Madness of the Heart

Chapter 24 Demon Hunting (24)

Liu Zhiqiang was born in an intellectual family. He liked reading and writing since he was a child. He studied liberal arts in high school. He was a representative of Chinese for three years. He participated in various composition competitions and wrote many short stories. However, due to his mediocre aptitude and no special features, Participating has never been ranked, passing the preliminary round is the best result, and submitting an article to any publishing house is even more difficult.

Gradually, Liu Zhiqiang saw himself clearly and knew that he was not the material for being a writer.

For a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, this kind of cognition is really frustrating. But Liu Zhiqiang’s mentality is good, and he hasn’t been down for long. The college entrance examination has also entered the county’s top three.

After going to university, Liu Zhiqiang only took required courses, and spent the rest of the time in the library, eagerly-I also read foreign masterpieces, domestic classics, and the Internet that was just emerging at the time, and compiled information from various publishing houses. Sum up, set a life goal early.

If you don’t have the ability to become a writer, then go to work in a publishing house.

I can’t write a decent book, but I can write a book for a talented author. For Liu Zhiqiang, this is half of his childhood dream.

In his junior year, Zhiqiang Liu came to Xinyun Publishing House for an internship, and never left. From an internship to a trainee editor, to an editor and a responsible editor, he later became the deputy director of the editorial center and now works as the director of the “Mystery” studio. , Manages over sixty people.

A picture of Liu Zhiqiang is hung on the wall of an excellent employee of Xinyun Publishing House. The man in the picture is full of spirits and a touch of youthfulness. It was taken many years ago.

Now Liu Zhiqiang is no longer youthful, and even his vitality is almost exhausted.

In the past few years, the publishing industry has been difficult to do. Xinyun Publishing House has left many people, and some of the others rushed forward with a suffocation, and some were lingering on a donkey to find a horse. Liu Zhiqiang is considered half of the former and half of the latter.

Six or seven years ahead, when Liu Zhiqiang was still a responsible editor in the editing center, it was the best time for the publishing industry. Liu Zhiqiang devoted himself to his work and successively released more than ten best-selling books.

It’s a pity that good times don’t always exist, and people’s mind and body are easily worn down in the heavy work day after day.

After more than ten years of ups and downs, the lofty ambitions of that year have long since disappeared. Now Liu Zhiqiang is wearing a shirt and trousers standing in the middle of a crowd of black and green lights, his image is simply a typical “community animal”.

The green light was on, and he was still wandering. The “community animals” beside him and behind him rushed across the road like a flood. He shuddered suddenly in the dog days, and then he hurriedly opened his legs and walked forward quickly. go with.

This is the morning peak. He should be the first to check in as in the past. He spent a busy day in the studio, asking about the work of each group, meeting to formulate the main points of work for the new week, going to the leadership office to lower his head to accept criticism, and then symbolically criticize I clicked, and finally finished the day’s work after the subway had closed. After a ten-minute daze, I turned off the lights in the studio and left silently.

But now, carrying a briefcase, he went to McDonald’s, which was serving breakfast.

He took a field leave and didn’t need to go to the publishing house to check in.

Since learning that the police are investigating the heart of the tomb, he has been anxious and confused from time to time. He has been in various bookstores in Los Angeles under the name of going out for several days.

This was not an unusual move. The staff of the publishing house should have maintained a good relationship with the bookstore. After the books that were handled on the market, the editor in charge would soak in the bookstore to observe the sales situation and put some pressure on the bookstore. Strive to put your own book on the most conspicuous booth.

However, Liu Zhiqiang has long been the backbone of Xinyun Publishing House and the director of the “Mystery” studio. This kind of field work is supposed to be unnecessary. He didn’t often go to bookstores in the past.

If something is abnormal, it must be suspicious.

Mingshu went to Xinyun Publishing House twice, and both times coincided with Liu Zhiqiang’s outing. Last time, Ming Shu had other things to be busy, so he could only let it go, but this time he came to Liu Zhiqiang, just waiting, but also waiting for people.

