Chapter 55 I've Found You, Woman
Chen Zhenzhu ground her teeth, pondering how to find this woman.
Back in the office, Lu Ye's loud, mocking voice could still be heard: "He said he wanted 500,000 to bribe Sister Pearl, and that he gave the boss 100,000. The boss is completely subservient to Mrs. Xu. When he heard that, the boss's face turned black."
Zhou Chuanxi and the others felt a great sense of satisfaction. Looking at Gu Yanzheng's helpless face, he also said, "Sister Pearl goes without saying. She is a model of hard work and self-improvement in our team and cherishes her reputation very much. As for Captain Gu, he wouldn't embezzle anything, and he even donated a police car to the convoy last year."
"You donated police cars to the station? When did that happen?" Chen Zhenzhu entered the office and overheard the second half of the story: "How come I didn't know?"
Gu Yanzheng simply said, "It happened before you came. Otherwise, they would always hitch a ride with me, which is really annoying."
Shen Zhenzhu believed it to be true, sat back down and watched Lu Ye and the others talk, while she wrote down clues and mind maps in her notebook.
About an hour later, Liu Mei called: "Zhao Bingrui was arrested on the spot while recording a program. He even criticized the mainland police for their incompetence on camera, saying that the Hong Kong detectives caught the suspect much faster... It's one thing for him to be biased towards outsiders, but his values are also warped and he turns black into white. It's really embarrassing for me to be in the same industry as him."
“You’ve brought honor to the industry, don’t associate with people like him. I’ve never considered you or him to be the same kind of person.” Shen Zhenzhu spoke gently and considerately, offering a few words of comfort to Liu Mei.
After hanging up the phone, her signature dimples appeared on her cheeks, and she announced loudly with a smug look, "Zhao Bingrui has been arrested by our anti-corruption team colleagues! Our colleagues are incredibly efficient!"
Zhou Chuanxi was the first to respond: "We have to celebrate today, no matter what. I'll order two roast chickens and milk tea, it's all on me from my savings!"
Shen Zhenzhu cheered and immediately perked up.
Gu Yanzheng returned from outside after receiving a phone call: "The anti-corruption team will be coming over later to find out the situation. It won't take too much time. We should all just be truthful."
Zhao Qiqi couldn't understand and whispered, "Why are you thinking of bribing Sister Pearl?"
Zhou Chuanxi walked past him, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You've grown young, haven't you? Let me tell you, if Sister Pearl takes this money, once Mrs. Xu retrieves Xu Jiachang's body and cremates it, believe me, she'll immediately turn on you and bite you back?"
"Wow, how can you be so untrustworthy?" Zhao Qiqi was dumbfounded.
Gu Yanzheng had discussed Mrs. Xu's issue with Director Liu, but he couldn't be too explicit here. He simply said, "In a few years, when Hong Kong returns to China, things will be very complicated. Some forces will try their best to smear mainland cadres, so don't be too naive, but there's no need to treat it like a monster either. If you stay true to your original aspirations and don't violate rules or regulations, you won't be afraid of their mudslinging. After the return, those who are meant to behave will behave themselves."
Having witnessed the scenes before and after the handover, Shen Zhenzhu still looked forward to the return of Hong Kong. She also understood that a minority is always a minority, and the vast majority of people are still willing to return to the embrace of their motherland.
She listened to Gu Yanzheng with a smile on her face, thinking that her brother Zheng was really insightful, good at thinking, and always paying attention to future development.
"Brother Zheng, have you finished writing your application?" Shen Zhenzhu suddenly remembered this.
Gu Yanzheng said with a relaxed expression, "It's been submitted, and we're ready to answer any questions." Seeing that everyone had rested enough, he walked to the blackboard and said, "Then let's continue to follow up on the case."
Wu Zhongguo complained: "Mrs. Xu keeps saying that she has a good relationship with Xu Jiachang, but I don't see what kind of relationship is stronger than gold. She still has the nerve to say that Xu Jiachang is the best man in the world. Drinking, gambling and whoring are his true nature. He is kept in the dark in Hong Kong, but he runs wild and lets himself go in the mainland."
“Hey, that’s really true,” Chen Zhenzhu said. “They’re not a cult or gang anymore?”
Seeing that she was young and inexperienced, Wu Zhongguo knew that there were some things he couldn't say directly, so he nodded.
Gu Yanzheng said, "There wasn't much space for Ma Xiangxiang's autopsy, but fortunately, we were able to confirm his identity."
