Chapter 1149: The Red Person

"Oh my, the great hero has returned."

At noon, watching Wang Yan and the others return dusty and travel-worn, Old Hu grinned broadly with joy.

At that moment, he spotted Brother Liang following behind and asked, "Who is this?"

"The victim's elder brother, here to collect the remains," Ma Kui said, turning to look at Brother Liang, who had fallen to the rear. "Comrade, this is our Mobile Corps Commander."

Old Hu's expression immediately turned serious, his smile vanishing; he took a quick stride forward, grasping Brother Liang's hands with both of his own: "Comrade, we are truly sorry; our work was not done properly..."

Brother Liang shook his head repeatedly: "Leader, we understand; you all have it hard too. I've heard from them about the process of solving the case; you've all worked hard..."

Old Hu's attitude was absolutely correct; it was no problem for police officers to joke among themselves in private. When it came to work, everyone had seen so much life and death, grown so accustomed to sorrow and parting. On a personal level, since everyone was unrelated and without ties, surely one couldn't pull a long face and mourn at a grave every time someone died.

But regardless, it was simply improper to beam with smiles in front of the victim's family; it was inappropriate both emotionally and rationally.

For a moment, the bond between police and people was as deep as fish and water, profoundly moving.

After arranging for someone to escort Brother Liang to the guesthouse to settle in, Wang Yan and the others asked about the truth of the matter.

The case had been handled last year by the comrades on duty; upon receiving Old Ma's phone call, Old Hu made the arrangement without much deliberation.

Upon receiving the news, four people set out for the chemical plant and found Huang Guodong.

Huang Guodong was surprised by the police's arrival; he explained in great detail his connection with the old Liang family and his connection with the deceased, Liang Lihong, repeatedly guaranteeing that he had absolutely never contacted Liang Lihong privately.

After finishing their inquiry, seeing that Huang Guodong truly did not appear to be involved, the comrades produced the portrait of the murderer that Wang Yan had left behind. Huang Guodong recognized him at once as Lv Haigui, a propaganda officer in their factory who was somewhat acquainted with him; he had even been to Lv's home to drink wine.

He immediately recalled that a group photo from his visit to relatives in Jinan several years ago hung on his wall, which included a picture of Liang Lihong. Furthermore, on one occasion, this Lv Haigui had seemingly casually inquired about certain details regarding Liang Lihong.

The comrades immediately took action, arresting Lv Haigui right there in the factory. At first, Lv Haigui denied everything. However, the investigating comrades went directly to his home to search, finding reply letters from Liang Lihong to him, the bag Liang Lihong had carried on her back when she came last year, and various other items.

Other comrades went to the post office to retrieve archived copies of the telegrams. While he could send telegrams under an alias, the address and name for receiving telegrams had to be correct. Unlike phone calls, telegrams required every character to be spoken clearly, and the receiving end had to transcribe them character by character; thus, records were kept at both the sending and receiving locations.

Faced with the evidence, Lv Haigui confessed without reservation. According to his confession, he had seen that Liang Lihong was beautiful and conceived malicious intentions. He impersonated Huang Guodong to write letters to Liang Lihong, claiming he would arrange a job for her, and instructed her not to tell her family.

This was precisely a time of transformation; educated youth were returning to Huicheng in large numbers, unable to get into university or find jobs, leaving young people extremely confused. Some idled away their days waiting to die, while others formed gangs to cheat, deceive, and steal.

Liang Lihong also had no work unit, but she was no longer young; her sister-in-law at home looked unfavorably upon her, and since Huang Guodong was a true relative, she did not think too much, believed it to be true, and left home alone to board the train to Ningyang.

On the train, after observing for a period, Lv Haigui revealed himself, stating he knew Huang Guodong and had seen Liang Lihong's photo, having developed feelings for her, and admitted to deceiving her through letters. Liang Lihong was furious, but considering her acquaintance with Huang Guodong, she did not tear off the mask completely, nor did she speak any harsh words; she merely argued briefly to vent her dissatisfaction before moving away from Lv Haigui to another carriage.

It was Lv Haigui himself who could not endure it; he went to find Liang Lihong again, and taking advantage of a moment when no one was watching, he dragged her directly into the restroom, covered Liang Lihong's mouth, beating and scolding her, attempting to force her to submit.

During the struggle, because he kept covering Liang Lihong's mouth and nose, she fainted; in a panic, he directly opened the restroom window and threw her out.

Trembling with fear for several months, with no one coming to investigate, he finally relaxed and returned to his original life, as if nothing had ever happened...

"Silly Miss, stubbornly not saying a single word to her family; she was just too obstinate."

After hearing the course of events, Wang Xin shook his head and sighed with emotion.

Ma Kui also let out a long breath: "Finally, we've given this Miss an account."

Wang Yan smiled silently on the side; fate was impermanent, and he was quite accustomed to it. As for chaotic thoughts and feelings, he had felt too many of them already; now he couldn't even recall them.

The case was solved, the murderer punished, the spirit of the deceased comforted, and the victim's family reunited with their kin; thus, the merit was complete. Who was happy and who was sad, however, was not for him to sigh over. Similarly, having felt too much, he could not sigh anymore.

