Qin Hongliang cried so miserably that once her emotions finally stabilized, her previous arrogance was nowhere to be found.
She slumped in her chair, answering whatever the investigators asked, as if she had suddenly lost her soul.
After completing the statement, they asked Qin Hongliang to sign it, and the video was also recorded.
When Sanfu escorted Qin Hongliang out of the interrogation room to take her into custody, all the detectives of Team B breathed a sigh of relief.
This case was truly difficult. Before it was solved, Uncle Jiu always felt that this case would become a cold case, or they would know the murderer but lack the evidence to proceed, forcing the detectives to reluctantly set it aside with resentment.
Thankfully… thankfully it was finally solved.
Returning to the Team B office, everyone was still sighing with relief while organizing reports and lab results, and reenacting the case details.
Qin Hongliang was indeed a formidable opponent; a single misstep could have let her escape, truly perilous.
A murderer who had arranged for two scapegoats for herself, a murderer who could calmly clean the entire house after committing the murder.
Fang Zhenyue arranged the follow-up procedures, and as he walked back to Team B’s office from Qiu Sushan’s office, he glanced at his subordinates and thanked each one for their hard work.
Everyone was deeply moved; Liu Jiaming even went over to hug Fang Zhenyue.
After so many days of turmoil, everyone was emotionally strained. Now that the case was closed, they finally relaxed.
Fang Zhenyue patted Liu Jiaming on the shoulder, looked up at Yi Jiayi, about to praise her for decisively changing the suspect to Qin Hongliang, and for her early morning efforts at the crime scene to find an eyewitness. But before he could speak, Sanfu interjected:
“It’s all thanks to Eleven, who never gave up and tirelessly unearthed so many clues. Every turning point in the case, it’s all thanks to you.”
“Yes, Eleven, you’re so strong,” Liu Jiaming, still leaning on Fang Zhenyue, chimed in.
“Eleven, great job!” Gary, mimicking Liu Jiaming, called Jiayi ‘Eleven’.
Uncle Jiu laughed heartily, patted Jiayi on the shoulder, and for some reason, pulled her in front of a statue of Guan Gong to pay respects.
Fang Zhenyue suddenly realized that he was unable to get a word in to compliment Yi Jiayi; he needed to queue up.
He shook his head, smiling, stretched lazily, and after Uncle Jiu and Yi Jiayi had finished paying their respects to Guan Gong, he finally spoke:
“Let’s go have a good meal at Yi Ji’s tonight. We’ve been eating without tasting, and everyone has gotten thinner these days.”
“Sounds good!” Sanfu immediately raised his hand in agreement.
Fang Zhenyue nodded, peeked at Jiayi who instantly understood his intention, and turned to make a phone call to order the feast.
Watching Jiayi stand by the desk making the call, Fang Zhenyue looked around at the other detectives, feeling the weight on their shoulders finally lift.
After so many years in Team B, he still couldn’t help worrying about these kids.
Jiaming was still somewhat childish, taking others’ words at face value, too easygoing, playful, needing guidance, protection, and instruction.
Gary was a rash young man; dare him to play Russian roulette or jump into the sea during a typhoon, and he’d strip off his coat and leap. Such a kid, under the care of a careless leader, one couldn’t be sure he’d grow up safe and sound.
Uncle Jiu was getting on in years. Although he had a steady mind, he could no longer keep up physically, and he wasn’t easy to manage. If a new leader suddenly parachuted in… Uncle Jiu could be quite contrary. If that leader wasn’t comfortable, it would mean trouble for everyone, equally worrying.
As for Sanfu, he was both hardworking and opinionated, but also a fierce creature that might bare its teeth at any provocation. Sergeant Fang had seen Sanfu’s stubbornness in action, standing his ground against his previous superior, neck bristled as if ready to bite. Had Sergeant Fang not transferred him to Team B, Sanfu might have ended up patrolling Tseung Kwan O.
With such a group under his charge, how could he just leave them to become an inspector? Even if he left, his heart wouldn’t be free from worry for a long time.
Unexpectedly, heaven sent a remarkable female officer his way. At first, he merely thought she had exceptional intuition, but who could have imagined, the surprises kept growing bigger and bigger.
