Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife-Chapter 163: That’s Right, Investigate Their Ancestors!

The call that came in was from Zhang Xian to Chen Xiao.

The call to Li Hui, meanwhile, was personally dialed by Director Wu.

Both of them answered the calls.

Zhang Xian: "Chen Xiao, the identification results are out; the skull belonged to Cheng Qing, who disappeared on April 5, 1991!"

On Li Hui's side, similar words from Director Wu were heard over the phone.

After finishing the conversation, the voice on the other end paused, then Director Wu chuckled at Zhang Xian: "So, both of them are together."

Zhang Xian laughed: "I'll take it from here."

"The skull belongs to Cheng Qing, and Director Wu even brought the skull to the Provincial City to research it with several other forensic experts. Initially, there was a suspicion, but now there is a conclusive determination."

Hearing this, Chen Xiao responded, "So it's a secondary burial, right?"

"Correct. Based on the detailed identification of his skull, the victim, Cheng Qing, was likely killed and then buried in the soil. This period can now be determined to be around one or two months."

"Then someone dug up his body, decapitated him, or perhaps he had been killed by decapitation before. Anyway, his skull ended up inside the stone lion; as for the body, we can't help from here."

Chen Xiao: "As long as it's confirmed to be Cheng Qing, that's good. At least now our progress isn't a waste of time."

"Tell me about your progress; I've been contemplating this case, but the more I think, the more curious I become. I want to hear what you've uncovered." Zhang Xian asked eagerly.

Chen Xiao glanced at Li Hui and, seeing he didn't mind, narrated the whole story.

After listening, Zhang Xian remained silent for a while, then remarked, "You really dare to think of anything, but considering the possibility of impersonation is quite unique. Unfortunately, the result isn't what we hoped; if it were, the barriers in the case would be blown away."

"Yes, but Captain Zhang, what do you think about my Uncle Wan De?" Chen Xiao asked earnestly.

Among the police officials he's in contact with now, Zhang Xian is undoubtedly an outstanding one.

And as an investigator, brainstorming is often incredibly important.

After thinking again, Zhang Xian replied with four words: "There must be a connection."

Hearing Zhang Xian's certainty, Chen Xiao grew increasingly convinced that Wan De's disappearance might be related to Cheng Qing.

The murder he witnessed on the mountain was, naturally, Cheng Qing's murder.

It's just so unfortunate, too unfortunate...

Chen Xiao couldn't help but recall those notes again, just as Zhang Xian said helplessly, "If your Uncle Wan De left more clues, it would be great. Unfortunately, his education was limited, and his thinking couldn't tell him how important that mountain was."

"After so many years, even knowing which mountain it was seems vague."

When Zhang Xian spoke, Chen Xiao's voice suddenly deepened: "Captain Zhang, what did you say?"

"Hm? Didn't you understand me? I meant your Uncle Wan De's education limited his ability to precisely leave information, and also that Cheng Qing went to the mountain for tomb-sweeping; now, besides mud, stones, trees, and grass, what else is there on the mountain?"

"There are graves, and many ancestors up there!" Chen Xiao said intensely.

Instantly, Zhang Xian's side fell silent, then two seconds later, he exclaimed, "Damn, yeah... Investigate the ancestors, investigate their ancestors!"

"Are Cheng Qing's parents close to you now?"

"They're right outside."

"Ask them immediately, ask which mountains they visited for tomb-sweeping back then. Which ancestors were on the mountain, and I'll simultaneously check on Chen Yuan's family. Then, we'll compare the two to see who was on the same mountain!"

"Alright, I'll do it now."

Despite ending the call, Chen Xiao didn't put down the phone.

He saw Li Hui standing by in shock, but at this moment, Chen Xiao didn't have the mind to explain further.

Li Hui's strength is being comprehensive regarding big matters, but his shortcomings are also evident.

That is, addressing a single point, he lacks quick mental reflexes, often referred to as struggling to come up with quick insights.

However, investigating Chen Yuan's ancestors essentially means investigating Chen Xiao's ancestors, as both families descended from the same ancestor.

So Chen Xiao made a direct call to Old Chen.

Old Chen picked up quickly, asking, "Are you back? Xiaoxi seems not to have slept yet; she's watching TV in the living room." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I'm calling for you. Our family sweeps the tombs every Qingming, is it the same with Chen Yuan's family?"

"Not much difference, we share a common ancestor."

"But do you know which grave mountains their family visits? If you do, tell me everything. Oh, and do any of Uncle Wan De's family's ancestors lie on the same mountain as ours?"

Old Chen responded directly, "I don't recall that. Let me first tell you about ours. I'll need to think about Wan De's family."

Old Chen then told him the names of the mountains one by one, and upon noting them down, Chen Xiao said awkwardly, "Dad, starting next year, whenever I'm home for Qingming, I'll sweep the ancestors' graves."

"Alright, anything else? If not, your mom and I'll go to sleep, don't forget to call Xiaoxi."

"Got it."

Chen Xiao hung up the phone, looking apologetically at Li Hui.

The latter understood too and laughed. "That's normal, young people rarely remember these things."

Chen Xiao smiled wryly: "Still, it's something we must remember, but realizing and improving is valuable."

They exchanged smiles, not discussing this matter further, then Zhang Xian's call returned, telling several mountain names.

As Chen Xiao wrote them down, he compared them with the names Old Chen had provided.

This process is needed because Songshanping differs from the Ancestral Tomb Mountain where Su Jing's mother, Li Ruomei, was buried.

In Songshanping and the entire Songtan Town, there isn't a fixed concept of an Ancestral Tomb Mountain.

When someone in Songshanping dies, they invite a geomancer to calculate the most suitable burial site.

Thus, in Songtan Town, some in Songshanping got buried miles away, while others from miles away got buried in Songshanping's hills.

This phenomenon has decreased over time, as descendants of the deceased find it troublesome to honor ancestors on distant journeys, opting for more convenient burial locations nearby.

Geomancy and certain customs gradually faded away in this unsuspected drift of time.

Chen Xiao compared the mountain names and eventually pinpointed two mountains.

"Indeed, there are two mountains shared, and from my dad's mentioning the grave locations and what Cheng Qing's parents described, the incident likely occurred on that mountain called Tiger Mountain, but..."

Listening to Chen Xiao, Zhang Xian replied, "You're still trying to confirm whether Wan De also appeared on that mountain?"

"Yes, I need to go ask Uncle Wan De's family whether their ancestors are also buried on Tiger Mountain. Where are the graves located, do they lie close to Chen and Cheng Families' ancestral graves?"

Zhang Xian acknowledged, asking, "Your dad is close with your Uncle Wan De; doesn't he remember?"

"It's been so long, or maybe my dad doesn't know certain things himself. After all, no one goes asking where their friend's ancestors are buried."

"That's true, but given your earlier description, your Uncle Wan De's family might be tough to deal with."

Chen Xiao squinted slightly: "I'm only asking about the graves. They wouldn't be difficult over such matters, would they?"

With that, Chen Xiao and Zhang Xian spoke no further.

Chen Xiao set aside his phone and promptly bid farewell to Li Hui.

He didn't want to wait; he wanted to confirm tonight whether, 15 years ago on Qingming Festival, Cheng Qing, someone from Chen Yuan's family, and Wan De were present on the same mountain!

However, as he walked, Chen Xiao suddenly turned back and said, "Captain Li, later when Cheng Qing's middle school teacher arrives, don't forget this person LX!"