Free Web NovelChapter 444: Chapter 418 Morning and Evening Incense_1
On the large screen, a photo appeared, a new version of an identity card, with a decent clarity. The man’s name is Liu Xiangrui, male, 39 years old, from Tongcheng, Huining Province. He is unmarried, and on his household registration, there is only him.
His parents’ household registrations were canceled over a decade ago, which suggests that his parents had passed away a long time ago. He had no brothers or sisters, and he had not married or had children. This man owned an outdoor sports company, which had over twenty chain stores across Huining and the Ludong Region.
The achievements and introductions that followed looked rather dazzling: donating to schools, building roads and providing water supplies, assisting troubled mothers. One could tell from these accomplishments that he was someone enthusiastic about public welfare and a private enterprise owner with a positive energy.
As for Qindao, there indeed was one of his chain stores. However, with such a large business, he must have been very busy with work and business dealings. As Xu Dayuan had said, didn’t someone try to contact them?
"This is interesting. The guy is 39, unmarried, the business isn’t small, his parents are no longer around, and he’s missing for so long without anyone reporting the disappearance or trying to get in touch? Alright, it’s getting late, you guys can knock off now. Push for the autopsy tomorrow, and find out the cause of death.
I’ll look into these two people. They left no cellular or identity information behind. The killer is calculating, with strong counter-surveillance skills. If that traveler hadn’t found the death scene, it’s likely the body would have ended up as an unidentified skeleton."
Zhou Ning nodded.
"Indeed, but I see no common ground between these two people, so the investigation will probably not be easy."
Xu Dayuan sighed and grabbed Liu Yongxin.
"Make a call to Dayao City first, then I’ll give them a call. Let’s start on both ends. If all else fails, I’ll have Mr. Bai take a team over there."
Zhou Ning didn’t waste words and dialed Mr. Huang Youdao’s cell phone, which he answered after just two rings.
"Director Zhou, what brings you to call me? Are you coming over for a visit?"
Zhou Ning cleared his throat, feeling a bit embarrassed, but seeing Xu Dayuan looking at him hopefully, he quickly said:
"Mr. Huang, good evening. I’m calling for your help with a case we have. The deceased is from Dayao City. According to our examination, he’s been dead for a month now, but no one has reported it."
Hearing it was a case, Mr. Huang immediately became more serious.
"Don’t rush, tell me the details. I don’t have any cases right now, I will fully cooperate."
Zhou Ning was very grateful for this attitude.
"... That’s pretty much the situation. Our Director Xu will call you later. We will also send someone over, but we need your help, especially about his ex-wife and family members. It’s easier for you to inquire locally about that."
"Don’t worry. I saw Director Xu’s number on WeChat that you sent me, and I will call him. I’ll ask him directly about how to proceed. Next time there’s anything like this, just tell us directly. All right, come visit with Doctor Liu whenever you have the time. I won’t chit-chat now; I’m going to call Director Xu."
Zhou Ning hung up the phone, and Xu Dayuan clicked his tongue several times, looking envious. ƒrēewebnovel.com
"I’ve realized that I should mention to Mr. Hu that we need to treat you guys better. Going out on a case, you manage to make so many connections. In the future, if there’s anything, it really gives you an edge."
Liu Yongxin gave him a look.
"I’m saying, boss, you’re getting sour using my apprentice, right?"
Xu Dayuan patted Zhou Ning’s shoulder and grinned happily.
"Without you and Zhou Xiaozhou, I wouldn’t have been transferred to the city bureau, nor would I have become the director. We’d just be looking at the major cases and sighing, without any hope of solving them. I ought to offer three sticks of incense morning and evening for having you—what else could you want me to do?"
Taken aback, Liu Yongxin didn’t know how to respond to that remark.
At that moment, Xu Dayuan’s phone rang. Zhou Ning, holding back a laugh, pointed at Xu Dayuan’s phone.
"Go on, boss, looks like Mr. Huang’s call has come in."
Xu Dayuan also laughed and waved at everyone.
"Alright, keep talking, I’ve got to get busy."
With that, he turned and left the autopsy room, then answered the call.
"Mr. Huang, hello, Xu Dayuan speaking."
"Hello Director Xu, I just spoke with Director Zhou. You’re investigating a deceased person’s identity, correct? How can I assist you from here, just assign the tasks directly!"
"No, I would truly feel embarrassed."
"Director Xu, let me tell you, though I have never met you, the cases you’ve solved have shocked us all. I have great admiration for you. Let’s not be too formal, just tell me what you need. While it’s still not too late, I’ll start organizing the work right now."
"That’s very kind, I won’t beat around the bush then. I need to check Zhang Wannian’s social relationships. I’ve already had Zhou Ning send you his information. The autopsy has been done, and according to Zhou Ning’s estimate, he has been dead for over a month.
We’ve also looked into it just now: Zhang Wannian survived liver cancer surgery almost a year ago, ran an agricultural products company, his son Zhang Chunhao attends a boarding middle school in Dayao City, and his daughter Zhang Chunyan studies in the provincial capital. These aspects make us think his ex-wife, Zhang Mei, should be in the provincial capital as well.
I’ll send people there to investigate, but I still need your help to confirm some things—like the current operational status of their company, and whether his parents or son haven’t been in touch with him, if there are any debts or enmities.
And the reasons for his divorce, as well as information about his ex-wife. Knowing these will help my next steps in the investigation. I’m having a team head to Dayao City right now, and they will contact you upon arrival to coordinate with your investigation."
