Notes From A Criminal Investigation 5 Chapter 3

Du Yao is Yang Dudandan's mother. Deputy police station chief Qian Gang deeply regrets detaining her. Before making the penalty decision, he had a special talk with Du Yao, informing her of the facts, reasons, basis and rights she enjoys under the law. After saying all this, he also made a special explanation: "You both don't agree to mediation, and Xu Hai's parents are even more persistent. There is no way to mediate. We can only act in accordance with the law. I hope you can understand."

"It's not the police station's fault, I can understand that. But I have a question. After I'm detained, will there be a record in my file? If there is a record, will it affect my work? Will it have any impact on my children's schooling and work in the future?" Du Yao was an athlete and was stronger than the average woman. When she learned that the result could not be changed, she calmed down and considered the impact of administrative detention on herself and her family.

Qian Gang decided to speak his mind, saying: "Administrative detention will not leave a criminal record, which is mainly for criminal punishment. However, administrative detention will leave a file of administrative detention in the original case-handling unit, which will not have much impact on your personal life. If your children need political review when joining the army or taking the civil service examination, they may encounter obstacles."

"Will Yang Dudandan get into trouble?"

"You may run into trouble, but only in special cases where the political review requirements are strict."

"That means she will have fewer life choices, which is unfair to my daughter." Du Yao had never thought that a conflict after a chance encounter might affect Yang Dudandan's life, and the little ba5tard Xu Hai, who almost strangled her daughter to death, was not punished because he was under 14 years old. The police station only ordered his guardian to discipline him strictly. The old man who fought with her did not need to be detained because he was too old. The strong contrast made her feel uncomfortable and she wiped away her tears.

Seeing the strong woman in front of him crying, Qian Gang tried to persuade her: "This is life, sometimes it is really unfair. There are many rubbish people in society, whoever runs into them will be unlucky. If you run into such rubbish people, don't even think about competing with them. The result of the competition is that the clean people will jump into the garbage dump, and they will suffer no matter what."

These are the heartfelt words of a veteran police officer with many years of experience, and Qian Gang sincerely hopes that Du Yao can listen to them.

After get off work, Qian Gang took off his police uniform, changed into casual clothes, and went to Hu Xiu's house for dinner. He was in charge of criminal investigation at the police station, and had a good personal relationship with Li Chao and Li Dazui from the second criminal police squadron. Today, he received a call from Hu Xiu and went to Li Dazui's house for the New Year's reunion.

Hu Xiu still lives in the original home. There is a row of cabinets on the wall of the living room, on which are placed family photos. The photo was taken at a scenic spot. Li Chao, wearing a flowery dress, stood between his wife and daughter with an exaggerated expression. Today, his comrades-in-arms are celebrating the New Year at home. In the photo, Li Chao continues to have an exaggerated expression, overlooking the lively scene.

The visitors included Zhu Lin, former captain of the city's criminal police detachment, Ding Hao, captain of the Jiangyang District Criminal Police Brigade, Qian Gang, deputy director of the Jiangyang District Police Station, Owen, leader of the City Criminal Police Brigade's Serious Crime Unit, and Ma Bing and He Yong, police officers from the Second Squadron, as well as two young men, Li Qin and Huang Xiaojun, who were helping in the kitchen.

The braised lamb ribs were served in a large pot, steaming hot and emitting an alluring aroma. Hu Xiu brought two cold dishes and placed them on the table, saying, "Zhu Zhi, you host, drink first."

Zhu Lin, who used to be stern, became kind and gentle, and said cheerfully: "Xiao Hu, come along. There are enough dishes, don't make any more."

Hu Xiu said: "There are two more dishes, which will be ready soon. You can eat first."

After her husband's death, Hu Xiu had a difficult time. With the help of her comrades-in-arms such as Zhu Lin, Owen, Ding Hao, and Qian Gang, Hu Xiu finally managed to get through it. She wiped away her tears and took her daughter to face the new life without Li Chao. Now her daughter is in the third grade of junior high school, with excellent grades, and her life that had deviated from the normal track is back on track. Hu Xiu is grateful, and before the Spring Festival every year, she invites the comrades-in-arms who helped her family to have a reunion dinner at home.

Everyone sat together and chatted for a while. Zhu Lin said to Huang Xiaojun, who was helping to serve the dishes, "Xiaojun, what are your plans after graduation? Do you want to study for a master's degree or go to work?"

