Chapter 14 Milk
Woof! Woof!
Seeing Xia Muchan climbing over the wall, Doudou excitedly rushed to her feet, bit her trouser leg and pulled her towards the villa door, pushed open the dog hole baffle, and tried to take Xia Muchan through the dog hole.
Xia Mufan bent down, picked up Doudou by the scruff of the neck and put him aside: "Stop messing around!"
She looked left and right at the layout of the yard.
The glass door facing the outside on the first floor was closed and could not be opened.
Looking up, I saw that there were no burglar-proof nets on the windows of the rooms on the second floor.
A camphor tree with lush branches and leaves grows on the balcony of the bedroom on the second floor. With the help of the branches, I should be able to climb to the second-floor window.
Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing, who were standing outside the yard, seemed to be shouting something, but Xia Mufan was so focused at the moment that he didn't hear what they were saying at all.
Xia Muchan quickly climbed up the camphor tree, grabbed a thick side branch, stepped on the main branch, and swung towards the house with all his strength.
"ah--"
With a cry of surprise, Xia Mufan climbed up to the second floor, pushed open the window and went in.
Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing were so anxious that they stamped their feet, looking at each other, with countless thoughts flashing through their minds.
——This Xiao Xia doesn’t follow the procedures at all!
——No one called the police. It was just a dog that ran to the police station and barked a few times. How could they just barge into someone else's house so recklessly? What if Wang Lixia was not hurt and was held accountable?
——We should contact Wang Lixia’s husband first and explain the situation before going in. She... Alas! Too reckless.
Police officers at the police station have fixed procedures for handling cases.
First, a resident in the jurisdiction must call the police, and the police station will then take action after receiving the call.
Now it was just a dog barking a few times, and Yu Jing and the other two were already doing their duty by coming to take a look. They never expected that Xia Mufan was so enthusiastic that he impulsively climbed into someone else's house because he was worried that Wang Lixia was in danger.
"We've got the contact, we've got the contact!"
The security guard who had just run back to make a phone call came over at this time and reported loudly: "Comrade police, we have called Mr. Zhou. Mr. Zhou said that the nanny is not at home today, only Sister Wang is at home. If she can't open the door now, it may be that Sister Wang went out for a walk. Let's not worry. He has an important meeting now and will come home to visit at noon."
Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
Yu Jing asked: "Does Mr. Zhou agree that we can go into the house?"
The security guard shook his head and said, "No, Mr. Zhou said nothing will happen. Sister Wang usually takes Doudou out for a walk after breakfast in the morning. Doudou went to the police station because he probably got lost. Just let him go home on his own."
"Not allowed in?" Another security guard opened his mouth wide and pointed at the house. "Well, the police comrade has already gone in."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was movement in the villa.
Squeak——
The heavy dark red solid wooden door on the first floor of the villa opened from the inside.
The four people standing outside the yard waiting all looked over.
Xia Mufan ran out of the house.
There was a stain on her chest, her beige shirt was crumpled, and there was a large dirty mark on the elbow where she had rubbed it against a tree or a wall.
Woof! Woof woof!
Doudou jumped and screamed, sometimes rushing to the aluminum alloy gate, sometimes rushing to the porch, looking panic-stricken and terrified.
Xia Mufan opened the gate of the yard, looking anxious: "Come and save her, Wang Lixia has fainted!"
Without thinking about anything else, Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing ran into the villa.
Xia Mufan's voice was urgent: "Go upstairs, Wang Lixia is unconscious, I suspect she has been poisoned and has induced vomiting. She is too fat, I can't move her, you carry her to the hospital."
Although Yu Jing is the leader of the case team, Xia Mufan showed unprecedented strength at this moment, making people involuntarily obey her orders. He and Sun Xianbing ran up to the second floor and saw Wang Lixia lying at the door of the master bedroom. She was pale and unconscious, with a pile of vomit next to her, which was extremely filthy.
There was an unpleasant, sour smell in the air.
Without caring about these, Yu Jing strode forward, called Sun Xianbing to help him, took a deep breath, lowered his waist and exerted force, bent over and picked up Wang Lixia horizontally.
With a weight of nearly 160 kilograms, it’s no wonder that Xia Mufan couldn’t lift him.
Saving a life is like putting out a fire. Sun Xianbing stood by and together with Yu Jing, they carried Wang Lixia out of the house, put her on the police motorcycle, started the vehicle quickly, and rushed to the nearest Huishi Sixth Hospital.
Xia Mufan did not leave immediately. He stood at the door of the bedroom on the second floor and quickly scanned the interior furnishings.
This time, Xia Mufan firmly remembered what Wei Yong said: protect the scene.
She did not mess with the furnishings in the bedroom, but stood quietly at the door, scanning each item.
Window sill, floor, dressing table, bedside table...
