Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Mountain Blaze (03)

Hai Shu’s eyes widened round and large, utterly incredulous—Xiao Yu had actually called her ugly!

Xiao Yu babbled excuses, saying what was ugly were her big Buddha ears, not her as a person.

“You still can’t say I’m ugly!” Hai Shu touched her ears. “Big Buddha is big Buddha—it’ll be fine in a bit.”

But those words should never have been spoken. Ever since Xiao Yu said her ears looked like a big Buddha’s, she couldn’t stop touching and scratching them. Far from returning to normal, her ears grew redder and redder from all the rubbing.

“Ah! It hurts so much!” She stared hard into the mirror. “It won’t go back—it really has become a big Buddha!”

Uncle Xiao Long burst out laughing. “Don’t listen to Xiao Yu’s nonsense—what does a little kid know? When you’re older and wear earrings, you’ll definitely look prettier than him.”

Children’s attention is so easily diverted. Hai Shu suddenly thought: I want to wear earrings. I want to pierce my ears. I can’t wait to grow up—I want it now!

Uncle Xiao Long grew serious. “No way. You’re still in elementary school.”

But what could stop elementary school kids on summer vacation? Especially two of them. Xiao Yu also wanted Hai Shu to get her ears pierced. He said solemnly, “I think it’s fine.”

There was a small cosmetics shop in Wandu Street where all the female workers went to get their ears pierced. Xiao Yu took Hai Shu there. When Hai Shu saw the ear-piercing gun, she wasn’t afraid at all. She climbed onto the tall stool. “Auntie, pierce here!”

The owner saw it was an elementary school girl and didn’t dare proceed. But Hai Shu and Xiao Yu refused to leave. With no choice, the owner set the gun in front of them. “I won’t charge you. If you want to do it, do it yourselves. If your parents come looking later, don’t say I did it—just say you stole my gun!”

Elementary school kids fear nothing—not even ear piercing. Hai Shu studied seriously how to do it, where to aim. Xiao Yu was more nervous than she was. He took the gun and asked, “Are you afraid of pain?”

He shouldn’t have asked. The moment he did, Hai Shu shrank her shoulders. “A little.”

Xiao Yu fell silent, lost in thought.

Hai Shu added, “Really just a tiny bit.”

Xiao Yu nodded. He loaded a disposable needle, disinfected it, and with lightning speed pierced his own earlobe.

This move stunned the shop owner dumb. Hai Shu was speechless too.

Xiao Yu frowned, pulled out the needle, wiped the blood, and said objectively, “Doesn’t hurt—just a quick one. I’ll do yours.”

Hai Shu was still stunned. Xiao Yu had already disinfected again and changed the needle. He emphasized, “I have experience. I’ve already tested it.”

That’s what real friends are like—one person afraid to do something, two people egg each other on, and suddenly there’s nothing to fear. Hai Shu only trembled when Xiao Yu disinfected her ear with gauze. When the needle pierced her earlobe, she truly felt no pain.

Xiao Yu cleaned the tools and returned them to the owner. He also asked for a pack of plastic studs. The owner, still gaping, would probably have handed over silver if asked.

The pierced ears swelled completely. Hai Shu belatedly burst into tears from the pain. Xiao Yu fetched alcohol and iodine to disinfect, very pleased with the piercings.

Hai Shu sobbed, “It looks even more like a big Buddha now!”

Xiao Yu said, “It’s different. Once it heals, it’ll look good.”

Hai Shu sniffled and said, “Why didn’t you put in a plastic stud?”

Xiao Yu’s earlobe was already bandaged with gauze. “I’m not wearing earrings. It’ll close up in a few days.”

Hai Shu hurt, but thinking of Xiao Yu’s actions made her feel he was incredibly loyal. She had endured the pain to wear earrings, yet Xiao Yu—who wouldn’t wear any—had taken a shot for nothing.

This friend really wasn’t chosen wrong!

Because of the piercing, her aunt scolded her soundly. But since she wasn’t her aunt’s child, a couple of words were enough. Every day she wore the plastic studs. Gradually the piercings stopped getting inflamed. The cosmetics shop owner said they were considered healed now—if she occasionally wore earrings, they wouldn’t close.