The police came frequently, and the employees were somewhat nervous, with a bit of thought to watch the show. Some people had even begun to gloat. The publishing house was going to cut grassroots staff in the second half of the year. The police came several times in a short period of time. It must be someone One or a few editors are responsible for a problem with the book, and the colleague “turns over”, so he just sits firmly in his position.

Ming Shu went around in the “Mystery” studio and chatted with a few young employees about Liu Zhiqiang.

They were playing officialdom in anxious manner, and no one dared to say that their boss was not.

Ming Shu looked at the time and knocked on the office door of Sun Sha, deputy director of the studio.

Sun Sha is older than Liu Zhiqiang, in her forties, with a round face and obvious dark circles, and she looks very tired.

Seeing Mingshu sitting in front of her, her heavy eyelids tucked, she stood up awkwardly and took a paper cup, “I’ll pour you a glass of water.”

“No.” Ming Shu didn’t look away from her face, his voice was slightly cold, “I don’t drink white water.”

Sun Sha was already standing by the drinking fountain, and she had an awkward meal, “This…this way.”

Ming Shu pointed his chin to the opposite side of the desk, “Liu Zhiqiang is not there. I can only ask you some questions for the time being.”

The office is full of air-conditioning, and Sun Sha wears a silk scarf that women of her age often wear on her shoulders.

On the way back to her seat, she tightened the hem of the silk scarf several times, and her double chin became more prominent as she swallowed her saliva.

Ming Shu saw all her small movements in his eyes, and asked bluntly: “Have you read the book in the heart of the tomb?”

“Guo Xian is responsible for the heart of the tomb.” Sun Sha looked down at her hand.

“Don’t evade my question.” Ming Shu said: “I didn’t ask you who the editor in charge of Tomb Heart is, I am asking-have you read the Tomb Heart book?”

Sun Sha’s fingers touched faster, her cheeks flushed, “No.”

“No?” Ming Shu said, “But I just saw the work process posted on the wall in the large office outside. Any book published by your studio, regardless of the editor in charge, the director and the three deputy directors It must be read.”

Sun Sha raised her head, her eyes full of panic.

“You obviously read the book in the heart of the tomb, but you lied to me that you haven’t read it.” Ming Shu said: “Then I can only think that there is a problem with the book in the heart of the tomb. It was published for several reasons.”

Sun Sha shook her head, “No, that’s not the case.”

Ming Shu leaned forward, resting his right forearm on the desk, staring at Sun Sha sternly, but did not immediately speak.

This time is as long as one minute.

It wasn’t until Sun Sha’s shoulders wrapped in the silk scarf trembling visibly, he asked: “Then tell me what the facts are. I think your reaction just now must be an insider, but may not be a decision maker. You are just the deputy director. You know something wrong, but you can’t do anything about it, right?”

Sun Sha’s eyes suddenly turned red, the lines on the corners of her eyes trembled slightly, and her mouth opened several times, but she couldn’t speak.

“Don’t be nervous, think about it.” Ming Shu pressed down with his right hand to show that he has time and patience.

Three minutes later, Sun Sha finally said, “It has nothing to do with me. It was signed by Liu Zhiqiang. I reminded him that he would not listen.”

Ming Shu’s index finger clicked on the table, “It seems that there is a real problem. Madam Sun, please calm down first, and then tell me clearly where the problem is.”

Sun Sha’s lips moved frequently, and she was hesitating and struggling.

Ming Shu put the certificate on the table and reminded: “Paper wraps can’t keep the fire out. If I don’t get a clue, I won’t come to your studio again and again. You tell the truth now, it’s better than we check it through other channels. The truth.”