——I see!
There was a transparent glass bottle on the bedside table. There was residual milk on the wall and bottom of the bottle, and a straw was inserted at the mouth of the bottle.
Doudou was right, Wang Lixia's family ordered bottled milk.
Doudou said that the milk smells bad. Is it possible that someone has deliberately added something to it?
Poisoning and murder, this is a big case!
Thinking of this possibility, Xia Mufan frowned and his expression became solemn.
Ever since he picked up the garbage bag of dismembered body with his bare hands in the last dismemberment case, Xia Mufan would put a pair of rubber gloves and an evidence bag in his clothes pockets wherever he went.
Quickly taking out a pair of gloves from his pocket and putting them on, Xia Mufan tiptoed to the head of the bed, put the milk bottle and straw into the evidence bag, and held it in his hand.
When they reached the first floor, Doudou rushed forward and hugged Xia Mufan's trouser legs tightly.
[Woo woo, I want to see mom.] 】
[I want to go see my mother...]
[They wouldn’t let me follow them, and I couldn’t catch up. 】
Dogs are very loyal animals.
Once you acknowledge the Lord, it is for life.
To Doudou, Wang Lixia is its mother, the master who will follow it forever in this life.
Xia Mufan bent down and touched the top of Doudou's head: "It's inconvenient for you to go to the hospital, just wait at home."
Doudou looked up at her, his eyes full of desire.
[Then you, help me look after my mother.] 】
[I'll wait at home.] 】
After comforting Doudou, Xia Mufan did not go to the hospital first, but took a taxi to the Criminal Investigation Brigade to find Yue Yuan. Handing the evidence bag to Yue Yuan, Xia Mufan expressed his guess and asked him to help test the remaining milk.
Yue Yuan took the evidence bag and didn't ask any more questions. He just reminded: "Is it only the milk that needs to be tested? Did you take a sample of the vomitus?"
Xia Mufan let out an "ah" and felt a little annoyed. Influenced by the information provided by Doudou, she only focused on the milk bottle but forgot to take samples directly from the vomit.
A sour smell hit his nose. Xia Mufan looked down, his eyes lit up, and he pointed to his left shoulder and asked, "I helped Wang Lixia induce vomiting, and she vomited on my clothes. Can I take a sample?"
Yue Yuan looked at the place she pointed at. The beige shirt was not easily stained. Although the solid matter had been cleared away by Xia Mufan, there was obviously a large stain. He nodded: "Okay."
After saying this, Yue Yuan called a female police officer and said, "Xiao Yu, go to the Logistics Support Department to get a new uniform and help Xiao Xia change into one. The one she is wearing is an important piece of evidence and needs to be sent to the Technical Department for testing."
The policewoman had a round face and was very respectful when facing Yue Yuan: "Yes!" But she did not move.
Yue Yuan frowned and said in a more serious tone: "Why not go?"
The policewoman's shoulders trembled, she lowered her head and glanced at Xia Mufan, and explained in a low voice: "Well, she is not from our team..."
Yue Yuan said coldly: "You go first, I will call the logistics support department right away."
The policewoman then breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, I'll go right away." She ran away as if Yue Yuan's office was poisonous.
Yue Yuan picked up the phone, spoke a few words to the logistics department and hung up. He turned his head and met Xia Mufan's sparkling eyes. He coughed and pointed in the direction where the female police officer had just left: "Feng Xiaoyu, do you recognize her?" He didn't understand why Feng Xiaoyu was as scared as a quail when she saw him, as he was obviously more gentle towards his female colleagues.
Xia Mushige nodded. The last time I came to the Criminal Investigation Brigade to listen to an interrogation, the female police officer in charge of taking notes was Feng Xiaoyu.
Yue Yuan said: "Your clothes need to be soaked and can't be worn. The Logistics Department has spare ones, they are all in the same system, just wear them and don't feel burdened. When Feng Xiaoyu brings the clothes over later, you can go with her."
Xia Mufan nodded without any shyness: "Okay, thank you then."
Yue Yuan liked her straightforwardness: "After you change your clothes, go back first. I will call you when the test results come out. If any problems are found, ask the family members to call the police and open a case for investigation."
After changing into a brand new uniform, Xia Mushi rushed to the hospital.
Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing were waiting in the corridor outside the emergency room. When they saw her, they asked in unison, "Why are you here so late?"
Xia Mufan didn't explain too much: "I changed my clothes." After a pause, she asked, "How is it? Is your life in danger?"
Yu Jing shook his head: "The situation is not good. The doctor said it is a heart problem and they are trying to save him."
Sun Xianbing was more optimistic: "The doctor said at the time that it was fortunate that we were brought here in time, so I think it should be fine. I didn't quite understand the terms the doctor used, but it was probably myocardial weakness and sudden cessation of beating, which could be caused by mental stress, physical fatigue and overwork."
