Chapter 25 This Bastard Again
Yu Hao lingered outside Uncle Zhang's chess and card room, his footsteps leaving messy tracks on the snow. Countless times in the past few days, he'd wanted to go in and talk to Uncle Zhang, but he'd never found the courage to meet his weathered eyes. Today, he stood at the doorway again, his fingers hovering in mid-air, hesitant to push open the familiar wooden door. Just as he turned to leave, a creaking sound came from behind him—the door opened. "Xiao Hao," Uncle Zhang's voice was hoarse and tired, like a dull knife scratching through rough wood. Yu Hao froze in his place and slowly turned around. Uncle Zhang stood in the doorway, his figure hunched in the backlight, his gray hair glaring in the morning light. He held an old enamel teapot, steam rising from its spout. The same place, the same two people, but now, a completely different mood permeated the air. The chess and card room was empty, save for a mahjong table where a half-finished game lay. After the two murders, the villagers no longer had the leisure to gather for a game of cards. The two were silent for a moment, and Yu Hao spoke first: "Uncle Zhang, I'm sorry." His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down. Uncle Zhang did not respond, but walked to the coal stove in the corner and put the teapot on it to reheat it. The water vapor condensed into white mist in the cold room, blurring the expression on the old man's face. "Sit down." Uncle Zhang pointed to the wooden stool beside him. Yu Hao sat down slowly. The legs of the stool were already shaking a little, making a "creaking" sound. He put his hands on his knees, and the police badge shone coldly in the morning light. Uncle Zhang took out two cups and poured hot tea. It was the one Yu Hao bought for him that day. "This is your duty," the old man finally spoke, his voice calm, "I have never blamed you." Yu Hao took the teacup and felt the warmth of the porcelain with his fingertips. He looked at Uncle Zhang's wrinkled face and weary eyes, feeling a weight weighing down his chest. "Liu Feng didn't suffer in the police station. This case isn't settled yet, and there are still many doubts." Uncle Zhang nodded. "I wouldn't be wrong about him." He raised his head and looked directly at Yu Hao. "Both you and Liu Feng are good kids." Yu Hao lowered his head and sipped his tea. "Liu Feng must have stolen the 50,000 yuan," Uncle Zhang's voice was soft, but every word was clear. "He took the wrong step and should be punished." The old man paused, a firm look in his eyes. "But he definitely didn't kill the person. I'm confident of that. He's not that kind of person." Yu Hao clenched his teacup, the heat making his eyes sore. He remembered Liu Feng's hysterical outburst in the interrogation room...
Yu Hao wandered outside Uncle Zhang's chess and card room, his footsteps leaving messy traces on the snow.
In the past few days, he wanted to go in and talk to Uncle Zhang countless times, but he never had the courage to face those weathered eyes.
Today, he stood at the door again, his fingers hanging in the air, but he was hesitant to push open the familiar wooden door.
Just as he turned around to leave, he heard a creaking sound behind him - the door opened.
"Xiaohao." Uncle Zhang's voice was hoarse and tired, like a blunt knife scratching rough wood.
Yu Hao froze in place, then slowly turned around. Uncle Zhang stood at the doorway, his figure hunched in the backlight, his white hair at his temples particularly glaring in the morning light.
He held an old enamel teapot in his hand, with steam rising slowly from the spout.
The same place, the same two people, but at this moment, completely different emotions were prevalent.
The chess and card room was empty, with only a mahjong table where a half-finished game of cards was still lying.
After the two murders, the villagers no longer had the leisure to get together to play cards.
The two were silent for a moment, and Yu Hao spoke first: "Uncle Zhang, I'm sorry." His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down.
Uncle Zhang didn't respond, but walked to the coal stove in the corner and put the teapot on it to reheat it.
Water vapor condensed into white mist in the cold room, blurring the expression on the old man's face.
"Please sit down." Uncle Zhang pointed to the wooden bench beside him.
Yu Hao slowly sat down. The legs of the stool were already wobbling, making a creaking sound. He placed his hands on his knees, his police badge gleaming coldly in the morning light.
Uncle Zhang took out two cups and poured hot tea into them. These were the ones Yu Hao bought for him that day.
"It's your duty," the old man finally said, his voice calm. "I never blame you."
Yu Hao took the teacup, feeling the warmth of the porcelain on his fingertips. He looked at Uncle Zhang's wrinkled face and tired eyes, feeling a heavy weight on his chest. "Liu Feng hasn't suffered much in the bureau. This case hasn't been concluded yet, and there are still many doubts."
Uncle Zhang nodded. "I won't make a mistake." He raised his head and looked directly at Yu Hao. "Whether it's you or Liu Feng, you're both good kids."
Yu Hao lowered his head and drank tea.