Summer vacation passed in a flash. At the end of August, Hai Shu had to go home. For the past half month, calls to home had become harder and harder to connect. Even the car coming to pick her up the day after tomorrow had been arranged by her father through her uncle. She never managed to ask if she could invite Xiao Yu to visit, so naturally she didn’t tell him either. What if she invited him and her parents refused?

“Are you taking all this back?” Xiao Yu stuffed masks and paper drawings into a burlap sack. In his tank top and shorts, he looked like a scrap collector.

Yet Hai Shu treasured that pile of “junk” beyond measure. “Yes—and the train we made together too! Pack it all!”

Xiao Yu busied himself again. Hai Shu thought for a moment and said, “Xiao Yu, where are you going for winter break?”

Xiao Yu, back turned, found the summer homework she’d left at his house and put it in the sack. “Nowhere—just staying home.”

“Then you…” Hai Shu still couldn’t say it.

Xiao Yu turned. “What about me?”

Hai Shu smiled and shook her head. “Then I’ll come find you again next summer vacation. This time I’m taking so many good things from you—next year I’ll bring my toys for you.”

Xiao Yu scoffed. “Who wants your dolls.”

“I’ve got Transformers too!”

They bantered while packing. The sun was nearly down before Hai Shu finally confirmed nothing was left at Xiao Yu’s house.

“Friend, I’m leaving now.”

Xiao Yu said mechanically, “Friend, take care.”

Hai Shu laughed and looked outside toward Village Five. “Why hasn’t Uncle Xiao Long come back yet?”

Xiao Yu looked too. “Dunno. Maybe hasn’t finished delivering milk.”

The children’s goodbye began at Xiao Yu’s house and continued all the way to the ground floor of Hai Shu’s aunt’s building. They said “see you” countless times along the way. Xiao Yu still carried that sack, escorting her the final step.

By then night had fully fallen. A few stars rose. Kids who’d finished dinner ran through the alleys. From upstairs her aunt called, “Xiao Yu, you walked our Shu-shu back? Thank you!”

“I’m going.” Xiao Yu said.

Hai Shu waved. “Friend, wait for me to come find you next year!”

Her aunt had packed Hai Shu’s luggage too. Hai Shu carefully picked up the enamel bowl she’d used to drink milk for two months. “Auntie, can I take this back as a souvenir?”

Her aunt smiled. “Of course.”

Speaking of milk delivery, her aunt asked her uncle, “Didn’t Xiao Long come today?”

Her uncle said, “Brother Liu delivered it.”

Hai Shu said, “Uncle Xiao Long didn’t deliver milk? He’s not home either.”

Her aunt thought for a moment. “Probably had something to do.”

Hai Shu found it a bit strange but had no time to dwell—she lay on the cool bamboo bed for her last night in Wandu Street. The next morning she got into a car driven by an unfamiliar uncle and returned to her home in the city center. She thought next summer she would see Xiao Yu again, drink milk delivered by Uncle Xiao Long, and maybe even invite Xiao Yu to her house for winter break to play with Transformers.

But that just-passed summer was like a beautiful dream detached from the real world. After parting, both stepped into life’s storm.

It turned out her mother had agreed to let her spend summer at her aunt’s because the family had already fallen apart. Her mother had taken up with a man from her partner company; her father had an affair with a female researcher. Who started first no longer mattered—they only needed one summer to sort out property division and how to settle the child. The child was kept in the dark until they had calculated everything, then pulled back into this absurd reality.

Her father’s things were already gone from the house. When her mother said, “Shu-shu, your dad and I are divorced,” Hai Shu froze for a moment, blinked, and in that instant seemed to grow up. She understood why she’d had such a carefree summer, why her aunt had repeatedly spoken of adults’ helplessness, why her father’s complicated look before she left for Wandu Street had carried such meaning.

But all her feelings were numb. She asked blankly, “Where’s Dad?”

Her mother stroked her hair. “He moved out. We won’t live here anymore either. Shu-shu, you’ll stay with Mom. Mom will take good care of you.”

