In a dilapidated guesthouse in Fan County, Ping An studied late into the night, finishing the profiles of Wang Sanfa, Ajiao, and Tiedan. He then obtained the files of Chen Fei and Chen Meiqi from the municipal bureau. Through cross-referencing, he finally understood the truth behind this series of cases.
It turned out that besides Chen Meiqi, Ajiao was also kidnapped back then. Chen Fei met Wang Sanfa while searching for his daughter, and the two old fathers supported and encouraged each other in their quest to rescue their daughters. Later, Chen Meiqi and Ajiao were both rescued, but Chen Meiqi died, and Ajiao was disfigured.
Ping An noticed that after his daughter was rescued, Wang Sanfa and Chen Fei continued to lodge complaints. However, the police required adherence to procedures, such as unauthorized overseas travel and smuggling goods back into the country. If these issues could not be clarified, other matters could not proceed. The police officers who handled these cases at the time, whether influenced by procedure or manipulated by Ma Delu behind the scenes, refused to take them up. In their helplessness, to seek justice for their daughters and to bring Ma Delu and the forces behind him to justice, the two fathers began to seek help from social forces, including a journalist detective who was extremely popular a few years ago—himself.
Even as a detective, he had never forgotten his primary duty. As a journalist, especially a social reporter, blending in with the masses was not only a professional requirement but also a job imperative. Ping An recalled his past, believing he had never been aloof. Even an ordinary taxi driver like Niu Jian could reach him with a single phone call. So why couldn't these two old fathers contact him? Was this also Ma Delu's doing?
From the case files of Ajiao's murder and Wang Sanfa's words on the rooftop, it could be inferred that Chen Fei, while guarding the nursing home, devised a plan to use a bomb to lure him into solving the case. The smudged areas in Chen Fei's room were likely part of Chen Fei's plan. After Chen Fei's death, the police investigation led them to Fan County. Wang Sanfa, Ajiao, and others, sensing that the police would eventually investigate the nursing home, arranged for Tiedan, who had a lecherous eye on Ajiao, to erase the information in Chen Fei's room. Perhaps due to Mei Qian's sudden arrival, Ajiao, in haste, killed Tiedan to silence him. Later, she staged a "transfer of evidence" scene in front of Mei Qian, was discovered, and ultimately committed suicide in the interrogation room to avoid implicating her father.
His daughter's death became the final straw that broke Wang Sanfa. Chen Fei, who had fought alongside him, committed suicide. He, as a detective, remained indifferent, unwilling to touch these cases. Perhaps, with his daughter's death, Wang Sanfa lost all hope and planned the deaths of Ma Delu and Zhang Si, ending his own life in this manner. He also forced himself, in this way, to investigate the mastermind behind it all.
Thinking back, Wang Sanfa's words on the rooftop about being watched by someone now made sense. After the bombing, the hit squad connected to Ma Delu immediately raided the hospital at night and kidnapped him. Now, with Ma Delu dead, the forces behind him remained mysterious. Had Mr. Ke risen from the dead? Or was there another scheme at play? This murky water was becoming even more turbid! And what about Shi Han, was he also one of Wang Sanfa's men? He remembered Chen Fei mentioning a detective before his death, Han?
Sleepless through the night, Ping An continued to investigate the case.
"You must have stayed up all night. I had to bring you breakfast from Hechuan," Gao Xiaofei said excitedly as he arrived at the guesthouse early in the morning. Mei Qian was not there, assisting with the Wang Sanfa case at the Fan County Public Security Bureau. He went directly to Ping An's room.
Eating meat first thing in the morning was not for everyone, but for Ping An, who had been "brain-burning" all night, the glistening red braised meat was exactly what he craved. Without rice, he picked up his chopsticks and ate heartily.
"Eat while I talk. The situation at the nursing home has yielded results. Mei Qian recorded everything Wang Sanfa said, which should be admissible as evidence," Gao Xiaofei said after pouring himself a glass of water. "Heidou also has some good news. The girl who was taken away that night has been found on a smuggling ship in Nanhai City. Our colleagues are interrogating her intensely, and we should have news in a few days."
"That's good! What about Shi Han? Haven't found him?" Ping An asked.
"That kid disappeared after leaving Hechuan City," Gao Xiaofei replied. "Our Su Tang has a photographic memory and has already drawn a sketch, and we're preparing to issue an arrest warrant."
"Hmm, anything else? If that's all, it's not worth you driving dozens of kilometers this morning to bring me food," Ping An said.
"There is something else. The deceased Zhang Si had a history of mental illness and had also come from this nursing home," Gao Xiaofei said.
"This Zhang Si, to find work, concealed his past illness. According to our investigation, Zhang Si got a job through a labor company and worked there for three years, reportedly doing well."
