Chapter 59 Restaurant
◎Is Fan Hongwei related to the shooting case?◎
Zhao Xiangwan's idea was very direct—Fan Hongwei must have had some ulterior motive in marrying Gu Wenjiao.
From what Gu Wenjiao said, Fan Hongwei was a person with very clear goals.
He grew up in the suburbs, did not finish junior high school, and took over his father's job before joining a transportation company as a truck driver. However, he was able to rise step by step from truck driver to leading driver, and then to the director of the demolition office. He had a successful career and held some power. This was related to his strong sense of purpose.
Men who are goal-oriented pay more attention to what the other person can bring to them when choosing a marriage.
Xu Juncai chose Zhou Jingrong because Zhou Jingrong's father was the director of the Engineering Bureau.
Zhao Qingyun chose Wei Meihua because Wei Meihua was a city girl and her parents had many connections.
Gu Wenjiao was just average in terms of appearance and talent, and she did not have a strong family background, so she could not contribute to his career.
Stepping out of the female perspective, Zhao Xiangwan observed Gu Wenjiao's every move and felt that the most attractive thing about her was her persistence in dealing with her mother's death. Everyone had already walked out of the shadow of the past and started a new life, but she was the only one who had insisted on going to the police station every month to inquire about the progress of the case for ten years.
What exactly does Fan Hongwei want from her?
The marriage between Fan Hongwei and Gu Wenjiao was full of contradictions, which gave Zhao Xiangwan a strong sense of disharmony, as if all this was a trap.
Confused, Zhao Xiangwan asked Gu Wenjiao: "Have you ever thought about divorce?"
Although there is an old saying that it is better to demolish a temple than to destroy a family, but for a man who beats his wife, is it better to stay together for the New Year without getting a divorce?
Gu Wenjiao looked at Zhao Xiangwan's slightly childish face and did not directly answer her question. Instead, she asked, "Are you also a criminal police officer in the serious crime unit?"
When He Mingyu introduced herself just now, she only showed her police ID and mentioned Zhao Xiangwan briefly. At first, Gu Wenjiao thought they were colleagues and didn't pay much attention to them. But now that they were in close contact, she noticed that although Zhao Xiangwan's behavior was calm and steady, there was still a childish look between her eyebrows, so she asked this question.
Zhao Xiangwan took out his student ID and placed it in front of Gu Wenjiao: "I am a student majoring in criminal investigation at the Public Security University. I am interning in the serious crime unit during the summer vacation."
The word "internship" brought back memories for Gu Wenjiao, and her eyes welled up. When her mother was murdered, Gu Wenjiao was in her third year of college, and her mother arranged for her to work as an intern nurse in the obstetrics and gynecology department. Hu Linzhen was her supervisor and was very caring towards her.
It was with this in mind that my mother went upstairs to take care of that trivial matter and became an innocent victim of the shooting.
Gu Wenjiao raised her hand and pressed the corner of her eye, trying to hold back her tears. "Intern police officer, you are in the serious crime squad when you are just a college student, you must have very good grades."
[Unlike me, I was ignorant before my mother passed away, and I didn't study very hard. I was able to get an internship in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Third Hospital thanks to my mother's social connections. My mother said that this department is the only place in the hospital that deals with “life” and is full of hope. But… life and death, who can tell clearly? ]
Zhao Xiangwan raised his eyes and met Gu Wenjiao's gaze: "I have a good master. He introduced me to this industry."
Gu Wenjiao felt very comfortable when she heard this: "You have a good master, and I also have a good mother."
Zhao Xiangwan said: "Yes, the master leads you to the door, but the practice is up to you. I hope we all work hard and don't let them down."
"Don't let them down?" Gu Wenjiao murmured, repeating what Zhao Xiangwan said, and fell into deep thought.
[Have I disappointed my mother? If my mother sees me now, she will be disappointed, right? I studied nursing for three years, practiced giving injections with potatoes at home, learned to dispense medicines with my mother, and listened to her tell me every day: Nurses are the bridge between doctors and patients, attitude comes first, skills come second, and you must have a warm heart. But when I graduated, I didn't even dare to look at blood, I didn't even dare to give injections, and I worked in the pharmacy every day. I was so cowardly, my mother must be disappointed, right?