Huang Xiaojun put a plate of sliced   sausages on the table and said, "Uncle Zhu, Owen didn't go to graduate school, and I don't plan to do that either. I'm trying to get a job at the Jiangzhou Public Security Bureau as a criminal police officer."

Zhu Lin said earnestly: "Every profession has its top talents. Being a criminal policeman is only one of the choices in life. In fact, there are many more choices in life, each with its own excitement. If you are determined to be a criminal policeman, it is best to work in the police station for a few years and be fully familiar with the situation, so that your basic skills will be more solid. Owen has never worked in a police station, which is a major flaw. Sooner or later, he will have to make up for this lesson."

Qian Gang had worked in the police station for a long time and was full of complaints. He said, "Zhu Zhi, now is different from the past. It's better not to come to the police station if you can. All the hard work is done in the police station. It's not only exhausting, but also thankless. The higher authorities often hold people accountable. It's embarrassing to be the director for a few years without being punished. Captain Ding, are you short of manpower? I'm also an old criminal policeman. I will definitely not be lazy when I come to the criminal police brigade."

Ding Hao cupped his hands and said, "There are hundreds of people in the city. How can such a great god as Director Qian come to our small temple? Even if he wants to come, he will come to be the leader."
 
Owen is Li Dazui's apprentice. When he arrived at his master's house, he took the initiative to pour wine for everyone and listen to everyone's chat.

After Hu Xiu served the last dish, the reunion dinner officially began. Zhu Lin hosted the first glass of wine. Zhu Lin picked up the wine glass and looked at the people who came to Li Chao's home for the reunion. His expression was serious and his tone was heavy: "This glass of wine is first to toast the fallen comrades Li Chao, Huang Wei and Emma. They sacrificed heroically for the society and the people. This is not an exaggeration, but the truth. Life is priceless. If it is not for justice, who is willing to sacrifice their lives in peacetime? Let us first toast to the fallen heroes."

Hu Xiu was not good at drinking and rarely drank alcohol. But today he picked up the glass and drank the wine.

After finishing the first glass of wine, Zhu Lin said: "The first glass of wine is for the fallen comrades, and the second glass of wine is for the families of the comrades. The sacrifice of the heroes has left many regrets for their families, and this regret can never be made up. In addition to the emotional regret, the lives of the families have also been greatly affected. The family is no longer complete and the economy is in trouble, but life must go on and the career must be inherited. Everyone raise this glass of wine, all the families of the heroes wipe away their tears, hold their chests high, live a wonderful life, and let the deceased relatives rest in peace."

Hu Xiu's husband, Huang Xiaojun's father and Owen's fiancée all died heroically. They died in different years and different places. Apart from causing some shock within the public security system, people outside the public security system did not know about their sacrifices at all. Zhu Lin's heartfelt speech made the atmosphere solemn, and Owen, Hu Xiu and Huang Xiaojun all had tears in their eyes.

The third glass of wine is the reunion wine, and everyone raises their glasses again and wishes each other a happy new year.

After three glasses of wine, the atmosphere relaxed and everyone began to toast each other. During the toast, everyone forgot the unhappiness in life, smiled and wished everything would go well in the next year.

After drinking alone with Qian Gang, Ding Hao asked, "Yang Dudandan's mother had a fight with Xu Hai. How did they deal with it later?"

Qian Gang put down his wine glass, cursed himself first, and then said: "I just talked to Du Yao before I came. They fought each other on the street, and Grandpa Xu Hai insisted on 100,000 yuan in compensation. Du Yao didn't pay a penny. Both sides cursed each other and refused to mediate. As a result, they had to go through the procedures. Du Yao was detained, and Xu Hai walked out of the police station after being educated. Grandpa Xu Hai is a weirdo. Anyone with a conscience would feel guilty when facing the girl's parents after his grandson's attempted r@pe. Not only did he not feel guilty at all, he also accused Yang Dudandan of being a rotten woman who seduced his grandson and asked Du Yao to pay 100,000 yuan before he would mediate. I don't know if Grandpa Xu Hai is acting or really thinks so."

Ding Hao said: "I have come into contact with the Xu family when I was in the Second Brigade of the Detachment. Xu Hai's father, Xu Daguang, was a rude and unreasonable person. He opened a sand mining factory and employed many people from the original Xiangyang Brigade. He was the overlord of the urban village area. When the urban management arrived near the Xiangyang community, they would not go in at all and would take a detour."

