CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 9 NEW CLUES (PLEASE FAVORITE, VOTE FOR THE MONTH)

"What about the knife?" Yang Su asked about the crucial murder weapon.

"That knife?" Zhang Meng thought for a moment, then said, "I was afraid the police would track me through the knife, so I didn’t leave it at the scene. Instead, I threw it off the Guangtong Bridge on my way back."

That day, the criminal investigation team retrieved surveillance footage from the Agricultural Bank mentioned by Zhang Meng. Indeed, it showed that on the morning of the 25th at 9:00 AM, Zhang Meng and the victim, Wang Fu, went to the bank to withdraw 100,000 yuan.

Luo Fei and his team later found the murder weapon Zhang Meng spoke of under the Guangfu Bridge, and the fingerprints collected from it were indeed Zhang Meng’s. By this point, they could confirm that Zhang Meng was the murderer.

Everyone in the criminal investigation team breathed a sigh of relief.

In Office Group One

"Leader, do you really think Zhang Meng lured Wang Fu all the way to Ningjiang County just to kill him for money?" Luo Fei asked with a frown. He felt there was more to the story, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Yang Su walked over, patted Luo Fei on the shoulder, and said, "People nowadays are unpredictable. It’s not surprising that Zhang Meng would kill Wang Fu in Ningjiang County for 100,000 yuan. And from what we see now, it indeed appears that Zhang Meng killed Wang Fu."

"Hmm," Luo Fei nodded, but he still had doubts within. How did Zhang Meng just happen to find Wang Fu, and coincidentally Wang Fu was in business, making it possible for Zhang Meng to lure Wang Fu to Ningjiang County?

Luo Fei suspected that Zhang Meng might not have just randomly called and found Wang Fu but had targeted him for some time. But how could Wang Fu and Zhang Meng, living in opposite provinces—one in Guang Province and the other in Zijiang Province, have any interaction?

After some thought, Luo Fei left Group One’s office and headed to Group Three’s office.

This time, Group Three was responsible for investigating the situation in Wang Fu’s hometown. Luo Fei wanted to learn about Wang Fu’s background.

At the office entrance, Luo Fei happened to run into Tang Hai. The two had interacted during a shooting practice session, so they were somewhat familiar with each other.

"Tang Hai, are you busy now? I want to ask you something." Luo Fei stepped forward to inquire.

"I’m free, what do you want to know? You’re not asking about girls, are you? If it’s about that, just stop now because I’m still single!" Tang Hai bantered.

Luo Fei was a bit speechless. Young people these days, instead of focusing on their careers, only think about women.

"It’s not that. I want to ask about Wang Fu’s situation. Didn’t your team investigate Wang Fu’s hometown?"

"The killer has been caught, so why ask about that?" Tang Hai looked at Luo Fei, puzzled.

"I just want to know more about it."

Although Tang Hai didn’t understand why Luo Fei wanted to know, he still shared details about Wang Fu’s personal, work, and marital life. Wang Fu was a farmer and part-time yam buyer. In the village, he wasn’t well-regarded, considered greedy and lustful, as many villagers commented.

Wang Fu had been married twice. In his first marriage, his wife stayed with him for three years, but they had no children. A hospital checkup revealed that Wang Fu had a physiological defect and couldn’t have children.

Already discontent with Wang Fu, and now unable to have children with him, his first wife divorced him.

In the ensuing years, Wang Fu remained single due to his physiological defect. Approaching forty, Wang Fu became anxious. At this time, someone introduced him to a widow, Tang Xiao’e.

Tang Xiao’e had recently lost her husband and moved to Jiangqin County with her twelve-year-old daughter to work for a living.

Introduced by someone, Tang Xiao’e and Wang Fu met and soon married, and have been together ever since.

"Did you find out if Wang Fu had any enemies?" Luo Fei asked, frowning.

Tang Hai shook his head, "No, although Wang Fu’s reputation isn’t good, we haven’t heard of him having enemies."

"What about Wang Fu and Tang Xiao’e’s marital relationship? Did Wang Fu ever commit domestic violence?" Luo Fei continued.

Tang Hai thought for a moment, "According to Tang Xiao’e, their relationship wasn’t great but not terrible either. Village folks never saw Wang Fu hitting his wife."

Since Tang Hai couldn’t provide useful information, Luo Fei left.

As he reached Group One’s office, he saw Wang Lei and Xia Zheng walking out.

"Where are you two going?" Luo Fei casually asked.

"Wang Fu’s wife and daughter are here to identify the body. We’re taking them to the funeral home," Wang Lei answered.

After contemplating for a moment, Luo Fei followed Wang Lei and Xia Zheng, "I’ll come with you."

Luo Fei quickly saw Wang Fu’s wife, Tang Xiao’e, and daughter, Tang Ying—no, his stepdaughter—in the criminal investigation team’s main hall.

Wang Fu’s wife, Tang Xiao’e, was a woman in her forties with a somewhat gentle personality, a hint of sadness on her face. Beside her was her daughter, Tang Ying, tall and well-proportioned, with delicate features and the same gentle demeanor as her mother. However, while her mother showed sadness, her daughter’s expression was more aloof.

Luo Fei and the group escorted the two to the funeral home.

Upon seeing Wang Fu’s body, his wife couldn’t help but vomit on the spot and then cried into her hands, while Tang Ying looked at the body with a neutral expression.

Sensing suspicion, Luo Fei’s doubts grew.

After leaving the funeral home, Luo Fei found Tang Hai again.

"What do you know about Wang Fu’s stepdaughter, Tang Ying?" Luo Fei asked. Observing Tang Ying’s earlier demeanor, Luo Fei thought she showed an abnormal indifference to Wang Fu, even more so than a stranger would.

"Her! I heard from her mother, Tang Xiao’e, that after graduating high school, Tang Ying married into Zijiang Province... some county, some town?" Tang Hai recalled.

"Zijiang Province, Anxin County, Dudu Town," Luo Fei supplemented. That was Zhang Meng’s hometown address.

Tang Hai nodded, "Right, that seems to be the place. But why ask?"

"It’s nothing, thanks. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime," Luo Fei said as he hurried back to Group One’s office.

"Of course, everything makes sense now. Zhang Meng’s call to Wang Fu wasn’t random. He must know Tang Ying, and their relationship isn’t ordinary." Luo Fei mused at his desk.

After a while, Yang Su entered the room.

Luo Fei approached and shared his theory with Yang Su.

"Are you saying Wang Fu’s murder was actually orchestrated by his stepdaughter and Zhang Meng together? But if that’s the case, why would Zhang Meng take all the blame?" Yang Su questioned skeptically.

Luo Fei shook his head, "That part I don’t know."

Then Luo Fei added, "Leader, I request to go to Zijiang Province, Anxin County, Dudu Town."

Yang Su thought for a moment and said, "I’ll have to report this to the captain first. Hold on."