The mindset of the readers is a bit like watching a magic show during the Spring Festival…
The first time you see a magic trick, you’re astonished.
Once you understand the trick behind it, you can’t help but feel a bit underwhelmed, despite the initial shock.
They think they’ve completely figured it out.
If Chu Kuang were to write a similar novel (perform a similar magic trick), they’re confident they could uncover the killer (reveal the trick)!
It’s not just the readers who think this way.
Leng Guang, a well-known online critic who’s publicly slammed narrative trickery in whodunit novels for being too cheeky, holds the same view!
“I will prove that so-called narrative trickery is nothing but a gimmick!”
With this belief in mind, Leng Guang clicked on Chu Kuang’s newly released detective short story the moment it was published.
“During the upcoming Spring Festival, while I’m worrying about various things, an unexpected guest arrives at my house. He’s a young man who seems familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I’ve met him before. He calls himself C-jun.”Like “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”.
This novel is also written in the first person “I”.
The “I” character is named Chu Kuang, a well-known writer who has written a number of detective stories.
“Made himself the protagonist?”
Leng Guang raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
He doesn’t know that the world-renowned detective novelist Queen names all his protagonists “Queen”.
One day.
A young author writes a detective novel, finds Chu Kuang, and challenges him:
“Can you guess the killer before the answer is revealed?”
Leng Guang raised his eyebrows again.
The straightforward style, detective writer Chu Kuang interpreting a detective novel.
It’s like a play within a play.
In this case, the killer couldn’t possibly be “me” because “I” am just a spectator outside of the mystery.
Thinking about it, even if Chu Kuang continued to write detective novels, he couldn’t possibly stick with the setup that “I” am the culprit.
Let’s continue reading.
The case described in the detective novel is not complex.
In the story, there are three groups of people.
They are the Leng Guang clan living in Dondon Village;
A group of university students visiting the village, among which one student is named Chu Kuang;
The last group consists of Carter and his dog, Maruko.
Leng Guang is speechless.
What the hell is all this?
Villagers of Dondon Village, the Leng Guang clan?
Leng Guang?
Using my name?
And the university student Chu Kuang?
Chu Kuang wrote himself into the novel?
So Chu Kuang could still be the murderer?
Even Carter is there.
Many big names in the detective writing circle appear in the novel, Chu Kuang is cheekily making fun of famous authors in the circle within his narrative.
Leng Guang wanted to complain but didn’t know where to start…
Moreover, Leng Guang quickly dismissed the suspicion toward the character Chu Kuang in the novel.
Because Chu Kuang is the victim.
The description of Chu Kuang in the novel is appalling. It depicts him as a naughty boy who likes to do bad things and cause trouble, without any concept of right or wrong because of his young age.
As a result, this naughty boy Chu Kuang was pushed off Dondon Bridge.
If this novel wasn’t written by Chu Kuang, Leng Guang would almost suspect that the author had a grudge against “Chu Kuang”. That’s some harsh character assassination.
The only connections between the two sides of the valley are Dondon Suspension Bridge and a log bridge, without any secret passages or similar.
At the end of the case, the author listed all the confirmed alibis.
Everyone’s alibi is very detailed, as tidy as an incident report.
Carter is among those with an alibi.
“During these two and a half hours, that log bridge was in my and Maruko’s (Carter’s dog) sight. I can assert that no one crossed that bridge during that time.”
Because Carter was contemplating life beside the bridge at that time, he saw everything.
The novel emphasizes one thing:
All these alibis and witness statements are accurate.
“Damn.”
After pondering for five minutes, Leng Guang suddenly slapped his thigh.
He seemed to have misunderstood something.
This novel, it doesn’t seem to be of the narrative trickery style?
It seems Chu Kuang never stated that “The Fall from the Dondon Bridge” is a narrative trickery whodunit!
Everyone just assumed that Chu Kuang’s new work would continue to follow the narrative trickery style.
Even he himself initially thought so.
Thinking of this, Leng Guang cracks a faint smile.
Narrative trickery is always a deceitful path, and Chu Kuang knows he should turn back.
In the novel, “Chu Kuang” ends up dead. Perhaps this metaphor was Chu Kuang’s subtle hint that writing using narrative trickery feels like a “sin”?
Very well!
This is his confession!
Without narrative trickery, we could still be good friends.
Next, let me figure out who the murderer is!
Leng Guang quickly launched into the brainstorming mode of a detective fiction writer.
I have to say, this challenge is no easy feat.
Dondon Bridge has been partially destroyed; it can’t even hold the weight of a small schoolchild, let alone an adult.
Also, we have Carter as a witness.
So how was the “Chu Kuang” killed?
Keep in mind; this novel even includes a detailed map of the crime scene, allowing readers to clearly see the specifics.
“It’s him!”
After about half an hour of contemplation, Leng Guang suddenly guessed the murderer.
It’s Chu Kuang’s companion, a university student named Ah Rong.
He’s the only one without an alibi!
Furthermore, Leng Guang also inferred the method of the crime.
“Did I guess correctly?”
Leng Guang hurriedly continued reading.
What dismayed Leng Guang was that “I” in the book also guessed the same answer.
But the young author said that Chu Kuang was wrong!
Not just wrong, but terribly wrong!
Because the real murderer is Leng Guang!
In other words, the chieftain of the Leng Guang clan!
“How is that possible!”
Leng Guang felt like he was thrown for a loop.
The “I” in the book was also confused, why was it Leng Guang?
The semi-destroyed Dondon Bridge can’t even hold a small child, how did Leng Guang get across?
Does Leng Guang know light kung fu?
And Carter testified that he didn’t see anyone crossing the bridge!
Does Leng Guang not only know light kung fu, but also how to become invisible?
Why didn’t I know that I was this amazing!?
Leng Guang thought this was a massive loophole!
However, the young author just lightly smiled and said: [Leng Guang is not a dwarf, nor is he a light kung fu master, let alone someone who can turn invisible. However, he could simply cross over to the other side using the one remaining cable. He did it skillfully and effortlessly.]
How could this be?
Leng Guang and the “I” in the book voiced out their indignation in unison.
“Impossible…”
Leng Guang was outright defiant, this didn’t make sense!
Wait a minute.
Logic?
Leng Guang’s expression suddenly changed again.
He had a bad premonition.
He seemed to have been played!
Right on cue, Leng Guang saw the real reason.
This reason nearly made Leng Guang smash his computer out of frustration.
The correct answer to this case is:
“Because Mr. Leng Guang is, in fact, an ape. The so-called Leng Guang clan is a group of apes living in Dondon Village.”
Narrative Trickery!
Disgusting!
Pervert!
At this moment, Leng Guang just cussed out loud!
He wasn’t blaming Chu Kuang for making him an ape, if anecdotes could carry ill intentions, Chu Kuang has directed a greater deal of it towards himself. He wrote himself as unflattering, even killed himself off in the book!
Compared to Chu Kuang’s self-mockery, his own depiction wasn’t too bad.
Leng Guang was cursing at the narrative trickery!
He’d been tricked!
He thought Chu Kuang wasn’t using the narrative trickery this time, but it turned out that this novel was still deploying it, and it was ten thousand times worse than “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”!
It was a downright insult to his intelligence!
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