Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
A Man's Convenience Leads to Murdering His Mother and Injuring His Sister
墨書 Inktalez
In the spring of 2001, in a small mountain village in Shaoyang, Hunan, 54-year-old Li Guihua received a letter from her son, Luo Qiang, who was working in Shenzhen.
The letter was brief, just a few lines: "Mom, I’m out now. I’m working in Shenzhen and life is okay. Don’t worry."
Li Guihua understood what her son meant by "out." Luo Qiang had been sentenced to three years for theft and had just been released.
"Qiangzi is finally out," Li Guihua murmured to the letter, tears streaming down her face. She believed her son had truly turned over a new leaf. In the days that followed, Luo Qiang would send a little money home every now and then. Although it wasn’t much, it proved that he was working diligently.
Neighbors would say, "Guihua, your Qiangzi has really changed this time. It’s not easy to stand firm in such a big place like Shenzhen."
Just when Li Guihua thought everything was heading in a positive direction, she received a heartbreaking phone call.
"Hello, is this Li Guihua? I’m a friend of your son Luo Qiang," came the voice of an unfamiliar man on the other end.
"Yes, it is. What happened to Qiangzi?" Li Guihua asked anxiously.
"Your son... he’s back in jail. This time it’s for fighting. But it’s not a big deal; he’ll probably be out in ten days or half a month."
Upon hearing this, Li Guihua felt her legs go weak and nearly collapsed. "How could this happen? Didn’t he say he was doing well at work?"
"Don’t worry too much, sister. Qiangzi isn’t a bad person; he just has poor judgment in friends and can be impulsive. He asked me to call you because he didn’t want you to worry."
After hanging up the phone, Li Guihua sat in her yard and cried all night long. She couldn’t understand how her once obedient son, Luo Qiang, had turned into this.
In October 2001, Li Guihua finally made a decision.
"I’m going to Shenzhen to see Qiangzi," she told her neighbor Aunt Wang.
"Guihua, what are you going to do in Shenzhen? You’re just an old woman from the countryside; that place is unfamiliar to you. What if something happens?" Aunt Wang advised her.
"I can’t trust that Qiangzi is okay on his own out there; I’m worried he might go down the wrong path again," Li Guihua insisted firmly.
"But you don’t even know where he lives!"
"I have his address; it was left when he sent money last time. It’s 43 Lane, Puwei Road, Futian District; I remember it clearly."
Seeing the determination in Li Guihua's eyes, Aunt Wang knew she couldn’t dissuade her: "Just be careful; there are many scammers in big cities like Shenzhen."
Li Guihua sold two pigs from her farm and borrowed some money to gather enough for travel expenses. She packed an old canvas bag with a few changes of clothes and some local specialties from home.
"Qiangzi loves my pickled vegetables; I have to bring him some," she muttered to herself as she packed.
In mid-November, Li Guihua boarded a train heading south. This was her first time leaving her hometown, her first train ride, and her first visit to a big city.
On the train, she tightly clutched the canvas bag, her heart filled with thoughts of soon seeing her son.
"Qiang will definitely be very happy to see me."
After two days and nights of bumpy travel, Li Guihua finally arrived at No. 43, Puwai Road, Futian District, Shenzhen. She was stunned by the sight before her.
It was a dilapidated urban village, with narrow, dirty alleys littered with garbage. No. 43 was even worse—a crumbling building with a foul smell wafting through the stairwell. The living conditions here were worse than in the countryside.
Li Guihua climbed to the third floor and found the room rented by Luo Qiang. After hesitating for a moment, she knocked on the iron door.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Luo Qiang opened the door, surprised to see his mother, his tone laced with obvious displeasure.
"Qiang, I miss you, so I came to see you," Li Guihua forced a smile as she stepped into the less-than-10-square-meter room. Her heart sank completely.
The room contained little more than a bed and a table; there was hardly any decent furniture. The walls were plastered with pictures of women she couldn't understand, and the floor was strewn with cigarette butts and empty bottles.
"Qiang, you live in a place like this?"
"Mom, rent is expensive in Shenzhen; having a place to stay is already good enough," Luo Qiang avoided his mother's gaze.
Li Guihua's decision to stay in Shenzhen made Luo Qiang's expression darken instantly.
"Mom, stop messing around; this place isn't suitable for you. You should go back home; I'm doing just fine on my own," he said impatiently.