Owen was particularly sensitive to anyone and anything related to Emma,   and asked, "What did Xu Hai do wrong again?"

"Same as before, molesting female classmates." Ding Hao briefly described what happened, and then said, "Beforehand, we conducted an investigation and interview. Xu Hai had boasted to his classmates many times that he was still four months away from turning fourteen, and he wanted to do something big in the last four months, because he would have no chance after turning fourteen. This ba5tard knows how to exploit loopholes in the law, and he will definitely commit crimes before he turns fourteen."

"Xu Hai is a pervert and he will definitely continue to bully female classmates. Fortunately, he and I are not in the same school, otherwise I would feel completely insecure." Li Qin, who is just in the third year of junior high school, empathized with Yang Dudandan's experience and was particularly angry.

Huang Xiaojun was puzzled and said, "Uncle Zhu, I agree with Li Qin. Xu Hai will definitely commit crimes again. Why can't the Criminal Police Brigade take precautions in advance?"

Zhu Lin is about to retire, and is particularly patient with the younger generation. He said: "From a global perspective, it is correct and important for the public security, procuratorate, courts and justice departments to jointly prevent crime. But for us investigators, we must abandon the idea of   preventing crime. Investigators are facing crimes that have already occurred or are in progress, and investigators need to take action at this time. However, it is very important for investigators not to investigate and admonish people who have not committed crimes. If they do so, over time, things will change from quantitative changes to qualitative changes, and investigator corruption will arise. This is a matter of experience, and everyone should take it as a warning. How investigators take action, when to take action, and how serious the action is are very particular and test the wisdom of investigators."

When he said the last few words, he turned his eyes to Huang Xiaojun and Owen.

Huang Xiaojun had no actual work experience and was confused by Zhu Lin's warning. Owen, on the other hand, had more insights and was concentrating on thinking. His father was one of the most famous entrepreneurs in Shannan Province. This identity brought him some conveniences, but also increased the difficulty of integrating into the group. Many investigators in the serious crime team still regarded him as another kind of person in their hearts. But the ice melted little by little. At least most of the investigators in Hu Xiu's family forgot that Owen's father was Hou Guolong, and regarded him as a comrade-in-arms and friend.

After dinner, Zhu Lin, Ding Hao and others stayed at Hu Xiu's house to play mahjong, which was also a regular activity when Li Chao was still alive. Frontline investigators are busy all year round, and taking time out to play a few rounds of mahjong before the Spring Festival is a rare leisure time.

Owen and Huang Xiaojun did not stay to play mahjong, but walked home. When they were alone together, Huang Xiaojun did not hide anything and said, "Brother Owen, since you knew that Xu Hai would commit more crimes, why didn't you control him in advance? I didn't understand what Uncle Zhu said just now. It is a foregone conclusion that Xu Hai will continue to commit crimes. Can we just watch and watch?"

Owen thought for a moment and said, "Based on facts and guided by the law, this is not just talk. Investigators' investigative behavior has strict procedures and tracing systems, and we cannot do whatever we think we should do. What is the reason for monitoring Xu Hai? It is just that we suspect that he will continue to commit crimes. This reason is not justifiable and no leader will agree to it. Moreover, during the Spring Festival, there are many police and non-police activities. All units are short of manpower and cannot spare police force to monitor, not to mention that this kind of monitoring is still against the rules. More importantly, investigators must not cross the line when exercising their investigative powers. Crossing the line often violates the rules. We have learned profound lessons in this regard. Society has a bright side, a dark side, and a gray side. You will slowly experience it after you start working."
 
Huang Xiaojun said: "What can we do? We can't just do nothing and watch the bad guys continue to do bad things."

Owen said: "We can still do something. For example, we can use the school's legal principal to provide targeted legal education to students, so that parents can be more vigilant. This can be done. For example, we can strengthen the comprehensive management of social security, increase the school's security force and increase monitoring equipment. This can also be done."

Huang Xiaojun always felt that these methods were just scratching the surface and could not control Xu Hai at all.

Owen also thought that the method he proposed was just scratching the surface. After breaking up with Huang Xiaojun, thinking about all the evil deeds committed by Xu Hai, he walked to Xiangyang Community as if possessed by a ghost.

