Chapter 16 There are eyes behind
Lu Chao and Zhang Min walked out of the hospital gate, and the cold wind mixed with fine snowflakes blew in their faces. "I never thought Liu Feng would be such a person..." Lu Chao whispered, his voice revealing unspeakable fatigue. He looked up at the gray sky. The sun was white, and occasionally the sea breeze blew up the snowflakes on the ground and scattered them everywhere. Zhang Min followed behind him with heavy steps. "The way Liu Feng fed his mother just now made my heart ache." Her voice was a little choked, "So careful, so gentle..." Lu Chao said nothing, but took out a cigarette box from his pocket, shook out a cigarette and put it between his lips. After lighting it, he took a deep puff. The smoke swirled in his lungs, but it couldn't suppress the tightness in his chest. They stood at the door for a long time, witnessing the whole process of Liu Feng taking care of his mother. His daughter-in-law Zhang Li wanted to help, but was declined by Liu Feng. He ran around, taking care of feces and urine, without showing a trace of displeasure. The old man's withered hands tightly clutched the hem of his son's shirt, tears glistening in his eyes. The sight pierced the two of them like needles, a filial act that made Lu Chao feel ashamed. They didn't ask Liu Feng for his alibi, but instead insinuated questions about the incident at Jin Haiyan's KTV. At first, they didn't understand Yu Hao's arrangement, but now they understood its deeper meaning. "Perhaps you've committed a crime, and that's why we're here, but because of your character, we grant you a final dose of dignity." They walked towards the parking lot, the snow crunching under their feet, silent as they walked. "You know what?" Lu Chao suddenly stopped and turned to look at Zhang Min, his eyes complex. "This is the first time I've ever hoped we were on the wrong track while solving a case." Zhang Min bit her lower lip, the tip of her nose red from the cold. "I know how you feel..." Lu Chao sighed, stuck his cigarette butt into the snow, extinguished it, and tossed it into the trash can. He changed the subject, returning to the case. "How's the hospital bill going?" Zhang Min raised her head and smoothed down her messy hair. "I was just about to mention this. Yesterday, Liu Feng paid a 100,000 yuan advance for her mother's surgery." "100,000 yuan?" "Yes, you think it might be related to the missing 50,000 yuan?" "It's hard to say. We have to see how things progress with Captain Yu." Lu Chao got into the driver's seat and turned the key. The police car's engine purred. A phone rang in the glove compartment. Seeing it was Yu Hao, Lu Chao quickly answered it. "Captain Yu..." * "Hurry back to the bureau and run fingerprints and shoe scans right away..."
Lu Chao and Zhang Min walked out of the hospital gate, and the cold wind mixed with fine snowflakes blew in their faces.
"I never thought Liu Feng would be such a person..." Lu Chao said in a low voice, his voice revealing indescribable fatigue.
He looked up at the gray sky. The sun was white, and occasionally the sea breeze blew up the snowflakes on the ground and scattered them everywhere.
Zhang Min followed him, her steps heavy. "The way Liu Feng fed his mother just now made my heart ache," she said, her voice choking. "So attentive, so gentle..."
Lu Chao didn't say anything. He just took out a cigarette box from his pocket, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. After lighting it, he took a deep puff. The smoke swirled in his lungs, but it couldn't suppress the stuffiness in his chest.
They stood at the door for a long time, witnessing the entire process of Liu Feng taking care of his mother. His daughter-in-law Zhang Li wanted to help, but Liu Feng declined. He ran around, taking care of the feces and urine, without showing a trace of displeasure.
The old man's skinny hands tightly grasped the corner of his son's clothes, tears flashing in his eyes. That scene pierced the eyes of both of them like needles. This kind of filial piety made Lu Chao feel ashamed.
They did not ask Liu Feng for his alibi, but asked him indirectly about Jin Haiyan's KTV. At the beginning, the two did not understand Yu Hao's arrangement, but now they understand the deep meaning of doing so.
Perhaps you have committed a crime, and that is why we are here, but because of who you are as a person, we give you the final dignity.
The two walked towards the parking lot, the snow crunching under their feet, and they were silent all the way.
"You know what?" Lu Chao suddenly stopped and turned to look at Zhang Min. His eyes were complicated. "This is the first time I've ever hoped we were looking for the wrong clue when solving a case."
Zhang Min bit her lower lip, the tip of her nose red from the cold: "I understand how you feel..."