Yet Hai Shu shook her head. She didn’t know why—she shook before she thought. She stepped back several paces. Her mother suddenly felt like a stranger. As if once the family ceased to exist, the original mother ceased too.

Her mother was a very rational person. She didn’t immediately hug Hai Shu or play the emotional card. It was as if she were simply fulfilling a duty to inform. Once informed, she left Hai Shu at home to slowly digest it.

Hai Shu was too young. Words like divorce, Dad left, Mom changed cut her, but not yet into sharp fragments. She was slowly chewing them. Her rational mother gave her plenty of time.

But at that moment the home phone rang. She snapped awake, suddenly remembering she had given Xiao Yu the number—it must be Xiao Yu calling!

This realization pulled her from the dull pain. She rushed to the phone. That summer had given her more than a broken family—it had given her Xiao Yu!

“Hello!” she said eagerly. “Is it Xiao Yu?”

But the other end was briefly silent, then came a completely unfamiliar voice. “Is this Hai Shu’s home?”

“Who is this?”

“Hai Shu? Is one of your parents there? Please have them take the call.”

She was disappointed. She called for her mother, ignoring one strange detail—if the call was for Dad or Mom, why ask “Is this Hai Shu’s home?”

After her mother took the phone, her face showed horror, her voice gradually trembling. Hai Shu stood beside her, heart rising. She heard snippets: “Please bring the child to Dongye Sub-bureau as soon as possible.”

Intense unease gripped her. She clutched her mother’s hand. Her mother looked at her with a trace of shock.

The car sped toward Dongye Sub-bureau, leaving the city center, the road growing familiar—it led to Wandu Street.

But they didn’t reach Wandu Street. When her mother parked, her hands trembled. “Shu-shu, when the police ask you anything later, answer honestly. Don’t lie about a single thing.”

She nodded and was led by her mother into that solemn building. Her mother’s high heels struck her heart with every step, each one tenser than the last.

She was brought to a narrow room. After identity registration, she timidly looked at the police officer in front of her. The officer looked at her, then placed a photo before her.

“Uncle Xiao Long.” She recognized him instantly. In the photo, Uncle Xiao Long wore jeans, holding Xiao Yu’s hand. Uncle Xiao Long smiled at the camera; Xiao Yu looked away, face dark.

The officer said, “When was the last time you saw Xie Xiaolong?”

Hai Shu’s heart nearly jumped out. “Uncle, what happened to Uncle Xiao Long?”

The officer paused before saying, “We found his body at the dairy farm.”

Hai Shu’s mind went blank. The officer continued speaking, but it felt like an invisible glass had appeared between them. She could see his lips moving, his expression growing sterner, but heard nothing.

“Shu-shu! Shu-shu!”

When Hai Shu regained awareness, she was on a hospital bed. Her mother looked at her anxiously. The doctor said quietly, “Severe shock. She’s awake now—should be fine.”

But Hai Shu felt she hadn’t woken. A pair of hands gripped her tightly, keeping her in the nightmare. In the dream Uncle Xiao Long had been killed—but how could that be? When she went to play with Xiao Yu, Uncle Xiao Long had still smiled and saluted her.

The police waiting outside hurried in. The moment they saw them, Hai Shu convulsed, crying, “Uncle Xiao Long isn’t dead! Uncle Xiao Long isn’t dead!”

Her mother hugged her tightly, pleading with the police, “Can you not appear in front of my daughter? She’s only eight—what could she know?”

But the officer said, “Ma’am, Hai Shu may be the last person to see the victim. We need her to describe details. Please cooperate.”

Hai Shu tearfully looked at the officer, stammering, “You’re mistaken. I want to see Xiao Yu!”

Hearing “Xiao Yu,” the officer frowned and glanced at the colleague behind. “You can’t see him for now.”

“Why?”

The officer didn’t answer. A female officer stepped forward, tone gentler. “Shu-shu, Xie Xiaolong was murdered. We’ve already launched an investigation in Wandu Street. We learned you often went to his house to play. You must have liked Uncle Xie Xiaolong very much, right?”