My mother taught me that when choosing a man, one should first look at his character. Although my father remarried a year after my mother passed away, it cannot be denied that he was diligent in his work, responsible for his family, and a well-educated and polite man. But what about the man I chose? He has a low character, is two-faced in front of others and behind their backs, beats people when he is drunk, and has no care or love for me. My vision is so bad, my mother must be disappointed, right?
My mother taught me that a woman should be independent, strong and brave. She is never afraid of anything outside. She will deal with those unreasonable patients or family members patiently and argue with them. She is not afraid even if she is threatened. She always says that as long as you act according to your conscience, you are not afraid of anything. Wenjiao, you are really useless! 】
Gu Wenjiao's voice revealed a bit of self-loathing, which made Zhao Xiangwan feel uncomfortable. He interrupted her reflection and said, "Don't be afraid if you make a mistake, just correct it."
Gu Wenjiao felt that every word of the trainee police officer seemed to touch her heart. A strong hope rose from the bottom of her heart, but it dimmed in the blink of an eye.
She knew she was wrong. But can all the mistakes in this world be corrected?
Having abandoned her nursing practice for ten years, it was difficult to start over, but if Gu Wenjiao wanted to, she could still start over. She originally graduated from a nursing program and had an internship certificate. In addition, because of her mother's situation, as long as she was determined and found her leader to explain the situation, it would not be difficult for her to return to her nursing position, as she no longer had fainting spells and no longer had fainting spells.
But... I chose the wrong husband, and my child is already five years old. Is it possible to start over?
The girl was young and didn't know anything. Did she think divorce was that easy? Gu Wenjiao shuddered at the thought of Fan Hongwei's cold eyes.
Gu Wenjiao answered Zhao Xiangwan's question seriously: "Divorce? You don't know Fan Hongwei. He won't agree to a divorce. When he beat me for the first time, I proposed a divorce, but he firmly disagreed and even threatened his son's life. He said that if I proposed a divorce, he would throw his son off the fifth floor. Anyway... if a five-year-old child fell from the building because of playing, no one would suspect that it was his biological father who did it."
He Mingyu couldn't help but grit his teeth and cursed: "Beast!" No, calling him a beast was an honor to him. Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs, but he dared to kill his own son. He was worse than an animal!
However, Zhao Xiangwan had a new understanding of Fan Hongwei.
——This is a very cunning person. When he attacked Gu Wenjiao, he chose to strike at inconspicuous places that were not easy to identify as minor injuries. This shows that he understands the law and is afraid of being sentenced. He threatened Gu Wenjiao's most caring son and refused to allow him to divorce. He also deliberately fell down the stairs and pretended to be a child who fell accidentally while playing.
Zhao Xiangwan simply didn't believe that such a man was a conscientious citizen who abided by the law and was a state cadre who acted tactfully.
Zhao Xiangwan asked Gu Wenjiao: "What is your son's name?"
"Tianbao, Fan Tianbao."
"Who gave this baby a name sent by God?"
"He took it."
"Does Fan Hongwei like his son?"
"like."
"How can you tell that you like it?"
"He and I are both civil servants, and according to the family planning policy, we can only have one child. He has three sisters and he is the only son. He has been very spoiled since he was a child. Maybe because Tianbao is a son, Fan Hongwei values him very much. The first thing he does when he gets home from get off work is to talk to Tianbao. If he wakes Tianbao up when he hits me, he will comfort the child and say that we were just playing around."
Hearing this, Zhao Xiangwan said, "The reason why he was able to threaten you successfully is because he has a handle on your psychology. He bets that you love your son more and are afraid that he will hurt him. But think about it yourself. Their family has only one son for three generations. How could they bear to hurt Tianbao?"
Although she knew that Zhao Xiangwan was right, Gu Wenjiao was his mother, and mother and son were connected by heart, so how could she dare to take risks? She looked at Zhao Xiangwan hesitantly: "But... it's better to be safe than sorry. What if Fan Hongwei really goes crazy and throws his son off the building?"
He Mingyu pulled Zhao Xiangwan and signaled her to be more careful with her words. As a police officer, every word and action seemed to be under the spotlight. It had to be legal, in compliance with regulations, and in line with public order and morality. One had to be extremely careful.
Zhao Xiangwan really wanted to say: "You will know if you try it." But He Mingyu's reminder was right. She didn't say this out loud, but just replied lightly: "I can understand you."
