Chapter 141: Another accomplice has been found.
"We've found Gai Duoduo's lover." Zhao Qiqi returned from outside and called Shen Zhenzhu into the office.
Gu Yanzheng was also waiting in the office.
“She has an old flame in Liancheng named Zhu Maoqi. He used to be a reseller, buying and selling clothes wholesale from the south and reselling them in Shenyang. He made money and opened a clothing company in Liancheng.” Zhao Qiqi said excitedly after her discovery, “We found a lot of newspaper scraps in his house, which we suspect were left behind to make threatening letters. However, he was in a car accident recently and has been hospitalized, so he has an alibi and should be unaware of the situation.”
Shen Zhenzhu said, "So Gai Duoduo thought we couldn't find her old flame, and she didn't even bother to clean up the newspaper scraps. She's quite bold."
Zhao Qiqi said, "She thought the nanny would tidy up, but the nanny said that considering Gai Duoduo's emotional problems, she put everything in a shoebox and dared not throw away her personal belongings."
"Ha, this is a lucky coincidence." Chen Zhenzhu flipped through the scraps of newspaper with glee: "The missing words match the content of the threatening letter."
Gu Yanzheng glanced at it and said, "There's another question. Gai Duoduo had two alibis when she placed the threatening letters, which means that Ouyang Qing has accomplices. I guess the accomplices are Shao Li and Ouyang Aihua. Shao Li should be done for now. Why don't you go and give it a try?"
“That’s very likely. We need to continue interrogating Shao Li; she’s the key to this case.” Shen Zhenzhu stood up, stretched, and said, “I’ll wait a little longer. I’ll go check on Gai Duoduo first.”
Gu Yanzheng glanced at his watch and said, "This case is becoming clearer, I'll stop following it for now."
Shen Zhenzhu stood with her hands on her hips, looking at her boss without saying a word, her eyes drooping and her lips drooping, determined to make him notice her sarcastic smile.
Seeing her like this, Gu Yanzheng chuckled and said, "Go to the Municipal Bureau for a meeting." Then he added, "Director Tu specifically asked to see me."
That's more like it.
Chen Zhenzhu was used to disobeying superiors. After knowing the answer, she took her notebook and teacup and headed to the interrogation room.
As long as Zheng Ge isn't lazy, that's fine.
Halfway there, I realized I hadn't brought a pen, so I went back to my desk and opened the drawer.
The green glass bracelet, lying haphazardly among bubble gum, ballpoint pen refills, rubber bands, napkins, and other odds and ends, jingled.
This thing looks so fake green, she's embarrassed to wear it out. She tried to give it back to Gu Yanzheng, but he wouldn't take it.
Sigh, it's tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away; stained glass is harmful to the body.
She pulled out a fountain pen, slammed the drawer shut with a flourish, and left the office.
Zhao Qiqi asked curiously, "Boss, what kind of meeting are you going to? It's not going to be another rural support mission, is it?"
Gu Yanzheng glanced at him sideways.
Zhao Qiqi was curious and waited patiently.
Gu Yanzheng said, "Just do your own job well, and we'll issue a document to notify you when there are any arrangements."
"Okay, I understand."
After he left, Zhao Qiqi sat at the coffee table, feeling somewhat lost, and also sensing that something was off about her boss. He treated everyone equally, so why was he using all his patience on Sister Pearl?
His wild sixth sense wanted to tell him the answer, but Zhao Qiqi slapped him away.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
After thinking it over, he shook his head and went back to investigating the case.
Shen Zhenzhu was unaware of this little incident. She went to the interrogation room first and faced Gai Duoduo. She smiled.
When Gai Duoduo saw Chen Zhenzhu, her scalp tingled with fear. Seeing Chen Zhenzhu's sinister smile, she felt as if she knew something.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Shao Li has already confessed that you were accomplices in the murder."
Gai Duoduo's face quickly lost its color, and Shen Zhenzhu's reaction only confirmed this.
"What accomplice to murder? I really didn't."
"You know perfectly well whether it's true or not." Chen Zhenzhu tapped her watch face and said, "Now you're racing against Shao Li to tell the truth. If she confesses first, it won't matter how much you confess."
Shen Zhenzhu unleashed her superb acting skills, engaging in a dramatic exchange with Gai Duoduo. While she was observing Gai Duoduo, Gai Duoduo was also observing her.
Having been in the entertainment industry for so long and with decent acting skills, Gai Duoduo is confident in her judgment.