Hai Shu nodded through tears. “He was very good. Auntie, how could he be murdered?”

The female officer said, “Auntie wants to know why too. Shu-shu’s testimony is very important for us to find the killer. Will Shu-shu help Uncle Xie Xiaolong with this last favor?”

The ward grew quiet, only Hai Shu’s stifled sobs remaining. Minutes later, with a choked voice, she said, “I’ll tell. I’ll tell everything!”

The police began recording. The female officer guided Hai Shu to recall what happened on August 26. Hai Shu desperately tried not to get muddled, speaking haltingly. On the 26th morning she went to the market with her aunt. Her aunt bought the loach she liked. She was very happy and helped her aunt all morning.

In the afternoon she went to Xiao Yu’s house to pack and say goodbye to the friend she’d played with for two months. When she arrived, Uncle Xiao Long was home but about to leave. Uncle Xiao Long dressed like the other young workers—tank top and work pants, with a loose shirt over them.

“Shu-shu’s here.” Uncle Xiao Long greeted her as always.

Hai Shu gave him a strawberry candy from her pocket. “Uncle Xiao Long, are you going to work?”

“Yeah. Uncle Xiao Long has work tomorrow and can’t see you off. Come find us again next summer vacation.”

“Definitely! Bye, Uncle Xiao Long!”

Hai Shu remembered that when Uncle Xiao Long changed shoes and left, Xiao Yu was still in the inner room. She went in and saw Xiao Yu lying on the table fiddling with cardboard masks, face crumpled as if angry.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Uncle Xiao Long said goodbye and you didn’t hear?”

Xiao Yu: “If he’s leaving, what’s it to me?”

“Did you fight with Uncle Xiao Long?”

“…No.”

“Uncle Xiao Long is so good, and you still fight with him. When he comes back, apologize, okay?”

“Mind your own business.”

“I will mind!”

Hai Shu and Xiao Yu fought—not really. Xiao Yu, annoyed by her pestering, grudgingly said, “Fine, fine, I’ll apologize!”

Hai Shu stayed at Xiao Yu’s until past 7, asking him to come eat dinner at her aunt’s. Xiao Yu refused. After 8 that evening, she never saw Xiao Yu or Uncle Xiao Long again.

By this point Hai Shu was crying so hard she could barely breathe. “Where is Xiao Yu? What will happen to him?”

The police answered none of her questions about Xiao Yu. A few days later, already discharged, the Wandu Street murder case had spread like wildfire across Qiyun City. The most horrifying version Hai Shu heard was that the dairy farm worker had been skinned alive at night and hung above the feed trough—impossible to recognize as human from afar.

Hai Shu was so scared she couldn’t sleep, refusing to believe Uncle Xiao Long died so horribly.

Soon the police found her again—this time wanting her to return to Wandu Street. Her mother frantically refused, saying how could police treat a child like this. But she immediately agreed. “I want to go! I want to see Xiao Yu!”

In just half a month, Wandu Street was no longer the place Hai Shu had left. The lush summer green had turned yellow in autumn wind; dead leaves blanketed the ground. Police tape hung on tree trunks. No more children ran wildly through alleys. The small shop she often visited was closed. People’s gazes at her and the police car were evasive and wary.

The police brought her back to the bungalow in Village Five. Xiao Yu’s house had a seal on the door. When it opened, no one was inside. She anxiously asked, “Where’s Xiao Yu?”

“Xie Yu isn’t here.”

“Then where is he?”

“…”

The police asked her to describe what kind of person Xiao Yu was. She told them everything, thinking honesty would let her see Xiao Yu. But no. Finally they took her to the now-shut-down dairy farm and showed her the white markers at the body discovery site. In that moment, a muffled, eerie thud seemed to ring in her ears again.

Uncle Xiao Long really was dead. The Uncle Xiao Long who liked to smile, who gave her extra milk, who was better-looking than all the other young workers in the factory…

Tears poured out again. She was picked up; her tears fell like early autumn rain, blurring the entire world.

The police also told her they found candy with her fingerprints in Uncle Xiao Long’s pocket.

