Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 247: Closer to the Truth

At the same time.

Gongzi County, Haizhou City.

Wu Family Village is backed by Mao’er Mountain in Gongzi County, and has been inhabited by the Wu family for generations, making up ninety percent of the village’s population.

The few families with different surnames are also somehow related to the villagers.

Wu Jiangtao is over fifty years old this year, but his health isn’t very robust.

A serious illness three years ago almost claimed his life; if it hadn’t been for his son borrowing money from classmates, Wu Jiangtao might have died that year.

Now, Wu Jiangtao is considered a prominent figure in the village.

Because he has a good son.

"Old Wu, you’re amazing, this two-story building will be finished this year, right?"

"Yes, the foundation has settled quite well, we’ll start construction in a couple of days, and we should be able to move in by the Beginning of Autumn."

"You’ve raised a great son, bringing back hundreds of thousands for you to build a house. Sigh... my kid is working out there, and I still have to support him..."

"Take it slow, take it slow, it’ll get better..."

Wu Jiangtao was chatting with a neighbor when a black sedan approached from afar.

"Could it be your son coming back?"

The neighbor saw the black sedan from a distance, and it looked exactly like the one Wu Rui drove back last year.

But Wu Jiangtao knew it shouldn’t be his son.

Recently, Wu Rui hadn’t called home, and whenever he called, his phone was turned off. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

How could he suddenly return?

The car Zhang Xiao drove was indeed a Honda Accord, as the team had few cars suitable for long-distance travel, this old Accord was everyone’s first choice for such trips.

Wu Jiangtao didn’t see his son; Zhang Xiao got out of the car instead.

"Police?"

Accompanying Zhang Xiao was an officer from the local police station.

"Old Wu, this is a leader from the city bureau. They need to ask you some questions, please cooperate."

Before coming to Wu Jiangtao’s house, Zhang Xiao had already checked in with the village committee about the situation.

"Oh, sure, sure, what do you want to ask?"

Having farmed his whole life, the only time Wu Jiangtao had been to the police station was when his son went to university and changed his residency.

This was the second time in his life dealing with the police.

"We’d like to ask about your son."

"My son?"

Old Wu felt a buzz in his head, and even his vision went black for a moment.

"My son... did something happen to him?"

The police visiting and asking about his son, what else could it be but his son being in trouble?

Besides, Wu Jiangtao had his suspicions.

His son suddenly brought home four hundred thousand last year and drove a car just like the police officer’s.

His son said the car was called an Accord, but Wu Jiangtao didn’t know it, although it seemed the town mayor drove such a car.

Just after graduating, his son earned so much money?

Paying off the medical debts and giving him an additional four hundred thousand to build a house?

"He’s... he’s not in... trouble, is he?"

Wu Jiangtao’s face was pale, and he was stuttering.

"Did he... commit fraud?"

"I still have over three hundred thousand; we won’t build the house. We’ll... we’ll return the money, and I’ll borrow the rest!"

Alas, the heart of a caring parent.

"Sir, you’re overthinking. Your son didn’t do anything wrong. We’re just here to gather some information, nothing else, so don’t worry."

"Truly... really?"

There was still disbelief in Wu Jiangtao’s eyes: "My... son... really didn’t do anything wrong?"

Zhang Xiao paused; it was uncertain whether Wu Rui was involved in anything, but likely, he hadn’t done anything wrong.

"Uncle Sixteen, don’t worry, the police came all the way from the city; they wouldn’t deceive you, would they?"

The speaker was Wu Hao, the village chief of Wu Family Village and a younger relative of Wu Jiangtao.

Hearing the village chief speak, Wu Jiangtao’s expression noticeably relaxed.

"When’s the last time Wu Rui contacted home?"

"About... over a month ago."

"Does he usually contact home often?"

"Not too often, usually calls about once a month, sometimes video calls with his mom."

"He didn’t come back for New Year, said there was too much going on at work."

"But he mailed three thousand yuan home."

Wu Hao had just mentioned this to Zhang Xiao.

In the half-year since Wu Rui graduated, he paid off the ten thousand yuan for his father’s medical expenses, gave forty thousand yuan for the house, and sent three thousand yuan for New Year’s.

No child in Wu Family Village was as successful or dutiful as Wu Rui.

That’s also why Old Wu’s standing in the village had risen.

As the saying goes, respect the father for thirty years, then respect the son for the next thirty.

"Did Wu Rui mention anything about his girlfriend to the family?"

"Ah, yes, he mentioned it to his mother once. Last year, when he sent money home, he said he’d bring her to see us during New Year."

"But he didn’t come back, saying work was busy."

Speaking of this, Old Wu’s expression softened: "Our family’s old house was made of earth and had only two big rooms. I figured there would be no place for her to stay, so I thought it’d be better to wait until the new house was built."

"When did Wu Rui send money home?"

"October, I think..."

8:30 PM.

Criminal Investigation Team conference room.

Investigators from various departments gathered once more.

"Let’s hear the updates from everyone’s investigations," Qin Yong chaired the meeting.

"Yes," Ren Qiang gestured to Zhang Hui: "Zhang Hui, you go first."

Zhang Hui nodded and stood to report.

"We’ve conducted a detailed investigation into Wu Rui’s university social relationships."

"Sun Biao, a graduate student at Haizhou City Normal University, was Wu Rui’s university classmate and roommate, and they were quite close."

"According to Sun Biao, Wu Rui had a crush on Chen Lili in college but never confessed."

"...In December last year, Wu Rui paid back the ten thousand yuan that Sun Biao lent him two years ago for his father’s medical treatment."

"On February 19th, Sun Biao last saw Wu Rui when Wu Rui drove Zhao Wenjun Company’s Accord sedan to take Sun Biao to the Ocean Restaurant for dinner."

"Ocean Restaurant?"

Qin Yong clearly knew about this restaurant.

Zhang Hui nodded affirmatively: "Yes, the one known for its high prices."

Of course, this so-called high price can vary depending on who you ask.

Lu Chuan thought it was tolerable, just that the taste was average, so after visiting once, he never returned.

"Since then, Sun Biao hasn’t seen Wu Rui again."

"My findings are similar."

Zhang Xiao continued the report: "In October last year, which was a month after Wu Rui started working at Zhao Wenjun’s company, he sent forty thousand yuan home."

"Wu Rui didn’t return home for New Year but sent another three thousand yuan."

"Moreover, during New Year, Wu Rui originally promised to bring his girlfriend home."

"Although Wu Rui’s parents don’t know the name of his girlfriend, they know she’s a classmate from university."

Regarding Wu Rui’s investigation, we should say there’s significant progress.

What makes a teaching student preparing for the civil service earn over fifty thousand yuan in Zhao Wenjun’s company in just half a year?

Qin Yong glanced at Sun Jun.

They were following up on the situation with Chen Lili.