Team B investigators spread out like a net cast by justice, extending in all directions.
Uncle Jiu met this middle-aged woman, Zhao Meizhi, at her home in Sham Shui Po. She was no longer a guest or a housekeeper, but now a gentle mistress of the house.
She kept the home tidy, but did not adhere to the meticulous standard of arranging items by sixes.
Zhao Meizhi was neither arrogant nor a clean freak, nor did she possess strong muscles; she was simply a hardworking, humble woman who had climbed her way up from the bottom, building her current life with her own hands.
She poured tea for Uncle Jiu. Upon hearing of her sister’s death, she let out a cold laugh, wanting to express the sentiment of ‘serves her right,’ yet tears inexplicably began to flow, unstoppable.
This elder sister insisted that she had long been completely disappointed with her younger sister, devoid of any affection. Uncle Jiu handed her a tissue, saying nothing, his aged eyes reflecting a calm understanding of the ways of the world.
People not only deceive others but also themselves.
At the time of her sister Zhao Meini’s death, Zhao Meizhi was taking her daughter to the hospital for a vaccination, a fact corroborated by her husband and hospital receipts.
Uncle Jiu did not stay long; after comforting Zhao Meizhi a little more, he left and returned to the police station.
…
…
Gary went to inquire at the Daliyuan Nightclub, questioning several bouncers, hostesses, and dancers. Through their testimonies, the characters of several women began to take shape vividly.
Clara was a silly woman known for making a show of things, always seeming the most competitive and eager to outdo others, frequently getting into arguments.
But in reality, she was a straightforward woman with a tough exterior and a soft heart, and very loyal.
She had been scolded by almost everyone, but she had also righteously helped them.
When Xiaojia was moving, Clara single-handedly carried quilts and various items back and forth, never slacking off and providing great help. Meanwhile, those usually sweet-talking others only showed up to enjoy the meal at Xiaojia’s housewarming.
When Sister Hua was bullied by a customer, some were just happy not to gloat nearby. Clara was the first to laugh, swat the customer’s hand away, feign coquetry, and forcefully pour the customer drinks to defuse the situation.
On a typhoon day, when Twin C’s boyfriend kicked her out, Clara did not hesitate to brave the storm to take her in, later personally helping her find a new place…
So, even though Clara had a bad temper, everyone still wanted to be her friend. Many even relied on her, and no amount of scolding could drive them away.
They had grown accustomed to having people with bad tempers around and did not mind it much. Instead, they cherished friends who were loyal and caring.
Gary looked at the notebook filled with stories of heroic women, and recalled Clara who had voluntarily run to the police station that morning. The two different images overlapped, merging into one complete Clara.
The person known as Zhao Meini is a beautiful girl, soft on the outside but tough on the inside, almost the best looking among the sisters, and with a great figure.
She’s young and sweet-tongued, skilled at persuading customers to buy alcohol. As soon as she speaks, no customer can resist her.
Zhao Meini is good at making money.
But even though she has a promising future at the Daliyuan Nightclub, she always wants to find another job. Unlike other sisters who buy handbags and clothes as soon as they have money, she is saving up money to open a fish ball shop.
Whenever Gary asks about these two people, everyone can quickly find words to describe them.
But when it comes to Qin Hongliang, many people have to think hard before they can speak.
“Ah Hong doesn’t talk much usually, often feels like she’s not there, maybe she’s just introverted.”
“Ah Hong is actually very smart. Once when we encountered something, we didn’t know what to do, but Ah Hong could talk confidently and come up with solutions.”
“Ah Hong is really particular about cleanliness. I went to her and Clara’s place as a guest before, and when I was about to leave, I saw her eagerly grabbing a brush to sweep the sofa. Why? Was the place I sat dirty? Is she snobbish? She doesn’t perform, doesn’t let customers take advantage, but ended up leaving with that Mr. Tu? What’s the point? Money.”
“Is Mr. Tu Ah Hong’s boyfriend? Did she say that? Ha, that’s just wishful thinking. He just wants to sleep with her.”
“She was attracted to Mr. Tu because he’s wealthy. She used to act snobbish, always refused, but wasn’t she taken out by Mr. Tu a few days ago? What’s that if not performing? But Sir, don’t tell the anti-vice squad to catch her, or they’ll know I’m selling out my sisters.”
“Ah Hong? She’s okay with people actually. But I can’t really explain why, I’m just a little scared of her.”
“Number 6? Oh, I remember, I saw a tattoo of the number 6 on Ah Hong’s waist when I was backstage changing clothes. Why tattoo it? That I don’t know. Sir, Ah Hong is very private, doesn’t tell us a lot of things. Maybe she doesn’t consider us as sisters.”
She’s truly someone who sounds a bit strange.
