Madness of the Heart

Xiang Haoming in Chen Hongbing's mouth is perfect - good grades, hardworking, filial piety, sensible, not noisy, very popular in school and in Fanglong Alley, he will definitely be admitted to a famous university in the future, and stand out. Promising father.

However, once Mingshu asked about the details, such as what activities Xiang Haoming participated in at school, his grades in a single subject, and what his hobbies were, Chen Hongbing couldn't answer them.

"Do you always have wine at home?" Mingshu asked.

Chen Hongbing shook his head, "Except for that old bastard, no one in our family drinks alcohol. What's wrong with the wine?"

According to Xing Mu's identification, Xiang Haoming drank a lot of alcohol before his death. The alcohol may have been brought out by Xiang Haoming from home, or it may have been purchased with cash after he left home. It is currently unclear whether Xiang Haoming's drinking was voluntary or forced.

Mingshu asked: "Are you sure Xiang Haoming has no habit of drinking?"

Chen Hongbing nodded affirmatively at first, but after a few seconds, she hesitated.

Mingshu said, "Are you not sure?"

"I...I don't know!" Chen Hongbing cried and said, "He is very good, I think he definitely doesn't drink or smoke, but, but..."

"But he smokes and drinks?"

"I don't really know about alcohol, but once I was doing his laundry, it smelled heavily of smoke on his clothes."

The smell of smoke does not mean that you will smoke, and it may be stained by staying with smokers.And even if you can smoke, it doesn't mean you can drink.

Mingshu looked at the grief-stricken mother who didn't know her son well, and asked, "You call Xiang Lin 'old beast', what's the problem between you?"

"I shouldn't have married him! He ruined my life!"

According to Chen Hongbing, she and Xiang Lin were introduced by the workshop director at the engine factory.

In those days, everyone had no money, so they could get by together.Because of his good looks, Chen Hongbing is a "popular man" in the factory. Seeing that Xiang Lin is honest and has a good relationship with the leader, he decides to marry Xiang Lin.

For the first few years after marriage, life was passable.But every time he saw a young and beautiful woman marrying a "big money", and then looked at Xiang Lin, Chen Hongbing felt uncomfortable.

Before getting married, she was also pursued by "big money", but she tried to live a stable life and rejected the "big money". Later, she saw that Xiang Lin's nose was not nose and eyes were not eyes. If she hadn't had a child, she would have to marry Xiang Lin Divorce is not allowed.

The engine factory used to have a big pot of rice, but the good times didn’t last long. The factory was restructured. Chen Hongbing and Xiang Lin were glad that they were not unemployed at first. Li was promoted, but they were still living a tight life with their dead wages that had never been raised.

Around the time when Xiang Haoming entered junior high school, Chen Hongbing's dislike for Xiang Lin grew day by day.In her eyes, Xiang Lin is a big man, but he has no ability at all. He is hesitant to do things, dare not go out and fight, and he will not flatter the leader. He deserves to be worthless all his life.

In the first half of this year, the engine factory had a number of "internal withdrawal" quotas, and Xiang Lin completed the "internal withdrawal" procedures without discussing with Chen Hongbing.Chen Hongbing was so angry that he went crazy and drove him out to find a job, hoping that he would die outside.After the winter, Xiang Lin often stays out at night.Chen Gongbing didn't know what he was doing outside, and he didn't care. According to her, this kind of wimpy man was still a drag on his family.

Mingshu has seen many family members of the victims, but it is rare for them to be as hostile as Chen Hongbing.

She was very sad at first, but when she talked about Xiang Lin, the pain in her eyes was quickly replaced by hatred.

Her hatred for her husband surpassed the pain of losing her beloved son.

Mingshu weighed it in his heart for a moment, and then asked: "Recall, has Xiang Haoming offended anyone in the past year?"

Chen Hongbing's expression became confused again, "Xiao Ming is a good boy, how could he offend others?"

Mingshu sighed, realizing he had asked a stupid question.

Xiang Haoming was probably just Chen Hongbing's capital to show off. She couldn't answer what kind of person Xiang Haoming was.

"What about you?" Mingshu said, "Did you and Xiang Lin offend anyone?"

Chen Hongbing exclaimed in surprise, "Is it someone who has a grudge against us who killed Xiao Ming?"