“I said, I said!” Sun Sha made up his mind and threw all the silk scarves aside. “Director Liu was too aggressive, and the main responsibility for this matter lies with him. Guo Xian is a young man with a bold and avant-garde mindset, not just looking down on him. The problem in the book from the heart of the tomb is that as long as the writing is good and the story is fascinating, it can be published and profitable. In fact, this is not correct. The publisher has the social morality and responsibility of the publisher, and the book of the heart of the tomb is not suitable for publishing at all! ”

Ming Shu nodded at the right time.

“You are a layman, you may not be able to imagine the extent to which a vivid story can affect the reader.” Sun Sha continued: “The heart of the tomb is a very talented author. The characters in his works are all alive and bloody. Yes, he extols the pure violence in the dark, and infinitely magnifies one of the shortcomings of ordinary people to the extent that they must accept sanctions, and then his protagonist will slaughter this ordinary person in the name of justice.”

Sun Sha stopped, drank her saliva, and continued: “The heart of the tomb is very smart. What he wrote is not evil over justice, but evil, extreme, and darkness are packaged as justice. In his book, the protagonist kills a small criminal. The wrong person, not only is not a crime, but will be praised and sought after. He whitewashes the act of killing as a “demon hunting”, and uses the power of words to magnify the small mistakes of ordinary people to unforgivable sins. This is enough to be impetuous. The society has aroused great resonance. When I first wrote his manuscript, I knew that as long as his book goes on the market, it will inevitably attract a large number of readers. Sometimes writing can be a weapon. Our publishing house has always been reviewing manuscripts. System, this is not to cater to the policy above, but to adhere to the social responsibility of the publisher. The book at the heart of the tomb does not meet our publishing requirements.”

“But it has become a bestseller.” Ming Shu said.

Sun Sha shook her head lightly, her face full of helplessness.

For a moment, she stretched out her hands and covered her face, as if she was in a late confession.

“Director Liu used to be an intern with me. As an editor, he is very capable, and he has risen faster than me. Now he has become my boss.” Sun Sha sighed, “He is considered an old publisher, Guo Xian can’t see it. He can actually see the problems. He knows that the views conveyed by the heart of the tomb are extremely extreme and powerfully provocative, but in order to cater to the current market needs, it can also be said to be speculation. Turn one eye and shut one. Eyes, let the book with almost no revisions be published directly, and deliberately put forward the particularly extreme points in the book and displayed it on the cover.”

Ming Shu said: “Some people deserve to die?”

Sun Sha wiped her sweat, “Yes, that’s the sentence, but more than that. Many things expressed in the heart of the tomb will resonate with readers, sell well, but also affect potential criminals. We…”

Seeing that Sun Sha suddenly couldn’t continue, Ming Shu waited for a while and asked, “What are you doing?”

Sun Sha smiled bitterly, got up and looked out the window, her expression very lonely.

“I came to Xinyun to work at the age of 20. My teacher told me that publishers must have their own attitude and sense of responsibility. Some books that distort facts and reverse black and white, no matter how attractive the plot is, and the words are impeccable, they cannot be published. We can’t control other publishing houses, but we can control our own conscience. I have been doing this for so many years of work. I once felt that I was worthy of my teacher, my readers, and my life. But…” Sun Shah paused, “In recent years, many young people have attacked us and called us running dogs. We insisted on the social responsibility of publishers, is it wrong to insist on it?”

Mingshu didn’t know much about this line and couldn’t give Sun Sha an objective answer.

Sun Sha quickly cleared up her emotions, “Forget it, let’s not talk about it. Let’s go back to the heart of the tomb. This is not the first time we have received a manuscript like the heart of the tomb. We had it three or four years ago, but the results were processed. Both-either suggest that the author amend part of the content or not publish it.”

Ming Shu said: “Liu Zhiqiang suddenly ignored the regulations and responsibilities. What is the reason?”

