Madness of the Heart

There is a saying in 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 zero o'clock bell rings, all bad luck, bad luck, and suffering will be left in the past year, and everything in front of you is brand new, and the future has a lot to do.

But there are also a small number of people who have a bad Spring Festival.

Dongcheng District, Fanglong Alley.

There are many old houses in this area. The policy has been down, and the whole house will be demolished in a year.

In big cities, demolition is undoubtedly a big happy event, which usually means getting rich overnight.

This year is likely to be the last Spring Festival that the decades-old neighbors in Fanglong Alley will gather together. As early as the beginning of winter, Chen Hongbing and a dozen or so big sisters who are keen on square dancing are talking about the reunion year.

Before New Year’s Eve, the old sisters have had several rounds of groups. On the day of New Year’s Eve, someone moved the mahjong table outdoors at noon. The women ate melon seeds and played mahjong, and the men hung up lanterns to prepare for the New Year’s Eve dinner. They tried their best to show themselves to outsiders. How to spoil your wife.

At seven or eight o'clock in the evening, the whole Fanglong Alley became more lively.

It was originally forbidden to set off firecrackers privately in the urban area, but Chen Hongbing was so sweet-mouthed that he pulled a few old sisters to reason and understand, explaining 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, we should leave some memories.

The urban management team made a report with their superiors. Considering that their demands were reasonable, and that Fanglong Alley was on the edge of the city, it was an area where they could "turn a blind eye". A small open space was set aside and they were allowed to set off firecrackers there, but they could not make a fuss about it.

The firecrackers were loaded in a van and pulled from a small county town specializing in the production of fireworks to Fanglong Alley. At ten o'clock, almost all the residents living in the alley came out except for the young people who didn't like this kind of thing. .

Chen Hongbing has a hot personality, and when he was young, he often played "people come crazy". Now he is almost 50 years old, and he is more open-minded. He organizes mahjong games in the afternoon and holds a small red flag in the evening. He stands at the front of the open space to maintain order, just like the director of the neighborhood committee in Fanglong Alley.

"Sister Hongbing, Sister Hongbing!" Yang Guizhen, who was dancing in the square together, shouted in a rough voice, "Come here!"

Chen Hongbing was a little unhappy, and squeezed through the crowd, "What's the matter?"

"Why are you alone?" Yang Guizhen looked around, "Where's your family? Xiaoming didn't see it either."

Chen Hongbing, like many women of this age, has tattooed eyebrows and lips, but the tattoos are not ideal. The eyebrow shape and lip color are outdated now. In order to cover up their shortcomings, Chen Hongbing puts on very thick lipstick every time he goes out. Makeup, from today's tossing around during the day, the makeup—especially the eye makeup—has been worn out, and the eyeliner and brows are smudged, which makes her staring look extraordinarily funny.

"My man is watching the pot at home! I have to entertain relatives tomorrow, and I have to prepare the dishes tonight." Chen Hongbing looked a little unnatural, "Xiaoming is getting older, and he doesn't like to join us in the fun, so he ran away in the afternoon. What are you talking about... go to listen to the New Year's bell with your girlfriend!"

"Hey!" Yang Guizhen was surprised, "Xiao Ming has a girlfriend?"

Chen Hongbing raised her eyebrows triumphantly, but the tip of her right eyebrow had already melted, and she couldn't lift it.

"Then you have a good attitude." Yang Guizhen's tone unconsciously had a bit of mockery, "Xiao Ming is already a sophomore in high school, you are not worried about his grades, and you dare to let him have a girlfriend."

Chen Hongbing pretended to smile: "Xiao Ming has his own sense of propriety. Besides, when his son grows up, I, a mother, will take care of him all the time. Maybe he will be hated by others. If he wants to pay, he can pay it. The girl has money at home. Good grades!"

Yang Guizhen rolled her eyes.

Chen Hongbing said again: "Where's your Binbin?"

"Here—" Yang Guizhen pouted, "He's setting off firecrackers with his father."

Chen Hongbing smiled, "It's better to be Binbin, to kiss you, unlike our Xiaoming. Alas, the only thing Xiaoming reassures me about is his grades..."

The sound of firecrackers was deafening, and instantly drowned out the women's "swords and swords".Singing and dancing to promote peace, the excitement is extraordinary, and put on a coat of love and love for all the open and secret struggles.

Everyone laughed and said "Gong Xi Fa Cai", but in fact everyone hopes that others will have no money to make.

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 often participated in theatrical programs in the factory. Now most women of the same age are bloated, but she maintains her figure very well, so although she is not as good at dancing as Yang Guizhen, she has become the number one lead 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 didn't see much.This made Yang Guizhen feel extremely embarrassed in front of Chen Hongbing.

Now Chen Hongbing is still saying that Xiang Haoming has made a girlfriend from a rich family, and they will go to the city center to listen to the bells and watch the fireworks together.Yang Guizhen couldn't swallow this breath even more.

It's fine for her to be overwhelmed by Chen Hongbing, but why doesn't her son live up to it?

