Chapter 805: Continue the Investigation

Facing the police's demands, Ma Junlan actually dared to play little tricks, but she didn't dare to do so with Wang Yan. She actually knew of Wang Yan, and her current standing wasn't low; she could also come into contact with certain matters. Especially since her beauty salon was quite large—it was properly called a beauty club—and catered to high-end clients. In the previous month, all the major incidents in Ping'an City had been stirred up by Wang Yan.

If she had pretended to be temperamental as she had before, that would have been one thing, but if she truly angered Wang Yan and he turned around to deal with the wealthy patron she was currently relying on, she would be the one suffering in the end.

Wang Yan listened to the situation Ma Junlan confessed and recorded it truthfully in his notebook.

This woman was still quite something; she had started drifting through society at seventeen. Aside from the first two men she found who had no money, the ones who came later were all wealthier than the last. From beginning to end, counting only those she could remember, there were fifteen men in total.

She was thirty-six this year, and in nineteen years, she had been through fifteen men. And that was only counting those whose names she could recall and whose specific information she knew; there were certainly a few others she didn't know about.

Wang Yan took this very seriously because this situation had not been reflected in the previous case files. In other words, the previous special investigation team had not done work in this area.

Because this dismemberment case looked more like the work of a perverted killer robbing for money, the previous focus of the conflict had mainly been on the 200,000 yuan. Let alone in 2005, even now, 200,000 yuan was enough to drive someone with no way out to commit murder.

The acts of dismemberment and body disposal could actually be explained as the killer feeling stimulated after the murder and having some perverted thoughts. After all, people really couldn't understand how a pervert's brain worked using common sense; they were capable of doing anything.

Therefore, the investigation into Yan Fulin's network mainly focused on people with direct connections and direct motives for the crime. Although people with secondary connections were also investigated, no strong resources were invested there.

The first wave focused on finding the crime scene, and the next two waves were about finding if there were similar cases and continuing to investigate Yan Fulin's network to confirm if anyone's statements were inconsistent.

A special investigation team didn't just handle one case at a time; that only happened when a case first occurred. Special investigation teams formed after a case had already occurred would choose several cases simultaneously, investigating them with direction and purpose. Under such circumstances, they certainly had to work on cases that could provide a breakthrough; otherwise, it would be unjustifiable to have mobilized such great force to form a special team only to have no results.

After recording the situation Ma Junlan described, Wang Yan asked again: "Have you had any contact with these people since then? Was there anyone who had no money before but suddenly became generous afterward?"

Ma Junlan shook her head: "To tell you the truth, aside from the first two men—I was ignorant back then—the men who came later were never poor. And every time I started a new relationship, I would definitely move. I had to leave my original social circle so that past events wouldn't disturb me. So I really don't know how they are doing now, or if they have money."

"Yan Fulin's matter couldn't be helped. Actually, the two times you police came to my door in the past, it had quite an impact on me. One man even broke up with me because of it; I don't even know who should be held responsible for that loss."

Wang Yan smiled. Even with his toes, he could figure out that a woman was pretending to be pure with someone, only for it to be discovered that she had long been kept by someone else; naturally, the man would be displeased. Or perhaps that man simply didn't want to keep her anymore, and since such an opportunity arose, it was only logical to use it as an excuse to dismiss her.

"Alright, thank you for your cooperation. We will investigate and verify the situation you described later. If there is anything you haven't confessed clearly and we find out later, it won't be as simple as saying you 'forgot.' Think about it carefully during this time. Once you recall anything, come to the Balihe Police Station to tell us at any time. This is my business card; my phone number is on it. If there's anything, we can communicate by phone. That's all, I'm leaving."

Having said that, Wang Yan took Zhao Jiwei and left the beauty club, driving toward the JH District, where Yan Fulin's second wife, Zhou Yaqin, lived.

This Zhou Yaqin was two years older than Ma Junlan, thirty-eight this year. This also fit the pattern: he just looked for young and beautiful ones. Therefore, Zhou Yaqin's appearance and figure in the past should not have been bad.

However, she took a different path than Ma Junlan. She didn't continue to rely on wealthy men but got married three years after Yan Fulin died. She also went to find a job herself, working as an accountant. Her life was considered quite good; she wasn't extremely wealthy, but it was decent, and she even had a son.