He handed Shen Zhenzhu a document and said, "A month ago, Ma Xiangxiang's wife reported him missing to the Hong Kong and Taiwan Affairs Office and the mainland public security bureau. He was setting up a mainland office in Liancheng to handle port matters and often traveled to Liancheng on business. She suspected that he had a lover in Liancheng, but there was nothing she could do about it."
"Another Hong Kong businessman? This is a murder specifically targeting Hong Kong businessmen." Tian Yongfeng brought over a bowl of egg fried rice, eating as he spoke. "They identified him so quickly? What about his movements after coming to Liancheng?"
Shen Zhenzhu is reading Ma Xiangxiang's wife's statement. She is much more cooperative than Mrs. Xu. In order to find her husband, she even revealed in the statement that he also keeps a woman in Shenzhen.
"Could there really be women here?" Shen Zhenzhu asked, pointing to the record.
Lu Ye slapped his forehead and said, "If someone is found naked, regardless of their posture, it's easy to assume they're in a sexual relationship."
"You actually thought of this kind of weird and strange pose?" Zhou Chuanxi teased, "You should hurry up and find a girlfriend."
Lu Ye blushed deeply and didn't know how to refute it for a moment.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I think Brother Ye's direction is correct. I don't really believe in cults and gangs either. There are three things to note. First, it's easier to hire someone to kill someone in Hong Kong under their sphere of influence. Second, we had a crackdown campaign that lasted for more than half a year last year, arresting and cracking down on criminal groups. Logically speaking, it's impossible to commit crimes against the wind during this period."
Shen Zhenzhu stood up and walked to the blackboard. She took the chalk Gu Yanzheng handed her and wrote the words "subculture" on the blackboard. Seeing Lu Ye's blank eyes, she circled the words "subculture" heavily and said:
"Based on the postures of the two victims and the cause of death, I attempted to interpret it from the perspective of criminal psychodynamics. Their postures at death clearly implied a surrender of bodily control."
Seeing Gu Yanzheng nod slightly, Lu Ye continued, bewildered, "What kind of person would hand over control of their body to a murderer?"
Not only did he have this question, but Zhao Qiqi did too.
Zhou Chuanxi seemed to have thought of something, and his expression wasn't very pleasant.
“There is a type of emotional relationship that forms a unique ‘negotiated power exchange.’ Those who relinquish physical control are called Masochists. They can temporarily escape real-world responsibilities and gain a sense of security, relief, or stimulation from being dominated. In turn, by gaining control over others, they can satisfy their rights and compensate for the powerlessness, pressure, and emotional neglect in real life. This type of person is called a Sadist.”
Seeing that they were all listening attentively, Chen Zhenzhu turned around and wrote the words "Sadist" and "Masochist" on the blackboard, then wrote the word "endorphin" between them: "Physiological studies have found that pain stimulates the secretion of endorphins. Some people experience pleasure from pain caused by others, and some people associate this feeling with sexual pleasure in a conditioned reflex. You all understand what I mean, right?"
"Fast, fast, feeling?"
Shen Zhenzhu couldn't help but laugh as she watched Zhao Qiqi's eyes change from clear to blank, then to shocked, and finally to incoherent speech.
Lu Ye hugged himself tightly and exclaimed, "The world is so big, there are so many wonders!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "I thought of this when I saw their disciplined postures. Some SM enthusiasts may have experienced strict discipline or emotional neglect in their childhood. As adults, they seek emotional connection with the S to affirm their self-worth by repeating childhood scenarios, such as being punished, bound, or locked in a small space."
As she spoke, she pointed to the names of the deceased: "They also used this behavior to reverse their roles, just like Mr. Xu and Mr. Ma. In public, they were superior people, but in private, they played the role of trying to release stress, pursuing high-intensity stimulation, breaking the monotony of daily life, and realizing sexual fantasies."
She paused to take a sip of water and observed the reactions of the other members of the four teams. While everyone was initially stunned, they quickly processed the idea and, in her opinion, were quite impressed.
After all, there were many conservative people in that era, and the taboo surrounding sex did not improve much in the following decades. Opening up one's mind requires a long time and a process.
"So why would such behavior lead to their deaths?" Zhou Chuanxi asked the crucial question.
Shen Zhenzhu glanced at Gu Yanzheng and stated frankly, "If both parties were in a voluntary, informed, and safe situation, there would be no danger to their lives, which could be considered a form of fun. However, it is clear that the two deceased were subjected to a destructive, extremely painful, and coercive method that broke the constraints, causing their deaths. This seems more like a sadistic personality disorder, involving an extreme desire for control and a morbid pleasure."
The perpetrator needs to escalate the violence to satisfy themselves, often ultimately crossing the line and causing the victim's death, thus gaining complete control over the victim's life. Such individuals lack empathy and remorse, manipulating and deceiving victims through BDSM to attract them; their actions are premeditated.
