Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 616 Investigation

"I'd better not watch it. I really can't muster the courage. I'm afraid I'll have nightmares when I get home tonight," Xiaowei said, trying to suppress the churning in his stomach.

Huang looked at Xiao Wei and said, "Don't forget, you're a police officer now. Since you chose to come here, you can't run away. Are you a man?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'm only staying for a year. I'm just temporary. Even the police chief said it's just a formality. What kind of policeman am I?"

Huang looked at Xiao Wei and said, "You're already here. Nobody forced you, right? You're sitting here, so you're a police officer. And a leading cadre at that."

Xiao Wei swallowed a few times, took a deep breath, and picked up the photos with trembling hands. His breathing was rapid. He gritted his teeth, flipped the photos over, and "Ugh," "Ugh," he finally couldn't hold back and started vomiting into the trash can.

Huang said, "Take your time vomiting. I'll explain the case and assign tasks to you once you can eat after looking at the photos. Time is limited; I'll give you an hour to adjust." He then got up and went to Director Lu's office.

The vomiting was so violent it was almost unbearable; tears and snot streamed down his face. Several policemen ran over to look, then covered their mouths, laughed, and walked away.

"Here, have some water to rinse your mouth." Director Lu brought over a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Xiao Wei. Xiao Wei took the water, gasped for breath, and slurred, "I can't control it."

Lu said, "It's normal. Everyone goes through this. The first time I went to the scene, I felt like I was going to throw up my gallbladder. You'll get used to it."

Xiao Wei struggled a few times before finally unscrewing the cap of the mineral water bottle. He rinsed his mouth, took a few big gulps, and finally felt a bit better. He said, "I'll treat you to a meal after this is over. Old Huang isn't allowed to go. I'll fight anyone who makes him go."

Huang, who was standing to the side, said, "You're getting cocky now. Go empty the trash can and wash it. Aren't you ashamed?"

Xiao Wei put down his bottle of mineral water, wiped away his tears, picked up the trash can and walked out, saying, "You wait, you surnamed Huang, I'm going to find a reason to beat you up." Huang and Lu chuckled behind Xiao Wei. Xiao Wei went to the water room to wash his face, emptied the trash can, and washed it.

Back in the office, Lu said, "This is a big deal. The higher-ups have set a deadline for solving the case. We and several other police stations in the surrounding area all have assignments. The three of us will lead the team down, while the instructor will stay behind."

Xiao Wei was taken aback: "Me? Lead a team? Who can I lead? And more importantly, what can I even do as a team leader?"

Lu said, "Then what can we do? There are only four of us leaders in the office. Can you just stay home? You can't escape this matter. The case is too big. If you don't go along with it, things will get complicated with your people's congress, understand?"

Xiao Wei said, "The key question is, what can I do?"

Huang said, "Let Xiao Liu be in your group. Why are you guys so upset about something?"

Xiao Wei said, "But..." Chief Lu said loudly, "Stand at attention. Zhang Wei, you are not at home now, this is the police station, you are a police officer now, obeying orders and following commands is your responsibility, and working hard to solve cases and complete tasks is your duty."

Xiao Wei took a breath and nodded.

Lu said, "Change into your police uniform and lead the team out immediately. Xiao Liu has the details of the mission."

Xiao Wei carefully collected the documents and photos on the table and asked, "How many people?"

Lu said, "A group of five, that's exactly one car. Your car will be requisitioned now, and I'll give you a gas voucher later."

Xiao Wei nodded, went to the basin next to him to wash his face again, and started changing his clothes.

When Xiao Wei changed his clothes and came outside, Xiao Liu and the other three policemen were already standing by his car, chatting and laughing. Xiao Liu said, "Look at this, our team gets better treatment than the bureau chief. Even the bureau chief can't ride in a car like this when he goes out."

A policeman nearby asked, "Where have you been traveling all this time? You've been on the move for over a month, haven't you?"

Xiao Liu said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you call that going out to play? I was carrying out a mission."

Xiao Wei walked over and said, "You guys were laughing at me behind my back just now, remember that? I'll get my revenge later."

Xiao Liu and the three policemen all laughed. Xiao Liu said, "Don't be embarrassed, everyone's been through this. Ask around, who hasn't thrown up? Him." Xiao Liu pointed to a short guy next to him and said, "He threw up on a corpse's hand and had to wash it for them. His face was so pale back then."

