Chapter 55

The car that Miao Xiaohui had just been in was indeed from Yintang Commune.

Qin Sa's expression remained unchanged as she said, "We will investigate this. For now, please cooperate with our work."

Miao Xiaohui had already given up struggling, his face filled with sorrow and anger.

Qin Sa gave her colleague a nod, and they both released their grip on him, not even putting handcuffs on Miao Xiaohui.

Since Miao Xiaohui dared to return openly, he wouldn't act rashly.

"Thank you."

Qin Sa left her colleague to watch Miao Xiaohui while she ran to the bus to question the conductor about the situation.

The conductor had been watching the scene and hadn't left.

Other passengers also kept looking back, curious about what had happened. After all, it was unusual for Public Security officers to detain a soldier, but the conductor had sent them away.

"Comrade Qin, what's going on here?"

As one of the few female officers who often worked outside the commune, especially at the bus station, the conductor knew her well.

"Do you remember that person? Do you recall where he got on the bus?"

"I do. He was the only soldier on the entire bus; how could I forget? He flagged down the bus halfway, still within Yintang Commune territory. People who flag down buses there usually come from nearby Changhe Brigade."

"Have you seen him before?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"If someone has ridden my bus, I remember them. Besides, he looks so sharp; I wouldn't forget him."

Qin Sa nodded, thanked her, and left.

The conductor wanted to ask more but was stopped by the driver.

"You won't get an answer now. You'll know soon enough."

"That soldier didn't seem like a bad guy. I wonder if there's been a mistake?"

"Do you see any bad guys with 'bad' written on their faces?"

By then, Miao Xiaohui had already boarded a three-wheeled motorcycle with another officer. Sitting in the back, he was tense and suppressing his pain.

Qin Sa glanced at him, got on the back seat, and the vehicle left the bus station.

Throughout the journey, Miao Xiaohui cooperated without any extreme actions, remaining silent.

He had learned that his other family members were safe, and the murderer had targeted Sun Qin specifically, not harming anyone else. The rest of the family would only learn about Sun Qin's death the next day.

Amidst his grief, he felt relieved.

In the interrogation room, Miao Xiaohui cooperated with Qin Sa's questioning, explaining why he hadn't sent a telegram home.

"I have a comrade from Yintang Commune whose mother is sick, but he couldn't go home due to a mission. I applied for leave to visit home, so I thought I'd help him check on his mother. If things were complicated there, I might not have time to return home, which is why I didn't send a telegram ahead of time."

Qin Sa asked a few more questions, and Miao Xiaohui provided perfect alibis for each one.

Whether he was telling the truth needed verification from the Yintang Commune Public Security Bureau.

After the interrogation ended, Miao Xiaohui finally asked about the details of Sun Qin's murder.

Qin Sa looked at him and said, "The murderer's target was clear—it was Sun Qin. He knew your family well and harbored a strong desire for revenge. After brutally killing her, he used a hammer to repeatedly strike her head."

Hearing this, Miao Xiaohui clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Do you know if your wife had any enemies?"

Miao Xiaohui shook his head. "Although she was somewhat introverted, she never argued with anyone or had deep grudges."

"Did she get along poorly with your family?"

Miao Xiaohui paused for a moment and said, "There were indeed many conflicts in daily life, but my family wouldn't kill her over such trivial matters!"

Qin Sa made no comment and continued, "Do you have any suspects in mind?"

Miao Xiaohui shook his head again, smiling bitterly. "To be honest, I don't know much about my wife. Although we've been married for years, I don't know much about her, and she doesn't care much about me either."

Their marriage was unexpected; neither of them had chosen each other initially.

Knowing Sun Qin felt wronged, Miao Xiaohui tried to treat her better, but his efforts were limited, and their relationship remained lukewarm.

He used to write letters to Sun Qin, but she never replied, so he eventually gave up.

Sometimes, he almost forgot he was married, unlike some of his married comrades.

His wife's relationship with his family was terrible, and he was powerless to change it, only pleading with his parents and siblings to overlook the issues for his sake.

After all, Sun Qin had come from far away to this unfamiliar place, with a husband often absent, making her dissatisfaction understandable.

"Do you know about Sun Qin's past?" Qin Sa probed.

Miao Xiaohui was taken aback but quickly understood.

"You mean the man she used to correspond with?"

Qin Sa looked up at him, and Miao Xiaohui nodded: "Before we got married, Sun Qin confessed to me."

He spoke in a casual tone, but Qin Sa sensed the gloom in Miao Xiaohui's voice.