After asking around, Gary finally went to find the on-duty manager, Sister Yun.
Sister Yun was still sighing over Zhao Meini’s death:
“Heaven doesn’t want me to get rich. Just as I was about to open a shop with Meini, she died. Isn’t that unlucky?”
“You’re asking about Ah Hong? What’s special about her is that she’s a great dancer, with a hot figure. Everyone is after money, and Ah Hong is working hard too. She dances every day, and she’s the one who has persisted the longest. Nightclubs pay by the hour, so she earns the most. But Ah Hong is also saving money, she also wants to open a shop. It’s hard to keep dancing for hours every day, she’s almost thirty, she can’t dance for much longer. I was thinking of supporting her to open a shop, anyway, with the savings I have, I have to find someone to do business with. Before, I and Ah Hong almost had a conversation, but she wants to open a flower shop, what money can you make from such a shop? It’s not like fish balls or fried fish cakes, which sell well and everyone eats every day, you don’t need to buy flowers every day.”
When Gary heard this, he suddenly furrowed his brow and asked further:
“Did you originally agree to collaborate with Qin Hongliang?”
“Yes, what’s the problem, sir?” Sister Yun felt somewhat uncomfortable under Gary’s scrutiny.
“But then you rejected Qin Hongliang and chose to work with Zhao Meini instead?” Gary’s frown deepened.
“It’s not exactly like that. I never definitively said I would work with Hong. I just mentioned I’d consider it,” Sister Yun replied, her eyes darting around, incredulously adding, “Ah, you suspect Hong?”
“It’s just routine inquiry. Right now, we need to understand everyone who knows Zhao Meini,” Gary said, reluctant to reveal too much.
Sister Yun glanced at him suspiciously, but seeing that he was unwilling to say more, she didn’t press further.
“However, sir, that being said, I do recall something,” Sister Yun remembered the day she found Zhao Meini’s body and pursed her lips:
“Meini wasn’t very tidy. When I pushed the door open that day and saw how clean her place was, I even thought about jokingly asking if Hong had come over to clean. Then I found Meini dead in the bedroom and got so scared that I forgot about it.”
“Now that I think about it, it really seemed like Hong had cleaned the place.”
After saying this, Sister Yun suddenly froze, quickly covering her mouth and waving her hand with a laugh, “I’m just overthinking, sir. Can we forget I said that?”
“No worries, just speak truthfully. We’ll make the judgment,” Gary took a deep breath, now even more convinced by Jiayi’s words.
After asking a few more questions, Gary turned to a paper clipped in his notebook, where he checked off “II. Motive for the crime.”
…
…
Based on information provided by others at the Daliyuan Nightclub, Liu Jiaming quickly found the man who was with Qin Hongliang on the night Zhao Meini was killed.
Tu Guisheng was a rubber merchant with no particular hobbies or aspirations; his life was dedicated to the art and desire of making money.
He loved spending lavishly at the Daliyuan Nightclub. Despite his short stature, he was popular with the women.
Liu Jiaming found him at his store. Although the store was only two stories high, business was booming.
Tu Guisheng invited Liu Jiaming to the second floor, where they sat around a huge tea table, chatting over tea.
The tea table, crafted from an old tree trunk, was substantial and elegant. With a complete set of tea cups and tools, it was clear that Tu Guisheng knew how to enjoy life.
Merchants always want to cleanse the smell of money from themselves with elegance, so this shop features bookshelves, a tea table, and an Italian-style ceiling. If everything went according to the designer’s plan, this place would definitely be a tasteful and high-quality storefront.
However, the Feng Shui charms like the gourd, the Pixiu stone statues, and the lucky red door, which signify an inseparable emphasis on wealth, disrupted the harmony of the décor.
Liu Jiaming briefly surveyed the store and quickly formed a preliminary impression of Tu Guisheng. He declined Tu’s attempts at small talk and went straight to the point with his questions, to which Tu awkwardly responded:
“How could Qin Hongliang be my girlfriend? Women in entertainment venues are after your money.”
“But I’ve indeed been trying to please Qin Hongliang, though she’s quite arrogant and has been ignoring me. But I’ve gotten smarter recently. If you ignore me when I tip you, then I’ll ignore you too. See how you like it? It actually worked! Ha, on the morning of the 28th, she couldn’t resist anymore and came home with me.”
Hearing this, Liu Jiaming frowned. Something sounded off.
A dancer who never goes out with customers, why did she do it this time?
Especially on the morning of the 28th, isn’t it suspicious? It’s as if she specifically chose Tu Guisheng to be her alibi.
“That day we got to my place around 4 a.m., and I remember checking the time. Then we chatted, showered, and it was between 5 and 6 a.m., and at 5:40 a.m.,” Qin Hongliang was still in Tu Guisheng’s bed. How could she be the murderer?