Since her mother passed away and she married Fan Hongwei, Gu Wenjiao has had almost no contact with her father and no friends. She feels that she is not doing well and is unwilling to get close to her colleagues, so she is introverted and silent. This is the first time she has talked so much with a stranger. Gu Wenjiao feels much relieved. The more she looks at Zhao Xiangwan, the more she likes him: "Thank you, thank you for understanding me."
Zhao Xiangwan smiled and said, "It's okay. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any problems in the future, come to the Municipal Bureau to find us." After that, he stood up with He Mingyu, said goodbye to Gu Wenjiao and left.
Walking out of the hospital clinic building, the smell of disinfectant gradually dissipated, and Zhao Xiangwan and He Mingyu went to the scene of the shooting that year.
The five-story brick-concrete building has red exterior walls, a blue-gray cement floor, and concrete hollow railings. There are two households on each floor, and a total of three units. The house was built in the late 1970s, and it has a history of more than ten years. The exterior walls are covered with ivy, and the stairwell looks a bit shabby.
There is no door in the stairwell, it is just open. The only thing to protect the safety of the residents is that each household has a security door installed outside the wooden door. It seems that the murder case that year still left a psychological shadow on the residents here.
The two walked up the stairs. Everything seemed normal, but He Mingyu didn't know why she felt a little creepy: "Xiang Wan, do you smell blood in the air?"
Zhao Xiangwan stopped, sniffed hard, shook his head and said, "Sister, I smell the aroma of food, it seems to be the smell of soy sauce fried eggs."
Hearing Zhao Xiangwan's words, He Mingyu's nervous heart relaxed at once, and she chuckled: "You are a dog's nose, you can even smell the fried eggs with soy sauce!"
Zhao Xiangwan pointed to the door of room 401 on the fourth floor of unit 1 and said, "Look, it came from Gu Wenjiao's house. It seems her father was home at noon."
I knocked on the door and a middle-aged man with a gentle appearance and a slightly plump figure answered the door. Through the security iron gate, he asked cautiously: "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"
He Mingyu showed his police ID: "Hello, is this Gu Chaodong? We are from the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Serious Crime Unit. We would like to talk to you about an old case from ten years ago."
Gu Chaodong did not open the door: "I was not at home at the time, so there is nothing to say."
He Mingyu frowned and said, "This case is serious. Please cooperate."
Gu Chaodong looked at the police ID and reluctantly opened the door, muttering as he did so: "It's been ten years, what's the point of looking for me? Why don't you go look for Wen Jiao?"
A gentle female voice came from the room: "Mr. Gu, who is it?"
There was also a boy's cheerful voice: "Dad, come and have dinner, there are fried eggs today!"
Zhao Xiangwan followed He Mingyu into the house. There was a shoe-changing area at the door with several pairs of shoes on it. Further inside was the living room. To the south of the living room was a balcony with some flowers and plants planted on it. There was a small corridor between the living room and the bedroom, and the doors of the bedroom and bathroom faced the corridor.
Children's toys and books are randomly placed in the living room, and the white walls are hung with pinyin tables and various colorful posters. It looks a bit messy, but it has a homely feel.
Seeing the layout of the house, Zhao Xiangwan felt a little sad for Gu Wenjiao. No wonder she didn't want to go home or talk to Gu Chaodong. This house was allocated by Zhou Jinfeng's unit, but now it is occupied by Gu Chaodong and his new wife and son. Everyone has forgotten Zhou Jinfeng and started a new life. Only Gu Wenjiao is still living in the past.
To the north of the living room is the kitchen. Three dishes and a soup are placed on the dining table. A woman wearing an apron comes out of the kitchen and greets He Mingyu and Zhao Xiangwan with a smile: "Hello, do you want to eat together?"
The reason why He Mingyu and Zhao Xiangwan came out at noon was to investigate and collect evidence during people's lunch break. The drive from the Third Hospital to the Municipal Bureau took about half an hour. He Mingyu drove out, and the two had not eaten yet. When they smelled the aroma of home-cooked food, they felt hungry all of a sudden.
The two of them tried to hold back their hunger and waved their hands at the same time: "You're welcome, just a few questions."
Gu Chaodong asked them to sit down and said, "Ask."
"Who lives on the fifth floor now?"
"At first, no one was willing to live there, so it remained empty for two years. Later, as cases gradually fell out of favor, the house was assigned to an ophthalmologist who had returned from abroad. He was single and lived alone, but he was often not at home."