Mingshu said: "There are still very few clues at present, and this possibility cannot be ruled out. Do you have any clues?"

Chen Hongbing picked at his fingers, his eyes rolled frequently, and he said to himself, "It shouldn't be that old bastard, no one cares about him...Yang Guizhen? Could it be Yang Guizhen?"

Mingshu said, "What did you think of?"

The wrinkles on Chen Hongbing's face danced, "It's Yang Guizhen and his son! Their family has always been jealous of my Xiao Ming!"

Coming out of the inquiry room, Ming Shu leaned against the wall and rubbed the space between his eyebrows for a while.

Chen Hongbing believes that Yang Guizhen is the murderer, but this accusation is totally groundless.Before returning to the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Mingshu had already met Yang Guizhen, she was a low-level housewife similar to Chen Hongbing, she had no culture, she listened to the wind like rain, and was keen to compare with each other, especially with her children.Chen Hongbing was right in saying that Yang Guizhen might be jealous of Xiang Haoming.But will this jealousy develop to the point of murder?It is possible, but from experience, the probability of Yang Guizhen doing something is extremely low, and the traits she exhibits are too far from the cruel ritual of the scene.

A 17-year-old boy was born in a low-level family. His father left home for several days. On New Year’s Eve, he was held at home by his "authoritarian" mother to do homework. At 11 o'clock, he went out with his mother behind his back to breathe. If Yang Guizhen hadn't lied, then Xiang Haoming had said "Feel the festive atmosphere", why was he brutally killed in a pit less than one kilometer away from his home a few hours later?

The law and order in Fanglong Alley is not very good, it is not impossible for Xiang Haoming to encounter gangsters.But the gangster was looking for money, and the murder was just to silence, so as not to create that kind of weird scene.

Is it out of anger?

But Chen Hongbing couldn't recall anyone who had a grudge against her or Xiang Lin.

All doubts focused on Xiang Haoming.

But who is the one who really understands Xiang Haoming?

Mingshu flipped through the information in his hand again, and his eyes stayed on the high school where Xiang Haoming was studying.

Dongye No. [-] Foreign Language School.

Most of the people living in Fanglong Alley are employees of the engine factory, and almost all their children are studying in Dongye No. 31 Middle School (the former No. [-] Engine Middle School).

Mingshu is not from Dongye City, and he doesn’t need to worry about children’s education, but he is basically aware of the education structure in Dongye City—schools like No. 31 Middle School are considered “garbage schools” by most parents, and even worse, they are “people’s schools”. "Scrap school", the teachers are not good, the source of students is poor, the parents have no money, and few people can be admitted to the university in a year; it is not the same as a foreign school, this is one of the five key middle schools in the city, and the high school is one of the top high school entrance examination scores. Top students are also rich people who can afford 10,000+ hundreds of thousands of "school choice fees".

Xiang Haoming's ability to study abroad can only be based on his grades.

There was a sound of footsteps coming from the direction of the stairs, Ming Shu turned his head and found that it was Xiao Yu'an coming down the stairs.

Ming Shu raised his hands, "Xiao Ju."

"I read the inquiry." Xiao Yu'an said, "Just now Xu Chun sent back an on-site investigation report. Xiang Haoming is two completely different people in the eyes of Chen Hongbing and in the eyes of his neighbors."

Mingshu nodded, "I also found that Chen Hongbing's understanding of Xiang Haoming is very one-sided. The Xiang Haoming in her eyes may not be the real Xiang Haoming, but just her ideal son."

According to Xu Chun's report, Xiang Haoming is taciturn and rarely communicates with his neighbors, but he never lacks the courtesy he should have. He usually doesn't take the initiative to talk to others, but if he is stopped on the road, he will smile amicably and ask Good - this is consistent with Yang Guizhen's description.

In addition, Xiang Haoming's grades are indeed very good, and he is the only one in Fanglong Alley who was admitted to a key high school.

Most of the people who live nearby are Xu Binbin and his ilk. They either study vocational high school or have a high school education, but there are also students who want to make a difference. As long as they are asked to ask questions about their studies, Xiang Haoming will hardly refuse. Just explain it to them.