Xia Mushige asked: "Not poisoned?"
Yu Jing smiled and sighed, "You don't have so many criminal cases. Are you still worried about the doctor's examination results? It's just a heart emergency, temporary paralysis caused by myocardial ischemia."
Xia Mufan said "Oh" and didn't say anything more.
Whether it is an emergency or a heart problem caused by poisoning, we will know once the test results come out.
The doctor said it was a heart problem, but that might just be superficial. Certain neurotoxins can also cause heart failure.
Yu Jing looked at Xia Mufan with a hint of admiration in his eyes: "Fortunately, you made a quick decision and climbed through the window to get in. If you had waited until Wang Lixia's husband came to open the door at noon and then sent her to the hospital, I'm afraid Wang Lixia would have died...Xiao Xia, how can you be so sure that Wang Lixia is in danger?"
On the way back to the hospital, Xia Mufan had already thought of a reason for this question.
"I often interact with cats and dogs in the countryside and am familiar with their habits. Doudou was trembling all over, making a low whimpering sound in his throat, wagging his tail and crying at me, which meant that he was in danger and asked me for help.
What are the dangers? Why ask for help?
Doudou's limbs are not broken, his eyes are clear, and he has no physical problems; Doudou is a pet dog, usually kept at home, without any playmates, and if he is not seeking help for his friends, then he is most likely here for his owner..."
Sun Xianbing blurted out: "Wang Lixia is in danger!"
Xia Mufan glanced at him with approval in his eyes: "Yes. Wang Lixia went to the police station twice to ask for help in finding the dog. Doudou is very smart and has also learned to go to the police when there is a problem."
Sun Xianbing gave Xia Mufan a thumbs up and said, "Xiao Xia, well done! You have made another contribution."
Yu Jing was relatively calm: "Xiao Xia, we have already reported to the director. Wei said that there is nothing to do at the police station today, so the three of us should stay at the hospital and wait for Wang Lixia's family to come over and explain the situation to avoid being complained by them."
"Complain?" Xia Mufan looked at Yu Jing, "Why do you complain?"
Yu Jing also felt somewhat helpless about this: "After all, we are breaking into residents' homes without permission."
Yu Jing was still loyal and did not say "you have trespassed into a private residence" but used "we". The three of them act together and share the difficulties.
Although she had only been a police officer for a few months, Xia Mufan had studied at the police academy for four years, so she knew that handling cases required standardized procedures. However, she did not think she was wrong because she acted on her own initiative at the time. "How can it be unauthorized? This was a mission!"
Yu Jing asked her back, "A mission? Did anyone call the police? Did they fill out the police form?"
Xia Mufan's eyes flickered, but he said nothing.
Someone called the police, but it was a dog, not a person.
When I arrived at Wang Lixia's house, I rang the doorbell but no one answered. I called Zhou Yaowen, and he said he would come back at noon after an important meeting and deal with it.
In a word, no one called the police, there was no search warrant, and the owner of the villa did not authorize the police to enter the house.
Sun Xianbing snorted: "We saved Wang Lixia, how can they complain?"
Yu Jing patiently explained: "Most people are understanding and polite when handling cases, but occasionally there are people who are unreasonable. At this time, rules and procedures are very important."
Yu Jing was worried that Xia Mufan was under pressure, so he comforted her, "Don't worry. The three of us went out together to prove that the situation was indeed urgent. We had to take unconventional measures because we had to climb over the wall to save people. Chief Wei just wants us to explain the whole story to the family so that they won't make excuses."
Sun Xianbing said: "Family members? Wang Lixia is an only child. Her parents are dead. Her son is studying abroad and will not be able to come back for a while. The only family member we have to deal with is her husband Zhou Yaowen."
When talking about Zhou Yaowen, Sun Xianbing's expression became a little subtle: "Dogs are more loyal than people. Wang Lixia was in trouble, Doudou was so anxious, but her husband Zhou Yaowen was really patient. He said he would come right away, but now more than two hours have passed and he still hasn't come!"
Yu Jing looked at his watch and frowned, "Yes, why hasn't Zhou Yaowen come yet?"
It was not known that Wang Lixia was unconscious at home. When the security guard called, Zhou Yaowen calmly said that he wanted to hold a meeting. Later, Yu Jing called to inform him that Wang Lixia was in the hospital for emergency treatment. How could he still remain so calm?
Sun Xianbing said, "Pooh!", "You have no conscience."
It was not until Wang Lixia came out of the operating room and was pushed into the ward that Zhou Yaowen, who was spat at by Sun Xianbing, appeared.
