Chapter 2

Of course, it is also possible that the deceased lived nearby and was more familiar with the environment. Tao Ran said, "But I still think that the little glasses-wearing officer from the sub-bureau is right; we cannot rule out the possibility that this is not the primary scene. Moreover, the piece of paper stuck to the deceased's head is also very strange. Wen Zhou, in case this matter is not as simple as it seems, I am afraid that Director Wang will hastily cover it up and will not be willing to investigate thoroughly.

The body has already been placed in a body bag and taken away by the forensic expert. Tao Ran said softly, "It's the shoes—no one has cleaned here, and one could easily step in mud. However, I just pulled back the body bag to take a glance at the body, and the child's shoes are very clean"

"It was definitely someone familiar with the area," Wang Hongliang said as he shared a cigarette with Luo Wenzhou. After a moment, he began to discuss the matter at hand, his small eyes darting around. "Look at this place, it's so intricate and complex that outsiders wouldn't know where they are. Even if you just let out a fart in your own home, the neighbors can tell what you had for lunch. How could an outsider dare to commit a crime here? Brother Luo, you are the expert; do you think this makes sense?"

Luo Wenzhou leaned out of the car window, let the siren sound once, and shouted: "Handsome guy, we are on official duty and cannot pass through. Could you please move that BMW at the entrance?"

"You are welcome," Luo Wenzhou smiled at him, "Please continue."

This method of eating is truly bizarre, the big yellow dog has never encountered anything like it, and on the spot, it was intimidated by Officer Luo's seasoned rogue aura, letting out a "woof" and fleeing with its tail between its legs.

During this sensitive period, what Wang Hongliang least wanted to see was the emergence of a roaming robber and murderer within his jurisdiction, so he desperately tried to steer the investigation towards "acquaintance-related crimes and personal grudges"

"Is this the level of thought of the young women in your village?" Luo Wenzhou grimaced as if in pain from a toothache, "Get out of here, I am speaking seriously—Director Zhang will retire in a few years, and several deputy directors are of similar age, while the rest either lack sufficient qualifications or are like Director Zeng, who is solely focused on technical work and ignores everyone else. Therefore, it is very likely that some people will be promoted from the district branches at that time"

Tao Ran quietly said to Luo Wenzhou: "Boss, you all go ahead, I still want to wander around nearby with them."

Wang Hongliang conducts his affairs in this manner; otherwise, Director Zhang would not have specifically targeted him

Tao Ran said nonchalantly: "Who else could it be besides him?"

"Please ask this comrade woman to briefly discuss the objective information." Luo Wenzhou slowly drove the police car out of the narrow alley that was opened up, "Ignoring the subjective assumptions, that grandson of Wang Hongliang only knows how to flatter, the Flower Market Branch is corrupt from top to bottom, all of them are worthless."

Tao Ran's name is Wenjing, and she has a delicate appearance with refined features. She has never quarreled with anyone and has never used coarse language. She treats both comrades and adversaries with the same gentle and nurturing demeanor. She appears very approachable, but Luo Wenzhou, who has been her partner since he graduated and started working, knows her too well.

Just moments ago, the reticent Xiao Haiyang seemed to have been switched on by his words, and a torrent of speech poured forth from his mouth, overwhelming everyone present: "There are no bruises on the deceased caused by struggle, but there are marks on the back of the head indicating blunt force trauma. Preliminary assessment suggests that he was knocked unconscious from behind and then suffocated with a soft cloth around the neck. After death, his belongings were taken, and a note was placed on his forehead. Since the deceased was strangled while in a state of unconsciousness, there are no signs of struggle at the scene. The soft rope used for strangulation and the blunt instrument that struck the head have not been found, and there is currently no conclusive evidence to indicate that this is the crime scene. Report concluded!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the police car had already turned the corner

He looked up at the surroundings, and the entire western area of the flower market gave a gray and hazy impression. The tangled and heavy power lines hung low above, fragmenting the rare sunny day in Yan City, creating a sense of oppression.

Is there any need to be afraid of this?" Luo Wenzhou sighed, "He is clearly just trying to hastily cover it up.

Tao Ran said: "Regardless of the reason, a child has come all the way to our place and died far from home; we must provide an explanation to them."

"Get lost," Luo Wenzhou interrupted him expressionlessly, "Go do your work, stop with the nonsense!"

The newly established "Mixed Rice Duo" then walked side by side into the venue, where they saw a young man with a crew cut and glasses passionately explaining the situation to Tao Ran and Lang Qiao. This young man was quite tall, had a face full of acne, and stood straight and stiff, resembling a coffin board cut into a human shape, speaking at an astonishingly fast pace

Luo Wenzhou: "Do you know who was responsible for 'guiding supervision' in the past?"

Lang Qiao tentatively asked: "Guidance and supervision?"