"What was the reason for your marriage?"

Miao Xiaohui looked somewhat awkward. "Do I really have to answer that?"

Qin Sa remained silent, simply looking at him.

"I accidentally saw her body."

It wasn't just seeing; another female intellectual youth caught them, making it impossible for both of them to pretend nothing had happened.

As a soldier, Miao Xiaohui couldn't allow himself to be so irresponsible.

So he proposed to Sun Qin, who agreed at the time, and they got married.

Although they were married, Miao Xiaohui knew that Sun Qin was not happy about it deep down.

Miao Xiaohui didn't pay too much attention to it, thinking that feelings could be cultivated. Many people got married without even meeting each other and still lived good lives.

News from Yintang Commune came quickly. After verification, Miao Xiaohui indeed arrived at Changhe Brigade on the 21st, and he did have a comrade whose family lived there.

The comrade's mother's condition suddenly worsened, and she passed away after seeing the gift Miao Xiaohui brought from his comrade.

Miao Xiaohui took his comrade's place to mourn, waiting until the burial on the 24th, and left by bus on the 25th, which was today.

Based on the description from Changhe Brigade, the person matched Miao Xiaohui's appearance.

Qin Sa pursed her lips. "Send someone with Miao Xiaohui's photo to verify again."

"Yes."

Although further confirmation was needed to ensure no mistakes, Qin Sa was already convinced that Miao Xiaohui was telling the truth.

But if Miao Xiaohui wasn't the murderer, who else could harbor such intense malice towards Sun Qin?

"Qin Sa, news has come from Qu City. Zhang Wei has been working in the factory all along and hasn't left."

Zhang Wei was the man Sun Qin used to correspond with frequently. As one of Sun Qin's contacts, he also needed to be investigated.

Qin Sa sighed. "Well, our only lead is gone again."

"Qin Sa, what should we do with Miao Xiaohui? Should we keep him detained or release him? He is a soldier, and Yintang Commune has responded. It wouldn't be right to keep him any longer."

Qin Sa rubbed her temples. "Let him go, but make sure he stays in contact. Fine, I'll go do it myself."

Qin Sa picked up the file and walked to the interrogation room, releasing Miao Xiaohui.

"Thank you for cooperating with our investigation. You can go home now."

Miao Xiaohui's expression did not lighten. He had just experienced the sudden passing of his comrade's mother, who, despite her failing eyesight, recognized that he was not her son.

Yet the old lady had no complaints, a scene that still made him feel heartbroken.

They served their country and people well but failed their own families.

Upon returning, he learned of his wife's murder. Even though their relationship wasn't close, he still felt immense pain.

He had planned to bring his wife over in two years to live with him as a military spouse, hoping to build a deeper connection and have a child.

Unexpectedly, everything ended before it began.

"Do you have any leads yet?"

Qin Sa hesitated for a moment. "Based on the current evidence, we know the murderer is familiar with your household, knows your wife hid money, has strong anti-investigation awareness, is agile and strong, and very precise. The murderer's age is likely between 18 and 50."

Sun Qin's head was struck three times in the same spot.

The weapon was found hidden in the Miao family's woodpile, and it was their axe.

The murderer climbed over the wall, went straight to the woodshed for the axe, and entered the victim's room through the window.

To avoid alarming the victim, they first smothered her with a pillow, then sexually assaulted her, and finally smashed her head with the axe, in a brutal manner.

The murderer was both greedy for money and lustful, harboring intense hatred towards the victim, acting swiftly and decisively, indicating a clear purpose.

Whether any of these details are intentionally misleading is hard to determine, but it is clear that the perpetrator is an acquaintance.

Qin Sa had suspected Accountant Miao, thinking his drunkenness might be an act.

However, during the banquet, everyone saw him drink heavily, some even forcing him to drink, making it difficult to fake.

After interrogation, no suspicious points were found.

Searching the Miao residence and nearby areas yielded no trace of Sun Qin's missing items or money.

Old Man Zhang, being over fifty and weak, was temporarily excluded from suspicion.

As for the other Miao brothers who had separated households, they were all investigated. They had alibis, but the possibility of covering for each other could not be ruled out, so they remained suspects.

"Were there no traces left at the scene?"

"No, the murderer wore gloves during the crime and deliberately erased their footprints, knowing that your brigade has a young girl skilled in tracking."

Miao Xiaohui frowned deeply. No wonder they suspected him; the perpetrator was clearly not an ordinary person.

Meanwhile, at Rongshan Brigade.

