The investigation seemed to have reached a dead end. Li Tianci as Chen Qingqing’s boyfriend had strong motive over her betrayal but he had an alibi. The supervisor Brother Zhao confirmed Li Tianci had distributed flyers all day on Xuefu Avenue. He had not watched continuously but drove by every half hour and found him there each time. The drive from Xuefu Road to Yuqing Town took over two hours leaving no opportunity to commit the crime.
Wang Jianjun also had clear motive yet as homeroom teacher he was at school all day except for two hours at lunch. Even with travel time that was not enough to kill and clean the scene. Could Qin Shuo be right Were these two separate cases Yet Xu Jiu felt certain they were connected by a thread not yet visible. Jiang Yanzhi and Qin Shuo continued checking Wu Cuilan’s alibi and had Yuqing Town look into other grudges against the family. Xu Jiu wanted to go along but Jiang Yanzhi declined. “We came by motorcycle.”
“Why not a car It is dangerous You must drive next time and stay alert Even then be careful Not everyone follows the rules I do not want you hurt.”
Jiang Yanzhi could not have imagined being lectured like this by someone so small yet somehow sounding like an elder. He wondered if lack of sleep was playing tricks. Qin Shuo nudged him. “You are speaking to your brother Show some respect.” Xu Jiu looked only at Jiang Yanzhi her dark bright eyes seeing nothing but him. He nodded. “I will go to class now I will find you later.”
Back in the classroom during a break Zhou Meng leaned over immediately. “I saw you leave the dorm Why did you not come”
“Something came up.”
“What happened”
Xu Jiu spun a pen between her fingers faster and faster until ink leaked then pressed the tip hard into the desk. Zhou Meng jumped. “What is wrong”
“How much did Xu Zhen pay you”
Zhou Meng paled eyes wide. “How did you know I never meant harm I only told her what you said.” Tears spilled. “She found out about my family She offered twenty yuan a week to report everything.”
Xu Jiu handed her a handkerchief. “Do not cry.”
“Mother is ill My brother is small Father works so hard I just wanted to help.”
“Feel sorry for your father then your brother then your husband When will you care for yourself”
“I have no choice.”
“You do.”
Zhou Meng looked lost. “What should I do”
“Put yourself first Then others.”
“But…”
“Decide for yourself It is your future I will not tell you what to do.”
“I will stop taking the money I will tell her…”
“Keep taking it Why refuse free money” Xu Jiu asked. “Did you speak yesterday”
“Yes.”
“But you did not tell her how upset I was.”
Zhou Meng nodded. “You looked so sad I did not want to add to it.”
“You did well.”
“Are you not angry”
“There is no point.” She had lived long enough to understand. She had seen Zhou Meng cry at her wedding and later read her diary after her death and understood the fear and guilt. “Report back as if nothing is wrong Say I read comics and went out with friends Understand”
“But you should be studying…”
Xu Jiu almost smiled. “How does she react when you say I skipped class”
“She speaks louder And gives an extra five yuan.”
“Remember Kindness can be a trap Learn to see what is real.”
Zhou Meng did not fully understand but relaxed. She handed over a small packet. “Thank you Xu Jiu.” It was preserved fig slices. Xu Jiu smiled and put it in her pocket then stood before the bell rang. “Where are you going”
“To skip class.”
She took a taxi straight to the police station and the autopsy room. Blinds were drawn and the team was busy with three bodies. Zhang Haiyang opened the door pale and relieved and handed her his camera before hurrying away. Li Mingyuan in mask was examining the father’s body chest open organs laid out. He brightened at seeing her. “You are here”
“I need the autopsy results.”
“Both died from stab wounds causing organ failure and massive blood loss.” He pointed. “We found traces of benzodiazepines in all three.”
“They were sedated.” That explained how a whole family was subdued though there had still been struggle.
Li Mingyuan smiled. “I found something interesting.” Under the microscope he pointed to stomach contents. “What do you see”
“Spiced beef”
“We found no beef or pork in the house.” He adjusted the slide. “Drug concentration was highest in the stomach.”
“Put in the food And malted milk too.”
“That is my conclusion.”
“Digestion suggests they died within an hour of eating.” The killer removed everything related to those foods. Could it identify who prepared it “Fingerprints from the tape”
“Not Chen Qingqing’s No match with any sample.” Yuqing Town was small everyone knew everyone yet no one recalled seeing Chen Qingqing return. How could she have traveled there so soon after giving birth Exhausted as she was Xu Jiu decided to see for herself. She took a taxi to Yuqing Town. The driver sized her up. “Will you be coming back”
“Why”
“If not I drive empty No profit.”
“I will return.”
“How long I charge extra for waiting.”
“How much”
“Two hundred flat.” It was nearly half a month’s wages. She had enough and agreed. He chatted happily on the radio. “Lucky catch” someone said. “Old Yuan got one yesterday too.”
Xu Jiu watched the city pass. It was different then No tower no exhibition center no ice park. Tall trees and fields stretched out beyond the buildings. “Why school not in session” the driver asked. “Visiting a relative”
“Where do I buy gifts”
“Department store in town or supply and marketing cooperative.”
“Do they sell spiced beef and malted milk”
“Everything there.”
“Go there first.”
The cooperative was two stories busy with stalls and shoppers. She spotted the malted milk counter right beside the spiced beef. The connection clicked into place.