CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 10 THE TRUTH BEHIND (PLEASE FAVORITE, VOTE FOR THE MONTH)

On November 10th, Yang Su and Luo Fei traveled by car to Dudu Town, Anxin County, Zijiang Province.

By around three o’clock on the afternoon of the 12th, Yang Su and Luo Fei arrived at Dudu Town.

After finding out that Tang Ying opened a mahjong parlor in town, Yang Su and Luo Fei went there as soon as they arrived in Dudu Town.

The mahjong parlor was closed at the moment, and there was a restaurant next to it. Luo Fei and Yang Su approached to identify themselves and inquire about the situation.

The restaurant owner was a couple; the husband was very short and skinny, while the wife was tall and fat.

"Boss, do you know the owner of that mahjong parlor next door?" Yang Su asked.

"Yes, who doesn’t know that vixen? She’s famous in this town. Has she committed a crime? If you want to know about her troubles, just ask me. I know all her dirty secrets." The restaurant owner’s wife said enthusiastically, chewing on melon seeds at her door.

"Does Zhang Meng often come here to play mahjong?" Luo Fei asked directly.

"Yes, who in town doesn’t know about it? Zhang Meng is involved with the little vixen. No, I should say, that vixen is involved with many men in town." The restaurant owner’s wife expressed disdain.

Hearing this, Luo Fei and Yang Su exchanged a glance, realizing Tang Ying and Zhang Meng knew each other. This increased Tang Ying’s suspicion in the case of Wang Fu’s murder.

"Don’t say such things. Tang Ying isn’t like that." The restaurant owner quickly refuted.

"Whenever I mention that little vixen, you always defend her, Dwarf Su. Don’t tell me you’re involved with her too." The restaurant owner’s wife jealously accused when she saw her husband speaking up for Tang Ying.

Yang Su sternly replied, "You need to be clear about what you say. If it’s true, it’s true; if not, then it’s not. Fabricating stories can lead to legal consequences."

"Definitely true. Officer, I’ll tell you, I saw it with my own eyes. That morning around seven, we were going to the market, and we saw Zhang Meng and that little vixen coming out of the hotel together. You can ask Dwarf Su, he saw it too." The restaurant owner’s wife confidently claimed there was an affair between Zhang Meng and Tang Ying.

Luo Fei looked at the aside restaurant owner.

The restaurant owner nodded, adding, "There’s nothing wrong with that. Tang Ying is single, and Zhang Meng isn’t married. It’s normal for them to be together, right?"

"Doesn’t Tang Ying have a husband? What about him?" Luo Fei asked.

"Her husband left a long time ago. He died on a construction site. Tang Ying took his death compensation and opened this mahjong parlor." The restaurant owner replied.

"I say, who knows exactly how he died? Maybe some wicked woman murdered him!" The restaurant owner’s wife maliciously speculated.

"Shut up already. The construction company isn’t stupid. If it was a murder, would they pay the compensation? Use your brain!" The restaurant owner couldn’t take it anymore and shouted at his wife.

Finally, the restaurant owner’s wife dared not speak further.

"Did you know Zhang Meng owed a lot of money due to gambling?" Luo Fei suddenly remembered Zhang Meng’s confession mentioning his debts to friends and relatives leading him to crime.

The restaurant owner shook his head, "No, haven’t heard of that. Though Zhang Meng usually plays mahjong, he bets small. Haven’t heard of him owing money."

Hearing this, Luo Fei was almost certain Zhang Meng killed Wang Fu for Tang Ying, but why did Tang Ying harbor such hatred for Wang Fu?

Suddenly, Luo Fei recalled the news from Tang Hai, the evaluation by Wang Fu’s acquaintances: greedy and lustful. With this in mind, Luo Fei made a guess.

"Boss, does Tang Ying go home for holidays?" Luo Fei continued to ask.