"Inquire more around, perhaps someone has heard something," Luo Wenzhou said. "Additionally, I believe that Director Wang has a very accurate grasp of the overall direction. Let us not consider extreme situations for now; let us focus on the direction of solving the case as one involving acquaintances. Brother, what do you think of this approach?"

Oh, the deceased is named He Zhongyi, male, eighteen years old, a migrant worker from another region, employed as a delivery person at a chain coffee shop. The body has a groove-like indentation on the neck, and the cause of death is asphyxiation... in other words, he was strangled. Preliminary investigations suggest that the murder weapon was something akin to a soft cloth strip. The time of death is estimated to be between 8 PM and 11 PM last night, with specific details pending further confirmation from the forensic expert—oh, by the way, the body was found not far from the back of the shared rental apartment where the deceased lived, so the identity was confirmed immediately.

Luo Wenzhou raised an eyebrow slightly

Luo Wenzhou smiled warmly and said, "Brother, why are you being so formal with me?"

Tao Ran turned his head from the passenger seat and glared at her

This is our new colleague, Xiao Xiao, Xiao Haiyang," Wang Hongliang pointed and introduced, "He is an outstanding student, having ranked first in the written examination when he was admitted. Xiao, this is Team Leader Luo from the municipal bureau.

At first, everything seemed fine, but as soon as that last sentence was uttered, Wang Hongliang's face immediately turned green with anger: "What are you talking about without any evidence? This is not the crime scene; where else could it be? Are you suggesting this could be a body disposal case? Why would anyone dispose of a body here? What benefit would that bring? Do not casually speculate and disturb the perception of the situation!"

The large yellow dog trotted up to the police car, exchanged a glance with it, and brazenly lifted its hind leg against the wheel.

Taoran quickly added, "I just want to go and take a look to ensure that nothing unexpected happens"

He is a middle-aged man with a receding hairline that extends to his face, his two sorrowful eyebrows are so sparse that their shape is almost indistinguishable, and beads of sweat are streaming down his forehead. He personally approached and shook Luo Wenzhou's hand up and down three times, saying, "I have alarmed the leaders of the municipal bureau, and even made several of them come here specially; I truly feel very sorry about this."

Taoran turned off the navigation: "Just turn right ahead and you will arrive."

As long as there is a general suspect, Wang Hongliang can immediately affix the official seal to issue a statement, claiming that this is a case suspected to be caused by personal grievances, and not the sensationalist "throat-slicing killer" from the internet. There is no hype, and in a few days, people will forget out of boredom. Once the storm passes, they can again say that "the Flower Market District Bureau has made outstanding contributions to the successful hosting of a certain grand event in our city"

"Who isn't just trying to make a living?" Wang Hongliang sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "Let's go, we should also go take a look."

Luo Wenzhou had his hands in his pockets, glanced at his toes, and seemed to look down for a moment to find the right words: "If I were to tell you to 'stay away from that guy,' would that be a bit like a dog catching a rat?"

Wang Hongliang was about to erupt, but was stopped by Luo Wenzhou, who said: "The ideas of young people who have just started working are often quite diverse; it is interesting to listen to them."

The area near Nanping Avenue is a major disaster zone during the morning rush hour, with congestion occurring from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM

Xiao Haiyang instinctively straightened his chest and raised his head, making a gesture similar to "attention." His jaw was tightly clenched as he gave a stiff nod to Luo Wenzhou and greeted him in a few words: "Team Leader Luo."

Tao Ran was taken aback, but before he could savor the meaning of those words, Luo Wenzhou continued: "I am not saying that he indulges in debauchery, nor am I suggesting that he is disorganized... it is not of that nature. Fei Du has always given me a rather unfavorable impression, do you understand what I mean?"

Luo Wenzhou's driving skills are exceptionally high, as he navigates through perilous narrow alleys with millimeter-level precision, and he even has the leisure to interject with a question: "How did the rumors about the throat-grabbing gang originate?"

Lang Qiao used a tablet to shield his face: "Luo Touer, have you noticed that there is an unmarried young woman in the back seat? The precinct has sent over the existing information."

Luo Wenzhou smiled: "After all these years, the branches you have sprouted outside are all supported by me, yet I have not seen you offer yourself in return"

An old man emerged from the small courtyard beside the bungalow, looking at him with a pursed mouth, as he trembled while pushing an elderly mobility scooter into the yard

That is a desolate piece of land squeezed between old tube buildings and a cluster of small houses with entrances both inside and outside, located right behind a group of privately built small warehouses. The area is overgrown with weeds, rarely visited by people, and there is standing water in the corner, emanating a long-standing foul odor.

Although Brother Luo did not come with good intentions, his style of speaking and handling matters was quite to Wang Hongliang's liking, leading to an immediate rapport between the two parties and significantly reducing communication costs

Luo Wenzhou did not pick up on his words, took off his sunglasses and tucked them into his collar, squinting his eyes as he looked towards the busy forensic experts, casually deflecting: "I am just a lowly official who makes a living, how dare I pose as an expert in front of you"

After he finished speaking and was about to leave, Luo Wenzhou called out to him: "Wait a moment, the one who sent you flowers this morning was Fei Du, right?"

