Chapter 151 Misdirection

◎The last time you knock on the door, just knock once◎

Xiang Dong's face turned from red to white.

His chest began to heave and his heartbeat began to accelerate.

How dare she?

[How dare you say that? ]

[I can get to where I am today, all thanks to myself! The Qian family is nothing! ]

Zhao Xiangwan curled the corners of his mouth and smiled.

Her smile was full of sarcasm: "You don't think that everything you have now is the result of your own hard work, right?"

Xiang Dong finally couldn't hold back his anger and argued through gritted teeth: "I have a major that matches my background and I have a bachelor's degree. Is there any problem with me using my professional skills in the transmission machinery factory?"

Zhao Xiangwan patted the huge desk of the technical section chief and said, "You mean, even if you don't have money and family, you can still sit in this position now?"

Xiang Dong said nothing.

Zhao Xiangwan asked an extremely tricky question.

Nodding and saying yes, leaving the Qian family aside would make Qian Minqiang unhappy;

He shook his head and said no, as if he was a gigolo and that everything he had was all thanks to his family. This made him feel indescribably humiliated.

Xiang Dongxia consciously looked at Qian Minqiang.

Qian Minqiang's eyes were wide open, staring at him viciously, as if if he just said "Yes!", Qian Minqiang would pounce on Xiang Dong and tear him to pieces.

Without waiting for Xiang Dong's answer, Zhao Xiangwan smiled, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Her words were like a torrential rain, one sentence after another, leaving Xiang Dong breathless.

"Why? Is it difficult to admit that marrying Qian Yanyan changed your fate, and that you got to where you are today with the help of your father-in-law and elder brother-in-law?"

"If you won't even admit it, how can you talk about gratitude?"

"Does the existence of money make you feel pressured?"

"Kick away this stepping stone, find another big tree to cling to, and you will be able to step onto a higher step, right?"

If he didn't deny it, Xiang Dong was afraid that Zhao Xiangwan would peel off his despicable soul.

He raised his voice and shouted: "That's not what I meant, don't talk nonsense!"

However, Zhao Xiangwan was unwilling to stop there.

"Tell me, who made you want to kill?"

Zhao Xiangwan's momentum was astonishing, and his words seemed to be accompanied by wind, clouds, thunder and lightning.

Xiang Dong felt guilty and took a few steps back, breathing rapidly: "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you police officers slander people so casually?"

When Xiang Dong was nervous, a few vague words flashed through his mind.

【First Love】

【Leadership】

【Port City】

【hotel】

Not enough, not enough yet!

Zhao Xiangwan continued to stimulate Xiang Dong with words.

"Is it slander? On the one hand, you enjoy Qian Yanyan's contribution to the family and the Qian family's help in your career, but on the other hand, you despise Qian Yanyan's vulgarity and hate the Qian family's control over you. A man who has achieved success and fame will have a few girls throwing themselves at him, but in your eyes, it's nothing. Why would you kneel down and beg for mercy and desperately show your loyalty? At that time... were you filled with hatred for the Qian family and wanted to kill them all?"

Xiang Dong felt his legs go weak after being hit in the heart. He held on to the desk with one hand to steady himself.

Outside the office, the corridor was filled with colleagues from the Transmission Machinery Factory. They were all stunned when they heard such words coming out of the mouth of the police.

"No way? How could there be such a shameless person in this world? If Xiang Dong didn't have Qian Yanyan, how could he be rated as the only senior engineer in our factory? Our factory only has the authority to grant engineers, and the quota for this senior title was obtained by Director Qian from the city."

"I heard that Qian Yanyan treated her husband Xiang Dong like a master. Xiang Dong had everything he wanted, including clothes, shoes, watches, belts, etc. Qian Yanyan bought them all. Xiang Dong had such a small income, and he wanted to wear such a high-end watch? Tsk tsk tsk, he obviously benefited from the Qian family, but he didn't acknowledge it at all."

"The Qian family really spent a lot of money and effort to raise an enemy this time! Damn, this Xiang Dong is not a good guy, he is a complete ungrateful wolf!"

Xiang Dong heard what his colleagues were saying, and he gradually came to his senses.

【I can’t say.】

[Just like how I dealt with Qian Yanyan, the police were deliberately trying to provoke me.]

[Investigating a case requires evidence.]