Lu Chao sighed, put the cigarette butt into the snow, and threw it into the trash can. He changed the subject and returned to the case, "How's the hospital bill going?"
Zhang Min raised her head and smoothed down her messy hair. "I was just about to mention this. Yesterday, Liu Feng paid a deposit of 100,000 yuan for her mother's surgery."
"100,000 yuan?"
"Yes, you think it might be related to the missing 50,000 yuan?"
"It's hard to say. It depends on how Captain Yu progresses." Lu Chao got into the driver's seat, turned the key, and the police car's engine made a rumbling sound.
The phone rang in the storage compartment of the car. Lu Chao saw that the caller was Yu Hao and quickly picked up the phone.
"Captain Yu..."
*
"Hurry back to the bureau and immediately compare fingerprints and shoe prints."
Yu Hao's police car didn't drive into the village. This was his usual habit, the only exception being yesterday when he picked up Luo Xue. He walked quickly along the muddy path toward the village entrance.
The sound of a police car engine came from Lu Chao's mobile phone, and it seemed that the interrogation over there was over.
He continued, "The latest news from the video team is that Liu Feng did go to the Tianhou Temple four days ago. The probability that the 'Liu' amulet is his is very high. As long as the fingerprint and shoe prints are successfully matched, he can basically be identified."
Yu Hao clearly felt Lu Chao's breath pause for a second. "Okay, Captain Yu, I will arrange for police officers to be stationed at the hospital entrance in advance to prevent him from escaping."
"If it's really him, he won't run away. Forget it."
"good……"
After hanging up the phone, Yu Hao quickly walked to the front of the car. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard a hurried sound of footsteps on the snow behind him.
He looked back and saw Guo Zhong trotting towards him with a fawning smile on his face and a hint of shrewdness hidden in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"Captain Yu!" Guo Zhong rubbed his hands, the white breath he exhaled quickly dissipating in the cold wind. "What a coincidence, meeting you here."
Yu Hao looked at him calmly, and couldn't tell for a moment whether it was a chance encounter, but rather that the other party had seen his police car waiting there.
Guo Zhong was wearing a wrinkled down jacket, and his small eyes were rolling around like a mouse that smelled food.
"Boss Guo, is there something wrong?" Yu Hao remained calm.
Guo Zhong took a step closer and lowered his voice, "I heard there's been some progress in the case?" His eyes wandered over Yu Hao's face, as if trying to catch some clue. "Everyone in the village says you're a master at solving cases, so this one will definitely be close soon."
Yu Hao narrowed his eyes. "The case is still under investigation," he said calmly. "Boss Guo is so concerned. Do you have any clues to provide?"
Guo Zhong's smile froze for a moment, and then he forced out a more exaggerated expression: "How could that be! I'm just a landlord, what do I know?" He rubbed his nose with a smile in his eyes.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave first." Yu Hao didn't pay attention to the deeper meaning of his words. After saying that, he walked towards the police car.
Seeing that his words didn't attract Yu Hao's attention, Guo Zhong hurriedly took a few steps forward, a glint of greed in his eyes. "I just want to ask you, if you provide the key clues to solve the case, does the government offer any reward?"
Yu Hao turned around and stared at his smiling face. "Then let's see what evidence you provide."
"Key evidence." Guo Zhong looked around, lowered his voice, and observed Yu Hao's reaction.
"That might be between 10,000 and 50,000 yuan."
Guo Zhong frowned slightly, then suddenly took a step back and smiled meaningfully, "Oh, maybe I'm wrong. It's not worth mentioning." He waved his hand, "You're busy. I'll leave first."
"Why do you think the money is too little?" Yu Hao watched him turn and leave, not sure whether he was playing hard to get or if there was really no so-called evidence and it was just a tentative question.
Guo Zhong turned around with a bright smile on his face: "I just said it casually, maybe it was just my imagination..."
Yu Hao stared into his eyes, "Boss Guo, concealing evidence is illegal."
"Oh, what are you saying?" Guo Zhong exaggeratedly covered his chest. "How dare I!" He suddenly lowered his voice. "How about this, when you're free, come to my house and sit down? I'll make you a pot of good tea, and we can chat slowly."
Guo Zhong's smile gradually faded, replaced by a strange expression. "Captain Yu, some things...can't be rushed." He glanced around meaningfully. "There's a lot going on in this village."
"What do you mean?" Yu Hao's voice turned cold.