Old Hu laughed: "You all did well this time; solving the case in just half a month is truly impressive. I knew that since you were good at catching thieves, you certainly wouldn't be bad at criminal investigation. Now that this case is finished, what case will you tackle next?"

"We'll see; there are so many cases, we'll try to go through them again to see if we can find more clues," Wang Yan said. "Besides, the Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Provincial Department have both sent over some Juan Sect files for me to perform footprint identification; I'll look through them all during this period."

Such matters simply meant that the capable bore more labor; currently, technology was not widespread and lacked a system, so many cases had accumulated due to various restrictions. Since he now possessed the skill of footprint identification, naturally, it should be used wherever possible.

Of course, the various units did not push everything onto him; mainly, they brought cases where they were uncertain, asking him to redo the footprint identification. If previous judgments were correct, there was nothing to be done; if they were incorrect, then an additional clue was gained.

This was also limited in number; as the capable one, he had held the line during the initial phase, reviewing everything that could be reviewed, so things would be easier afterward. The exhaustion would only last for this short while; afterward, everything would be fresh, current cases.

On another note, it was also difficult for him to refuse requests from other units; everyone served the people, and since he had the ability, he should help out more...

As the days passed, the trio solved two more homicide cases, while Wang Yan personally provided footprint identification for countless cases; not only did he establish himself firmly in criminal investigation, but he also became extraordinarily famous. Ma Kui and Wang Xin were merely foils; Wang Yan's reputation was resounding.

In the blink of an eye, another autumn arrived. On this day, the trio of Wang Yan took a day off. Coincidentally, Ma Yan also returned home to improve the family meal; already an accepted part of the family, they chatted and laughed while picking vegetables and preparing food.

After Ma Yan went to university, she actually didn't spend much time with Wang Yan, though there hadn't been much before either. After all, when working as a railway police officer, he had only half a day off every four days, amounting to just a few days a month.

Mainly, after Ma Yan went to university, she became busy. On ordinary days, she stayed in the school dormitory, studying day and night. Ma Yan was strong-willed; she did not want to fall behind, nor did she want to waste the precious opportunity of attending university. She understood very well that her ability to go to university was entirely due to Wang Yan's excellent teaching.

And after Wang Yan became a criminal police officer, he became even busier. From the time he started as a criminal police officer until now, he had not taken a single holiday. Occasionally he traveled to search for clues, occasionally participated in collective operations to set up ambushes and catch criminals, but most of the time he was performing footprint identification.

Cities and provinces across Liaoning Province sent people to Ningyang, bringing piles of Juan Sect files, guarding the bureau every day, smiling at everyone they saw, treating the Railway Police Bureau as their home, and actively participating in work, all just to have Wang Yan examine footprints.

At present, Wang Yan was already a recognized authoritative expert in footprint identification for the entire Liaoning Province. In such a vast province as Liaoning, it was not that there were no usable people; it was simply that he was ridiculously strong, ridiculously efficient, and ridiculously accurate in his identifications.

However, occasionally, Wang Yan still managed to find time to visit Dong University to see Ma Yan and chat and so on. Regarding the utilization of time, he had always been very adept.

Ma Yan had changed her hairstyle; no longer wearing two long braids, she now tied her hair in a high ponytail, making her appear much more exquisite.

She asked: "Have you solved any cases recently?"

"How can solving this kind of thing be as simple as saying it's done?" Wang Yan shook his head amusingly. "It's just like your studies; how can one achieve success in a single step?"

"So annoying; why bring up the very pot that isn't boiling?"

Ma Kui laughed: "Why isn't it boiling? Didn't you say before that you were studying quite well?"

Ma Yan let out a long sigh: "Isn't it because there are always better ones? Dad, you know I used to be so lively and spirited, but now that I'm in university, the more I study, the more I feel the huge gap between people; I'm just not cut out for studying."

"What does it matter if you're cut out for it or not; as long as there is progress, that's fine." Ma Kui was quite open-minded on this matter.

Wang Yan nodded from the side: "Old Ma is right; surpassing oneself is good. Knowing that others possess superhuman talent yet still stubbornly struggling against them is just making things difficult for oneself."

"I know, I know; the clumsy bird flies early, and diligence makes up for clumsiness," Ma Yan said impatiently, waving her hand. "Hurry up and cook; I'm waiting for you to make braised pork."

"Got it," Wang Yan said with a smile, standing up to go to the kitchen and start cooking.

Wang Sufang wanted to help, but Wang Yan naturally did not allow it.

Over these past two years, Wang Sufang's condition had been completely controlled. She only performed normal tasks like cooking, heating the kang, carrying water, and washing clothes, without excessive exertion. Plus, having no troubling matters, she was cheerful every day, chatting idly with the women in the courtyard and watching television, living very comfortably.

Indeed, frequently, Wang Sufang would even forget that she had late-stage lung cancer...

