I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 104: Chapter 102: Detention, the Contract Is Here Again

It was almost noon when Zhuang Yanzheng and Su Miaoyi returned to the municipal bureau.

The two of them went straight to the conference room.

Director Meng was waiting for them in the conference room.

Inside, Yan Cheng and the recently returned Lu Zhishen were also seated.

"Director Meng," Zhuang Yanzheng said as he entered the conference room.

Su Miaoyi, who was behind him, greeted her as well.

Meng Shuyi looked at Su Miaoyi and said, "Have a seat."

"When did you get here?" Zhuang Yanzheng asked as he sat down.

"I came this morning," Meng Shuyi said. "Let’s talk about the case."

Zhuang Yanzheng looked at the others, then stood up. It seemed he had to lead the briefing himself.

Meng Shuyi said, "Everyone here knows about Su Miaoyi’s situation, so just speak freely."

Su Miaoyi glanced at her again.

Meng Shuyi met her gaze.

Zhuang Yanzheng began to brief them on the case.

"The deceased is Qian Fan, male, from Fuxiang Village in Qingyou Town, Qingyou District. He would be fifty-five years old this year."

"Time of death was approximately five years ago," Yan Cheng added.

Zhuang Yanzheng nodded. "Skeletal remains were discovered yesterday afternoon in the cellar of an abandoned courtyard in Fuxiang Village."

He recounted everything they had investigated yesterday afternoon and this morning.

"According to the villagers, Qian Fan was an alcoholic and a gambler. He was often away from home, and it’s unclear what business he was in. He also had a history of domestic violence."

"Qian Fan’s wife, who is the murderer Su Miaoyi saw, has not yet been identified. Qian Fan was not legally married; he brought her back to Fuxiang Village from out of town."

"You saw both the victim and the murderer?" Meng Shuyi asked, turning to Su Miaoyi.

Su Miaoyi replied, "Yes. I saw them this morning."

Meng Shuyi nodded.

Zhuang Yanzheng said, "It was only after she saw them that we were able to confirm the victim’s identity and find some information about the killer."

Meng Shuyi nodded again and looked at Yan Cheng.

Yan Cheng said, "I don’t have much information on my end. The deceased was stabbed once in the chest. The neck bone and four ribs were fractured, which occurred from a fall after death. At the time of death, his age was between forty-six and fifty, which is consistent with Qian Fan. The time of death is approximately five years ago, but there could be some deviation due to environmental effects on the bones. We’re currently trying to extract DNA, but it’s proving difficult due to the length of time and environmental conditions. It will take a while."

Meng Shuyi reviewed the current leads. "Is this related to the cases from five and three years ago?"

"Based on the current leads, there’s no evidence proving a connection," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "However, Ma Yan’s family of three was from Huayue Village in Qingyou Town, Qingyou District. It’s very close to Fuxiang Village, only a two-kilometer journey."

"We can’t rule out a copycat," Zhuang Yanzheng said. "But based on the times of death for Qian Fan and Ma Yan’s family, I’m more inclined to believe it was the same perpetrator."

"What about you? What do you think?" Meng Shuyi suddenly asked Su Miaoyi.

Everyone turned to look at Su Miaoyi.

Su Miaoyi hadn’t been daydreaming; she had been listening intently. In fact, she was listening so intently that the sudden question caught her off guard. "Huh? Oh... I... I also lean toward it being the same perpetrator. First, for the reasons Captain Zhuang mentioned—the timeline and the proximity of the two villages. Second, the location where the body was buried."

"But... Qian Fan and Ma Yan’s family have no apparent connection."

Su Miaoyi and Zhuang Yanzheng had asked about Ma Yan’s family while in Fuxiang Village.

The villages were close. Ma Yan’s family raised chickens and used to sell eggs, so people from the surrounding villages would buy from them.

Quite a few people knew Ma Yan.

But when Qian Fan was mentioned, everyone said the two had no connection.

They weren’t related.