"So, both of the deceased had women outside their marriages, and as playboys, they were more easily attracted," Wu Zhongguo said.
Gu Yanzheng wrote down the key points she made in the handwriting and said with a solemn expression: "This is a distorted expression of psychological trauma. It is possible that she has experienced abuse and is 'transferring pain' by imitating the role of the perpetrator, but to a degree that far exceeds the original situation."
"Retaliation for sexual violence?" Zhao Qiqi blurted out.
Shen Zhenzhu slammed her hand on the table: "Yes, these kinds of people are more psychologically similar to serial killers. The targets chosen by the killers have the same conditions, such as 'Hong Kong tycoon', 'middle-aged man', and 'married and claiming that their love is stronger than gold'."
Wu Zhongguo pondered and said, "Could we conclude that the murderer may have been betrayed by a middle-aged Hong Kong tycoon? So that after gaining power, she chose to target this type of person... Hey, if that's the case, the murderer is very likely a woman!"
I've been waiting for you to say that.
Shen Zhenzhu secretly clenched her fist, knowing that she was one step closer to "her".
"The part of the contract deliberately hidden in the cement was just a cover, meant to make investigators think of her as a business rival... To lure Hong Kong businessmen into playing this dangerous game with her, she must at least be an outstanding and fatally attractive woman. Could the case be classified as a crime of passion?" Wu Zhongguo speculated.
Inspired by Shen Zhenzhu, Gu Yanzheng said, "Perhaps it leans more towards taking revenge on society, belonging to atypical antisocial personality."
***
Jingangwan Celebrity Kindergarten is one of the top-tier private kindergartens in Liancheng. While the average worker's salary was between 300 and 500 yuan, the kindergarten's monthly tuition was as high as 1,000 yuan.
Every time kindergarten lets out, it's not the children's parents who come to pick them up at the gate, but the family's nanny or driver.
"Teacher Qin, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Although Liu Hongmei's name sounded rustic, her attire was flamboyant and trendy. She still smelled of alcohol and her restlessness was hard to hide.
Liu Hongmei used to work as a beer girl in Shenzhen. It is said that she hooked up with a rich man in Hong Kong and had a son with him. Now she has come to a livable city with mountains and sea. Every day, she spends her time shopping, playing mahjong, and taking her child to call her father to ask for living expenses.
"Did you speak up for me? Please give me a few days' grace period for next month's tuition. I'll pay it when Xiao Bao's dad comes back from his business trip." Liu Hongmei stood arrogantly in front of Teacher Qin, grabbed the chubby boy's arm, and hurriedly left without waiting for Teacher Qin's reply.
"Didn't she say her man was from Gangcheng?" Another kindergarten teacher, after dropping off the children, waved goodbye while chirping behind her, "Can't even afford the tuition?"
Ms. Qin wore honest and unassuming black-rimmed glasses, her hair was unkempt, and her ponytail hung loosely at the back of her neck. There were sticky candy stains on her hands from shaking hands with the children. She wiped her hands on her apron and said, "Ms. Wang, I'm going home now."
"Alright, there's still some food in the kitchen, take it back and eat with your mom." Teacher Wang was older than Teacher Qin and knew that Teacher Qin's family situation was not good, and that she still owed medical bills, so she took the initiative to take on the rest of the work.
Teacher Qin packed two lunchboxes in the kindergarten kitchen, put them in her bag, and turned around to see the principal standing behind her. The principal picked up two uneaten eggs from the basin and stuffed them into her bag, saying, "If you're on your way, could you please check why Zhou Yousheng's parents haven't come to the school to pay the fees? Logically speaking, a highly educated family like that shouldn't be in arrears on tuition."
"Okay, I'll be going now." Teacher Qin was hardworking and conscientious at the kindergarten, and she also found a part-time job at Zhou Yousheng's house.
After Teacher Qin left, Teacher Wang came in, shook his head, and said, "It's a pity that such a good girl has such a mother; the medical expenses are like a bottomless pit."
It's going to rain again; thunder rumbled in the evening.
Qin Lingling rode her bicycle out of the upscale Jingangwan residential area and walked along the road for quite a while before entering an alley.
Half of the people here have been relocated, half have become wealthy and escaped the masses, while the other half are still struggling in the mire.
Teacher Qin pushed the bicycle to the bottom of the tenement building, locked it, tugged hard on the chain to make sure it was locked, and then carried the simple beige cloth bag up to the seventh floor.
