Chapter 18: Truth

Chapter 18: The Truth

Luo Kaiyang nodded as he walked, "According to his confession, that's exactly what happened."

Shen Qingye couldn't help but ask, "Wasn't he involved with Zhang Cuimei? It seems like... it lasted quite a while? Why would he suddenly kill her? There must be a reason, right?"

Zhou Qiming explained to her in detail, "According to Cai Chengyong, he met Zhang Cuimei a few years ago during a trip back to his hometown, and they eventually became involved."

"Although Cai Chengyong didn't go back often, he was quite attentive to Zhang Cuimei. Every time he visited, he would bring her food, clothes, and other essentials. This went on for about two or three years."

"Until the year before last, when Cai Chengyong went to see her, Zhang Cuimei suddenly said she was leaving. When asked where she was going, she mentioned that a distant cousin had gone south to work and had done well, so he had arranged a job for her. The job was easy, not strenuous, and paid a thousand yuan a month, which was much better than just sitting around at home."

"Of course, Cai Chengyong wasn't willing to let her go, and they started arguing. Zhang Cuimei accused him of never giving her money, saying the things he brought were just cheap trinkets to placate her. She wanted to go out and earn money herself."

"Every time Cai Chengyong visited, it was on a rainy day, and that time was no exception. Outside, the rain was pouring down, and their argument grew more heated. Cai Chengyong, seeing her determined to leave with this so-called cousin, remembered how his mother had left him on a similar rainy day to run off with another man. In a fit of rage, he lost control and ended up killing her."

Zhou Qiming sighed and shook his head, "After killing her, he didn't feel remorse or fear. Instead, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief. He then coldly dismembered her body and dumped it in the river. He said women like her deserved to die; they didn't deserve to live."

He continued, "This murder awakened his thirst for blood. Seeing that the police hadn't found the killer after several months, he became restless again. Using Cai Limin's job as a cover, he specifically targeted girls from the industrial area who were from out of town and had few friends, committing these crimes."

Shen Qingye fell silent after hearing this.

A childhood trauma, an argument, a moment of rage—all led to this outcome.

Luo Kaiyang looked around and, seeing everyone's somber expressions, deliberately lightened the mood with a smile, "Hey, no matter what, at least the case is solved. Let's all try to lighten up a bit!"

"Exactly," Wei Zhengyi also sighed, "We've been tied up with this from last year until now, thinking about it constantly. Finally, we can get some peace."

Shen Qingye smiled too, "Yes, solving the case is a good thing."

"Don't celebrate too soon," Jiang Cheng said coolly, "There's still a ton of work ahead."

Reporting the case to superiors, confirming the victims' identities, contacting their families, and so on. It would still take some time to fully close the case.

Luo Kaiyang's face fell, "I really don't want to deal with the victims' families again. It's draining."

"Let's make it clear, I'll handle the paperwork and reports. The rest of you can divide the other tasks."

Wei Zhengyi laughed at him, "How terrifying are the Zhou family? They've scared you this much?"

Luo Kaiyang sighed, "They're unreasonable and only care about money. It's not that I'm scared, it's just really frustrating and exhausting."

Zhou Qiming chuckled, "You're just too soft. With people like that, you can't be too nice, or they'll walk all over you."

Luo Kaiyang quickly flattered him, "That's why I say, Brother Qiming, you're the one who should handle these situations. I'll just follow and learn from you."

Zhou Qiming immediately stopped laughing, "Are you really pushing all this onto me?"

Luo Kaiyang said, "As they say, the capable ones should shoulder more."

The group burst out laughing, their faces no longer clouded by the gloom of the past few days. Shen Qingye, seeing their smiles, also felt a bit lighter.

She asked again, "What about Cai Limin's case? Do we need to keep investigating?"

The group paused at her question.

There was really no point in continuing to investigate this case. After all, the victim's body had been found, the killer apprehended, confessions signed, and all procedures wrapped up. It could be closed as it stands.