However, seeing Shen Zhenzhu return, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Gradually, Gai Duoduo's expression changed; it was no longer one of innocent accusation. She met Shen Zhenzhu's gaze with fierce intensity.
For a long while, no one looked away.
This eye contact marked the first time Gai Duoduo had displayed a fierce and aggressive nature.
"Give me a cigarette."
Two minutes later, Gai Duoduo, who had received the cigarette, skillfully took a drag, inhaled the smoke, and exhaled the pungent smoke through her nose.
"It seems that Shao Li really did tell."
Shen Zhenzhu stared at her indifferently. Gai Duoduo withdrew her probing gaze, threw her cigarette on the ground, and leaned back listlessly in her chair, saying, "Did she say why we wanted to kill Ouyang Qing?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Usury."
"Damn it!" Gai Duoduo said through gritted teeth, "She told me everything about herself. Does that mean she told me about me too?"
Shen Zhenzhu nodded and said, "You did it for fame."
Gai Duoduo gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with anger, and said, "What else did she say?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "If you say you are the mastermind, Ouyang Aihua was driven to it by drug addiction. They had no choice but to conspire with you to murder Ouyang Qing."
We'll stop here with the pearl; the rest is up to us to see how much we can extract.
Gai Duoduo's face turned pale with anger. She quickly said, "They want to control Ouyang Qing. Ouyang Qing is their cash cow. But no matter how much scandals and dirt they secretly spread or how many people they offend, Ouyang Qing seems to be born to be a star, soaring higher and higher. If she gets a role in Director Zhang's film and wins an international award, they won't be able to pull her back down. The loan sharking is just a pretext; they want to control her and make money for her."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Go on, tell me how you discussed the division of labor."
Gai Duoduo said through gritted teeth, "At first, I didn't know their purpose was to kill her. I thought they didn't want her to act in 'The Epang Palace' either. We took turns sending threatening letters so we could have alibis. If Ouyang Qing believed them, everyone would be happy."
"And then what?"
Gai Duoduo selfishly said, "Later I found out that Ouyang Qing was not afraid of the threatening letter at all. Two nights ago I talked to Ouyang Aihua and Shao Li because you two are already involved. I'm afraid of being exposed, which would be a devastating blow to my career."
"What was the result?" Chen Zhenzhu continued to guide the conversation.
Gai Duoduo said, "I was about to go into their room when I heard Ouyang Aihua on the phone. He was asking a lawyer if the brother would have the right to inherit the estate if his sister died! Shao Li found me then, and I had a big argument with them. I really didn't want to kill anyone."
"So you chose to give Ouyang Qing sleeping pills yourself, right?"
“Yes,” Gai Duoduo said. “I can’t go along with them, and I can’t wait any longer. Once she makes an appointment with Director Zhang, I’ll have no chance to turn things around.”
She said urgently, "I didn't kill her, but I really don't know why Ouyang Aihua died or who the murderer is. Please tell me, I only drugged her, will I go to jail? I have a long life ahead of me, I can't go to jail."
The thought that she would not become the center of attention in the future, but instead be imprisoned filled Gai Duoduo with fear.
"If only you had known this would happen," Chen Zhenzhu said. "Besides Ouyang Aihua and Shao Li, do you have any other accomplices?"
Gai Duoduo asked, "Didn't Shao Li say anything?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I've already told you, and I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Gai Duoduo stared blankly at Chen Zhenzhu for a few seconds, then suddenly shouted, "You're lying to me! Shao Li didn't confess! You're lying to me!!"
Chen Zhenzhu touched her face; the professionals were indeed more impressive.
"How do you know I'm lying to you?" Shen Zhenzhu asked shamelessly, "I don't think I've revealed anything."
The operative who had been taking notes suddenly looked up; he also thought Shao Li had confessed! It turned out that Sister Pearl was lying.
That's brilliant! You've uncovered quite a few clues.
"You liar! This is illegal! I don't admit what I just said!" Gai Duoduo felt like she was going to vomit blood. She had just raised her wrists when the handcuffs were pressed down by the female agent standing next to her: "Don't move!"
"You haven't answered me yet." Shen Zhenzhu repeatedly recalled the question she had just asked, not thinking there was anything wrong with it. But often, there are sensitive clues hidden there.