Exaggerated laughter came from obliquely in front, and Yang Guizhen saw that Xu Binbin was holding a string of firecrackers, laughing out of breath.

She stomped her foot hard, and felt even more annoyed. She didn't know what her son was laughing at. He was such an adult, his grades were not good, and his brain was still stupid. He knew how to make a fool of her.

The open space designated for setting off firecrackers was on the west side of the alley, and a few street lamps on the east side of the alley were broken, and it was dark. There were only a few scattered windows of the old houses on both sides, and one of them was Chen Hongbing's home.

She did not tell the truth to Yang Guizhen.

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 hear the New Year's bell, and even Xiang Haoming has a girlfriend is a temporary lie made up by her .

At this time, Xiang Haoming was locked in his room doing a problem—of course he didn't do it voluntarily, but was forced by her.Xiang Lin didn't come back yesterday, and he didn't know where he went to fool around.

Chen Hongbing has lived most of her life, adoring vanity, comparing herself with the women around her in everything, and caring most about her own face. She will never let her neighbors know about her men staying out at night and ignoring housework for a long time.As for Xiang Haoming, she has spent many years creating a "personal design" for her son who is smart, talented, and able to get good grades in exams without much study, so as to gain the greatest psychological advantage in chatting with Yang Guizhen and others.

The sound of firecrackers and noise coming from the other end of the alley could not be blocked even if the windows were closed tightly.Xiang Haoming dropped his pen irritably, crumpled the draft paper, and smashed it hard on the ground.

There is a family portrait on the desk, which was taken many years ago. In the photo, he is still very young, wearing a red scarf.Chen Hongbing insisted on putting the family portrait on the table. Every time he was upset about doing his homework, he felt even more depressed when he saw it.

He wanted to smash the photo frame to pieces, and then tear the photo to pieces.

The only thing he can feel about this hypocritical family happiness is nausea.

It was still a while before dawn, and Xiang Haoming had already stopped reading books.He knew Chen Hongbing very well, this woman—he could no longer call her his mother—wouldn't come back until everyone was gone.

Xiang Haoming resolutely changed his clothes for going out, and looked at the class group on WeChat, the group was very lively, almost all the students were playing outside, and the last time he had a New Year’s Eve dinner at a relative’s house, he was the only one. Stay at home and do your homework.

Sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, once the rebellious psychology is aroused, it is basically impossible to take it back.Xiang Haoming took out more than 800 yuan from the drawer - this is the teaching fee he withheld, stuffed the scarf and gloves into the schoolbag, 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 couldn't figure out what the poor people in this alley were messing around with.Chen Hongbing went from house to house 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 carloads of firecrackers.

With 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 the society, eagerly looking forward to demolition. They have no skills, no background, and no background, and they are struggling to create a friendly neighborhood.

Xiang Haoming felt that the "playing house" of the bugs was really ridiculous.

But what is even more ridiculous is that he was born here, and he is also a weak bug.

Thinking of this, Xiang Haoming wished to escape from Fanglong Alley immediately, and his pace couldn't help but quicken, from fast walking to running.

"what--"

There was an unpleasant cry accompanied by a dull pain in the 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, "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 him either. In his eyes, Xu Binbin is a fool.

Xu Binbin followed Yang Guizhen.At this time, Yang Guizhen's strange gaze was on Xiang Haoming.

Xiang Haoming immediately understood what Yang Guizhen was thinking.

Doesn't this superficial woman love to "compete for beauty" with Chen Hongbing?

Xiang Haoming was very happy to embarrass Chen Hongbing, so he laughed dryly, "I'm always at home, but my mother insists on forcing me to do my homework at home."

As soon as these words came out, the smile on Yang Guizhen's face could no longer be concealed, "Oh, sister Hongbing just told me 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 completely pleased, her facial features were distorted when she laughed.

"I won't tell you guys anymore. Before my mother comes back, I want to experience the festive atmosphere." Xiang Haoming said nastyly: "Aunt Guizhen, don't tell my mother that she saw me here."

Yang Guizhen waved her hands one after another, "Go, go, Auntie won't say anything!"

Xiang Haoming was smiling, but when he passed by Yang Guizhen's mother and son, the smile disappeared in an instant.

At 2 o'clock in the morning, the New Year's event finally came to an end, and the open space was full of red confetti. After midnight, Chen Hongbing led the old sisters of the square dance to dance a few dances, which received countless applause.

Although tired, Chen Hongbing enjoys this kind of pursuit very much.

When he got home, there was no light in Xiang Haoming's bedroom.Chen Hongbing guessed that his son had already fallen asleep, so he cursed Xiang Lin in a low voice while taking off his makeup.

She wished that Xiang Lin would die, so that when the demolition came, the demolition fee would be hers and her son's, and the Xiang family would not be able to take any money away.

Chen Hongbing in front of his neighbors and Chen Hongbing in front of his family were completely two people. After being addicted to scolding, Chen Hongbing turned off the light and went to sleep. He wanted to get up in the morning to 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 had breakfast? Let's go out to eat at noon."

There was no movement.