Taking care of a child is already exhausting after a long day, and when I opened the door, I was greeted by my mother Qin Shufang's furious yelling: "Do you want to starve your old mother to death? Which man have you been flirting with again and you're only just getting back now!"
Qin Lingling quickly took out her lunchbox, grabbed a spoon from the kitchen converted from the balcony, and went into the bedroom of the one-bedroom apartment.
The elderly woman, paralyzed in bed, was emaciated, and the house was filled with a filthy, foul smell because of the hot weather.
She could only move her head, so she glared at Qin Lingling with vicious eyes, as if she was jealous that Qin Lingling could move freely while she could only lie there waiting to die, and even hurled insults at her during her meal breaks.
After feeding her, Qin Lingling was drenched in sweat.
She dutifully wiped her mother's body, but somehow offended her mother and was spat on: "If you were a boy, I would have been a rich lady in Hong Kong long ago! Giving birth to such a good-for-nothing as you, who can't earn money at his age, is worse than serving a man. Earning a meager salary is less than what you could earn by prostituting yourself on the street!"
"There's enough money for medical expenses this month, Mom...don't worry." Qin Lingling had heard these words since she was a child.
"If it weren't for you! If it weren't for you!" Qin Shufang's eyes widened; if she could sit up, she would definitely bite Qin Lingling's throat.
"You should have been a boy! If you were a boy, he wouldn't have abandoned me after I gave birth to you, letting his wife beat me into a cripple! If you were a boy, I could have stayed in Hong Kong as a rich wife, even if I were a concubine! How could I have given birth to a daughter like you, who is worse than a dog!"
Qin Shufang blamed all her failures on Qin Lingling. Qin Lingling finished wiping her body expressionlessly and said in a low voice, "It's almost time. I'm going to help someone clean up."
"Go work as a prostitute!" Qin Shufang cursed, "You poor wretch! You good-for-nothing!"
Qin Lingling came to the living room and slowly finished her dinner amidst her mother's scolding.
She stood in front of the mirror, letting her hair fall loose, took off her black-rimmed glasses, and dabbed her lips with scarlet lipstick.
Her form-fitting, alluring dress revealed a voluptuous cleavage at the neckline. She put on stylish sunglasses and said to the bedroom, "I'm going to get to work."
Zhou Yousheng's mother is often away from home. This time, taking advantage of her free time, she didn't let her child attend the kindergarten's summer daycare program and took Zhou Yousheng abroad for a trip.
Qin Lingling had worked at her house for half a year, so Zhou Yousheng's mother did not cancel the twice-weekly cleaning service, partly out of pity for Qin Lingling.
Qin Lingling arrived at a newly built high-rise building next to the Jingangwan residential area. Most of the apartments here are large, single-level units occupied by highly skilled professionals or wealthy individuals, showcasing a magnificent style that is in line with international standards.
I arrived at the only apartment on the 19th floor with ease, rang the doorbell, and stood at the door to wait.
Soon the door opened, and Zhou Huaxian, the beloved professor from Hong Kong, stood naked in front of her, his mouth agape in excitement but he dared not utter a sound.
Qin Lingling strolled into the house, and he closed the door and went to greet her with trepidation. Before the woman could give any orders, he knelt humbly and submissively beside her high heels, lowering his proud head.
Are you ready to accept the game?
......
......
After finishing her shift at the Criminal Investigation Team, Shen Zhenzhu took a ride-sharing car home in a new Cherokee.
She didn't have the energy to go to the shop to make milk tea, so she went home, took a shower, and fell asleep.
She woke up late at night and got up to pour herself some water, only to find a mailbag on the table.
"Beijing?" Shen Zhenzhu turned on the room light, took scissors, sat at the desk, and carefully removed the stitches. Inside, she found a videotape and a photo album.
First, open the photo album. The first photo shows her leaping from the second floor of a black brick factory to beat someone up.
The photos include one of her with the rescued disabled people, all of them biting into bright red tomatoes for the camera. There's also a half-body shot of her squatting in front of peonies, her eyes bright and her smile captivating.
The album contains edited video clips and photos, including interviews with He Liana, discussions about the case, and conversations with victims' families. The last photo shows her and He Liana standing in front of the camera, heads close together, hands linked, and laughing together.
That's great.
Chen Zhenzhu stroked the photos and saw the last page of the album, where the words "Be a great woman, be a warrior of the times" were written in elegant handwriting.
Since there was no VCR at home and no way to play videotapes, Chen Zhenzhu received a surprise gift from He Lianna, which swept away her fatigue of the past few days.
The next morning, she knocked on Shen Yuyuan's door: "Did you pick up the mail package for me?"
