The people at the next table were discussing the Flower-Picking Thief that had stirred up Huayang County recently. It was said that this thief was exceptionally brutal, unlike ordinary thieves who just stole and left; this one would mutilate the victim's crucial body parts after the deed, incredibly cruelly.
As of now, the incidents had occurred five times, with victims including secret prostitutes, widows, respectable women, and young unmarried girls. No matter who the victim was, their tragic deaths were enough to cause great alarm.
Yet, despite such heinous crimes happening, the Yamen hadn't been able to catch anyone, nor did they have a clue about the perpetrator's appearance.
Thus, any household with women was afraid to let them live alone, fearing they might inadvertently become the next victim.