My Life with Narration-Chapter 325 - 322: Gradually Coming Into Focus

"Look, this is my grandson!" Liu Dashan said, opening the album on his phone.

Even though he wasn’t in uniform, because he came with the police, Liu Dashan naturally thought of him as an officer.

Faced with his request, there was no reason to refuse, so he showed him the photo. It was a little boy who looked a year or two younger than Wen Yun, quite sturdy, a bit tanned.

Simultaneously, the narrative in his mind gave a hint.

[Zhang Bo is the biological son of the deceased Liu Xiaojuan, with no blood relation to Zhang Heng, who only discovered this news in April this year.]

In an instant, the whole case process flashed through his mind, with various clues linking together. Although he couldn’t claim to understand everything, he had basically figured out the course of events.

The murderer was Liu Xiaojuan’s second husband. He had guessed this early on when the narrative hinted that Zhang Guoxin was an oblivious old father, but he didn’t know the motive for the murder.

Coincidentally, Zhang Heng’s father, Zhang Guoxin, used to work as a butcher, and they happened to have a Bone-Carving Knife at home.

Now the motive for murder was found, and everything seemed so reasonable. Realizing that the son he raised for four years wasn’t his, old and new grudges together caused the honest man to explode, which explained the intense hatred.

What needs to be done now is to find the crime scene and the murder weapon. The narrative already provided a hint for the former, southwest direction, while the latter is a bit difficult, as it’s too easy to hide knives or axes, making them virtually impossible to find.

Another point to resolve is that Zhang Heng only returned a month ago, which doesn’t match the timeline. This means he must have secretly returned from afar.

And without taking a high-speed rail, train, or plane, not even a bus, he likely used a private car such as carpooling.

If not, the police wouldn’t have missed this link, as it is odd for him to suddenly return from elsewhere during the deceased’s death period, raising suspicions.

But Su Qing knew that although the police suspected Zhang Heng and investigated him, they ultimately dismissed their suspicions, probably due to the timeline mismatch, and he didn’t cause a scene despite his wife’s infidelity, getting divorced quietly and continuing to pay child support on time. Such a person shouldn’t act impulsively.

And even if it was a spur-of-the-moment murder, it wouldn’t happen two years after the divorce, as with time, people typically don’t care as much.

From an outsider’s perspective, knowing the child wasn’t his, the most he would do is stop paying child support, maybe sue to get back previous payments. But humans are defined by uncertainty.

To some, it might be trivial, but to others, it could be the last straw, with severe consequences if crossed.

"Susu, what are you doing? Come inside and help!" Just then, Du Qiang came out and asked.

Hearing this, Su Qing glanced at him sideways: "Strong guy, when did you get so gross, using reduplication, ew~~~"

"It’s called a term of endearment, don’t you get it?"

"Your love is too heavy for me to bear. Did you find anything?" Su Qing replied helplessly.

"Nothing useful, no bloodstains, but we can take those used contraceptives back."

Hearing this, Su Qing was nauseated: "Leave that task to you, Strong Brother, I’m not cut out for this, don’t want to delay the case!"

With that, he was about to retreat when Zhao Minghui came out: "Alright, don’t let Xiao Su go in, notify others to bring equipment over tomorrow to see how many fingerprints can be extracted, and check for bloodstains, just in case it was cleaned up."

At this point, Lin Chengcai and Li Zijun also came out holding plastic bags containing cigarette butts, bottles, and used condoms, small items like that.

"Xiao Su, have you noticed anything?" Lin Chengcai asked as he came out.

Su Qing glanced at him with a meaningful smile, then continued questioning Liu Dashan: "Sir, what’s over there?"

As he spoke, Su Qing pointed southwest.

"Over there, that’s West Peak Mountain. Going that way leads through an orchard, but it’s been nearly abandoned since no one tends it. Further in is the mountain, where you can see the river once you enter."

Upon hearing this, he and Lin Chengcai exchanged glances, and Old Lin spoke: "Old Zhao, you stay here with the strong guy, and the three of us will go check the surroundings!"

"Alright, you go ahead. The grass outside is tall, take care!"

"No worries!"

With that, the three left the courtyard.

Li Zijun placed her things in the car, removed her gloves, and asked: "Master, what were you two up to just now?"

"Up to what?" Lin Chengcai responded.

"Don’t pretend I didn’t notice. You were exchanging glances and acting mysterious, weren’t you?"

"Ask Xiao Su, he was the mysterious one. Come on, tell us, what did you find?" Lin Chengcai smiled.

For this, Su Qing picked up a long, straight stick, smiled, and said, "Nothing much, just realized something while chatting with the old man."

"What did you realize?" Li Zijun asked.

Su Qing looked at Lin Chengcai and smiled: "Captain Lin, what would make a man lose his reason to kill?"

"That varies; different ages, relationships, and circumstances yield different outcomes. It can’t be generalized; some even kill randomly if they feel displeased." Lin Chengcai answered.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing continued with the conditions: "A thirty-four or thirty-five-year-old man with a marriage and a child with the victim?"

"You suspect the victim’s second husband?" Li Zijun was slightly surprised.

But Lin Chengcai did not speak upon hearing this, wanting to see how he would respond.

Thus, Su Qing slowly nodded: "Of course, he has a motive. Why can’t we suspect him?"

"But the timeline doesn’t match, and it’s two years post-divorce. It’s irrational to act after so long. I think people like Zhou Tao are more suspicious." Li Zijun offered another hypothesis.

There’s more than one person with a motive. They’ve also investigated Zhang Heng but found no suspicions.

"Time can be faked, and what we heard might not be accurate. Who said he had to return with fanfare? Can’t I quietly come back?"

"Xiao Su has a point, but you need a reason to suspect him; relying on this seems flimsy!" Lin Chengcai spoke.

"Reason? I’ve seen Zhang Heng’s photo, and just now I saw his grandson’s photo on Liu Dashan’s phone. The child doesn’t resemble Zhang Heng; does that count?"

Li Zijun couldn’t help but laugh: "Is that a reason? You suspect the child isn’t Zhang Heng’s? Everyone’s been clueless for years, but you judge based on a photo. It’s unreasonable, isn’t it?"

However, as an experienced detective, Lin Chengcai considered all reasonable hypotheses earnestly.

"Honestly, they don’t quite look alike."

"Master, you’re..."

Lin Chengcai waved: "It’s speculation stage; you should be bold. Xiao Li, learn this from Xiao Su."

"I..."

Before she could protest, Lin Chengcai smiled: "If, as you guessed, the child’s parentage is off, it’s quite logical, but without evidence, it’s just speculation.

Yet, you called me out to check over there; why?"

Communicating with smart folks rationalizes things.

"Based on our analysis of the victim’s WeChat chats and witness testimonies, the victim stayed at her hometown yet no clear bloodstains were found. Apart from the stove, there were no burn signs. If I were the killer, I’d lure her out, and wouldn’t you say that’s a decent spot?" Su Qing smiled.

He was certain Lin Chengcai noticed the place too, especially when Liu Dashan mentioned going through there leads to the mountain, and there’s a river, prompting him to suggest checking the vicinity.

Sure enough, hearing this, Comrade Lin couldn’t help but laugh: "Though previous speculations lack evidence, you nailed this deduction; you are indeed made for detective work!"

"Hear that, Sister Jun? Captain Lin says I’m detective material!" Su Qing gloatingly said.

Li Zijun: "Tease me again, I’ll clobber you!"

...