Xiangyang Community is located in the east of the famous urban village in Jiangyang District. The urban village consists of a large area of   low-rise houses, with an open community at the easternmost end, named after the former Xiangyang Production Brigade, Xiangyang Community. Owen roughly located the mahjong parlor of Xu Hai's grandfather by the sound of mahjong. In general, there are only one person playing mahjong at a table, so the noise is not too loud, but the sound of mahjong in Xu's mahjong parlor is very obvious.

On the fourth floor, the door of the mahjong parlor was wide open, and four mahjong tables were in full swing, with idle people standing behind each table to watch the game. Owen could clearly see the details of the mahjong parlor without entering the door, so he went up one more floor and then went back downstairs.

After going downstairs, Owen carefully observed the community environment. Most of the street lights in the community were destroyed. There were three roads to enter and exit, and only one surveillance camera was found at the intersection of the middle road. Judging from the antiquity of the surveillance camera, it was uncertain whether it could operate normally.

Generally speaking, the infrastructure of urban villages is poor. There are few surveillance cameras near Xiangyang Community, and most of them are old models. Owen has an accurate three-dimensional map in his mind. When he observes the surroundings, the surveillance facilities fly into his mind and fall into the map. When he was memorizing the surveillance points near Xiangyang Community, his mind uncontrollably crossed the river of time and came to the back wall of the Normal School. In the process of investigating Du Wenli's case, he and Emma searched for surveillance cameras at the back wall of the Normal School countless times. It was an ordinary action at the time, but now it is unusually sweet in retrospect. It is precisely because of the unusual sweetness that it is more painful after losing it, and it is impossible to get rid of it.

On a cold night, the dim street lights illuminated a long figure walking alone on the street.

In Jiangzhou Hotel, Ning Ling accompanied Li Yongmei to drink tea in the tea room on the top floor. In the early morning, Owen had not returned yet. Li Yongmei asked: "Does Owen usually stay up this late?"

"Brother Owen comes home at irregular times, sometimes very late, sometimes very early. He is serious and you can't tell whether he is in a good mood or not. Although he comes home at irregular times, he is self-disciplined, has no bad habits, and doesn't have much of a hobby." Ning Ling described Owen's living habits as objectively as possible. After the description, she felt that the life of this rich second-generation was so monotonous that it made her sad.

"My son is so pitiful. He could have enjoyed a good life, but now his life is even worse than mine."

Li Yongmei just turned fifty. In her circle, many women at this age have maintained themselves very well, with skin as smooth as that of a thirty-year-old. Li Yongmei was basically bare-faced in front of Ning Ling. Her skin was OK, but a little haggard, with fine crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. Time is fair to everyone, whether you are an ordinary working class or a billionaire, whether you are a commoner or a powerful official, when it is time to age, you will definitely age and die.

Ning Ling knew why her godmother was sad, and she couldn't dissuade her, so she just stayed with her.

Gu Ying was sitting in the lobby. After greeting Owen who had just walked in, she quickly called Ning Ling to inform him of the news. As soon as Owen walked out of the elevator, a smiling waiter came over and invited him to the tea room.

After entering the tea room, he rubbed his cheeks hard, forced a smile, and said, "Mom, when did you come?" When his son came in, he had an inexplicable chill, which made Li Yongmei feel distressed, so distressed that she forgot her own troubles. She asked her son to sit down, and asked the waiter to bring a bowl of wontons, saying, "When you were a child, you especially liked to eat wontons in the canteen of Shi'an Factory, and you would eat a big bowl every time. The wontons in this restaurant are very good, five-star standard."

Owen ate a few wontons and said, "It tastes good, but not the same as the Shi'an Factory back then."

Li Yongmei gently patted the back of her son's hand and said, "You are still young, why do you always think about the past? You should look forward, otherwise you will never be happy in your life."

Owen didn't say anything and continued to eat wontons. Ning Ling stood up and prepared to find an excuse to leave.

"Ning Ling, you are not a outsider, don't go. Owen is here alone, you have to take care of him." Li Yongmei arranged Ning Ling in Jiangzhou Hotel. On the one hand, it was to arrange a trustworthy person in Jiangzhou. Lucas was an old entrepreneur and currently had too many resources. It was always a good thing to have an extra pair of eyes watching him. On the other hand, she wanted Ning Ling to be her daughter-in-law and intended to create opportunities for the two of them.