"What do you mean messing around? I'm your mother; it's my duty to take care of you," Li Guihua stood her ground without any intention of backing down.
She thought her son was just embarrassed; after all, it was somewhat shameful for a grown man to be taken care of by his mother. She silently tidied up the messy room, clearing away the cigarette butts and bottles from the floor and washing her son's dirty clothes.
"Qiang, look! Mom cleaned up the room; doesn’t it feel much better?" Li Guihua said with a beaming smile.
Looking at the now tidy room only made Luo Qiang more irritable. He knew that with his mother around, he couldn't be as free as before.
Li Guihua settled in and made a makeshift bed in the corner—at least she had somewhere to sleep. However, she soon realized that Luo Qiang's lifestyle was completely different from hers. He would sleep until noon every day and often returned home late at night, carrying various strange odors.
"Qiang, where do you go at night? Why do you come back so late?" Li Guihua asked worriedly.
"Mom, don't worry about it; I have my own things to deal with," Luo Qiang replied impatiently.
"What are you doing out so late? Are you hanging out with those shady people again?"
"I told you not to interfere!" Luo Qiang suddenly exploded. "Why are you so annoying? I'm grown up now; I don't need you controlling everything!"
Li Guihua was startled by her son's outburst, but she refused to back down. As a mother, she felt it was her responsibility to steer her son back onto the right path.
In the days that followed, the conflict between mother and son intensified. Li Guihua discovered that Luo Qiang didn't have a stable job, and the sources of his money were suspicious.
One night, while Li Guihua was sleeping in a corner, she suddenly heard laughter from outside the door.
"Qiangzi, do you have someone else at home?" a woman's voice drifted in.
"It's nothing; it's my mom. She's sleeping soundly and won't wake up," Luo Qiang replied in a hushed tone.
Lying on the floor with her back turned, she listened to the various sounds coming from the bed and couldn't sleep a wink all night.
The next morning, after the woman left, Li Guihua could no longer hold back.
"Qiangzi, who was that person you brought home last night?" she demanded.
"Mom, stop asking so many questions; this is my private matter."
"Bringing home someone like that is private? Qiangzi, do you even know what you're doing?" Li Guihua said, her anger rising.
"What do you mean by 'someone like that'? They're human too!"
Luo Qiang suddenly became agitated. "Mom, your thinking is too outdated! What era are we living in?"
Li Guihua trembled with anger. "Qiangzi, I carried you for ten months and watched you grow up. Don't I have the right to care about you?"
After this argument, Luo Qiang began to insist that his mother leave Shenzhen.
"Mom, you should go back home. This place really isn't suitable for you, and I need my own space," he stated firmly.
"I'm not leaving," Li Guihua replied just as resolutely. "Qiangzi, with how you're acting now, how can I feel at ease leaving?"
"What's wrong with how I'm acting? I haven't stolen or robbed anyone; I just want to live my own life!"
"Bringing those women home and spending money on them—do you think that's a normal life?" Li Guihua finally voiced her true feelings.
Hearing this, Luo Qiang's face turned pale with anger. "Mom, have you been following me?"
"I haven't followed you, but anyone can see what you're doing. Qiangzi, you don't even have a proper job!"
"Since you know that, why don't you just give me some money?" Luo Qiang said bluntly.
"What would I give you money for? You don't have anything legitimate to do."
"Mom, I really need it urgently; hurry up." Luo Qiang was growing impatient.
Seeing her son's demeanor, Li Guihua thought it best not to escalate things further. "Alright, but you have to promise me not to do those things anymore."
"I promise, I promise," Luo Qiang quickly nodded in agreement.
But Li Guihua found that he had not only not changed, but had become even more reckless.
On a night in early December, Luo Qiang once again insisted that his mother leave. This time, his tone was more resolute than ever.
"Mom, I’ll say this one last time: you must go back to our hometown. I've already bought you a train ticket; you leave tomorrow." Luo Qiang slammed the ticket down on the table.
"I’m not going! Qiangzi, I beg you, let me stay and take care of you, okay? I really can’t rest easy seeing you like this." Li Guihua knelt before her son.
Looking at his mother kneeling on the floor, a flicker of complex emotions crossed Luo Qiang's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger.
"You’re not leaving, huh? Fine, then don’t blame me for being rude!"
These words became the last exchange between the mother and son.