Chen Hongbing was very puzzled, Xiang Haoming has always been very obedient and would never ignore her.

"Mom came in." Chen Hongbing pushed open the door, only to see that the curtains were bulging, and there was no one in the room.

Fanglong Street Police Station.

All the police officers were on duty last night. Now some of them go back to rest, and some of them still stick to their posts.

"Don't worry, explain the situation clearly." Policewoman Xiao Wang comforted Chen Hongbing exhaustedly with dark circles under her eyes, "When did your son leave home, and what is his mobile phone number and social network number? Which middle school to study in... You have to tell us the basic information before we can look it up."

Chen Hongbing was very anxious. He was usually so eloquent. Once his son was lost, he lost his position and didn't explain the matter clearly for a long time.

After finding out that Xiang Haoming was not at home, she first called Xiang Haoming and then sent a message, but Xiang Haoming had already shut down the phone, and there was no "the other party is typing" on WeChat.

She had the phone numbers of several of Xiang Haoming's classmates and the head teacher, and called one by one to ask, but they all said that Xiang Haoming hadn't contacted her.

She called Xiang Lin, but Xiang Lin also turned off the phone.

Unable to think of where Xiang Haoming could go, Chen Hongbing had to call the police.

Under Xiao Wang's enlightenment, Chen Hongbing finally explained the necessary information clearly. She held Xiao Wang's hand, her eyes were red: "We Xiao Ming will not have an accident, right? He has a good relationship with other people, and his grades are also very good, you must help me find him!"

In a big city like Dongye City, "disappearance" is too common.A small number of disappearances are related to cases, and the vast majority of disappearances are just short-term disappearances, misunderstandings, or even pranks.

However, the police have always attached great importance to the disappearance of juveniles. Even if the police were exhausted, they immediately launched an investigation.

Surveillance showed that at 11:12 on New Year's Eve, Xiang Haoming passed through the east entrance of Fanglong Alley alone without being followed by anyone. Since then, he has not appeared in any public surveillance.

Communication records show that Xiang Haoming's mobile phone was turned off at around 4:[-] a.m. on the first day of the new year, and it cannot be located at present.

Until the evening, the police station could not find Xiang Haoming. The police questioned each of Xiang Haoming's classmates who could be contacted, but no one knew his whereabouts.

Throughout the Spring Festival holiday, sanitation workers take turns to rest. Of course, key places in the city center are cleaned 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, old 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 early to continue the New Year.

The people who lived in Fanglong Alley pulled several carts of firecrackers to set them off a few days ago, and they didn't care to clean them up. The paper scraps and boxes after the explosion were all piled up in a mess in a pit, and no one was willing to clean them up.

Old Xu was cursing and swearing, but he didn't want to take care of it at first. He would definitely not be able to clean such a big pit by himself. It's better to wait for everyone to go to work, bring a truckload of soil and bury it on the spot.

But Lao Xu had his own selfish motives. He heard that the firecrackers had not been set off at all, and if he picked them up and sold them to those in the firecracker business, he might earn a hundred and eighty yuan.

The sky was still not bright for a while, so Lao Xu did what he said, tentatively walked into the pit, threw the empty box outside, and walked deep.

Suddenly, he realized that he seemed to have kicked something. He scraped open the scraps of paper and took a flashlight to see what it was. When he saw what it was, he screamed in fright.

The dense fog dispersed, and the cordon separated the scene from the residents watching the excitement.

Several police cars were parked outside Fanglong Alley, not only from the Dongcheng Branch, but also from the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Old Xu's face was pale, and he couldn't get up while sitting on the bench, "Then, that person's skin has been peeled off, and there are blood holes all over, scare, scare me to death!"

Mingshu got out of the car and walked quickly towards the scene.

A woman with disheveled hair rushed from the side crying and almost ran into him.

"The eldest sister's son disappeared on New Year's Eve." Policeman Xiao Wang said, "She is worried about the..."

Mingshu nodded, glanced at the woman, pulled off the guard and walked in.

The woman was Chen Hongbing, her face was extremely haggard, and the face she had endured for decades was torn to pieces by these difficult 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 it is the Spring Festival, the time is special, and according to the reporter Lao Xu's description, the scene was very strange. Buried in red confetti.In some villages and towns around Dongye City, a hundred years ago, there was a backward custom of skinning living people and taking the bones of the gods to pray for the elimination of diseases.The people who were killed were poor people who were in good health but extremely low status, and the people who killed them to eliminate disease for themselves were powerful and rich people.

This cruel practice, long since eradicated, seems to be reappearing in urban areas.

Ming Shu took a day off today, and had already planned to drive to the western suburbs with Xiao Yu'an for a drive. After receiving the clue, he immediately canceled the trip and rushed there.

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 the smoke of gunpowder.

Ming Shu put on gloves and a mask, frowned, walked behind Xing Mu, "Really peeling?"

Xing Mu shook his head. He didn't know whether it was too cold or the condition of the corpse was too bad. His voice was trembling, "It wasn't skinning, these injuries were caused by firecrackers."

Mingshu's eyes tightened, "Firecrackers?"