Attending ex-girlfriend's wedding, arresting the groom's officer on the spot

“I quickly washed the marks off my hands and body in the company warehouse, changed into clean clothes, and then sat in my office all night without sleeping.” Chen Gang’s eyes were vacant. “I kept thinking about what happened that night, feeling both scared and regretful, but what’s done is done, and there’s no use regretting it now. I thought that if you couldn’t find any evidence, I might be able to get away with it, but I didn’t expect you to find me so quickly and even found the leather shoes used in the crime and the iron rod stained with blood. With this evidence in front of me, I have no way to deny it.”

At this moment, a technician approached Zhang Hui with the preliminary investigation results and reported in a low voice: "Team Leader Zhang, the traces on the body in the brick kiln pit match Chen Gang's confession. The footprints around the pit, the fingerprints on the shovel, and the composition of the soil all correspond to Chen Gang and the physical evidence at the scene. We also found a hidden iron rod, hemp rope, and a bloodstained plastic bag in the corner of the company warehouse. The bloodstains on the iron rod were identified as belonging to Li Baochun, which perfectly matches the autopsy results." Zhang Hui nodded, his gaze returning to Chen Gang, and said seriously: "Chen Gang, all the details of your confession are consistent with our on-site investigation, autopsy, and physical evidence examination results. This shows that you have indeed truthfully confessed to the crime. But you must understand that intentional homicide is a serious criminal offense. You committed murder due to emotional disputes and extortion, taking another person's life, and you must bear the corresponding legal responsibility."

Chen Gang raised his head, his face streaked with tears of remorse, and bowed deeply to Zhang Hui: "I know I was wrong. I'm sorry to Li Baochun, I'm sorry to his family, and I'm sorry to my own family. I was confused for a moment and made an unforgivable mistake. I'm willing to accept the punishment of the law, even death." After saying this, he lowered his head, his shoulders trembling, unable to utter another word.

The police officers escorted Chen Gang back to the police car, preparing to return to the Criminal Investigation Division. Zhang Hui stood at the entrance of the logistics park, watching the police car disappear into the distance, and slowly let out a sigh of relief. Sunlight gradually pierced through the clouds, shining on the abandoned factory buildings and the surrounding paths, dispelling the morning chill and the gloom that had shrouded the case for days. The completion of the crime scene identification meant that all key evidence had been secured, forming a complete chain of evidence. From investigating interpersonal relationships to identifying the suspect, from arrest and interrogation to the crime scene identification, this nearly week-long battle had finally come to a successful conclusion.

Technical staff are taking final photos, extracting, and securing the traces and physical evidence at the scene to ensure that every detail can serve as valid evidence during the trial. Zhang Hui picked up the scene investigation report and Chen Gang's confession, checking them one by one to confirm that no crucial information had been missed. His mind replayed the entire process of the case: from the interruption of the Zhang Hai lead, to discovering the anomaly in Li Li's attire, to identifying Chen Gang and verifying the evidence—every step was fraught with challenges. Without the team members' tireless efforts and meticulous investigation, they might have missed crucial clues, allowing the murderer to escape justice.

Back at the Criminal Investigation Division, Zhang Hui immediately organized his team to organize the relevant materials from the crime scene identification. They compiled Chen Gang's confession, along with the crime scene investigation report, autopsy report, and physical evidence examination report, into a complete case file, ready to be transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution. In the office, the team members all wore long-awaited smiles. The continuous days of back-to-back, high-intensity work had finally paid off. Xiao Li, holding the organized materials, walked to Zhang Hui's side and said with a smile, "Captain Zhang, it's finally over. Now we can get a good night's sleep."

Looking at his team members' tired yet relieved faces, Zhang Hui nodded, a hint of relief in his voice: "Everyone has worked hard. Although the case has been solved, we can't let our guard down. We still need to cooperate with the procuratorate to ensure the trial is conducted properly and that the perpetrator receives the punishment he deserves." He paused, then added, "This case also serves as a reminder that in investigative work, no detail, however subtle, can be overlooked. Whether it's a detail Zhang Hai deliberately concealed or the inappropriate watch on Li Li, it could all become the key to solving the case. Only by maintaining a rigorous and meticulous attitude can we uncover the truth and uphold justice."

Meanwhile, Li Li received a call from the police informing her that Chen Gang had confessed to the entire crime and that the crime scene identification was complete. Sitting at home, holding her child, her face was filled with complex emotions—shame, regret, and a sense of relief. She knew that her illicit relationship with Chen Gang was the trigger for this tragedy. If she hadn't acted rashly and betrayed her family, perhaps the subsequent conflicts wouldn't have occurred, Li Baochun wouldn't have lost her life, and Chen Gang wouldn't have turned to crime. Because Li Li deliberately concealed crucial clues in the early stages of the case, the police gave her a severe reprimand. Although she didn't participate in the crime and wouldn't bear criminal responsibility, the trauma of this tragedy would stay with her for life.

Li Baochun's parents also arrived at the Criminal Investigation Division. When they learned that the case had been completely solved and the murderer would be brought to justice, the two elderly people were devastated, but also expressed their gratitude for the police's efficient work. "Thank you, thank you for giving my son justice," Li Baochun's father said, his voice trembling as he grasped Zhang Hui's hand. "Although Baochun had a bad temper and offended many people, he didn't deserve this fate. Now that the murderer has been found, we can finally give Baochun some closure." Looking at the two elderly people's grief, Zhang Hui felt a heavy weight in his heart and could only offer gentle words of comfort, hoping they could soon overcome their sorrow and start a new life.

Subsequently, the procuratorate reviewed and prosecuted Chen Gang for intentional homicide. During the trial, Chen Gang confessed to his crime and pleaded guilty in court. Taking into account the specific circumstances of the case, Chen Gang's attitude of admitting guilt, and relevant evidence, the court ultimately rendered a judgment according to law: Chen Gang was found guilty of intentional homicide and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, deprivation of political rights for life, and ordered to compensate Li Baochun's family for their corresponding economic losses. After the judgment took effect, Chen Gang was sent to prison to serve his sentence, paying a heavy price for his actions.

The abandoned factory buildings in the Oriental Logistics Park were demolished by the park's management shortly after the case was solved, replaced by a flat open space, as if the bloody tragedy had never happened. The scrap metal market on the outskirts of the city remained bustling, with vendors moving about, their shouts and the clanging of metal mingling together, restoring its former order. Zhang Hai's decoration company also continued to operate normally; he was completely free of the case's involvement. However, this experience also made him understand the importance of letting go of the past and no longer harboring resentment over childhood grudges. (End of Chapter)