Xiang Dong smiled bitterly and looked at Qian Minqiang: "Second brother, do you doubt me too? I know that everyone is sad that Yanyan is gone, but this matter really has nothing to do with me. You have been very kind to me, and Yanyan's love for me is as deep as the sea. If I hate her and hurt her, then am I still a human being?"

Qian Minqiang stared at Xiang Dong without saying a word, obviously having lost trust in him long ago.

Xiang Dong looked at Zhao Xiangwan again: "Comrade police, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I have a family and a bright future as the head of the technical department of our transmission machinery factory. Why would I do something illegal? All you said is your own speculation. As a police officer, it's not appropriate to say that, right?"

Zhao Xiangwan's eyes met his, and sparks seemed to flash.

Xiang Dong was obviously afraid of public opinion, and he quickly took this opportunity to explain: "First, I am very grateful for Yanyan's contribution to the family, and I have always loved her deeply; second, I am very grateful to the Yue family for their help and love for me, and I am also working hard to repay them with my work results; third, even if I am shameless enough to leave Yanyan, can't I just get a divorce? Why would I kill someone? So..."

Xiang Dong looked at Huo Zhuo and said, "Officer Huo, I am definitely not a shameless person who killed my wife. Please believe me."

Xiang Dong spoke eloquently and sincerely, and for a moment, even the discussions in the corridor became much quieter.

"It's a new society now, divorce is not a shameful thing, why kill anyone?"

"Qian Yanyan has a bad temper and often yells at Xiang Gong, which makes Xiang Gong not easy."

"There haven't been any serious cases in our factory for so many years, how come Qian Yanyan got into this? What do you think... could it be that the Qian family had a grudge against someone, so they killed someone in revenge?"

"Well, it's hard to say. Let's see what the police say."

Xiang Dong is indeed a cunning opponent.

Even in the face of public discussion and Qian Minqiang's condemnation, Xiang Dong remained calm.

He said, "It's the same as how I treat Qian Yanyan." Obviously he is a habitual offender. The reason why Qian Yanyan is irritable and aggressive is because Xiang Dong did it on purpose.

Zhao Xiangwan narrowed his eyes slightly, and the light became brighter.

"Xiang Dong, how is Cheng Xinru now? Are you two still dating secretly?"

Xiang Dong's eyes flashed: "Comrade police, do you have to pour a basin of dirty water on me before you stop?"

This is not the right reaction.

——This shows that Xiang Dong and Cheng Xinru are still in contact.

Thinking of the little bit of Xiang Dong's thoughts just revealed, "first love, leader, Hong Kong city, hotel", Zhao Xiangwan asked: "Who is your first love?"

Xiang Dong's pupils shrank and his heartbeat suddenly quickened.

After a brief silence, Xiang Dong looked away: "My first love was Yanyan."

Obviously lying.

Zhao Xiangwan's eyes were like lightning: "Don't lie to the police."

Xiang Dong still insisted: "I didn't lie."

Up to now, Xiang Dong has built a high wall in his heart, and no voice can be heard.

More haste, less speed. Zhao Xiangwan did not continue to ask: "Don't go out this week, and respond to police summons at any time."

Xiang Dong secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Zhao Xiangwan retreating: "No problem, I will do my best to cooperate with the police, and I hope you can catch the murderer as soon as possible."

As they left the transmission machinery factory, Huo Zhuo was a little annoyed: "This guy Xiang Dong is so perfect in what he says."

Zhu Feipeng also cursed: "You bastard, you are definitely not a good person!"

Zhu Kang was calmer: "Don't worry, we'll follow Xiang Wan's instructions."

Huo Zhuo looked at Zhao Xiangwan's profile and said, "Officer Zhao, did you have a plan in mind a long time ago?"

Zhao Xiangwan nodded: "Xiang Dong is currently my main suspect, so I asked him not to leave Zhu City."

Qian Minqiang immediately stated: "Don't worry, I will send people to watch him every day and will never let him leave the factory."

Zhao Xiangwan looked at Qian Minqiang and said, "Okay, I'll leave Xiangdong to you."

Qian Minqiang immediately arranged for his colleagues from the security department to work in shifts of two to take turns guarding Xiang Dong and follow him no matter where he went.

Xiang Dong enjoyed this treatment and felt like a prisoner. He gritted his teeth secretly but could do nothing about it.

Back at the Public Security Bureau, Zhao Xiangwan arranged his work in an orderly manner.

The first clue, first love.

Zhao Xiangwan asked Qian Minqiang: "Who was Xiang Dong's first love?"

