Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 340: The Story of a Simp

Zhang Jianzhong’s story is simple. Using Zhang Hui’s words, it’s the story of a "licking dog".

Zheng Caixia, while working at the cotton factory, was young and beautiful, attracting many suitors.

Not only from the cotton factory but also from the neighboring food factory.

Zhang Jianzhong was one of them.

Moreover, he was the closest to success back then, having even met Zheng Caixia’s parents. Otherwise, her parents wouldn’t have provided information about him.

In the interrogation room, Zhang Jianzhong asked for a cigarette.

"I didn’t mean to kill them both."

"But, that money, I’ve asked for it several times, and Zheng Caixia just wouldn’t give it to me."

"Did Zhao Ming know about your relationship?"

"He only knew that Zheng Caixia owed me money, but he didn’t know about our past relationship."

"Tell us about the details of the crime."

"What’s there to say; I’ve been caught. Will I be sentenced to death?"

Zhang Hui shook his head internally. Murder and arson, not being sentenced to death would be unlikely, especially for two lives.

"Sentencing is not up to us, but if you cooperate positively, we will write it clearly in the files, and it might help you gain some leniency."

Hearing "leniency," a light shone in Zhang Jianzhong’s eyes.

"Okay, I’ll confess."

"Three days ago, I went to their house once. At that time, Zhao Ming was not at home, only Zheng Caixia was there.

"We argued, and she said I shouldn’t even think about the 50,000 yuan. When I lent it to her, it was in cash, with no transfer records or IOUs. She said I could try to find whomever I wanted, or report it wherever I liked."

"50,000 yuan is enough for me to save up for two or three years. During this year’s Spring Festival, my family arranged a marriage for me. The other party wanted a dowry of 300,000 yuan. My family saved, and with loans, we gathered 250,000 yuan, just 50,000 short."

"If she had given me this 50,000 yuan, wouldn’t I have been able to get married? Couldn’t we each have gone our separate ways peacefully?"

"Since she wouldn’t give me the money, she can’t blame me."

"Early this morning..."

Zhang Jianzhong willingly explained the whole sequence of events and all the details of the murder.

"Why did you slash Zheng Caixia so many times after killing her?"

"Why? If it weren’t for her, would I have needed to kill anyone? Without hacking her a few times, I couldn’t quell my rage!"

"After killing Zheng Caixia, Zhao still wasn’t dead. I asked him where the money was hidden."

"The guy refused to tell me no matter what, so I rummaged through everything myself: cabinets and tables, but found nothing."

"Finally, I discovered a safe in a drawer, pried it open, and found 300,000 yuan in cash inside."

"That much money?"

Zhang Jianzhong nodded: "I didn’t expect them to have so much money. It must have been the dowry given when they got married."

"Our houses aren’t far apart, both in the same town, and the dowry there is 300,000 yuan."

"Then, fearing you’d find me, I set a fire."

"Where did you get the gasoline?"

"Last night, I siphoned it from my brother-in-law’s motorcycle."

"What about the electric bike?"

"After setting the fire, I rode the electric bike away and left it in my brother-in-law’s yard. This morning, I sold it to a second-hand electric bike dealer."

The interrogation went very smoothly. It’s rare for a suspect, once caught, to remain silent.

Most of those who do are eventually persuaded by the preliminary investigators’ patience and relentlessness.

Crime Scene Investigation Office.

"This guy’s quite pitiable. He’s known Zheng Caixia for a long time and spent a lot on her, only to end up with nothing."

Zhang Hui discussed the case while smoking Lu Chuan’s Chunghwa cigarette.

"This is the legendary ’licking dog,’ licking and licking, ending up with nothing."

Old Bai, despite being older, saw things clearly.

Zhang Hui resonated deeply, remembering the goddess he had pursued back then.

He had been a loyal ’licking dog’ for two years and ended up with nothing but a ’nice guy card.’

Thinking back now, it’s kind of ridiculous.

"I really don’t know why I found it so sweet back then."

"Let’s not talk about it. Anyway, the case is solved. By the way, is the college entrance exam happening today? Did Old Yang go to the examination site?"

"Yes, these couple of days. Once the exam is over, Old Yang will be free."

Lu Chuan offered Zhang Hui another cigarette: "Brother Hui, are you free at noon?"

"Nothing going on, why?"

"If you’re free, should we practice at the training room?"

"Practice?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hui shook his head like a rattle drum.

In the last skill competition across the entire department, Lu Chuan had taken first place in fingerprint identification, combat, and shooting.

After returning to the brigade, Zhang Hui had sparred with Lu Chuan in the training room twice.

The results were memorable, with two experiences of being tossed onto his back.

Should he practice again now?

Zhang Hui enjoyed fighting but did not enjoy being beaten.

"I just remembered that there’s a bit of material left unhandled in Zhang Jianzhong’s case. I need to work on it this afternoon so that it can be transferred sooner."

With that, Zhang Hui hurried off without even bothering to finish his Chunghwa.

Lu Chuan shook his head: "Old Bai, does Zhang Hui really have something to do?"

Old Bai, known for his honesty, said, "I think he does."

"Alright then," Lu Chuan checked the time, seeing it was not yet ten, meaning there was still some time before getting off work: "I’m going for a stroll."

Old Bai nodded. Liu Guodong hadn’t rested well yesterday and was already dozing on the sofa.

No one expected the arson case suspect to be captured so quickly.

Many were prepared for a long battle, and a few parents of children taking the college entrance exam were ready to skip the exam.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes, and surprisingly, they caught the suspect that very day.

As Lu Chuan wandered through the building, he unconsciously headed toward the Forensics Office.

"Lu, you’re here? Have a seat, have a seat."

Wang Changjiang was in good spirits, having completed the autopsy yesterday morning, so no late nights were needed.

Shen Yan was sorting through related reports and filing materials.

Seeing Lu Chuan enter, she smiled brightly.

Lu Chuan took out a Chunghwa, lit one for Wang Changjiang but didn’t smoke it himself, leaving the newly unsealed pack on Wang Changjiang’s desk.

There’s a benefit to being an old comrade: a keen eye.

"Shen, take care of Lu. I’m going over to Ren Qiang’s; I’ve got something to do."

"Why are you here?"

Once Wang Changjiang left, Forensic Doctor Shen leaned birdlike against Lu Chuan.

"Nothing much, just passing by. Let’s go out for lunch later."

Holding Forensic Doctor Shen’s hand, they sat on the sofa, deciding what to eat for lunch.

"Something light; after yesterday’s autopsy, I’ve had enough of the roasted meat smell for a day."

Lu Chuan nodded in deep agreement. The crime scene’s roasted meat smell was also quite strong yesterday.

"Alright, let’s go for a farmer’s salad."

The two chatted happily, heedless of whether discussing roasted meat in the Forensics Office was inappropriate.