Therefore, relatively speaking, Zhou Yaqin's state was not as good as Ma Junlan's. She was only two years older, but Ma Junlan was much more vibrant.

The place they met was downstairs at the company where Zhou Yaqin worked, inside a Luckin Coffee shop.

After a simple introduction, Wang Yan asked: "Did you notice any abnormal situations around the time Yan Fulin had his accident?"

Zhou Yaqin put down her straw and shook her head: "You asked me several times before, and what I said was the same. Wasn't he with that woman surnamed Ma at that time? The police told me before that he had an accident the very day he left her house. At that time, she hadn't been to my place for over half a month; I really didn't know anything."

"In the past, he just gave me money to spend and would come to find me for two days every ten days or half a month. I had my own job normally; I was working as an accountant back then. The next time I heard news of him was when you police came to my door, asking me this and that. I really didn't know anything. Don't you all have case files? It's all in there."

"Back then, my family member was sick and needed money urgently, which is why I followed Yan Fulin. Later, I also admit that I was indeed vain, so I just dealt with it that way. I never left him, and I didn't dare to; he was a gangster, and I was afraid he would deal with me. Later, when I found out he was dead, I reflected on myself and didn't do such things anymore, just working steadily to live my life."

What she said was very good, but by comparison, for two women who had once shared a man, after thirteen years, in terms of their current situation, Ma Junlan was still better off. Of course, the bitterness within that was not for outsiders to know.

As for her saying she had reflected on herself, Wang Yan was skeptical, because this conflicted with Liu Mei's statement. If she were truly as she described, she wouldn't have been so bold as to try to divide the inheritance Yan Fulin left behind; that was truly life-threatening.

"Right, this way of thinking of yours is very good." Wang Yan nodded, expressing agreement with Zhou Yaqin, then turned and said, "We just came from Ma Junlan's place. This time, we want to understand some new situations. When you were with Yan Fulin back then, was there anyone who particularly liked you and was dealt with by Yan Fulin? Or among the boyfriends you dated before, and the boyfriends you dated after Yan Fulin died, was there anyone who suddenly became wealthy?"

"How is she doing now?"

"Quite good. She opened a beauty club; the storefront is quite large, and the people who go there are all from well-off families. Tell me about your situation."

Zhou Yaqin frowned in thought, then said: "Before I knew Yan Fulin, I had another boyfriend. Our relationship was good, but later because of my mother..."

Following Zhou Yaqin's narration, Wang Yan recorded rapidly.

Compared to Ma Junlan, Zhou Yaqin was indeed much worse off. According to her, before following Yan Fulin, she had a boyfriend she had been with for two years. Their relationship was very good, but later, because her mother needed money for treatment and that boyfriend couldn't help much, they broke up, and she followed Yan Fulin.

After Yan Fulin died, she rekindled her relationship with this ex-boyfriend for half a year. Afterward, because time had passed and the feelings were no longer there, they broke up. Later, someone else pursued her at that time, but they didn't date for very long, only a few months, saying they felt they weren't compatible. Then she met her current husband. They fell in love at that time and got married smoothly after dating for over a year.

Calculating it this way, she had only been through four men from beginning to end; she wasn't even in the same league as Ma Junlan.

"Did these three people not suddenly become wealthy, or rather, did their economic conditions not suddenly improve?" Wang Yan repeated the question.

Zhou Yaqin pondered for a moment and shook her head: "I can't say it was sudden, right? Comrade Police, compared to now, those were good times back then. As long as one was willing to work hard and endure hardship, it wasn't difficult to make life better. Anyway, none of them became wealthy overnight. It's just that my first love, Zhao Wenyang—when we were together again, there was a three-year gap in between. At that time, he took out a loan to buy a house and opened a small supermarket in the residential area; it was considered quite good."

"The other two—when Yan Fulin was alive, you didn't know them and hadn't met them?"

"I knew Liu Ming before; he was a colleague when I was working. He didn't know the situation before and had pursued me, but I rejected him. Later, after Yan Fulin died, he pursued me again, and then I agreed. But I had already changed companies by then; we met by chance, and that's how we reconnected. As for his economic condition, as far as I know, it had always been fine."

Liu Ming was the one she had only dated for a few months before deciding they weren't compatible. Wang Yan asked: "How did you meet your current husband, Li Shengyong?"

