NCCnovel Chapter 5 Liu Gan's Secret
Chapter 5 Liu Gan's Secret
"Mr. Ma, you don't need to change your shoes. There are two pairs of slippers here."
After opening the door, Uncle Liu put the key back under the doormat.
Neither of the elderly couple wanted to keep the key.
"We only have drinks in Xiao Gan's house. I don't know if you like them."
As a result, Ma Ye politely took a sip of the Coke that Aunt Liu handed him, and quickly looked around.
There were three or four delivery boxes piled up at the door of the room; the elderly couple said they had already thrown away quite a few.
There was a potted asparagus fern on the shoe cabinet, and a cactus that I had just brought back from the company was next to it.
When Ma Ye entered, he reached out and touched the soil under the asparagus fern. It was slightly dry, so he guessed that Liu Gan had watered it before leaving the house for the last time.
There were also a few cards hidden under the flowerpot. When I took them out, I found they were cashback cards for positive reviews of express delivery.
Since the workplace was the site of the sudden death, the residence was not within the scope of the police investigation. Liu Gan's room remained almost exactly as it was when he left.
The elderly couple couldn't bear to move anything, so they just looked out the window, where they could see the office building.
It's almost 5 p.m. now, and the office lights are starting to come on one by one.
The first thing Ma Ye noticed was the computer desk in the corner of the room, half of which was covered with A4 paper filled with sketches.
However, among these drafts, one could still see several sheets of paper with inconsistent colors.
There are three appointment slips, with the registration book from the Second People's Hospital of Jinchuan City at the bottom.
MRI, CT, echocardiography.
Although the handwriting in the registration book was crooked, Ma Ye could still roughly recognize a few words.
Suspected, fatigued, recuperating.
The appointment time for all three tests is tomorrow.
"If you two have time tomorrow, you can go and cancel your reservation."
"Oh well."
Taking the medical record, Aunt Liu, who was about to retire, quickly flipped through it, tears already streaming down her face.
The registration and appointment times were all scheduled during her days off. In the small group of three, Aunt Liu would send the schedule for the following month.
Liu Gan also arranged his home time according to the work schedule.
Fearing that it would take too long, Ma Ye went into the bedroom after seeking permission.
The room wasn't very tidy; the blankets were crumpled up on the pillows, and there was an unfinished drink on the bedside table.
Ma Ye wasn't a criminal investigator, and he wasn't here to investigate the cause of death; he was simply checking out unusual places in the room.
There was a framed photo on the bedside table. Ma Ye lifted it up and saw that, in addition to Liu Gan laughing loudly, there was also a girl in the photo.
Judging from his appearance, he looks a lot like Lü Mo, whom I just met.
Both of them were very inexperienced, like they had just graduated or had only recently started working.
A letter was peeking out from under the photographic paper.
Ma Ye dared not examine the photo alone, so he carried the framed picture to the living room.
"Uncle Liu, Aunt Liu, there should be a letter behind this photo frame. I can't open it without permission. You two should take a look first."
He handed it over with both hands, and Ma Ye didn't look at anything else in the room.
It's just a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom apartment; there's no need for him to go to the bathroom to take another look.
I sat at my computer desk, quietly waiting for the two of them to finish reading the letter.
This time, the two parents did not shed tears; their expressions changed from initial confusion to relief.
"Mr. Ma, take a look at this letter; it might be useful."
Taking the yellowed letter, Ma Ye only glanced at it, but still muttered a complaint in his heart.
"Wow, there really are people who believe in pure love these days!"
The sea breeze was blowing in Jinchuan City at night. Ma Ye took off his suit jacket and draped it over his shoulders.
The elderly couple had originally planned to invite the young man to dinner, but when he said that someone at home was waiting for him, they didn't insist that he stay.
Before parting, I asked about the things I cared about most.
"Mr. Ma, Mr. Sun from the City God Temple said that your approach to performing rituals is different from others. Besides conducting an investigation, is there anything else we need to do?"
"Nothing needs to be done. Just follow the custom and burn paper money in the mourning hall every day."
I will give you both an answer in three days at the latest.