“That’s all.” Gai Duoduo was pressed down on the shoulder by the female agent and sat down again from her half-sitting, attacking posture. She said with a forced smile, “Who else could it be? Susan? She’s a coward, she doesn’t even dare to speak loudly. Lily? She has no brains at all, she’ll never amount to anything.”
Shen Zhenzhu nodded; this aligned with their assessment. Neither of them had a motive or were suspected of committing the crime.
......
Shen Zhenzhu came out of the interrogation room and met up with Lu Ye and the others.
The group compared the clues they already knew, and Shen Zhenzhu, still thinking about the brazier, said, "We haven't found a charcoal brazier in the film studio or nearby, so it's probably still hidden by the murderer. Shao Li is a strong possibility; we didn't find any tools to light charcoal in her hotel room. Now that we know Ouyang Qing bought a house in the suburbs, I'm going there now. If I'm not mistaken, the charcoal brazier might be there."
“When Shao Li returned to the crime scene, she said she wasn’t at the hotel that night, but went home. Maybe she really did go and hide there,” Wu Zhongguo said. “Sister Zhenzhu, I’ll go with you.”
“Okay.” Shen Zhenzhu added, “Shao Li, Ouyang Aihua and Gai Duoduo are suspected of murdering Ouyang Qing. Now that Ouyang Aihua is dead, ask Aye more about Shao Li.”
Lu Ye readily agreed.
Zhao Qiqi offered, "I'll drive."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "That's perfect. I'll get my driver's license soon, then you won't have a chance to drive."
Shen Zhenzhu then went to the villa area with Wu Zhongguo and Zhao Qiqi.
Ouyang Qing bought Ouyang Hao a seaside villa, which is 40 minutes from the city center and takes two hours to get to the film and television city.
Shen Zhenzhu and Wu Zhongguo discussed the case along the way, but when they arrived at the location, they were stunned to see an expensive garden villa that exuded an aura of wealth. They stood there dumbfounded in the car.
Do rich people have to live such a happy life?
"Sister Qing is so good to her nephew." Zhao Qiqi closed the car door; police cars never need to be locked.
"Facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming." Shen Zhenzhu said with great self-awareness, "Although he is not my biological son, I really raise him as if he were my own son. I'm afraid I will never be able to live in such a big villa in my lifetime."
Wu Zhongguo smiled and said, "That's hard to say, what if?"
Zhao Qiqi scratched his head and said, "Yeah, let's buy lottery tickets together when we get back today, just in case."
Wu Zhongguo was immediately delighted.
They entered the villa and searched it thoroughly.
The villa is luxuriously decorated, with all the furniture made of mahogany and other materials imported. The renovation of this 300-square-meter space might even cost more than the villa itself.
Zhao Qiqi came downstairs: "There's no washbasin, just a separate wet and dry bathroom, and the sink is made of imported marble. You can't move it even if you wanted to."
Wu Zhongguo said, "There are pots and pans in the kitchen, all brand new and unopened."
"Sister Pearl!" Zhao Qiqi ran to the backyard and shouted, "There's charcoal here, but it's for barbecues. I didn't see a pot."
Shen Zhenzhu wondered, "That's strange. How could such a large charcoal brazier just vanish into thin air?"
I returned to the office empty-handed; it was already dark.
Xiao Li had someone deliver boxed lunches, and the people from Team Four wolfed them down.
Chen Zhenzhu said, "There are four dishes and a soup, plus beef noodles. Everyone can choose for themselves."
Lu Ye asked in bewilderment, "Sister Pearl has been feeding us a lot lately. Has she been doing something good behind our backs?"
Instead of saying she was leaving, Shen Zhenzhu smiled and said, "Can't you shut your mouth with food?"
Lu Ye took the boxed lunch. Feeling indebted to his sixth sister, he quickly said, "I'm done, I'm done. I can't say a word except for eating now."
Shen Zhenzhu went out and called Chen Junsheng over again: "Let's eat."
Chen Junsheng rubbed his hands together, eagerly anticipating his sixth sister's cooking. He'd eaten quite a bit these past few days and felt he'd really miss it when he got back to Hong Kong.
Knowing they had big appetites, the boxed meals they delivered were often extra. Usually, these went to the other teams who were working overtime. Today, Chen Zhenzhu took the boxed meals and beef noodles to Ouyang Qing in the small meeting room.
Before leaving for the Municipal Bureau, Gu Yanzheng had a chat with Ouyang Qing, which should have cleared her of suspicion.