"Liu Feng must have stolen the 50,000 yuan," Uncle Zhang said softly, but every word was clear. "He took the wrong path and should be punished."
The old man paused, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. "But he definitely didn't kill the person. I have confidence in this. He's not that kind of person."
Yu Hao clenched his teacup, the heat making his eyes sore. He thought of Liu Feng's hysterical denials in the interrogation room, and of that strange fingerprint...
"Things have developed to this point," Yu Hao said, choosing his words carefully. "I also believe that Liu Feng was framed, but we still need to... investigate."
Uncle Zhang waved his hand. "That's not what I meant. Following procedures is the bottom line and principle of criminal police. I understand."
Yu Hao looked at the old man's trembling hands, his heart aching. "Uncle Zhang, don't worry. I will definitely find out the truth and give justice to the deceased and Liu Feng."
Uncle Zhang nodded imperceptibly.
The two drank tea in silence, the aroma of tea lingering in their mouths, with a slight bitterness.
Yu Hao didn't know what to say for a moment. He was not good at speaking.
"I thank you on behalf of Lily and Liu Feng." Uncle Zhang suddenly spoke.
"Uncle Zhang."
"No, that's not what I meant. I meant thank you for paying for Grandma Lily's surgery and for handing over the 50,000 yuan on his behalf. Lily told me everything." Uncle Zhang's face was heavy, but he looked grateful.
"Uncle Zhang, don't say that. This is what we younger generations should do."
"I will ask Liu Feng to return this money to you."
Uncle Zhang always had confidence in Liu Feng.
"No need." Yu Hao shook his head and sighed, "If I had known earlier..."
"One thing is one thing, and repaying debts is only natural. What's more, you're already helping them a lot by paying for the surgery."
Uncle Zhang's eyes drifted toward the window. "Liu Feng is a very strong-willed person. This move is really too wrong." He was referring to the fact that Liu Feng stole 50,000 yuan from Wang Shun.
"Uncle Zhang, everything will be fine, don't worry." Seeing the disappointment in the old man's eyes, Yu Hao comforted him.
The two were silent for a moment. Uncle Zhang raised his head and changed the subject. "By the way, your master came to my place last night."
Yu Hao shook the teacup in his hand, and a few drops of tea splashed out: "Master?"
"Yes, Lao Qin."
Yu Hao was shocked. He had a vague understanding of the relationship between his master and Uncle Zhang, but he didn't know much.
I only heard that the two grew up together and entered the police academy together, but for some reason, Uncle Zhang failed to become a policeman.
As far as Yu Hao could remember, Uncle Zhang was the only one who took care of his daughter Zhang Li. He had never heard anyone mention where Zhang Li's mother had gone.
"He is still the same, walking with the wind and talking like thunder." Uncle Zhang's mouth corners slightly raised, revealing his first smile in these days.
"What did the master say?" Yu Hao put down the teacup and leaned forward slightly.
"Nothing, just old things."
"What about him?"
"He didn't mention Liu Feng."
Yu Hao looked up and found Uncle Zhang looking at him with a gentle gaze. He said, "He always believed that you would do well, at least better than him."
Yu Hao didn't say anything, took a sip of tea, and the hand holding the teacup shook unconsciously.
The two drank tea quietly for a while, and then Yu Hao's phone rang. It was Zhang Min. A slightly excited voice came from the other end.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
"Uncle Zhang, please don't worry about Liu Feng's matter." As he stood up, Yu Hao finished the tea in his cup and looked at Uncle Zhang with a serious expression.
Uncle Zhang also stood up and patted his shoulder gently, "Go and get busy. Don't feel any psychological burden."
Yu Hao nodded slightly, turned around, and walked towards the police car in the morning light.
Uncle Zhang stood at the door, looking in the direction the police car left, and didn't return to the house for a long time...
*
The lights in the Criminal Police Brigade's meeting room were pale and dazzling, and a communication relationship diagram was displayed on the electronic screen.
"Let's start." Yu Hao said briefly.
Zhang Min stood up and walked to the screen. She clicked the remote control, and the screen showed photos of three people - Wang Shun, Guo Zhong, and Gou Rong.
"By accessing data from mobile phone operators, we found that all three had contacted the same number within the past month."
Zhang Min's voice was clear and professional. "And the holder of this number..." She paused, her eyes sweeping across the conference room. "It's Qin Jun."
A murmur of discussion suddenly broke out in the conference room. Yu Hao frowned deeply.
Qin Jun - the gangster who was caught in the hair salon, Wang Shun's fellow villager, and Li Rong's lover.
"It's that bastard again." Lu Chao slammed the folder shut with a snap. "How many secrets does this kid have?"