After eating the wontons and drinking the soup, the chill in Owen's body finally dissipated. Li Yongmei looked at her son lovingly, and in an instant she seemed to have returned to the hard and warm times of the Shi'an Factory. Looking at the gray temples of her handsome son, she thought of her own troubles and said, "There is no banquet that will not end in the world. Some banquets end earlier, and some banquets end later. Sooner or later, they have to end. This is destined. Son, you really don't want to dwell on the past. Leo and Emma are both good girls, but they are gone. Once they are gone, they can't come back, and they will never come back. You have to have your own life; you have to have someone who understands your pain and warmth; you have to have someone to carry on your family line. Tian Yuejin must love his daughter, there is no doubt about that. He has his own life now and is married to lawyer Xiao Yang. You have to learn from him and face the new life bravely."

Owen reached out for the tissue and wiped his mouth.

Li Yongmei sighed and said, "Your father and I used to be very loving, and we still have a good relationship now. To be honest, your father is considered to have good character among the bosses, and he doesn't have too many messy things. Even in a family like ours, your father has a mistress and has a son."
 
Owen said: "Mom, do you know about this?"

"You knew about this?" Li Yongmei finally told her son the sad thing that had been stuck in her heart for a long time, but she was surprised to see that her son's expression did not change much. After getting a positive answer, Li Yongmei burst into tears, "When did you know about this? You and Hou Guolong kept it a secret from me and treated me like a fool."

Ning Ling handed a tissue to Li Yongmei and patted her back gently.

Owen almost forgot what his mother looked like when she cried. The last time his mother cried was when his grandfather passed away ten years ago. He thought about it and decided to tell the truth. He said, "My father talked to me about it when I was injured and hospitalized for the first time. My job is dangerous, and my father doesn't want to let such a large fortune fall into the hands of others, so he wants to have a son."

Hearing this answer, Li Yongmei was a little surprised and said, "If I had known Hou Guolong had this idea, I would have given you another brother. Owen, you are stupid. You didn't tell your mother about this. Your father found someone else to have a son. This is to seize your property. Bah, dream on."

Owen asked tentatively: "Mom, will you divorce Dad?"

Li Yongmei glared at her son and said, "I'm not as stupid as you. I will never divorce you. Guolong Group has my hard work, and no one can take it away. Owen, this society is very cruel. You have to be tough, otherwise you will be trapped everywhere."

When Ning Ling heard her godmother's heartfelt words, she remembered that her father's restaurant was robbed and her family had fallen into poverty when she was a teenager. She was so sad that she couldn't help crying. She didn't want her godmother and Owen to find out that she had lost her composure, so she went to the bathroom, carefully wiped away her tears, and put on makeup.

"Since your father had another son, Guolong Group has changed. You now have a half-brother who is your competitor. Mom and you are of the same mind. I will not quarrel with you, let alone divorce your father. I will defend our position and prevent outsiders from taking advantage. This is the most important thing." Li Yongmei reached out and touched her son's face, and said, "Owen, it would be best if you could return to the group. I really don't want other women to enjoy the empire I worked so hard to build, and I don't want anyone to rob your property. After all, your mother is a woman, and her education level is not high. The group is too big, and I am now unable to do it."

At this moment, Owen was a little shaken and wanted to return to Guolong Group and stand beside his mother. But he did not rush to make a decision, nor did he change his will for the sake of filial piety. He stood up and sat beside his mother, put his arm around her shoulders, and said, "I can't promise now, Mom, give me some time."

"Can you give me a deadline?"

"Not yet."

"If you don't want to come back, then don't come back. As a mother, I have only one request: stay away from danger and don't fight to the death." Li Yongmei had no choice but to compromise in the face of her stubborn son.

Owen, Li Yongmei and Ning Ling chatted until 2 a.m., and then went to bed. They got up at 8 a.m. and had breakfast together. After breakfast, Li Yongmei and Ning Ling went downstairs with their suitcases.

Owen stood beside the car and said, "Mom, traveling to the plateau is a waste of oxygen, and it's nonsense to purify your soul."

Li Yongmei touched her son's gray hair again, snorted, and said, "If you don't listen to me, I won't listen to your advice. We are even now. I am going to the plateau, and Ning Ling will accompany me. If you really care about me, give me a call if you have anything to do."

The car started, and Owen seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Zhang Xiaotian and Ge Xiangdong's car entered the old criminal police building, and the two got out of the car and went to the information room on the third floor.

Owen had already prepared tea for the two of them and asked, "You got off the highway at nine o'clock, but you're only here now?"

