“Jiang Yanzhi!” Xu Jiu sat bolt upright cold sweat soaking her back. In the dream he had been followed by a shadowy figure and no matter how loudly she called he would not turn. Then the man had raised a knife and struck him again and again.
“Nightmare” A hoarse voice came through the line mixed with faint static. Xu Jiu came to her senses and grabbed the phone its design distinctly old. “Jiang Yanzhi”
“I am here.”
It had not been a dream. He was still there. She let out a long breath and wiped her eyes glancing at the wall clock. “Have you stayed up all night”
“I rested a little.”
“What are you doing today”
“Going to the health school to find Li Tianci.”
“I will come see you this evening.”
“Things will be busy. I may not be able to look after you.”
“I can manage on my own.” She would do as she intended regardless of what he said. He could never truly stop her.
The call ended. Jiang Yanzhi set down the phone rubbed his face and took a towel and toothbrush from the bottom drawer. He passed Qin Shuo’s desk and tapped the surface. Qin Shuo had been slumped back asleep mouth half open. He jolted awake. “Report!”
“Get ready. We are leaving.”
Qin Shuo wiped his chin. “Barely closed my eyes.”
“Hurry.”
“Right right.” Qin Shuo noticed something on the desk. Two phone recharge cards lay there. “How many hours did you spend talking anyway”
Jiang Yanzhi shot him a look. “Keep talking and you can go alone.”
“No way I was just joking Brothers stick together.”
The morning air was cool. Qin Shuo climbed off the motorcycle and rubbed his stiff cheeks glancing at Jiang Yanzhi who showed no reaction. He wondered if the wind had frozen his expression solid. Qin Shuo reached out to touch his face only for Jiang Yanzhi to block his hand with a cold sharp glance. Qin Shuo shivered grinning. “Just curious what you are made of.” Jiang Yanzhi ignored him.
They spoke to the school administration then headed straight for Li Tianci’s dormitory. The building was shabby two stories high with windows that looked ready to fall. Boys lived on the ground floor and girls above but supervision was loose and everyone mixed freely. The dorm keeper was an elderly man listening to a story on the radio volume turned high. He did not look up as they entered. The corridor smelled stale. Rubbish sat outside many doors and clothes hung drying along the walls.
Qin Shuo fanned the air. “Living like that.”
Jiang Yanzhi knocked on Li Tianci’s door. An impatient voice called out. “Who is it so early in the morning”
“Police. We need to speak with Li Tianci.”
Silence then a thud. The door opened and a young man with dyed yellow hair looked them over. “Li Tianci is asleep. What do you want”
Qin Shuo peered inside. The room was cluttered. Beds were unmade clothes and dishes covered tables and socks littered the floor. Jiang Yanzhi showed his badge. “We have questions for him.”
The yellow haired youth straightened instantly and hurried to the bed by the window shaking the occupant. “Li Tianci wake up Police are here.”
A sleepy voice came from the upper bunk. “Who” A round faced young man with small eyes leaned over looking confused.
“They are police” the other whispered. “Did you get into trouble”
Li Tianci’s drowsiness vanished. He sat up quickly and nodded at them. Once ready they walked to the sports field to talk. Li Tianci kept glancing about nervously.
Jiang Yanzhi watched him closely. “Have you seen Chen Qingqing recently”
“Yes I had dinner with her the evening before last.” His voice faltered. “Is something wrong”
“What do you think”
“Usually when police come asking it means something bad happened.”
Jiang Yanzhi said plainly. “Chen Qingqing is dead.”
“What!” Li Tianci’s voice rose sharply. “Dead How Who did this”
“Calm down. We are investigating that now which is why we need to speak with you.”
Tears spilled down his face. “She is gone…”
Qin Shuo looked at Jiang Yanzhi who continued to watch Li Tianci intently. As the young man grew quieter Jiang Yanzhi asked. “Did you know she was pregnant”
“I did.”
“Is the child yours”
Li Tianci waved his hands anxiously. “No never. I would never hurt her like that.”
“Where were you between seven and eleven yesterday morning”
“Handing out flyers on Xuefu Road.”
“Can anyone confirm that”
“Lots of people saw me. Or ask Brother Zhao he paid me.” He pulled out two crumpled notes. “This was my pay.” Qin Shuo wrote down the contact details.
“Do you know who the father is”
“A monster.”
“A monster” Qin Shuo paused his pen. “What do you mean”
“Wang Jianjun. He tempted her. It is his child.”
Wang Jianjun forty four was a math teacher and homeroom teacher at City No.1 High. He had recently been named one of the province’s top young educators. A trusted teacher involved with a student twenty seven years his junior. It was unthinkable.
Qin Shuo shook his head as they rode. “Disgusting. Taking advantage of someone so young. No morals no humanity.”
“Li Tianci is her own age.” Jiang Yanzhi’s grip tightened on the handlebars. “They should have been together.”
He was seven years older than Xu Jiu. He had been scrapping for food when she was born into a loving home. He had carried heavy loads gathering coal while she learned to walk. At twelve when he came to live with the Jiang family she was still in kindergarten crying for her parents. The gap between them was vast and uncrossable.
Xu Jiu sat for a while rubbing her throbbing temples before washing and heading downstairs. Voices drifted up from the dining room.
Fang Xue spoke in a falsely sweet tone. “Do not work so hard dear There is always more money.”
“What choice do I have That girl is good for nothing She will ruin everything.”
“She is still small She will grow sensible.”
Xu Yongcheng slapped the table. “Always small She is already lost.”
“Do not get angry Your blood pressure remember.”
“Look at the time Still asleep No respect no discipline.”
“Father she was just out late with friends It is natural at her age.”
“At her age I was studying constantly. She keeps bad company and will end in trouble.”
“I am sure her friends are fine A young man brought her home last night.”
“Already chasing boys I will teach her a lesson.”
“She is asleep Do not wake her You will only argue.”
Xu Yongcheng huffed. “She will never be any help to this family.”
“You still have Zhenzhen. One child carries the burden and the other enjoys the rewards.”
“Zhenzhen is the capable one. If only her sister had half her sense I could face her mother’s family with pride.”
“Let us eat Do not start the day angry…”
Xu Jiu gripped the banister. Hypocrisy She waited until they fell silent then walked down. Fang Xue and Xu Zhen stiffened caught off guard.
Xu Yongcheng glared. “So you finally decided to come down I expected servants to fetch you.”
“I will be earlier next time.” He had prepared a whole speech of reproach and found himself at a loss. “See that you do.”
After breakfast Xu Zhen came over with obvious encouragement from Fang Xue. “Awake so early today Did you sleep badly”
“A nightmare.”
“You look tired Go back to bed I will write an excuse.”
“No thank you I am going to school.”
“To study”
“I promised to read comics with my deskmate.”
“I will buy you more books then.”
At the school gate Xu Jiu spotted the motorcycle. She hurried to sign in and ran toward the administration building. Jiang Yanzhi and Qin Shuo stood talking with the principal who looked deeply distressed. Qin Shuo nodded and wrote notes. She heard them mention the staff residence building and the name Wang Jianjun. It sounded familiar yet distant.
The principal sighed and went back inside. Jiang Yanzhi and Qin Shuo turned and saw her standing there. They paused. Qin Shuo waved. “Skipping class again”
She ignored him completely her eyes fixed on one person.
“Jiang Yanzhi!”