Chapter 177: The Case Inquiry

The interrogation room in the Qianjin District Bureau was more nicely decorated than the one in Ningtai County.

Although everyone held the same rank, it was true that district bureaus had more money than county bureaus.

If someone had been held in the Qianjin District interrogation room and then sat in the Ningtai County one, they would surely complain: "Your interrogation room is small and old, stinks, and the smoke stains on the ceiling haven't even been cleaned off…"

But if someone had first been held in the Ningtai County room and then moved to the Qianjin District one, they might well praise it: "Your interrogation room is truly large and beautiful, soft to the touch, and smells nice…"

Suspect No. 1, Wang Fulin, was inexperienced.

He was probably sitting in an interrogation room for the first time, unaware of how privileged the Qianjin District Bureau's conditions were, just sitting there blankly on the chair, expression vacant.

Even from behind the surveillance monitor, Jiang Yuan could sense his numb emotions.

Lei Xin sat down across from Wang Fulin, smiling slightly, his expression relaxed.

In fact, he truly felt much more at ease than before.

Confirming it was a gang crime meant the suspects' vulnerabilities had multiplied.

And for an ordinary rural youth like Wang Fulin, his social connections were easy to trace.

A few close childhood friends, relatives who cared for him—just walking around the village, and you'd find them all.

At most, add his parents' network.

Considering the fact that the victim had been raped, and the suspect's likely physical strength, several detectives walked through Wang Fulin's village and compiled a list of suspects.

Then, after cross-checking timelines and movements, Wang Fulin's uncle, Wang Ming, stood out.

According to Lei Xin and others' judgment, Wang Fulin was unlikely to have premeditated murder; the greater possibility was a verbal conflict that escalated into a crime of passion.

After all, raising a large bride price to pay the bride's family was meant to build a life together.

Someone like that, even if faced with problems, wouldn't first think of murder.

But Wang Fulin's uncle, Wang Ming, had been working near Qinghe City during the incident; accompanying him to the bride's home to lend strength was entirely plausible.

Once confirmed, Lei Xin immediately headed to the interrogation room.

This time, Lei Xin entered holding a thick stack of case files, gently placing them on the table before saying: "Wang Fulin, you say you didn't kill anyone. Answer me a few questions—if your answers are reasonable, I'll let you go home. How about it?"

Wang Fulin, who had been refusing to speak at all, twitched his cheek, glanced at Lei Xin, and still refused to utter a word.

Lei Xin smiled. He'd seen too many people like Wang Fulin.

Many first-time offenders, especially those accused of serious crimes, behave this way—not because they're skilled at evading investigation, but because they've shut down.

It was fear that silenced him, not courage.

So Lei Xin tempted him with what he desired most:

"Do you want to go home?"

"Look, you said earlier we got the wrong person. Fine, I'll temporarily believe you—you didn't kill her. But now I'm preparing to let you go, and you're still acting like this? I can't help but suspect you again."

Lei Xin grew more serious, his tone gradually turning stern.

Wang Fulin cracked. He looked up and said: "You're all bullying me."

"Just a few questions. Answer them well, and I'll let you go home." Lei Xin held up three fingers.

Wang Fulin's throat moved, but he stayed silent.

"Then the first question: Zhang Ying took your 188, 00 yuan and claimed she spent it all. What are you going to do about it?" Lei Xin asked directly, assuming Wang Fulin hadn't killed anyone.

Wang Fulin hesitated, then said: "Get it back."

"But Zhang Ying is dead. Debts die with the debtor. What will you do then? Go to her parents for it?" Lei Xin asked.

"Mm."

"Just 'mm'? 188, 00 yuan is several years' income for your whole family. Are you really willing to give up so much money? A normal person wouldn't care whether Zhang Ying was dead or alive—they'd demand their money first."

"He has no money. What's the point of me demanding anything?" Wang Fulin lifted his head.

"Criminal cases are criminal cases. After sentencing, Zhang Ying's parents can still file a civil claim for compensation—meaning they can sue the murderer for damages." Lei Xin said: "The murderer's relatives often voluntarily pay compensation to obtain a letter of forgiveness."

Wang Fulin understood. He stared fixedly at Lei Xin.