"Have you always lived here?"
"Yes. The housing supply in our company is tight, and the family in 502 across the street hasn't moved out either. But my company is building a collective housing unit, so I will move out next year."
"You've lived here for so long. Have your neighbors discussed this case? What did they say?"
"It's been so long that people rarely discuss this case anymore. When they do mention it, they just remind people not to show off their wealth, not to open the door to strangers, and not to meddle in other people's affairs."
At the end of the story, Gu Chaodong's face became visibly gloomy. Zhou Jinfeng went upstairs to check on him, but he died. Although they had married and had children, they had been married for 20 years and still had feelings for each other. It still hurts my chest when I think about it now.
Zhao Xiangwan heard this and interjected, "Gu Wenjiao goes to the police station every month to inquire about the progress of the case. Don't you care who the murderer is?"
Gu Chaodong found this sentence very harsh. He glanced at Zhao Xiangwan and realized that the girl in front of him was a little too young: "Are you a criminal police officer too?"
I have to say that Gu Wenjiao is really Gu Chaodong's daughter. She asked the same questions when she saw Zhao Xiangwan.
After listening to Zhao Xiangwan's introduction, Gu Chaodong's expression became much more gentle. She is still a college student, she doesn't know anything, no wonder she speaks so harshly. Forget it, don't bother with her.
Gu Chaodong said, "I am just being realistic. Professionals do professional things. The police in the whole city took this case very seriously at the time. Many police officers were dispatched but the case was not solved. Do you think I can solve the case by asking and urging them? A person's life is only so long, why bother with these old things? It is better to let go of the past and live a good life. This is what we should do to the deceased. Don't you think so?"
Zhao Xiangwan knew that what he said was true, and it was indeed true, but she still wanted to ask a few questions on behalf of Gu Wenjiao: "But if everyone forgets the past, then who will redress the injustice for the deceased, and who will catch the murderer?"
After hearing what Zhao Xiangwan said, Gu Chaodong seemed to see his daughter right in front of him. He sighed and said, "You are still young and don't know how to seek benefits and avoid harm. Sometimes, if you cling too much to the past, your life will only get worse and worse."
Zhao Xiangwan pursed his lips, feeling an inexplicable anger rising in his heart: "So, Gu Wenjiao deserves to have a bad life, right?"
When Gu Chaodong heard her mention his daughter's name, his eyes turned worried. "Have you met Jiaojiao? Is she doing well now? She has not been in touch with me for seven or eight years. I want to know her situation, and I can only go through other people in the hospital."
Zhao Xiangwan shook his head: "Not good. Fan Hongwei often beats her. We just saw her. Her arms are covered with new and old injuries, and there are a lot of purple scars. If you have time, please pay more attention to her."
Gu Chaodong stood up immediately after hearing this, and walked around the room anxiously: "How could this happen! I heard from Zhang Yinghua from the pharmacy that she and her husband don't have a good relationship. I thought Jiaojiao has a bad temper and speaks aggressively, and it's unavoidable that they have a bad relationship with a husband with a bad temper. I thought... I thought it was just a quarrel between husband and wife, but I never thought that Fan Hongwei, that bastard, would beat her so often!"
Gu Chaodong's wife heard that it was Jiaojiao's business, so she didn't interrupt and sat down to eat quietly with her son. She had met Gu Wenjiao several times, but each time was not pleasant, which made her unwilling to meddle in Gu Wenjiao's affairs.
Zhao Xiang arrived late and said goodbye to He Mingyu and left.
I went upstairs and knocked on the door, but no one answered. It seemed that Gu Chaodong was right. Although the fifth floor was assigned to an ophthalmologist, he often did not live here.
The two were so hungry that they walked out of the family quarters and found a small restaurant across the street from the Third Hospital. They sat down, ordered two dishes, stir-fried pork with peppers and homemade eggplant, and two large bowls of rice, and ate while chatting.
It was around one o'clock in the afternoon, past lunchtime, and there were not many people in the restaurant.
The weather was hot, and there was only one ceiling fan blowing in the small restaurant. Although they were sweating profusely, they ate very happily because they were very hungry.
He Mingyu said, "Someone lives on the fifth floor, but the owner is not home now. What should I do?"
Zhao Xiangwan ate quickly. After taking a mouthful of rice, he had no time to reply, so he could only signal her with his eyes to wait a moment.
