything to do with Zou Mei?"

"No. The murder weapon was Liang Chao's own knife, with his fingerprints on it, and a strange fingerprint. The strange fingerprint must have been left by the murderer. However, the fingerprints of all the people arrested by the police at that time did not match the strange fingerprint. In addition, the previous criminal investigation methods and techniques were very backward, and the murderer hid for 19 years. What is certain is that the case has nothing to do with Zou Mei. However, because of this incident, the townspeople of Manxi Town said that Zou Mei Keff, it's a scourge."

Hua Chong felt ridiculous, "At that time they were already divorced, and Zou Mei was no longer in Manxi Town, what kind of husband should he be?"

"They can always find a reason to attribute their mistakes to women." Liu Zhiqin said: "What I feel the most here today is not patriarchy, but the chain of contempt that exists between the same sex. Here Men treat Zou Mei as a joke, but women really hate Zou Mei, and it's all from their mouths that Kefu, vixen, and slut come out."

Hua Chong fell silent, and Liu Zhiqin didn't speak for the time being.

Suddenly, the two spoke at the same time and stopped at the same time: "For Zou Mei..."

Liu Zhiqin coughed lightly, "Go ahead."

"Before the age of 17, Zou Mei lived in a family and society that heavily favored boys over girls. She was able to be born because her parents wanted to give birth to a boy, but they failed three times until it was her turn. She Since she was a child, she was taught that she is superfluous and that women exist for men. She did not have the normal childhood that a girl should have. At the age of 17, she almost failed to go to Xingcheng to study at university. Even if she did, she was always worried that she would be arrested Go back. At the age of 21, under the pressure that we may not be able to understand for the time being, she gave up her future and returned to Manxi Town. What awaited her was four years of torment. After that, her son was stolen and her daughter was killed. Becoming a mother... This process is also accompanied by domestic violence and cold violence. She has a thorough understanding of the reality and wants to start a new life." Hua Chong said, "But every step of the person can be traced. After all, every experience in the past has left a deep imprint on her heart. It is impossible for her to forget the pain she has suffered in the past, and it is impossible for her to forget the suffering of being a woman. Moreover, her so-called "new life" is actually not Not wonderful. She told me a passage, to the effect that women need to pay more things, endure more setbacks, and face more cynicism if they want to climb to the same position as men. 25 to 43 years old , She changed from a village woman with nothing to an executive of a famous company, and the pain she endured during this process is actually not difficult to imagine."

"Well." Liu Zhiqin nodded, "For her, 25 years old is a turning point, but no matter before or after, life has given her suffering and torture. The only difference is that after 25 years old, she has Money is used as comfort, but money does not seem to bring her happiness. In her cognition, a concept has probably been formed - girls living in this world are unfortunate and suffering."

Hua Chong was silent, and corrected: "It should be a girl who was born in a poor family, and a girl who was used by her parents. It is unfortunate to live in this world. Life is too bad for her, and she substitutes herself... "

"Wang Xiangmei, Chen Yun." Liu Zhiqin said: "Maybe there are other girls. Zou Mei has the motive to attack them. She thinks her killing behavior is not harm, but 'salvation'. The cause of Wang Xiangmei's death, Sevoflurane is proof of her actions!"

The car had already driven back to Los Angeles, and Hua Chong was pinching his hot phone, "The night we saw her, she went to 'Xiaoyun Gourmet' to buy skewers, not for herself, but for Chen Yun. Chen Yun Still alive, hidden somewhere by her! She didn't kill her right away, most likely because, because..."

"Can't find sevoflurane!"

The two spoke almost in unison, and even their heartbeats were almost the same.

"Zou Mei doesn't know about Zou Ming's past. She only thinks of him as an orphan without father and mother. Zou Mei may not be too cautious about children. She lost her son who was already born, and also lost her daughter who was still in her womb. She will never be able to give birth again in her life. When she adopted Zou Ming, she may have just wanted to have a child to accompany her as she said when she adopted Zou Ming." Hua Chong said: "But Zou Ming is far from as simple as she thought. Zou Ming is the closest to her People, maybe the only one who understands her heart. Zou Ming knew the existence of sevoflurane, and even knew that she had killed someone. But Zou Ming did not expose it, but stole the sevoflurane she was going to use to kill Chen Yun, and sent Sevoflurane was used on Zhou Liangjia and others."

Suddenly, there was a sharp brake sound, and Hua Chong came back to his senses suddenly, and found that his car and Xu Kan's car were parked in the middle of the road, and they almost collided with another car.

Xu Kan's face was pale, "I'm sorry, I'm absorbed in listening to it, and I'm a little scared."

There were blasts of trumpets around, and Hua Chong patted Xu Kan on the shoulder.Xu Kan took a deep breath, murmured a few words to himself, and drove towards the city bureau as calmly as possible.

"What happened just now?" Liu Zhiqin asked.

"It's okay. Our forensic doctor Xu Kan was a little drifting, and accidentally stepped on the emergency brake."

Xu Kan glared at Hua Chong.

Liu Zhiqin breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that the two of them were fine, and said, "Without sevoflurane, Zou Mei wouldn't do anything to the little girl. Now we have two opportunities, one is to save Chen Yun, and the other is to save Chen Yun." Follow the vine to find the sevoflurane trade line."

"Well, I'm already investigating." Speaking of this, Hua Chong suddenly remembered the empty grave in Zhoushan Cemetery, and said, "I'll go back to the bureau first, and then go to Luoguan Village immediately. Liu Xuchen's tomb It was opened, but the urn inside was gone. The brothers from the criminal investigation team are investigating the cemetery in the city, but there is no news. I suspect that Zou Ming had already buried the urn under the red house in Luoguan Village."

Liu Zhiqin was startled, "If that's the case, Zou Ming went there that day because he wanted to see Liu Xuchen? It's not necessary, he is a person involved in the case, and any behavior can be analyzed and interpreted by us—it's impossible for him himself. I don’t realize this. If that’s the case, why take the risk to go there? The ashes are buried, and they won’t run away by themselves, so why not go there at another time?”

Hua Chong's eyes flashed, "Wait! Liu Xuchen's death date...no, what's the date of his birthday?"

"October 10th." Liu Zhiqin said, "I'm sorry."

"What about the lunar calendar?" After Hua Chong finished speaking, he began to check the old and new calendars to compare. A few seconds later, Liu Zhiqin's voice came from the receiver: "August 8th in the lunar calendar corresponds to this year, and it is the day when Zou Ming went to the red house. !"

After finishing the call with Liu Zhiqin, Hua Chong immediately called Zhang Mao, but no one answered until he automatically hung up.

He frowned, and was about to call Xiao Chengxin, but Zhang Mao had already called back, his tone tense and excited.

"Flower Team, Qian Chuangjiang has recruited!"