But the truth from back then still remained hidden.

Was Lv Xiuqin's death really as Cai Limin claimed—that she couldn't let go of her first love, driving him to kill her in a fit of rage?

They weren’t so sure about that.

Wei Zhengyi scratched his head and said, "Guess we gotta look into it..."

Not just to follow protocol, but to clear her name.

He shrugged. "She’s already gone; we can’t let her reputation stay tarnished. And..." He paused. "Cai Limin keeps saying Lv Xiuqin was hung up on someone else... Cai Chengyong’s been ranting that it’s all his mom’s fault. I really want to know what their reaction would be if they realized they were wrong."

Zhou Qiming stretched and said, "Alright, let’s check it out."

He shrugged. "Not like we’ve got much else going on lately... We’re just sitting around anyway; might as well swing by Lv Xiuqin’s family."

Jiang Cheng nodded. "Yeah, we can look into it."

Wei Zhengyi said, "It’s about finishing what we started."

Shen Qingye smiled. "If you need a hand, just give me a shout."

Luo Kaiyang said, "Don’t worry, we won’t hold back!"

As they chatted, Yue Lingchuan walked in. Seeing them laughing, he asked, "What’s going on? Sounds like a party in here."

Zhou Qiming said, "We were just talking about checking out Lv Xiuqin’s family when we get a chance. So, boss, what’d the detachment want?"

Yue Lingchuan glanced at Shen Qingye, meeting her concerned gaze, and smiled. "Same old stuff—higher-ups are breathing down our necks about this case, reminding us to write the closing report well."

Shen Qingye pressed, "That’s it? Nothing else?"

Yue Lingchuan smirked. "What else were you expecting?"

Shen Qingye paused, then slowly shook her head. "Good, as long as that’s all."

They’d already started divvying up the work, and Shen Qingye didn’t stick around long, returning to her own tasks.

Yue Lingchuan watched her leave the Major Case Division office before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

Jiang Cheng noticed and asked, "You good?"

Yue Lingchuan patted his shoulder. "Don’t sweat it, I’ve got this."

He wasn’t lying. Detachment Leader Song really only instructed them to write the closing report well. But his exact words were:

"This time, I want that closing report done right. All of you, explain everything clearly—what you did, step by step. No slacking off like last time!"

Like last time, referring to the closing report of Zhou Meihua’s case, where Yue Lingchuan wrote—the accompanying clerical officer keenly noticed the footprints on the air conditioner, providing a key clue to solving the case.

Yue Lingchuan smirked, thinking, ‘I only wrote it that way because you told me to.’ But he didn’t say it out loud, just obediently agreed.

He also noticed that Detachment Leader Song’s attitude had subtly changed. Yue Lingchuan wasn’t sure if this was a good or bad thing. But from the way she acted, it’s probably... not a bad sign, right?

Since they decided to investigate this matter, Zhou Qiming didn’t delay. Together with Wei Zhengyi, after some twists and turns, they found Lv Xiuqin’s family.

That evening before work ended, the two returned and immediately chugged a mug of water without saying a word. Luo Kaiyang watched in surprise: "What's going on? Didn't you drink any water all morning?"

Shen Qingye, having almost finished her own work, came over to check on their case progress.

"Don't get me started," Zhou Qiming said irritably, "I've never met people like this before!"

Luo Kaiyang put down his pen and paper: "What do you mean?"

Shen Qingye moved closer, and Yue Lingchuan also looked up.

Zhou Qiming sighed heavily and recounted the day's events in detail:

"When we found Lv Xiuqin's family, they were visibly upset when they saw us and immediately tried to send us away. They said that after Lv Xiuqin ran off with someone, she was no longer related to them, and such a person only brought shame to their family. They publicly disowned her.