In this case, he had been observing Jiayi, stepping back unless absolutely necessary, remaining silent if possible. Yet she took on many critical moments in the investigation herself, speaking up and outlining strategies, leading everyone forward.
She performed exceedingly well, far beyond his expectations.
Moreover, everyone saw her capabilities and felt her leadership.
He knew these rebellious ones well, and their current reactions showed they had accepted Jiayi. There might still be some friction, but this was a more positive situation than he had dared to hope for.
Little Eleven was truly remarkable, taming these folks almost as quickly as he did back in the day, haha.
Sergeant Fang grinned secretly, caught by Jiayi.
She looked at him chuckling to himself, stared for a few seconds before saying:
“Brother Yue, I’ve made plans with Big Brother. Tonight, we’re having lamb belly pot; it’s autumn, after all. It’s time for everyone to warm up together.”
“He’s bought a whole young lamb, belly for the pot, ribs for soup, offal for noodles, and the leg can be roasted…”
“With fish and lamb, it’s all about freshness. Boil the crucian carp soup until the fish dissolves, strain out the bones, pour it into the pot, and cook it with the blanched lamb ribs. A big pot embracing all, stewing for over four hours. By the time we shake off the autumn chill and step into Yi Ji, we’ll be surrounded by the freshest lamb soup aroma, warming up in the steamy mist—”
“Stop it! If you keep talking, I’m going to skip work and go eat right now! Sssluurp—” Liu Jiaming covered his mouth, his saliva!
“Eleven, if you’re not a detective, you could be a food critic, you’re really good at talking about it.” Gary touched his face, not feeling like working at all.
“Brother Yue, quick! Give me any work you have! I’ll do it right away, finish it fast, and we definitely shouldn’t work overtime tonight!” Sanfu joined in the commotion.
Everyone laughed heartily, feeling spirited and full of emotions—wanting to eat and drink, everything felt more flavorful and purposeful.
In the ensuing busy period, everyone worked with anticipation, each frequently thinking, ‘After finishing, let’s go eat lamb,’ and when the time to clock out finally came, almost everyone was cheering as they ran out.
Thankful that there were no new cases today, thankful for world peace.
As the six of them briskly walked out of the police station, Clara suddenly ran out.
Besides eating and sleeping, she was always sitting on the waiting chairs by the police station’s reception, occasionally inquiring about the case and sometimes asking someone to call the major crimes unit.
Finally, as the workday ended, she managed to catch the detectives because she was most familiar with Sanfu, who had interrogated her. She immediately rushed up to him and asked, “Did Qin Hongliang confess?”
Sanfu, startled by her sudden approach, recognized her and said, “Yes, she confessed. You should go rest too. It’s time to eat.”
“Really?” Clara clapped her hands, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, “Caught… they caught her. Officer, did the clue I provided and that glove, did they help?”
Sanfu and Clara looked at each other for a few seconds, as if understanding the longing in her eyes, he nodded:
“Of course, they played a crucial role.”
Clara opened her mouth to say thank you, or perhaps to boast a bit, ‘Lucky that I was there, or the murderer of Meini would not have been caught so quickly,’ but before she could speak, her lips trembled, and she lost control of her emotions.
In the next instant, she was crying too hard to speak.
Sanfu sighed, patted Clara’s shoulder, unsure how to comfort her.
He would rather brave a path of swords and fire to catch a criminal than deal with the victims’ relatives and friends, as he really wasn’t cut out for it.
Jiayi had already reached the door of the police station, saw the state of Sanfu and Clara, pursed her lips, and turned back.
She exchanged a look with Sanfu and nodded, then helped to relieve Sanfu.
Once the area was left with only two people, Jiayi finally spoke:
“Clara, tomorrow I will personally go to Zhao Meini’s house to inform her parents to collect the body. Would you like to come with me?”
Clara, who had been in grief, suddenly perked up upon hearing there was still something she could do for Zhao Meini, quickly wiped away her tears, and nodded, “Yes, madam, what time will you be leaving?”
“I’ll call you tomorrow; just wait for me at home,” Jiayi replied, patting her shoulder and glancing at the clock hanging on the police station wall, softly adding, “Go home and have something to eat, then get a good night’s sleep. It might rain tonight, try to leave before it starts.”
“Understood, madam,” Clara nodded, walking out of the station with Jiayi.