No one had heard of them knowing each other, either.

Afterward, they also took a trip to Huayue Village since it was on the way.

They asked about Qian Fan in Huayue Village.

Since Qian Fan spent little time at home, very few people in Huayue Village knew him.

They also showed the murderer’s sketch around in Huayue Village.

Everyone said they had never seen her.

Meng Shuyi was silent for a moment before saying, "Focus on finding out where the murderer went. Also, investigate the places Qian Fan used to go and what business he was in. It’s been a long time, but when she left the village, she must have taken some form of transportation. If there are no train or plane records, try to trace her route through drivers."

"Understood," Zhuang Yanzheng replied.

"This line of inquiry will be very difficult to pursue," Meng Shuyi said. "I appreciate everyone’s hard work over the New Year holiday."

Zhuang Yanzheng nodded.

Meng Shuyi said, "Get back to work. You, wait a moment."

Su Miaoyi froze. The word ’detention’ flashed through her mind.

’This doesn’t feel good,’ she thought, looking at Zhuang Yanzheng.

Zhuang Yanzheng noticed her gaze, and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.

He reached out and pressed down on Su Miaoyi’s shoulder.

Pushing it down so her shoulders were uneven.

Su Miaoyi stared at him.

Zhuang Yanzheng’s voice was low. "Don’t worry, you’ll make it out of here alive. Director Meng doesn’t eat people. She just gets a bit... ’eloquent’ when she’s scolding someone."

He deliberately emphasized the word "eloquent."

Su Miaoyi’s eyes widened. She turned to look at Lu Zhishen.

Lu Zhishen still hadn’t cut his hair, and it now hung in his eyes, making him look even more shaggy.

He had a completely harmless appearance.

Lu Zhishen looked at her, let out a soft sigh, and turned to leave.

Su Miaoyi then looked toward Yan Cheng.

’In her mind, Yan Cheng was an honest, proper person—not like the others.’

But Yan Cheng just moved his lips, gave her a "take care" look, and also left.

Zhuang Yanzheng left as well.

Once the door closed, Su Miaoyi felt like a fish on a chopping block.

She looked at Meng Shuyi.

Meng Shuyi said, "They’re always out there ruining my reputation."

Su Miaoyi looked at her and gave a very polite smile.

She thought to herself silently.

’But your aura really is quite intimidating.’

Su Miaoyi felt like she’d been called into the principal’s office alone.

"Although this is only the second time we’ve met, I’ve heard a lot about you," Meng Shuyi said.

Su Miaoyi didn’t speak.

"To be honest, it’s very difficult for me to accept things that are so far beyond my understanding," Meng Shuyi said.

"I can understand that," Su Miaoyi said.

’Anyone would find it hard to accept.’

"But the facts are right in front of me, and the cases you’ve been involved in are right in front of me," Meng Shuyi continued. "When Zhuang Yanzheng first told me about it, I thought I was dreaming, that I hadn’t woken up yet."

Su Miaoyi didn’t know what the director was leading up to, so she just listened quietly.

"However, the higher-ups were surprisingly quick to accept your situation," Meng Shuyi said.

Su Miaoyi was a little confused.

Meng Shuyi pushed the folder on the desk toward her.

Su Miaoyi picked it up and looked at it.

It was a contract.

She looked at the two words on the contract: "Special Talent."

"The contract identifies you as a Special Talent, but you should understand the full weight of the word ’special’," Meng Shuyi said.

Su Miaoyi opened the contract and read through it.

She stared at the contract.

Meng Shuyi didn’t say a word.

Su Miaoyi read the contract from beginning to end.

The gist of it was that, for the current stage, she would be hired as a consultant for the police bureau under the status of a "Special Talent."

The term was for three years.

There was a monthly salary.

There would also be additional bonuses for solving cases.

The monthly base salary was very high.

The contract also stated something else.

One year from the date the contract was signed, she could take the relevant exams to join the bureau and become a police officer.

...

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