"But...."

Listening to Lin Xi’s tone.

Chen Xiao couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised.

Did Lin Xi think of something again?

Chen Xiao found it strange, as Lin Xi didn’t immediately reply but instead started pondering.

No one interrupted her thoughts while she was deep in contemplation.

At this moment, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but look at the timeline written on the whiteboard again.

"But what?"

"But...how come the timing was so precise!"

"Unless Madman Zhang left Xiong Nan’s house, the culprit was following all along. Madman Zhang might have been led by that person to go to Xiaoxi’s house?"

"Yes, I once suspected if his eyesight was good enough to notice my car. But even if he had good eyesight, how could he leave that drawing on my car?"

"Xiaoxi and I even once thought that the drawing wasn’t of Zhang Tongtong but of Jiao Yue!"

"All of this was likely to deliberately attract me, leading me to the wrong path regarding Madman Zhang!"

"But besides confusing me, does it serve any other purpose? For instance, did he consider that Xiaoxi and I might guess this intention?"

"If he did consider it, then how could Madman Zhang’s disappearance achieve a perfect balance?"

"It could serve to confuse, even if seen through, continuing the investigation in that direction would still be wrong."

"Hmm...if it’s along the lines of revealing that Madman Zhang’s disappearance was a deliberate ruse, then who is most suspect? Naturally, it’s Xiong Nan! Xiong Nan was with Madman Zhang when they met Xiaoxi and me, plus Xiong Nan has favor with Madman Zhang, who might listen to him."

"For example, Xiong Nan might have instructed Madman Zhang to leave the drawing on my car or to leave home and disappear midway; he just needed to give the instructions, and no one would find out!"

Thinking of this, Chen Xiao left the office directly.

He didn’t interrupt Lin Xi’s thoughts nor did he say anything to the task force members.

He left the criminal investigation team and headed straight to the market.

Last night, Lin Xi had summoned Xiong Nan late at night to ask about matters concerning Madman Zhang.

But summons cannot keep a person at the criminal investigation team, so at this time either Xiong Nan is resting at home or still accompanying his father selling pork.

After arriving at the market, Chen Xiao first stood among the crowd looking for the Xiong Family’s stall.

Not long after, Chen Xiao saw Old Xiong standing alone at the stall.

Chen Xiao mistakenly thought Xiong Nan wasn’t there, but shortly after he saw Xiong Nan coming over carrying a butchered pig from another direction.

Looking at that pig, Chen Xiao’s gaze couldn’t help but flicker.

He could notice there were quite a few pork stalls throughout the market.

Yet, there were quite a few customers waiting at the Xiong Family’s pork stall, so much so that the neighboring stalls selling pork all wore disgruntled expressions.

Such situations generally arise because either the Xiong Family’s pork is of better quality, or they have some distinctive skills, or they conduct business honestly.

Observing the scene, Chen Xiao felt the skill factor was more likely.

Because those watching, buying vegetables were like an audience at a dramatic performance.

Chen Xiao moved closer and saw that Xiong Nan was skillfully dissecting an entire pig!

Of course, the pig’s blood had been drained, but selling pork ribs and front and hind legs each had their respective prices.

So, Xiong Family’s business was novel enough that even Chen Xiao found Xiong Nan had a sort of stress-relieving rhythm when separating the pork!

Moreover, Xiong Nan’s speed was incredibly fast, his knife skills likely practiced long ago, reaching close to perfection.

After Xiong Nan fully disassembled and separated the pork, quite a few customers began selecting purchases.

Old Xiong smiled broadly, looking at his son with pride.

Evidently, the idea and selling point of separating an entire pig on site was Xiong Nan’s idea.

Chen Xiao lined up at the end, and when it was his turn, Old Xiong instinctively greeted, "Boss, would you like some...? Oh, Officer Chen, is it you, here to buy groceries?"

Old Xiong’s words caught Xiong Nan’s attention, and he turned towards the pork stall with a smile:

"Officer Chen, hello!"

"Hello to you all, business is good." Chen Xiao gave a thumbs up.

Xiong Nan bashfully scratched his head: "Oh, it’s just a way to make a living."

"The idea of separating pork on site is yours, right? It’s a good idea, even though there are a lot of spectators, the pork clearly sells better than other places."

Xiong Nan chuckled: "Back then, seeing the fierce competition, I realized everyone had the same pork and prices, and though business is about honesty, when everyone is about the same, you have to come up with ways to improve business."

Chen Xiao nodded appreciatively: "Even I found the whole process fascinating, a complete set of procedures with a kind of stress-relieving feeling!"

Saying this, Chen Xiao didn’t continue on the topic of pork but directly said, "Xiong Nan, let’s chat elsewhere, let your dad carry on."

"Alright."

Xiong Nan didn’t hesitate, he unfastened his apron, washed his hands, and followed Chen Xiao heading out of the market.

As they walked, Chen Xiao paid attention to the surrounding pork stalls and conversed with Xiong Nan:

"How many pork stalls are in this market?"

"A total of seven."

"Is business good for all of them?"

"It’s alright, since many people come here, it’s a place where groceries are centered. As long as you’re not messing around, having a stall here means you can make some small money, if not big and rich."

Chen Xiao responded with a sound of affirmation: "So does every pork seller here know the same butchering skills as you?"

"What? What’s meant by butchering skills?"

Chen Xiao was momentarily stunned: "I mean your seamless, skillful movements in dissecting the pig."

"Oh, in that case, no! It’s not like the old days; the pork seller sells pork, and the butcher slaughters the pigs. Naturally, over time, they’d be better than regular folks but not quite like me!"

Chen Xiao smiled, and meanwhile a question rose in his mind that he wanted to ask but eventually held back.

The question was: Among the people you know, are there any fond of picking pig hearts!

Chen Xiao almost blurted it out but chose not to ask for caution’s sake.

All the way out of the market, Xiong Nan was about to invite Chen Xiao to a drink shop, but Chen Xiao suddenly said:

"You’re probably quite familiar with the folks at the local slaughterhouse, right?"

"Absolutely familiar; before I went to prison, I worked at the slaughterhouse, later learned some craft from a master. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come up with ideas like that to boost our family’s business!"

"I see, then why don’t we take a look at the slaughterhouse! It’s best if you introduce me to the master who taught you; I think the butchering process we just saw is truly stress-relieving!"

Chen Xiao finished, full of anticipation, eager to try himself!