Qian Minqiang shook his head in confusion: "I don't know."

Zhao Xiangwan asked again: "When Xiang Dong was a sent-down youth in the countryside and studying at university, did he not have any particularly close relationships with people of the opposite sex?"

Qian Minqiang thought for a moment, "I think I heard Yanyan mention it once, saying that Xiang Dong had a red scarf that looked like it was woven by a girl, but he refused to admit it and insisted that it was sent by his sister when he was an educated youth. Yanyan also confronted him and insisted on getting to the bottom of it. When she and Xiang Dong returned to their hometown, she specifically asked his sister, but it turned out that his sister knew nothing. The two quarreled fiercely about this matter, and later Xiang Dong threw the scarf into the trash can, and Yanyan was willing to stop."

Zhu Feipeng said: "That scarf must have been given by Xiang Dong's beloved, otherwise why would a grown man collect a red scarf all day long? Xiang Dong said that his sister sent it to him when he was an educated youth. Judging from his half-lying routine, it is estimated that he met his first love when he was an educated youth in the countryside."

Zhao Xiangwan pondered for a moment, and after recalling that Xiang Dong had mentioned the three words first love, leader, and Hong Kong City together, she suddenly had a clue in her mind: "Is it possible that Deputy Director Ai is Xiang Dong's first love?"

When Qian Minqiang heard this, he looked at Zhao Xiangwan in surprise.

Ai Chu is Xiang Dong's first love? What is Zhao Xiangwan thinking?

祝康卻很支持趙向晚：“有可能！年齡上來看，艾處能夠當上招商局副處，可能與項東是同齡人。雖然照片上看着年輕，但那只是會保養罷了。”

錢民強瞪大了眼睛：“項東看上了艾處，所以想要害死豔豔？”

趙向晚說：“目前只是猜想。”

朱飛鵬卻越想越覺得合理，開始認真分析起來：“這個可能性很大！你想啊，如果項東與程欣如勾勾搭搭，或者說項東看上了其他小姑娘，不想和錢豔豔繼續做夫妻，完全可以提出離婚，是不是？何必要做這種違法犯罪行為？除非，他看上的女人位高權重，他和她都十分愛惜羽毛，怕名聲不好影響前途。”

錢民強卻搖頭道：“不管項東喜歡的是小姑娘，還是大領導，他都別想離婚！只要豔豔不同意，有我和大哥在，他永遠離不成！”

趙向晚看向錢民強。

項東曾經在心裏咒罵過錢家人強勢、厲害，沾上就甩不脫，難道指的就是這個？他如果提出離婚，錢豔豔肯定不會同意，而錢家兩個哥哥也不會放過他。

錢家人對項東付出良多，錢豔豔的父親在工程機械系統徒子徒孫衆多，項東如果敢背信棄義、對錢豔豔始亂終棄，那項東必将接受來自錢家人的報複，項東的名聲、工作、前途都将受到影響。

正是因為這個原因，所以項東在變心之後，不敢提出離婚，而是采取了更為陰狠的手段，直接要了錢豔豔的性命。

錢民強的眼睛裏閃過怒火，繼續發洩着對項東的不滿。

“他項東憑什麽離婚？當年他分配到廠裏的時候除了一口破箱子外，身無長物。要不是因為豔豔喜歡他，堅決要和他結婚，我們根本不可能同意豔豔嫁給他。

他是大學生，有文化，長得也好，寫得一手好文章，的确很優秀。但我家豔豔也不差，年輕、漂亮、開朗、廚藝出衆，廠裏不知道多少小夥子追求。我們當時也勸過豔豔，說她與項東學歷相差太大，怕他倆沒有共同語言。而且項東家庭條件不好，他又是家裏的長子，将來負擔可能會很重。

可是，豔豔那個時候對項東崇拜、歡喜得很，信誓旦旦說她不在意項東家裏條件差，說她将來一定努力做好妻子、好兒媳，還說她的工資可以用來補貼項東，聽着真是心梗。

項東也拍着胸脯保證，說他從來沒有在意過豔豔學歷低，說他就喜歡豔豔單純、可愛，說他可以教豔豔學文化，努力培養共同語言，說他會一輩子對豔豔好，會把豔豔的家人當作自己的親人對待。