Zhou Yaowen is in his forties, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, a dignified appearance, a slightly plump figure, and wears gold-rimmed glasses. He is dressed in a white shirt with pin-stripes, a royal blue tie with a dark gold tie clip around his neck, and looks like a very successful man.
As soon as Zhou Yaowen entered the ward, he greeted Yu Jing and the other two, then ran straight to the bedside, bent down, and called softly, "Lixia, Lixia."
Wang Lixia woke up slowly at his call, and moved her lips twice, but no sound came out.
Zhou Yaowen smiled and said, "Are you awake?"
Wang Lixia looked around and found that this was a hospital. She looked confused and asked in a hoarse voice, "Why am I here?"
Zhou Yaowen reached out his hand and gently stroked her cheek, responding softly: "You fainted at home, and the police comrades sent you to the hospital."
Wang Lixia gradually regained consciousness. She slowly turned her head and looked at Yu Jing and the other two standing beside her. She smiled weakly, "Thank you...thank you..."
Zhou Yaowen straightened up and treated the police politely and courteously: "Thank you. I heard from the security guard that it was you who climbed over the wall and entered the house, and that’s how you saved my wife in time."
When he mentioned "climbing over the wall to get in", Yu Jing explained seriously: "The nanny is not at home, Mr. Zhou, you are in a meeting at the company, Wang Lixia is alone at home, we rang the doorbell but no one answered, Doudou kept barking, I felt that the matter was urgent, so I decided to climb over the wall to get in, I hope Mr. Zhou, you don't mind."
Zhou Yaowen waved his hands and said gently, "Why would I mind? If you hadn't acted decisively, my wife might have been in danger. I have to thank you for this! Don't worry, when Lixia is discharged from the hospital, we will come to the police station to present a banner to thank you for your enthusiasm in serving the people."
Hearing what Zhou Yaowen said, Yu Jing breathed a sigh of relief: "You're welcome, this is what we should do." Banners and the like are not important, as long as Zhou Yaowen doesn't mind breaking into a private house without permission, that's enough.
Yu Jing felt relieved, but Xia Mufan was filled with thorns.
She was carefully observing Zhou Yaowen's every move.
——He came very late. I was notified at around nine o'clock, but I didn't arrive at the hospital until twelve o'clock.
——He was dressed very exquisitely, his hair was not a mess at all, and he didn’t look at all flustered. When he comforted his wife, his voice was gentle, his behavior was intimate, and his every move revealed the flavor of a "model husband", but it was this perfect "model" that made Xia Mufan feel fake.
——When facing the police, he had a smile on his face, but the smile did not reach his heart. He emphasized "climbing over the wall to get into the house", which was obviously targeting her.
Xia Mufan's eyes were burning and flashing with coldness. She did not hide her scrutiny and observation. This made Zhou Yaowen feel pressured. He glanced at Xia Mufan and said, "Comrade police officer, is there anything else?"
Yu Jing heard his hidden meaning: "Since Mr. Zhou is here, let's leave." After saying a few polite words, he took Sun Xianbing and Xia Mufan out of the ward.
Xia Mufan wanted to ask a few more questions, but seeing that Wang Lixia was weak and Zhou Yaowen looked like he was trying to get rid of him, and with Yu Jing urging him, he had no choice but to leave.
Before leaving the ward, Xia Mufan turned around and took a look.
Zhou Yaowen stood at the head of the bed, whispering something. Wang Lixia's eyes were full of dependence. One of them is lying down, while the other is standing, and they look into each other's eyes. The picture is cozy and warm.
Is the truth really as we see it?
Back at the police station, Yu Jing filled out the police dispatch record. Wei Yong patted him on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work. The cafeteria has left some food for you. Go eat it quickly."
Sun Xianbing patted his stomach exaggeratedly and said, "I've been busy all morning, and I'm starving."
It's almost one o'clock in the afternoon. It would be a lie to say I'm not hungry. Xia Mufan climbed over walls, climbed trees, and even ran to the Criminal Investigation Brigade. He was so busy that he was already starving. She sniffed, and the aroma of food wafting from the cafeteria in the backyard made her stomach growl.
"Come on, let's go eat." Yu Jing laughed.
The Anning Road Police Station is a quite old building. The office building is only one story high. It is a brick and tile building built in the 1970s. It has a simple and square appearance. It faces south and faces the alley.
The backyard is spacious with pear and locust trees planted. On the north side stands a two-story red brick building with a corridor. The ground floor has a canteen, activity center, and warehouse, and the second floor is the dormitory.
Xia Mufan went back to the house to change out of the brand new uniform sent by the Criminal Investigation Brigade, put on a loose long-sleeved T-shirt and went to the cafeteria.
The chef knew that they were going out on a business trip today, so he specially left some food for them: braised pork with preserved vegetables, homemade tofu, Chinese cabbage with oil residue, and a small bowl of tomato and egg soup.