Shen Yuyuan slipped on her nightgown, yawning as she said, "Sister Na said she saw the news about you and sent it over to cheer you up. She said 'Focus Interview' will air that case the week after next. How about it? Are you happy now?"
"I'm happy, I must be happy!" Chen Zhenzhu placed the photo album on the dining table: "You and Sixth Sister remember to admire my heroic figure."
"You're going to work already?" Shen Yuyuan said, "I haven't had breakfast yet."
Shen Zhenzhu was anxious to solve the case. She knew that there were probably still survivors in the hands of the murderer. If she delayed for even a day, the chances of the other party surviving would decrease.
"I've got some steamed buns, I'll eat them as I walk." Shen Zhenzhu walked to the door to put on her shoes, and Shen Yuyuan came over and whispered, "I heard someone wants to bribe you? Five hundred thousand can buy several houses, right?"
Shen Zhenzhu was taken aback: "Hey, where did you get this information?"
Shen Yuyuan said, "Grandpa Zhang and his family were at the police station when they heard that someone had solved a case before you. They didn't believe it and insisted on squeezing over to see. Later, they saw the other person being handcuffed and heard someone inside say something that he overheard."
"Let him listen, I didn't take anything anyway, and the city TV station will broadcast it later." Shen Zhenzhu, however, had doubts about Grandpa Zhang's trip to the police station: "Could he still be thinking about canceling his household registration and buying a coffin? Is Brother Leng running another promotion?"
Shen Yuyuan covered her mouth and laughed: "How did you know? Brother Leng is planning to switch to selling furniture, and he has a few coffin boards on sale."
Shen Zhenzhu laughed: "I'm used to it every year. I admire Grandpa Zhang's energy. I'm leaving now."
"Bye-Bye."
Shen Zhenzhu picked up a funny story early in the morning, munching on a steamed bun as she walked. She encountered many neighbors who greeted her, as if she had returned to the time last year when she was still working at the police station, and people would often ask her for "insider information".
However, it was still a bit hot at the criminal investigation team station in the summer, so she planned to reward herself with a bicycle after solving the case. Entering the station, she saw the Cherokee parked in its usual spot, with Gu Yanzheng's cool motorcycle occasionally seen in front of it, and she couldn't help but take another look.
"Good morning, Sister Pearl." Zhou Chuanxi returned from the bank and, before the case meeting even started, gave Shen Zhenzhu another surprise: "We couldn't find any transactions in Xu Jiachang's bank account. I contacted Mrs. Xu, but she's too busy to provide any mainland transaction records. I think she's afraid we'll follow the trail and find Xu Jiachang's mistress in the mainland. But we've found something with Ma Xiangxiang."
"What did you find?" Gu Yanzheng and Lu Ye came in one after the other, they must have been sparring, both of them were covered in sweat.
Zhou Chuanxi handed the documents to Gu Yanzheng and said, "Ma Xiangxiang has a regular bank transfer in mainland China that has been going on for four years. The recipient is Liu Hongmei. I have checked her background. She is not a local resident and is a single mother with a son. She used to work as a factory worker and a beer girl in Shenzhen. Later, she bought a townhouse in the Jingangwan community while pregnant."
Shen Zhenzhu moved closer to Gu Yanzheng, feeling the still-warm body heat from his recent shower. She stared intently at Liu Hongmei's passport photo, then, a few seconds later, concealing her disappointment, took a few steps back.
Wu Zhongguo came in from outside, glanced at her, and said, "Liu Hongmei comes from a rural background and doesn't have much education, but she's good-looking and has a good temperament. She even gave birth to a son for Ma Xiangxiang. No wonder Ma Xiangxiang sends money so frequently every month."
Lu Ye clicked his tongue and said, "Two thousand a month for living expenses is more than my salary. Sooner or later, this society will laugh at poverty but not prostitution."
"What are your plans?" Gu Yanzheng hadn't forgotten that this "grandfather-granddaughter game" was a contest between Shen Zhenzhu and Tian Yongfeng, so he turned to her and asked.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Since she has a close relationship with Ma Xiangxiang, Ah Ye and I should go and investigate. Maybe we can find some clues."
Gu Yanzheng said, "I need to go to the Municipal Bureau. I'll take you there."
"Thanks, Brother Zheng." Shen Zhenzhu looked at the others and said, "Brother Xi, continue to trace the tire tracks and look for the tools used to transport the body. Uncle Wu and Brother A, continue to investigate their interpersonal relationships to see if there are any overlaps. Also, if you come into contact with any unusually attractive women during the investigation, be sure to report it."
"yes!"
"clear!"
Gu Yanzheng glanced at her, nodded, and said, "'Exceptional charm' is a more accurate description than 'Exceptional beauty.' Someone like her must have an absolute attraction to a certain type of person."