看他倆愛得那麽深刻，我們全家人只有祝福。

豔豔和項東結婚的時候，項家人過來什麽忙也幫不上，除了送一對枕巾、一對開水瓶，什麽也沒有。一大家子又是住旅館又是吃飯，臨走還要買禮物，全是我們家裏操持。

他倆新婚時，裝修房子、布置家具，采買床上用品……再後來，分新房、生孩子、升職稱、當科長，項東家大大小小的事情，我爸媽、我大哥和我，事事盡心盡力地幫忙，只要豔豔過得開心，我們恨不得把心掏給他們。怎麽，項東現在翅膀硬了，糟糠之妻就不要了？”

錢民強越說越氣憤，頸脖間青筋暴露，眼眶通紅。說到後面，他擡起手，狠狠砸在自己腦袋上。

“我好恨！我真的恨！我為什麽沒有早早察覺到項東的狼子野心，為什麽要對他那麽巴心巴肝地付出，為什麽逼着豔豔做賢妻良母，成全那個狼心狗肺的東西！我應該把豔豔送出去讀書、進修，好好培養她。靠山山倒，靠水水流，豔豔還不如靠自己！”

霍灼拍了拍戰友的肩膀，嘆了一口氣：“民強，別自責了。你和豔豔都沒有錯，錯的是項東。既然是他的錯，你後悔什麽？”

朱飛鵬也安慰他：“對！要讓姓項的狗東西後悔。”

無論是誰，經歷這樣的情感背叛，都會憤怒。

付出十幾年，終究都是錯付。

人心易變。

曾經答應過白頭到老，中途卻移情別戀；

接受過岳家無私幫助時感激不盡，可是某一天卻把這份恩情當成了束縛。

自私、貪婪，永不知足，這就是人性。

趙向晚垂下眼眸，默然不語。

項東道德敗壞，抛棄糟糠之妻，将錢家人對他的維護關心視為無物，自有社會大衆譴責，公安局管不着他。

可是，項東若是枉顧法律，唆使、雇傭他人殺害妻子，趙向晚絕不容情。

第二天，祝康拿到了省招商局艾鈴蘭副處長的履歷。

不出所料，艾鈴蘭與項東同齡，在同一個地方當知青。

1977年高考失利，她留在鄉下。

1978年，艾鈴蘭高考再次失利。

1979年，返城。

1981年，艾鈴蘭赴港，與舅舅歐得旺的資助下完成學業，并于1988年作為人才引進，成為省招商局副處長。

趙向晚打電話回星市，許嵩嶺親自跑了一趟省招商局，了解到更多細節。

據招商局相關領導所言，艾鈴蘭是個極為自傲、清高的人，生活精致講究，行事作風洋派十足，在局裏沒有什麽朋友。

艾鈴蘭之所以回國，據說是因為在國內有一個牽挂的人，但這個她牽挂的人，誰也不知道是誰。

許嵩嶺還了解到，這半年裏艾鈴蘭經常出差，她舅舅歐得旺在珠市投資建設一個汽車産業園，這是她的重要業績之一，所以一個月總會有四分之一的時間待在珠市。

想到項東曾經提過的“酒店”一詞，趙向晚若有所思。

招商局領導駕臨珠市，市裏安排自有章法，随便一打聽，就知道了艾鈴蘭住在威爾薇絲酒店。

走進珠市最奢華的外資酒店，威爾薇絲酒店，趙向晚便聞到一股淡雅的香味，讓人感覺輕松、舒适。

這香味，趙向晚分辨不出，但季昭知道。

【白茶香，混合天竺葵和小蒼蘭的味道。】

調取住客名單，果然艾鈴蘭是常客。

再拿出項東的照片，服務員都稱見過項東很多次，應該是來見艾鈴蘭。但具體他倆說了些什麽、待了多久、有沒有過夜，這些問題服務員并不太清楚。

項東匆匆而來，悄悄離去，從不登記，服務員也只是偶爾在大堂、走廊、樓梯間遇到他。

趙向晚在酒店會客廳見到了艾鈴蘭。

艾鈴蘭比項東小一歲，今年三十九歲。她身材保養得很好，見到警察過來調查情況，态度有些高傲。

趙向晚問她：“艾處，你認識項東嗎？”

艾鈴蘭坐在椅中，雙腿交叉而坐，站姿優雅。她瞟了趙向晚一眼：“我和他是老朋友，不過失去了聯系，去年九月才珠市傳動機械廠談合作的時候見到他，才知道他大學畢業之後分配到了這個廠。”

趙向晚再問：“你是項東的初戀吧？”