Ouyang Qing was a smart man. Smart people, knowing they are about to be killed, often resist or even kill in return.
However, it was clear that although Ouyang Qing was intelligent, she was deeply trapped in her brother's brainwashing. After so many years of relatives saying they were good to her, she was caught off guard when they suddenly wanted to kill her.
Ouyang Qing covered himself with Ouyang Hao's coat and took a short nap.
She had a splitting headache, and her emotions went from panic to heartache to despair.
With his emotional support collapsing, Ouyang Qing was overwhelmed by a profound sense of betrayal and sorrow.
Hearing footsteps, Ouyang Qing, with his hair disheveled, got up from the sofa.
"Sister Qing, this is a lunchbox and beef noodles delivered from my mom's shop. You and Xiaohao can have some. I'll go get some vinegar and pickled vegetables."
"Thank you," Ouyang Qing said in a hoarse voice.
The boxed lunch contains a variety of delicious dishes such as sweet and sour pork and braised fish. Although the beef noodles are simple, the carefully simmered beef broth, along with eggs and beef slices, is quite nourishing.
Ouyang Hao wanted to take the beef noodles; after working so hard for so long, he wanted to have some soup.
Ouyang Qing pushed the lunchbox towards him: "Xiao Hao, try the food from Sixth Sister's restaurant."
Ouyang Hao picked up the lunchbox again and opened it. It looked and smelled delicious. He said in a hoarse voice, "Hmm, it smells pretty good. I was just afraid I wouldn't be able to finish it and it would be a waste."
Ouyang Qing stirred his beef noodles, glanced at him carefully, and said, "A grown man can't even finish a box of rice?"
Shen Zhenzhu went to the office to get a vinegar bottle and some kimchi. Upon hearing this, she said, "I can finish it all, you definitely can." Then she said to Ouyang Qing, "Brother Aye can finish three servings at once."
"Being able to eat is a blessing." Ouyang Qing smiled, scooped up a spoonful of rich beef soup, and took a sip. His cold internal organs slowly warmed up.
Shen Zhenzhu was going to find Shao Li to comfort Ouyang Qing, saying, "I'm going to eat, and I have to work overtime after that. Sister Qing, you're so lucky, eat more. If you're not full, have Xiao Hao get some from the office. There are also sugar triangles."
Shen Zhenzhu subtly mocked the deceased Ouyang Aihua. Ouyang Qing sighed, finally willing to fill the emptiness in his abdomen.
"Why hasn't my mother come out yet?" Ouyang Hao picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and handed it to Ouyang Qing, asking in confusion, "My father's body still needs to be retrieved. Who else is this Section Chief Shen going to arrest? Isn't Gai Duoduo the murderer?"
Ouyang Qing took a bite of the chewy noodles, swallowed them slowly, and said, "Gai Duoduo is probably not the murderer. Didn't the police tell you? Your father died of carbon monoxide poisoning."
Ouyang Hao's chopsticks clattered onto the coffee table. He gasped for breath, like a fish out of water, "How... how is this possible..."
Ouyang Qing lowered her eyes and continued eating her beef noodles. She had figured it out: rather than letting those who hated her be happy, it was better to be sad together.
She has a clear conscience and has never stooped to crooked ways, but some people insist on stabbing her heart with sharp swords.
She needs to learn to pull out the sword little by little; she needs to live well and let those who hate her go to hell in a state of powerless madness.
Ouyang Hao picked up his chopsticks and ate quickly. Looking at Ouyang Qing's expression, he said, "Auntie, I'm going back to the villa to change my clothes later. Is there anything you need me to bring?"
After finishing the last sip of beef soup, Ouyang Qing said, "No. You can go now."
......
Shen Zhenzhu arrived outside Shao Li's interrogation room. Inside, Shao Li remained silent, insisting that a lawyer come before she would speak.
Shen Zhenzhu leaned against the wall, recalling her conversation with Gai Duoduo.
In Shen Zhenzhu's impression of Gai Duoduo, she did not think Gai Duoduo was a particularly clever person.
When Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Who else is in the group?", Gai Duoduo opened her mouth to answer.
That proves there's still one fish that slipped through the net.
But when she said, "Shao Li said it," Gai Duoduo, contrary to her usual behavior, went crazy and berated herself for lying to her.
That means that Shao Li would never implicate this accomplice.
Who else could she care about so much if she conspired with her husband to control, threaten, and even kill her sister-in-law?