"If you're not the murderer, you can sue in court before Zhang Ying's parents receive compensation—giving you a chance to enforce payment and recover your 188, 00 yuan."

Lei Xin paused, then looked at Wang Fulin: "But if you are the murderer, your parents will have to pay the victim's family—and likely not a small sum."

Lei Xin spoke half-truths and half-lies, but Wang Fulin could no longer tell them apart.

His emotions visibly shifted.

"Your uncle Wang Ming suggested borrowing money to hire a lawyer to defend you and recover your 188, 00 yuan. Afterwards, you'd use the recovered money to pay the lawyer's fee." Lei Xin, having found Wang Fulin's psychological weak point, grew even more relaxed and lied: "If you agree, your parents will have to take out a loan."

Wang Fulin froze. His composure was crumbling.

"If you didn't kill her, we can say nothing more." Lei Xin tapped the case files slowly: "But we both know you really did kill Zhang Ying. In this situation, do you still want your parents to exhaust their savings, go into debt, and fight a trial for you? Can they even win?"

Wang Fulin fell back into silence, as if shutting down again.

But Lei Xin knew he wouldn't hold out.

"Actually, even if your parents borrow money to hire a lawyer, that's your choice. But what if they sell their house, take out high-interest loans, and then the money gets stolen anyway? What then?" Lei Xin struck at his soul.

Wang Fulin shuddered in shock.

In the surveillance room, Jiang Yuan watched Lei Xin chip away at Wang Fulin's psychological defenses like driving in nails, and sighed.

Wang Lan, standing beside him, said calmly: "Don't pity the murderer."

Jiang Yuan's thoughts had been read—he felt embarrassed. "It's not really pity…"

Wang Lan said: "When he committed his crimes, he didn't do it all at once. Throughout the process, he had countless chances to stop. But he never stopped. And to ensure the victim's death, he stabbed her over ten times in one go!"

Jiang Yuan nodded: "And then he set the house on fire."

"Not only did he burn down a stranger's home—he might have endangered neighbors too," Wang Lan said coldly. "He's far colder than his appearance suggests."

Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly: "Maybe."

At that moment, Wang Fulin in the interrogation room began confessing his crimes.

Of the 188, 00 yuan bride price, 50, 00 yuan was borrowed from his uncle Wang Ming. Wang Ming suggested retrieving the bride price. Wang Ming proposed going to Zhang Ying's home to demand it. Wang Ming struck Zhang Ying. Wang Ming raped Zhang Ying. Wang Ming killed Zhang Ying. Wang Ming set the house on fire.

Lei Xin didn't interrupt Wang Fulin's statement. In gang crimes, once one person confesses, it's as if both have confessed—there'd be plenty of time later to sort out the details.

Jiang Yuan stayed another day, waited for Wang Ming's arrest, then bid farewell and returned home.

Wang Ming wasn't particularly strong, but years of manual labor had given him solid strength, along with some cunning and sharpness.

But in the interrogation room, none of it mattered.

While the entire detective squad was eager to take the lead, a little cleverness was merely a side dish.

…

The Jiang household.

The two puppies, sensing Jiang Yuan's scent, barked wildly.

Jiang Fuzhen heard the noise, stepped out, and chuckled: "I told you—these two dogs don't know you well. When they see you, they bark louder than ever."

"Probably think I make good dog food," Jiang Yuan said, washing his hands and heading straight to the kitchen.

His father Jiang Fuzhen also spent most of his time in the kitchen—it was their usual place to talk.

Jiang Fuzhen, unsurprisingly, was boiling meat, poking at the chunks with chopsticks: "I cook pretty well too, yet you never praise me when you come home… I thought with your stable job, you'd find a girlfriend sooner. But now you're gone for days on end. Your Aunt Liu's been trying to set you up for ages, but when she says you're a forensic pathologist, the girls all back out."

Jiang Yuan silently endured his father's complaints. Though no woman had shown interest, his work yesterday involved a female corpse… He washed a pile of vegetables, then turned on his father's newly built high-heat stove, heated the wok, and asked: "Want me to cook you something too?"

"Fine," Jiang Fuzhen agreed.

Father and son worked in the kitchen, while the dogs barked outside…

Overpowering the cicadas in the trees.