Chapter 180: Termination

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

Although everyone's rank was the same, it was true that the District Bureau had more money than the County Bureau.

If a person had stayed in the Qianjin District interrogation room and then sat in the Ningtai County one, they would definitely criticize: "Your interrogation room is small and old, it smells, and the smoke stains on the ceiling haven't been wiped clean..."

If it were the other way around—staying in the Ningtai County room first and then the Qianjin District one—they would likely praise it with a certain probability: "Your interrogation room is really big and beautiful, it feels soft to the touch, and it smells fragrant..."

Suspect No. 1, Wang Fulin, was inexperienced.

It was likely his first time sitting in an interrogation room, and he didn't know how to cherish the superior conditions of the Qianjin District Bureau's interrogation room, just sitting woodenly on the chair with a dazed look on his face.

Watching through the surveillance, Jiang Yuan could perceive his numb emotions.

Lei Xin sat down in front of Wang Fulin with a smile on his face, his expression quite relaxed.

In fact, he was indeed much more relaxed than before.

Confirming it was a group crime meant that the criminal suspects had more flaws.

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

A few close childhood friends, which relatives cared about him—a stroll around the village was enough to ask it all.

At most, add his parents' network of relationships.

Next, considering the fact that the victim had been raped and the speculation that the suspect might be relatively strong, a few criminal police officers took a stroll around Wang Fulin's hometown and listed the suspect list.

Next, after checking the time and itinerary, Wang Fulin's uncle, Wang Ming, stood out.

According to the judgment of Lei Xin and the others, the possibility of Wang Fulin premeditating murder was not high; it was more likely a verbal conflict that intensified the contradiction, ultimately leading to a crime of passion.

After all, raising a large sum of bride price to pay to the woman's side must have been with the hope of living a life together.

Such a person, even if they encountered problems, shouldn't think of murder first.

And Wang Fulin's uncle, Wang Ming, had been working near Qinghe City during the time of the crime; it was very possible they went over together to bolster their momentum.

Having confirmed this, Lei Xin went to the interrogation room without a moment's delay.

Lei Xin entered the room this time carrying a thick stack of case files, placed them gently on the table, and then said, "Wang Fulin, you say you didn't kill anyone, so answer a few questions for me. If you answer reasonably, I'll let you go back. How about that?"

Wang Fulin, who had been resisting and unwilling to even speak, twitched his cheek, glanced at Lei Xin, and still seemed unwilling to make a sound.

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

Many first-time offenders, especially suspects of major crimes, were like this. It wasn't that they had strong anti-reconnaissance capabilities; they were just shut down.

It was fear that made him shut his mouth, not bravery.

Lei Xin then tempted him with what he currently desired most:

"Do you want to go home?"

"Look, you said earlier that we found the wrong person. Fine, I'll believe you for now. You didn't kill anyone, but if you're still like this when I'm ready to let you go, I won't be able to stop myself from suspecting you again."

Lei Xin became more serious as he spoke, his tone gradually becoming stern.

Wang Fulin couldn't hold it together anymore, looked up, and said, "You're all bullying people."

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

Wang Fulin's throat moved, but he didn't make a sound.

"Then the first question: Zhang Ying took your 188,000 and said she spent it all. What do you plan to do about this?" Lei Xin asked directly, assuming Wang Fulin hadn't killed anyone.

Wang Fulin hesitated as expected and said, "Ask for it back."

"But Zhang Ying is dead. When a person dies, the debt is cleared. What will you do? Ask her parents for it?" Lei Xin asked.

"Yeah."

"Just a 'yeah'? 188,000 is your whole family's income for several years, right? With so much money, are you willing to give it up? Normal people wouldn't care if Zhang Ying is dead or not; they'd get the money back first."

"She has no money, what would I ask for?" Wang Fulin raised his head slightly.

"A criminal case is a criminal case. After sentencing, Zhang Ying's parents can still claim civil compensation. That is, they can ask the murderer for money," Lei Xin said. "The relatives of the murderer often take the initiative to compensate in order to obtain a letter of forgiveness."

Wang Fulin understood and stared fixedly at Lei Xin.

"If you aren't the murderer, then before Zhang Ying's parents receive compensation, you can sue in court and have a chance to execute their compensation money to get your 188,000 back."

Lei Xin said this, then looked at Wang Fulin and added, "If you are the murderer, your parents will have to pay the other side, and it's very likely not a small amount."