艾鈴蘭抿了抿唇，搖頭否認：“我們下鄉當知青的時候才十幾歲，單純得很。”

趙向晚雙目微眯，淡淡道：“你曾經送過項東一條紅圍巾吧？他一直留着。”

艾鈴蘭沒有說話，眼中露出深深的情意。

【我拆了身上穿的毛線背心，織了那條圍巾送給他。】

【可是，兩個掉落泥潭的人，誰能拉誰一把？只能忍痛分開。】

趙向晚再問：“你知道項東有老婆嗎？”

艾鈴蘭臉色一變，眼神變得冰冷：“趙警官，請注意你的言辭。我和項東只是普通朋友，他有沒有老婆，與我有什麽關系？”

可是，艾鈴蘭的內心想的，卻完全不是一回事。

【有老婆怎麽了？有老婆就不能追求自己的真愛嗎？】

【那個粗魯的女人，哪裏懂得項東的心？】

【識于微時的情義，也不過是沉沒成本罷了。該丢棄的時候，就該丢棄！】

艾鈴蘭雖然自私，心機卻不深沉，至少她的內心是敞開的，趙向晚聽得清清楚楚。

趙向晚目光銳利：“現在錢豔豔已死，還有什麽阻止你和項東在一起呢？”

艾鈴蘭的心跳漏了一拍，但她繃着臉，沒有表現出異常。

她假意生氣，站起身來：“趙警官，我不知道你這話是什麽意思。如果不是因為許局長給我打過電話，你根本沒有資格坐在這裏審問我！”

【項東說了，他會安排好一切。】

【我們的事情絕對不能曝光。】

趙向晚也跟着站了起來，意味深長地說了一句：“艾處，這并不是審問。”如果真正進入審問環節，我的态度絕不會如此客氣。

從酒店出來之後，趙向晚第一時間見到闵成河。

闵成河吸了吸鼻子，眼睛一亮，盯着趙向晚的一舉一動。

趙向晚抖了抖肩，仿佛要把身上沾染的香薰氣息抖散：“你聞到項東身上的香味，是不是就是這個味道？”

闵成河連連點頭：“是，是是。”

闵成河問：“這是，什麽味道？”

Zhao Xiangwan answered truthfully: "The aroma of the lobby of the Wilvis Hotel."

A strange light flashed in Min Chenghe's eyes: "Xiang Dong, is there anyone?"

[It takes a long time to have such a strong flavor. 】

[Who is he dating? ]

Zhao Xiangwan did not answer his question and stood up: "Officer Huo will handle the formalities with you, you can go back to work at the factory."

Min Chenghe stood up and bowed to her: "Thank you."

Zhao Xiangwan waved his hands, looked at his half-burned face, and said, "We police are doing our best to investigate. Don't disturb us."

Min Chenghe remained silent.

【Xiang Dong disliked her.】

【Don't treat her well.】

【He deserves to die! 】

Zhao Xiangwan said coldly: "Did you hear that?"

Min Chenghe looked up at her and nodded in agreement: "Okay."

Min Chenghe returned to Zhushi Transmission Machinery Factory. When his colleagues in the workshop saw him coming back, they knew that he was not the murderer, and rumors started flying again.

"You know what? Min Chenghe was acquitted by the police. He didn't kill anyone."

"Who killed Qian Yanyan? It couldn't really be Xiang Dong who did it."

"No, no, no, it wasn't Xiang Dong. On the day Qian Yanyan was killed, Xiang Dong was having dinner and drinking with a few of us."

"Who could it be? Could it be that Xiang Dong hired someone to do it?"

When the rumor reached Xiang Dong, he was obviously panicked.

The Qian family also took action. They sent Xiang Chengsi to a boarding school to reduce his contact with Xiang Dong. Xiang Dong's work was suspended and his personal freedom was restricted.

Xiang Donglai came to see Qian Minqiang and repeatedly expressed his loyalty.

However, Qian Minqiang no longer believed him.

No matter what Xiang Dong said, Qian Minqiang and Qian Guofu did not listen. They did not care whether Xiang Dong was the murderer or not. Anyway, their sister was dead and their relatives were gone, and their brother-in-law was just a stranger from then on.

Xiang Dong just needs to fight once every time he comes to the door.

Xiang Dong originally wanted to cultivate a grieving persona after his wife's accidental death, but he did not expect that once the police intervened, he would become the biggest suspect. Even his alibi was useless, which made him very upset.

And Zhao Xiangwan was busy collecting evidence.