The October wind blew, bringing with it a whiff of sweet fragrance, and the roses planted in the flower beds in the yard were in full bloom, colorful. Looking at the steaming food in front of him, Xia Mufan finally felt like he was back to the world.
Xia Mufan eats very quickly, a habit he developed since childhood.
After eating and drinking a bowl of soup, Xia Mufan felt warm and comfortable in his stomach. He looked at his teammates and said, "After leaving Wang Lixia's house, I went to the Criminal Investigation Brigade."
Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing looked up at the same time: "Where are you going?"
Xia Mufan was very calm: "I found a milk bottle at the scene with some residual milk in it. I sent the milk bottle to the Criminal Investigation Brigade and asked the Technical Department to help test it."
Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing exchanged glances. Wow, Xia Mufan is doing great things quietly.
Yu Jing asked: "Why?"
Xia Mufan said: "When I found Wang Lixia, her face was blue and her lips were black. I was worried that she had food poisoning, so I induced vomiting. I found milk in her vomit, so I took the milk bottle and sent it for examination."
Yu Jing was a little puzzled by the word "conveniently" she said. How could it be convenient to collect the milk bottles and send them to the Criminal Investigation Brigade for inspection? She clearly had some doubts.
Yu Jing has an open-minded and kind personality. He has worked in the police station for five or six years. When encountering things, he always likes to think of the good side and is unwilling to think of human nature as so evil. Hearing Xia Mufan say this, his heartbeat suddenly quickened: "Do you suspect there is something wrong with the milk?"
Xia Mufan leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharpening, "I've seen Wang Lixia. She has a cheerful personality, comes from a wealthy family, has a loud voice, and is full of energy. She doesn't look like a heart patient. How could she faint when no one was home? If Doudou hadn't come to call the police, with her husband's slowness, no one would have known she died at home. Don't you think there's something wrong?"
Yu Jing admired Xia Mufan's high level of vigilance in the case: "Your analysis makes sense, and there is indeed something wrong. However... the doctor said it was a heart problem and did not mention the possibility of food poisoning."
Xia Mushige shook his head: "Some drugs can cause a person's heart to stop, and doctors may not be able to detect it."
The dinner table suddenly became quiet.
If there really is a drug that can stop the heart and even doctors can't detect it, that would be terrible.
Considering that Zhou Yaowen ran a pharmaceutical company, Yu Jing and Sun Xianbing felt a chill on their backs.
After a while, Yu Jing asked, "Who do you suspect?"
Xia Mufan: "Maybe it was Zhou Yaowen, maybe it was the milkman, anyone who could touch the milk bottle could be the possibility."
Sun Xianbing asked: "What if it's not poisonous?"
Xia Mushige shrugged: "Then consider it as me being overly nervous."
Yu Jing looked at Xia Mufan and kept repeating two words: "You, you." How could he be so brave? How come you are so active? She barged into the room without saying a word and took the milk bottle for inspection. I really didn't know whether to praise her or criticize her.
Sun Xianbing became excited: "Who did you find at the Criminal Investigation Team? Will they agree to the test?"
Xia Mufan said: "I know Team Leader Yue, I will definitely look for him."
Yu Jing was so shocked that he almost spit out his food: "Officer Yue is nicknamed Thunder God. He has a loud voice and a bad temper. Everyone in the Municipal Bureau is afraid of him. If you go directly to him, will he help you?"
Xia Mufan didn't feel the slightest bit of fear: "I think he's a nice guy, very warm-hearted."
Yu Jing opened his mouth wide, slowly stretched out his left hand and raised a thumbs up: Okay, you’re awesome.
Sun Xianbing laughed out loud: "Xiao Xia, you are really amazing."
Xia Mufan looked at Sun Xianbing: "I remember you said in the hospital that Wang Lixia is an only child, both her parents are deceased, and her only relatives besides a son who is studying abroad are her husband Zhou Yaowen, right?"
Sun Xianbing's brain was not as fast as hers, but he also understood her hidden meaning. The chill on his back hit him again, and he couldn't help but stutter: "Yes, yes."
Xia Mufan turned to look at Yu Jing again: "If Wang Lixia dies, how will the property be distributed?"
Yu Jing said: "Wang Lixia and Zhou Yaowen are husband and wife. All the family property, including the house, car, company, savings... Wang Lixia owns half. If she dies, her husband will get half and her son will get half."
"Zhou Yaowen accounts for three quarters." Sun Xianbing met Xia Mufan's eyes, and his teeth began to tremble. "Kill, kill my wife?"
It takes a hundred years to be able to cross the river in the same boat, and a thousand years to be able to sleep on the same pillow. Zhou Yaowen and Wang Lixia had been married for twenty years and had a son together. How could he have the intention to kill her?
