The Headless Corpse Beneath the Pagoda Tree

Late at night, an old street in the city glimmered with eerie light under dim street lamps.

“Boss, a bowl of beef noodles, please!”

“Alright, just a moment!”

At the end of the street stood a small noodle shop open round the clock, called “Old Locust Tree Noodle House.” Its name owed itself to the ancient locust tree outside its door, rumored to be centuries old.

The proprietor was a man in his sixties, surnamed Liu, whom everyone called Old Liu.

Old Liu brought a steaming bowl of beef noodles to the customer, who suddenly frowned.

“Boss, why didn’t you add cilantro to the beef noodles?”

“Huh? I... I’ll add it right away!”

As he turned to fetch the cilantro, Old Liu muttered inwardly: this was already the fifth customer tonight to complain about the lack of cilantro—something that had never happened before.

After garnishing the noodles, Old Liu had just settled down to rest when yet another young man entered.

“Boss, a bowl of beef noodles!”

“Alright, just a moment!”

He prepared the noodles, but the young man didn’t even glance at the bowl before saying, “Boss, why didn’t you add cilantro to the beef noodles?”

Old Liu was stunned by the question. After a long pause, he hurried to fetch the cilantro.

“Sorry, my memory’s getting worse lately.”

As he added the herb, Old Liu wondered what was going on tonight.

At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside, and a man in a police uniform rushed in.

“Boss, a bowl of beef noodles—with extra cilantro!”

Old Liu nearly fainted. The policeman was Zhao Gang, an investigator from the city’s criminal unit.

That night, a murder had occurred: a headless corpse had been found beneath a locust tree on the outskirts. After receiving the call, Zhao Gang and his colleagues had hurried to the scene.

The initial survey revealed the victim was a man, about thirty years old, dressed plainly, bearing no distinctive marks. No valuable clues were found, not even the head.

The location was remote and lacked surveillance, so finding clues via cameras was impossible. Zhao Gang and his colleagues began canvassing the area.

After a long, fruitless search, Zhao Gang decided to eat and spotted the noodle shop nearby.

As he ate, Zhao Gang’s mind remained on the case. Suddenly, he seemed struck by an idea and asked Old Liu, “Boss, how long have you run this noodle shop?”

“Several decades.”

“Decades? So the locals must all know you.”

“Of course, nearly everyone on this street knows me.”

“That’s good. Boss, can you recall if you’ve seen any suspicious people or strange events lately?”

Old Liu frowned at the question, then after a while replied, “I haven’t seen anyone suspicious, but there was one odd incident.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“Recently, every night, a man in a black trench coat and black hat comes here for beef noodles and always asks for extra cilantro.”

“Every night at this hour, and always extra cilantro?”

Zhao Gang found this strange and asked, “What does he look like?”

“I don’t know. He always wears a hat and mask—I can’t see his face.”

“Do you remember when he last came?”

“It was tonight.”

“Tonight?” Zhao Gang was startled. Could this man be the murderer?

He pressed, “Is he still here?”

“No, he left just after eating.”

“Which way did he go?”

“He went east.”

Zhao Gang followed Old Liu’s pointing finger and saw a narrow alley to the east.

“Thank you, boss!”

With that, Zhao Gang tossed down some money and hurried out.

He crossed the alley and reached a wide avenue. It was deep into the night; the street was deserted except for a few feeble street lamps.

Zhao Gang ran along the avenue but saw no sign of the man. Suddenly, the buzzing sound of a motorcycle caught his ear. He turned and spotted a motorcycle speeding towards him, ridden by someone in a black trench coat and hat.

“Stop!” Zhao Gang shouted, sprinting after him.

But the motorcycle sped away, quickly outpacing him. In desperation, Zhao Gang grabbed a stone from the roadside and hurled it.

With a loud crack, the stone struck the rear wheel, and the bike and rider crashed.

Zhao Gang seized the moment, rushing forward to pin the rider down.

“Don’t move!” he commanded, revealing his police badge.

The man dared not resist. Zhao Gang hauled him up and, under the streetlight, saw he wore a mask—his features concealed.

“Take off the mask!” Zhao Gang barked.

The man hesitated, but eventually obeyed.

When Zhao Gang saw his face, he was stunned.

It was none other than his colleague and friend, Li Qiang, the forensic expert from the criminal unit.

“Li Qiang, why is it you?” Zhao Gang exclaimed.

Li Qiang brushed the dust from his clothes and smiled wryly. “Gang, you really don’t hold back—I nearly got killed.”

“I... I thought you were the killer.”

“Killer? What killer?”

Li Qiang was baffled.

Zhao Gang explained the murder and Old Liu’s account.

Li Qiang listened and couldn’t help but smile helplessly. He furrowed his brow, then relaxed, a look of sudden understanding crossing his face. “Gang, you must have misunderstood. It’s true, I’ve been coming here every night for beef noodles—and I do like extra cilantro—but it has nothing to do with the murder.”

“But Old Liu said you always come at night, wearing a hat and mask. Isn’t that suspicious?” Zhao Gang remained doubtful.

“You don’t know,” Li Qiang explained. “I’m researching dietary habits and human biological clocks. For accurate data, I collect samples at the same time—late at night. As for the hat and mask, I’ve had a cold lately and didn’t want to infect anyone.”

Zhao Gang’s doubts eased somewhat, but he pressed on, “Did you notice anything unusual tonight? Any suspicious people?”

Li Qiang shook his head. “Tonight was as usual—nothing special. But now that you mention it, I recall something from a few nights ago. As I was leaving after eating, I saw a figure loitering under the locust tree opposite the noodle shop—acting furtively. But it was dark, and I couldn’t see clearly.”

Zhao Gang’s eyes lit up—this could be an important clue. “The locust tree? Isn’t that near where the corpse was found? Did you see which way the person went?”