Guo Zhong suddenly smiled, revealing his smoke-yellow teeth. "It's nothing interesting." He took a few steps back. "Let's talk about it some other time. Some other time."
After saying that, he turned around and walked away quickly, his back soon disappearing at the alley entrance.
Yu Hao didn't think about it any more and turned to walk towards the police car. Suddenly, he felt a chill on his back. He immediately turned around and looked around.
His many years of career as a criminal police officer made him instinctively feel that just now, someone was staring at him from behind not far away. This feeling was like being aimed at by a sniper rifle.
Who is it? He remembered what Guo Zhong had said just now, "There are so many things going on in this village."
Yu Hao frowned, but there were only houses in front of him and he had no way of locking the direction. He could only shake his head and sit in the driver's seat.
*
The atmosphere in the Criminal Police Brigade meeting room was a little dull, and the clock on the wall made a harsh "clicking" sound.
"Why aren't the results out yet?" Lu Chao suddenly stopped walking back and forth, his voice sounding particularly abrupt in the quiet conference room.
Yu Hao looked up at him and said nothing.
The fingerprint and shoe print samples have been sent to the physical evidence department, and I believe the results will be out soon.
The door was gently pushed open, and everyone's eyes immediately focused on it. The person who came was not Liu Kai who was going to the physical evidence department, but forensic doctor Sun Wei.
She was wearing a dark blue turtleneck sweater instead of a white lab coat, which made her skin look even brighter. Her short hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, revealing her chiseled profile.
"Why are you here?" Yu Hao was a little surprised.
Sun Wei sat down opposite him and crossed her hands on the table: "I heard they are comparing fingerprints, come and take a look." Her voice was as calm as water, but her eyes held a rare warmth.
Yu Hao nodded.
Sun Wei's gaze stayed on his face for a few seconds, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she kept silent and just sat opposite him, quietly accompanying him.
He knew a lot about Yu Hao and also knew many people that Yu Hao cherished, including Uncle Zhang, Aunt Liu, and even Luo Xin.
She understood his current difficulties better than anyone else present.
She knew that he couldn't explain to Uncle Zhang, nor could he explain to herself...
Time passed minute by minute, and Lu Chao began to pace back and forth anxiously again.
The door of the conference room was suddenly pushed open, and Liu Kai rushed in with several documents in his hands.
"How is it?" Lu Chao immediately went over.
Liu Kai was panting heavily, having obviously run all the way here from the Physical Evidence Department. "The fingerprints on the dagger and the shoe prints at the scene are a perfect match with Liu Feng's."
"Damn, it's really him." After hearing this, Lu Chao hammered the desk hard. The teacup lid on the desk slid to the table with the vibration, making a "bang" sound.
Yu Hao's mouth twitched and his body trembled slightly. Sun Wei stared at him, her brows furrowed on her pretty face.
Ultimately, emotion and law cannot coexist.
This result means that the newly pregnant wife, the unborn child, the elderly man lying in the hospital, and the lonely Uncle Zhang will lose the person they can rely on the most.
It also means that Yu Hao personally sent his benefactor's son-in-law to prison, and possibly even to the guillotine.
Putting aside the relationship with Uncle Zhang, even if it was just this murderer, it would be a difficult decision for Yu Hao, and even Lu Chao, Zhang Min and other colleagues who knew Liu Feng.
He is so considerate, so filial, so patient...
But the evidence was right in front of everyone and could not be refuted.
Lu Chao turned to Yu Hao, "Captain Yu, are there any other possibilities?"
Yu Hao shook his head and said, "Yes, but the probability is not high." Many images emerged in his mind, but he forced them out.
He knew that this was not the time to act on impulse, as everyone was still waiting for him to decide on the next move.
Everyone looked at Yu Hao. After a moment, he finally spoke, "Prepare the arrest warrant." His voice was hoarse and not like his own.
Lu Chao hesitated for a moment: "Should we first..."
"Yes, Captain Yu, isn't there a possibility of frame-up?" Even Zhang Min, who is usually calm, began to hesitate.
It can be seen that the scene of Liu Fengfeng's mother in the hospital that day had a great impact on her and moved her.
After all, many people can no longer do this...
Yu Hao's steps as he walked out were surprisingly heavy.
"Yes, do you want to take another look?" Sun Wei persuaded.
At this moment, there was a knock on the conference room door, and someone delivered the final link in the chain of evidence...
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