Wang Heizi yawned widely. Looking at Tang Qingqing, who was as still as a statue, he couldn't help but say,

"Has she fallen asleep sitting there?"

They had searched the area for a long time and found no suspicious traces.

When they returned, they discovered that Tang Qingqing was exactly as she had been before.

Zhai Hongyi glanced at his watch. "It's time for dinner."

"I'll go get some steamed buns. With her posture, she definitely doesn't want to leave for food."

Just then, Tang Qingqing stood up, rubbing her sore neck.

Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi exchanged a glance and hurried over to ask about the situation.

"How is it going?"

Tang Qingqing smiled. "He thought he could deceive everyone like this. Hmph, I won't let him get away with it!"

Wang Heizi was very excited. "What's the situation now?"

"The murderer is 175 cm tall, around 38 years old, and weighs about 140 pounds. He walks with a slight outward turn of the feet."

Wang Heizi blinked. "These characteristics don't match Uncle Miao. Uncle Miao is over 180 cm tall."

"Uncle Miao is 182 cm tall, which doesn't match the murderer."

When Tang Qingqing said this, her voice was light and cheerful.

It was truly great news that it wasn't Miao Xiaohui. They really didn't want such a promising young man to ruin his future, and they couldn't believe that such a heroic figure would be so despicable and cruel.

Wang Heizi was also delighted. "This is fantastic news. As long as the murderer isn't Uncle Miao, it doesn't matter who it is!"

These conditions not only ruled out Miao Xiaohui but also Miao the Accountant.

Although Miao the Accountant is Miao Xiaohui's brother, he is only 170 cm tall and very thin.

Before meeting Zhai Hongyi, Miao Xiaohui was Wang Heizi's most admired person.

Every time he saw Miao Xiaohui in his military uniform, he envied him immensely.

When Miao Xiaohui received a second-class merit and the plaque was sent home, Wang Heizi felt honored by association.

If such a hero turned out to be a cruel murderer, he felt his faith would crumble.

Thankfully, it wasn't him!

"Let's go tell the police right away!"

However, Zhai Hongyi was more composed. "If the murderer isn't Miao Xiaohui, he can easily prove himself innocent. The key now is to find the real murderer quickly. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to catch him."

Tang Qingqing agreed. She would inform the captain later; her current task was to find the true culprit.

Wang Heizi: "There are several people in our brigade who fit these criteria. Oh! Uncle Miao San is 175 cm tall! Could the murderer be Uncle Miao San?"

The more Wang Heizi thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Uncle Miao San was known for being filial. He knew his parents were unhappy with Sun Qin, so he might have taken drastic action.

"But Uncle Miao San has a good relationship with Auntie. He wouldn't do something like this, right?"

"It's not Uncle Miao San," Tang Qingqing affirmed. "His gait is different from the murderer's. No one in our brigade matches."

"How did you figure that out?"

Wang Heizi still found it unbelievable. This wasn't a clear footprint; it was worn down. How could she deduce so much information?

Having been with Tang Qingqing for so long, he had learned some things, but he was far from her level.

Tang Qingqing explained, "When I see these footprints, I imagine little figures in my mind, and their movements play out in front of me. So I can quickly match them and eliminate possibilities."

"Little figures? You're making it sound even more mysterious."

But wasn't Tang Qingqing's ability mysterious? Just by looking at a print, she could gather so much information. Even though she explained the principles, many still believed she was a fox spirit.

In this special period, they dared not speak of it openly, or someone might come to worship her.

"It's not someone from our brigade," Zhai Hongyi rubbed his chin. "But since the person knows so much about the Miao family, they must be related somehow."

If an outsider had investigated the Miao family, Qin Sa's team would have uncovered it during their inquiries.

Even without Qin Sa's involvement, the people in the brigade would know what the outsider was doing and what they said when they entered the brigade.

Rongshan Brigade is in a remote location, not a necessary stop for other brigades. Anyone coming here does so intentionally.

Thus, any outsiders would be closely watched, making it hard for them to remain unnoticed.

So, this person must have a significant connection to the Miao family.

"I remember the Miao family has a daughter who married into another brigade. Who is her husband?"

Wang Heizi: "I know him. He often comes back with Auntie Miao. He's short, shorter than Auntie Miao. It's definitely not him."

Miao Xiaomei, the youngest daughter of the Miao family, is tall. Her current husband pursued her ardently because he wanted a tall wife so that their children wouldn't be as short as him.