Mr. Huang Youdao seemed to be taking notes.
"Okay, Director Xu, I will dispatch someone to investigate right away."
After hanging up the phone, Xu Dayuan had already walked into the Criminal Police Brigade’s office, with Mr. Bai trotting to catch up from behind.
"Boss, am I going to Dayao City?"
Xu Dayuan stopped in his tracks and glanced at Mr. Bai. That glance made Mr. Bai shrink his neck and swallow back the words he had wanted to say.
"You can go, but can you take your brain with you?"
Mr. Bai’s face lit up with joy.
"Yes, I must take my brain with me. I know what the leader is worried about—you fear I might act rashly and impulsively. Rest assured, I’ve made progress too. I’ll definitely cooperate with the investigation thoroughly to clarify Zhang Wannian’s social relations. Let’s not talk about other things—for his name alone, I think it’s what his parents hoped for him, to grow up healthy and live a life of peace."
Xu Dayuan nodded.
"Then pick a few people yourself and set off right now. You heard the phone call I made just now. These are the key points: one is the ex-wife and child, ascertain their life trajectories and timelines for the past two months.
Another is the company’s operational status—is there any external debt or enemies? While you’re on the road, you should contact Mr. Huang to check the deceased Zhang Wannian’s call records. The unmentioned point is the reason for the divorce—could there be a third party or an illegitimate child."
Mr. Bai nodded repeatedly.
"Got it, I’ll select people and then head to Dayao City immediately."
Mr. Bai ran off excitedly. Xu Dayuan heaved a sigh. In fact, he had seen Mr. Bai’s progress. Compared to Mr. Zeng, although this guy could be a bit foolish at times, he was quite reliable when it came to work, and his progress these past months had been good.
Just as he was thinking, his phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw it was a call from Liu Yufei and quickly answered.
"Yufei, how’s it going?"
"Leader, I’m at the health resort. I spoke with the people at the front desk, and they have a strong impression of Zhang Wannian. Previously, a driver took care of Zhang Wannian, but he left some time around the last National Day, allegedly dismissed by Zhang Wannian.
The front desk found this driver’s phone number for me. I have sent someone to look for him, and he will soon be brought to the station. Also, I looked into the surveillance footage. Zhang Wannian was seen driving a black Camry; I’ve sent you a screenshot of the license plate number. The last time he appeared on surveillance was on November 30, 2012, at 8:33 AM.
He appeared to be driving off alone, wearing the same outfit found at the death scene—a mountaineering jacket with black and orange stripes. The surveillance was too far to see details clearly, but there was no sign of him being accompanied by someone. Upon leaving, he drove towards the southeast direction from the health resort."
Xu Dayuan paused. If November 30, 2012, was the last time Zhang Wannian was caught on surveillance, then his time of death might have been shortly after.
"Good work. Is the driver a local from Qindao?"
"Yes, the front desk gave me the driver’s number. I just called and had a chat with him. They call him a driver, but to be precise, he’s more like a caretaker. He started working here in March last year to take care of Zhang Wannian.
But Zhang Wannian had a peculiar character and many incomprehensible demands. He was dismissed because he was not satisfied with the meal arrangement during the National Day period. Apparently, Zhang Wannian felt that the eggs served to him were not free-range eggs.
I asked the front desk at the health resort. Zhang Wannian’s meals were all customized from the hotel opposite, prepared three times a day according to a pre-established menu, with many ingredients procured separately."
"You can come back. By the way, have samples been taken at the scene? Was anything discovered inside the room?"
"I was just about to tell you about that. His room was very messy, but when he left, there was a ’Do Not Disturb’ sign hanging on the door. Moreover, he had a requirement—not to enter his room unless he called for room service.
The health resort thought he might have returned to his hometown, so they didn’t pay much attention. After all, when he had left previously, he wouldn’t check out or allow anyone else to enter, just suspending room service."
"So, before he left, he had already informed the hotel across from the health resort?"
"Yes, I had someone ask the hotel opposite, and they confirmed the incoming call number—it was from Zhang Wannian’s room. The time was 7:01 AM on November 30, 2012, one and a half hours before he left the room, he called the hotel to tell them he wouldn’t need meals for a few days and would call if needed."
"How about his account settlement? Was there any outstanding debt?"
"There’s more than ten thousand in prepaid funds. He usually deposits fifty thousand at a time and tops up once it’s spent."
That amount caused Xu Dayuan to startle—even for medical treatment here, was it necessary to deposit so much just for meals?
"Wait a second, depositing so much—could it be that the deliveries he sometimes arranged were not just for one person’s meals?"
"I’m not sure, but when the hotel delivered lunch or dinner, there were generally four or five dishes and a soup, with rice, steamed buns, or dumplings. The menu varied weekly without repetition, and occasionally a few extra dishes were added. From what I’ve seen, these meals would be enough not for two or three people, but for four or five.
The hotel staff asked about these arrangements, and besides demanding many specific ingredients and seasonings, he never quibbled over price. They also said many people staying at the health resort do the same, even those who had pinched and scraped by in the first half of their lives but hoped to spend their last days a bit happier and more content."
Xu Dayuan sighed. That statement did make some sense.
"Alright, we’ll talk more when you get back. The driver must be arriving soon, right?"
"Leader, you must have psychic powers—I’ve just reached the parking lot. As for the driver, it looks like he’s just entered the first floor."