"How's the surveillance investigation going? Did the technical experts find anything?" Ping An asked.
"Alas, judging by his build, height, and appearance, it's confirmed to be Zhang Si, and there are no other fingerprints on the iron rod you found," Gao Xiaofei said with a troubled expression. "This case is too bizarre."
"If that's the case, and the prosecutor files charges, will the court, based on the fact that Zhang Si was murdered, deem the surveillance footage invalid or unusable as evidence?" Ping An said calmly. "Will Su Tang then become the sole, and only, suspect?"
Looking at Ping An, Gao Xiaofei pondered for a moment and reluctantly nodded.
"Let's go. I've eaten. It's time to work. Drive slowly later; I need to sleep," Ping An put down his chopsticks, packed his belongings, and prepared to leave.
"Where are you going? Is the Wang Sanfa matter settled?" Gao Xiaofei asked.
"Let Mei Qian handle the aftermath. I have more important things to investigate," Ping An said. "Take me to Ma Delu's bodyguards. I have something to ask them."
As graduates of a formal bodyguard school, getting their boss killed due to excessive drinking was undoubtedly the end of their careers. Wang Hui and Wan Jia were the unfortunate bodyguards who were drunk that night. After their boss died, their jobs were gone, and they now worked as security guards in a mall.
Following the information left by the two bodyguards at the time, Ping An and Gao Xiaofei quickly found them.
"Don't be nervous. This is not a police interrogation," Ping An said, specially inviting the two bodyguards to a meal at a restaurant around noon.
"Tell us what we know," Wang Hui said, his mouth watering at the sight of the table full of delicious food and a bottle of twenty-year-old Fenjiu.
"Have a drink first! Here!" Ping An enthusiastically urged them.
After the customary round of drinks according to Hechuan custom, Ping An, instead of getting straight to the point, inquired about their situation.
"Don't mention it. We lost our jobs. We were planning to get married at the end of the year," Wan Jia said, looking dejected.
"Hey, it's okay. I have a friend who owns a jewelry store. I can introduce you later. The salary and benefits will be no less than when you worked for Boss Ma," Ping An raised his glass and clinked it with the overjoyed brothers.
After several rounds of drinks and food, Ping An saw the two men beginning to sway and then casually asked, "I heard a guy named Wang Sanfa often looked for your boss. Do you think he might have done it?"
"Impossible. That old bastard came looking for us a few times before, even followed and filmed us. When our boss found out, he arranged for us brothers to give him a good beating," Wang Hui said, squinting. "Later, the old man softened up, and our boss, feeling pity, gave him five hundred thousand yuan, saying that regardless of whether it was his business or not, this fifty thousand yuan would be a complete buy-off!"
"What 'whether it was his business or not,' don't spout nonsense. It's because our boss, before, before, hehe, slept with Wang Sanfa's daughter, *hic*," Wan Jia said. "Don't you remember what the boss instructed us? If anyone asks, say it like this!"
"Oh, right! That's it! Slept with her, slept with her!" Wang Hui said belatedly.
Upon hearing this news, Ping An secretly signaled Gao Xiaofei. Gao Xiaofei immediately understood and, using the excuse of going to the restroom, arranged for someone to track the whereabouts of the fifty thousand yuan.
"That Zhang Si, he must have a good tolerance for alcohol. You two brothers were both drunk, right?" Ping An got up to refill their glasses, continuing to speak nonchalantly.
"Nonsense! That Zhang Si had chronic nephritis and couldn't drink for a long time. Not a drop. He was just greedy for the smell of alcohol. He let us drink, that son of a bitch, hehe, just to smell it!" Wan Jia said.
"Oh? Chronic nephritis? That must be serious, right? That's strange, I remember labor companies usually have very strict medical examinations!"
Ping An suddenly asked, "He was sick, how did he pass the physical and get prioritized for employment?"
"Ah, labor companies just want to make money. Zhang Si paid someone who looked similar to him to use their skin for the physical examination. Once the job was secured, he continued working," Wang Hui confessed again. "I saw him undergoing dialysis, with a large bag hanging under his crotch, like a urine bag, hehe. To shut me up, he treated me to a session with a mama-san!"
After finishing his business, Gao Xiaofei, who had just sat down, was astonished by this news. Before Ping An could even signal him, he hastily left again, feigning "didn't finish earlier."
The two drunks finally lost consciousness. Ping An paid an extra hundred yuan to let the two goofballs sleep longer on the restaurant sofas before leaving with Gao Xiaofei.
"Lying about the situation, these shameless fellows. When they were interrogated before, one didn't know anything, the other didn't know anything. Now, they've spilled everything," Gao Xiaofei grumbled as he fastened his seatbelt. "They affected the police investigation; they should be arrested and taken back."