He Mingyu couldn't help but smile when she saw her eating: "Why are you in such a hurry? No one is competing with you for the food."
Zhao Xiangwan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized something and slowed down. After she finished the meal in her mouth, she explained, "When I was a child, my family always urged me to eat quickly, so I developed the habit of eating quickly."
Qian Shufen couldn't stand Zhao Xiangwan eating slowly and always liked to urge her to eat.
"Eat quickly, and then go feed the chickens."
"Lazy boy, why are you taking so long to eat?"
"You want to embroider flowers in the bowl? Eat it quickly!"
Having heard such words so many times, Zhao Xiangwan would become nervous whenever he sat down at the dinner table. He always wanted to finish his meal quickly so that he could focus on his work.
Thinking of Zhao Xiangwan's past, He Mingyu looked at her with some pity.
"Xiang Wan, it's not easy for you either. I'm the third of four girls in my family. My father favors boys over girls. He doesn't say it, but he's actually not happy about it. Some people have suggested giving me and my sister away and giving my father a son in exchange, but my parents didn't agree. In my father's words, no matter how bad the child is, he still has his own child. If he doesn't raise the child, then his conscience is really bad.
I grew up sharing a bed with my sisters, wearing my sister's old clothes, using old school bags and stationery. Our living conditions were not good. But the atmosphere in my family was good. No one argued or quarreled during meals. If there was a piece of meat left in the bowl, no one would take it and everyone would wait for my mother to share it.
Usually we discuss cases together.
It was rare for Zhao Xiangwan to listen to He Mingyu talk about her family, and she listened very carefully. Zhao Xiangwan grew up in the countryside. Although she did a lot of farm work and was beaten and scolded by Qian Shufen, the countryside was vast and sparsely populated, and the housing conditions were better than He Mingyu's family. Before Zhao Chenyang left, the two sisters lived in the same room and slept in the same bed; after Zhao Chenyang followed Zhao Qingyun into the city, Zhao Xiangwan lived alone in a room and felt very comfortable.
He Mingyu put a piece of lean meat into Zhao Xiangwan's bowl with his chopsticks: "You are too thin, eat more. The stir-fried dishes in this restaurant are quite delicious. I will drag Zhu Feipeng and the others over to eat here in the future."
The restaurant owner was a kind-looking middle-aged woman. When she heard what He Mingyu said, she smiled happily: "Girl, if you like it, I'll send you a dish next time you come! My wife's best dish is potato pancakes, it's guaranteed to be delicious."
He Mingyu joked with her with a smile: "Why give it to me next time? Why not give it to me this time?"
The boss's surname is Hu, and his given name is Hu Aiyu. He has a straightforward personality. After hearing what He Mingyu said, he turned around and shouted to the kitchen: "Old Liu, make some potato pancakes."
After a while, a pot of fragrant and burnt potato shredded cake was served. Looking closely, the potatoes were grated into shreds, mixed with starch and slowly fried in oil, and then cumin, chili powder and green onions were added. The edges were crispy, the middle was soft and glutinous, and the taste was rich. It was simply delicious.
Even Zhao Xiangwan, who doesn't really care about food, couldn't help but praise it: "It's delicious!"
Looking up at the lady boss standing behind the counter keeping accounts, Zhao Xiangwan suddenly remembered his eldest aunt who ran a rice noodle shop in Luo County. She sent a letter a while ago saying that business was good and his second brother Zhao Bowu was also doing well. His cousin Fan Qiuhan had been assigned to work as a nurse at Luo County Chengguan Hospital. Because of her high level of injection skills and quick work, she was very popular with doctors and patients.
Being able to make your life better and better is also a skill.
Zhao Xiangwan quickly finished his meal and started chatting with the proprietress: "How many years has your restaurant been open?"
Hu Aiyu raised her head and answered across the counter, "It's been more than ten years. Since the country allowed small businesses, Lao Liu and I bought this store and turned it into a restaurant. The Third Hospital is a famous hospital in Xing City, with a large flow of people every day. I wouldn't say I'll make a lot of money running a catering business here, but it's no problem supporting my family."
The shop has been open for more than ten years and its storefront faces the Third Hospital. Maybe we can find out something from it.
Zhao Xiangwan continued to ask: "Do you still remember the tragic case that happened in the hospital's family building ten years ago?"