"I'm sending Zhang Xiaoshu to her aunt's house. Junior brother, your fame has spread to the headquarters, and everyone in the headquarters calls you the little detective. I asked Director Luo for leave, and he said directly, "Going to the little detective again? Go ahead. If you go to other places, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to ask for leave." Zhang Xiaotian didn't wear a police uniform, still wearing a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Although it was the most common dress on the street, her aura was quite strong, and the most ordinary dress could also reveal the neatness that others didn't have.

Owen said self-deprecatingly: "With my little ability, how can I catch the attention of the big shots in the headquarters?"

"The reason why there are so many talented people in the headquarters is very simple. The captain is like an eagle, always keeping an eye on various places, and any talented people who emerge will be picked up and sent to the headquarters. You, the little detective, have caught the captain's eye, and you will be transferred up sooner or later. Lao Ge is now famous in the headquarters. Yesterday, Huzhou solved a vicious murder case, and the portrait provided by Lao Ge was almost exactly the same as the murderer. The 105 task force is amazing, and it has provided us with two talents. Lao Ge made these five portraits overnight, and he almost didn't sleep all night." Zhang Xiaotian raised his eyebrows when he smiled, and his spirits were high.

The 105 task force painstakingly collected photos of the five people when they were in high school, as well as current photos of the other four people except Julian, and handed them over to Ge Xiangdong to draw the portraits. Ge Xiangdong worked overtime and finally completed the five portraits last night. Ge Xiangdong took several scrolls from his backpack and unfolded them one by one. This is a portrait of a young man standing on Shi'an Bridge. The faces are the appearance of Julian, Jin Chuantang, Qin Yong, Zhang Jiahong, and Li Xiaofeng when they were in high school. The body shape and clothing have changed according to the current body shape of the person.

Everyone went to the detention center, where Wang Hua and Zhang Xiaotian interrogated Shi Qiuyang and Wang Yongqiang to identify the five portraits.

Shi Qiuyang was far away from Shi'an Bridge and could not see the murderer's face clearly, so he could not tell whether the murderer was similar to the five portraits.

Wang Yongqiang had a bald head and was noticeably thinner, but he was in good spirits. After looking at the portrait, he pointed and said, "This one is the closest. I can't quite remember the facial features, but the expression is very close. There's a fierce look on that person's face that looks like he's blaming the heavens and the earth, as if everyone in the world owes him something and he deserves a beating. This picture definitely looks like he deserves a beating."

Owen and Ge Xiangdong were watching the screen in the monitoring room.

Ge Xiangdong said: "This painting is of Julian. Julian used to be a rich second-generation. After his father committed suicide due to business failure, his classmates said that Julian had a stern face every day and liked to speak and act in an extreme way. I drew the expression of the murderer on the bridge based on this idea, and maybe I got it right. Unfortunately, Julian has been declared dead."
 
"Declaring death does not mean actual death. There are various possibilities, just like what happened to Du Qiang. The next focus of the task force is to investigate Julian's disappearance and use the DNA of Julian's immediate family members to track him down. As long as he committed a crime and left DNA, we can find the truth. If he is really dead or no longer commits crimes, it will be very difficult." Only then did Owen realize the dilemma that Ding Chenguang had faced. In the vast sea of   people, if the murderer no longer commits crimes or is really dead, then the real murderer will never be found, and the fragments of the truth will be submerged in the long river of history.

After the interrogation, the four met.

Zhang Xiaotian said: "Wang Yongqiang's days are numbered. He has gained a thorough understanding of life and this time he is telling the truth."

Wang Yongqiang's words were largely true, and Julian's suspicion immediately increased. In the early days of Leo's murder, there were no clues at all. After ten years of unremitting efforts, what happened on Shi'an Bridge that year was gradually restored, and there was hope of solving the case.

Owen said sincerely: "In order to determine whether Wang Yongqiang was lying, Senior Sister made a special trip to Jiangzhou. Thank you for your hard work."

Zhang Xiaotian raised the USB drive in his hand and said, "I am not just helping you. I have another purpose. Wang Yongqiang is my main research subject. When Wang Yongqiang's case is over, I should be able to publish a paper."

Ge Xiangdong said, "Let's get together tonight. Let's make it clear first. I'll treat you. Director Zhang, please ask Zhang Xiaoshu to come along. After dinner, we'll go sing and enjoy the singing of professional contestants. Lin Haijun will be returning to the headquarters after the Spring Festival. I'll invite him and Chen Haodang to come as well."

