Chapter 282: The Death of a Migrant Worker

On the evening of April 21, at a construction site’s container housing.

After a long day of hard work, the migrant workers returned one by one, waiting for their boxed meals to arrive. They smoked and chatted idly, discussing how much they earned today, how much they planned to send home, and their wives and children.

It was already seven o’clock, and the meals still hadn’t arrived. Some workers grew impatient, saying, “Are they trying to starve us? Let’s go ask the foreman!”

A group went to find the foreman, who said he had called several times. The delivery person had an accident and probably couldn’t make it. After venting their frustrations, the workers decided to go to a nearby university town for dinner.

“Are you coming or not?” one worker called to Xiao Ke, who was still lying on his bed.

Xiao Ke had just woken up and asked, “Where are we going?”

“Getting a massage, want to join?”

“Did we get paid?”

“Haha, you believed that? The food delivery isn’t coming, so we’re going out for dinner and grabbing a couple of beers.”

“Let’s go… Hey, where are my pants?”

The others urged him from outside. His friend threw the pants at him, saying, “I’m heading out first.”

“Wait for me, damn it!”

“You know where it is.”

“Order a sweet and sour pork for me.”

Xiao Ke got dressed, yawning. He felt nauseous from his nap, and his stomach churned. He took a sip of water from his thermos, but it didn’t help.

He saw a bottle of soda on the table, took a swig, and felt much better. Xiao Ke noticed a strange pattern under the bottle cap and examined it in the light. “What’s this? Did I win something?”

But there was no mention of a prize on the bottle. He took another big gulp, finishing it, and tossed the empty bottle into the plastic bag hanging on the wall.

At that moment, someone entered the room, silhouetted against the light, making their face indistinguishable.

“Xiao Lu? Old Zheng?”

The figure approached, suddenly brandishing a shiny knife. Xiao Ke screamed, “Oh my god! Robbery? The money’s with the foreman, you…”

Before he could finish, something sharp pierced his abdomen. Blood gushed like a flood from a breached dam. Xiao Ke’s mouth opened wide, vomiting blood mixed with soda.

The assailant gripped his shoulder, stabbing repeatedly until Xiao Ke’s consciousness faded and he collapsed to the floor.

Back at home, Chen Shi heard Tao Yuanyuan talking to someone. “…Since that incident, I’ve been afraid of strangers…”

Chen Shi thought she was probably chatting online. Despite her developmental delays, it was about time she started an online relationship.

But another voice, a woman’s, said, “The past shapes our current personality. We can’t change it, but we must learn to accept ourselves.”

Chen Shi opened the door to find Tao Yuanyuan and their neighbor, Gu You, talking. He was surprised, “Miss Gu, what are you doing here?”

“I came to bring some apples and had a chat with Yuanyuan,” Gu You smiled. A plate of red apples sat on the table.

“You’re too kind.”

“We’re neighbors; it’s nothing. I should get going.”

“Don’t see her out.”

After Gu You left, Chen Shi bit into an apple and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of strangers?”

“When Sister Lin first appeared, wasn’t she a stranger? I think this Sister Gu is very nice. I like talking to her.”

“Making friends is good.”

Shortly after receiving three photos, Gu You had moved in and started chatting with him. Chen Shi had been suspicious and checked her out using the bureau’s computer. Gu You was a legitimate psychologist with her own clinic and a clean record.

The apples Gu You brought were expensive imports. Chen Shi wanted to return the favor. He had a bottle of unopened Ballantine’s, a gift from Wang Daji. Taking it, he prepared to head out.

“Bringing alcohol?” Tao Yuanyuan asked. “To the pretty lady next door? Uncle Chen, you’re not trying to get with her, are you?”

“Look at my honest face. Do I seem like that kind of person?”

“Yes!”

“Cheeky! I’ll be back soon.”

Chen Shi knocked on Gu You’s door. The smell of olive oil wafted out as she cooked. “I know you like drinking, so here’s something for you.”

“Oh, Mr. Chen, you didn’t have to… Come in!”

Gu You’s home was clean and minimalist, with no excess decor and all items neatly stored. Flowers and plants were placed around, making Chen Shi feel like he was in a clinic.

“Living alone?”

“Yes, alone. I’m quite self-centered, so I’ve broken up with several boyfriends.”

“I thought psychologists were supposed to be more gentle?”

“Work is work. Care for a drink?”

“No, I have to leave soon. Miss Gu, I wanted to ask you something…” Chen Shi described Peng Sijue’s symptoms.

Gu You immediately said, “Those are early signs of depression.”

“Did I handle it wrong by taking him out to have fun?”

“Depression is like a psychological cold. Just as people lose appetite when they catch a cold, those with depression find no joy in activities. I suggest your friend come to my clinic for systematic treatment. Convince him that psychological issues don’t reflect on one’s character and aren’t shameful, but they should be taken seriously… This friend isn’t you, is it?”

“No, no, really a friend.”

“Here’s my card.” Gu You handed over her business card with slender fingers.

“Thank you!”

After dinner with Tao Yuanyuan, Chen Shi received a call from Lin Qiupu, “There’s been an incident at a construction site. It seems odd. Can you come over?”

Chen Shi hurried to the site, where several police cars were parked. A perimeter was set up around the container housing. Technicians were taking photos inside, and officers were questioning the deceased’s coworkers.

“Had dinner yet, Captain Lin?” Chen Shi asked, approaching Lin Qiupu.

“No, got the call and came right away. The victim is a migrant worker. According to his colleagues, he had simple relationships, only a few work friends, and family in the countryside. No debts, no enemies. The incident happened around seven. The site had ordered food, but the delivery person said his scooter was stolen while he was buying cigarettes, so he couldn’t deliver. The workers went to the university town for dinner, leaving the sleeping victim behind. They couldn’t reach him by phone, and when they returned, they found him in a pool of blood, stabbed five or six times, with no valuables missing.”

“Seems like a tough case.”

“Did I call you here to hear that?” Lin Qiupu glared at him.