After they left, Zhou Chuanxi sat down in his chair and sighed, "I hope we don't go astray."
Wu Zhongguo laughed and said, "Scared?"
Zhou Chuanxi said, "We have very few clues now, and it's all based on Sister Pearl's deductions. If we go astray, the consequences will be unimaginable."
“Then it won’t go astray,” Wu Zhongguo said. “It’s better to trust your teammates than to believe in gods, Buddhas, or crooked paths.”
At the entrance of Jingangwan Star Kindergarten.
Today it was Teacher Wang and Teacher Qin's turn to greet the children at the door. The prestigious kindergarten doesn't have many students, yet it's enough to support its expensive rent and expenses; the wealthy parents deserve much of the credit.
What's enviable is not only the parents' economic strength, but also the loving couples who are like a match made in heaven.
"Mr. Zhou, this is the tuition receipt," the principal called out to Zhou Huaxian.
He wore a navy blue suit, his bow tie was impeccably tied, and his sideburns were neatly combed behind his ears. His left wrist, as he took the receipt, revealed an expensive wristwatch, and for some reason, his wrist trembled slightly.
"I played a game of tennis yesterday." Seeing the principal staring at his left hand, he quickly took the receipt and said, "I'll take my leave now."
As he passed by Qin Lingling, he caught a faint scent of her body fragrance. He swallowed hard, pulled up his collar below his Adam's apple to avoid being seen by anyone who would notice the hidden marks from her strangulation.
"He's clearly from Hong Kong, but his Mandarin is so good, and he's so kind to his wife and kids," Teacher Wang said enviously. "I heard his family is quite wealthy in Hong Kong; he's a rich young master. I thought he'd find a woman of equal social standing, like in Hong Kong dramas..."
Qin Lingling has never been interested in gossip, but for some reason today, she picked up on Teacher Wang's words and said with a half-smile, "Perhaps he does have a woman of equal social standing over there."
"Huh?" Teacher Wang was taken aback. Seeing the fleeting look of disdain on Qin Lingling's face, he thought he had misread it.
She was interested in gossip and pressed, "Do you have inside information? Who told you? Did you see something you shouldn't have while working at his house?"
"I was just talking nonsense to go along with what you said. Please don't spread it around. All the couples in this neighborhood look up to them as role models."
Teacher Wang thought for a moment and said, "Others may cheat, but I think Mr. Zhou definitely won't. You can tell he's a good person."
Qin Lingling smiled.
You can know a person's face but not their heart. Her mother thought her father was a good person back then, but what happened to her in the end?
Why do men who cheat always have such a sanctimonious face? Is it because women are the ones who ultimately bear the consequences?
Qin Lingling did not continue to communicate with Teacher Wang, and focused on her work as before.
Just as the kindergarten bell rang, Liu Hongmei called out to Teacher Wang, who was standing at the door.
Liu Hongmei pushed her son into the kindergarten, saying anxiously yet excitedly, "I have guests at home, so I'll definitely pay the tuition later, and I can even give you a little extra. Please tell Teacher Qin for me that no matter who it is, they absolutely won't be able to take my son away!"
She watched her son enter the kindergarten, making sure her future of wealth and honor was secure, and then hurried back home, not caring that she almost twisted her ankle in her high heels.
As she left, she didn't notice that through the kindergarten classroom window, a pair of brows and eyes suddenly furrowed.
...
Shen Zhenzhu and Lu Ye stood outside Liu Hongmei's villa, led by a security guard.
The two country bumpkins, one big and one small, felt awkward entering other people's homes, so they stood in the shade of a tree and expressed their admiration for the environment of the Jingangwan community and the taste of its residents.
"Sister Pearl, do you think I could get rich if I followed the crowd and invested in stocks?" Lu Ye said, "Recently, a lot of people have gone to the south to buy stocks, and I heard that some people have actually made a fortune."
"There will be more people jumping off buildings to watch you do this, so you're not allowed to buy stocks, you hear me?" Shen Zhenzhu knew that the recent brief crash had ended, and people had forgotten the pain and were frantically chasing rising stocks, with speculation rampant.
Next year, another stock market crash will occur during the major bear market, causing the market to collapse, the bubble to burst, and people on the top floor to line up to jump.
The overnight fortunes of "Zhao the Millionaire," "Wang the Millionaire," and "Li the Millionaire" brought them hundreds of times the profits, but also led to their deaths.