Wang Yongqiang identified Julian, which made Ge Xiangdong feel very accomplished and in a very happy mood. In addition to being happy, Ge Xiangdong organized the dinner to keep everyone connected. In the past two years, Ge Xiangdong's wife Shao Ping has established a connection with Guolong Group and has done a good business. The Spring Festival is coming soon, and inviting guests at this time is an effective way to deepen relationships.

Sure enough, Owen and Zhang Xiaotian both agreed to Ge Xiangdong's proposal.

At six o'clock in the evening, everyone gathered at the restaurant opened by the Shao family.

Chen Haodang joked, "Brother Lin is about to return to the headquarters. Today we will only talk about friendship, not the case. In the previous gatherings, Brother Lin and Owen always talked about the case whenever they got together, and the conversation was full of tension."

Lin Haijun's eyes often fell on Zhang Xiaotian opposite him, and he said self-deprecatingly: "To be honest, when I first came to Jiangzhou for a temporary assignment, I had a psychological advantage. Later, I found that there were many hidden talents in the grassroots units, especially the Jiangzhou Criminal Police Detachment, which was really full of strong players. I was slapped in the face by Owen twice, and it was a loud slap. This may be the meaning of my temporary assignment, to get familiar with the grassroots and understand the grassroots."

"Jiangzhou is the second largest city in Shannan Province. The Jiangzhou Criminal Police Detachment has always been the benchmark for criminal police in the province. You keep referring to it as a grassroots unit. This shows that you are not putting yourself in the right position. Do you really think that your ability to handle cases is better than Owen or Teng Pengfei? I don't think so." Zhang Xiaotian was not polite and spoke quickly to her suitor. This was her style that she had formed over a long period of time. Lin Haijun could accept it, so he was not angry.

Zhang Xiaoshu looked at her sister's colleagues curiously, her eyes sliding from Lin Haijun and Chen Haodang to Owen. Her eyes stayed on Owen's temples for a few seconds, then quickly slid away. She had heard about Owen's ten-year pursuit of the murderer and the sacrifice of his fiancée, and felt that this handsome young man in front of her was particularly affectionate and really pitiful.

Shao Ping sat next to Owen and did not talk about the family business, but talked about Ge Xiangdong's changes. She said: "Owen, I am actually very grateful to you. Old Ge's nickname used to be very ugly. Many colleagues used this nickname to tease him in front of me at parties. I was very disgusted, but when Old Ge heard this nickname, he not only looked indifferent, but also agreed happily, which made me even angrier. The change in this matter came after he joined the 105 special case team. He came back almost every day to read professional books on painting. His mental outlook was very different from usual. After being transferred to the Provincial Criminal General, I attended two parties. My colleagues called him Professor Ge. Although there was also a joke, it was a world of difference compared to Grandet. As a wife, I am still proud of my husband. He has no dignity, and I have no face."

Ge Xiangdong pretended to be angry and said, "You are talking about something irrelevant. I was called Grandet because of my family's business."

Shao Ping said: "You have indeed contributed to the family business, but I like you more the way you are now. This is what a man should be like."

After dinner, Ge Xiangdong arranged for everyone to sing.

During the meal, Zhang Xiaoshu was just an observer and basically didn't interrupt. When they arrived at the karaoke bar, Ge Xiangdong handed the microphone to Zhang Xiaoshu in the most exaggerated way, and she sang the first song.

Zhang Xiaoshu and her cousin Zhang Xiaotian both wore T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. Zhang Xiaotian looked smart and neat in this outfit, while Zhang Xiaoshu looked very gentle in the same clothes, with a hint of elegance in her softness.

She took the microphone handed to her by Ge Xiangdong and sang an old song "Hawthorn Tree" with ease: "The song gently ripples on the water at dusk. The factory in the twilight has already emitted flashes. The train is running fast, and the lights in the windows are brilliant. Two young men are waiting for me under the hawthorn tree. Oh, that lush hawthorn tree is full of white flowers. Why should our hawthorn tree be sad? When the loud whistle just stopped..."

Zhang Xiaoshu has a gentle temperament, but her song "Hawthorn Tree" is very grand, broad and deep, with passion hidden in the sadness.

Owen was immersed in the mood created by the song. After the song ended, he still sat on the sofa motionless until he was awakened by applause.