Li Qiang thought for a moment. “I was in a hurry to get home and didn’t pay much attention. But I think he went toward the alley to the west.”

“The western alley?” Zhao Gang murmured, quickly calculating. That alley led to an old residential area with outdated surveillance—a perfect escape route for the killer.

“Li Qiang, thank you for the clue. Though it was a misunderstanding, your information may be vital to the case.” Zhao Gang patted Li Qiang’s shoulder with gratitude.

“No need to thank me, Gang—we’re all working for the case. By the way, any progress on the headless corpse?”

Zhao Gang shook his head, his expression grave. “No real progress yet. There are too few clues, and the victim’s identity remains unknown. But with your lead, maybe a new avenue has opened.”

After discussing, the two decided to split up. Zhao Gang returned to the noodle shop, asking Old Liu for details about the figure seen near the locust tree and reviewing all available surveillance footage, hoping to spot something useful. Meanwhile, Li Qiang used his forensic expertise to examine the shop’s utensils and food remains, searching for any indirect evidence connected to the victim.

As the night faded and the first pale light crept across the sky, the city began to stir. Zhao Gang and Li Qiang, though exhausted, were fueled by dedication and hope. They knew every clue could be key to unraveling the mystery, and the truth was often hidden in seemingly insignificant details.

After a tense night of investigation, Zhao Gang and Li Qiang met again at “Old Locust Tree Noodle House” in the morning. The city, still tinged with chill, was slowly coming alive—shops opening, people bustling.

Zhao Gang reported his progress to Li Qiang. “I checked the surveillance near the noodle shop. It was late, so few people appeared, but I did catch a blurry figure emerging from the western alley and lingering under the locust tree around the time of the crime. Unfortunately, the footage is old and unclear, so the person’s identity can’t be determined.”

Li Qiang nodded, then added, “I carefully examined the utensils and food remains in the shop. Nothing directly linked to the victim, but I noticed Old Liu’s beef noodles contain a special spice not commonly found in markets. If the killer is a regular here, he might have a preference for this unique flavor, perhaps even seeking it elsewhere.”

Zhao Gang’s eyes brightened, considering the possibility. “You mean we could trace the killer by tracking the source of this special spice?”

Li Qiang nodded. “It’s just a hypothesis, but we could ask other restaurants and food shops nearby if they use this spice or if anyone has a special fondness for its flavor.”

They decided to split up again—Zhao Gang canvassing local eateries, while Li Qiang returned to the police station to search databases and reports for missing persons matching the corpse or similar cases.

Time ticked by as the city reached its midday bustle. Zhao Gang faced many obstacles, but eventually found a clue at a small, secluded food stall. Its owner told him he used the special spice, and recently a customer in a black trench coat and hat had repeatedly requested it—always at night.

With this crucial information, Zhao Gang contacted Li Qiang, who had also made a breakthrough. He found a recent missing person whose age and build matched the corpse, with the last known location near the old residential area by the western alley.

They quickly met, pooled their findings, and devised a detailed plan. They would search the western alley and its residential zone thoroughly, as well as scrutinize all available surveillance for further evidence.

As night fell and the city quieted, Zhao Gang and Li Qiang, accompanied by a team from the criminal unit, discreetly surrounded the old residential area. They searched door to door, missing no corner, until they discovered the suspect’s hideout in a rundown building.

After a fierce struggle, the police subdued and arrested the killer. Under interrogation, he confessed his crime: a quarrel with the victim led to murder, and to cover it up, he abandoned the body beneath the locust tree outside the city.

With the case solved, peace returned to the city. Zhao Gang and Li Qiang stood outside “Old Locust Tree Noodle House,” gazing at the tree that had witnessed so many stories, their hearts full of emotion. They knew that behind every case lay the complexities and dualities of human nature, and their duty was to unveil those mysteries and bring the truth to light.

As the last rays of sunset bathed the noodle shop, Zhao Gang and Li Qiang exchanged smiles—relieved by the case’s resolution, their friendship and shared convictions strengthened. They knew the battle was over for now, but more challenges awaited tomorrow.

“Gang, we owe this to you. Without your keen insight and persistence, we might never have found the clue,” Li Qiang said gratefully, admiration shining in his eyes.

Zhao Gang patted his shoulder and laughed. “Not at all—we’re a team, each with our strengths. Your expertise and attention to detail were crucial too. Bringing peace to this city is our shared responsibility.”

They entered the noodle shop, where Old Liu had prepared steaming bowls of beef noodles, rich with aroma that seemed to dispel all fatigue. Sitting together, they savored the familiar flavor, warmth filling their hearts.

“Looks like these beef noodles should be called ‘case-solving noodles’ from now on,” Zhao Gang joked, drawing laughter.

Li Qiang nodded in agreement. “Indeed—every time I eat them, I feel invigorated.”

Amid laughter, they finished their meal and stepped out into the night. Lanterns lit up, heralding the city’s evening life. For them, it was only another beginning—a new journey to safeguard the city’s peace.

They walked side by side down the old street, their shadows stretching beneath the lamps, as if intertwined with the city’s history and future. They knew that no matter what unknowns or challenges lay ahead, as long as they held fast to their convictions and pursued justice, nothing could stop them.

“Let’s go, Gang. For the next case, we’ll fight side by side again,” Li Qiang said, eyes shining with determination.

Zhao Gang smiled and nodded, and together they set out for the police station, where their colleagues awaited, ready to work for the city’s safety and peace.

And “Old Locust Tree Noodle House” still stood quietly at the end of the old street, bearing witness to their stories and the city’s transformations. Each steaming bowl of beef noodles seemed to tell tales of courage, wisdom, and justice, inspiring everyone who passed through to pursue their own convictions and dreams.