Eyes that are the same as those of evil

Chapter 14 The Case of Soul-Seeking at the Coffin 3
The investigation was only halfway through when the Zhao family got into an argument with fellow villagers who had come to help in the funeral procession.

Because Zhao Man had also thought of the points of joint crime, but couldn't figure out who the most likely suspect was, she simply said that the entire funeral procession was an accomplice and had taken money from her father over the years.

The rest of the Zhao family did not defend him.

Helping others has backfired, with several villagers slamming their fists on the table and starting to curse. In the heat of the moment, they're tearing away any pretense of decency.

"We were hired by Zhao Li! We have no grudge against him, why would we kill him?!"

“You Zhao family members, except for Zhao Li, are all no good! You all pretend to be filial sons, but have you ever served Zhao Chunsheng even for a single day, except when you come back to collect money? Zhao Li gives us money because he knows you're no good, and he asked us to look after Zhao Chunsheng! I even carried his chamber pot for him. Did Zhao Xu and his siblings ever do that?!”

"You heartless bastards! I bet it was your whole family who killed Zhao Li, all for his money! Without the old man keeping you in check, without your filial son making money, do you think you could have good jobs and live a good life?!"

He roared until his face turned red and his neck bulged. The person at the front was about to slap the Zhao family members in the face, which frightened the children so much that they started crying again.

Tan Ming and the others quickly stopped them.

The three Zhao siblings looked grim, but they still tried to refute these claims, though their explanations seemed weak and unconvincing in front of so many people in the know.

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment: "It seems more likely that he was murdered."

The problem is, there is no evidence.

The traces at the crime scene, the testimonies of everyone present, and the wounds on the body could not prove that Zhao Li's death was orchestrated, nor were there any clues pointing to any suspect.

The stalemate continued until evening, at which point the Criminal Investigation Team 2 had no choice but to leave.

After leaving someone to look after Zhao Man, Tan Ming got into the car with a furrowed brow. Just as he was about to ask about the results of the psychological counseling for Zhao Man, his eyes swept across the rearview mirror and he saw a patch of green. In the twilight that was about to darken, he was startled and his eyelids twitched.

"...What are you doing here?" he asked, turning his head.

Tan Jia, pressing the eye sockets he was shaping with a sculpting knife, said without looking up, "I've always been here."

"you……"

"No. I came with my aunt and didn't go down to join in the fun at all."

Tan Ming turned back and started the car: "Don't come to places like this next time. If you don't want to stay at home, buy a ticket and go to the park."

She would like to avoid places like this.

Tan Jia didn't say anything, just nodded and agreed, continuing his clay sculpting journey.

It takes more than an hour to get back from Shiyuan Village, and it's already dark when I get home.

Tan Ming couldn't go home; he had to continue the investigation with the Criminal Investigation Team Two. Before leaving, he looked at Tan Jia, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Tan Jia pretended not to see it, stuck his rather human-like dough figurine into the base to secure it, sat down to eat, and silently told himself to mind his own business.

Anyway, the deceased in the case is different from the deceased in her dream, so even if she turns herself in, she won't be able to provide any clues.

……

That night, Tan Jia did not become the murderer again.

But she didn't sleep well either. Her fragmented dreams were a jumbled mess, and she slept restlessly. When she woke up, she was still groggy, with a few strands of hair sticking up and scratching her chin, causing an annoying itch.

After finishing her brunch, she didn't want to stay at home anymore, so she changed into her workout clothes and went for a run.

This was the first time she had gone out on her own since she came back. In the staff quarters, a few elderly men and women were sunbathing by the exercise equipment. When they saw her, they turned their heads to see her off like a row of elderly sunflowers, muttering something like "So green it's sickening."

She walked by without changing her expression, pulling her hat brim down a little.

Jiujiang's urban development is really suitable for retirement. The weather is nice and the air is fresh. Parks and greenways are everywhere along the river, and there are lots of people cycling, walking, and elderly people and children.

As she ran, she thought about her life abroad and tried to forget the dream from the night before. There were fewer people abroad, and on her way to the park, which was several kilometers away, she wasn't worried about bumping into people. Her only worry was that a robber might suddenly appear out of nowhere and hold a knife to her back.

I wonder if someone will break in through the window if the house has been empty for a long time, and whether my parents have been eating and sleeping properly while they're busy... Hmm? Tan Jia stopped and stood in front of a small cart.

I've never encountered the temptation of food stalls while running abroad.

"Hello, what is this?" she asked the person paying next to her.

Whenever someone looks at her, their gaze first sweeps over her hair before they say, "Hot mixed rice noodles, Xiushui whistle."

"Give me a whistle." She reached for her wallet.

There were quite a few people buying snacks, and the owner had to pack them up and hand them out one by one, while also having to call out and ask questions.

When it was her turn, she had only asked once when the customer closest to her pointed at her and said to the owner, "It's that one, the one with the green North Star."

"...Thank you, it's mine."

She took the takeout box; she couldn't run anymore, so she decided to take a walk and eat as she went.

The bouncy meatballs filled with savory filling are indeed quite delicious.

As she received her third whistle, she happened to walk to the crossroads and saw two police cars speeding past. Tan Ming's resolute profile flashed by in an instant.

Suppressing her desire to savor the food, she frowned as she watched the police car drive away, and the dream resurfaced.

Is there any new progress in the Zhao family's case?

-

When the criminal investigation team arrived at Shiyuan Village, Zhao Mingqian had already been missing for three hours.

Such a short time, and the fact that he is an adult who enjoys a life of pleasure, is hardly considered progress in the case. However, some members of the Zhao family believe that he fled to avoid punishment.

Especially Zhao Man, who originally had no specific suspects, seemed to have an outlet for all her suspicions once Zhao Mingqian disappeared.

"He must have run away because he felt guilty after killing my dad! The whole family was at my grandfather's funeral, and he always pretended to be a dutiful grandson. Even if his family looked down on him, he shouldn't have gone to a bar at a time like that. He was deliberately creating an alibi!"

"Bullshit! What good would it do for my Mingqian to do something like this? Tell me, how could he have killed someone when he wasn't even there? Zhao Man, don't be like a dog, biting anyone you can catch!" Zhao Mingqian's mother said shrilly.

Someone in the crowd said, "Wasn't his dad there at the time...?"

"Shut up! Don't try to pin this on my family!"

Having experienced so much in two days, the Zhao family is like a sealed soda bottle, ready to burst at the slightest friction.

The second wife's family quickly stopped them.

As the eldest grandson, Zhao Mingyue tried his best to persuade Zhao Man: "Manman, why don't you rest for a while? The police haven't found any evidence yet. If you keep suspecting everything, it will only make us a laughing stock. Besides, how could Mingqian possibly harm his uncle? He probably just went out to play."

Zhao Man cried so hard that her eyes were red and swollen, her lips were pale, and she looked like she was about to collapse.

Everyone was advising him that way. Anyway, Zhao Mingqian had messed up more than once or twice, so there was a high chance he would go out to play. Besides, who could stand being stared at by Zhao Man like he was a murderer?

But she ignored all advice and insisted that the police help investigate Zhao Mingqian's whereabouts.

Tan Ming and his group also had suspicions, so they followed Zhao Mingqian's whereabouts before he disappeared and investigated all the way.

Surprisingly, Zhao Mingqian was eventually found at Zhao Chunsheng's grave.

It should be said that it was Zhao Mingqian's corpse.

(End of this chapter)