"Wei Zhengyi and I tried to explain that Lv Xiuqin didn't run off; she was killed by Cai Limin. Surprisingly, they didn't seem sad at all. After hearing what Cai Limin had said, they even claimed it was her own doing—married but not living properly with her husband, still longing for another man, saying her death was her own fault."

As Zhou Qiming spoke, he drank another cup of water. Wei Zhengyi continued: "We wanted to ask more about the details from back then, but they were impatient, saying what's the point of digging up the past when she's already dead?

"They wouldn't help, so we had to ask around the neighborhood. After half a day, we finally found a family that knew something about the situation from back then."

Luo Kaiyang couldn't help but ask: "Someone knows? So, the first love story is real?"

Zhou Qiming nodded: "The first love story is real."

He said: "According to the neighbor, Lv Xiuqin's mother died early, and her father remarried soon after, having three more children. Lv Xiuqin was ignored at home, doing all the work but never getting anything in return.

"As for the first love, he was a classmate from middle school. No one knew about it at first, but when Lv Xiuqin reached marriageable age and her family was arranging a marriage for her, she revealed it.

"At first, her family wouldn't let her choose. But the boy was a good student, and the teacher said he had a strong chance of getting into university. Thinking a college-educated son-in-law would be a good catch, the family allowed Lv Xiuqin to continue seeing him.

"Unexpectedly, during the college entrance exam days, the boy caught a cold and entered the exam hall with a high fever of 39 degrees, naturally didn't do well. The teacher felt bad, saying he had a strong foundation and it was just bad luck, suggesting he retake the exam the next year. Though hesitant, the family thought they could wait one more year.

"But the next year, just before the exam, the boy's grandmother died unexpectedly, devastating him and causing another poor performance. The family ran out of patience, saying he wasn't cut out for college! They made Lv Xiuqin end things with him and married her off to Cai Limin."

Shen Qingye frowned. If this was true, Lv Xiuqin must have really cared for the boy, and being forcibly separated by her family, it was possible she had been longing for him for years.

She had to ask: "What happened next?"

Zhou Qiming sighed: "After that, the boy also confronted Lv's family, but he was alone and his family didn't support his relationship with Lv Xiuqin. What could he do? After a rough patch, he threw himself into his studies and finally got accepted into a top university in 1980."

Luo Kaiyang was surprised: "He got in?"

Wei Zhengyi said: "He got in."

"Back then, Lv's family had regrets, saying if they'd waited just one more year, they wouldn't have missed out on a college-educated son-in-law."

Yue Lingchuan asked: "What about him? Did he ever come back after college?"

Zhou Qiming shook his head: "We don't know. The neighbors hadn't seen the boy either; all this came from Lv's family, who had been bragging about soon having a college-educated son-in-law. After the boy kept failing, the family dropped it. As for whether the boy ever came back, no one knows."

Shen Qingye asked again: "Do you know the boy's name?"

Wei Zhengyi said: "I think his surname is Qiao? They always heard Lv's family calling him Xiao Qiao."

Zhou Qiming said: "Tomorrow we'll go to the school there, find their teacher, and see if we can get any clues."

Luo Kaiyang said: "That's all we can do."

Shen Qingye added: "We can also check if Lv Xiuqin had any close friends when she was young. Starting with them might be easier."

Zhou Qiming nodded: "Tomorrow, Wei Zhengyi and I will split up and act separately."

...

The next day, after a busy morning, the two finally returned with some good news.

"We found a close friend of Lv Xiuqin from her younger days and got the name of that boy, Qiao Jingnian."

Wei Zhengyi said: "Lv Xiuqin and Qiao Jingnian were classmates in junior high. After junior high, the boy easily advanced to high school. Lv Xiuqin's grades were also good enough for high school, but her family disagreed, thinking it was a waste of money, and forced her to stay home and work. Even so, Lv Xiuqin didn't cut off contact with Qiao Jingnian; they continued to meet in secret."