That was the strawberry candy she had last given Uncle Xiao Long!

Half a year later, her mother sold the house and moved to another city with her new husband. Hai Shu had to go with them. The police never contacted her again, and that horrifying case remained unsolved. She occasionally contacted her aunt and asked about Xiao Yu. Her aunt sighed that after the child was taken by police, he never came back.

Later the factory restructured; workers scattered. The city expanded. The idyllic Wandu Street merged into Dongye District, truly becoming part of the city.

After entering junior high, Hai Shu boarded at school and gradually distanced from home. Her mother threw herself into her career and went abroad with her new husband, wanting to take Hai Shu, but she was grown and insisted on staying in the country. She had almost no contact with her father’s side. At 16 she became an orphan with both parents alive.

The childhood dream of becoming an international superstar was also abandoned. At some point she wanted to become a criminal police officer. Perhaps while staring at legal news and clipping murder reports from newspapers, she hoped among the countless fragments to find news that the Wandu Street case had been solved.

But that case became more unsolvable than ever. During her senior year internship, she checked what files she could access and used business trips to ask seniors in Qiyun City. What she learned was—

Xie Xiaolong’s cause of death was a bullet to the head and trachea. The dairy farm was not the primary scene—only the body dump site. There was no folk rumor of being skinned and hung. He was found facedown in fodder.

And the person who found him was Xie Yu.

Hai Shu clearly remembered that before she left Wandu Street, she never heard any gunshots. A shooting made the case extraordinary—perhaps explaining why police were so urgent at the time.

But looking further, another eerie detail emerged—the records contained almost no detailed information on Xie Xiaolong himself. A shooting was a major case; the victim’s background must be thoroughly investigated. Yet police either didn’t investigate or the records were removed, leaving Xie Xiaolong now as a vague, rootless figure.

Hai Shu didn’t believe Qiyun City police would make such an error. Therefore, Xie Xiaolong’s identity must have been deliberately concealed by a higher-level department.

Why? Who exactly was Xie Xiaolong?

And Xie Yu had vanished too. Hai Shu inquired about Xie Yu through both social and police channels—no one knew where he went. She couldn’t help wondering—if Xie Xiaolong wasn’t really Xie Xiaolong, then was Xie Yu not really Xie Yu?

After officially becoming a criminal police officer, Hai Shu learned one more thing. Although Xie Xiaolong’s case remained unsolved, during the investigation police deployed massive forces in Wandu Street. In the process they uncovered that Deputy Factory Director Huang Zhanyong colluded with local black forces to murder the former factory director, engaged in embezzlement and bribery, falsified accounts, and misappropriated collective assets. Huang Zhanyong and five others from the factory were imprisoned; Huang later died in prison.

After that, Hai Shu could get no more information. She rose from a junior officer to become the renowned female captain of Bincong City police. Too many cases demanded her attention. In recent years she had almost never thought of Wandu Street, Uncle Xiao Long, or Xiao Yu.

When Hai Shu returned from memory to reality, the new house was nearly settled. She took out the starfish earrings Sui Xing had given her and put them on.

The cosmetics shop owner had said that as long as she occasionally wore earrings, the piercings wouldn’t close. After living with her mother, her mother said she was still a child and forbade earrings. She had lost contact with Xiao Yu and didn’t want this memory-bearing piercing to disappear too—so she often secretly took out the plastic studs and poked to keep it open.

As an adult she no longer cared about the piercings, but perhaps because as a child she always poked them open whenever they tried to close, they never sealed.

She smoothly put on the starfish earrings.

She went to the window, breathing the night breeze with its faint scent of green grass, and in her heart answered the earlier question—

Why did she become a criminal police officer? Why did she take Xun Susu as her role model?

Because at eight years old she met a very good uncle and a little boy who spent summer vacation with her. The uncle was murdered; the killer remains at large to this day. The little boy vanished too, never meeting her again the next summer as promised.

She carried that regret and wanted to find the truth. Since the police back then couldn’t solve it, she would put on the uniform herself. Her life had taken a massive turn that summer. She no longer wanted to be an international superstar.