Chapter 116: The Village of Shadows

2022-05-20

We’d already been in Yumu City for over two months, and this was the first time we’d heard of someone finding a corpse. We’d gotten calls about deaths before, but every time we arrived on the scene, the so-called ‘dead’ person was perfectly fine. Folks just wanted us to hurry over, that’s all.

But judging from the urgency in the caller’s voice this time, something serious had finally happened.

The informant said a body had been found in Tougouzi Village—a woman’s corpse.

It was buried beneath the deep snow. A villager walking by happened to spot a foot sticking out, and rushed over to check. He saw red nail polish on the toes. When he touched the foot, it was already frozen solid.

Night was falling, so he didn’t dare drag the corpse out by himself. He called the police right away and then hurried home.

Now, we were in the car heading for Tougouzi Village. None of us knew the way, so Captain Zhou drove and led us. Another car followed behind. Nearly the whole team was along for this one—Captain Zhou called it a great opportunity to practice our skills.

But the moment he finished saying that, a worried frown settled on his face.

Noticing his expression, I asked, “Captain Zhou, what’s wrong? You look uneasy. Do you have any concerns about this case?”

The roads were slick with snow, especially out here on the edge of town, where hardly any vehicles ever passed. The snow just piled up. Captain Zhou drove slowly, unwilling to risk an accident. Where the headlights landed, we didn’t see another car or a single soul.

Outside, the wind howled through the darkness, making us feel like we were traveling in another world.

It was so quiet, almost eerily so—no hint of human life anywhere. No wonder the informant called in the location and ran home without waiting.

Captain Zhou sighed, then began, “You know, ordinary folks don’t dare visit Tougouzi Village.”

His voice was low and somber, so much so that it felt like I was listening to a ghost story. But his words piqued all our curiosity.

I leaned in, interested. “Why’s that?”

“Tougouzi Village,” he explained slowly, “Outsiders like you wouldn’t know, but around here everyone calls it the Disabled Village.”

“Disabled Village?” Guan Zengbin tilted his head.

Captain Zhou nodded and lowered his voice even more. “That’s right. The Disabled Village. The people there… every last one of them has a disability. Some are missing arms or legs, some have only one eye, some are deaf or mute. There isn’t a single person in that village like us—fully able-bodied.”

His words gave me a strange feeling. I asked, “Everyone in the village?”

“Yep,” Captain Zhou said. “There are maybe a hundred, a hundred and eighty households, over two hundred people. All the same.”

I didn’t mean any disrespect to disabled people, but after listening, I couldn’t shake the sense that something was off.

Seeing we’d fallen silent, Captain Zhou continued, “I was born and raised in Yumu City. I grew up hearing about that village. You know how local parents scare their kids? Lots of folks say, ‘Be good, or I’ll send you to the Disabled Village.’ One threat and the kids behave immediately.”

“But why did they all end up living together like that?” Gu Chen asked.

“I couldn’t tell you,” Captain Zhou replied. “I’m over thirty and heard about it as a little kid. The elders used to say Tougouzi was just a regular village once. Then, for some reason, more and more disabled folks ended up there, maybe just a kind of clustering effect.”

Gu Chen lifted his chin. “Maybe it’s that birds of a feather flock together. If everyone there had a disability, they could look out for each other. Still, a whole village… it’s hard to wrap your head around.”

Captain Zhou nodded. “Exactly. That’s why most people get creeped out just thinking about that place. Then again, it’s turned into something of a curiosity—some tourists even visit just to see it. But at this time of year, I doubt anyone outside is coming.”

We’d been driving for nearly an hour and still hadn’t arrived. Out the window, endless snow-covered fields raced past. Between earth and sky, a sharp line divided the world—the ground a pale white, the sky black as ink.

Tougouzi Village, a place made up entirely of disabled residents. The world truly has its share of strangeness. I’d never even heard of such a place until now. A creeping, indescribable unease settled in. I wondered if the corpse beneath the snow was also someone with a disability.

