The ultimate master in the city

Chapter 64 The Mad Old Man Who Sings Opera

"Where is that?" Zhou Fengchen asked curiously.

Wang Min shook his head. "I don't know. It's a completely unfounded statement, yet all three deceased individuals said the same thing before they died."

Zhou Fengchen pondered for a moment, then shook his head and asked, "What did your colleagues, those experienced veteran detectives, say?"

Wang Min smiled bitterly and said, "They all suspect this is a premeditated serial murder case, but... who the suspect is, what the motive is, we have absolutely no clue. And this case is one I took on. I was given a two-week deadline, and eight days have passed now. I'm under a lot of pressure, otherwise I wouldn't have come to you."

Zhou Fengchen was both amused and exasperated. "I really don't understand these things. You should go ask your cousin."

Wang Min said pitifully, "My cousin still has to go to school. Don't you know magic? Use that talisman, wave it around, and find the suspect!"

Zhou Fengchen coughed: "What did I just say? Don't mention magic, I've been having a run of bad luck lately! And your statement is too naive."

Wang Min thought for a moment, "Then... we don't need magic. You can come with me to investigate the case tomorrow, okay?"

Zhou Fengchen glared at him: "No time! I have to go to work tomorrow."

The landlady then said from the side, "I'll give you the day off tomorrow, but you'll still get your full salary."

"Uh..." Zhou Fengchen paused for a moment, then looked at the proprietress, "Whose side are you on?"

The proprietress smiled and said, "Helping the police solve cases is everyone's duty, and I support you."

Zhou Fengchen said in a serious tone, "I'm sorry, my awareness hasn't reached that level yet."

Wang Min said with a grin, "What's with all this talk about awareness? It's decided just like that. Sister, have some food."

"Uh-huh."

……

Zhou Fengchen ate his meal without any enjoyment. After the meal, Wang Min paid the bill, arranged to meet him at the small restaurant the next day, and left in a hurry. The proprietress drove him back to his rented room.

On the way, Zhou Fengchen stared at the proprietress for a while, then said, "Proprietress, I've figured it out. I don't seem to have much charm. Do you... also need my help with something?"

The proprietress's expression changed slightly, and she shook her head with a smile, "No."

"Really?" Zhou Fengchen asked, somewhat doubtful.

The proprietress continued driving, seemingly oblivious to the situation. "Really, what could I possibly need your help with? Haha, you're overthinking it."

When they arrived at the entrance of the alley where the rental house was located, Zhou Fengchen got out of the car and watched the landlady leave. He walked into the alley for a while, feeling like he had forgotten something. After thinking for a moment, he slapped his forehead and realized, "Oh no, Yuanzhi has been starving for half a day."

I went back and bought a serving of cold noodles, a plate of braised duck, and two fried chicken legs. When I arrived at the rented room, Monk Yuanzhi was lying on the bed, picking up grains of rice that had been scattered on the table during lunch, popping one into his mouth, and then closing his eyes to savor the taste.

Zhou Fengchen chuckled and said, "Brother Monk, are you... reminiscing about past hardships and appreciating present happiness, or have you suddenly realized how hard farmers work?"

Monk Yuanzhi gave him a resentful look. "Nonsense! It's 10:20 p.m. and you've only eaten one meal since this morning. I can tell that if I rely on you to take care of me, I'll starve to death."

"Haha, it's not that serious." Zhou Fengchen smiled, opened the food, and while watching Monk Yuanzhi eat, casually told him about what happened to Wang Min that day.

Monk Yuanzhi mumbled, "A person needs to have some skills, otherwise their friends will become too dependent on them, and all sorts of troubles will come knocking on their door."

Zhou Fengchen scratched his head and said, "So, should I help with this or not? I feel like... something's a bit strange."

Monk Yuanzhi thought for a moment, "Whatever you want, it shouldn't be a big deal. Just treat it as having fun and doing official business. Maybe it'll even bring you good luck."

"Change the luck..." Zhou Fengchen thought for a moment, "That's settled!"

The next morning, Zhou Fengchen bought a bunch of instant noodles and left them in the rented room for Yuanzhi Monk to make and eat by himself. After finishing his business, he rushed to the small restaurant, where Wang Min was already waiting.

The two drove straight to the home of the first deceased, Wang Min's intention being to talk to the deceased's family again.

Upon arrival, the deceased's wife and parents were waiting after receiving a phone call. Wang Min got straight to the point, asking various questions. Zhou Fengchen, having nothing else to do, went to the room where the deceased had hanged himself and looked around for a while, then went to examine the fan where the hanging was located.

He thought there was something strange about this matter. All three victims said the same thing before they died, so there must be some kind of connection. But strangely, Wang Min said that they did not know each other.

If it was murder, what grudge did this person have against the three opera singers? What method did they use, and how intelligent must they be?

After thinking for a while without any results, he shook his head, feeling that he was really crazy. He hadn't even managed to live a proper life himself, yet he had come to investigate a case.

Once outside, Wang Min continued questioning the deceased's family, but judging from their expressions, he seemed to be getting nowhere. Zhou Fengchen listened for a while, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, "Who did the deceased often study opera with before his death?"

The deceased's family was stunned for a moment, and Wang Min was also a little confused.

The deceased's wife thought for a moment and said, "Singing opera was my husband's job. He studied it with people almost every day. It's hard to say."

Zhou Fengchen said, "Let me tell you about a few important people."

The deceased's wife said, "It was one of his colleagues... uh! I remember now, my husband once told me that there was an old madman in Laogeng Town who sang better than him, does that... count?"

"A madman can sing opera?" Zhou Fengchen asked curiously.

The deceased's wife shook her head. "I don't know. That's what my husband said. Later, my husband even went to see that madman a few times, wanting to learn a few tricks from him."

Wang Min jumped, then asked, "Do you know the exact address of that madman?"

The deceased's wife thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be at the entrance of Fengqiu Hall in some old town."

……

After leaving the deceased's house, Wang Min was extremely excited and said, "Master Zhou, you really know how to get to the heart of the matter with just one sentence."

Zhou Fengchen scoffed, "Don't get excited. So what if a madman can sing opera?"

Wang Min immediately deflated. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Zhou Fengchen thought for a moment and said, "The three dead people all said the same thing, so there must be a connection between them. As long as we find this connection, we should be able to find out why they committed suicide. Now let's go to the homes of the other two dead people and ask if they knew that madman from Laogeng Town when they were alive. If they did, it will be much easier."

The two then drove to the homes of the other two deceased.

An hour later, Wang Min was completely excited. Sure enough! All three deceased had known a madman who could sing opera in Laogeng Town before their deaths.

"This might be the key to everything!" Wang Min acted swiftly, pulling Zhou Fengchen straight towards Laogeng Town.

Laogeng Town is a remote town, about 100 miles from the city. It is easy to identify because of its strange name.

The two set off in the afternoon and arrived at their destination after dark, when it started to drizzle.

After Wang Min parked the car, the two searched the town for a long time before finally finding Fengqiu Hall in a very remote corner.

Fengqiu Hall sounds high-end and sophisticated, but the storefront looks dark and gloomy, somewhat like a general store selling medicated plasters, candles, and needles and thread.

The two looked around outside the door and, seeing no old madman, went inside. A pungent stench assaulted their nostrils. The shop owner, an old man with gray hair, was pounding garlic. When he saw the two enter, he looked at them with disdain and disgust.

Wang Min covered his nose and asked the shop owner, only to be dumbfounded. There had never been any old madman who sang opera in the town.