Xia Mufan sneered: "Whoever benefits the most from Wang Lixia's death is most likely the murderer."
Thinking of Zhou Yaowen who came to the hospital late today, Yu Jing was silent for a while, then stood up and said, "Let's go to the office to discuss the case."
Just like that, the three of them came to the office, hung up a small blackboard, and reviewed today's events together.
Yu Jing first sorted out the timeline.
8:35 Wang Lixia fell into a coma.
8:46 Doudou called the police.
8:48 Police from the police station arrived.
8:55 The case team arrived at Xueyuan Garden and Xia Mufan climbed over the wall to enter.
At 9:00, Wang Lixia was found unconscious and sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. At the same time, Xia Mufan took the milk bottle to the Criminal Investigation Brigade for testing.
9:20 Yu Jing called Zhou Yaowen’s company and informed them of Wang Lixia’s situation.
11:30 Xia Mufan returned to the hospital.
12:00 Wang Lixia entered the ward.
12:10 Zhou Yaowen rushed to the hospital.
Looking at the timeline, Yu Jing raised his first suspicion: "We contacted Zhou Yaowen right after we sent Wang Lixia to the hospital. His secretary said he was in a meeting. After I stressed that Wang Lixia's life was in danger, the secretary said to notify Mr. Zhou immediately. But it took almost three hours for Zhou Yaowen to arrive at the hospital. Where was he for so long?"
Xia Mufan asked: "Dayu, you didn't talk to Zhou Yaowen directly, did your secretary convey the message?"
Yu Jing: "Yes."
Xia Mufan: "Did the secretary pass it on immediately?"
Yu Jing shook his head: "I only have Zhou Yaowen's company phone number, not his personal pager or mobile phone number, so I can only ask the secretary to pass on the message. As for whether the secretary informed Zhou Yaowen immediately, it's hard to say."
In other words, if Zhou Yaowen was held responsible for arriving late, he could simply say that the secretary was negligent.
Yu Jing made a note in his notebook: "We need to find out Zhou Yaowen's schedule between 9:20 and 12:10. We can't just believe his one-sided story."
Xia Mufan hummed and raised the second question, "Why is the nanny not at the villa today? I heard from the security guard that the nanny is in her sixties, a very neat and clean old lady, who has worked in their home for many years and has a good relationship with the owner. Wang Lixia didn't fall into a coma early or late, but fell into a coma when the nanny was not at home. It's too coincidental."
Sun Xianbing said, "It's indeed a coincidence. Is it possible that Zhou Yaowen deliberately sent the nanny away, or chose a time when the nanny was not at home, just to make it easier to poison her?"
Xia Mushige said coldly: "It's possible."
Yu Jing suddenly thought of something: "Oh, yes, speaking of milk bottles. There is a wooden milk box hanging on the right pillar of the gate of Wang Lixia's villa. The words Kanghui Milk are written on the milk box, which means that their family has ordered milk. If there is a problem with the milk bottle sent for inspection, then the milkman is also suspected of poisoning."
Sun Xianbing's expression was a little confused.
Yu Jing reminded him: "Have you forgotten? Kanghui brand milk is doing a one-year newspaper subscription activity in the community, and many people have subscribed to the milk."
Sun Xianbing then remembered and said “Oh, oh” repeatedly.
Xia Mufan understood what Yu Jing meant: "Yes, the milkman is also a suspect. But I still think Zhou Yaowen is the most suspicious, after all, he is the biggest beneficiary. Their family ordered milk, which means Wang Lixia has the habit of drinking milk in the morning, so it is very convenient to poison the milk in advance."
Yu Jing suddenly shuddered: "I think the most important thing now is to protect Wang Lixia. If someone tries another trick after their first one fails, then..."
The three of them looked at each other, and Sun Xianbing could no longer sit still: "We have to take turns to guard Wang Lixia. We can't let her get hurt."
Yu Jing still couldn't believe it, so he asked again: "What if our suspicion is wrong?"
Xia Mufan said: "If it's wrong, it's wrong. The worst that can happen is that we have to work harder. What if our suspicion is right? Wang Lixia's son is studying abroad, and the nanny has asked for leave to go back to the countryside. She only has Zhou Yaowen by her side..."
Human life was at stake, and the three members of the case team stood up at the same time.
Xia Mushige: "I'm going to the hospital."
Sun Xianbing: "I'll be on the phone in the office, Xiaoxia, I'll take your place during dinner."
Yu Jing: "No, you two should act together. I will report to Chief Wei immediately. Stay in the office and wait for the call from the serious crime team. I will come to replace you in the evening."
After making all the arrangements, Xia Mufan and Sun Xianbing came to the hospital again.