Zhou Qiming also said: "I went to the high school where Qiao Jingnian was and found his teacher from back then. The general details align with what we know. Qiao Jingnian indeed took the college entrance exam three times before passing. However, I obtained a crucial piece of information: in 1987, the year Lv Xiuqin died, Qiao Jingnian came back to visit that teacher."

Everyone's interest was piqued. Shen Qingye asked: "Why did he choose to come back at that time in 1987?"

Zhou Qiming said: "Because he had just graduated with a master's degree, was assigned a job, and came back to visit before officially starting work."

"Master's degree?" Luo Kaiyang said: "That's impressive?"

Jiang Cheng also couldn't help but nod. At that time, a master's degree was indeed highly valued.

Yue Lingchuan asked: "What about him? Where is he now?"

Zhou Qiming shrugged: "The teacher wasn't sure either, only mentioning that he seems to be in a southern county town. I asked if he had any contact information, but he said no."

Luo Kaiyang hissed: "That's a tough one."

Zhou Qiming said: "But he gave us another lead."

Shen Qingye looked up, and he said: "Qiao Jingnian had a good friend in college. After graduating with a bachelor's degree, he started working, initially assigned to the city's food factory, and later transferred to the finance bureau. Wei Zhengyi and I plan to check it out. Close college friends like that should still be in touch, right?"

Everyone agreed.

...

Zhou Qiming was indeed efficient. Just as the lunch break ended, before Shen Qingye could return to work, she heard Wei Zhengyi excitedly calling out in the corridor:

"I've got it, I've got it!"

She paused, then fully woke up, and without caring about work, hurried to the Major Case Division office.

Wei Zhengyi was waving a piece of paper around, his face full of excitement:

"I found Qiao Jingnian's contact information!"

Everyone gathered around at the news. Luo Kaiyang urgently said: "Then call him already! What are you waiting for?"

Shen Qingye said: "No rush."

She asked: "Do you know where Qiao Jingnian is and what he's up to now?"

Wei Zhengyi took a sip of water and nodded: "Director Yan and Qiao Jingnian have stayed in touch all these years. According to him, Qiao Jingnian is now the deputy director of the finance bureau in Xinchang City, Fujian Province."

"Deputy director in his forties?" Luo Kaiyang said: "That's quite an achievement."

More importantly, it's in Fujian Province, a coastal area with very good economic development.

"Knowing his location and position makes things easier." Yue Lingchuan walked over with a cup of tea, lifting his chin: "Make the call."

Zhou Qiming lowered his head and dialed the phone number on the piece of paper.

"Ring—ring—ring—"

The crisp sound rang out in the office, and everyone held their breath in anticipation. After a few rings, someone picked up, and a deep, cultured voice responded:

"Speaking. Who is this?"

Zhou Qiming glanced at the others and spoke: "Is this Mr. Qiao Jingnian?"

"This is he. Speaking. Who is this?"

"We’re calling from the Pingjiang City Public Security Bureau. We have some questions we’d like to ask you. Is now a good time?"

"The Public Security Bureau?" Qiao Jingnian asked, his voice tinged with confusion. There was a faint rustling on the other end, as though he had stood up and begun pacing. After a moment, he said, "Go ahead."

Zhou Qiming cut to the chase: "Do you recall a woman named Lv Xiuqin?"

There was silence on the other end.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Lv Xiuqin."

"Of course, I remember her." He asked, "Is she in some kind of trouble again?"

Shen Qingye's eyes flickered slightly.

The others also sensed something unusual. Zhou Qiming asked, "Again? Do you mean Lv Xiuqin had contacted you before?"

"Yes," Qiao Jingnian replied. "About a decade or so ago, around 1987, I returned to Pingjiang City and ran into her."

Zhou Qiming asked, "What did she want from you at that time?"

There was another pause before he answered, "She approached me because her husband’s factory was in financial trouble, and they were planning layoffs. Her husband was on the list."