“What else is the reason? The operating pressure?” Sun Sha sighed. “The publishing industry is getting worse and worse. The group calls for transformation all the time, splitting the old editing center, and setting up relatively independent studios. The operating requirements placed on our studio are particularly demanding. If the published books cannot make money, the studio may disband at any time. Our directors and deputy directors will not be unemployed, but it’s hard to say for the new young employees. Director Liu I want to fight. The book in the heart of the tomb is very eye-catching. The evil in the text has already put on the coat of justice. On the surface, it expresses punishment and elimination of evil, which is very sunny. With Director Liu’s ability, he only needs to do a little bit up and down. It’s easy to pass the last review. But it’s ignoring the publisher’s social responsibility. I always disagree, but I’m just a deputy, and he is the principal. He insists on doing it. Even if I don’t sign, he can still do it. .”

Ming Shu understood, and finally understood why Liu Zhiqiang was so flustered when he first met Liu Zhiqiang.

Fang Yuanhang stopped Liu Zhiqiang at a bookstore. After Liu Zhiqiang decided to publish the book in the heart of the tomb, he was under tremendous psychological pressure. When he saw the police, his emotions collapsed instantly and he knelt on the ground and cried.

Fang Yuanhang was all crying.

“It’s my fascination for a while, and it’s all my responsibility.” In the city bureau’s inquiry room, Liu Zhiqiang kept his head down. “At that time, the reality and suspense we published were all responding to the suspense, and readers were less and less buying it. Suspense oriented. Readers, in fact, most of the readers want to see something more exciting and sharp. If there are no prominent contradictions in the book, it will be difficult to grasp the reader’s heart. The manuscript submitted by the heart of the tomb has no good intentions in the whole article, inverting good and evil, and doing their best Praising violence and highlighting all contradictions does not meet our publishing regulations, but it will certainly attract the attention of readers.”

As he said, Liu Zhiqiang covered his eyes and rubbed vigorously, “The task was given to me. If there is no more topical book, part of the studio will be disbanded. I…I can only temporarily lay down the publisher’s Social responsibility.”

“But you have more than one copy.” Ming Shu said, “It’s because of the sweetness, isn’t it?”

Liu Zhiqiang buried his head lower, “His books are selling very well. Although he is a farmer with little schooling, he is a writing genius. I am jealous of him and envy him. He has too much that I don’t have. Talent. People like me can only make wedding dresses for him forever. Because of him, our studio has been favored by the leaders of the group. Later, we published several best-selling books one after another, and barely gained a foothold in many studios. Heel. But when I saw a lot of readers discussing’some people deserve to die’, I saw young people quoting the views in the book, thinking that old people who **** seats should die, babies who cry, should die, and leave children alone. When my parents should die, I was scared, really scared. I worry that sooner or later some of these readers will be affected by the heart of the tomb and kill people in the name of’some people deserve to die.'”

Ming Shu said: “Such people have already appeared.”

Liu Zhiqiang was full of annoyance, and his two arms were trembling, “I guessed it, otherwise you will not come to investigate the tomb core and investigate our publishing house. We will recall all the books in the tomb core, but the social impact caused, I, I……”

“You can’t eliminate it anymore.” Ming Shu said coldly.

Repressed crying erupted in the interrogation room, coming from the half-open door, echoing in the corridor.

“My book violates the rules?” After removing the mask of disguise, Hou Cheng is no longer dumb. At this time, he, like the paranoid and crazy protagonist in each of his books, despises everything, “Why does the Xinyun Publishing House accept me? What about the submission? I’m just a writer, I write books, not kill people. What era is it that writers are not allowed to express their ideas freely? Xinyun now says that my book does not meet their publishing regulations, but Why did you want me to publish it at that time? I also deliberately put the most shocking sentences in the book on the cover. I don’t know anything.”

Ming Shu said: “You will really excuse yourself.”

“This is not an excuse. If you don’t understand, I’ll explain it to you. I always have the right to explain, right?” Hou Cheng smiled, “Now suddenly I have to withdraw my book, okay, but Xinyun must pay me The liquidated damages written in the contract. Let me say it again, I am just a book writer, and I am not responsible for the readers. Someone read my book and kills people with a sentence in my book. This is beyond my control. The wicked want to kill A person can find ten thousand reasons. I have read my book, but it is only one of ten thousand reasons. If my book really has the power to deceive people, now…”

Hou Cheng’s eyes suddenly burst into a cold and crazy light, “Now all over the country, I don’t know how many’demon hunting’ murders have occurred!”

