SFTD -Chapter 44 Mystery of the Dry Bones (Part 8)

With that said, Cui Hong became frightened. She instantly wilted, tears and snot streaming down her face.

“Don’t! I did it, alright? Don’t scare me!”

Zhou Hai raised a hand to stop Captain Hu, then leaned forward slightly.

“Then tell us—what were you searching for?”

Cui Hong’s lips trembled as she looked at them. After struggling for a long while, she finally spoke.

“What could there possibly be in that broken house? I was just looking for—looking for my family’s property deed!”

“The property certificate?”

Secretary Bian from the village committee froze.

“That house was transferred into Hongyu’s name during the collective registration this year. What would you need the deed for?”

“Hmph, she’s just a girl. Sooner or later she’ll get married! And her father still needs us to support him. That house was ours to begin with. What’s wrong with taking back my own house?
Even if Yu Hongyu comes back, I’m not afraid. Worst case, we go to court!” Cui Hong shouted stubbornly.

Captain Hu glanced at Secretary Bian.

“What’s going on here? Explain clearly.”

“Oh! Here’s the situation. Last year, our Bianjia Village collected back all the old collective land certificates.

That’s when we discovered that Hongyu’s house had been registered under Yu Jianrui’s name. Later, after asking the old village clerk, we learned why.

Back when the records were first made, Hongyu’s mother had run away, and her father couldn’t write and wasn’t mentally sound, so the village committee used Yu Jianrui’s name instead.

This year, when the new certificates were issued, we changed the ownership to Yu Hongyu’s name.

Because of that, Jianrui’s wife even came to the village office and made a scene over it, didn’t she?”

Cui Hong no longer acted aggressively like before. She lowered her head silently, tacitly admitting Secretary Bian’s explanation.

At that moment, Xu Biao and Xiao Liang came down from upstairs and shook their heads at Zhou Hai.

Zhou Hai frowned slightly.

Why had Cui Hong chosen to search for the property deed only after something happened to Yu Hongyu?

Although Secretary Bian hadn’t gone into detail, Zhou Hai could already tell that Yu Hongyu herself probably wasn’t someone easy to deal with.

Wasn’t Cui Hong afraid that Yu Hongyu would come back and settle accounts with her later?

Or… had she already known Yu Hongyu was dead?

That there was no possibility of her ever returning to cause trouble?

If so, was Yu Hongyu’s death connected to Cui Hong?

And what about Yu Hongyu’s father? They still hadn’t seen him.

Could it be that…

The more Zhou Hai investigated, the more complicated the case became.

At that moment, Captain Hu continued questioning her.

“Do you know Cai Guodong? He has some trouble with his right leg. He owns an auto repair shop near the entrance to Highway 321.”

Secretary Bian nodded from the side.

“Guodong, the mechanic, is from our village. His house is on the east side of the village, about two streets from here.”

Cui Hong said nothing, but everyone clearly noticed her body trembling.

Zhou Hai stopped Captain Hu before he could continue speaking. On the paper in Hu’s hand, he quickly wrote two words:

“Bring her in.”

Captain Hu folded the paper, then waved his hand decisively.

“Yu Yongliang, bring Cui Hong back for questioning.”

The group stood and headed outside. Yu Yongliang and three detectives escorted Cui Hong out.

Despite all her earlier bluster, she had clearly lost her nerve now, continuously begging for mercy.

“Officer! Government officials! Please don’t arrest me! I didn’t do anything! Really, I didn’t do anything!”

Secretary Bian looked completely bewildered.

“Th-this… what exactly happened?”

Captain Hu lowered his voice.

“Yu Hongyu is dead. We’re investigating the case. If Cui Hong’s children come back, your village committee should help take care of them for now.”

“And we’ll leave some officers here. Have someone guide them while they search for Yu Hongyu’s father. We’re worried he may have been harmed as well.”

One shocking piece of information after another nearly scared Secretary Bian senseless.

He had never imagined the matter was this serious. He had only thought Cui Hong had gotten into an argument with someone, or perhaps worked together with Bian Mingyong’s family to do something unfair to Yu Hongyu.

He quickly took the officers who remained behind and went to search for Old Yu. After all, he was fairly familiar with both the surrounding area and Old Yu’s habits.

Captain Hu prepared to return to headquarters with his men, but Zhou Hai stopped him.

“Since we’re already here, let’s go back to the scene and take another look. Maybe we’ll find some new clues. At this point, Cai Guodong and Bian Mingyong are looking increasingly suspicious. You should also hurry and apply for a search warrant. Once Dr. Nan sends over the high-magnification images, we’ll have preliminary evidence. That way, we won’t need to wait for the warrant and won’t waste any time.”

Captain Hu gratefully patted Zhou Hai on the shoulder.

“Forensic Doctor Zhou, I won’t waste words thanking you. After all, our Duping rarely encounters cases like this. We simply lack experience. This time has truly been a valuable lesson for us! Then I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll have Da Li’s group accompany you.”

Zhou Hai waved a hand and led the second team into Da Li’s vehicle. Several police cars roared toward the highway entrance.

This time, Zhou Hai did not immediately enter the greenery west of the ramp.

Instead, he stood by the guardrail, carefully observing the surrounding layout.

There was only a seven- or eight-meter stretch where the guardrail stood less than a meter above the greenery below. Beyond that point, the height sharply increased to over one and a half meters, making it nearly impossible to climb over easily.

The only functioning surveillance camera was positioned directly behind him.

If someone lived nearby, they would definitely know about this camera. It wasn’t exactly a secret that people often entered the greenery to relieve themselves.

Since there was only one obvious entrance, was there perhaps another exit?

While Zhou Hai observed the area, Xu Biao had already begun explaining to the officers what evidence they should search for.

“First: bloody handprints. The killer stabbed the victim, and blood spattered at the primary crime scene. There must’ve been blood on the killer too.

Second: a hammer or screwdriver.

Third: clothing or traces of burning.”

Just after listing those three points, Zhou Hai turned around.

“Fourth: search the greenery carefully and see whether there’s another way out.

That’s everything. Fengzi, distribute gloves and masks.

The four of us will each lead three officers. We’ll conduct a grid search.”

Searching outdoors in such scorching, humid weather—especially inside the suffocating greenery beside the ramp—was practically torture.

Even so, not a single person complained.

Da Li had followed Zhou Hai the entire day.

Zhou Hai’s ability and judgment had earned Da Li’s genuine admiration, so he obeyed Zhou Hai’s instructions without hesitation.

The four groups spread out and began a sweeping search.

It sounded simple enough, but actually carrying it out was agonizing.

Within minutes, sweat poured into their eyes, while mosquitoes and flies attacked them like mad.

Everyone’s clothes were soaked through. Their shoes felt as though they could pour out ounces of sweat.

Time passed second by second.

Every section of guardrail was carefully inspected. Trees, bushes, piles of dead grass—everything was searched one by one.

Just when even Zhou Hai was beginning to lose hope, Xu Biao’s shrill shout suddenly rang out.

“Hai-zi, get over here!”

Hearing that cry, Zhou Hai nearly laughed.

Because he knew Xu Biao must have found something.

He quickly led several investigators toward the sound.

When they reached the southernmost edge of the greenery, they saw Xu Biao crouching beside a guardrail with several others.

The green metal mesh beside the rail had been cut open, leaving a gap.

Panting slightly, Zhou Hai strode over quickly.

“What did you find?”