The Third People's Hospital, located in the remote east of the city, is relatively deserted. When Xia Mufan arrived at the inpatient department, it was two o'clock in the afternoon and the corridor was quiet.
The blue-gray terrazzo floor was mopped cleanly, the light green wall panels on both sides of the corridor added a soft feeling to the hospital, and sunlight poured in through the windows at the end of the corridor.
Everything seemed so beautiful.
A man stood in the hallway talking on the phone.
The brick-sized mobile phone had a long antenna and felt heavy in the hand. The body and call charges were extremely expensive. It was the standard equipment for successful businessmen in the early 1990s.
"Have you finished cleaning up? How come you didn't find it?"
——This voice sounds familiar, and the other person’s back looks familiar too, it’s Zhou Yaowen.
Xia Mufan stopped and listened.
Zhou Yaowen was very alert. He turned around quickly, saw Xia Mufan and Sun Xianbing, and hung up the phone in a hurry.
Because of the backlight, Zhou Yaowen's facial expression could not be seen clearly, but Xia Mufan felt that he did not welcome the arrival of the police.
Zhou Yaowen asked: "Why are you here?"
Sun Xianbing responded with a smile: "Police and the public are like one family. Mr. Zhou, you are busy with work and the nanny is not at home. Sister Wang is in the hospital and needs someone to take care of her. Director Wei sent us here to see if there is anything we can help with."
Hearing Sun Xianbing calling Wang Lixia "Sister Wang" with an indescribable sense of closeness, Zhou Yaowen turned his head to the side. The sun shone over him, shining on his frowning brows. It was obvious that he was enduring. “Thank you, but I’m enough here. I won’t bother you comrades from the police station.”
Sun Xianbing still had a smile on his face. "It's not a bother. Xiaoxia, go see if Sister Wang is awake and if she needs some water. I'll ask the doctor what to pay attention to after the operation."
Xia Muchan responded, walked past Zhou Yaowen and went straight to the ward.
Zhou Yaowen stretched out his hand to stop him, but Xia Mufan moved aside flexibly and walked into the ward smoothly and came to Wang Lixia's side.
Wang Lixia was lying on the bed resting with a pale face. When she heard someone approaching, she slowly opened her eyes. Meeting Xia Mufan's eyes, she opened her mouth and made a faint sound, but it was inaudible.
Xia Mushige bent down and put his left ear close to her lips.
“Doudou…”
Xia Mufan understood, looked at her haggard face, and softened his voice: "Don't worry, Doudou is waiting for you at home, everything is fine."
“…”
Wang Lixia's lips moved and her eyes were anxious.
Xia Mushige said: "I will go to see it every day and feed it."
“…”
Wang Lixia still stared at Xia Muchan.
Xia Mufan thought for a moment and said, "Should I take it to the police station and keep it for a few days?"
Hearing this, Wang Lixia blinked and her expression finally relaxed.
Ever since her son went abroad to study, her husband has been busy with his career and not at home all day, and the puppy is the one who accompanies her the most. She is sick and in hospital now, and her husband has neither the time nor the patience to take care of Doudou. She can only feel at ease if she entrusts Doudou to Xia Mufan, who once helped her find a dog and asked her to take Doudou out to play more often.
After gasping for a few times, Wang Lixia felt a shadow looming in front of her eyes. She looked up and saw that it was her husband Zhou Yaowen. The corners of her mouth curled up, and she was very happy. It is said that young couples will be companions in old age. Although the husband is quiet and busy with work, he can stay by my side when I am sick and is still reliable at critical times.
Zhou Yaowen gently raised his hand and helped Wang Lixia hold the corner of the quilt tightly: "Okay, the doctor said that your myocardial weakness is caused by excessive fatigue. You need to rest well. Don't talk, I'm here."
Wang Lixia closed her eyes obediently.
Zhou Yaowen motioned for Xia Mufan to leave the ward, but found that she did not move, so he lowered his voice to remind her: "Comrade police officer, please leave the ward, my wife needs to rest."
Xia Mushi looked around.
This is a double room, but the other bed is empty. The ward is equipped with a toilet, balcony and complete facilities.
Seeing Zhou Yaowen urging him to leave, Xia Muchan's eyes dimmed. He left the ward quietly and stood in the corridor at the door.
Sun Xianbing saw her and whispered, "The doctor said the patient needs to rest. He has asked her to take aspirin and some Lol... Anyway, these are Western medicines. The symptoms have been relieved. We need to continue to observe her. If necessary, she may need surgery."
Xia Mushige nodded.
Zhou Yaowen came out and took the two to the end of the corridor: "You saved Lixia, I am very grateful, tomorrow I will arrange for the company to sponsor a car for the police station, is that okay?"
Xia Mufan was a little amused and confused. He thought the police came to extort money?
Sun Xianbing also felt embarrassed: "Well, Mr. Zhou, that's not what we meant."