---
On the night of December 4, 2001, at 11 PM, Luo Qiang returned to the tiny ten-square-meter rental room. He reeked of alcohol, clearly having drunk quite a bit.
Li Guihua was sitting by the bed mending her son's clothes. Upon seeing him return, she quickly set down her needle and thread.
"Qiangzi, you’re back? Have you eaten? I saved some food for you."
Luo Qiang didn’t respond; he simply sat down in a chair with a sullen face. After a moment, he suddenly spoke up: "Mom, you have to leave tomorrow."
"Qiangzi, didn’t we already talk about this? I’m not going anywhere." Li Guihua’s tone remained gentle, but her attitude was firm.
"I said you must go!" Luo Qiang’s voice suddenly rose loudly, startling Li Guihua.
She thought her son was just agitated from drinking. She tried to soothe him: "Qiangzi, you’ve been drinking; just rest for now. We can talk about it tomorrow."
"No! We need to settle this today!"
Luo Qiang stood up and walked over to his mother. "Mom, I’ll ask you one last time: are you leaving or not?"
Li Guihua looked into her son’s bloodshot eyes and felt a pang of fear in her heart, but she still shook her head: "Qiangzi, I can’t leave. I can’t rest easy with you like this."
"That’s none of your business!"
Luo Qiang’s emotions grew more intense. "What’s wrong with bringing women home? What’s wrong with paying for it? It’s my freedom!"
Tears welled up in Li Guihua's eyes. "You’re my son; how can I not feel hurt seeing you like this?"
"Hurt? Then just go back to our hometown; out of sight, out of mind!"
"I’m not going!" Li Guihua suddenly raised her voice; it was the first time she had spoken so loudly to her son. "Qiangzi, let me tell you: unless I’m dead, I will never leave!"
Hearing this made Luo Qiang's face darken even further.
"Mom, why can’t you understand? I need my own space!" Luo Qiang's voice now carried a clear threat.
"The space you're talking about is just about bringing those women home? Qiangzi, I’m begging you; please stop degrading yourself like this," Li Guihua cried out.
"I didn't ruin myself! You are the one ruining my life!" Luo Qiang shouted at his mother, pointing an accusatory finger. "Ever since you came here, I can't do anything! Those women see you here and refuse to come!"
Li Guihua could hardly believe her ears upon hearing this. "Qiangzi, what are you saying? Are you blaming Mom for affecting your chances with women?"
"Yes! That's exactly it!"
Li Guihua completely broke down, pounding her chest as she cried out, "How could Mom give birth to a son like you? Why is my life so miserable?"
Seeing his mother in such a state only fueled Luo Qiang's anger further.
After a moment of silence in the room, Li Guihua thought her son had finally calmed down. She wiped her tears and walked up to Luo Qiang.
But she never expected what happened next.
Luo Qiang suddenly erupted. Clenching his fists, he said fiercely, "Mom, since you refuse to leave, don't blame me!"
"Qiangzi, what do you want to do?" Li Guihua sensed danger and took a few steps back.
Luo Qiang slowly approached a rope hanging in the corner of the room. It was originally used for hanging clothes.
"Qiangzi, what are you doing? Put that down!" Li Guihua shouted in terror.
"Mom, I’ll ask you one last time—are you leaving or not?" Luo Qiang's voice turned eerily calm, a calmness far more terrifying than his earlier rage.
"I won't leave! No matter how you threaten me, I will not go!" Despite her fear, Li Guihua's attitude remained resolute.
Those words completely enraged the already irrational Luo Qiang. In that instant, the 26-year-old man was no longer Li Guihua's son; he had transformed into a complete demon.
"Fine! Since you won't leave, then never leave again!"
Luo Qiang raised the rope in his hand and lunged at his own mother.
Li Guihua never imagined her son would actually turn violent against her. She barely had time to let out a scream: "Qiangzi, are you crazy?"
That was the last sentence Li Guihua would ever speak in her life.
Time froze at 2:30 AM on December 5, 2001.
At 2:30 AM, Li Guihua ceased to breathe. In the cramped ten-square-meter rental unit, only Luo Qiang remained, along with the cold body lying on the floor.
Luo Qiang stood there in a daze, staring at his mother’s lifeless form on the ground.
The room was terrifyingly quiet, with only his rapid breathing breaking the silence. It seemed he had not fully grasped what he had done.
"Mom? Mom?" Luo Qiang called softly.