He treats Miao Xiaomei exceptionally well. Though he is short, he is capable and always cheerful. Initially, people laughed at Miao Xiaomei for marrying him, but now they envy her.

Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing thought for a long time but couldn't think of anyone who matched the criteria.

Zhai Hongyi: "Let's ask the neighbors of the Miao family. They probably know more about the situation."

The neighbors indeed knew more than Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing. As soon as Tang Qingqing described the person, they immediately thought of someone.

"Isn't that Zhou Qiang, Aunt Zhang's nephew?"

Tang Qingqing: "Zhou Qiang? Which brigade is he from?"

"He's from the same brigade as Aunt Luhua's family, the one where Accountant Miao drinks. Accountant Miao married Aunt Luhua because of Aunt Zhang's sister, his aunt."

Zhai Hongyi: "Was Zhou Qiang in the military before?"

"No, he's been a farmer all his life. But he's quite smart and always wanted to make money like Accountant Miao, using his brain."

A neighbor thought for a moment and added, "I remember Aunt Zhang mentioned that Zhou Qiang now works at the quarry and earns a lot of money every month."

When she heard this, she was extremely envious.

They had many sons, all strong, and if they could work at the quarry too, their lives wouldn't be so hard. So she remembered it very well.

Tang Qingqing: "Does Zhou Qiang often visit Accountant Miao's house?"

"He does come quite frequently, but it's sporadic. Sometimes he comes often, sometimes not for a long time. But during holidays, when Miao Xiaohui returns, he usually comes over."

"He's very talkative, and Aunt Zhang likes him a lot."

The Miaos are known for being less articulate; even Accountant Miao isn't good with words, and his other sons aren't much better.

The daughters are slightly better, but sometimes they find her too talkative and get annoyed by her complaints.

Zhou Qiang is different; he never minds Aunt Zhang's chatter and always listens patiently, which is why she loves talking to him.

Sometimes, if he hasn't visited for a while, she'll send a message asking him to come over.

"Whenever Zhou Qiang visits, Aunt Zhang serves him the best food, something she doesn't even do for her own children. Your Aunt Luhua sometimes complains to me that she won't even spare food for her own son, but when Zhou Qiang comes, she becomes very generous."

The neighbor looked around and lowered her voice:

"Aunt Zhang keeps praising Zhou Qiang, but I don't think he's that great."

Tang Qingqing, curious: "Why do you say that?"

"I can't put my finger on it, but he just doesn't seem likable. Think about it: a man nearly forty, who should be settled, still acts so immature, spouting sweet nothings without restraint. He lacks seriousness."

"How is his relationship with Sun Qin?"

The neighbor was taken aback and took a while to respond.

"I haven't heard of any interaction between them. Sun Qin locks herself in her room whenever she returns. But Aunt Zhang says it makes her feel embarrassed; having such a daughter-in-law feels like a debt collector. Zhou Qiang told her not to worry and said he would support her."

Tang Qingqing: "How does he plan to support her?"

"Well, it's just to make the old lady happy; what can he really do?"

The neighbor paused, surprised: "You don't suspect Zhou Qiang, do you? That's impossible. Although he's not likable, he doesn't seem capable of such a thing. Apart from being a bit of a smooth talker, he has no other faults. Besides, he hasn't been around lately, busy with something."

Tang Qingqing: "We're just asking questions. You just need to tell us what you know."

The neighbor felt uneasy. Ever since they learned about the murder next door and how Sun Qin died so tragically, they've been living in fear, having nightmares about Sun Qin telling them about her misfortune.

Especially those who saw the crime scene fell ill for two days afterward.

They secretly consulted a shaman to call back their souls and have only recently started feeling better.

Although startled, the neighbor still wanted to speak up for fairness:

"Aunt Zhang just likes to complain. If you ask her to do anything, she wouldn't. Otherwise, with Sun Qin not having children for so many years, if she were a harsh mother-in-law, Sun Qin's life wouldn't have been easy. She only complains to Zhou Qiang but doesn't mean to do anything."

Zhai Hongyi: "Did Aunt Zhang also complain to you?"

"Of course, she loves to shout loudly at our place, hoping Sun Qin will hear but without confronting her directly."

"Did she tell you that Sun Qin had a lot of money?"

"Yes, she said Sun Qin liked hiding money everywhere, afraid they might steal from her room. She complained that Sun Qin treated them like thieves."

Tang Qingqing: "Does Zhou Qiang know about this?"

"Of course he knows. Almost everyone in our brigade knows. How could she not tell Zhou Qiang?"