C47 (2/2)

He used a Polaroid camera. As soon as it was taken, the photo was spat out of the camera. A minute later, the picture appeared. He handed it to me. and asked me: ”Jin Shi, what did you see in the photo?”

When I saw myself beaming in the photo, I said, ”I'm glad to see you!”

He took out a pen and handed it over to me. ”Jin Shi, sign your name and date on the back of this photo!” I didn't refuse, so I carefully wrote on the back of the blank photo: Jin Shi showed off the love cake gifted by the villagers, September 16th of the year 2006.

Then I put the cake in my mouth and let him take another picture of me. And signed the photo: Jin Shi eats the love cake gifted by the villagers, September 16, 2006.

At that time, I was only interested in happiness. I never thought that one day, I would be able to see the cruel reality in these two photos.

The man in the black tunic parted his hair in the middle and did not linger for long. He took the photo and left. It was as if he had come on this trip specifically to take pictures of me.

I carried the rest of the cake in one hand to the west room and said to the wedding photo hanging on the wall, ”Look, what did I get?”

Unexpectedly. The ”I” in the white suit on the wedding photo shed tears. He did not speak.

I finished the cake. From home to the street.

There were already many villagers gathered on the street. They discussed animatedly, as if they were discussing something. His face was filled with shock and fear.

I went over and asked what had happened.

One man told me: ”Zhao Huangzhai, your father-in-law's village. What do you think happened? ”

I shook my head and said I didn't know.

”All the villagers died in one night. Right, not all of them had died. One family survived. That's your father-in-law's home! ”

”Are you for real?” My eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

”I'm really not lying to you!” ”No one can understand why only your father-in-law survived in this place. Everyone else died!”

”How did he die?” I asked again.

”Aiya! The old policeman went over. As for the armed police, they surrounded Zhao Huangzhai with guns. Dozens of medical examiners dissected the corpses of the villagers one by one and found that everyone had died in the same way. It was impossible to tell on the surface what scars there were on one's body. One was asleep as usual, but the heart in the chest had fallen out of the veins. The blood was all over his chest! Even the forensic experts are worried. No one knows how such a situation could have happened to a person who was originally well and well! ”

”Could it be that some martial arts expert used the skill of beating cattle across mountains and shook off the hearts of the villagers one by one?” Someone guessed.

”I don't know!” It might be so! No one knew which martial arts expert was so vicious and merciless, to have so much hatred towards the villagers of Zhao Huang Village! Even the old and young were not spared! ”

”I think that martial arts expert must be acquainted with his father's family, Jin Shi, and they are on good terms! Otherwise, why would he kill everyone else except for his family? ”

”Could that martial arts expert be Jin Shi?!” Someone joked.

The villagers all looked at me and burst out laughing. Someone pretended to be serious and asked loudly: ”Jin Shi, you must tell me honestly! Were you the one who killed the villagers of Zhao Huang Village? ”

I didn't say anything, just twitched the corner of my mouth and smiled.

While the villagers were still talking, I went home. He went into the living room and laid down on the bed. Not long after, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

”Jin Shi! Jin Shi... Open your eyes and wake up! ” Someone called out to me and gave me a shake, waking me up.

So it turns out that Grandpa is coming over. Not just himself. There was also Grandmother Gao Zu, Hu Shizhen, who came with him.

Hu Shizhen's old face with two burn marks on it looked extremely serious.

I sat up on the bunk and rubbed my sleepy eyes.

Grandfather said, ”Did you know that all the villagers in Zhao Huang Village died last night? Only your father-in-law is still alive!”

”Yes, I heard about it.” ”What's wrong?”

Grandfather looked at the blind Hu Shizhen and said, ”Jin Shi, your Grandmother Gao Zu has something to ask you!”

”Go ahead!” I acted pretty straightforward.

Hu Shizhen said: ”Jin Shi, tell me honestly, were you the one who killed all the villagers in Zhao Huang Village?”

”How was I the one who killed him!?” How could I have that kind of ability! ” I smiled bitterly.

Grandfather strengthened his tone: ”It's impossible that Jin Shi killed him. I was watching him last night! I didn't dare fall asleep when he was asleep. His eyes never left him! Wait until the sun rises before I go back! ”