As they parted ways, Clara suddenly grabbed Jiayi: “Thank you to the officers for clearing my name.”
“Understood,” Jiayi nodded and briskly walked to the street corner.
The door of the long-waited Jeep was pushed open, and Liu Jiaming poked his head out urging, “Come on, the lamb stew can’t wait any longer.”
Jiayi laughed heartily and quickly ducked into the large Jeep, heading straight for the fragrant land of fish and mutton.
…
…
The next day, the pervasive newspaper headlines shifted direction.
Yesterday’s innocent and pitiable Qin Mouliang turned into a murderous witch today.
Yesterday’s fame-seeking female police officer transformed into a justice-fighting heroine today.
Those newspapers that had vehemently supported Qin Hongliang the previous day turned their backs, no longer mentioning the past, and instead wrote extensive new chapters:
Witch Qin Mouliang, overwhelmed by justice, surrendered without dignity, weeping profusely. She not only inhumanely murdered a friend but also attempted to frame her roommate and deceitfully slandered the righteous policewoman Yi Jiayi, her actions utterly unforgivable.
Jiayi rolled up the newspaper after just one glance, chuckled lightly, and nonchalantly tossed it aside.
Meanwhile, a few kilometers away, in the office of the chief editor of the newspaper company that had written negatively about Yi Jiayi the day before, two editors sat before the chief editor reporting today’s newspaper sales.
“Sales have plummeted,” the mustached editor said anxiously, his words unrefined. “The marketing department conducted a simple survey; they say we were recklessly slandering the sharpshooter officer yesterday, branding us an unethical newspaper, and everyone refused to buy. Some even said it’s a waste of time to read such fabricated stories.”
The chief editor’s face turned visibly uncomfortable.
The other editor, with a pale face, quickly interjected, “It seems that today’s highest sales are for the Qingcheng Daily. Apparently, a journalist named Nie Weiyan took up a column to write about Officer Yi’s story.”
“I read about it. It said that from a young age, despite the hardship of losing both parents, she grew up with her brother and younger siblings—it wasn’t easy.”
“Although life was modest, her aspirations were lofty. Gradually, she became the fearless nemesis of criminals.”
“This story about Officer Nie Weiyan has been written since before she joined the major crimes unit. Wow, it’s full of ups and downs, practically elevating the officer to the skies, like a heroic female knight or a fairy.”
“Today’s newspaper sold out in an instant. Qingcheng Newspaper Company had to fire up a few extra machines and printed 30% more copies to meet the market demand, and those were sold out too. I heard that in Sham Shui Po, it was especially crazy; the newspapers had just reached the stands, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone. People wanted to read about Officer Jiayi’s story, running around to different newsstands for days, wearing out their shoes, and still returning empty-handed. How sad.”
“Now, Qingcheng Daily is considering publishing a special issue on police officers, focusing on the heroic deeds of a few detectives. Today’s full-page story about Officer Jiayi will also be included.”
“This reporter Nie clearly had prepared well in advance, surely the police public relations department must have tipped him off, otherwise how could he produce such a detailed article so quickly?” The editor-in-chief frowned, slamming the table in frustration as he scolded:
“I told you to make more visits to the public relations department, but you all sit around as if you’re tied down by weights. What now? The newspapers rot at the stands, unsold. They give away our paper when someone buys Qingcheng Daily, and the public doesn’t want it. What should we do? What did I say the other day? Reporting on cases shouldn’t just be about catching eyes.”
“People see her as a brave, justice-serving savior of the day, and you misrepresent her as someone fishing for fame.”
“How many times has this Officer Yi been in the newspapers, huh? Clearly, she has a strong backing, something to her story. How could you be so clueless to provoke her?”
“Don’t you remember what she was called when she first made the news?”
‘Auspicious Star Policewoman!”
“And now, look what you’ve done. You’ve messed with the Auspicious Star, and what have you turned into?”
“A Star of Misfortune! The bad luck kind of misfortune!”
Short-sighted!
Pig-brained!
The more the editor-in-chief scolded, the angrier he became, as if he wanted to fire his two editors on the spot.
The two editors hung their heads low, not daring to breathe a word.
They only regretted listening to that criminal’s words, buying her so-called exclusive news.
How infuriating!
tfc 🍪