You're supposed to be a security officer, what case are you solving?

Chapter 14: The Location of the Murder! (Please add to your favorites and read on.)
In front of a shed deep in the cornfield, a cat held a pen cap in its mouth, a notebook in one hand, and a pen in the other, jotting down questions in the notebook.

Zheng Kang asked the woman in the tall rubber boots in front of him, "So, you saw the woman in the photo pass by the opposite paddy field before 7:30 pm on May 30th?"

The woman pointed to a cement pole in the middle of the cornfield, with a loudspeaker mounted on top of it.

She replied, "Yes, I remember this woman was wearing a pleated skirt. I saw this skirt in the department store; it was quite fashionable."

The woman walked very fast; just a short while after she passed, the 7:30 news broadcast started playing over the loudspeaker.

Zheng Kang narrowed his eyes slightly: "Think carefully, besides the pleated skirt, what else was she wearing on her upper body? Was anyone following her?"

The woman shook her head: "I was bent over working at the time and didn't pay much attention. Why don't you ask Old Li? I remember Old Li was working right next to the edge of the field."

"Where are they?"

The woman pointed to the back of the shed: "He's composting fertilizer. Shall I go and call him over?"

Zheng Kang nodded: "Okay, thank you for your help."

A moment later, a gaunt old man emerged from behind the shed. He wore a tattered straw hat with moldy edges, the brim pulled low to cover his eyes, and carried a long-handled iron shovel on his shoulder.

He was only 1.6 meters tall, hunched over, and had a sallow complexion. He stared warily at Zheng Kang and the other man without saying a word.

The woman followed him and introduced, "Old Li, these two officers from the Public Security Bureau have something to ask you."

Zheng Kang stepped forward and showed him Huang Cuicui's photo: "Brother, did you see this woman around 7 pm the day before yesterday?"

Old Li squinted slightly, glanced at it, and shook his head, saying, "Never seen it before."

Before Zheng Kang could say anything, the woman interrupted, "Old Li, don't lie. I clearly saw you staring at this woman."

Old Li put down the shovel on his shoulder, supported himself on the shovel handle with both hands, and smiled憨厚ly: "I didn't see his face."

Zheng Kang asked, "What was this woman wearing on her upper body at the time?"

Old Li rolled his eyes and recalled, "It seemed to be a blue denim jacket, and a white skirt on the bottom."

Cat stopped writing and glanced at him: "Are you sure?"

"probably."

"What do you mean 'should'? You have to tell the truth!" Maozi was a little annoyed. If the statement was recorded incorrectly, it would not only affect the judgment of the case, but also cause discrepancies with the chain of evidence afterward, which would lead to criticism.

Old Li frowned and said, "Then don't ask me, I don't know anything!"

He shouldered the shovel and strode towards the back of the house, cursing under his breath.

"You..." Cat tried to call out to him.

Zheng Kang pulled him aside: "Alright, when we get back to the station, go ask Cao Qiang if his wife has this outfit, then it will match up."

Then, the two returned to the ridge of the field, trudging through the mud, and ran towards the cotton mill primary school on the slope.

They returned to their previous spot, but Yang Jinwen was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is that kid?" Cat asked, brushing his wet hair aside.

Zheng Kang was also annoyed. He looked around and muttered, "What a troublesome fellow!"

Just then, Huang Mao stepped out of a small shop, holding an old popsicle in his hand, which he was licking with his tongue.

Zheng Kang pulled him in front of him: "Where's the guy who was with you?" Huang Mao swallowed and replied: "The policeman just told me to wait for you here. He said he was going to check out the old town."

"Damn it!" Zheng Kang cursed, hands on his hips.

Cat took the opportunity to kick Yang Jinwen: "Uncle Zheng, look at this, your new apprentice is completely disorganized and undisciplined on his first day on the job, and he really doesn't respect you at all."

Zheng Kang glanced at him: "You're no better!"

The cat was speechless, then pouted, "At least I'm very obedient."

“What good is listening to me? You’ll be awesome if you solve this case.” Zheng Kang said impatiently, “I’ll go find that kid and you follow behind to find eyewitnesses.”

The cat shrugged, looking reluctant: "Alright then."

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The rain continued to fall, and dark clouds gathered again in the sky, brewing a downpour.

Guided by the memories in her mind, Yang Jinwen walked along the route Huang Cuicui had taken home.

There were passersby along the way, and on the evening of May 30th, the weather was hot, and there were many people cooling off and taking a stroll on the street. The murderer would not dare to commit murder in such a place, let alone take the body away openly.

The closer you get to the old town, the more deserted the roads become. There are no shops on either side, and the buildings are dilapidated and deserted.

At this moment, Yang Jinwen stood on a slope, looking down at a cluster of low houses with black tiles and red bricks below, his eyes slightly narrowed.

This is the most likely scene where Huang Cuicui was murdered!

Yang Jinwen could also see the Yanzi River and the An'nan Steel Plant not far away, with two towering chimneys in the plant constantly emitting white smoke into the low-hanging sky.

In my previous life, the special task force was delayed in its investigation due to the crackdown on organized crime in June, which led to the demolition of this place. The murder scene that was later speculated to be the site of the crime could not be verified.

Yang Jinwen took a deep breath and stepped down the slope.

There is only one main road leading to the banks of the Yanzi River. Less than 300 meters along the river, there is a stone bridge spanning the two banks, and Huang Cuicui's home is on the opposite bank.

However, this area is not small. Both sides of the main road are houses that are about to be demolished. Some buildings have collapsed, some roof beams have fallen down, and the road is piled with broken bricks and rubble.

The main road was originally paved with bluestone slabs, but they have been pried off, leaving the ground uneven and pitted.

There are irrigation ditches on both sides, and rainwater flowing down the slope flows down the ditches and into the Swallow River.

Huang Cuicui passed by here on the evening of May 30th.

It's about three kilometers from the cotton mill to here. Huang Cuicui walks quickly, and she can arrive here after 7:30.

Because it was summer, and it wasn't completely dark yet, the only way the killer could attack her was to run out from the buildings on either side!
With this in mind, Yang Jinwen turned and went into a house on the left, then searched room by room.

There was no one here, only the sound of water flowing in the street outside. Because it was a rainy day, the sky was gloomy and the light inside the house was dim.

The people who lived here have long since moved away; the dilapidated chairs, benches, beds, and cabinets are a sight to behold, a scene of utter decay.

Yang Jinwen focused intently on searching for suspicious traces, his figure moving back and forth among the dilapidated houses.

As he walked to a shrine in the middle of the street, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps splashing in puddles. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned around...

(End of this chapter)