The crunch of our tires over fresh snow was muffled, mixing with the low rumble of the engine and the distant howl of the northern wind. The heater blasted inside, making the car comfortably warm. I almost felt like dozing off.

The two cars drove single file, heading deeper into the village.

Another hour crawled by before we finally reached our destination.

It was around nine at night, and every home had already locked their doors. Only the old streetlamps on either side of the narrow road shone dimly. Judging from their weathered look, they’d seen many winters.

“People go to bed early here,” I couldn’t help but remark.

Captain Zhou gave a quick laugh. “This isn’t Dongxing City—folks turn in early here. But I already contacted the village, and someone’s supposed to meet us and lead us to where the body was found. It’s near the entrance…”

He stopped the car as he spoke. “I’ll go look. It’s cold out, so just stay in the car.”

But I got out at the same time as he did.

He looked at me. “Why’d you get out? You’ll freeze.”

I shook my head, smiling. “Zhou, I’m from Dongxing City, but I work the front lines. This is nothing. Besides, we’re looking for a corpse—we can’t do that from inside a car.”

Soon, everyone else followed us out. Although technically still early winter, this year felt especially cold. Even bundled in thick coats, we had to stamp our feet and rub our hands just to keep warm. Captain Zhou had said someone would lead us to the scene, but so far, not a shadow in sight.

While we waited and peered into the village, someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder from behind. The shock made me whip around—and the sight nearly made me cry out.

I was staring into a face—a face with just one eye.

His features were twisted, slabbed with thick burns, flesh turned outwards, scars running wild. Where his right eye should’ve been, there was only a gaping black hole. The left eye, cloudy and dull, roamed over me unblinking. I’d seen plenty over the years, but even so, the suddenness and horror nearly made me shout.

After a breath, I pulled myself together and got a better look at him. The scars on his face were old burns, leaving his skin dried and ridged like a mountain range. He didn’t have lips anymore—they’d all been burned away.

Without lips, his upper and lower teeth showed whenever he moved.

His mouth finally spoke. “Come.”

As he talked, I saw his torn skin at the mouth twisting with effort under the streetlight. It was clear that saying even a single word brought him a lot of pain. That’s probably why, after that simple “Come,” he fell silent.

Captain Zhou hurried over. Taking a good look at him, he asked, “You’re Old Xia, right? The chief sent you to show us the way? The informant told you?”

So this was Old Xia. He nodded.

Captain Zhou studied him but didn’t comment on his appearance. Instead, he said, “Alright, why don’t you sit in the passenger seat and direct us. Just speak up when we get there, okay?”

Old Xia nodded again.

Gu Chen, Guan Zengbin, and I took the back seat. Old Xia took the front, pointed ahead, then closed his only eye, as if to rest. Through the rearview mirror, we watched this strange man in silence, wondering what kind of life had led to such scars.

He wore a battered old military coat patched in a dozen places—looked about as timeworn as he was.

Captain Zhou began driving again.

Old Xia pointed us toward the opposite end of the village, so at least we hadn’t gone out of our way before. I’d wanted to ask about whoever first found the body, but seeing how he was, I thought better of it.

This really was a Village of the Disabled, living up to its name.

We drove for a while, Old Xia still resting with his eye shut. Captain Zhou, worried we might overshoot the spot, checked with him several times, but each time all Old Xia did was point straight ahead, saying nothing. After three or four tries, Captain Zhou seemed a little frustrated.

He clicked his tongue. “Old Xia, you really need to work with us here. This is your village, maybe you even know the victim. Keeping your eyes closed, how will you find the body? Don’t tell me you fell asleep, Old Xia?”

But Old Xia kept his eye closed, not answering.

Captain Zhou grumbled as he drove. “Come on, Old Xia, say something will you? We’ve been at this for half an hour already. Are we there yet or not?”

Just as he was about to complain again, Old Xia suddenly spoke. “Stop!”

The voice was rough, almost a shout, startling Captain Zhou so much he nearly slammed on the brakes.

Old Xia had already opened the door and stepped out.

Captain Zhou scowled. “Old Xia never says a word until it’s like an explosion. Nearly made me drive into the ditch…”