Liu Lingmei is 15 years old this year and is about to take the senior high school entrance examination. She has asked Xiang Haoming for advice many times.She said that she was grateful to Xiang Haoming, but also afraid of Xiang Haoming, because Xiang Haoming had indeed helped her a lot, but she felt very alienated and superior.

"In other words, Xiang Haoming is a very contradictory person." Mingshu said: "He can choose not to help Liu Lingmei."

Xiao Yu'an said: "Perhaps he can absorb certain emotions that he needs in the process of helping others. For the time being, I regard this emotion as a 'sense of recognition'. Teenagers at this age sometimes have a very delicate heart, which is difficult for adults to understand. troubles. His parents, people around him, even teachers and classmates, all put pressure on him invisibly."

Ming Shu thought for a while, "By the way, Director Xiao, when it comes to firecrackers, what can you think of?"

"Chinese New Year, business opening, red and white things." Xiao Yu'an looked at Ming Shu, "There are also children."

Mingshu said: "Adults mostly set off firecrackers in a scene that requires firecrackers, such as the opening of the business, weddings and weddings you just mentioned, but children usually set off firecrackers just because they like it. Firecrackers are not necessary, but they make them happy. .”

"Xiang Haoming died of mechanical suffocation. The firecrackers on his body were not the main cause of his death." Xiao Yu'an said, "The firecrackers are more like... a vicious prank."

Technical investigation office.

Zhou Yuan stood up from his seat, "I have all the communication records of Xiang Haoming here, and I found a problem worth noting."

Mingshu glanced at his display screen occupied by codes, "What's the problem?"

"Xiang Haoming is a sophomore in high school this year, and he is studying in Class 17 of a foreign science department. I have inquired about it. This class is not a key class. Most of the students are students who have not passed the high school entrance examination and paid for it. But there are also students like Xiang Haoming. They were admitted, but their test scores after entering the school were not satisfactory." Zhou Yuan said: "Xiang Haoming is the representative of the physics class, and he joined the class group, but he never reminded everyone to hand in homework in the group. Don’t talk in the group. He added a total of eight classmates to his friend list, and I’ll give you the list right away. They seem to be adding friends just to transfer money, and they haven’t chatted.”

Mingshu said, "Transfer money?"

Zhou Yuan recalled some data, "It's not a large amount of money transfer, it's more than ten yuan, at most thirty. I guess Xiang Haoming helped them buy meals, and they paid Xiang Haoming back."

"Xiang Haoming doesn't have any friends outside?" Ming Shu asked, "What about the people who have frequent contact with him?"

Zhou Yuan said: "He hardly communicates with anyone, especially after the winter vacation. Chen Hongbing will call him every day, which should be 'chagang'. On January 1, which is the 19th of the twelfth lunar month, Xiang Lin called him once. .”

Mingshu said: "Xiang Haoming doesn't have his own social circle, and he doesn't even have hobbies..."

"Speaking of hobbies." Zhou Yuan said: "I checked Xiang's computer, and there is no game installed, and no special browsing history. My feeling is that Xiang Haoming is just a person who is pressed and oppressed by his mother. Children who think for themselves."

Mingshu said: "You send me the information of those eight students. Also, there is still no news about Xiang Lin?"

"Xiang Lin's mobile phone was last used on the afternoon of January 1, the 21th of the twelfth lunar month. He doesn't have a social account, and he contacted a lot of people from the 29th to the 19st." There should be results in time."

Mingshu looked down at the tablet, sliding his index finger from time to time.

On the tablet is the student information sent by Zhou Yuan just now. They are all Xiang Haoming's classmates. After Chen Hongbing discovered that Xiang Haoming was missing, some of them received calls from the police station.

At that time, the answers they gave were that they hadn't seen Xiang Haoming after the holiday, and they didn't know where Xiang Haoming had gone.

It's winter vacation now, and it's the Spring Festival period. It's not easy to investigate students and teachers, but these people must be met one by one.

Coming out of the building, Mingshu planned to go across the street—his car was parked there.

He wasn't wearing a police uniform, and he didn't intend to drive a police car to meet those students, but before he could get out, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Ming team." It was Xiao Yu'an who caught up.

In fact, Mingshu knew at a glance that Xiao Yuan was going to investigate the case with him, but he still asked casually: "Xiao Bureau, where are you going?"