Ming Shu’s pupils shrank.

The whole country!

In the previous analysis, he had not thought of the concept of the whole country.

The café homicide case and the college dormitory homicide case. Both of these homicides occurred in Dongye City. The murderer has been determined and the motive for the crime is very clear. According to common sense, these two cases can already be closed.

It was Lu Kun who suddenly said the heart of the tomb, and Li Hongmei read the book on the heart of the tomb before he started investigating the heart of the tomb.

What about in other cities?

Have readers affected by the heart of the tomb have been involved in homicides, and the so-called “demon hunting” has already been carried out all over the country?

Because the murderer was certain, no police in any city found the heart of the tomb?

After all, as the heart of the tomb said, he is just a writer and he cannot determine the behavior of the readers. If the police spends a lot of time to check the heart of the tomb because the murderer reads the book of the heart of the tomb, it would be a fuss, and may even be labelled by public opinion as “not doing business. “”, “Fart out freely”, “Don’t do what should be done” and other hats.

And he was able to come to Los Angeles to grasp the line of the heart of the tomb, it was Xiao Yuan who gave him strong support.

Ming Shu’s heartbeat gradually accelerated. Looking at Hou Cheng again, he saw the other party smiling triumphantly, looking like “What can you do for me”.

“The evidence we have so far cannot really take Hou Cheng.” Xiao Yuan pressed his forehead, “It is the only thing we can do to let Xinyun Publishing House recall the books on the market.”

“I’m not reconciled!” After working for a long time, Ming Shu’s eyes became more red, and his throat became hoarse. “He consciously guides the reader. He knows what he is doing, so he fakes an identity. If he doesn’t know his own identity at all. What social impact might it bring, and why does he engage in those reversals?”

“Yes, we all know that he is deliberately guiding readers, especially hostile young readers, but this cannot be used as evidence.” Xiao Yuan said, “He is fully capable of shifting the responsibility to Xinyun Publishing House, and he holds it in his hand. It’s a pen, not a knife, or a gun.”

“But the pen can also kill people!” Ming Shu said, “Do we want him to kill people before we can…”

Xiao Yuan turned his head, “Huh?”

“Really killed…” Ming Shu murmured, while pressing his temple firmly.

A certain part of my head suddenly hurts, as if some missing thoughts are about to come out.

“What’s the matter?” Xiao Yuan walked over, pressing his palm against the back of his neck and kneading gently.

“What if Hou Cheng really killed someone?” Ming Shu raised his head abruptly, “Before we suspected that Hou Cheng was killed by the heart of the tomb when we thought that there was someone else in the heart of the tomb, what about now? Young man, hasn’t he been killed by Hou Cheng long ago?”

Xiao Yuan squinted his eyes, his face solemn.

The office suddenly became extremely quiet, and Ming Shu stood motionless in the same place, among the electric light and flint, and finally caught the thought that flashed by in the basement of Hou Cheng’s home.

“I see!” He gave a heavy hand.

Xiao Yuan asked: “What?”

“The smell in the basement of Hou Cheng’s house is very unpleasant. We found many completely rotten watermelons. Fang Yuanhang asked me why there are watermelons in the basement. I also told him that the basement has a low temperature and is a good place to store watermelons.” Ming Shu Excited: “I overlooked one thing-although the basement is a good place to store watermelons, after the watermelons rot, Hou Cheng should clean them out instead of leaving them in it! The basement is also his home, he doesn’t have it. The reason is only to clean the two floors on the ground, regardless of the cleanliness of the basement! He left the watermelon in it to cover up another smell with the rotten smell of the watermelon! There must be a secret in that basement!”