Hu Aiyu nodded and sighed, "I remember. It was a big case that shocked the whole city! The police called me one after another to ask questions and investigate one by one. I also wanted to provide useful clues, but it was already nine o'clock when the case happened, and our restaurant was closed, so I couldn't provide any information."
He Mingyu did not give up and continued to ask: "Before the case happened, did you find any special people or unusual situations?"
Hu Aiyu had nothing to do, so she walked out of the counter and stood next to He Mingyu's table and said, "We meet a lot of people every day. It was May, and the weather was neither cold nor hot. My husband Liu was a good cook, and the restaurant business was good. We were so busy every day that we didn't notice any special people or things."
People come and go in the hospital, men and women, young and old, cadres, workers, farmers, teachers, vendors... all kinds of people. Every day in the hospital, people are born and die, people cry and laugh, and there are all kinds of stories in life. Who is more special and what is abnormal? Hu Aiyu, who runs a restaurant, may really not notice it.
Zhao Xiangwan listened carefully to her voice.
【It's been ten years since that case, I didn't expect someone would still ask about it. These two girls are probably police officers, the way they question and act, they look like they are. They are so young, just like that girl Gu Wenjiao, oh! Gu Wenjiao's mother died, she is also a pitiful person. Every year on her mother's death anniversary, she would come to my restaurant and order two of Nurse Zhou's favorite dishes, staring at the door in a daze, her look makes people feel sad.】
Unexpectedly, the proprietress would recognize Gu Wenjiao. Zhao Xiangwan asked, "Four people died in the tragic case that year. Which one do you recognize?"
Hu Aiyu answered without hesitation: "I know Head Nurse Zhou best. She has a very good personality, loves to talk and laugh, and often brings her daughter to order a few dishes on weekends, saying that she wants to have a good time. Her favorite dishes are potato pancakes, steamed rice vermicelli soup, and spicy ginger chicken. It's a pity... good people don't live long."
Zhao Xiangwan asked, "Do you know Nurse Zhou's daughter, Gu Wenjiao?"
Hu Aiyu nodded: "I know her. She's a nice girl. She has a very good relationship with her mother. After her mother passed away, she came less often, but every year on May 15th, she would order three dishes and eat the whole meal in silence. She used to come alone, but later her husband would come with her. Alas!"
Will Fan Hongwei accompany her to dinner?
He Mingyu and Zhao Xiangwan exchanged glances, there must be something wrong when something is abnormal!
It stands to reason that Fan Hongwei and Zhou Jinfeng had no feelings for each other, so he would not come to commemorate his mother-in-law on her death anniversary. Moreover, Fan Hongwei was not good to Gu Wenjiao, and it was clear from the fact that he beat her that he was a ruthless person. Since he was not good to Gu Wenjiao, why did he accompany her to the restaurant for dinner?
Zhao Xiangwan asked: "Besides ordering food and eating, what else does Gu Wenjiao talk to you about?"
Hu Aiyu sighed deeply: "Anyway, on that day, no matter what day it was, Gu Wenjiao would go to the cemetery early in the morning to sweep the graves, then go to the police station to inquire about the progress, and then come to my place to eat at noon. The first thing she would ask when she saw me was: Aunt Hu, do you have any new news?"
Zhao Xiangwan's eyes flashed: "What did her husband do?"
Hu Aiyu frowned, wanting to say something but stopping herself. But she was a straightforward person and couldn't hold back, so she finally blurted out everything.
"I, Hu Aiyu, have been running the shop until now. I don't know how many people I have met. I can tell at a glance that he is not a good person. Although he smiles at people, his eyes are dodging. As soon as he sits down, he looks around and looks at the dishes with disgust. He feels uncomfortable sitting there as if he has fleas on his body. I don't know why Gu Wenjiao chose such a person. There is no love in his eyes when he looks at her. From time to time, he is cold and makes me feel uncomfortable."
Zhao Xiangwan: "Gu Wenjiao's husband is not good to her. Did you see that?"
Hu Aiyu slapped her thigh, feeling that she had finally found someone to vent to: "That's right! I saw it a long time ago. Her husband's eyes are very cold, without any warmth at all. Even though he later became a high-ranking official, the way he never looked anyone in the eye always made people feel uncomfortable."
Yes, that's the feeling.