You two should get some rest during this time.
The bus was still in operation, and the three parted ways at the bus stop. After sending his wife away, Uncle Liu handed her a white envelope.
"Uncle Liu, I haven't done anything yet, it's too early to take the money."
"We are already very satisfied that you have been able to help us see another side of our child."
"In that area, neither of us really knows much, but today's trip has already eased half of my worries."
But Ma Ye still didn't accept the money. His mentor had said that doing the job well before accepting payment was a sign of respect for the client.
"Uncle Liu, I have family rules, so I really can't accept this."
This time it only costs 1,500, and you can collect the money after it's done.
After handing the envelope back to Uncle Liu, Ma Ye quickly jumped onto the bus, afraid that the old man would force the money into his hand.
"I'm back!"
Carrying two boxes of stir-fried mung bean curd, Ma Ye gently pushed open the door.
The girl on the recliner was already snoring, and a newly made willow wood plaque sat on the table beside her.
Seemingly drawn by the scent of Ma Ye's hands, the girl, who had been tilting her head, slowly opened her eyes.
"No, I've waited so long for you, and all you brought back were two boxes of braised meat!"
"What's wrong? Don't you like it? Then I'll eat it myself!"
Before Zhu Jin could get up, Ma Ye prepared to combine the two boxes of mung bean curd into one bowl.
"No, what's the rush!"
Afraid that Ma Ye really wouldn't give him any, Zhu Jin jumped up from the recliner and snatched the braised meat from his hand.
He turned around and took two small iron forks from the dish rack. With a flick of his wrist, one of them flew directly into Ma Ye's bowl.
"How did it go today?"
"It's alright, pretty much the same as before. It's just that this time there are family members present, so we have to say the proper polite things as well."
There were still scrambled eggs on the table, but instead of cucumbers, they were replaced with scallions.
Zhu Jin wasn't in a hurry to eat the braised meat; there was still a cornbread warming in the pot. She wasn't sure if Ma Ye would be back for dinner tonight, so she didn't steam any rice.
"Xiao Jin, turn off the lanterns outside. We're not open for business tonight."
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry to get to work?"
After taking a bite of the cornbread, Ma Ye drank some of the stewed meat sauce. It had been sitting for too long, and even the steamed buns were incredibly dry.
"The elderly couple are not young, and they lost their son in middle age. We can't let them wait too long."
Zhu Jin finished the small box of braised meat in no time. Before going to bed, she still helped to brew ginger tea.
Just as she was about to change into her pajamas, Ma Ye called her back.
"Don't change your clothes yet, I need your help tonight."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jin, who was yawning, didn't even close her mouth.
"No, when will this job require me?"
"New arrangement: until I find a new helper, you will be my helper."
Outside, wisps of smoke rose slowly into the air as Ma Ye threw the four paper figures he had prepared into the special incinerator.
Inside, the sound of water gradually stopped, and Zhu Jin finished washing the dishes and chopsticks, changed into clean clothes, and sat on the recliner.
"No, why are you taking up my workstation?"
"Isn't there another one in Master's room? Go get it yourself."
While Ma Ye went to move a stool, Zhu Jin picked up the sketch she had finished on the table.
With a low ponytail, an oval face, and eyes behind glasses that seemed to hold a smile, this was Lü Mo, drawn by Ma Ye based on that photograph.
After finishing everything, the summoning banner was placed to the left of the incense burner. As the spirit-summoning talisman slowly turned to ash, Ma Ye felt that the angle of the soul banner had tilted a little more.
The long incense stick was lit and inserted into the incense burner, and the fountain pen was placed in front of the locust wood tablet. Ma Ye recited the incantation:
"The incense for returning souls is burned in the golden censer, and the chanting of the incense resonates long and melodious."
The three evil paths and five sufferings depart from the long night, and the ten kinds of lonely souls go to the temple.
Enjoying this wonderful feast from the cloud-like kitchen, one can dispel the heat and find coolness.
Ma Ye inserted the willow wood plaque into the eyepiece and handed it to Zhu Jin.
"Don't be afraid, just follow the plan."