"After Yan Fulin died, I changed companies and also moved. His home was downstairs from the apartment I was renting. One time the bathroom leaked, and he came up. We got to know each other after a few interactions."

Wang Yan nodded and closed the notebook in his hand: "I understand the situation. Think about it carefully during this time. If you recall any new situations..."

After giving instructions once more, Wang Yan drove with Zhao Jiwei to continue, going to Ping'an's CBD area to meet Liu Hu, who had the highest status related to the case.

In the car, Zhao Jiwei asked: "Brother Yan, do you think it was done by someone who liked the two of them?"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "I can't say what I think; I can only say this is currently considered a direction for investigation. Otherwise, once we finish walking through everyone related to Yan Fulin, this case will also stagnate. We don't have the massive resources and power of a special investigation team; we can't continue to investigate based on the existing situation. We can't just walk around for nothing, right? We have to investigate a little bit at least."

"Once we finish the visits, we will start investigating all these people. If we find something, everyone will be happy. If not, then we won't investigate anymore and will continue to look at other cases."

"I feel they are all the same; these three cases are all more mysterious than the last. What kind of person would think of dismembering a body and then disposing of the parts in several different places? With that time, they could rent a boat and sink the person into the sea. Or like that Yue Wei from before, bury the person in the mountains; why bother dismembering the body? Speaking of this, I feel nauseous now just thinking about that Dong Nianfeng case."

"Who can know the thoughts of a pervert? This kind of thing happens all over the world; there are plenty of things more perverted than this, it's not like you haven't heard of them."

"I've heard of them, but I never thought I'd see one someday. And Yan Fulin's case is much more miserable than the pair of dogs Dong Nianfeng killed. You say, when that murderer was dismembering the body, what was he thinking in his brain?"

"Oh, the heart looks like this, tsk, it's still beating; oh, so this is brain matter..."

"I was wrong, Brother Yan, I won't speak anymore." Zhao Jiwei hurriedly covered his mouth, opened the car window to breathe fresh air, and suppressed the churning in his stomach.

Wang Yan shook his head in amusement, continuing to lazily support his face with one hand while steering with the other...

Very quickly, the two arrived at the office building named Ping'an SOHO. This was considered a landmark building in Ping'an City, and many quite impressive financial and internet companies in Ping'an City had their offices here. Of course, working in someone else's office building was actually not impressive enough; after all, truly impressive people built their own.

Liu Hu was the chairman of the Fulin Group. Fulin—just hearing the name, one knew it was Yan Fulin's Fulin. Perhaps to show respect for his big brother, after Yan Fulin died, Liu Hu didn't change the name. Of course, that was assuming he hadn't slept with the sister-in-law.

It was Liu Hu's secretary who came downstairs to pick them up, and then Wang Yan and the other person went up. Under Zhao Jiwei's wide-eyed observation of the "Grand View Garden," the two were brought to the chairman's office.

"I have long heard of Officer Wang's great name. Having the fortune to meet you today, you truly possess an upright spirit. A pleasure, a pleasure."

Liu Hu was a short, fat, and dark-skinned man, also fifty years old. His hair, a mix of black and white, was combed back, and he wore gold-rimmed glasses, which added a bit of scholarly air. He wore casual clothes and had prayer beads on his wrist, looking like a wealthy man. Seeing Wang Yan, he was all smiles, and his opening words were full of flattery.

"Hey, it's not easy to see you, Chairman Liu. A big boss with a net worth of one billion, being able to see us two little policemen—many thanks for Chairman Liu's high regard."

"Officer Wang is scolding me, Old Liu. No matter when, if you, Officer Wang, come to see me, wouldn't I be waiting with open arms? Besides, you are worrying about Brother Fu's matter; I will definitely be the first to support you. Come, Officer Wang, and this officer, please sit. Let's drink tea while we chat about Brother Fu's matter."

Liu Hu enthusiastically invited the two to sit at the tea table by the floor-to-ceiling window and began to fiddle with the tea set to brew tea—it was Da Hong Pao.

While making tea, Liu Hu said: "Officer Wang, has a special investigation team come to investigate Brother Fu's case again?"

"There is no special investigation team, just our station understanding the situation."

"Oh? Is there any new clue?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "Just understanding it again. After all, it's a homicide case; we have to find a way to solve it in ten or twenty years to give an account to the deceased. Besides, this kind of perverted killer hiding among the people is also a potential threat; we must strike against it."