Shen Zhenzhu suddenly stood up straight and walked quickly outside.
The agents in the interrogation room thought Shen Zhenzhu would come in and were about to open the door when she unexpectedly left.
"Uncle Wu, check the flight tickets from Shanghai to Liancheng this morning. See if there's anyone named Ouyang Hao on them," Shen Zhenzhu said as soon as she arrived at the office.
Lu Ye put down the third box of rice, wiped his mouth, and said, "Sister Pearl, any new discoveries?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I previously suspected that Shao Li and the others had an accomplice, and I think Ouyang Hao is very likely to be one of them."
Wu Zhongguo immediately searched the phone book, and five minutes later, he covered the receiver and said, "There was indeed a plane coming from Shanghai this morning, but Ouyang Hao is not listed in the passenger information."
"That's right." Shen Zhenzhu dialed the number of the Starfish Garden Hotel, identified herself, and asked about Ouyang Hao's check-in time.
After verifying the phone number and confirming it belonged to the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Division, the hotel receptionist politely said, "Hello, sir. Mr. Ouyang Hao checked in at 3 a.m. the night before last. We also have records of the hotel driver picking him up from the airport."
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Did he call a driver last night?"
The hotel receptionist flipped through her notebook on the phone and said, "No, not yesterday, but they used the car early this morning."
"Where did you go? Can you contact the driver?"
The hotel receptionist said, "Please wait a moment, I'll find the car fleet's phone number and talk to them."
Shen Zhenzhu tapped her fingertips on the table, and Lu Ye came over and put the phone on speakerphone.
Zhao Qiqi returned starving, carrying a lunchbox and about to grab a couple of bites when she saw everyone gathered around the landline. She quickly brought her lunchbox over and asked, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"You'll find out in a bit," Lu Ye said. "There's also a bowl of beef noodles; you can clean it up later."
"No problem." Zhao Qiqi shoveled another mouthful of rice and quickly finished off the sweet and sour pork.
After waiting for seven or eight minutes, there was finally a response from the landline.
A middle-aged man's voice came from inside: "Hello, police officer, I am Wu Chao, a driver from the second fleet of Haixing Garden Hotel."
"Hello Wu Chao, may I ask where you took Ouyang Hao this morning?"
Wu Chao recalled, "I went to the East Coast Villa Community first, before dawn."
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Is he alone?"
Wu Chao said, "He was the only one in the car. After he got out, a woman was waiting for him outside the villa, looking flustered. She had short hair, wasn't fat, and looked to be in her early forties. I remember she was wearing a blue plaid sweater and gray suit pants."
Zhao Qiqi was so excited she almost choked. The information Wu Chao gave her matched Shao Li's physical characteristics perfectly!
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "Could you hear what he said to that woman?"
Wu Chao said, "I stood outside the car for a long time, but the wind was so strong that I couldn't hear them at all. Later, they went into the room and didn't come out for a long time. I was urging them to hurry because I had to pick someone up from the airport."
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Did he take anything out?"
Wu Chao said, "Speaking of things... he had a suitcase, and I wanted to help him carry it to the trunk, but he wouldn't let me. Strangely, when I touched the suitcase, it was very light, not like it was filled with a lot of stuff. Later, I saw him about to throw the suitcase away on the way and said, 'It's a shame to throw away such a nice suitcase. If you don't want it, could you give it to me?' I shouldn't have said that, because if the hotel knew, they would think I was being unprofessional. But it was such a nice suitcase, a V brand, very expensive. After I said that, he cursed at me the whole way. Sigh... In the end, I didn't get the suitcase, and I didn't get a tip. I just took him back to the hotel like that."
"Could you please come over sometime and give a statement in person?"
“No problem, my manager told me to cooperate fully with the police.” Wu Chao said cooperatively.
After clarifying the situation, Shen Zhenzhu hung up the phone and said, "It really is in his hands."
Wu Zhongguo said, "No wonder I felt that kid was being hypocritical."
Lu Ye and Zhao Qiqi immediately rushed out of the office to grab Ouyang Hao.
But Ouyang Qing told them that Ouyang Hao had just left.
“He’s trying to destroy the evidence,” Shen Zhenzhu said. “Is anyone following him?”
“Yes, you said you wouldn’t let any of Sister Qing’s people go, so I arranged for people to keep watch over him as soon as he came over.” Lu Ye strode forward: “This time we’ll catch him red-handed!”
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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see]
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