An Unidentified Female Corpse (1)

A river, winding its way through the city like a flowing, white silver ribbon, encircled Tangdu. The water gurgled, flowing ceaselessly for a thousand years. By the Tangdu River, there was an ancient town, and within the town, a village. In that village lived a family named Tong, who had resided there for generations. The Tong family lived at the east end of a large house. Their family fortune was once prosperous and abundant, but it declined by Tong Da's generation. All that remained of their ancestors' legacy were a few dilapidated wooden lofts, long surpassed by the pavilions and towers of the families at the west end. Tong Da harbored resentment and often stood with his wife, Wang Xiyue, and their son, Tong Haojing, on the Pipe Mountain in front of their house, gazing towards the rising sun and vowing, "Let the sun bear witness, let the mountains bear witness, no man of the Tong family will ever be a coward!"

In the morning at the large house, Tong Da stood on the slope in front of his home. The rising sun was exceptionally large and red. Tong Da's shadow stretched out, long and imposing, like a proud giant. He looked down with disdain at the low, tiled roofs at the west end of the large house, vowing to build a unique, grand house at the east end.

In front of the large house, a newly built highway stretched like a long dragon, leading into Tangdu and extending outwards to the economically developed Hedong Province. Tong Da was filled with ambition, his heart soaring with the highway towards distant lands. He wanted to set out from here, to go abroad and earn a fortune, to build his dreams.

The people of the large house all wanted to build their roof ridges higher, to signify surpassing others. Whoever built their house higher was considered superior to others. It was a matter of prestige, though it held little practical significance. However, the people who had lived in this large house for generations valued this custom that hindered the progress of worldly civilization. They were all secretly competing, each striving for the highest peak.

Tong Da was naturally competitive. Relying on his own shrewdness and capability, he finally returned one day with a full treasury. He built a Western-style villa at the east end of the large house, its height surpassing all other houses. This made the people of the large house look at him with new respect, filled with envy and hidden jealousy.

Just as Tong Da reached the peak of his success, he fell gravely ill and died within two years. He left behind Wang Xiyue and their son, Tong Haojing, to live in the empty villa, feeling somewhat desolate and lonely.

Fang Qiong's son, Heidou, fell inexplicably ill and showed no improvement for months. The piglets of several families at the west end died one after another every few days. A dense, gloomy, and ominous atmosphere, like an epidemic, enveloped the east wall and west corner of the large house.

The people of the large house began to blame Wang Xiyue's villa, questioning why it was built so high, overshadowing the entire large house and preventing everyone within it from rising above. Fang Qiong, a woman of strong character, even directed her own frailty, backwardness, and misfortunes directly at this villa and its owner, Wang Xiyue. They even gloated over Tong Da's death, attributing it to the construction of the villa.

Wang Xiyue refused to believe these superstitious claims. She would not tolerate baseless slander and accusations and argued and fought with them, becoming physically and mentally exhausted. The people of the large house began to resent Wang Xiyue, blaming her for all their life's setbacks. Wang Xiyue found herself isolated and helpless. Uncle Mumu, from the east end, could no longer bear to watch. He was the first to step forward and speak up for Wang Xiyue.

"Bullying two widows and orphans, what kind of heroes are you!" Uncle Mumu sternly rebuked those who kicked them while they were down and stirred up trouble, in front of all the people of the large house. The power of his words was enough to inspire Wang Xiyue's fighting spirit. Her meager strength was instantly amplified, and she debated them all, fearless, supporting the family alone. She hoped that Tong Haojing, who was attending middle school in Tangdu, would grow up quickly to help her, becoming capable both inside and outside the home. Tong Haojing was an ambitious, though still immature, boy. These unpleasant disputes naturally touched Tong Haojing's competitive heart. At his young age, he felt the disdainful glances from his neighbors. The only warmth he felt was from Uncle Mumu, who lived at the east end. After school every day, Uncle Mumu would take him fishing by the Tangdu River, and Uncle Mumu often cooked fish for him. Perhaps it was because Uncle Mumu's daughter, Mei Tingyu, was Tong Haojing's classmate.

Two years later, Tong Haojing was admitted to Tangdu Middle School, and soon it was time for graduation. On the morning of June 29, 2012, outside Tangdu Middle School, under a yellow hornbeam tree, a crowd of men and women gathered, packed so tightly they could barely move. Everyone craned their necks, trying to see inside, their faces stunned and filled with strange, fearful expressions. It turned out to be a female corpse, who had just jumped from a building. Her death was gruesome and terrifying.

An ambulance arrived and stopped outside the cordon, waiting for the police.

