Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife

Chen Xiao felt that Professor Yuan Keyu had very important reasons for going alone to the place called Xiaozhuang South Town.

But what was important about it?

Chen Xiao thought this was a question that everyone was curious about.

He was curious.

Qin Fei was curious.

Cao Xiuyuan was even more curious.

Moreover, once this question was explained, the case should see tremendous progress.

Similarly, the heaviness in Cao Xiuyuan’s expression would no longer be present.

Even though he looked quite relaxed.

So this question is difficult; it remains a secret until now.

Chen Xiao asked himself if he had some skills in solving cases, but he didn’t think he could outsmart the collective wisdom of the entire task force in such a short time.

This direction had to be set aside for now.

Otherwise, by the time this meal was over, Chen Xiao would surely have gained nothing.

However, he wasn’t in that much of a hurry.

Seeing Qin Fei had already gone through the case files, he pulled the document over to his side.

He decided to take another detailed look.

Starting from when the police received the case.

Qin Fei had said that the case was initially investigated by the local police station.

Because at the time, no one knew Professor Yuan Keyu’s identity.

This made sense.

However, from Professor Yuan Keyu’s resume, he was indeed someone who deserved more special treatment than the average person.

From the records in the local police station’s files, what Chen Xiao saw of the investigation was very routine.

They first checked up on Professor Yuan Keyu’s identity, while simultaneously investigating the crime scene.

According to the landlord’s account, Professor Yuan Keyu had just rented his apartment less than 30 hours before.

In other words, Yuan Keyu was murdered just a dozen hours after renting the apartment.

The landlord didn’t know Professor Yuan Keyu, and looking at his life trajectory, he had almost no interaction with Xiaozhuang South Town.

However, the landlord had asked Professor Yuan Keyu about his background, as he exuded a scholarly aura when standing before people.

The landlord happened to have a child who had just entered the third year of high school. In their interaction, the landlord even mentioned that if Professor Yuan Keyu decided to stay long-term, he could be hired to help tutor the child’s homework.

Of course, Professor Yuan Keyu refused.

But as Chen Xiao read this, a question came to mind, prompting him to look up at Cao Xiuyuan.

The latter noticed and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes:

"What did you think of? You shouldn’t have found any loopholes in such a short time, should you?"

Cao Xiuyuan asked.

Chen Xiao flipped back through the notes once more, and seeing something indeed seemed missing, he spoke:

"Why is there no record from the landlord’s kid who just entered the third year of high school?"

"Hmm? The landlord’s kid?" Cao Xiuyuan was very surprised.

Chen Xiao nodded and handed the notes recorded by the local police to Cao Xiuyuan:

"I don’t know what stage Captain Cao’s task force has reached in their investigation, nor what direction you’re heading in."

"But from the local police’s records, and the notes recorded by your task force, it seems neither asked the landlord’s kid who is in high school."

"Of course, I’m not suggesting anything suspicious about the kid. It’s just because Professor Yuan Keyu went to Xiaozhuang South Town—a place hardly appearing in his life’s trajectory."

"Why did he go there to rent a house? I think this should be a question each investigator considers."

"Everyone mentioned in the records has been questioned, yet nobody knows why Professor Yuan Keyu went to Xiaozhuang South Town. So excluding these people, who else might have contact with him but was overlooked?"

"Thinking it over, the only person appearing in the files but hasn’t been mentioned is the landlord’s child."

Cao Xiuyuan listened silently to Chen Xiao’s description.

Once finished, without much hesitation, Cao Xiuyuan picked up his phone and made a call.

"Hello, go immediately to the landlord’s house, find out which school his kid attends. Once you have the address, interview the kid separately, ask about...."

"Query if they met Professor Yuan Keyu, and if so, what was discussed. Remember, don’t use interrogation tactics; he’s still a student, and a high school senior no less, so tread carefully."

Having finished instructing, Cao Xiuyuan put down the phone, smiled, and looked at Chen Xiao:

"Though not sure if your direction will impact the case, I have to say, I’ve recognized your capability!"

"Your thinking is quite impressive!"

Chen Xiao simply grinned.

He knew this alone was not enough.

For consulting the student could yield two outcomes.

These outcomes do not share a fifty-fifty chance.

In Chen Xiao’s view, the likelihood of acquiring invalid information reached at least 90%.

While the likelihood of obtaining valid information, Chen Xiao estimated, was less than 10%.

And that was under an optimistic assumption.

Without focusing yet on what information the student might provide, Chen Xiao continued to flip through the case files.

The content investigated by the local police station was limited.

Because the news of Professor Yuan Keyu’s disappearance eventually spread.

Those tracking his movements found out he had gone to Xiaozhuang South Town.

Once informed, both sides naturally learned of Yuan Keyu’s true identity.

Thereafter, the provincial government personally established a task force to investigate the sealed room skinning case.

It was said that due to Professor Yuan’s death, both Xiaozhuang South Town and Zhushan City, to which it belonged, were in an uproar.

Chen Xiao understood the case’s gravity.

So he tried to analyze thoroughly the content of the files.

After setting aside the dishes from his completed meal of congee, Chen Xiao reached for a stick of fried dough and ate.

While eating, he checked the records of inquiries conducted by the task force with people related to Professor Yuan.

This record included those of Professor Yuan’s wife and daughter.

And also colleagues, plus another professor who invited him back.

All their records conveyed one message: Nobody expected Professor Yuan to go to Xiaozhuang South Town.

In fact, if not for the incident, nobody would have known of Xiaozhuang South Town’s existence.

Setting aside the possibility of someone lying, Chen Xiao could conclude that the matter Yuan Keyu handled at Xiaozhuang South Town, or perhaps the person he wished to meet, was the biggest secret of his life.

This secret was never shared, not even with his closest family members.

However, even though he hadn’t informed his family, the records documented one contradictory piece of information about Professor Yuan Keyu.

Which was that he traveled to Xiaozhuang South Town using normal transportation methods.

What are normal transportation methods?

He left without notifying anyone, yet the train ticket he used was purchased with his ID.

Then, using his ID, he bought a bus ticket, eventually arriving at Xiaozhuang South Town.

Professor Yuan Keyu personally owned a car.

And from the Provincial City in East Province to Xiaozhuang South Town was only over 300 kilometers, with 80% being highways.

Why did he leave suddenly, yet opt for the tedious train and bus route?!