Zhao Xiangwan has the ability to read minds and see through people's disguises. When he first saw Fan Hongwei in the hot pot restaurant, he felt that this person was not right. He was cold and defensive, and his eyes were fierce. This temperament was very similar to the desperado Zhao Xiangwan saw in the newspaper.
At this moment, an idea suddenly flashed through Zhao Xiangwan's mind.
——Is it possible that Fan Hongwei is related to the shooting case?
Make bold assumptions and carefully verify them. Zhao Xiangwan began to reason in his mind.
First, Fan Hongwei's pursuit of Gu Wenjiao came without any warning.
Gu Wenjiao is not a beautiful woman, nor is she gentle and likable. Judging from Fan Hongwei's admiration and flirting with Ji Zhao, he is a shameless man who is lecherous and unrestrained. He has neither known Gu Wenjiao in life nor had any relationship with her at work. Why did he play a hero and save the beauty on Gu Wenjiao's way back from sweeping the graves, win her favor, and insist on marrying her?
If we insist that Fan Hongwei married a woman of virtue and thought Gu Wenjiao was suitable to be his wife, then why did he change his attitude after marriage? Not only did he not respect her, he even beat her, leaving her with scars.
If Fan Hongwei didn't like Gu Wenjiao, then why didn't he want a divorce and even threaten his son's life?
How could a man who was usually a domestic abuser insist on accompanying Gu Wenjiao to a small restaurant for dinner on Zhou Jinfeng's death anniversary?
If we put the above assumptions into consideration, all of Fan Hongwei's strange and contradictory behaviors would make sense.
After committing the crime, Fan Hongwei, who had a strong psychological quality, did not escape. After driving a car in the Urban Construction Bureau for a period of time, he was actually struggling in his heart.
On the one hand, he was afraid that the police would find out and arrest him. He was guilty of killing police officers, stealing guns, robbing houses, and murdering people. He was sentenced to death, which made him feel uneasy.
On the other hand, he also wanted to monitor the development of the situation at all times, so that he could run away immediately if there was any sign of trouble. As the saying goes, "If you have green mountains, you will not be afraid of running out of firewood, right?"
After all the twists and turns, the cunning Fan Hongwei decided to get close to Gu Wenjiao. After all, she was the only one who was still concerned about the case and would ask about the progress of the case every year. As long as he was close to Gu Wenjiao, he could always grasp the latest situation of the case.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xiangwan felt all the hairs on his arms stand up.
If her guess is correct, it's really terrible!
After killing someone, he still dared to continue living in this city without panic;
Not only did he kill someone, he also dared to get close to the daughter of the deceased, and even married her and had a child with her, just to monitor everything from close range.
In the dead of night, doesn't his conscience hurt? Doesn't his back feel cold?
Zhao Xiangwan shook her head. This kind of person has no conscience at all. How can it hurt? She rubbed her arms with her hands, and waited until her body was slightly warmer before continuing with her reasoning.
Secondly, there are many contradictions in Fan Hongwei's growth history.
This is also the second point that Zhao Xiangwan has been thinking about.
Fan Hongwei worked as a truck driver in a transport company. Although driving long distances was relatively hard, truck drivers in the 1980s had many extra benefits and their wages were actually quite considerable. His fights had serious consequences, but thanks to the mediation of Tsai Chang, they finally reached an agreement and no criminal record was filed. He should have continued to work in the transport company and lived an honest life from then on. Why did he go to the Urban Construction Bureau to be a temporary car driver?
One possibility is that although no case was filed, the transportation company fired him due to the adverse impact.
Of course, there is also a possibility that Fan Hongwei committed a serious crime and was too guilty to stay in his original unit, so he simply changed places to avoid being discovered.
Regarding this question, I should be able to get a clear answer when I meet up with Zhu Feipeng and others this afternoon.
Third, what kind of connection was there between Fan Hongwei and Director Yang Xugang of the Urban Construction Bureau that made him promote him at all costs?
What if there was some kind of agreement between them, or they were both involved in the murder? Because this was a murder, one party kept it a secret, and the other tried to repay it.
At present, these three questions need further investigation to be confirmed. In any case, it is always right to make bold assumptions and carefully verify them.
Never wrongly accuse a good person, and never let any bad person go.
Zhao Xiangwan looked up at the proprietress and asked, "When did you first meet Gu Wenjiao's husband?"
