The setting sun was slanting, and the rays of rays enveloped a house hidden in a remote alley. A brand-new plaque was hung on the tall door. It was different after the renovation. It knew it was my own home, but it felt familiar and strange.
After stepping over the high threshold, you enter the inner courtyard on the bluestone path. There are pavilions with upturned eaves, winding paths paved with gravel, and a doghouse in the corner.
This little broken dog hadn't been seen for a few days and was eating like a ball. When he saw Su Xiaolou, he waggled his tail and ran over to ask for his trouser legs.
"Master, you are back!"
"Master, it's a coincidence that you are back. The meal has just been prepared. Please sit down and I will serve the food."
"Hey! Yu Sheng." Just as Yu Sheng was about to leave, Su Xiaolou called him back: "What are you cooking?"
"Tortillas mixed with tofu."
"You just eat these when I'm not here!" Su Xiaolou handed the large and small bags to Yu Sheng.
Laiqian came over and asked curiously: "Master, why did you bring so many things back from a business trip? Could it be that you accepted bribes?"
Su Xiaolou's expression suddenly changed: "Young Master, I went to dig someone's grave. It's okay if I don't get beaten up. Who bribed me? That big box contains hairy crabs. You guys want to see how you eat them."
"Okay! Master!" Yu Sheng happily ran to the kitchen holding the box, not to mention other dishes. Yu Sang still has a good way of cooking seafood.
"Master, why is there an oil-paper umbrella here? It looks like it is for a girl."
"Uh! It rained in Hangzhou, so I bought an umbrella." After saying that, Su Xiaolou got up and left. He was too embarrassed to admit that he was obsessed with it, so he bought an umbrella and came back.
Su Xiaolou went into the kitchen, poured hot water, mixed it with some cold water, jumped into the tub and took a bath. He felt that his whole body was relaxed, and he leaned his head on the tub and fell into a comfortable sleep.
Su Xiaolou was in a daze when he heard Yu Sheng calling him to eat, so he got up, tidied up and went out. On the table were steamed eggs with crabmeal powder, crab meatballs, and salt-baked crabs. The aroma was fragrant and made you very appetizing. The taste was many times better than what he had eaten in Hangzhou.
The little broken dog also smelled the smell and came over to scratch the table and bark. Su Xiaolou took a live crab from the kitchen and placed it in front of it.
A big battle began. The big crab fought against the little dog. The little dog first jumped around to test the situation. The big crab held up two large pincers and was waiting. The little dog finally stretched out his claws to pull the big crab out of curiosity. One of them was accidentally caught by the big pliers. The little broken dog howled and howled, but the big crab refused to let go. In the end, the big crab was thrown away due to the size difference. A section of the crab's claws was still firmly clamped on the dog's claws.
The little broken dog was still howling in pain under the table. Su Xiaolou was gnawing on the tender and juicy crab meat on the table, breaking off the crab claws for the little broken dog to chew on.
Su Xiaolou looked at Yu Sheng and asked, "Yu Sheng, why do you only know how to cook seafood? You can't bear to eat seafood every day!"
Yu Sheng took a sip of water and smoothed the food in his mouth and said: "I grew up... living by the sea. My family was poor and I ate the most seafood. Later... my parents went to sea... fishing... and didn't come back, so I was left with them. …
My sister, when she was hungry, she would go to the sea to catch fish and clams, and she figured out many ways to eat them. My sister also said that the seafood I made was delicious.
"Then how did you get to Nanjing City?"
"Later... thieves came and arrested people. Many people... ran away. I followed them... to Nanjing."
"What about your sister?"
Yu Sheng's eyes became dim and he said sadly: "I got sick on the road and I didn't... get over it."
Lai Qian put a crab meatball into Yusheng's bowl: "The crab meatballs are really good. Come to Yusheng, let's forget about this and eat more!"
Su Xiaolou said to Yu Sheng: "Yu Sheng, since you are here, this is your home. You don't have to wander anymore."
…
Early the next morning, Su Xiaolou led the losers to the Ministry of Punishment and met Chief Cui of the Huzhou Qing Li Division. After the two got to know each other, people from Dali Temple and the inspector also came.
After a while of greetings, everyone decided to go to Yizhuang for an autopsy first.
Although it is autumn now, the weather is still a bit sultry, and corpses decompose very quickly. Yizhuang stores corpses all year round, and the disgusting stench of corpses can be smelled from a distance. There is only a few dozen meters of wasteland in Yizhuang. Flocks of crows cawing in the trees.
The group entered a dilapidated courtyard.
"Boss, this smell is too strong. If I can't stand it, can I not go in?"
"Boss, I can't stand it anymore."
"Boss!"
She wanted to vomit at first, but now Su Xiaolou had a headache due to the noise: "Don't make a noise! Don't make a noise! Fatty, Xiong Er, come in with me, the others are waiting outside."
Chief Cui was conducting an autopsy with two widowers, while Su Xiaolou covered his nose and looked at the side for a few times. The method of committing the crime and the cause of death were confirmed to be the same as those of the first student who died. So, it is very likely that the murderer is the same person.
…
Donglin Academy was founded in the Song Dynasty. It has been passed down to this day and has cultivated many great scholars in literature and capable ministers in governing the country. Many great scholars in literature give lectures here. Students from all over the country are proud to attend Donglin Academy and listen to them. Donglin Academy has become Cultural exchange center.
This year's exams are about to take place, and at the busiest time of Donglin College, two murders like this happened, which made people panic.
A group of people came to Donglin College after completing the autopsy in Yizhuang. As soon as Su Xiaolou stepped into Donglin College, he remembered that he was almost trampled by a group of students a month ago. Not avenging this revenge is like grinding with bare buttocks and spinning in circles, which is embarrassing.
Chief Cui brought people to the crime scene for on-site inspection. Su Xiaolou took a big look and showed no interest, so he left. Chief Liu had been here a long time ago, so he accompanied Su Xiaolou to look around.
Manager Liu suddenly asked: "Mr. Su, do you know what the meaning of reading is?"
Su Xiaolou replied without thinking: "Get promoted and make a fortune!"
Manager Liu licked his beard and pretended to be a sage and said: "It's much more than that."
Xiong Er said: "It doesn't make any sense anymore. Nothing else matters except getting promoted and getting rich."
Manager Liu took one look at Xiong Er's height of 1.5 meters and said, "You are very suitable for studying, because reading is the only one who is inferior in everything."
Hanhan asked: "What about me?"
"You are also suitable, because books are like medicine, and good reading can cure stupidity."
The blind man asked: "What about me?"
"You are more suitable because you are full of poetry and calligraphy."
Su Xiaolou secretly sighed in his heart that he was worthy of being an educated person, and he didn't use curse words when he cursed people.
A government official came and said that Chief Cui had sent someone to ask Chief Liu to come over. He wanted to verify some doubts and ask for advice. Chief Liu said goodbye to Su Xiaolou and turned around to leave.