"Tell me about the call records in detail." Yu Hao's voice was terrifyingly calm.
Zhang Min quickly pulled up the data table: "Wang Shun had five phone calls with Qin Jun, concentrated in the two weeks before the incident; Guo Zhong had two, both three days before his death; Gou Rong had four, the most recent one three days ago."
Sun Wei suddenly interrupted, "How long was the call?"
"On average, no more than two minutes." Zhang Min pushed his glasses.
The conference room fell into a brief silence. Yu Hao's eyes wandered over the communication chart. Suddenly, he turned to Lu Chao and said, "Go with Liu Kai and get that bastard Qin Jun back to me."
Lu Chao clenched his knuckles until they crackled. "If this bastard comes in again, he'll never get out again."
At this moment, a police officer gently opened the door of the conference room and whispered, "Captain Yu, a woman named Li Rong wants to see you."
In the meeting room next door, Li Rong was wrapped in a faded down jacket, her hair casually tied behind her head, her face without makeup, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were particularly obvious under the fluorescent light.
Yu Hao looked at the uninvited guest with some surprise.
"Ms. Li?" Zhang Min took a few steps forward. "What's going on?"
Li Rong twisted the corner of her clothes with her fingers, her eyes wandering: "I... I came to ask about the progress of Wang Shun's case." Her voice was much hoarser than the last time they met.
Zhang Min poured her a cup of hot water. Li Rong took it, her hands trembling slightly. "Wang Shun's funeral has already been held in his hometown," she said, staring at the water. "His parents are old, so it was just... a simple funeral."
Yu Hao also sat down opposite her and noticed that she was still wearing a wedding ring on her left ring finger, but she no longer had the deliberate cleverness she had shown the last time they met.
"Our police are still trying their best to solve Wang Shun's case, but it will take some time. Please understand," Yu Hao explained.
"No..., I'm not here to urge you. I just want to come over... to understand the situation." Li Rong half lowered her head, and after she finished speaking, she lowered her head even lower.
"What are your plans for the future?" Zhang Min asked softly, "Will you continue to follow Qin Jun?"
Li Rong's shoulders visibly stiffened. She raised her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "No, we... broke up." She paused. "Actually, after leaving the police station that day, we went our separate ways."
"These past few years... I've been wrong," Li Rong said suddenly, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. "Wang Shun may be a jerk, but... I've made mistakes, too." Her fingers unconsciously rubbed her wedding ring. "I want to go back home, take good care of the children... and start over."
"How old is the child?" Zhang Min asked.
"Eight years old, in the second grade." Li Rong's eyes finally lit up when she mentioned her child. "He's been with his grandparents. I...I haven't spent much time with him in a long time."
The office fell silent for a moment. Li Rong took a sip of water and suddenly raised her head as if she had made up her mind.
"Actually... I came here to ask..." Her voice trailed off again, "If I can find that 50,000 yuan... can I get it back?"
Yu Hao's expression turned serious. Is it still for money?
"The 50,000 yuan is still under investigation and may have come from illegal sources." He did not directly state the facts they had.
The light in Li Rong's eyes dimmed instantly. She lowered her head, her long hair falling down to cover her face: "I understand...it's just..."
At this moment, Lu Chao pushed the door open and walked in, raising his eyebrows: "Oh, what a rare guest."
Seeing Lu Chao, Li Rong stood up awkwardly: "I...I should go."
"Wait." Lu Chao stopped her. "I just want to ask you something - do you know where Qin Jun is now?"
Li Rong's body trembled noticeably. "No... I don't know. We only contacted each other once after he left the police station..."
Lu Chao narrowed his eyes: "Where did he go?"
Li Rong bit her lower lip. "He's the type of person... you know him, he just likes to go to the hair salon..."
Lu Chao's mouth curled up into a cold smile: "Red Romance?"
Li Rong nodded, then quickly shook her head: "But I'm not sure if he's still there..."
Yu Hao stood up and said, "Alright, Lu Chao, go ahead." He turned and looked at Li Rong. "If you think of any useful information, feel free to contact us."
Li Rong nodded hurriedly and walked quickly to the door. Before pushing it open and leaving, she suddenly turned around and said, "Captain Yu...if...if the money is really recovered...can..."
Yu Hao interrupted her: "The part that meets the requirements will be returned."
A glimmer of hope flashed across Li Rong's eyes, then dimmed again. She quietly closed the door and left.
"She has changed a lot." Zhang Min said, looking at the closed door.
Lu Chao snorted coldly: "You are pretending, right? For the sake of those fifty thousand dollars."
Yu Hao shook his head and walked to the window. Through the glass, he saw Li Rong walk out of the police station, wrapping her down jacket tightly in the cold wind, and slowly walk towards the bus stop.
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