"Yes, serving the people. On this point, I admire Officer Wang."

Liu Hu, of course, knew even more clearly how reckless Wang Yan was; he was scared just hearing about it. He was so polite to Wang Yan, and there must be reasons for that. On the other hand, it was as he said: the police were here to handle the case, and he would definitely cooperate as much as he could. It was just that if ordinary people came, perhaps he wouldn't be brewing tea himself but would just have his secretary serve some tea.

He sighed: "Actually, I can't figure out Brother Fu's death either. In the past, when you formed a special investigation team, someone came to ask me. I know the general process; we handled quite a few people who had grudges against us. With such great force, no one admitted to Brother Fu's matter; it's highly likely it wasn't them who did it. And even if it were them, there was no need to go to such great lengths to dismember and dispose of the body."

"I know I definitely have suspicion; I was even investigated back then. But it's the same logic: even if I really killed Brother Fu, there was no need to dismember the body. And Brother Fu treated me well; we had always been very good. Whatever should have been given to me, Brother Fu never held back. And Brother Fu was more capable than me. Now I am walking on thin ice to bring the group to this point; if Brother Fu were still alive, Liu Xiaoguo wouldn't be able to do it either."

"The police back then also asked me why I didn't discover Brother Fu was missing; this was also a point of suspicion against me. But at that time, I was in charge of the second-hand car side, and Brother Fu was handling other matters. Let alone ten days or half a month, even if we didn't see each other for a month, it was normal not to have a phone call."

Seeing the disdain in Zhao Jiwei's eyes, he laughed knowingly: "This officer has some opinions about me, huh? I know you went to the sister-in-law's house and know about our affair. But to tell you the truth, we are all men, and at that time, the sister-in-law was also proactive. I was released from prison a few years before Brother Fu, and at that time, I had more contact with the sister-in-law, and there were some dirty thoughts in my heart. Later, Brother Fu died, and the sister-in-law was afraid I would be disadvantageous to them, so this matter just happened. But actually, there were only a few times in total."

This guy was all smiles and didn't shy away from talking about such things. Thinking about it, one could understand; he didn't have much education, was just a rough man, and was already over fifty. Rumors had long existed, and he didn't need to hide it. Besides, this was said to the police; even if he didn't say it, it would be useless, as they would investigate it themselves, which would be even more embarrassing.

He continued, "These thirteen years, when I have nothing to do, I also think about who killed Brother Fu. And I won't hide it from you, Officer Wang, actually I have also been investigating, but I haven't found anything. Maybe it really is what you determined: it was because Brother Fu took 200,000 yuan in cash at that time and was targeted..."

Liu Hu's tone was filled with emotion, thinking that his Brother Fu, such a hero, actually died at the hands of a cowardly thief.

Being seen through in his thoughts, Zhao Jiwei felt a bit embarrassed. He hurriedly looked at Wang Yan, only to find that Wang Yan didn't care at all, and couldn't help but silently drink the hot tea Liu Hu had just poured for him...

Wang Yan asked: "Yan Fulin's relationships with women were very chaotic. Aside from Zhou Yaqin and Ma Junlan, were there any other women he didn't mention?"

"Just those two. Others were just paid for when going out to play with others."

"Were there any small frictions because of affairs between men and women?"

The smiling Liu Hu frowned. He, of course, understood the meaning of Wang Yan's question. He thought seriously for a long time, then shook his head: "I really don't know; too much time has passed. Back then, we were indeed hooligans, and not many dared to find trouble with us. If there were, I should have an impression... No, it was 2004, right? I was drinking with Brother Fu and heard him mention it once."

"He said someone was eyeing Ma Junlan, and he beat that person up. There was another time, when he was out whoring with others, there was a young man who said he liked the girl Brother Fu had picked that day, and even said something about wanting to keep that girl and not let her take jobs anymore. Brother Fu was originally just watching the fun, but he was implicated by that young man, who pointed at his nose and cursed. Then Brother Fu and others beat that kid up severely."

"I don't know what the situation was at that time, only that the shop was the Wutong Club. But this name sounds quite intimidating, but it's not considered a very high-end place. However, this matter is far away; it's been fourteen years. Officer Wang, you shouldn't be able to find the person, right?"

"That is our business." Wang Yan waved his hand, "Think about it carefully again; is there anything else?" ===== CHAPTER 806 =====