The thinly dressed corpse was covered in dark, bloody grime. Old Man Gao from the west of the city recognized the deceased at a glance: "This woman is Hu Lian, she sold roasted goose on West Street. What a pity, what a pity. Her brother was useless, so she had to carry the burden. Her home is on the fifth floor of that building. Such a good family, ruined just like that. Now we won't be able to eat Tong Family Roasted Goose anymore!"

As Tong Haojing and Mei Tingyu passed by the yellow hornbeam tree, he witnessed the woman silently jumping from the building. He wanted to save her but was powerless. Soon, the area around the yellow hornbeam tree was crowded. Tong Haojing stood outside the circle, tall enough to see clearly. This woman was Hu Lian, the sister of Hu Pan, a drug addict who had visited the drug rehabilitation center for an on-site educational warning on June 26th.

Mei Tingyu, somewhat frightened, hid behind Tong Haojing and said, "Tong Tong, could this girl also be a drug addict?"

"Don't jump to conclusions. The truth will come out when the police arrive!"

Ten minutes later, a police car arrived, and two detectives got out, followed by a forensic examiner carrying a case. They approached, examined the scene, took photos, and retrieved a small packet of drugs from the stiffened hand of the corpse. One of the police officers shook his head and said regretfully, "Overdose leading to hallucinations and a fatal jump!"

The police then contacted the funeral home and the West City police station. Shortly after, a funeral home vehicle arrived and took away the body.

Tong Haojing clearly remembered that June 26, 2012, was International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Tangdu Middle School had organized three hundred students to visit the Tangdu City Compulsory Isolation and Rehabilitation Center for a learning experience, where he saw Hu Lian come on stage to welcome her brother, Hu Pan. In the blink of an eye, Hu Lian was gone to heaven. It was unbelievable.

Tong Haojing's class had also attended that day.

The rehabilitation center was about three kilometers from the city, located on a secluded and quiet screw-shaped mountain southwest of Tangdu.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the students, led by their teachers, boarded a bus and arrived in front of the rehabilitation center's main gate. The bright iron gate was closed, and guards stood at attention. A formidable high wall with electric fencing sent shivers down one's spine.

A moment later, the gate opened, and a police officer came out to greet them. According to the pre-arranged plan, the principal of Tangdu Middle School led the students on a tour of the various functional areas of the rehabilitation center. Afterward, they organized a live testimony session for the students in the outdoor activity area.

At 9:30, the outdoor activity area was ready.

A thin young man, wearing a rehabilitation identification uniform, was led onto a makeshift stage by a young police officer. He coughed twice, looking somewhat nervously at the teachers and students below, then glanced to his right at the uniformed police officer.

The officer nodded, signaling, "You can begin!"

"Respected leaders, students, my name is Hu Pan. I am from Tangdu. I was subjected to six months of compulsory isolation and rehabilitation due to repeated drug use. Under the earnest guidance of the officers, I am determined to mend my ways and turn over a new leaf. Here, I am willing to share my experience of how I gradually slid into the abyss of drug addiction as a cautionary tale. Students, would you like to hear the story of a promising young man who experimented with drugs and walked to his doom?"

A cheer rose from the students below: "Yes! Yes!"

"More than ten years ago, my parents ran a small roasted goose shop on West Street in Tangdu. The marinade was a secret family recipe passed down from our ancestors and one of the Hu family's main means of livelihood. With this, our family became renowned and wealthy. Suddenly, misfortune struck, and my parents passed away one after another. With the help of our neighbors, I buried my parents and, along with my sister Hu Lian, took over the ancestral business of 'roasted goose.' At that time, I was diligent, dedicated, and quick-witted. The business flourished, and we even established our own brand – 'Hu Brand Roasted Goose.' Do you know that to eat my goose meat, people might have to queue up in front of our shop, and sometimes, by the time it was their turn, the goose would be sold out.

My sister and I were wealthy, happy, and content!

At that time, the business was so busy that my sister and I were exhausted, resting only one day a month. We had no complaints because my income was increasing, and we became envied successful young people in the West Street neighborhood of Tangdu.

Just as my business reached its peak, my social companions would invite me to high-end tea houses, dance halls, and entertainment venues every few days. I had money then, and I felt glorious in front of them. I paid for all the food, drinks, and entertainment. I learned to indulge. I also became lazy.

My sister noticed the change in me. She earnestly persuaded me, with tears in her eyes, not to associate with those ill-intentioned people. But I dismissed her concerns, believing that with money, enjoying myself was only natural.

However, among these questionable friends, they saw my wealth and my loyalty. In entertainment venues, they tempted and encouraged me to pursue fashionable things. I couldn't resist the temptation. Out of curiosity, I followed them into various low-class, vulgar dance and entertainment venues, and I became unable to extricate myself. I became completely dependent on these so-called fashionable things – 'smoking water pipes, inhaling' and so on."