Read the following material and write according to the requirements. (60 points)

  A good story can help us express and communicate better, it can touch the heart and enlighten wisdom; a good story can change a person’s fate and show the image of a nation …… Stories are powerful.

  What kind of associations and thoughts did the above material trigger in you? Please write an essay.

This is the essay topic for the 2023 Chinese college entrance examination. I wrote a super short story following these requirements, inspired by a conversation with friends on Discord.

“So, tell us quickly,” Cen Xiu moved a chair next to the table, “what is the story of this trip to America?”
“A story? An unsolved mystery!”
Finishing his sentence, Gu Wang deliberately paused, waiting for the change in the expressions of the two people in front of him.
“Hmm? So, you mean even you couldn’t solve it?” Ling Yunqing clearly wasn’t buying his act.
“This time I went to Granite State, not for skiing, of course. You know, it’s the first primary state for the U.S. election. I did some investigation in Claremont. While I was walking on the street, there was a man sitting on a bench by the sidewalk, talking on the phone. I overheard a sentence he said.”
“I see,” Cen Xiu searched on his phone for a moment, “those days in New Hampshire were sunny, no rain.”
“Of course, no rain! I heard him say, ‘Yes, Ellery, murder, it’s right down his lane.’“
“Ellery? Murder? Lane?” Ling Yunqing was slightly shocked. “Did you time travel a hundred years back?”
“No, my friends, that’s all there is to it. But I may not have heard it very well.“
“Sounds like Ellery Queen murdered Drury Lane,” Cen Xiu shrugged, unimpressed. “So, did you encounter a theater troupe or something?”
“No, the man was dressed in a suit, sitting there, his eyes gleaming. It seemed like he was discussing something important with the person on the other end of the phone, appearing quite excited. But he deliberately lowered his voice, though I could still hear it.”
“Making fun of you for not understanding English, huh?”
“Haha, it’s fortunate that I don’t.”
Ling Yunqing leaned back in his chair, looking directly at his learned friend across from him. “So, could they be discussing a new detective story, a tale where one famous detective murders another famous detective?”
“Oh, I think that would indeed be a great story. Hmm, no one has ever written anything like that before. I believe Ellery Queen would be pleased even in his grave,” Gu Wang propped his chin on his hand, feigning contemplation. “This turn of events would have helped him solve the final case of two detectives, altering the destinies of both. A great story, but unfortunately, not so.’”
“Well, let me rephrase it then. What actions did you take afterward?”
“I chuckled, turned around, and hailed a taxi to leave.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Why?”
“That’s for you to explain.”
Ling Yunqing looked up, glanced out the window to confirm it was the 21st century, then lowered his gaze to inspect Guwang’s shoes, free of any dirt. He realized he was engaging in a futile struggle. “Alright, tell me quickly. What’s the solution you’ve envisioned for this story?”
“A story?” Gu Wang appeared indignant, waving his arms about randomly. “No, this isn’t a fictional story. It’s an event I experienced firsthand. Yes, we often say that stories have power, that they allow us to unleash boundless imagination and turn the impossible into possible. But, but! Reality can be even more bizarre than fiction.”
“I believe I’ve read similar stories, so it inspired me to deduce the truth behind this real event.”
“Oh?” Gu Wang’s gaze turned to Cen Xiu. “Then let’s begin.”
“The original meaning of that sentence is not what you speak. It’s a pun,” Cen Xiu explained.
“What do you mean?”
“You were very cunning and deliberately changed the words to say. The original words of that man should be something like this, ‘Murder is right down his alley.’ In English, when we say ‘down someone’s alley,’ it means something is particularly suited to someone’s abilities or preferences. So, the sentence should be interpreted as ‘Murder is something he really enjoys reading.’“
“What about the earlier mention of Ellery?”
“Ellery Queen’s Wrightsville is based on Claremont. I believe that’s the purpose of your ‘investigation’ on this trip, right? There’s a street there dedicated to the Wrightsville, called Ellery Street. And there’s a mysterious magazine society located there called ‘Old-Time Detection.’ So, the person you overheard was probably going to Ellery Street to purchase the new magazine because reading mystery novels is his hobby.”
Guwang glanced at the Wikipedia page on Cen Xiu’s phone.
“This play on words, which Ellery Queen has used many times, is enough for the reader to see through at a glance. But fictional old stories can still inspire wisdom to solve real mysteries. Alright, I think a hundred bucks is enough for the price, right? Bring it out and let’s start a new story.”
Gu Wang smiled and took out this year’s magazine from his backpack.