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The 2019 Yuen Long attack

  Playground Beheading Incident (Part 1)

  Jiang Zihan wandered around, thinking about his own thoughts, and didn't return home until after 8 o'clock. He accompanied his parents to watch the 8 o'clock TV series, and couldn't help but yawn, saying: "The male and female leads take a 2-minute slow-motion shot just for one glance, this is too dragging and boring." His mother, Li Ruo, was an open-minded person, and since summer vacation had started, she didn't force her son to study every day. She also got along well with the librarian at the factory, so she often borrowed some magazines, essays, etc. back home to read. "There are three new magazines that arrived today, all of which you like, on your bedside table."

  Jiang Zihan walked back to his own room, and saw a book about UFO exploration, a reader, and a book called "Know the Sound". He flipped through the UFO exploration book, which was full of mysterious things, then chose a few articles from the reader that were sentimental and romantic. Finally, he picked up "Know the Sound" and flipped through two pages before bursting out loud: "Mom, are you kidding me? This 'Know the Sound' is something I like to read? It's too fake, even more over-the-top than an 8pm TV show!" Li Ruoruo said: "I made a mistake, that book is mine. You should stop talking nonsense and go to sleep, tomorrow I'll wake you up when I get up."

  Jiang Zihan closed the door, turned off the lights and went to sleep. He closed his eyes, praying silently that the dream would come back, at least let him know what the last name was. The sound of the train echoed, the scene in the tunnel flashed by, but the sentence always stopped halfway. Jiang Zihan knew he wasn't asleep, the scenes in his mind were just memories from the day, not a new dream. He opened his eyes, looked at the dark ceiling and sighed, encouraging himself: "No matter what, I want to have a different start, a life that is not filled with 8 o'clock TV dramas, readers, and know-it-alls."

  These years, Li Ruoruo had already formed a biological clock, getting up from bed at 7 o'clock. As usual, her husband was on his way to work. She pushed open the door and was surprised to find her son sitting on the sofa. "Mom, I bought you breakfast, soy milk and fried dough sticks, classic combination." Li Ruoruo rubbed her eyes and said, "The sun is rising from the west?" Jiang Zihan solemnly announced: "Mom, I'm going to change." Li Ruoruo laughed and said, "Are you Sun Wukong?" Jiang Zihan timely flattered: "I am the 72 changes, but even if I changed, I couldn't get out of your palm." Seriously speaking," Jiang Zihan said: "From today on, I decided to start exercising in the morning, going to the school playground. I'm telling you." Li Ruoruo was still a bit sleepy and not quite used to her son getting up at 6 o'clock during summer vacation, so she casually said: "Exercise is a good thing, go ahead, be careful."

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  This is the third week that Jiang Zhihan has started exercising. The first week was supported by the initial excitement, and the second week was the most challenging time to test his willpower. After surviving the second week, exercise seemed to have slowly become a habit and naturally became part of his daily routine. Last Sunday, Jiang Zhihan was taken by his mother to pay respects to his grandmother (who passed away 3 years ago) and did not exercise, but felt out of sorts all over. "Huh, people say that taking drugs can be addictive, eating chocolate can be addictive, I didn't expect that exercising would also be addictive," Jiang Zhihan thought to himself.

  The training plan was something Jiang Zihan came up with by slapping his own head, and of course he also looked up two books for reference. Running 10 laps around the school's football field, roughly 3000 meters. Then there were a set of jump ropes, a set of pull-ups, a set of push-ups, and a set of 100-meter short sprints. Endurance, explosive power, and upper limb strength training were all covered. Jiang Zihan thought his plan was perfect, feeling rather pleased with himself. As it turned out, Jiang Zihan, who didn't usually exercise much, had increased his appetite after several weeks, was full of energy every day, and he tested himself and found that he had made significant progress in each event (of course, his original foundation wasn't very good).

  Jiang Zihan also got to know two friends, one of whom was an old man surnamed Yang, who he almost saw every day. After a few days, they would smile and greet each other when they met, and later on, they would occasionally chat for a bit. Jiang Zihan called him Old Man Yang, and Old Man Yang came every day, sometimes earlier, sometimes later, but he never saw him exercising, it seemed like he was just walking around and standing around. Old Man Yang looked quite young from his facial features, looking like he was in his 40s or 50s, but his hair was white. Jiang Zihan was a bit puzzled, but of course, he didn't dare to ask about the other's age, so he privately speculated that maybe it was what people called "youthful white", where one's hair turns white very early.

  Another friend was a peer, named Gu Wangshan. About a week ago, Jiang Zhihan saw a boy of similar age riding a bicycle on the playground. In Zhongzhou, unlike most places in China, bicycles are not commonly used as a means of transportation because of the steep and narrow roads in the mountains. Except for some vegetable vendors who occasionally ride to transport goods into the city, people in the city do not ride bicycles. Instead, they are mostly used by children as a tool for exercise or entertainment.

  Jiang Zihan saw that he was riding a Giant, which was considered high-end and rare in Zhongzhou at the time. If it were the original Jiang Zihan, he would probably just take a look from afar, but this time he walked up, smiled and greeted him.

  "The car is cool."

  "Have you ridden a bike?"

  "I went to my uncle's house to study in junior high school."

  "Are you from this school?"

  "Starting high school sophomore year."

  "I started high school and looked out at the mountains."

  "The River is Cold."

  "I say, brother, I think you're quite likable. You don't talk nonsense and are pretty cool."

  Good little kid, is this how you talk to your senior brother? Jiang Zihan muttered to himself, but still smiled and pointed at the car: "I think it looks pretty good."

  Gu Wangshan burst out laughing and said straightforwardly: "Take it and try it."