Before the Spring Festival, Jiangzhou City was generally safe. Although there were cases of burglary, robbery, and injury, there were no serious cases in the city that needed to be directly investigated by the Criminal Police Detachment.

On February 11, the Serious Crime Squad issued the Spring Festival duty roster.

Owen was on duty on the first and fourth day of the Chinese New Year, and on standby on the fifth day. Inspector Zhang Guoqiang was from another place, and his father was celebrating his 70th birthday during the Spring Festival. Owen took the initiative to take over Zhang Guoqiang's duty on the second and third day of the Chinese New Year. In this way, Owen was on duty on the first, second, third and fourth day of the Chinese New Year, and on standby on the fifth and sixth day of the Chinese New Year. Basically, he spent the entire Spring Festival at the unit.

When Zhang Guoqiang was leaving, he called and said, "I'm a little embarrassed that the team leader is taking over for me."
 
Owen sat in front of the computer, browsing the case reports from various places on the intranet, and casually said: "Don't be polite with me, I will go back home on the second day of the Chinese New Year, and I will stay alone the rest of the time." What he said was the truth. After Emma's death, the small family no longer existed, and Gaosen Villa became a restricted area. Except for the cleaners arranged by Ning Ling, no one went there. The original family has also been out of contact recently. Father Hou Guolong lies alone at the top of Guolong Group, always overlooking the Guolong Kingdom. Mother Li Yongmei, who used to arrange the reunion dinner, took Ning Ling on a trip. The family of three was beaten apart by life.

After browsing the intranet for a while, Owen took out the small notebook he carried with him and wrote down a message: "On February 11, a burglary occurred in Changqing County." Turning the notebook forward, "On February 10, there were two burglaries in Changgui County, and on February 8, there were two burglaries in Changrong County." He wrote in the notebook again: "Pay attention to burglary cases, observe the methods of committing the crime, and determine whether the cases can be linked for investigation."

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Executive Deputy Director Liu Jianghe received the New Year’s Eve security work plan.

Among the leaders of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation is generally relatively young and does not rank high in the Municipal Bureau leadership. Gong Jianmin is a newly promoted member of the Party Committee and deputy director, and ranks second from the bottom in the bureau. The second from the top is Executive Deputy Director Liu Jianghe, who is responsible for the Spring Festival security work.

The work plan for 2010 was not much different from that for 2009. From 7:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve to the early morning of the next day, more than 3,700 police officers, armed police officers and firefighters in Jiangzhou stayed at their posts and made every effort to ensure public security, traffic and fire safety.

Liu Jianghe looked through the police force allocation table, frowned, and asked, "Is Owen in charge of Jinjiang Temple?"

Lao Jiang from the command center said: "It seems that we have a lot of police force. We have withdrawn to the streets and deployed to key locations, but we are still short on time. Although there are many pilgrims at Jinjiang Temple, the order is generally good and there are no major problems."

Liu Jianghe picked up a pen and added the 105th Task Force to the Jinjiang Temple duty list, and specifically reminded them: "The 105th Task Force is a permanent organization without a staff. In addition to Zhu Lin, there are three other permanent personnel. Pay attention to unified dispatch."

Jinjiang Temple is a temple with a long history in Jiangzhou, located on the highest hillside in the urban area. On New Year's Eve, many pilgrims come to Jinjiang Temple to burn incense. The temple gate opens at 8:30 pm and does not close until 2:30 am the next day.

After receiving the notice, Zhou Tao, Wang Hua and Yi Sihua from the 105th Task Force set out for Jinjiang Temple at 7 pm.

Wang Hua, sitting in the co-pilot seat, complained: "The Spring Festival duty list issued a few days ago did not include us on duty at Jinjiang Temple. I thought I could get away with it this Spring Festival, but I didn't expect that I still have to be on duty."

Yi Sihua said: "Director Liu is very meticulous, he definitely added it."

"Owen is the leader of the Serious Cases Unit 1, and Owen is also the deputy leader of the 105th Special Investigation Unit. Director Liu has combined the 105th Special Investigation Unit and the Serious Cases Unit 1." Wang Hua habitually patted his belly and said, "The biggest gain from working in the 105th Special Investigation Unit is that my belly has become smaller. When I wore my duty uniform before, my belly was too big, so tight and ugly. I will also wear my duty uniform when I go home tonight, so that my wife can see my new look."