The shorter man said, "Come on, let's find a place to have a contest now."

Xiao Wei opened the car door, everyone got in and sat down, then Xiao Wei started the car and asked Xiao Liu, "Where are we going? What are we going to do?"

Xiao Liu said, "For the investigation, I'll just point you in the right direction. You wouldn't know the place name anyway, just turn right after you go out."

Xiao Wei shifted the car into Drive and slowly glided away, asking, "Do you know who the killer is?"

Xiao Liu said, "We've found some clues, but now we're just searching blindly to see if we can find anything. Solving cases also depends on luck. If you're lucky, you'll catch the case in a few tries, solve it, and get a reward. If you're unlucky, you won't find any clues, and you'll have worked for nothing. If the higher-ups get angry, everyone will get scolded. The leaders don't care about your specific situation. They can just slam their fists on the table and say, 'Solve the case in five days. If you can't solve it, you're incompetent.'"

Xiao Wei asked, "What if it breaks?"

The shorter guy said from behind, "That's because he's a brilliant commander."

Xiao Wei was stunned for a moment, then understood, shook his head and asked Xiao Liu, "Who? The murderer?"

Xiao Liu said, "It's all speculation right now; we can't be sure she's the killer yet. Her surname is Qin, Qin Aihua. The clue came from a pharmaceutical factory worker. Old Yang's family has a daughter who usually lives in the factory dormitory, but she's been missing for a while. Her roommates said that Qin Aihua is the most likely suspect."

Qin Aihua had been pursuing Yang Xuemei, but she never agreed to be with him. He even went to her dormitory with a knife, saying he would commit suicide if she didn't agree. He was a rather volatile person, a railway worker, and a former militia activist. He was skilled with firearms and had ample opportunities to handle firearms and ammunition.

Xiao Wei turned to look at Xiao Liu and said, "Even if the five of us find him, can we handle him? We're no match for him, right?"

The short man said, "One hand? You wish. More like one finger. People who've fought their way through piles of corpses won't even be able to lift their hands when facing one of them. Their murderous aura will overwhelm you."

Xiao Wei said, "Then what's the point of us going there to look for it?"

Xiao Liu lit a cigarette, threw the cigarette pack behind him, and said, "We're police officers. No matter who he is, he's broken the law, so we have to step in."

Xiao Wei asked, "When did Yang Xuemei disappear? Why did her sisters suspect Qin Aihua?"

Xiao Liu said, "She disappeared on the night of the shooting. That night, Yang Xuemei told her roommates that she had something to do at home, and then something happened at her house that night, and she disappeared too. Her roommates said that Qin Aihua must have kidnapped her. She was rather gentle and pretty, and I've seen her picture."

Xiao Wei asked, "So what are we looking for in this investigation?"

Xiao Liu said, "Let's look for clues in the places where Qin Aihua used to frequent. We might just run into her."

Xiao Wei glanced in the rearview mirror and said, "Be careful when you smoke, don't burn the seat."

Xiao Liu said, "Didn't you say you were going to replace this car?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'll give this car to the noodle factory manager. We also have a shareholder who feeds pigs, and I'll give this car to him."

Xiao Liu said, "Can I borrow that SUV for a few days when it arrives? That car is so awesome, I'm so envious, but I don't have the money. Damn it, one of your cars is more than my whole family could earn in a lifetime, it's infuriating."

The shorter man asked, "What kind of car? How much does it cost?"

Xiao Liu said, "The latest Mercedes SUV isn't even available in China yet. You have to buy a grey market one for $16. If it were a legitimate import, it would cost over four million. It's awesome, it's like a small house, it's so imposing."

Xiao Wei said, "It can't be that expensive, can it?"

Xiao Liu pointed in the direction to Xiao Wei and said, "Well, the Mercedes-Benz is still worth more than three million."

Xiao Wei said, "There seem to be quite a few people driving Mercedes-Benzes these days. If they're really that expensive, why is a Ferrari, which only costs around 700,000, causing such a sensation?"

Xiao Liu said, "It's not the same thing. How many people buy fully imported cars these days? They're all grey market imports, and most of them are secondhand. Besides, sports cars aren't practical; you can't haul cargo or carry passengers, you know? Those things are purely for showing off, and most people can't afford them. Turn left."

(End of this chapter)