Lei Xin was speaking half-truths, but Wang Fulin could no longer distinguish truth from falsehood.

His emotions changed significantly.

"Your uncle Wang Ming suggested borrowing money to hire a lawyer to defend you and strive to get that 188,000 back. Afterwards, use the money retrieved to pay the lawyer's fees." Lei Xin had touched Wang Fulin's "psychological fulcrum" and was even more relaxed, bluffing, "If you agree, your parents will have to take out a loan."

Wang Fulin was stunned, his expression already unable to hold up.

"If you didn't kill anyone, we won't say anything else." Lei Xin tapped the case files under his hand and said slowly, "But we all know you really killed Zhang Ying. In this situation, do you still want your parents to exhaust their family wealth and be in debt to help you fight the lawsuit? Can you win?"

Wang Fulin returned to a state of silence, as if he had shut down again.

Lei Xin, however, knew he couldn't hold it.

"Actually, even if your parents take money to hire a lawyer for you, that's your freedom. What's scary is if they sell the house and borrow usury, and in the end, the money is swindled away by someone else. What will you do then?" Lei Xin was striking at the heart.

Wang Fulin was shocked.

In the surveillance room, Jiang Yuan watched Lei Xin hammering away like a nail, bit by bit chiseling through Wang Fulin's psychological defense, and couldn't help but sigh.

Wang Lan, standing by, saw this and said calmly, "No need to sympathize with the murderer."

Jiang Yuan's psychology had been guessed, and he felt a bit embarrassed, saying, "It doesn't count as sympathy..."

Wang Lan said, "When he committed the evil, it wasn't completed all at once. In the process, they had countless opportunities to stop. However, they never stopped, and to ensure the victim's death, they stabbed her a dozen times in one go!"

Jiang Yuan nodded, "And finally, they committed arson."

"Not only did they burn down a stranger's house, but they might have implicated the neighbors," Wang Lan said coldly. "He is much more cold-blooded than the appearance you see."

Jiang Yuan sighed secretly, "Perhaps."

At this moment, Wang Fulin in the interrogation room began to confess his criminal process.

Of the 188,000 bride price, 50,000 was borrowed from his uncle Wang Ming. Uncle Wang Ming proposed to reclaim the bride price. Uncle Wang Ming suggested going to Zhang Ying's house to ask for it. Uncle Wang Ming beat Zhang Ying. Uncle Wang Ming raped Zhang Ying. Uncle Wang Ming killed Zhang Ying. Uncle Wang Ming set fire to the house.

Lei Xin didn't interrupt Wang Fulin's statement much. In a group crime, as long as one person confesses, it's equivalent to both confessing. There would be plenty of time later to slowly sort out the primary and secondary roles.

Jiang Yuan stayed for another day, and once Wang Ming was brought to justice, he said goodbye and went home.

Wang Ming was not a very strong person either, but having worked for many years, he had sufficient strength and was somewhat cunning and shrewd.

But in the interrogation room, none of that was useful.

When an entire criminal police brigade was eager to try, a little bit of cleverness could only be considered an appetizer.

The Jiang family.

The two puppies smelled Jiang Yuan's scent and started barking wildly.

Jiang Fujian heard the sound, came out to take a look, and laughed, "I said, these two dogs aren't familiar with you either. When they see you, they bark even louder than usual."

"Probably because they think the dog food I make is delicious." Jiang Yuan washed his hands and went straight into the kitchen.

His father, Jiang Fujian, also spent most of his time in the kitchen, so the kitchen was the place where father and son chatted.

Jiang Fujian was cooking meat as expected, and while mashing the meat with chopsticks, he said, "My cooking is quite good too, but I don't see you barking when you come home... I originally thought that with your stable job, you'd find a partner early, but in the end, you run off for days without being seen. Sigh, your Sixth Aunt has mentioned introducing a partner to you several times, but as soon as she says you're a forensic doctor, the girl actually refuses."

Jiang Yuan silently endured his father's complaints. Although he didn't have any ladies' favor, his work object yesterday was a female corpse... He washed a pile of vegetables, turned on the high-heat stove his father had newly built, heated the pot, and asked, "Should I make some for you too?"

"Sure." Comrade Jiang Fujian agreed.

Father and son were busy in the kitchen, while the dogs were barking "Wang Wang Wang" outside...

Drowning out the sound of the cicadas in the trees. ===== CHAPTER 181 =====