Reality began to crash into Luo Qiang's mind. He had killed his mother, the person who loved him most in this world. Yet strangely, alongside the panic, there was a twisted sense of relief.
"Finally, it's quiet." This was the first thought that popped into Luo Qiang's mind.
He chose neither to call the police nor to run away. Instead, he paced back and forth in the room, his mind racing with various thoughts. Most prominently, he imagined the freedom of being able to bring women home without any restrictions.
"No one is going to control me anymore; I can do whatever I want," Luo Qiang thought, a smile even creeping onto his lips.
Around 4:00 AM, Luo Qiang suddenly remembered something—he needed money. At that moment, he thought of his sister, Luo Ling, who lived nearby.
Luo Ling was 28 years old and worked in a factory. Her relationship with her brother was not good; she had long disapproved of Luo Qiang's lifestyle and had often advised their mother not to indulge him too much.
At 4:40 AM, Luo Qiang left his rented room and arrived at his sister's place. He knocked gently on the door.
"Who is it?" Luo Ling asked from inside.
"It's me, Qiangzi," Luo Qiang tried to make his voice sound normal.
"What are you doing here so late?" Although puzzled, Luo Ling opened the door.
Seeing her brother standing outside, Luo Ling noticed something was off about him. "Qiangzi, what's wrong? You look terrible."
"Sis, I've run into some trouble and need some money," Luo Qiang stated directly.
"What trouble? And where's Mom? Why didn't she come with you?" Luo Ling asked.
"Mom is sleeping at home; it's nothing serious."
"How much do you need?" Although she felt some dissatisfaction towards her brother, being family made her want to help him.
"Not much—three thousand yuan will do," Luo Qiang replied.
"Three thousand? What on earth happened that you need so much money?" Luo Ling became alert.
Faced with his sister's probing questions, Luo Qiang began to feel impatient again. The violent emotions from just having killed his mother surged back within him.
"Sis, stop asking so many questions and just tell me if you have the money," Luo Qiang's tone turned slightly threatening.
"What kind of attitude is that? I'm asking because I care about you," Luo Ling said angrily.
Luo Qiang sneered, "Sis, if you really care about me, just give me the money and stop with the nonsense."
Seeing her brother like this, Luo Ling had a bad premonition. "Qiang, did you do something stupid again?"
This statement completely enraged Luo Qiang. In his eyes, everyone in the world was against him, trying to stop him from living the life he wanted. First it was their mother, and now it was his sister.
"Stupid? What stupid thing did I do?" Luo Qiang's eyes glinted with menace.
"Look at yourself. Do you look like a normal person?" Luo Ling said bluntly. "Qiang, let me tell you, if you don't explain clearly what you need the money for, I won't give you a single cent!"
This remark became the last straw that broke Luo Qiang's sanity. He remembered how their mother had also refused his request just moments ago. And what had he done? He had solved the problem in his own way.
"Sis, since you’re unwilling to give it to me, I'll just take it myself," Luo Qiang said as he suddenly grabbed a kitchen knife.
"Qiang, are you crazy? Put down the knife!" Luo Ling shouted in terror.
But at that moment, Luo Qiang had completely lost control. He raised the knife and wildly swung it at his sister.
"You all don’t understand me! You all want to stop me! Then I’ll make you all shut up!" Luo Qiang yelled as he attacked.
Poor Luo Ling had no chance to defend herself; under her brother's frenzied assault, she was stabbed over thirty times and collapsed in a pool of blood.
After finishing with his sister, Luo Qiang rummaged through her room and found only 1,000 yuan.
At 6:30 AM, a neighbor heard faint groans coming from Luo Ling's room and quickly called the police.
When the police and ambulance arrived on the scene, they found that Luo Ling was still alive and immediately rushed her to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Meanwhile, the police quickly identified Luo Qiang's whereabouts. That morning, he was apprehended while enjoying himself at a massage parlor.
"What are you arresting me for? I haven't done anything wrong," Luo Qiang feigned innocence as he was taken into custody.
"Luo Qiang, you are suspected of intentional homicide and bodily harm. You are under formal arrest," the officer said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Luo Qiang realized that his crimes had been exposed, yet there was not a trace of remorse on his face. This son, once seen as a hope by their mother, ultimately chose a path of no return. And that mother who had gone south to Shenzhen to save him would never return home again.
Comment 0 Comment Count