Wang Hongliang, the head of the Huashi District Branch, personally stationed at the scene to wait for Luo Wenzhou and the others

The road conditions in the western district are particularly intricate, with roads varying greatly in width, some wide and some narrow, interwoven in a chaotic manner. The local residents have taken to unauthorized construction, creating a trend where artificial dead ends are ubiquitous. Motor vehicles that inadvertently enter these areas struggle like insects ensnared in a spider's web, desperately darting left and right in a bid to escape and see the light of day again

Luo Wenzhou stepped over a small pile of garbage on the roadside and lowered his voice: "The old director wants to remove people like Wang Hongliang during his tenure, to avoid having a good-for-nothing as the head when the municipal bureau comes in the future—what is our main task here, do you understand?"

Luo Wenzhou gently interrupted him: "If you were bent, would that little brat still have the chance to curry favor?"

In the central business district of the East, the high-ranking white-collar workers often encounter the small electric scooters darting around the streets. If a slow-moving large bus were to cut in, it could create a scenario of "not a single one can escape" in this century's encounter

"No way, are you serious?" Tao Ran laughed, "He always does this, just for fun. Don't say I'm not flexible, even if I were to bend into a ball..."

Xiao Haiyang looked at him blankly and said, "I only mentioned that there is such a possibility..."

The police have cordoned off the scene, and forensic experts are busily entering and exiting as they investigate the site

Wang Hongliang is adept at building connections, yet his work is rather mediocre. Upon hearing his words, I immediately took the cue and changed my tone to address Luo Wenzhou as a brother, and I began to pour out my grievances to the newly appointed "younger brother" without pause.

Luo Wenzhou took out a box of cigarettes, lit one, and handed it to Wang Hongliang, while simultaneously giving Tao Ran a glance, signaling him to take Lang Qiao to the scene first

The mobility scooter on the left side had a sticker that read "For Picking Up Grandchildren Only," while the right side displayed the phrase "The More You Rush, The Slower I Go, I'm Awesome." As it moved along, it let out a "Woof" sound. Luo Wenzhou raised his sunglasses in surprise and looked down, only to find that a large yellow dog had dashed out from behind the scooter.

Luo Wenzhou tilted his head and stared into his eyes for two seconds

I understand. Tao Ran nodded slightly; he was thin and frail, appearing quite easy to bully, which is why he always wore a uniform to work. The morning sunlight filtered through the low wall and moss, subtly outlining him. "I have been watching him for these seven years. Fei Du is a good child; you do not need to be overly cautious around him—though it is true that he has become somewhat excessive and overly lively lately.

Luo Wenzhou remained silent

As for the case, let a few junior detectives handle it slowly. Once they find something, they can make an arrest; if not, they will keep pressing on it, back and forth, and if things do not go well, it may ultimately end up unresolved

It is said that the deceased's belongings were completely looted; the mobile phone was gone, and the wallet was emptied and discarded to the side. However, it is still uncertain whether the murderer took them. Lang Qiao quickly skimmed through the email, "By the way, the person who reported the case mentioned that there was a piece of paper covering the face of the corpse, with a small strip of adhesive tape sticking to the deceased's hair, and the side facing inward had the character 'money' written on it"

Luo Wenzhou whistled at it and said kindly: "Urinate, little baby, once you finish urinating, I will cut off your little chicken and cook it into a pancake to eat"

Tao Ran did not take it seriously and laughed while scolding, "Go to hell."

Lang Qiao suddenly realized: "Eunuch!"

Next comes the endless investigation and visits, which are the responsibilities of the district's criminal police, and have little to do with "technical guidance". Their main task is to sit in the district office, drink tea, monitor the progress of work at any time, and wait to catch Wang Hongliang in a mistake

Tao Ran possesses a kind of earnestness and stubbornness that is at odds with the times; he is not particularly concerned about other matters, as long as Luo Wenzhou is there to bear the brunt when the sky falls. However, when it comes to cases, he will relentlessly pursue any hint of doubt to the very end—regardless of whether it is his responsibility or not

Luo Wenzhou: "The deceased was knocked unconscious from behind. If it were truly a robbery, there would be no need to return and strangle the person. The possibility of a personal vendetta is quite high. Wang Hongliang's basic judgment is not wrong—do you have any questions?"

Taoran changed the subject: "Moreover, I don't even know who it is. It's embarrassing to leave a name when trying to send someone a gift. They went to great lengths to bring back a game console from abroad, and still let me..."

"Hmm," Luo Wenzhou tapped the steering wheel, "This case falls under the jurisdiction of the sub-bureau, it hasn't been transferred to the municipal bureau. Do you know what we are here for?"