“Many people borrow ID cards to open bank accounts. Have you seen the news? They carry a backpack full of ID cards to open bank accounts and make money.” Lu Ye leaned against a tree, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Listen to me, don't touch stocks. You'll thank me after next year's Qingming Festival." Shen Zhenzhu's big eyes also showed signs of professionalism, scrutinizing the passersby.
"I'm here! Come on in!" Liu Hongmei ran back excitedly, beckoning Shen Zhenzhu and Lu Ye to walk into the villa: "Auntie, pour some juice!"
Chen Zhenzhu sat on the leather sofa in the spacious living room. Perhaps because she had lived there for a long time, the style of the villa had changed from American to country American. Toys were scattered all over the floor, along with a winnowing basket filled with potatoes and sweet potatoes, and a large bucket of soybeans was placed in a bucket next to the sofa.
“People say it’s good for children to be exposed to these things; if he wants to be successful in the future, he needs to learn to be smart.” Upon learning of Ma Xiangxiang’s death, Liu Hongmei couldn’t suppress a smile: “Really dead?”
Lu Ye said, "We are police officers, would we lie to you about this?"
"That really... really hurt me." Liu Hongmei pretended to touch the corner of her eye, a gesture somewhat similar to Mrs. Xu's.
"Who did Mr. Ma contact before he disappeared? Or who did he mention to you?" Shen Zhenzhu opened her notebook and looked at Liu Hongmei.
Liu Hongmei stared blankly at Chen Zhenzhu, then slapped her thigh: "Oh dear, are you... are you that—"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "It's me, Comrade Liu. Please answer my question."
After Liu Hongmei finished being excited, she leaned close to Shen Zhenzhu and said, "Section Chief Shen, I'd like to ask if our family is eligible to go to Gangcheng to inherit the estate given our situation?"
Lu Ye said, "You answer the question first."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "He has the right to inherit, but it depends on whether Mr. Ma left a will."
Liu Hongmei said, "Of course he does. He keeps saying that his wife and daughter don't deserve his property and that it should all be left to his son. I even have his handwritten letter!"
Lu Ye said, "We'll wait until we've finished our investigation before we say anything."
Suppressing her excitement, Liu Hongmei ran to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of chilled orange juice, and drank it down in one gulp before Chen Zhenzhu could even drink her juice. After chewing on some ice cubes, she sat down, sighed comfortably, and said, "Go ahead and ask."
Chen Zhenzhu repeated the question.
Liu Hongmei said, "He came here because he heard that the climate is good and it's close to foreign countries. He also has business there. As for who he meets, he doesn't really meet anyone. Each time he comes, he only stays for one or two weeks. He's not even close to me enough. He just takes the kids to kindergarten and goes shopping with me to pay the bills. That's all."
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "In all these years with him, have you discovered any hobbies he has that are unknown to others? Is there a circle of people who share these hobbies?"
Liu Hongmei casually lifted her skirt and said, "He likes me to dance for him in black stockings, wouldn't you say that's a hobby? Every man likes that, right? He also likes me to take the initiative to please him—"
"That's enough." Chen Zhenzhu didn't know whether to rub her eyes or her ears.
Lu Ye turned his head away from Liu Hongmei's thighs, his neck turning red all the way to the tips of his ears.
"Are all police officers this innocent?" Liu Hongmei laughed for a while and said, "But he was away from home for a few nights before he disappeared. He said he had business to attend to and couldn't come back. I always felt that he had another woman by his side."
Chen Zhenzhu put down her pen, looked up, and asked, "Why do you think that?"
Liu Hongmei said, "How could a stinky man have time to shower when he's working overtime? He always comes back with a strong, unpleasant fragrance on him."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Do you still have any clothes he wore when he worked overtime?"
Liu Hongmei turned to the kitchen and called out, "Auntie, have you washed Lao Ma's clothes?"
The aunt came out of the kitchen wiping her hands and said honestly, "They've all been washed. I usually wash them the same day I take them off. Mr. Ma is a clean person, and his clothes aren't cheap, so sometimes we have to take them to a professional laundry service."
Liu Hongmei shrugged and said, "What a pity."
Shen Zhenzhu chatted with Liu Hongmei for a while longer. Unlike her delicate and refined appearance, Liu Hongmei was actually quite naive and knew nothing about many things.
Finally, Chen Zhenzhu had no choice but to ask her, "Could I see your son?" Sometimes children see things that adults don't notice.
"If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have taken you there." Although Liu Hongmei didn't know much, she still agreed and led Shen Zhenzhu toward the kindergarten: "I've helped you solve the case so much, so you must support me when it comes to fighting for the Ma family's inheritance."
Shen Zhenzhu laughed: "They are from Gangcheng, not Liancheng."