  Jiang Zihan gave a thumbs up: "Now I think you're quite likable too."

  Gazing at Mount Gu, he burst out laughing.

  From that day on, almost every time he met Gu Wangshan, Jiang Zihan would go for a ride with his Giant. Gu Wangshan didn't come every day, but he came two or three times a week. The two of them sometimes chatted together, and Jiang Zihan felt that Gu Wangshan was a child from a wealthy family. After all, the 600-yuan bicycle was more expensive than the combined monthly salary of his parents. In Gu Wangshan's eyes, Jiang Zihan was an interesting person, easy-going, not arrogant, knowledgeable, with a hint of calm confidence. Chatting with him always felt comfortable, like a spring breeze.

  Today is Saturday, so there are more people exercising. With the development of the city and the increase in population, outdoor spaces and exercise venues are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Apart from the municipal gymnasium and district gymnasium, Zhongzhou No. 7 Middle School and No. 9 Middle School, which Jiang Zihan attends, and No. 42 Middle School have some of the few football fields in the urban area. In the summer heat, if you want to play soccer, you either go early or wait until after sunset. So today, a large field was divided into two halves, with two groups of people playing happily there.

  Jiang Zihan had just finished running 10 laps when he was attracted by the loud noise on the playground. A few people were arguing loudly, and two of them even pointed their fingers at each other's faces. Jiang Zihan frowned and watched from a distance without going over to join in the commotion. Without listening, he knew what those people were arguing about, as such scenes were not uncommon here.

  After a while, the dispute seemed to have escalated, and four or five people started pushing each other. One person was pushed to the ground, he got up, patted the mud on his pants, and threatened: "If you have the ability, don't leave." The other side laughed loudly: "We still want to play half a game, of course we won't leave. Get out of here quickly." That man muttered curses and threats in his mouth, and ran out of the school gate.

  Jiang Zihan shook his head and walked to the single bar apparatus area next to the playground, preparing to start his daily strength training. Gu Wangshan pushed a cart over and greeted him: "Occupying the field again?" Jiang Zihan said: "Just a few kids, they're all quite enthusiastic." Gu Wangshan narrowed his eyes and looked for a while, saying: "Don't recognize them, now many people from other schools also come here to play soccer."

  Jiang Zhi Han finished today's strength training and chatted with Gu Wang Shan for a few more sentences. Gu Wang Shan took out a book, two tangerines, threw one to Jiang Zhi Han, and the two found a tree shade to sit down and rest.

  "That's not quite right," Gu Wangshan suddenly pointed out.

  Jiang Zhan saw 7 or 8 people walking towards the playground with a fierce attitude, still wearing jackets in the scorching heat.

  Gu Wang Shan furrowed his brow: "Maybe with companions."

  Jiang Zhihan listened and thought it made sense. He furrowed his brow and said, "These guys are just trying to scare people, they probably won't actually do anything."

  "Look at him, 14 or 15-year-old punks are the most terrifying, they don't know what's heavy or light, and can kill over even the smallest things."

  Jiang Zhi Han couldn't help but laugh at this, looking at Guan Shan who was only 15 or 16 years old, yet spoke with an air of aged elegance.

  A group of people walked to the half of the field where the two were closer, and the people on the field also noticed, stopping to stare at them. The leader's guy flashed out a person behind him, pointing at several kicking balls: "He, he, he, these guys hit me." Kao, Jiang Zihan frowned: "Is that the guy who just walked by? Don't make it big, okay?"

  Before the words were finished, the incoming gang had already opened their jacket zippers, revealing short iron bars and steel pipes. The leader was even carrying a large machete. Gu Wangshan quickly stood up and exclaimed, "Today is going to be bad." The people playing soccer on the field were already retreating, some running away in all directions. The leader of the gang loudly shouted, "We've come to settle scores for our younger brother, those who aren't involved get out of here!" The crowd immediately dispersed, and four or five people who had been pointed out began to run away. The gang members rushed forward, their clubs and steel pipes already striking at people. Two innocent bystanders were also unable to escape. Kao, Jiang Zihan cursed, "What is the gatekeeper eating? How did they let so many people carrying weapons in?"

  Cries for mercy began to echo everywhere, and several people had already fallen to the ground in the playground. But the primary target named by Xiao Di was quite brave, enduring a beating, rushing forward to punch his opponent twice, grabbing a steel pipe in his hand, and fighting back against the group. Compared to others who didn't resist at all, he was the only one who dared to fight back bravely. This move stirred up the ferocity of those people, almost everyone gave up their other targets and surrounded him. The little guy was indeed brave, refusing to retreat in the face of adversity, even charging towards the leader and hitting his opponent twice with the advantage of the steel pipe being longer than a knife. But ultimately, he was no match for the group's attack, getting stabbed once and kicked to the ground. The leader, who had been hit twice, suddenly became furious, shouting: "Beat him to death, damn it, I don't believe we can't kill you!"

  Jiang Zhan stood up and said to Gu Wangshan: "You go make a phone call to report the police, lend me the car for a while."

  "Look at the mountain and be shocked, he turned his head to look at him: "It's too dangerous, let's call the police."

  "It's going to be fatal."

  "Look at that kid?"

  Jiang Zhan said again, "Someone is going to die." He patted the bicycle and said, "Who can outrun our Giant? I'll ride the bike to chase him away, you quickly go find a phone to call the police. The middle school building's duty room should have one."

  Although Gu Wangshan appeared calm on the surface, he was still a bit worried in his heart. He patted Jiang Zhihan's shoulder: "Be careful, don't be a hero and lose your life for nothing. These guys are ruthless when they go crazy. I'll go make a phone call, the police will definitely arrive soon."

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