After enjoying a sumptuous lunch, Wang Yan and Ma Kui shared a small drink, while the elderly couple dozed off for their afternoon nap. Wang Yan and Ma Yan, meanwhile, took small stools to sit in the shade of the courtyard, hiding from the fierce sun of the 'Autumn Tiger,' chatting idly, being affectionate, and laughing happily, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The courtyard was quite lively at this time; those not sleeping sat in the yard, either washing clothes or gathering to chat, keeping their voices low so as not to disturb others' afternoon rest.

Wang Xin was also in the courtyard, supporting Yao Yuling, who had a large belly, as she walked.

Thanks to having a father who was a section chief, Yao Yuling had already stopped working to stay home and nurture her pregnancy; after giving birth, she would stay home for several more years to care for the child, supported by the two men of the old Wang family. There was no other way, mainly because there were no elders available to look after the child, and Yao Yuling's mother could not stay here to care for the child permanently.

All these arrangements were nagged out by Wang Xin; he had already become numb to life after marriage. The family had finally bought a television, and he had even borrowed some money from Wang Yan...

On the other side, Cai Xiao squatted on the ground, head bowed smoking, feeling devoid of joy. He went inside for a moment, then came back out, unsure of what to do.

After a good while, Cai Xiao headed straight for Wang Yan. While still some distance away, he pulled out a cigarette, reached out to offer it to Wang Yan, and eagerly helped light it.

Squatting nearby, he chuckled: "Dear brother... dear sister-in-law..."

"The brother can be dear, but the sister-in-law cannot," Wang Yan replied with a smile.

"Stop fooling around." Ma Yan shot him a glare, then asked, "Why aren't you out finding a partner?"

Cai Xiao was already seeing someone named Li Wang Yanhong, the very same one from the original drama, who worked as a mathematics teacher at the middle school. She had visited the courtyard compound a few times, but because Wang Yan was usually busy with work, they had never met.

"I'm working; we arranged to see a movie tonight. Hey, do you two want to come? We could all go together?"

"No, I have to return to the school tonight. My roommates are waiting for me as if longing for the stars and the moon." Ma Yan shook her head.

"Oh, what a pity," Cai Xiao said.

Seeing his demeanor, Wang Yan shook his head amusedly and took the initiative to speak: "Hemming and hawing, forcing conversation when there's nothing to say—you have something on your mind?"

"A little bit."

"Spit it out!"

"I'm getting married," Cai Xiao announced the good news first.

"That's a good thing, so why the long face? Has the date not been set yet?" Ma Yan asked. "Are you short on money or what?"

"I was hoping to borrow some money from you, dear brother. My mother-in-law has two additional requirements. You're the only one in our courtyard with such capability; you must help your younger brother. You can't stand by and watch me drown without throwing a lifeline."

Wang Yan took a drag of his cigarette, lifted his chin, and said: "State the matter."

"One is the 'forty-eight legs,' meaning the Gao Di cabinet, the double bed, tables, chairs, benches, and so on—in short, all sorts of furniture. The other is that for the wedding procession, eight brand-new Phoenix bicycles are required."

Wang Yan naturally knew about this matter. During the wedding, the old bicycles disguised as Phoenixes were exposed, causing Cai Xiao's mother-in-law to make a small scene; afterward, she claimed it was merely a test of Cai Xiao's sincerity toward Li Wang Yanhong, thereby saving both face and substance. But in reality, what the mother-in-law's true original intention had been remained to be seen. In any case, no matter how it played out, she suffered no loss, lost no face, and gained an advantage.

"Regarding the 'forty-eight legs,' if you want new furniture, I know people at the furniture factory—all old masters with excellent craftsmanship who can offer a significant discount. I'm not clear on the exact cost, but including labor and materials, it will surely be five, six, seven, or eight hundred. I can lend you two hundred; you'll have to figure out the rest yourself. If you don't need that, then I have no other solution; I'll build a standing cabinet as a wedding gift to solve four of those legs for you."

"The bicycle matter is easy to handle. Brand new is impossible, but ninety percent new is no problem. Let alone eight, even eighty wouldn't be an issue. The reward isn't much; just bring them along when you host the banquet, and ensure they eat and drink well."

Cai Xiao paused for a moment, then broke into a smile: "Aiyo, it has to be you, my good brother. With just a casual move, you've solved the life-or-death problem plaguing your younger brother."

"So, what's your plan?"

"I need to discuss the 'forty-eight legs' with my parents before deciding, but the bicycles are definitely settled. The date is also set: next month, both families will dine together to finalize the engagement, and we'll marry next spring. By the way, let me book you in advance; you'll have to take charge of the cooking then, dear brother."

"Tsk, look at you." Wang Yan cursed playfully. "That's still half a year away. Taking charge of the cooking is uncertain; I'm a criminal investigator, so who knows if something will come up? If nothing happens, I'll cook; if something does, I'll find a master chef for you."

"Truly a dear brother," Cai Xiao sighed once more. "You haven't met your younger sister-in-law yet, have you? Another day, I'll bring her over; she must meet her dear brother."

"Can't you see we're courting? Do you have anything else? If not, scram." Wang Yan waved his hand.

"Orders received, der~ giddyup..."

Clicking his tongue, Cai Xiao ran back home like an unbridled horse to discuss matters with his parents...