Liu Hongmei spat and said, "Damn it, I forgot. Oh well, I have nothing anyway, I'll fight for whatever I can. Only when my pockets are warm can I enjoy a second spring. We can't just let our orphan mother and I starve."
"Why are you going this way?" Shen Zhenzhu asked, noticing that she wasn't heading towards the kindergarten.
Liu Hongmei said, "Today is Friday, which is our outing day. The teachers will take the children to the park behind the house to enjoy the sun and nature. It's very close, just across the road. There are a lot of cars here, so please be careful."
Shen Zhenzhu followed her to Golden Harbor Park, and from a distance she could hear the chirping and playing of human cubs.
Lu Ye smelled the oxygen-filled air and took a deep, satisfied breath: "No wonder everyone wants to be superior; even the air they breathe is different."
No sooner had she finished speaking than she heard Chen Zhenzhu ask, "What's that cart over there for?"
“Come and take a look.” Liu Hongmei looked over and pulled Chen Zhenzhu toward them: “This kindergarten is following the example of pushing children in pushcarts, just like they do abroad. There’s a road in front, right? It’s not safe for the younger children to run around everywhere, so the teachers have them push them across.”
Liu Hongmei didn't know why Shen Zhenzhu mentioned the cart. Seeing Shen Zhenzhu carefully examining the cart tracks, she went off to find her son.
"Does it look like it?" Shen Zhenzhu asked Lu Ye.
Lu Ye pulled out a photo from his bag, examined the tire tread, and nodded emphatically, saying, "It's not just similar, it's practically identical. Liu Hongmei said that Ma Xiangxiang spends all his time shopping and taking his child to kindergarten... Could it be?"
Shen Zhenzhu walked to the four-wheeled cart and noticed traces of cement in the gaps. She gave him a wink, and Lu Ye immediately shut up.
Liu Hongmei brought her son over, followed by the kindergarten principal. She was finally able to meet the child's parents and was eager to know when the tuition fees would be paid.
Liu Hongmei handed her son to Shen Zhenzhu, and turned to speak when she heard Shen Zhenzhu ask the kindergarten principal, "Hello, I'm Ma Xiaodong's aunt. We also have a child who wants to attend kindergarten. How much does it cost here?"
Liu Hongmei shut her mouth after being glared at by Lu Ye, and led her son to the side, saying, "Come on, Mom will take you over there to bask in the sun."
When the principal saw Liu Hongmei introducing the parents, she hesitated, looking at their ordinary clothes and appearance, but still politely said out of politeness, "The basic fee is 1,000 yuan per month, and there are other fees. Here is a list of fees for you two to take a look at."
Chen Zhenzhu handed the flyer to Lu Ye, then looked at the teacher who was out sunbathing with the children with a critical eye. Not seeing the woman in the Heavenly Eye's retrospective, she asked, "Does your kindergarten only have these few teachers? Can you take care of all the children?"
"There are a few more in the park." The director said dismissively, "There are photos of our teachers on the back of the brochures. You can see they are all top students, excelling in every aspect."
The kindergarten's enrollment brochure features an introduction to the Jingangwan Star Kindergarten on the front and an introduction to its teaching staff on the back.
The kindergarten, which is not very large, has 25 professional kindergarten teachers, 40 nannies, and various other helpers.
Shen Zhenzhu looked through the photos line by line, initially not holding out much hope. But when Qin Lingling's photo appeared before her, she couldn't help but hold her breath: "This teacher..."
The principal came over to take a look: "This is Teacher Qin, one of our long-time employees. Her family isn't well-off, but she's very hardworking. She gets along well with both the children and their parents, and everyone loves her."
"She also has a good relationship with the parents?" Chen Zhenzhu pondered this question, then casually asked the principal, "Can I have a chat with her for a bit?"
The headmistress asked warily, "What are you talking about?" She looked Chen Zhenzhu up and down, then glanced at Lu Ye.
These two people didn't seem to be debt collectors as Teacher Qin had described, but regardless of who they were, the dean still subconsciously wanted to help cover it up.
Nothing can go wrong at her kindergarten.
Seeing her micro-expressions, Chen Zhenzhu was puzzled by her lack of cooperation and smiled, "I think we get along well, and I hope my child can also study in her class."
The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said, "She's in the kindergarten. Shall I take you there?"
“Okay.” Chen Zhenzhu tugged at Lu Ye’s sleeve, shoved his cell phone into his hand and said, “Call your brother-in-law over and tell him I’ve found a kindergarten that’s exceptionally kind and has incredibly cute strollers.”
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Author's Note: Zhuzhu rubs her hands together: Ready to end the game, dear?
***
See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see]
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