Zhou Yaowen said with sarcasm: "Then why are you guarding here?" In his opinion, there is no such thing as true family relationship between police and citizens. It's just that his family has some money, and these poor policemen want to get some benefits from him.
Zhou Yaowen's sarcastic expression was piercing, and Sun Xianbing could no longer maintain his smile: "Didn't I just say that? Sister Wang has a good relationship with the comrades in our police station. If she encounters difficulties, we will definitely help her."
Zhou Yaowen frowned: "But you guys are making me feel troubled now. I am capable of taking good care of my wife and I don't need your help. Am I clear enough?"
Sun Xianbing glanced at Xia Mufan and was about to explain a few more words, but Xia Mufan stepped forward and said no longer politely: "You said you were capable of taking good care of your wife, then why did no one care about Wang Lixia when she fainted at home, and why did you come to the hospital three hours after she was sent to the hospital?"
Zhou Yaowen has been doing business for many years and has gradually built up his own network of contacts and social status. He took advantage of the reform to expand his pharmaceutical company. He has more and more money in his pocket and is more and more confident. Who would not respect and admire him when he goes out? I didn't expect that a policeman from a small police station would dare to speak to him in such a sharp tone!
Zhou Yaowen's face darkened, his eyes became sharp, he stared at Xia Mufan's face: "This is my family matter, who are you to question me? I haven't even bothered you for trespassing into a private residence without permission, but you come to blame me for coming to the hospital late? How ridiculous!"
Xia Mufan has always been strong when facing a strong opponent. He sneered and pointed to the ward: "Is it funny? I don't think it's funny at all! We are police officers. Since we saved Wang Lixia, we must ensure that she is alive and well."
Zhou Yaowen was provoked by Xia Mufan's anger, and his face became more gloomy: "What's wrong with the police? The police must abide by the law! No one called the police, and you broke into my house just because a dog barked randomly. You are lucky that Lixia fainted, what if it wasn't? There are so many valuables in my villa, can you bear the responsibility for losing or damaging one or two?"
Without waiting for Xia Mufan to argue, he picked up his mobile phone, dialed 110 and said to the operator bluntly, "I want to complain! The police from Anning Road Police Station..." He glanced at Xia Mufan and snorted, "One is surnamed Xia, the other is surnamed Sun. They broke into my house and disturbed my family."
It's totally confusing right and wrong!
Xia Mufan clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, narrowed his eyes, and wished he could rush up and punch him twice.
However, as a police officer, he should be more self-disciplined. Taking action cannot solve the problem. Xia Mufan took a deep breath and suppressed the impulse.
Sun Xianbing was so angry that he stamped his feet: "We saved your lover, and you actually complained about us?"
Zhou Yaowen hung up the phone and responded coldly: "I have been tolerant and yet you are aggressive. Don't blame me for protecting my rights. Police officers like you who don't know when to advance or retreat should be properly disciplined!"
Since they had already been complained about, the worst that could happen was that it would be recorded in the file. Xia Mufan simply let go and spoke directly to the point: "Mr. Zhou is so afraid that we will stay in the hospital. Is he guilty?"
Zhou Yaowen was so angry that his liver hurt. He gritted his teeth and said, "Why should I feel guilty?"
Xia Mufan lowered his voice and said, "Wang Lixia is usually in good health. She has money, free time, and a nanny. How could she suffer from heart failure due to overwork? President Zhou, don't you find it suspicious? Aren't you afraid that someone will harm her?"
Zhou Yaowen looked away: "This is ridiculous, who would harm Lixia?"
Xia Mufan looked at him meaningfully, slowed down his pace, and said slowly: "Mr. Zhou is a man who does great things. He is so resolute in protecting his own rights and complaining to the police. He will definitely protect Wang Lixia, right?"
Zhou Yaowen was uneasy when she stared at him, but he had seen a lot of storms, so he quickly calmed down and said with a fake smile: "It's just a physical problem, but you police officers have made me so nervous. It's really funny. If you are too free, go to the community and see if there are any lonely elderly people who need help. Don't make people hate you here."
Xia Mufan looked him up and down and decided to speak frankly: "If Mr. Zhou can assure us that Wang Lixia will not have any more problems and will be able to recover and return home, then we can leave."
Zhou Yaowen clenched his teeth and his cheek muscles were noticeably stiff, giving his face a square look. He narrowed his eyes and said word by word: "Don't bother with that. My wife is blessed with a good fortune, so there won't be any problems."
Xia Mufan also narrowed her eyes, and the curved curve made her look more sharp: "She is good, you are good, everyone is good." After that, she turned and left.
This move is called alerting the snake by stirring up trouble.
Zhou Yaowen knew that he was being targeted by the police and would never dare to take action again.
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