Seeing that it was so hot and Zhao Xiangwan was rubbing her arms, Liu Aiyu couldn't help but laugh: "Little girl, are you scared? Oh, don't be afraid. Although Gu Wenjiao's husband is uncomfortable to look at, he is also a state official. Are you afraid that he will eat you?"
The words "eat you" successfully made the hairs on Zhao Xiangwan's arms stand up again.
He Mingyu noticed that Zhao Xiangwan suddenly fell silent, so she continued to ask, "Boss, does Gu Wenjiao's husband really accompany Gu Wenjiao to sweep the graves and inquire about the case every year?"
Hu Aiyu sighed, "It's not just once a year. Gu Wenjiao goes to the police station every month to inquire about the progress of the case, and her husband accompanies her every time. I've heard people in the hospital discuss this behind her back. They all lamented that Gu Wenjiao was stubborn and said that being her husband was not easy. Think about it, you can't live a good life, but you keep thinking about the murder case all day long. Don't you have nightmares when you sleep?"
The small restaurant was doing well, and many doctors from the hospital would come here to eat, chat, and gossip. Many people would talk about Gu Wenjiao's family affairs behind her back.
Zhao Xiangwan asked, "Boss, have any of Gu Wenjiao's colleagues discussed her husband's domestic violence behind her back? Don't you think it's strange that a man who beats his wife would accompany her to the police station every month to inquire about the progress of the case?"
When Hu Aiyu heard the word domestic violence, her face suddenly changed: "Beat your wife? If Gu Wenjiao's husband beats his wife, then he is not a man! Gu Wenjiao is pitiful enough, and he beats her? Pah! Are you police? Hurry up and arrest him."
He Mingyu saw that his identity was exposed by the boss lady and smiled: "If no one calls the police, we can't just arrest anyone."
Hu Aiyu was so that she slammed the table and said, "Gu Wenjiao's husband is a piece of shit! If you hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have known that he beat Gu Wenjiao. Now that you mentioned it, I remembered it. It was said that when Gu Wenjiao came to eat a while ago, she stood up a little stiffly, and the hand holding the chopsticks seemed to have a bruise. I thought she had accidentally fallen, but I didn't expect it was her husband who beat her.
Oh, my temper! I absolutely cannot tolerate a man beating his wife. I tell you, you go and persuade Gu Wenjiao to divorce her. If she is reluctant to divorce, then take a knife and fight him until he is afraid. Men! Haha, they are all bullies and afraid of the strong. Don't be scared when he hits you for the first time, or you will be finished. "
Hu Aiyu stopped talking only when a new guest arrived.
After dinner, Zhao Xiangwan took He Mingyu to find Gu Wenjiao again.
At 2 o'clock, the pharmacy was open for business, and Gu Wenjiao had already started to work. Seeing Zhao Xiangwan and He Mingyu return again, Gu Wenjiao and Zhang Yinghua greeted them and pulled them aside: "What's the matter? You have to ask quickly, I still have to work."
Zhao Xiangwan nodded and spoke faster.
"Does Fan Honggang accompany you to the police station every month to inquire about the case?"
"yes."
"Why?"
"He said he was a man after all and couldn't watch his mother-in-law get killed without being able to catch the murderer."
"Are you moved?"
"I guess so. This is the only human touch in him."
"Did he tell you why he resigned from the transportation company?"
"He said he was fired because he got into a fight when he was young and ignorant."
"Did he mention the name Tsai Chang?"
"The policeman who was killed? I don't think he mentioned it. He only cares about who killed my mother. As for the name of the policeman who was killed, he doesn't care."
"Who are his best friends?"
"Cao Deren."
"Is this the only one?"
"There seemed to be a person named Ruan Wu before, but he disappeared after marrying me. I don't know where he went."
After asking the questions, Zhao Xiangwan told Gu Wenjiao: "Remember not to tell Fan Hongwei that we came to see you."
Gu Wenjiao nodded: "Yes, I know the seriousness of the matter." If she had just asked about the details of her mother's murder, it might not have meant much if she had told him the details. But it was obvious that the police were very interested in Fan Hongwei's past and present. If Gu Wenjiao had told him the details rashly, it would probably have alerted him.
Gu Wenjiao looked at Zhao Xiangwan with some longing: "Are you going to investigate Fan Hongwei?" How much she hoped that the police could arrest Fan Hongwei and give her a peaceful life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