The restaurant owner replied, "Speaking of that, after Tang Ying received her husband’s compensation, we thought she’d go home, but she didn’t. Since marrying here, Tang Ying rarely returns home. Oh, she did visit her hometown in July this year."

"July?"

"Yes, in July. Her family called, saying her mother was sick. So Tang Ying went home, but she returned within a few days." The restaurant owner said.

Tang Ying returned home in July, stayed only a few days, and in August Zhang Meng called Wang Fu. Clearly, something was wrong, and both Luo Fei and Yang Su realized this.

The next day, Luo Fei and Yang Su visited Zhang Meng’s relatives and friends. They confirmed Zhang Meng and Tang Ying were indeed together, and Zhang Meng had an argument with his family over it.

Zhang Meng’s family thought Tang Ying was a widow with a bad reputation and didn’t want Zhang Meng involved with her. But Zhang Meng was stubborn and insisted on being with Tang Ying, despite his family’s advice.

Regarding Zhang Meng borrowing money from relatives, his family also denied it.

At this point, Yang Su and Luo Fei were almost certain Zhang Meng killed Wang Fu for Tang Ying.

That afternoon, Luo Fei and Yang Su bought tickets back to Ningjiang County.

On the morning of the 15th, at ten o’clock, Luo Fei and Yang Su returned to Ningjiang County. Without going home, they rushed to the criminal investigation team.

They immediately found Zhao Donglai to report their findings.

Zhao Donglai promptly ordered Tang Ying brought in for questioning by the criminal investigation team.

Tang Ying and Tang Xiao’e were still in Ningjiang County, staying at a hotel.

Yang Su, Luo Fei, and Wang Lei went to the hotel to arrest Tang Ying on murder charges.

Luo Fei remembered when they went to arrest Tang Ying; her face showed little emotion, almost a hint of relief. As for Tang Ying’s mother, Tang Xiao’e, she broke down in tears when Tang Ying was taken away.

At the criminal investigation team’s interrogation room, Zhao Donglai interrogated Zhang Meng again, while Yang Su and Luo Fei interrogated Tang Ying.

"Tang Ying, did Zhang Meng kill Wang Fu for you?" Yang Su went straight to the point.

Tang Ying remained expressionless, seemingly indifferent to everything. After a long pause, she slowly said, "We both planned to kill Wang Fu."

"Why did you want to kill Wang Fu?" Yang Su continued.

Tang Ying’s calm face finally showed a trace of struggle, as if unwilling to recall the distressing past. Then she slowly recounted everything.

Apparently, since Tang Ying and her mother remarried Wang Fu, he continuously threatened and violated Tang Ying whenever Tang Xiao’e wasn’t around. Young and scared, Tang Ying never dared tell Tang Xiao’e about it.

Tang Ying endured Wang Fu’s torment for many years until she married and moved to Zijiang Province, finally escaping him. Out of fear, Tang Ying never visited her mother for years.

In July this year, Wang Fu called, saying Tang Xiao’e was seriously ill. Worried for her mother, Tang Ying hurriedly returned home.

Tang Xiao’e was indeed sick but only with a cold.

Seeing Tang Xiao’e was fine, Tang Ying intended to leave immediately, wanting to avoid Wang Fu. But Tang Xiao’e begged her to stay for a few days.

Moved by Tang Xiao’e’s pleas, Tang Ying stayed, thinking she was now grown and Wang Fu wouldn’t dare harm her.

But unexpectedly that night, Wang Fu drugged and assaulted her with the water she drank.

She didn’t wake up until the next day.

Realizing Wang Fu’s assault, Tang Ying was overwhelmed with shame and anger. She considered suicide and reporting to the police but eventually decided to kill Wang Fu herself.

Without saying goodbye to Tang Xiao’e, she returned home.

After returning, she shared the incident with Zhang Meng. They’d been together for years, having promised a lifetime.

Zhang Meng said nothing but asked Tang Ying how she wanted Wang Fu dead.

Then they planned Wang Fu’s murder together.