"Get in your car." Xiao Yu'an smiled, "It's been a long time since I participated in the investigation, so today is not too busy, go and feel it."

Mingshu opened the driver's door, fastened his seat belt and said, "You are particularly concerned about this case."

The weather was too cold, and the car didn't start immediately. The two sat in the car, waiting for the heater to warm up the surroundings.

"This case is quite special. One is that minors are involved, and the other is that the murderer's modus operandi is extremely cruel and unimaginable. Based on past experience, I suspect it is 'pure evil'." Xiao Yu'an said: "Xiang Haoming seems to be ordinary. , came from a low-income family, his parents were at odds, before he was killed, his father disappeared inexplicably, and there was a high probability that there was more than one murderer... The existence of various strange appearances made this case impossible."

"'Pure Evil'." Mingshu repeated softly.

In the vast majority of cases that occur in modern society, a very clear motive can be found, some are revenge, some are jealousy, some are seeking money and sex, some are mistakes, the most common is impulsive passion and murder.Motivation is crucial in many cases.

But there is also a type of case where the murderer’s motive is difficult for ordinary people to understand. The police in some countries call it “zero motive”. What the murderer enjoys is the pleasure of killing itself, and his motive is “pure evil”.

The temperature gradually rose, but Mingshu felt a chill.

The He Yang described by Hu Ying represents "pure evil".

Forcing others to kill each other is nothing but fun for them.

"Let's go." Xiao Yuan said.

Nancheng District, Chunchao Riverside Community.

The Spring Festival should be lively, but in this community, the excitement has become a disturbance.

Two police cars were parked outside the property management center. The excited residents used gongs and drums to build momentum for themselves. A short policeman almost failed to squeeze out of the car.

"Protest against the closure of Binjiang Greenway!"

"All owners have the right to enjoy community resources!"

"I want to report! Reporters from TV stations and newspapers will be here soon!"

Hundreds of residents held up banners, all with angry faces, property security guards were squeezed against the glass door, and some even brought wooden sticks embedded with nails, ready to throw them at the security guards.

The police were in a hurry to maintain order, but with little effect.

The owner and the property management personnel confronted each other. The owner demanded to remove the iron gates at the three entrances outside the Binjiang Greenway, but the property management never let go.

During the stalemate, a police car was overturned. When the reporter from the TV station arrived, he happened to take pictures of this scene.

In the Internet age, although the news has not been edited and broadcast, the video has already been circulated on the Internet. A small incident suddenly attracted the attention of the whole city——

Chunchao Riverside Community is a mixed community, covering a large area. The south area of ​​Linjiang is a bungalow area and villa area. The owners of bungalows and villas have private gardens and parking spaces. It is quiet and comfortable, and there is a greenway across from the river bank.

The North District near the gate of the community is an ordinary commodity building, and the housing price is in the middle of the entire Dongye City.

This has caused a phenomenon that all owners enter the community through the same gate, but in fact there are rich people living on one side and ordinary earners living on the other side.

Before the Spring Festival this year, the property was not locked outside the Binjiang Greenway. Every morning and evening, residents living in the North District went for a walk on the Greenway.

Some property owners in the southern district reported to the property management that these people destroyed the cleanliness that should be in the southern district. When the real estate developers first sold their buildings, they used signs such as "private greenway" and cleanliness to the owners in the southern district.They believe that residents of the northern suburbs should not have access to the greenway.

On the [-]th of the twelfth lunar month, the property management suddenly blocked the road from the northern district to the greenway, and posted a notice on the iron gate, prohibiting house owners and villa owners from entering the southern district.

The matter started to ferment in the afternoon of the first day of the new year, and until now, the owners and property management in the North District have become completely hostile.

Lai Cheng, the first student that Ming Shu and Xiao Yu'an were going to meet lived in the south area of ​​Chunchao Riverside Community.

A snow-white Samoyed rushed out from the garden and jumped on Mingshu with a "smile". A boy wearing a black mask caught up and apologized politely, "I'm sorry, it didn't hurt you, did it?"

Mingshu sized up the boy, "Lai Cheng?"

The boy's expression suddenly changed, his eyes turned between Ming Shu and Xiao Yu'an, and he frowned and said, "Are you the police?"