Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife-Chapter 170: What Did You Say Your Sister’s Name Was?

"Do you think anyone could fake their own death?"

When Chen Xiao blurted out those words, Lin Xi was completely flabbergasted.

Fake death?

Who would fake their death?

In Chen Yuan's family, besides Chen Xianzu who got into college, who else could possibly fake their death in front of them?

Even though the thought of Chen Xianzu crossed his mind, the words "fake death" were still shocking!

"It doesn't seem likely, does it? Even Dad was there at the time, and many villagers witnessed it themselves!"

Chen Xiao also wondered if he had caught Zhang Xian's paranoia.

When Zhang Xian was investigating cases, he focused on suspecting things that others wouldn't suspect or dare to suspect.

Isn't the idea he just came up with exactly that?

But when Chen Xiao thought of this possibility, he could feel his heart pounding.

The feeling was so strong, he couldn't suppress it at all.

He immediately ran to Old Chen and asked, "Dad, did you see it yourself when Chen Xianzu passed in '92?"

Old Chen looked puzzled, "I saw it. At that time, my relationship with Chen Yuan wasn't so strained. We were family, so of course, I was one of the first to go when his nephew died."

"What was the scene like when you arrived?"

"The room was filled with cries. Chen Yuan was genuinely heartbroken," Old Chen replied seriously.

Chen Xiao frowned, "Did anyone touch him at the time?"

"Yes, Chen Yuan pulled him up; his body was already stiff!"

"How long had it been by then?"

"Not sure, it seemed like Chen Yuan found out he'd died when he went to call him for breakfast that morning. When I got there, his pants were soiled with excrement and urine. Judging by the time, he was probably brought back to the room after dark, and breakfast was around seven or eight in the morning."

"About twelve hours!" Chen Xiao said, and Old Chen nodded. Seeing that Chen Xiao had no more questions, he continued to move the tobacco and alcohol.

Chen Xiao stood there, contemplating the various reactions of the body after death.

After death, rigor mortis starts within 1-3 hours, spreads throughout the body in 4-5 hours, and peaks in 12-15 hours, with all joints stiffening.

Moreover, after death, incontinence of bowel and bladder occurs.

Both points completely match the post-death state.

Chen Xiao thought for a moment and continued asking Old Chen, "Were you there when they changed his clothes?"

"No, very few could bear to see that tragedy. Moreover, Xianzu was an unmarried young man, so no one dared to stay in the room for long. You might not remember, but during that time, as soon as it got dark in the village, everyone would shut their doors tight; no one dared to go out."

"He died on the same day, buried the next, that's the custom. A young man's untimely death isn't ceremoniously handled."

After listening, Chen Xiao nodded silently. Old Chen glanced at him and asked, "Why are you asking about all this? Xianzu's been gone for years!"

Chen Xiao couldn't say he suspected Chen Xianzu of faking his death. If he said it, Old Chen would probably think he'd lost his mind over the case.

Nonetheless, although he didn't gain any new information from Old Chen, Chen Xiao's doubts remained, and a past impulse surfaced.

He remembered when looking for Si Ying, he had excavated Li Ruomei's grave.

And now, his suspicion could similarly be verified by opening Chen Xianzu's coffin for a look.

But could the two situations be the same?

Absolutely not!

Chen Xianzu's death was witnessed by countless people.

Moreover, Chen Xiao had no reason to dig up someone's grave!

Even if Chen Xiao was a police officer, even if he had reached a leadership position, that was something he couldn't do.

Unless there was evidence!

Otherwise, if they opened it and found Chen Xianzu lying there, not only would Chen Xiao be affected, but even Old Chen and the whole family would be scorned by the folks in Songshanping forever!

Exhuming a grave is something you can't even do once!

Chen Xiao dismissed the thought, but didn't put his suspicions to rest.

Just then, Li Hui finally showed up.

He appeared at Chen Xiao's door, looking exhausted.

Seeing him, Chen Xiao asked, "Captain Li, you look like you've been on the run all night?"

"Exactly. After talking to those teachers last night, I didn't get any information, but I wasn't satisfied. So, I got a list of some classmates who were close to Cheng Qing, and I spent the whole night running around Songtan Town, meeting them."

"And did you find anything out?"

Li Hui shook his head, "No, no progress at all."

"You only asked his middle school classmates? Didn't ask the high school ones?" Chen Xiao inquired again.

Li Hui smiled bitterly, "How could I make such a rookie mistake? We talked to Cheng Qing's middle school teachers to rule out identity theft."

"But we found that idea was wrong, so of course, I also contacted the high school ones."

Chen Xiao nodded, "That's really strange then. Could it be that this LX is so mysterious?"

"Yeah… it feels like that person doesn't exist. I spent the whole night investigating. I went and asked all of Cheng Qing's classmates who still live in Lanshan County, no matter what time it was, but none of them had any memory of LX."

Li Hui couldn't help but suggest, "Could LX not be a person at all? Maybe it's the codename for some small group? And the pen Cheng Qing had was just a memento from that group?"

"Don't ask me, haven't you already checked? Besides, who gives a commemorative pen, like a Hero brand fountain pen, as a keepsake?"

Li Hui chuckled, "That's true!"

"But have you found anything on your side?!" Li Hui asked eagerly.

Chen Xiao didn't intend to hide anything from Li Hui since he was leading the investigation of this case.

So, he told Li Hui about the dog-related matters that Han Zai and Zhang Xian had brought up.

Hearing this, Li Hui's face changed dramatically, "Damn, you guys are like monsters, coming up with such possibilities?"

"It's all speculation without evidence; it's just wild guessing."

"Where to find evidence? It's been over a decade, and the important people have all passed away!"

Chen Xiao made a sound of acknowledgment, internally debating whether to voice his other suspicion.

But after considering it, Chen Xiao decided not to trouble Li Hui.

Li Hui was, in reality, a very capable detective, and it wouldn't be right to drag him down.

The main issue was that Chen Xiao didn't know Li Hui well enough.

If he turned out to be a detective with a strong sense of adventure, then once he found out, Li Hui would surely take some action.

After all, detectives with an adventurous spirit have a notable trait: they'll do just about anything to solve a case.

Even if it means losing their job, they'll do it!

Just then, Li Hui's phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Li Hui reluctantly picked up, "What's with the constant calls? Didn't I say I'd find a chance to treat Teacher Xiao to a meal? I'm really busy right now, can you not bother me with your trivial issues?"

Hearing this, Chen Xiao knew the call was definitely from Li Hui's sister.

But as he was about to step aside to give Li Hui some space, he suddenly heard Li Hui snap.

"Li Xue, that's enough! Since childhood, when have I not humored you? You're grown up now; handle your own matters, I don't have time to babysit you!"

With that, Li Hui was about to hang up the phone.

But just as he was about to do so, Chen Xiao grabbed his phone.

Startled, Li Hui looked at Chen Xiao and asked, "What's up?"

"What did you say… what's your sister's name again?!"